Saturday, 1 February 2014
Friday, 31 January 2014
Author Interview & Giveaway - Rising Storm (Volume I of Fading Empires) by Ian Kane
Rising Storm (Volume I of Fading Empires)
Genre: Apocalyptic/Survival Horror
Author: Ian Kane
Publisher: Farther Books (imprint of Assent Publishing)
Pages: 298
Language: English
Format: Paperback and eBook
Established empires are fading and altered realities embrace a sinister future. Fading Empires is a time and place where unlikely heroes, scheming villains, monstrous entities, and ruthless super-gangs clash for dominance.
Grab your copy of Rising Storm
About the author Ian Kane
Ian Kane is an author, freelance writer, and filmmaker. After high school, he joined the military and received numerous awards and commendations for his exceptional service. After receiving his Honorable Discharge, he worked as a writer for online and print publications, as a journalist and as a health & fitness expert, culminating in owning his own successful business. Ian has also worked as a military consultant for film productions.
Traveling to many places in the world, in both his civilian and military lives, has given him unique insights, and he infuses this international perspective into both his writing and filmmaking.
A storyteller at heart, Ian has recently made the transition over to doing what he loves most: Creating stories of people whom others can identify with, and hopefully be entertained by along the way as well. He recently signed with Assent Publishing, and just released his debut novel— Rising Storm: Fading Empires Volume I:—in November 2013. This is the first of twelve epic novels.
1. What inspired you to want to become a writer?
My mother used to read books, such as Grimm's Fairy Tales, to me as far back as I can remember. Being a naturally curious person I would read the dictionary several times per year as a child. Factors such as these, as well as my father being a writer, spurred me on to develop my writing skills. I also used to play pen and paper role-playing games, where often I’d be the game master and as such, would create whole worlds for players to engross themselves in.
2. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Probably the look on my mother’s face when I pulled the first copy of Rising Storm out of the shipping box and handed it to her after signing it. She was very instrumental in helping me through the creative process of writing my first novel.
3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
I really enjoyed Prey, by Michael Crichton. “Thank you Mr. Crichton, science fiction horror/thrillers such as these has really left an indelible mark upon my psyche, and inspired my creativity.”
4. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
My superpower would be very unique indeed…the ability to look good while wearing corduroy pants!
5. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
If one is interested in the slightest bit about what’s going on around us and wants a glimpse of a possible future world that might just happen, Fading Empires draws many parallels from today’s tumultuous events; Egregious corruption, a disappearing middle class, encroaching police state, environmental degradation, suppression of common human rights and dignities, etc., this is an opportunity to escape this new universe and live vicariously through one or more of the characters whom you identify with.
6. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I’m currently writing the fourth novel in the Fading Empires series as well as developing the outline of a contemporary horror novel. My publisher and I, Assent Publishing, are also planning and plotting out video game and film adaptations of Fading Empires. I am now also working on the first screenplay which should be finished very soon. The future is bright!
7. Do you write as you go or do you have the book planned before you start the first draft?
I have an overall plan for all twelve of the Fading Empire novels. I first developed rough scaffolding around each book, and then fleshed them out with major events and plot details. Every time something comes to me that would fit a certain part of the narrative, I just insert it where I want to, as long as it makes sense and I think that it would be entertaining.
8. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
The new Robocop comes out February 12th, and I’m interested in seeing where Hollywood goes with it. The original 1987 version was a dystopian masterpiece so hopefully the remake will do it justice. Not holding my breath though; the current state of the creatively bankrupt film industry is quite disconcerting.
9. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Somewhere warm where I can live not far from my family.
10. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
An ex-girlfriend commented that I seemed like Leonard Kilbane, one of Fading Empire’s pivotal characters. She said that after reading his description in the beginning of Rising Storm. Not sure how accurate she is about that though [snicker].
Rising Storm (Fading Empires, Volume I) Book Trailer
Rising Storm (Volume I of Fading Empires) eBook Giveaway
Ends 20/02/14
Open to United States, Europe and Asia.
Bookvie: Winter's Tale - out February 14, 2014
Whos' in it:
Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe and Jessica Brown Findlay
What's it all about (book blurb from Goodreads):
New York City is subsumed in arctic winds, dark nights, and white lights, its life unfolds, for it is an extraordinary hive of the imagination, the greatest house ever built, and nothing exists that can check its vitality. One night in winter, Peter Lake, orphan and master-mechanic, attempts to rob a fortress-like mansion on the Upper West Side.
