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 We're looking for a few good men to compete to be this year's Mr. Romance. WINNER RECEIVES:- A Cash Prize - A Trip to New York City for a Romance Novel Cover Shoot - A Starring Role in a Circle Of Seven Book Trailer - A Starring Role on Romance Novel Cover, Nationally Distributed by Dorchester Publishing
Anyone paying attention to the Academy Awards knows that several books were the inspiration for award winning movies. First, of course, was “Precious” inspired by the book PUSH by Sapphire. This award-winning book was based on the true story of a young woman in the Bronx. The movie was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Actress in Supporting Role, which was won by the wonderful Mo’Nique. The movie made a star of Gabourey Sidibe in the role of Precious. The movie also had a critically acclaimed role for Mariah Carey. “Up in the Air” was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, with two nominations for Actress in a Supporting Role. The book came out many years ago, but the story is fitting for our modern times. It’s about a man who works for a company whose entire purpose is to lay off people from companies that hire them to do so. The dramedy had perfect timing being released at a time when layoffs are more common than they were just a couple years ago. “Crazy Heart” was nominated for Best Actor, which Jeff Bridges won hands down, as well as a Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Maggie Gyllenhal. This is another one where the book came out several years ago, but the movie just came out. The movie is still out in theatres if you want to see what the fuss is all about. “The Blind Side” is based on the book by Michael Lewis, which was about more than just the story of Michael Oher and the family that adopted him. It was also about changes in the way football was played, which is what most critics focused on when the book came out. Oher’s story was secondary to that at the time. Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for her role as Oher’s adoptive mother. It was also nominated for Best Picture. One of the foreign movies was also based on a book. "El secreto de sus ojos" ("The Secret in their Eyes") won best Foreign Movie. “The Hurt Locker,” which swept the awards, was based on an article printed in the New Yorker. Did you watch any of the book-based movies? What did you think? Nicole
More "Forever" Love
Grand Central Publishing, parent company to the romance imprint Forever, announced yesterday that it will be expanding the line's offerings from 36 book a year to 48 titles a year beginning in 2011. This means there will be more books you love, from established Grand Central authors like Elizabeth Hoyt, Larissa Ione and Amanda Scott as well as books from new authors.
As part of their move, several editors have been promoted. Selina McLemore is now Forever's senior editor and Alex Logan has been promoted to associate editor. Amy Pierpont remains the editorial director of Forever and oversees the line.
10 Things I Learned At Cosmo
10 Things I Learned at Cosmo about Men, Love, Sex, and Romance
by Kate White
I still remember the first thing my husband said to me when I arrived home one August day and announced that --to my total shock--I’d been named the new editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. “Wait,” he said, “you mean I’m going to bed tonight with the editor of Cosmo.” I think he thought that just by being tapped for the position, I’d automatically acquired knowledge of the entire Kama Sutra. Well, that wasn’t the case, but I have to admit that I’ve learned more than a few invaluable things about men, love, sex, and relationships since I’ve been on the job.
Here are 10 of my favorites:
- Men really want to please women. At Cosmo we get e-mails regularly from guys saying that they secretly peruse the magazine for clues about how to make the women in their lives happy. But women often expect men to read their minds. Tell him how to please you rather than making him guess. Otherwise your birthday gift will be a car emergency kit.
- Men are visual creatures and they’re aroused by visual stimuli. How you look and dress are driving forces in a man’s attraction to you. Trust me: he abhors granny panties, unshaved legs, and frizzy hair, even if he doesn’t complain.
- No matter how much chardonnay women encourage them to drink, men will never be like us. They will never want to gossip endlessly, hit the mall, sit for hours over a romantic dinner, or discuss how gorgeous the sunset is.
- Men tend to be very literal. When a man says that he wants to go out for Italian food rather than Mexican, there is no need to ask, “You do?” He meant it.
- The best way to get a man to open up is not to get all pouncy on him. Keep the conversation casual and easy. And talk side by side rather than face-to-face—e.g., when you’re doing dishes or taking a walk. Also, keep your question specific. Instead of “What’s wrong?” say “Work must be crazy right now, huh?”
- Men make better listeners when you cut to the chase with your story or dilemma.
