Big News for L. J Smith Fans

Due to other commitments I have had to let this blog lapse a little but I just wanted tell all the L. J. Smith fans that read my blog the following news…

After over ten years for waiting, Strange Fate, is finally going to be released April 6, 2010.

Strange fate

Title: Strange Fate
Author: L. J. Smith
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Hardcover: 528 pages
ISBN-10: 1416986774
ISBN-13: 978-1416986775

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Also, look out for two other books by L .J . Smith that are to be released. The first book is Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide which will be released on 27th October 2009 and the second is The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls which released on 9th February 2010 in the US and 15th February 2010 in the UK.

fan guide

Title: Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide
Author: L. J. Smith
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1442402849
ISBN-13: 978-1442402843

ALL THE SECRETS AND LORE OF THE
NIGHT WORLD-NOW IN ONE SPELLBINDING BOOK!

You loved Secret Vampire and are counting down to the Strange Fate apocalypse. But who was the first made vampire? How do you properly greet a witch? And why are shapeshifters and werewolves rivals? Prepare to test your Night World knowledge with trivia questions from all nine books; get the inside information about the clans, the soulmate principle, Circle Daybreak, and the four Wild Powers; and take two quizzes to find out how you fit into the Night World.

Best of all, L.J. Smith shares her inspiration for the series, answers the questions you’ve been asking, and even reveals fun facts about herself in this official guide. Plus, look for the sneak peek at the dramatic conclusion to the series, Strange Fate!

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

shadow souls

Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls
Author: L. J. Smith
Publisher: HarperTeen
Hardcover: 512 pages
ISBN-10: 006172081X
ISBN-13: 978-0061720819

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Recommended Reads: House Of Night Series

I haven’t done a recommended reads post recently, so I thought it was about time that I did another one and staying with the vampire theme, I thought today it was P C Cast’s turn (with Kristin Cast).

Anyway, “House Of Night” is a six book series written by P C Cast (her website can be found in the author section to the right) who is the author of the bestselling YA novels:

House of Night (with Kristin Cast)

1. Marked (2007)
2. Betrayed (2007)
3. Chosen (2008)
4. Untamed (2008)
5. Hunted (2009)
6. Tempted (2009)

Marked (House Of Night Series, Book 1)

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird’s world, vampyres have always existed.In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire–that is, if she makes it through the Change.Not all of those who are chosen do.It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling.She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx.But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers.When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny–with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Publisher: ATOM (UK) & St. Martin’s Griffin (US)
Hardcover: 320 pages

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Betrayed (House Of Night Series, Book 2)

Fledgling vampire Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampire goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs – like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

Publisher: ATOM (UK) & St. Martin’s Griffin (US)
Hardcover: 320 pages

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Chosen (House Of Night Series, Book 3)

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

Publisher: ATOM (UK) & St. Martin’s Griffin (US)
Hardcover: 320 pages

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Untamed (House Of Night Series, Book 4)

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey’s adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened.

Publisher: ATOM (UK) & St. Martin’s Griffin (US)
Hardcover: 352 pages

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Hunted (House Of Night Series, Book 5)

The good news: Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. The bad news: Ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose – that and various other nasties (whose faces aren’t so angelic). Grandma Redbird is in trouble. Heath is in trouble. The House of Night is in trouble. Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble! But when the trouble comes from a being who appears to be beauty personified, will the world believe it? Especially when only a teenager and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings. Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth?

Publisher: ATOM (UK) & St. Martin’s Griffin (US)
Hardcover: 448 pages

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Tempted (House Of Night Series, Book 6)

So – you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?

Publisher: ATOM (UK) & St. Martin’s Griffin (US)
Hardcover: 352 pages

Available from Amazon & Amazon UK.

Poll of the month: Third Vs First Person

Author Interview: Lauren Hill

Title: Kissing a Vampire
Author: Lauren Hill
Publisher: Lulu
Hardcover: 86 pages

Books And Bites: Congratulations on the publication of your novels! Tell me a little about them – what’s your pitch? N/A

BAB: No two authors seem to take the same route to publication, but almost every author has an interesting story about their journey. Care to share yours? N/A

BAB: How did you get the idea for your novel?

Lauren Hill: It just kind of crept into my mind. I mean I have a thing about vampires, they’re the best monsters to me. Its all down to a lot of daydreaming when i really should be listening to whats going on!

BAB: Do you have another book in the works?

Lauren Hill: No at the moment i don’t. I really want to be though because when I’m not writing i feel as though there’s no thrill and that life is kind of boring. I’m still trying to come up with good ideas that will make a good long novel.