Though he thinks the house is empty, the daughter of the house is home. Thus begins the love between Peter Lake, a middle-aged Irish burglar, and Beverly Penn, a young girl, who is dying.
Peter Lake, a simple, uneducated man, because of a love that, at first he does not fully understand, is driven to stop time and bring back the dead. His great struggle, in a city ever alight with its own energy and besieged by unprecedented winters, is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary stories of American literature.
Winter's Tale - Official Trailer
Movie Stills
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Must-Read: The Green Mile by Stephen King
Release Date: March - August 1996
Publisher: Signet
Summary (from Goodreads):
At Cold Mountain Penitentiary, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the Green Mile, killers are depraved as the psychopathic "Billy the Kid" Wharton and the possessed Eduard Delacroix await death strapped in "Old Sparky." Here guards as decent as Paul Edgecombe and as sadistic as Percy Wetmore watch over them. But good or evil, innocent or guilty, none have ever seen the brutal likes of the new prisoner, John Coffey, sentenced to death for raping and murdering two young girls. Is Coffey a devil in human form? Or is he a far, far different kind of being?
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Author Spotlight - RainWhisker
Echo
Jemma Pearson has been running from her past for as long as she could. When she thinks of settling down and of letting go, her demons finally catch up with her. You know what they say. You can run, but you can never hide.
Interview
1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.
Long story short, I’m an eighteen-year-old daydreamer, completely addicted to writing (and moreover to my characters and other writers’ characters) and reading. I’m the kind of people that is really passionate. Since you might already know everything about me if you’ve read Don’t Jump, I’ll try to head another way! I could describe myself using animals, how about that? The top three animals that represent me are…the lion, the wolf and the polar bear!
2. What types of books do you write?
Mostly, I would assume that I write teen fiction or non-teen fiction. I like to write almost all types of books—my favourites being paranormal, science-fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, horror. I don’t really like to write about “normal” or “average” life. There’s often a dark twist in my books. I like to write about the what ifs (but not the “what if I’d told him I loved him” kind of thing, more like “what if people could tell when you’ll die” kind of thing).
3. How many books have you written?
Too many to keep track of them. To be honest, I just have so many ideas that I often find myself needing to write a totally new book because there’s another story that needs to be told. Excluding the seven fanfiction books I’ve worked on, I’m writing about twenty books of fiction. Many aren’t published anywhere on Internet though. Mostly, however, I work on about ten in total. On the said ten books, three are complete and going under a major editing process and the others are in the process of being written.
4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I’m always looking forward another Tabou book—it’s a collection of books written in French and they’re about “taboo” matters, like suicide, HIV, bullying, abuse, etc.—because I am very intrigued about that kind of matter and I want to know more about it. Maybe I would be looking forward to the Divergent movie (I really like it when she says “They call it Divergent”. I don’t know why.) when I’ll have read the books. But one movie I’m actually quite thrilled about (apart from Mockingjay) would be How To Train Your Dragon 2.
5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
I enjoy all kind of books--but historical fiction (I'm not a big fan of that). I'm always a sucker for a little bit of cheesy romance or totally cliché love story. I always long for the boy that won’t end up with the girl. The best thing I love about reading, it’s when the book makes me want to scream, shout and/or cry, when they hit close to home or when they make me dream endlessly. I love a book that can make me think afterward, a book that I will, somehow, remember forever.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
I was about to say apple seeds when I realised it was a desert island which means that the trees probably couldn’t grow. In that case…
1. My computer (even though I would rather write on a notebook, but a notebook and a pen counts as two things so computer, that’s good) with a battery that uses solar energy, how about that! So the battery would never die.
2. Books (If I have to pick one…I really can’t. It would require a lifetime for me to pick. I considered the E-book kind of thing but seriously if I can’t smell or feel the pages…I can’t. I need a real book.
3. A bag of watermelons and candies that never runs out of food. How great would that be?
7. Are you considering a sequel?
As a matter of fact, I am! It's probably going to be called Rewind. I have thought of it and I think it might be the next book I write when I'm done with all the others, unless I keep Rewind for the NaNoWriMo14. However, there's an Echo prequel that is currently being written. It's called Monster.
