Book Trailer and Cover: Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings

When I heard about Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings (published by Strange Chemistry) I though 'oooo wow that sounds good' 

Then came the book cover and the trailers and I thought 'OOOOOO THIS LOOKS AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS'

So i'm doing a little post here to share the book cover and the trailer(s)

STUNNING! Really reminds me of the art work from the Buffy Season 8 comic books with the realism and detail.

Now the trailers are filmed in a Blair Witch Project style that have a real creep factor about them.  The first 2 have been released but I think there are more to come

Looking forward to October already

Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

GoodReads


When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.


Review



Saving June is a book about life after death for those still living.  Hannah Harrington has taken a very dark and harrowing subject of teenage depression and suicide and created characters that are both strong enough to handle it and yet have enough weaknesses that they need each other the cope.  Oh how I wish I could curl up into these pages and live there forever.  Seriously I just feel head first into this book and loved all the pages: even the blank one at the back.  I first heard about this book some time ago now but at the MIRA UK blogger event this year I was given a proof copy and had a quick look inside and there is a track playlist for the mix CDs referenced in the book.  BEST THING EVER.  I love musical references in a book and the fact that we have a play by play included makes my heart sing


One of my favourite reads of 2011 was Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson and if you loved that book even a teeny bit as much as me then Saving June the next read for you.  Full of heart and classic rock it goes on a journey of the heart and mind that I'd love to make everyday.  I've even made my own playlist on my computer with the tracks from the "Say My Name" and Saving June mix CDs.


Usually in my reviews I like to just talk generally about characters (who were so complex and wonderfully composed by Hannah) or themes in the book that really touched me but there is one moment in Saving June that I literally lived in for a few pages.  I was in love with the book already but when I reached the moment that Jake, Laney and Harper go to the Robot Suicide Squad gig I knew that Saving June had locked a place on my special books shelf.  It got inside my head and having been that shorter girl in the mosh pit myself I can tell you I was thrown back into those sweaty and violent crowds while I read the pages.  Hannah Harrignton hits the nail on the head so many times that I am in awe quite frankly.


Music, like words, have the power to change lives and minds and Saving June gives you faith that even in a world of pop tactic love songs there is still room for words and sounds with heart.  



Rating: 9/10


Published by MIRA Ink and is available here and bookshops in June

Top Ten Authors I'd Like To See On A Reality Show

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

Keris Stainton

C.J. Skuse 

Holly Black

Sarwat Chadda

Cassandra Clare

Cat Clarke

Kimberly Derting

Will Hill

Sarah Rees Brennan

Malorie Blackman

I'd want them all to go on the same show.  To descend on The Apprentice  but an author style one where they had to put together a short story book each and see which one sold better and all the profits went to charity.  Just so I could get a good book out of it. xD  But Cassandra Clare and Holly Black would be the PM on opposite teams. mwhahaha

Event Post: Creative Voices @ Foyles May 2nd 2012

Today on the blog is a recap (of sorts) of the first in the Creative Voices events at Foyles featuring 4 wonderful voices: C.J.Daughtery, Ruth Warburton, Amy Plum and Sara Grant.  I couldn't have been more excited because I hadn't met Ruth or Amy before so there was that giddiness but I got to see C.J. and Sara again and so could geek out over their books in person.  There was a little group of us book blogger types that had arrived earlier to shop and gossip and see the lovely Neil at Foyles (who organised the event and is a true diamond because the Foyles events are ALWAYS brilliant).  Shockingly (that was sarcasm btw) we were the first there so we took front row seats and caught up on our book gossip and as we got restless we got a bit snap happy.

Photo by Viv from Serendipity Reviews.  We got bored and helped ourselves to the author's seats

The room began to fill and then the 4 guests of honour arrived much to our giddy chuckles.  I'll admit that to the untrained or unknowing eye  the group in the front would look like school girls at a One Direction one on one chat.  After Introductions by Neil each of the authors gave us a little background on their lives as writer and a reading from their books.  I do love hearing an author do a reading because you get more of a sense of how they intended the words to be heard and spoken.  Really interesting.  Plus I get to work out how you actually say some of the character names. HA.

Each of the author's were very open about their writing process and their journey's as writers from how they got the inspiration for each other their stories.  Their backgrounds are all fairly similar but at the same time quite unique.  Amy began writing a memoir of sorts of her life in France as an American and didn't intend to write YA but her story didn't sell but soon evolved into Die for Me with her love of Paris.  For C.J. she'd been writing for many years working on various tory ideas but it was a visit to a old school building in the English country side the stuck with her and made her wonder what it would be like to study there as a teenager and became the setting for Night School.

For Ruth her writing career started a bit differently as she worked in publishing and had been writing in secret almost because she worked in fairly high brow adult fiction and was bait nervous about showing her work to colleagues that could say they didn't like it and then the next have to attend meetings with them.  Lucky for Ruth her story A Witch in Winter found a home for her supernatural tale of witch craft and romance.  Sara, like C.J. and Amy, is an American living in a new environment and it was her move to London and the crossing of boarders that triggered the idea for Dark Parties which began as a short story that was selected for the Undiscovered Voices and eventually grew into the book as it is now.


Each of the authors seemed to really get on with each other which I loved because it's nice to see that they all engaged with each other's tale of writing and publishing and woes about how long it took to get a book deal etc.  They were all very funny and wonderful to hear be so open and honest.  Afterwards there was a signing session and I did my usual get fangirl and over excited

Especially because some of the authors knew me it seemed.  I'd met C.J. at another event and she gave me a big hug and was so nice (as she was the first time) and Ruth I'd been chatting to online along with C.J. (we all bonded over our love for the Jon Snow character in Game of Thrones).  I'd promised choccies from work and both ladies loved them or so I think from the 'mmmmmm' and happy nods as the enjoyed them.  Always happy to make writers happy.