BAB: How did you get the inspiration for characters?

Lauren Hill: I either think of them as i daydream and think about which type of people make a book exciting or i dream about them at night.

BAB: Who is your favorite character? Why?

Lauren Hill: That’s quite a hard choice. To be honest i’m not actually sure, but probably the main character!

BAB: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

Lauren Hill: I realized quite young, when i was about 6 and a half. I was on holiday with my family and i got bored one night as i had finished reading all my books, as I’ve been a very keen reader from a young age. I sat down and scribbled down on the back of puzzle book pages and started making up mini stories about Scooby Doo as i was obsessed with that then. Since then I’ve been writing ever since, as i want to make an impact on the world by a great book and make other people love reading as much as i do.

BAB: In writing your books, what was your most surprising discovery?

Lauren Hill: That is actually made sense! Also that i managed to write stories lasting longer than two pages!

BAB: What’s your writing routine? Do you write in the mornings, nights, daily, or when the mood strikes you?

Lauren Hill: Most of the time its when the mood strikes me and i think of a good idea, i then scribble down some thoughts. Then if its a good flowing story i write late at night in nearly complete silence. If there was noise I’d get distracted easily!

BAB: What experience did you have with your publisher? Good? Bad?

Lauren Hill: It was good, easy, smooth.

BAB: If you had to pick one author as your favorite, who would it be?

Lauren Hill: Stephenie Meyer. The Twilight series is amazing!

BAB: Finally, thank you for taking part in this interview. Before you go, what message would you like to send to your fans?

Lauren Hill: Keep reading! It’s both useful and fun, you can escape from reality, especially with a good book! Keep enjoying mine as well, new ones coming soon!

Available from Lulu.

Author Interview: Barbara Boot

Title: Master Guardian, Part One
Author: Barbara Boot
Publisher: Lulu/DR21 Publishing
Hardcover: 110 pages

Books And Bites: Congratulations on the publication of your novels! Tell me a little about them – what’s your pitch?

Barbara Boot: I write Dark Fantasy short novels, it follows the live of a Demon who is humanities last best hope to save them from the Vampires, who have taken over most of the world. I guess my pitch would be, I am the first dark fantasy writer to brake the chains and write in present tense.

BAB: No two authors seem to take the same route to publication, but almost every author has an interesting story about their journey. Care to share yours?

Barbara Boot: I have been writing for lets say a long time and I have tried many roots to get published, but with me being a writer who is happy writing in present tense, I decided nine years ago to become self-published, and I have never looked back.

BAB: How did you get the idea for your novel?

Barbara Boot: I guess mine has been influenced by watching for too much Japanese Anime, and I wanted to breath new life into the humble Vampire and Demon, to make them more human.

BAB: Do you have another book in the works?

Barbara Boot: Yes, I am not far from completing part three, with two more in the pipeline but it might not end with the final chapter.

BAB: How did you get the inspiration for characters?

Barbara Boot: A lot of mine are influenced by family and friends who are no longer in this world.

BAB: Who is your favorite character? Why?

Barbara Boot: Ooh I love all of my characters, but if I had to chose, it would be the hardiest one I came up with, his name is Lord Lone Cheng, he is very serious and a man of order and he never likes to hear the word but. Why I pick him is because he is my first Chinese character, l did three years of research into ancient China, we are talking before The Seven Warring States, which started in 481BC and ended in 221BC. And to make him a more round character I even started to learn Mandarin

BAB: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

Barbara Boot: I chose to become a writer before I left school at the age of fifteen, as I was always good at producing short plays.

BAB: In writing your books, what was your most surprising discovery?

Barbara Boot: My surprising discovery would be, in nine years I have learned so much about Japanese and Chinese culture.

BAB: What’s your writing routine? Do you write in the mornings, nights, daily, or when the mood strikes you?

Barbara Boot: With me it is on a daily routine, I even write into the early hours, I am never far from my keyboard.

BAB: What experience did you have with your publisher? Good? Bad?

Barbara Boot: Bad, mainly because, I am a present tense writer, and I was told it would be better if I didn’t have a smoking character in my novels, they were not too keen on the idea of having a few words of Mandarin and Japanese and they did not like me using italics for when my characters were speaking telepathically and the final one was none of them were too keen on my main characters sexuality with him being bisexual.

BAB: If you had to pick one author as your favorite, who would it be?

Barbara Boot: Terry Pratchett.

BAB: Finally, thank you for taking part in this interview. Before you go, what message would you like to send to your fans?

Barbara Boot: Without your loving support and encouragement, I would never have been able to continue with the rest of the Master Guardian series, thank you, all of you.

Available from Lulu.