8. What inspired you to become a writer?
To be completely honest, I don’t know. I think it just crept up on me. It might be because I am such a dreamer and writing, the worlds I can create, has always been my way of escaping and of coping. Whenever I feel like I’m losing it, I write and somehow, afterward, I feel better. I just feel like there are thousands of characters inside of my mind, my soul and even my heart, and they’re all screaming their stories, their despair, their hatred, their love, and they’re the reason why I keep writing and the reason why I can’t stop. It’s like I’ll never run out of things to say, of stories to tell, of characters to exploit. Some just happen to be screaming louder than the others (Jemma being one since I’m going to write both a prequel and a sequel for Echo).
Excerpt One
My foster parents were angry with me when she left. They said that I could have at least given them some clues so that they could help deal with that. But we all know that this is all a silly lie. There is only one way to smother all of this.
Leave. Change your name. Don’t come back. Don’t look back. Start over.
Repeat.
It would be my fourth time. There’s really no big deal in that anymore.
Excerpt Two
“Go on, Pat,” I say, my voice unctuous. “Bring it on. You want answers? You gotta work for them. Nothing’s free.”
If they want answers, they have to come and get them. I’m not giving anything for free, regardless to the fact that I won’t protect anyone anymore. I won’t lie. But I won’t say the truth either. Keep some mystery is what I’ve been told. I intend to keep doing that. It’s been a good advice. What will drive everyone crazy is not knowing the real truth, not knowing what really happened, only being aware of the ending and perhaps the beginning.
Pat sits in his chair, looking odd and casual at the same time. He’s dropped the pen on the table. If that’s meant for me to trust him more, it’s an epic fail. There’s no trust to put in anyone anymore. They’ve all proven they weren’t worth it. Why would I waste my time trying to believe that someone really wants to help me? They’re all liars here. We’re all liars.
“How about you tell me whose body this is?”
I shrug. “You already know,” I say. “Dex probably spoiled you.”
Pat cocks his head to the side, seeming mighty interested. “What, another secret he should’ve kept to the grave?”
Don’t let it get to you.
I clench my jaw and try to keep my fists relaxed which is rather hard when my whole body is stiffened.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We’re not playing by your rules anymore, Jemma. You’ve been officially overthrown. It’s my rules, now. And I don’t care for how long I’ll keep you in here. You’ll answer the questions. You’ll give bloody answers to those families that have been left hanging!” He slams his fists to the table, probably expecting to get a reaction out of me. I only stare at him, blinking once as to tell him that I am not impressed for one single second. I know that despite what he says and what he wants me to believe, he’s kind of powerless. The proofs against me can speak for themselves. They’ll know that I’m guilty.
They’ll know what I’m guilty of. But they’ll never know why. They cannot force me to speak. And it doesn’t matter if that only makes things worse. I’m ready for the worst.
“I’ve never ruled anywhere, Pat.”
He clenches his teeth. “I’m serious, Jemma.” He sighs and seems to loosen up a little. “It’s my ass on the line, too. Just give me something to work with.”
“It’s my ass on the line.”
That sounds familiar.
I raise one eyebrow, letting my lips form a devilish smile. “My ass’s been on the line for longer than yours, and I’m still very much alive. Just tell them I wouldn’t cooperate.”
“They’d torture you if they only could.”
“I know.” The smile grows wider. “But they can’t.” I lean down over the table to whisper, “See? I’m still the one with the power.”
I sit back down, suppressing the victorious look in my eyes. “That’s all I have to say,” I dismiss him. I cross my arms over my chest.
“If you tell me now, we can make a deal,” Pat tries for one last time. I know it’s the last offer he’ll give me. I know it’s the last shot I’ll have if I want to reduce my journey in jail. But I won’t. I’m in for the long ride.
1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.
Long story short, I’m an eighteen-year-old daydreamer, completely addicted to writing (and moreover to my characters and other writers’ characters) and reading. I’m the kind of people that is really passionate. Since you might already know everything about me if you’ve read Don’t Jump, I’ll try to head another way! I could describe myself using animals, how about that? The top three animals that represent me are…the lion, the wolf and the polar bear!