- Because guys aren’t big talkers, observing their body language can be key. When a man needs to tell you something, he may purse his lips or pucker his mouth. And when he lies, he may touch his mouth (or nose or ear) because his conscience isn’t comfortable with what just jumped out.
- Being soul mates is not necessarily a good thing. Attraction is fueled by mystery. He doesn’t need to know everything.
- Men generally want sex more than women think they do. If you have a rough idea of how much you’re your partner wants, double it. Even triple it. That’s more like it.
- Nothing helps prolong infatuation like novelty. Routine is Kryptonite to romance. It kills that wild rush you feel early in a relationship. Bring it back by doing novel and crazy things together—for instance, karaoke or white-water rafting, or touring a haunted house.
That’s all I know so far. I’m still learning!
My boyfriend is really into beer. He doesn’t just drink it, he makes it and reads a lot about it. Obviously, this takes up a lot of his time as he goes to pubs and talks beer with his buddies. But when he comes to my house, he needs something to do. I am a reader and that doesn’t change just because I have a guy in my life. So what does he do when I am reading or writing? I pick a book for him and he reads it. I have selected several books for him that he might never have read if it wasn’t for me. One of the first books I got him to read was THE ILLUSTRATED MAN by Ray Bradbury. He enjoyed it, especially as he recognized some of the stories from pop culture. Before that, he read the graphic novel THE WATCHMEN. He loved it and that’s what made me think he might like some sci-fi like Bradbury. I gave him a few self-help business books, since he’s looking for a change in careers. Those tend to take second place to fiction I suggest for him. And most recently, I gave him The Bachman books. I wanted to expose him to RAGE and THE LONG WALK, two of my favorite stories of all time. I have put a lot of thought into what to recommend for him. I want something that will intrigue and hold his interest. I want to give him something he might never have read on his own. I want something that he would read even if I wasn’t reading something of my own. So far, I have succeeded. So what do you recommend to friends who don’t normally read? Do you give them mainstream fiction? Biographies? The books you are reading, whatever they may be? Tell us in the comments. Nicole
The first Superman comic book fetched $1 million dollars in the public arena. This is just another example of the popularity of comic books and graphic novels. And more and more authors are jumping on the bandwagon.
Stephen King has had three of his books made into graphic novel versions. His newest release is the comic book version of his short story “N.” Technically, it’s an adaptation not only of a short story but also of a video series known as a motion comic.
James Patterson, the ever prolific author, has just made a deal that will be his first venture into comics. He will be adapting "Witch & Wizard" and "The Murder of King Tut," as well as the creation of a wholly new series.
If you visit Kim Harrison’s web page (kimharrison.net), she has examples of the Rachel Morgan graphic novel she’s been working on. And anyone who has been following Marjorie M. Liu knows of her deep involvement with the comic book arena – “NYX” and “Dark Wolverine.”
TWILIGHT is also being turned into a graphic novel series. The first one is going to be released March 16. And the popularity of movies such THE WATCHMEN and SIN CITY prove that graphic novels aren’t just a geek boy thing anymore.
So the question is – is there a comic book or graphic novel you are looking forward to? Is there a book you would like to see made into a graphic novel? Tell us in the comments!
Nicole
As many of you know we're getting ready to launch a new, revamped RT website later this spring. And while the excitement's building over here, we thought you might like to see what our friends over at Avon Books are doing since they've also just revamped their blog.
Check out AvonRomance.com for the latest news, blog posts and releases from this popular romance publishing house.
