Bits and Pieces

Firstly, The Tales Compendium has reached 100 followers! Thankyou to everyone old and new who checks in here, and an extra big thankyou to those who leave comments. Your interest is much appreciated and I hope I continue to keep you wanting to come back in the future.


If you haven't already become acquainted with Inside A Dog, I suggest you do. It is a website where teenagers (or people in general) can create a profile, post their reviews, participate in a book club and keep up to date with what is going in YA via the Inside A Dog blog. Each month there is a different 'Writer In Residence' who posts three times a week about whatever they feel like. March was Brian Falkner, April will be Gayle Forman! The site is run by the Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria and is being taken care of by Adele, who you may know from her blog Persnickety Snark, who is the new program coordinator.


I would like to say a massive CONGRATULATIONS to Aussie Shaun Tan! He has just won the biggest children's literature prize in the world, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, in Sweden. As most of you probably know, he also won an Academy Award last month in the category of Best Animated Short Film for The Lost Thing, his picture book released in 2000. He is also known for his picture books The Red Tree, The Arrival, The Rabbits and Tales From Outer Suburbia. Looks like 2011 is his year!



For those of you who missed my post the other day, I will be interviewing Rachel Caine when she comes to Perth next month. So I ask you, what would you like to ask Rachel? Send me your questions via email (found on my About Me page) or leave a comment.



Don't forget this is your last chance to enter the signed Bernard Beckett give-away, which I will draw on April 1st. Visit this post to enter.

Rachel Caine in Perth!

I have some very exciting news to share with you today. As I'm sure most of you already know, Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampire series, is touring Australia in May for the release of Bite Club, book ten in the series. As recently announced, aside from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, she will be stopping by Perth, which is where I live.

Rachel will be signing books in Perth on May 2nd at Target in the Hay St. Mall and will later being doing an author talk and signing at The Astor Theatre in Mount Lawley (which is where I'll be). For more information on these events and the others around Australia, visit Penguin's Events page.

Now for the really exciting bit...I have been given the awesome opportunity to interview Rachel when she is in Perth! Yes, everyone do happy dances for me!

My question to all of you is... Have you got something you would like me to ask Rachel? It can be about the series itself, general writing questions or just something you have been dying to know.

You can leave you questions below as a comment or email me through my About Me page.


Read my review of book one, Glass Houses

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Title: Genesis
Author: Bernard Beckett

Release Date: 1st August 2006. Republished 1st January 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
It’s the year 2075.

The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. They live in complete isolation from the outside world. Approaching planes are gunned down, refugees shot on sight. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea.

Anaximander, a young Academy student, is put through a gruelling exam. Her special subject: the life of Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. What secrets has she discovered and what is her own surprising link to Adam? She is forced to confront the horrifying truth about her totalitarian world.

Genesis is a thriller that asks the big questions. What is it to be human? What makes a soul?

My Review:
Genesis is a deep, philosophical science fiction novel that leaves your brain churning over the concepts well after you have finished reading it.

As Anax answers questions about her hero Adam Forde, the story unfolds through her answers. We learn the history of The Republic through her knowledge and the holograms she has created about Art, the artificial intelligence that became Adam's companion after his imprisonment for rescuing an outsider. We witness the development of Art, as he watches, learns, and argues with Adam over what differentiates man from machine. Is it the ability to think, to create ideas? Is it the physical aspects? A conscience? A soul? It questions morals, ethics and humanity, and as Anax comes to the end of Adam and Art's story, she has a realisation that blows her world apart.

There were two surprises that I did not see coming and I was completely thrown by the ending. Genesis is a thought-provoking, original read that will bring out the philosopher in all of us. This novel would make for fabulous discussions and would make a great school reading text. Teachers notes are available here, Reading Group notes here.


Genesis has been published in more than 22 countries and has won the 2010 Young Adult Category of the Prix Sorcieres (France), the 2007 Esther Glen Award, and the 2007 NZ Post Book Award. In 2005, Bernard was awarded a fellowship where he worked on a project examining DNA mutations. This led to the writing of Genesis.

Author Interview: Jana Oliver

I am extremely excited to feature Jana Oliver on The Tales Compendium today!

Jana is the author of the very cool, and totally kick-ass, The Demon Trapper's Daughter (also published under Forsaken in the UK and Australia). You can read my review here.

What inspired you to write The Demon Trapper's Daughter?

As I was reading various young adult paranormal novels the one thing I missed was a take-charge heroine. There are some out there (Dru from Lili St. Crow’s Strange Angels Series comes to mind) but most heroines were pretty (dare I saw it?) wimpy. So I figured I’d write a book I’d like to read. I wanted a heroine who got into scrapes, used her head and lived to tell the tale. Not all of her decisions would be smart, but at least she was in the middle of it all, trying her best. That’s how Riley Blackthorne was “born”.