2. What types of books do you write?
Mostly, I would assume that I write teen fiction or non-teen fiction. I like to write almost all types of books—my favourites being paranormal, science-fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, horror. I don’t really like to write about “normal” or “average” life. There’s often a dark twist in my books. I like to write about the what ifs (but not the “what if I’d told him I loved him” kind of thing, more like “what if people could tell when you’ll die” kind of thing).
3. How many books have you written?
Too many to keep track of them. To be honest, I just have so many ideas that I often find myself needing to write a totally new book because there’s another story that needs to be told. Excluding the seven fanfiction books I’ve worked on, I’m writing about twenty books of fiction. Many aren’t published anywhere on Internet though. Mostly, however, I work on about ten in total. On the said ten books, three are complete and going under a major editing process and the others are in the process of being written.
4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I’m always looking forward another Tabou book—it’s a collection of books written in French and they’re about “taboo” matters, like suicide, HIV, bullying, abuse, etc.—because I am very intrigued about that kind of matter and I want to know more about it. Maybe I would be looking forward to the Divergent movie (I really like it when she says “They call it Divergent”. I don’t know why.) when I’ll have read the books. But one movie I’m actually quite thrilled about (apart from Mockingjay) would be How To Train Your Dragon 2.
5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
I enjoy all kind of books--but historical fiction (I'm not a big fan of that). I'm always a sucker for a little bit of cheesy romance or totally cliché love story. I always long for the boy that won’t end up with the girl. The best thing I love about reading, it’s when the book makes me want to scream, shout and/or cry, when they hit close to home or when they make me dream endlessly. I love a book that can make me think afterward, a book that I will, somehow, remember forever.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
I was about to say apple seeds when I realised it was a desert island which means that the trees probably couldn’t grow. In that case…
1. My computer (even though I would rather write on a notebook, but a notebook and a pen counts as two things so computer, that’s good) with a battery that uses solar energy, how about that! So the battery would never die.
2. Books (If I have to pick one…I really can’t. It would require a lifetime for me to pick. I considered the E-book kind of thing but seriously if I can’t smell or feel the pages…I can’t. I need a real book.
3. A bag of watermelons and candies that never runs out of food. How great would that be?
7. Are you considering a sequel?
As a matter of fact, I am! It's probably going to be called Rewind. I have thought of it and I think it might be the next book I write when I'm done with all the others, unless I keep Rewind for the NaNoWriMo14. However, there's an Echo prequel that is currently being written. It's called Monster.
8. What inspired you to become a writer?
To be completely honest, I don’t know. I think it just crept up on me. It might be because I am such a dreamer and writing, the worlds I can create, has always been my way of escaping and of coping. Whenever I feel like I’m losing it, I write and somehow, afterward, I feel better. I just feel like there are thousands of characters inside of my mind, my soul and even my heart, and they’re all screaming their stories, their despair, their hatred, their love, and they’re the reason why I keep writing and the reason why I can’t stop. It’s like I’ll never run out of things to say, of stories to tell, of characters to exploit. Some just happen to be screaming louder than the others (Jemma being one since I’m going to write both a prequel and a sequel for Echo).
Excerpt One
My foster parents were angry with me when she left. They said that I could have at least given them some clues so that they could help deal with that. But we all know that this is all a silly lie. There is only one way to smother all of this.
Leave. Change your name. Don’t come back. Don’t look back. Start over.
Repeat.
It would be my fourth time. There’s really no big deal in that anymore.
Excerpt Two
“Go on, Pat,” I say, my voice unctuous. “Bring it on. You want answers? You gotta work for them. Nothing’s free.”
If they want answers, they have to come and get them. I’m not giving anything for free, regardless to the fact that I won’t protect anyone anymore. I won’t lie. But I won’t say the truth either. Keep some mystery is what I’ve been told. I intend to keep doing that. It’s been a good advice. What will drive everyone crazy is not knowing the real truth, not knowing what really happened, only being aware of the ending and perhaps the beginning.
Pat sits in his chair, looking odd and casual at the same time. He’s dropped the pen on the table. If that’s meant for me to trust him more, it’s an epic fail. There’s no trust to put in anyone anymore. They’ve all proven they weren’t worth it. Why would I waste my time trying to believe that someone really wants to help me? They’re all liars here. We’re all liars.
“How about you tell me whose body this is?”
I shrug. “You already know,” I say. “Dex probably spoiled you.”
Pat cocks his head to the side, seeming mighty interested. “What, another secret he should’ve kept to the grave?”