Have you heard about Anne Rice's newest release? It's a video book called THE MASTER OF RAMPLING GATE. It will be available in two formats - iPhone and online and most likely for under $10. You can find it and other video books at www.vook.com. Vook has been turning all sorts of books into interactive video books. Combining video, social networking and written text, Vooks cover everything from books in the public domain (Sherlock Holmes) as well as self-help and cookvooks. Video books might be the newest frontier in publishing - or they might just be a waste of resources. By having a relatively inexpensive price, they keep it affordable for those who want to see just what the fuss is all about. But not all vooks are the same. Some are nothing better than 20 minute commercials for a book that is already available to the public via published book or even online. Who really wants to pay $10 for a commercial of something you can get in other methods? Vook touts it's ability to be connected to social networking and complimentary video. This is akin to watching a subtitled movie - you have to read and watch the action at the same time. How many people want to watch video that may or may not add to the text? And do we really need another platform for sharing our views on books? Video books have been around for a long time, but are gaining momentum with Vook and their current and upcoming offerings. They are planning on releasing new books as well as books available in the public domain like PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and other classics. So tell me, are you interested in a video book? Is this the next best thing in publishing? Share with us in the comments! Nicole
New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell charmed RT reviewer Kathe Robin with the latest installment in her Scandals and Seduction series, The Marriage Ring. Until The Marriage Ring hits shelves on February 23rd, you can enjoy this book trailer.In The Marriage Ring, hero Richard gifts his heroine Grace with a beloved piece of jewelry. In this touching video Maxwell discusses her own marriage ring, which has sentimental value -- both past and future. RT's Robin calls Maxwell “a strong writer who delves deeply into her characters' hearts.” Maxwell's own personal story will touch your heart too, so don’t be surprised if you need to reach for a tissue or call a loved one after this video is over! The Marriage Ring is a March RT Top Pick. RT Book Review subscribers can check out the complete review here: ( http://www.rtbookreviews.com/books_review.php?book=41032&sid=72df986ac5f9d7880c6341d35cc3e137 )
Anytime someone mentions biographies and memoirs, there is one in particular that comes to mind: LIFE AND DEATH IN SHANGHAI by Nien Cheng. I had first discovered it in the NORTON BOOK OF WOMEN'S LIVES, where they excerpt pieces of women's biographies and autobiographies. I was blown away by the brief piece I read and immediately went out and bought Ms. Cheng's book.
Never has a book struck me the way this one has. Ms. Cheng was an innocent prisoner during Mao's regime. Her book discusses what life was like before the Cultural Revolution hit it's most extrreme, as well as the "accidental" death of her daughter. Later, she is imprisoned and the detail here is just extraordinary. It's like she remembered each and every day as it happened. After a few years, she was released. More than 20 years later, she wrote her book. Ms. Cheng wrote it in English and her grasp of the language is wonderful.
I also think of others I have read such as A GIRL NAMED ZIPPY by Haven Kimmel, THE CHIEF, THE LIFE OF WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST, and INTO THE WILD by Jon Krakauer. I love biographies and memoirs. The glimpses into people's lives is so enriching. Most of the ones i have read have been beautifully written and I come away from it thinking about the subject for hours.
I have only really read one memoir I didn't like and that was NICKEL AND DIMED: ON (NOT) GETTING BY IN AMERICA by Barbara Ehrenreich. Her tone was grating to me, and a supposedly unbiased journalist, I felt her close-minded opinions were more than clear.
What biographies and memoirs do you recommend? Which did you hate? Tell us in the comments!
Nicole
Trouble for Amazon
Some big upsets came along recently to shake up Amazon's rank as the premier e-book seller. FIrst, they are in a fight with Macmillan publishers. Amazon is refusing to sell Macmillan books at retail - the buy it now button is gone. This stems from a dispute the two are having over the price of the e-books Amazon sells on their site. Instead of the standard $9.99, Macmillan wants Amazon to charge closer to the rates of the physical book, like $15. Amazon's response is to pull their books from being sold on their site via retail. You can still get the books via Amazon Marketplace, but since those are used, that doesn't help Macmillan any. And just as Amazon deals with this problem, comes a curveball from Apple. It's new iPad was recently launched, touted as a replacement for your e-book reader, among other things. This could be a bigger threat than Barnes and Noble's Nook or Sony's e-reader. With other functionality, the iPad comes at a reasonable price for what it is. Macmillan, among others, has already agreed to publish their books through Apple's iPad. But that's not all. Google is planning on launching Google Edition, it's own e-book store. Google plans to allow publishers to set their own rates, allowing publishers to make a reasonable profit over their e-ditions. Most of this is a response to Apple's intention to let the publishers set their own rates. The good news that comes out of this is that e-books will be available the same day the print version is released, something that has been available until now. What do you think of the controversy? Should Amazon allow publishers to set their own rates or continue to be a discount dealer? Nicole