Can you tell us a little about our heroine Riley?
Riley is a fairly average seventeen-year-old who is having a rough life. Her mom died from cancer several years back, her family’s condo burned and now she and her dad are living in a tiny apartment trying to pay off her mom’s humongous medical bills. At the beginning of Demon Trapper’s Daughter, Riley can’t get a break. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change much over the course of the book. At the heart of the story is a girl trying to keep her head above water, fighting back against nearly impossible odds.

One thing is clear––she is a daddy’s girl and is keen to make her father (Paul) proud of her. That drive often gets her into situations she is ill-equipped to handle, but I really admire Riley’s guts. She just doesn’t back down even when that’s the smart thing to do.

Where did your ideas come from for all those pesky demons?
I had great fun dreaming up the Hellspawn. I decided rather than having them all be the same, there were be different types ranging from the annoying to really deadly. Can’t find your earrings or your watch? Probably a Klepto-Fiend stole it because they’re really into bling. Something tearing up your library? Blame a Biblio-Fiend. The bigger and nastier fiends come in different varieties as well. Most of those will give you nightmares. Sometimes I spook myself wondering exactly how my brain comes up with this stuff.

Can you tell us anything about what we can expect in Soul Thief, the sequel to TDTD?
Soul Thief opens up the overall story considerably. We learn more about the history of the Demon Trappers and about the Demon Hunters (the Vatican’s crack team). On the personal side, Riley and Beck go through some really rough times courtesy of their poor decisions. And we learn about Ori’s agenda. The book is a game changer for almost all of the characters and wasn’t easy to write, but I’m very proud of the final result.

Did you have playlist while writing TDTD?
I do use playlists and the one for the book is here. Once you listen to Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road”, you’ll know Beck even better. As for Riley, Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” is pretty much her theme song for me.

If it was made into a film, who do you see as the perfect Riley?
Depending on the day, I veer back and forth between Emma Roberts and Alexandra Daddario . Either of those ladies would do a fine Riley.

Your first series, The Time Rovers, was first published in 2006 and has won twelve out of the fifteen nominations it has received. Do you plan on adding any more titles to the three already released?
I hope to add more to the series down the line. The Rovers books are a mix of time travel, fantasy, historical mystery and romance. The first three are set in 1888 London which required a LOT of research to get the details correct. Because of that and my crazy schedule for the Demon Trappers Series, it’ll be a while before I can get back to write another Rovers book. I will eventually. I love that series.

Do you have any must-haves while writing?
A comfy chair, a window and good music. Most everything else is optional. As long as the work doesn’t feel like a “job” I’m good. And I know the next question: “What are you listening to at this moment?” Right now it’s "Corryvreckan" by William Jackson (Land of Light album). Before that it was Alter Bridge and Simon & Garfunkel. I’m an omnivore when it comes to tunes.

Who are your favourite young adult authors?
Though he’s more of a Middle Grade author, I love Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. I just started reading Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes Series and I’m quite enjoying it. And I’m fond of dark dystopian tales like Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker. One thing in common here, these all have male protagonists. Apparently I like reading about guys (LOL).

Which fictional character would you like to trade places with?
Wow, that is NOT an easy question. It would be tempting to say Professor Moriarty because he’s a diabolic super villain matching wits with Sherlock Holmes. But then, that would be a lot of work and I’d get tossed in jail first time out. No, I’m thinking it would be better to putter around like Mrs. Hudson. Clearly out of the danger (providing you don’t count Sherlock’s habit of shooting up his parlor), but still around the genius and his doctor buddy.

In my own books? I’d like to be Carmela Wilson, the doctor for the Demon Trappers. I suspect she could be a lot of fun when she’s not patching up one of the guys.

A massive thankyou to Jana Oliver for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer these questions. Soul Thief/Forbidden will be released 1st September 2011!

*happy dance*

Jana's website

The Wait Is Almost Over...

Inheritance, the final book in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle series has been revealed and the release date announced!

Inheritance will be released 8th November 2011 worldwide.
It is the fourth book in the epic fantasy series following on from Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr and fans have been waiting three years for this info.

While, personally I am not a fan, I am very familiar (due to my time working in a book store) with the amount of hype surrounding this long-awaited title and the eagerness of fans to get their hands on a copy.

From Random House:

"Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilisation rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle."

The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (#1)
Released: August 2008

Cammie Morgan is a second-generation Gallagher Girl, and by her sophomore year she’s already fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti). But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn’t prepared her for is what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks she’s an ordinary girl.

Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without his ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a boy who can never know the truth about her?

Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she’s beginning her most dangerous mission yet!

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (#2)
Released: November 2008

Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.




Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover (#3)
Released: May 2009

Cammie Morgan has a cover for every occasion. Being a spy-in-training, aliases, phony passports and fake ID's are a means of survival. But what happens when the ghosts of her past see through her flawless façade?

This semester, Cammie continues to flirt with danger at Gallagher Academy. When a national political convention turns into a trap, Cammie is forced to lose her cover to save her best friend, Macey – a major political target – from being kidnapped.

But are the kidnappers’ political extremists or something more sinister? And why has Zach, Cammie’s mysterious (and totally h ot) crush, suddenly returned?

With the help of a glamorous ex-Gallagher Girl, Cammie and her friends are determined to hunt down the group that threatens to tear their secret sisterhood apart.

This time it's personal.

Only The Good Spy Young (#4)
Released: June 2010

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. She just didn’t know that life would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against a mysterious organisation called the Circle of Cavan. Now even Cammie 'The Chameleon' can’t hide.

Danger has followed her to London where she discovers one of her most trusted allies has been labelled a double agent. The Gallagher Girls quickly realise that the Circle’s agents are closer than they’d feared -- maybe even within the Gallagher Academy’s own walls. Cammie and her room-mates must call upon old friends if they want to find the traitor at their beloved school before it's too late...

Book 5 in the Gallagher Girls series is as yet, currently untitled but will be released early 2012.


My Review:
The Gallagher Girls is a fun series about a girls boarding school that is actually a spy school. While it is written for ages eleven and up, I find, being in my twenties, that it is one of my guilty pleasures. The girls have their normal teenage problems but what I think makes a big difference in the series is that it is based on friendship.

Cammie and her three best friends always stick by each other and tackle whatever problem they come across together, whether it be boys, sneaking out of their school, a kidnapping plot or a secret ops mission. They are brave, likeable characters that have their weaknesses; even if they super-spies, it's nice to know they aren't invincible, and that the girls know this and are down-to-earth. The spy school is a great way to have the girls tackling normal teenage problems and while the stories are written light-heartedly, the girls are always faced with serious issues and consequences.

All the titles are lots of fun and entertaining and have up to date pop culture references. I personally feel that each title gets better than its predecessor.

Also by Ally Carter: Heist Society

Outspoken by James Vachowski

Title: Outspoken
Author: James Vachowski

Release Date: 8th February 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:

Abraham Lincoln Jenkins is a teenage vandal, social activist, and aspiring revolutionary, but with only four months left until his high school graduation Abraham’s lifelong dream of attending Harvard College is put in jeopardy when he learns that he is still in need of two core credit hours in Physical Education. Unfortunately for Abraham, the only available spaces in a P.E. class are as a cadet in the Army’s JROTC program!

Told almost exclusively through Abraham’s one-sided complaint letters, OUTSPOKEN is the natural result when the War on Terror collides with the War on Christmas.

My Review:
Outspoken is a hilarious collection of an obnoxious, articulate and self-serving letters written by Abraham Lincoln Jenkins to a variety of people who hold 'power'. His letters poke fun at snobby rich people, incompetent police, the school system, the craziness of the Black Friday sales (which I discovered last year while holidaying in America) and provides us with a particular social commentary of America.

You will find yourself laughing at his wit, audacity and all-around "smart alec-ness". Abraham Lincoln Jenkins is the kind of person who would have annoyed the stuffing out of you if you had been the one on the receiving end of his rants but on paper, he is hilariously opinionated and believes whole-heatedly in what he is saying. He would make a fantastic lawyer (which is what he hopes to study if he ever makes it to Harvard).

Outspoken is a 'comedy novelette'. A relatively fast read with letters and quotes making up the 112 pages.

“America is not at war.
The Marine Corps is at war;
America is at the mall.”
— Unknown Marine in Iraq

Outspoken is available at all major digital book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and OmniLit, as well as on the Vagabondage Press website.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth

Release Date: 1st May 2011

My Rating: 5/5

Blurb:

In Beatrice Prior′s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue-Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is-she can′t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together, they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are-and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes-fascinating, sometimes-exasperating boy fits into the life she′s chosen. But Tris also has a secret: one she′s kept hidden from everyone, because she′s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might be what helps her save those she loves . . . or it might be what destroys her.

My Review:
I LOVE THIS BOOK!

When I picked Divergent up, I was unaware of all the hype circulating the blogosphere and was unsure of what I was getting myself into. I like going into reading a novel without a biased opinion and allowing the book to have a clean slate. It wasn't until I finished reading it that I discovered I was not alone in my love for it.