Don’t let it get to you.
I clench my jaw and try to keep my fists relaxed which is rather hard when my whole body is stiffened.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We’re not playing by your rules anymore, Jemma. You’ve been officially overthrown. It’s my rules, now. And I don’t care for how long I’ll keep you in here. You’ll answer the questions. You’ll give bloody answers to those families that have been left hanging!” He slams his fists to the table, probably expecting to get a reaction out of me. I only stare at him, blinking once as to tell him that I am not impressed for one single second. I know that despite what he says and what he wants me to believe, he’s kind of powerless. The proofs against me can speak for themselves. They’ll know that I’m guilty.
They’ll know what I’m guilty of. But they’ll never know why. They cannot force me to speak. And it doesn’t matter if that only makes things worse. I’m ready for the worst.
“I’ve never ruled anywhere, Pat.”
He clenches his teeth. “I’m serious, Jemma.” He sighs and seems to loosen up a little. “It’s my ass on the line, too. Just give me something to work with.”
“It’s my ass on the line.”
That sounds familiar.
I raise one eyebrow, letting my lips form a devilish smile. “My ass’s been on the line for longer than yours, and I’m still very much alive. Just tell them I wouldn’t cooperate.”
“They’d torture you if they only could.”
“I know.” The smile grows wider. “But they can’t.” I lean down over the table to whisper, “See? I’m still the one with the power.”
I sit back down, suppressing the victorious look in my eyes. “That’s all I have to say,” I dismiss him. I cross my arms over my chest.
“If you tell me now, we can make a deal,” Pat tries for one last time. I know it’s the last offer he’ll give me. I know it’s the last shot I’ll have if I want to reduce my journey in jail. But I won’t. I’m in for the long ride.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Cover Love - The Young World by Chris Weitz
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Summary (from Goodreads):
After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos. But when another tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure to the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip to save humankind.
The tribe exchanges gunfire with enemy gangs, escapes cults and militias, braves the wilds of the subway and Central Park...and discovers truths they could never have imagined.
Monday, 27 January 2014
BOTW - Perfect II
Perfect II
General Fiction / Coming Of Age
Wattpad Book Blurb:
New York’s Academy For Arts and Sciences bombarded Ethan with its glory and grandeur. Varnished oak walls that seemed like a mansion’s foyer, majestic chandeliers that hanged from the ceiling, auburn lockers that included hangers for clothes and a mini-bookshelf in each… all seemed the pinnacle of all fundamentals. The food always was being voted every week. Glad New Yorker colleges favored coffee and brownies over ice creams. Ethan was glad. It felt like home, especially with the large library. Being elected as Associate Editor-in-chief in tandem with his fellow freshman, Skylar Raleigh, he thought everything flowed nicely.
Facing sex, love, studies, virtues, vices and dreams, Ethan found himself lying with peril and challenges. Ethan’s dream of publishing a textbook filled with ideals of Social Awareness would face danger along with his ever unfaltering personality. Versus Skylar’s impeccable writing skills in competition with his, new love interests and entities from the past, and new goals to commit selves with, Ethan Colchester and Enid Lerwick would write their stories that would be worth writing and reading.
Click here to read the book.
BOTW - A Narration from the Brain of Jewel Quinn
A Narration from the Brain of Jewel Quinn
Teen Fiction / Humour
Wattpad Book Blurb:
If you lived in Mission Hills, you may have heard of Jewel Quinn.
Jewel Quinn thought that breaking her best friend up with Mr. Perfect - Ryan Oaks- was the right thing to do but no one seems to agree.
Now a summer later, Jewel is the most hated girl in town. A town she's stuck in. With Mr. Perfect out for revenge and angry townspeople watching her every move, how can things possibly get any worse?
Click here to read the book.
BOTW - Echo
Echo
Mystery / Thriller
Wattpad Book Blurb:
Jemma Pearson has been running from her past for as long as she could. When she thinks of settling down and of letting go, her demons finally catch up with her. You know what they say. You can run, but you can never hide.
Click here to read the book.
BOTW - Faith In You
Faith In You
Teen Romance
Wattpad Book Blurb:
A simple desire; a desire to be happy, to be contented in life.
A desire so intricate yet so unpretentious and commonplace that when Maria wished for the exact same thing kneeling down in a church, little did she expect that a complete stranger named Leander would chime in her life to help her wish come true, just because his sister asked him to do so.