This week brought us two deaths from important writers in the industry. First, Erich Segal, author of LOVE STORY died from a heart attack, though he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for many years. Best known for coining the phrase, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry, “ he also wrote the screenplay for the Beatle’s “Yellow Submarine.” LOVE STORY eventually became a screenplay and was nominated for 6 Oscars. Robert B. Parker also died this week. Parker was best known for crime novels featuring private eye Spenser. The books were also the basis for the TV show, “Spenser: for Hire.” He is credited with bringing back the hard-boiled style of mystery. Helen Scott Taylor has some news to share. In celebration of the release of her new book, THE PHOENIX CHARM, you can read a free short story at Dorchester by going here: http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=2759. Also, her first book trailer is up on You Tube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8JvYC2ljzE) and the front page of her web site. She tells me she is hard at work on her next book, this one telling the story of Nightshade. It is due at the end of this year. You can also find a novella of hers in the Mammoth Book of Irish Romance when it’s released in a few weeks. For those authors self-publishing their work through the Kindle, there is some good news. Amazon is upping the royalties paid per book to 70%, minus delivery costs. This should open things up a bit more to authors who were considering this option through Amazon. The higher royalties start June 30. That’s all for now. Hope you are all having a great week! Nicole
With the closure of Laredo, Texas' lone bookstore, a B. Dalton shop, local residents no longer have a neighborhood place to get new books. To help readers out, Avon romance author Julia Quinn is giving away 100 books (1 book per address) between now and Valentine's Day to readers living in Laredo. As Quinn says on her website: "Like many of you, I do a fair bit of book shopping on the web. But not all of it. Probably not even half. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have a bookstore near my house. I love to stroll around with my cup of coffee, browsing through books, seeing what's new." To learn more about this promotion, visit: http://www.juliaquinn.com/bonus-features/main.php#laredo
Fans of sci-fi/ fantasy author — and 2009 nominee for RT's Career Achievement Award in Science Fiction/Fantasy — will be saddened to learn that she is very ill. She would love cards and emails and messages from fans. Email to: materkb [at] gmail [dot] com—it’ll be printed out and read to her. Cards to: Kage Baker 331 Stimson, Apt. B, Pismo Beach CA 93449. As Jo Walton wrote today on Tor.com"... if you’ve enjoyed her books and stories, send a card or an email, and if you haven’t been lucky enough to discover her thus far, this is a great time to buy one of her books and send a message that way."
To celebrate the upcoming release of Jeaniene Frost's First Drop of Crimson, which received a Top Pick in the February issue of RT, we have five copies of the book to give away. To enter for your chance to win, check out this book trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpznY8Og3uEand then e-mail Faygie@RTBookreviews.combe sure to put "Frost" in the subject line.
 Marjorie M. Liu is releasing a new game! Celebrate Valentines Day by pre-ordering the Tiger Eye paranormal romance video game at www.passionfruitgames.comFind out more details about this development here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20091217/bs_prweb/prweb3355304_1We also have a word from Marjorie M. Liu: "We're really excited about reaching out to fans throughout the process of creating the game, which doesn't come out until April. Right now we have people voting on which character design they like best for Long Nu at http://www.passionfruitgames.com/ so head over there and give us your two cents about which one you like best."
We've just learned that Cosmopolitan magazine's editor-in-chief Kate White will be attending the RT Booklovers convention on Thursday, April, 29 to promote her new mystery novel, Hush, out in March from Harper. White is among a number of authors who will appear at a special Thursday lunchtime autographing session. Other authors at the event include sci-fi author John Scalzi, romance authors Jennifer Crusie and Anne Stuart, and mystery authors CJ Lyons and Harley Jane Kozak. Also, joining us this year will be YA author Carrie Ryan, a rising star in the YA fantasy genre. For more on the convention, check out HERE
RT has learned that HarperCollins has acquired a number of authors' works from fellow publisher Dorchester. In a statement, HarperCollins officials said: "HarperCollins has acquired several frontlist and backlist titles from Dorchester publishing and has also extended its distribution partnership. Authors include titles from Victoria Alexander, Nina Bangs, Christine Feehan, Sandra Hill, Marjorie M. Liu, Katie MacAlister, Lynsay Sands and CL Wilson. We are currently scheduling the Avon release of these books, and will sell, market and publish all acquired titles by these authors on a go-forward basis. We look forward to working with these talented authors to futher grow their brand recognition."