Amy was ever so sweet and was having a lovely natter with Viv (who is the cutest thing when she's fangirlling over an author.  I'd never seen Viv do this and I'd pay to see it again) and when it was my turn to get my books signed she was just as lovely.  She asked me questions and had remembered me from twitter and had asked if I was OK after my blood test earlier in the day.  *fangirl dies*

I hope the Creative Voices events carry on at Foyles and more authors join in because it was completely ace to see a mix of authors share with each other and an intimate audience about their careers and how they work.

Thanks to Foyles for hosting the event, all the authors and their publishers and for more on the event you can check out Amy Plum's own blog (which i'm mentioned in eeeeep!)

Letterbox Love [3]

Letterbox Love is a weekly feature hosted by Lynsey on Narratively Speaking inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie

It came out of a group discussion on twitter for the desire and need for a UK feature to share our weekly grabs, buys and haul of a bookish nature as well as any other goodies we care to share.

Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton

EEEE! I'm mentioned in the acknowledgments!!! LOVE U KERIS!

Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks by Ellie Phillips

Thanks to Electric Monkey for this one.  Had my eye on it for ages!

The Intern by Dillon Khan

I saw some of my blogger friends on the blog tour for this one and it sounds EXACTLY my kind of book.  Music and teen crazy adventure

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

THANKS TO HANNAH FROM WALKER!!!  I love Cassie Clare and this is next to be read.

Heart Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne

I was blessed to get an invite to the launch for this book which already has a butt load of good reviews in the press and on blogs.  So excited to start reading it and Tanya is an angel and wrote me a lovely message when she signed it.

The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan

I won this copy from the author and it sounds like a great creepy read and the cover looks eerie and wonderful

Chime by Franny Billingsley (not pictured as got after i took the photo)

Thank you Bloomsbury for this one.  I may save it for my holiday in the summer :)

Coming Soon: GEEK WEEK

HELLO THERE FELLOW GEEKS!

Not long till Geek Week!  If I'm telling the truth I'm a wee bit scared and excited at the same time.  

Geek Week is set to start on June 4th and close June 10th and will include some lovely geek posts.

They'll be a giveaway or two and I've got not one but two blog tour stops with Geek themes.  One is from the lovely Keris who's new book 'Emma Hearts LA' published by Orchard Books has a rather lovely geek male character named Oscar (he's pretty much adorable) and 'Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks'  by Ellie Phillips published by Electric Monkey with be doing a special post too.

They'll be guest post from lots of fellow bloggers about their geek passions and geek themes ranging from TV, books, conventions and more

Also we'll have a few geeky based book reviews and as the 9th of June is my birthday there are two special posts:  One from myself about my 1st ever RPG adventure including Gingerbread Pac Men, Muffins and slaying monsters.   Plus a special post given to me via the lovely Andy Robb.  This post ACTUALLY made me have a geek melt down.  I'm keeping it a surprise for now.  If I remember rightly I think Andy had to check on me later that evening that I hadn't gone mad with geek crazy joy based on my original email reply.

IT'S EXCITING FOLKS.  VERY.  That's all I'm saying about it at the moment but keep an eye on my twitter and follow the blog here for a few more hints as the Geek Week gets nearer.  Or follow Andy on twitter cause he's bound to drop a few hints now and then.

Stay Shiny

Laura

Blog Tour: Dreams by Daniela Sacerdoti: Sean vs. Leaf

This is a difficult one. I could reveal crucial information that NOBODY should have until they’ve read the whole book. And Book 2 as well. 

Therefore, I’ll use an easy, at-a-glance grid that will allow you to weigh your options. Reliable, loyal Sean (or is he?) VS mysterious Leaf and his helpful-but-creepy ravens: you decide!

Looks:

Sean: Sean is tall, blond, has very light blue eyes and a tanned complexion. He has scars on his arms. He likes wearing shirts with sleeves rolled up, and he has a dimple on his left cheek (darling!). 

Leaf: Leaf – not his real name, of course – has very white skin, black eyes and black hair. He has perfect, flawless features – “like a God from a lost civilization” - and likes dressing in black.

Personality:

Sean: Strong willed, determined, likes taking charge. Some might say bossy. Withdrawn, has real difficulty opening up to people. Passionate, possessive, has a bit of a temper. Sean is an insomniac and is addicted to caffeine. He likes teasing Sarah - he’s quite cheeky, and a bit arrogant.

Leaf: Very secretive. Kind, sweet – too sweet? With a bit of cruel streak. Lots to find out about him…but not much I can tell you at this stage! He says of himself: I am fire.

Power:

Sean: Sean is a Gamekeeper. He can make himself invisible using extreme stillness and breathing patterns. He uses his dagger to trace runes that can wound and even kill. He can send people to sleep with one single touch. He’s a very powerful Gamekeeper indeed…

Leaf: Leaf controls the Elementals, Spirits of Fire, Air, Earth and Water. Elementals can take different animal forms. He can summon blue flames with his fingers. And he can enter people’s dreams and influence their thoughts.

Background:

Sean: Sean’s parents died when he was very young. He was raised by his paternal grandparents in New Zealand. He didn’t have a happy childhood, which lead him to be defensive and unable to let himself go. One girlfriend, Mary Anne, and many flings. He longs for true love, though he would never admit.

Leaf: A total, complete and utter mystery. 

Hope this wetted your appetite to know more!

So, who would you go for? I’m afraid to say that I’d be quite fascinated with Leaf, though I suspect that a girl should know better…

Thanks so much to Dani for this post; can't wait to read more? Then check out Daniela's website or go buy the book here or your local bookshop!