However, hemmed in by Leander’s charm and allure, Leander’s life
clenched by promises and vows which have to be kept.
As Maria’s pursuit for happiness and feeling of fulfillment entwines with Leander’s charisma and life full of promises and duties to people, they both realise that being happy is certainly not as easy as it seems.
Can these innocent youths survive that clutches of evil?
Can a pure and naïve heart survive the repercussions of love and passion, and that too without being broken?
An enchanting story of loving, losing, hoping, dreaming, daring and lastly, having faith.
Click here to read the book.
BOTW - The Unusuals
The Unusuals
Teen Fiction / Adventure
Wattpad Book Blurb:
Jamie Smith was never a normal girl. All her life she was training and running from The Government. Everything changes when everyone except her and five other Unusual are left to fend for themselves. Jamie Smith must now overcome not only running from the Government but also betraying best friends, prophecies and the fear of losing everyone she loves...
Click here to read the book.
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Author Interview - Hello World by Joanna Sellick
Hello World
Genre: YA Romance
Author: Joanna Sellick
Publisher: Self-Published
Language: English
Format: eBook
Grief.
That’s all Neve can think about, it is the only thing she is really certain about. It dominates her life. Depressed and tormented by an unknown source, Neve is struggling to hold onto her life, until mysterious new boy Jay turns up and sets off a series of unforgettable events.
But everyone has secrets. Jay’s aren’t dirty secrets though. He won’t break your heart or turn his back on you, he won’t stab you in the back or laugh in your face. No, what Jay keeps hidden is ten times worse and slowly killing him from the inside out.
Jay is determined to save Neve from herself and show her what living really means. Neve is determined not to. After all, how many times can your heart break before it becomes unfixable?
** Grab your Free copy of Hello World at Amazon on January 25 & 26 **
Jo (or Joseph, as she is sometimes referred) is a first year undergraduate studying Graphic Design. Her favourite past time is spending Saturday nights watching Friends marathon while eating pizza with the girls.
When she's not writing, she can be found in peculiar places with my camera. She also loves to eat. A lot.
Excerpt
‘Neve?’ I hear Jay call, looking up as he rushes over and crouches beside me. If my voice on the phone or the disorderly state of me sitting on the curb hadn’t given anything away, then something in my face tells him that things are certainly not alright.
Wordlessly, he pulls me into a hug and I start crying helplessly on his shoulder. He strokes my hair and rocks me slightly, whispering calming things in my ear that I hardly hear. I’m just crying into this stranger’s shoulder and it doesn’t feel wrong. It feels safe.
When I’ve pulled myself together enough, I pull away and wipe the tears away from my eyes.
‘Sorry,’ I apologise, my voice sounding wet after the crying. ‘You must think I’m such a state, crying on the curb like this.’ I try to laugh but it just ends up sounding as fake as Katie Price’s boobs.
‘Not at all,’ Jay says softly. Then he catches my hand, noticing its grazed state. The blood has dried at least. ‘What happened?’ he asks, his expression darkening.
I carefully pull my hand away and clasp it together with my other hand, running my fingers over each other nervously.
‘I ran into some boys that used to go to our school. They stopped my bike and pulled me off it, started taunting me,’ I shrug. I sneak at glance at Jay who is waiting patiently, as if he knows that isn’t the whole story.
Quietly, I debate with myself whether to tell him about Alex. But then I decide that he’ll find out anyway, the whole year knows. If it came from me then maybe there would less chance of me losing him, because even though we have only just met, fear of losing the only person who has talked to me properly, treated me nicely in months, is making a nest in the pit of my stomach.
‘I had this friend,’ I start quietly. I have never had to explain this to anyone before; other people have always done the explaining for me. ‘I had this friend called Alex. He died a few months ago. That’s what the boys were taunting me about.’
Jay looks away and then down at the ground, his throat working. ‘What happened?’
I bite my lip and look at the ground too. ‘I got myself meddled in with something I shouldn’t have. Alex found out what had happened and went to do something about it. That same night, he was murdered. The police found him the next day lying in the middle of some street. He’d taken a blow to the head. And it was my fault, if I hadn’t gotten involved…’ I trail off, my eyes welling up again. That was the truth… vaguely. Jay didn’t need to know the absolute truth, every detail leading up to what happened. And with what I’d just told him, Jay will never speak to me again anyway.