There are lots of great books coming out in the next year. Here are a few I am excited about: January 12 – BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY by Lauren Willig. This is the next book in the Pink Carnation series, which I have been reading since the beginning. This one focuses on Penelope Devereaux and takes the reader to India, a first for the series. February 9 – FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON by Jeaniene Frost. This is the first book of a new series for Ms. Frost, which is set in the same world as her Night Huntress books. February 23 – BLACK MAGIC SANCTION by Kim Harrison. A continuation of the Rachel Morgan series, this is a heavily anticipated book by the esteemed Ms. Harrison. You can meet Ms. Harrison at this year's RT Convention. March 30 – SUCCUBUS SHADOWS by Richelle Mead. Part of the Succubus series. March 30 – SILVER BORNE by Patrcia Briggs. Next in the Mercy series. I just re-read the last two books in the series and am even more excited for this next installment in the series. April 6 – CHANGES by Jim Butcher. Part of the Dresden Files. Mr. Butcher and his author wife Shannon K. Butcher will also be attending this year's RT. What books are you looking forward to reading this year? Share with us in the comments! Nicole
Lou Waxnicki’s Fifth and Final Post . . . We All Have to Make it Beyond the Night
Lou Waxnicki’s Fourth Post . . . Did He Say Monsters?
Lou Waxnicki’s Third Post . . . Is it the End of the World?
Lou Waxnicki is Back . . . and Still in Trouble
Shh ... It's a Secret!
 Looking for a new author to try with your holiday gift cards? Consider Jennifer R. Hubbard, whose wonderful debut, The Secret Year , will be released from Viking on Thursday. The tale follows Colt as he deals with the death of his secret lover, Julia, while her rich friends from the right side of town grieve openly. RT gave the young adult novel a top pick rating, and we were so excited we tracked down Hubbard to get the scoop on her tale of secret grief.
We've also got five advanced copies to give away! E-mail elissa@rtbookreviews.com by Friday with your mailing address to win. 1. Where did you come up with the idea for The Secret Year?I had a situation in mind: a secret relationship, a death, a notebook left behind. I wrote the book to find out why the relationship had to be secret and what was in the notebook. 2. How did you come up with Colt? He's such an authentic "guy" character, almost S.E. Hinton reminiscent, and really sounds like a boy. Was it hard to write in his voice?Male characters speak to me quite often. I’ve always had male friends as well as female; I've read books written by men. A male voice doesn’t seem foreign to me. Colt’s voice was at the heart of this book from the beginning, and I never considered writing it from any other point of view — although we hear Julia’s voice also, in her journal entries. 3. What's your new year's resolution?My resolution is the same one I had last year: I don’t want to add to my list of things to do, but rather to make sure the items on that list are in the right order. I want to focus on what’s most important to me, and not feel like I have to do everything all the time. 4. How are you celebrating the publication of your debut?I’ll be celebrating online at my blog this week ( http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/). Later in January, I’ll be celebrating live at a local bookstore. I believe cake will be involved. :-)
Recently I was asked about paranormal romance, in a general way, kind of a “what is it?” kind of thing. My simple answer was that it was stories that contain both paranormal and romance elements. But that's a little too simplistic, don't you think? So, really, what's the difference? First, I suppose we should define “paranormal” and “romance.” Paranormal, or urban fantasy, or any derivation of the word would mean a book with supernatural elements that are primary to the story. Ghosts, witches, vampires, zombies – all these things make a book paranormal. Romance, any version thereof, would be a book where the primary point of the story is to get the two main characters to fall in love, whether forever or not. So, with that in mind, a paranormal romance book would be a love story with paranormal elements in it. But again, it just doesn't seem that simple. Nearly every book has a love story element to it. Even the hard-boiled noirs have the guy getting the girl. So where's the line between the two? I know that when it comes down to it, I tend to favor the more straight-up paranormals versus those deemed paranormal romance. I love Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Jeanne Stein – all straight paranormals in my mind. I also love Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead and Carrie Vaughan, all of whose books feature a love interest, some spanning a single book, some over entire series. Are these paranormal romances? And then there's Angela Knight, Dawn Thompson and Larissa Ione, some of whom not only bring the love but bring the sex. Where's the line? What's the difference? If the love story takes up half the book it's a romance, but if it's only a fourth of the story line, it's not? Maybe I am wrong and all books with a significant amount of sexual tension/love interest/sex is a romance, paranormal or otherwise. But that just doesn't seem right. So I am asking you, our readers, to tell me what you think. What is the difference between the two? What makes it a romantic paranormal or just a straight paranormal? Where do you draw your line? Tell me in the comments! Nicole
Attention Aspiring Writers:
Enter to Win an RT Pre-Con & General-Con Registration
A Lasting Legacy For Ann Peach
At last year’s convention in Orlando, we awarded our first RT Convention Grant to aspiring writer Sherri L. Hollister from Aurora, N.C., in honor of Ann Peach, our colleague and friend who lost her battle with cancer in 2006. She was a valued contributor to the magazine, to our “Aspiring Writers’ Meeting Place” web column and, most notably, to the pre-convention intensive program for beginner writers at the RT convention. She provided individual attention to shy newbies and gave them the encouragement and confidence they needed to put pen to paper and pursue their dreams of getting published. Her passion for writing and her love of teaching were infectious.
