Friday, May 23, 2008

Spooky News, Links & Author Marked-Up Tantalize Giveaway

Interview with Elizabeth C. Bunce by Julie M. Prince of Off to Turn Another Page... at The Edge of the Forest. Peek: "Don't get me wrong—I'm a huge fan of girls with swords! But there are many ways to be heroic, and I wanted to show a quieter sort of heroism, one that girls who maybe aren't tomboys could relate to, and one that hasn't traditionally been as visible in fantasy for young people." See also Julie's interview with Linda Urban; and Time for Prom (or Not) by Little Willow of Bildungsroman.

Presenting...Claudia Gray: an author interview from Journey of an Inquiring Mind. Peek: "I've been a vampire fan for a long time, and I really enjoyed the TV show 'Alias,' which had an immortality cult as the baddies, so I suspect I've spent more time than most people thinking about how weird/difficult/great/bizarre it would be never to die."

Children's Writing Web Journal: From the Editors of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers. Note: recent posts include: a link to "YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Author Simon Rose Interview;" a loaded "Video Interview with Walter Dean Myers;" a link to "10 flagrant grammar mistakes" and much more.

Giveaway

Shooting Stars Mag is giving away a Sanguini's T-shirt and a marked-up hardcover copy of Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007, 2008). Note: Sanguini's is the vampire-themed restaurant featured in the novel. I made notes in the margins about the writing of the book, the characters, the Austin setting, and much more! The deadline is midnight EST May 31. See more information! And thanks to the Shooting Stars!

On a related note, Jamie has created an "I Never Drink...Wine" fan image celebrating Tantalize and its literary roots in Dracula by Bram Stoker (1987). She suggests using it as wallpaper; I'm using it on my desktop.

More Personally

Congratulations to Amanda King, whose fresh and fascinating Gothic fantasy YA novel manuscript has made it to the final round in a contest in conjunction with the Writers League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference!

Greg and I saw The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian last weekend at The Alamo Drafthouse Theater on South Lamar. I recommend it. I liked the departures from the book--yes, including the romance--and didn't mind it's "more serious" tone. I plan to see it again at the theater. Austinites: the Drafthouse is serving a Narnia-themed menu. See also "From Page to Screen: Andrew Adamson's 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'" by Anita L. Burkam from The Horn Book.

Finally

Wouldn't you just die to read Soul Enchilada, a debut novel by David Macinnis Gill (Greenwillow, 2009)?