I cast another glance at Jay but he is just staring ahead, trying to process everything I’ve just told him. I dig my nails into my palms again and close my eyes.
Then finally, he speaks.
‘Neve, can I ask you something?’
My mind swims with possible questions; why didn’t you save him? Why did you let it happen? Why did you get him involved?
Bile starts to form at the back of my throat as panic rises in the form of vomit that this is it, he would ask one last question and then be out of here. Too scared to speak, I clamp my lips shut and just nod.
‘What were you really doing on the bridge the other night? The night we first met?’
The question startles me and I turn around to face him, as he is watching me, and scrutinise his expression. Does he just want juicy details that he can spread around school?
My gut tells me no. So does his expression.
It isn’t one of eager anticipation to hear the latest gossip. It isn’t one of sympathy either, the sort that read ‘oh that poor girl, lets just lock her away so she doesn’t hurt her poor little self’. It’s a look that almost says he’s scared for me, scared of what I could have done. It’s genuine concern.
Instead of answering, I stand up.
‘I have something I want to show you.
Interview
When she's not writing, she can be found in peculiar places with my camera. She also loves to eat. A lot.
Excerpt
‘Neve?’ I hear Jay call, looking up as he rushes over and crouches beside me. If my voice on the phone or the disorderly state of me sitting on the curb hadn’t given anything away, then something in my face tells him that things are certainly not alright.
Wordlessly, he pulls me into a hug and I start crying helplessly on his shoulder. He strokes my hair and rocks me slightly, whispering calming things in my ear that I hardly hear. I’m just crying into this stranger’s shoulder and it doesn’t feel wrong. It feels safe.
When I’ve pulled myself together enough, I pull away and wipe the tears away from my eyes.
‘Sorry,’ I apologise, my voice sounding wet after the crying. ‘You must think I’m such a state, crying on the curb like this.’ I try to laugh but it just ends up sounding as fake as Katie Price’s boobs.
‘Not at all,’ Jay says softly. Then he catches my hand, noticing its grazed state. The blood has dried at least. ‘What happened?’ he asks, his expression darkening.
I carefully pull my hand away and clasp it together with my other hand, running my fingers over each other nervously.
‘I ran into some boys that used to go to our school. They stopped my bike and pulled me off it, started taunting me,’ I shrug. I sneak at glance at Jay who is waiting patiently, as if he knows that isn’t the whole story.
Quietly, I debate with myself whether to tell him about Alex. But then I decide that he’ll find out anyway, the whole year knows. If it came from me then maybe there would less chance of me losing him, because even though we have only just met, fear of losing the only person who has talked to me properly, treated me nicely in months, is making a nest in the pit of my stomach.
‘I had this friend,’ I start quietly. I have never had to explain this to anyone before; other people have always done the explaining for me. ‘I had this friend called Alex. He died a few months ago. That’s what the boys were taunting me about.’
Jay looks away and then down at the ground, his throat working. ‘What happened?’
I bite my lip and look at the ground too. ‘I got myself meddled in with something I shouldn’t have. Alex found out what had happened and went to do something about it. That same night, he was murdered. The police found him the next day lying in the middle of some street. He’d taken a blow to the head. And it was my fault, if I hadn’t gotten involved…’ I trail off, my eyes welling up again. That was the truth… vaguely. Jay didn’t need to know the absolute truth, every detail leading up to what happened. And with what I’d just told him, Jay will never speak to me again anyway.
I cast another glance at Jay but he is just staring ahead, trying to process everything I’ve just told him. I dig my nails into my palms again and close my eyes.
Then finally, he speaks.
‘Neve, can I ask you something?’
My mind swims with possible questions; why didn’t you save him? Why did you let it happen? Why did you get him involved?
Bile starts to form at the back of my throat as panic rises in the form of vomit that this is it, he would ask one last question and then be out of here. Too scared to speak, I clamp my lips shut and just nod.
‘What were you really doing on the bridge the other night? The night we first met?’
The question startles me and I turn around to face him, as he is watching me, and scrutinise his expression. Does he just want juicy details that he can spread around school?
My gut tells me no. So does his expression.