To honor Ann’s memory and to continue her legacy of helping aspiring writers, her family is sponsoring an annual grant for one deserving beginner writer. The grant will include registration for the pre-convention “Beginner Writer” program together with a general RT convention registration, a value of $610. Thank you to the Peach family for this honored gift and for preserving the memory of a cherished friend and instructor.
HOW TO ENTER:
The Second Annual Ann Peach RT Convention Grant
The grant, which covers the cost of the pre-convention “Beginner Writer” program registration and the general RT convention registration (a value of $610), is open to all BEGINNER aspiring writers who are passionate about the craft of writing and are determined to someday be published. Note: The pre-convention registration is for the “Beginner Writer“ program currently led by Judi McCoy and NOT for the “Advanced Aspiring Writer“ program led by Bobbi Smith.
To enter (in 250 words or less for each question),
tell us why you want to be a writer and why you feel you would be the most deserving of the grant. Also in 250 words or less, submit a short description of the book you want to write.
Send entries to: Ann Peach Grant, c/o Corrie Peach, P.O. Box 797, Marion, TX 78124, or e-mail Corrie.Peach@Hotmail.com.
Deadline for entries is Wednesday, January 20, 2010. The winner will be notified in February and will be announced in a future issue of RT BOOK REVIEWS.
It’s time for the sixth and final except of The Dark Divine. Thanks so much to all of your for coming along on this journey with us! If you can’t wait to find out what happens next, you can e-mail elissa@rtbookreviews.com for one last chance to win the book and a bottle of matching nail polish, or head to the bookstore tomorrow to pick up a copy yourself!
Here’s what Bree has to say about the final excerpt we’ve got for you:
Dear RT Book Reviews readers,
I am so happy that I’ve been able to share the first six chapters of The Dark Divine with you. Thank you for reading and for your enthusiasm. I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts about the writing of the book with you — and I really wish I could keep going! I mean, I love the first six chapters of TDD, but that’s just the beginning of the story. So much happens after chapter six, and we are getting so close to one of my absolute favorite moments. But I’m sure RT would take issue with me hijacking their blog for another twenty-two chapters . . . so I will have to say farewell.
Chapter six was a fun one to write, but also a chapter that took a lot of work. I really wanted to delve into Daniel’s past and explore how he came to live with the Divines, and I needed to balance that with moving the story forward and developing the overarching mystery of the book. A few tough things happen in this chapter, and it was hard for me to write such terrible things happening to the characters I love so much — but the story and the characters wouldn’t be the same without it. I also wanted Grace to start realizing that her perfect family isn’t as perfect as she always thought.
Once again, thank you so much for reading! And many thanks to RT Book Reviews for sharing this exclusive preview. I hope you’ve enjoyed this experience as much as I have.
Love,
Bree
Winners!
We're counting down to the release of The Dark Divine, with our final excerpt, chapter six, going up Monday, so be sure to stop by and check it out. In the meantime, we'd like to start the weekend a little bit early by congratulating our two latest winners, Susan and Linda! Congrats, ladies. Your prizes are on their way!