It isn’t one of eager anticipation to hear the latest gossip. It isn’t one of sympathy either, the sort that read ‘oh that poor girl, lets just lock her away so she doesn’t hurt her poor little self’. It’s a look that almost says he’s scared for me, scared of what I could have done. It’s genuine concern.
Instead of answering, I stand up.
‘I have something I want to show you.
Interview
1. If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
Past – I would love to go back to the sixties with the bright skirts and rock ‘n’ roll! I do lots of theatre, and Bye Bye Birdie was definitely one of my favourite shows because of it.
2. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lawrence, Maggie Smith, Robert Downey Jr and Benedict Cumberbatch – They’re all excellent actors and they all seem like great, down to earth people with fun personalities. Plus, I’m slightly in love with Benedict.
3. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
I just started watching The Tomorrow People and I think teleporting would be a good one – you could turn up anywhere and freak a lot of people out! I also don’t have a car, so convenience is a bonus.
4. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
“Gripping, emotional and totally relatable to any teenager out there who has had to face difficulties, and eye opening to those who haven't.”
5. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I have a whole series of action books that would be a dream to publish, but in the meantime I also have a few more young adult books in the works that I want to focus on. I like and think its important to write books inspired by Nicholas Sparks and Jodie Picoult that are from the points of views of teenagers.
6. Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
My immediate choice would be Hello World by Lady Antebellum since that was the whole inspiration for the book and its title. But I also love Lullaby by Nickelback because it reminds me of Jay’s message to Neve.
7. Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Michelle Read! I absolutely love her series Vampire Academy. She’s created one of my all time favourite characters, Rose Hathaway. Rose is such a strong female character, and her wit is priceless.
8. What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
When I told Mum I wanted to self-publish she said simply “go for it – you have nothing to lose.” Which is true, the worst that could happen is that no one is interested in my book, but worse would be keeping my book on my laptop and never finding out.
9. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I can’t wait for Divergent to come out! I’ve loved the series so far and got the latest book for Christmas. I’m also waiting for the Vampire Academy film, but it always puts you on tender-hooks waiting to see if the film is as good as the book!
10. What is your favorite Quote?
“I’m not crazy – my Mother had me tested.” – Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory. I think it sums me up quite well.
Friday, 24 January 2014
Bookvie: A Long Way Down - out March 7, 2014
Who's in it:
Aaron Paul, Rosamund Pike, Imogen Poots, Pierce Brosnan
What's it all about (book blurb from Goodreads):
In his eagerly awaited fourth novel, New York Times-bestselling author Nick Hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when they've reached the end of the line.
Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year's Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper's House, a London destination famous as the last stop for those ready to end their lives.
In four distinct and riveting first-person voices, Nick Hornby tells a story of four individuals confronting the limits of choice, circumstance, and their own mortality. This is a tale of connections made and missed, punishing regrets, and the grace of second chances.
Intense, hilarious, provocative, and moving, A Long Way Down is a novel about suicide that is, surprisingly, full of life.
Movie Stills
I've read a few novels by Nick Hornby, and I must say I have enjoyed them all. I haven't read A Long Way Down, but there's still time to get my claws into it before the movie hits the cinemas, so I'll check it out.
Have you read any novels by Nick Hornby? Have you read this one?
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Must-Read: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins
Summary (from Goodreads):
After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . .
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Cover Reveal: Control You by Jennifer Snyder
Control You
Release Date: Spring
2014
Summary from Goodreads:
Companion novel to Break
You.
Kind hearted and naive,
Paige Jacobs wants what every girl craves…to be loved. She uses this need to
make excuses when her current boyfriend goes from being a tad jealous and
slightly overprotective to stalker-ish. She isn’t that girl
and Craig isn’t one of those guys. Things are fine. Perfectly
fine. Until the moment a dark-haired, tattooed hottie with a snarky mouth walks
into her life and tells her she deserves better.
Confident and boldly
spoken, Cameron Green has always been the guy bad girls can’t get enough of and
all the good girls want to tame. He’s lived a lavish lifestyle filled with
drugs, women, and alcohol up until his destructive path finally caught up with
him. Now Cameron isn’t sure what to do with himself or how to dampen the
longing for something more festering inside of him since coming out of his
drug-induced haze. But when he meets a doe-eyed girl who gets past his walls
like no other, everything about him clicks into place.
Together the two learn
there are emotions that hold within them all the power to control you…
Link to Break You:
About the Author
Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.
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