Adaptation of an Adaptation
An adaptation of an adaptation is nothing new in the literary or film worlds. And we have all heard of the phenom that is PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. Well, now we can all hear about the movie version, starring Natalie Portman. Does this count as a period piece or a monster movie? Either way, we will find out. What many people may not know is that this literary mash up of classic lit and monsters is an ongoing trend with many others to come. Any one up for HUCKLEBERRY FINN AND ZOMBIE JIM? How about THE UNDEAD WORLD OF OZ? I am not sure what I make of this trend in taking a traditional style and completely turning it on its head. On one hand, making anything different and new is always cause for celebration in the literary world. On the other, this could be seen as a perversion of what has been considered classical literature, taught in high schools around the country. Genre-bending books are always a risk. Do you take the chance of alienating your core audiences to do something different? Or do you forge a new path and create something new out of something tired and old? Have you read one of these mash ups? What do you think about them? Also, if you are looking for a daily dose of classic literature, try DailyLit.com. You can pick one of dozens of famous texts and have them sent to your inbox in small bite-size pieces. Right now, I am reading a grammar book and LITTLE WOMEN this way. Each day is a new email and a new surprise to read. Try it if you are looking to get in a little light reading everyday or just want to catch up on those books you missed in high school. Nicole
We're five weeks into our Dark Divine adventure, and Grace is realizing that it's going to be hard to stay away from Daniel -- no matter what her family wants.
Here's what author Bree Despain has to say:
Chapter Five is the first big turning point in the book. Grace finally
realizes that she needs to take action. Up to this point, she has been
trying to keep her promise to Jude by staying away from Daniel, but the
universe seems to have other plans. After her encounter with Daniel on
Markham Street, she can¹t get him out of her mind, and she can¹t just sit by
anymore. I debated a lot about where to put this turning point, moving it
back and forth in the novel, but I realized I had to go with my initial
instinct on where it belonged.
And there¹s still two more chances to win a copy of the book and a bottle of
matching nail polish! E-mail Elissa@RTBookReviews.com with your mailing
address to enter
Although the nominees for the RT Career Achievement and Reviewers’ Choice Awards will appear in our next issue (February issue #312) we wanted to give you an advance look at the authors we have selected. Call it an early holiday gift from RT.
Enjoy! And congratulations to all the authors selected.
Carol Stacy
Publisher
We want to know what you think!
Please comment below with your thoughts.
I recently came across this unique method of book storage: a
staircase. When a small apartment needed more room, these contractors created a staircase going up to a loft area, and the staircase was lined in books. You have to see the pictures to believe it. This got me thinking about book storage. When I worked at Barnes & Noble, I was often asked how we kept our books so clean. The answer was simple – we dusted every few days, moving the books off the shelves and cleaning on top of them. Recently, I had custom shelves built for my books. They now fill a whole wall, as well as a couple of other bookcases. However, I am looking to move soon and contemplating what to do with all my books. I know I will need to put some in storage, once I have sorted out the books I will no longer keep. Do I box them in cardboard boxes? Plastic boxes? And which books do I keep and which do I store? Some people would say, switch to e-books. Store all my books on one electrical device. But I am not giving up my hard copies, my autographed books. There are just too many books I don’t want to give up. So how do you store your books? Do you have a creative way of keeping your books out of the way? Share pictures or descriptions in the comments. Nicole
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Things are getting exciting now as we reach chapter four of The Dark Divine! Read on for the excerpt as well for Bree's thoughts on composing this part of her debut novel.
and don't forget to email Elissa@RTBookReviews.com if you'd like to be entered to win a free copy of the book, and some snazzy purple nail polish.
Bree says:
"The fourth chapter of The Dark Divine is one of my favorites because I get to introduce and explore a lot of new ideas and themes in the story — and (SPOILER ALERT) Daniel comes back into the action. This is the first time my two favorite characters have a meaningful interaction in the book, and learn more about each other. I love Daniel and Grace together — writing the way they play off of each other, and of course, the sexual tension between the two. I love the idea that some sort of outside force, or “divine intervention,” has set them on a course to run into each other again. This is also the chapter that gives clues about the paranormal element in the book, which is just plain fun to write. "
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