It is so easy to become completely absorbed in the pages of Divergent as Tris struggles with the choices she has made, how they affect her in her new faction, and her feelings towards the family she has left behind.

While I didn't connect with all the characters (when tragedy strikes some of them I didn't feel a great loss, just like Tris didn't), I did really like the slowly evolving friendship and relationship between Tris and Four. I liked his whole 'tortured soul, mysterious background' deal and was glad to not have to face ANOTHER love triangle. The relationship is a secondary storyline and I really liked that it wasn't the main focus. There were some fantastic surprises that I really loved, including revelations about her family and the discovery of a long-lost faction member.

I love Tris's spirit, her courage and trains of thought. I love her innocence but also how she feels when she lets go and becomes the person she is, rather than who she has been told to be, no matter the consequences. She is her own person, who is stronger than she, or anyone else, would have believed.

Think The Hunger Games meets Matched. I was a little worried that it would be more like Matched when I first started reading it but the more I got into it, the more I grew to really love Divergent. While I know I probably shouldn't compare books to each other, trust me, dystopian fans will not be disappointed. Beware, like some scenes in The Hunger Games, Divergent can get quite brutal at times.

I can't praise debut author Roth more. Fantastic!

Die For Me Cover Love

Lately I have been extremely excited about getting my hands on a copy of Amy Plum's debut novel Die For Me. Unfortunately I still have just under two months left until it is released but if I wasn't desperate before, I am now after the stunning new cover was revealed!


Is that not one of the most beautiful covers EVER?! It's rare that I am so impressed with a marketing team. While the original US cover wasn't bad, it didn't grab you like the UK cover did. So now the US gets a pretty cover too. The only thing that is different between them now is the font on the cover. If you want more info about the change, you can find it at Amy Plum's website.

Old US cover

Die For Me
Released 10th May 2011

MY LIFE HAD ALWAYS BEEN BLISSFULLY, WONDERFULLY NORMAL. BUT IT ONLY TOOK ONE MOMENT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But this time I was ready to let it happen. Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies…immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?”

A Night With Our Stars and Give-Away!

Last night, I went along to the CBCA's A Night With Our Stars, a showcase of West Australian authors and illustrators published in 2010. Along with my friend Julie, and Danni from The Book Nerd Club, we listened to just over twenty authors who each had three minutes to talk about their books. The speakers who were highlights for me were YA authors Shirley Marr, AJ Betts and Deb Fitzpatrick, as well as Elaine Forrestal, Sally Murphy, Meg McKinlay and Cristy Burne who write for younger readers.


Shirley Marr and Deb Fitzpatrick


AJ Betts

After the talks we were able to mingle with the authors and have books signed and I also got to catch up with some friends from my bookshops days (that makes me sound old!). I finally got to meet Shirley Marr and AJ Betts whose books, Fury and Wave Length, I reviewed last year and I got their books signed. Deb Fitzpatrick, author of 90 Packets of Instant Noodles, also signed a copy of her book for me which I am very much looking forward to reading. Unfortunately Kate McCaffrey, the author of Destroying Avalon, In Ecstasy and Beautiful Monster, wasn't able to make it which was unfortunate as I really wanted to meet her and have my books signed.


It was a wonderful evening and I got to meet some very lovely people. I was also lucky enough to have photos with both Shirley Marr and AJ Betts who were both SO nice. I still find it daunting introducing myself and meeting authors and I was so glad I didn't get star-struck and tongue tied this time. Danni put it perfectly saying "meeting authors is right up there with meeting rockstars". I idolise them both.


I would like to make a special mention of the venue for the evening, Westbooks. If you haven't already visited this fantastic store, you should. It has an amazing selection of children's and YA books with a small amount of adult titles as well. It's like the opposite of a regular book store, kids and teens have the majority here! I hadn't been there before but I will definitely be making a return visit.


GIVE-AWAY!
As a special treat, I got extra copies of Fury, 90 Packets and Wave Length all SIGNED as give-aways.

The give-away is open INTERNATIONALLY until 11th April 2011. All three authors are from Perth, Australia so would be perfect for the Aussie YA Reading Challenge.

There are three simple steps:
1. You must be a follower
2. Tell others about this give-away, either in a blog post or by placing the give-away button on your blog
3. Leave a comment under this post with the link to where you have 'spread the word'

Perth Writers Festival Happenings and Giveaway!

Over the last week, I have been working in the book tent at the Perth Writers Festival. For those of you who didn't see my post back in January, PWF is an annual event in Perth held over the long weekend at the beginning of March and at the end of the Perth International Arts Festival. It is three days of local and international authors giving talks and workshops.

We don't get a lot of memorable moments working in the book tent but I did get to briefly meet Perth author Amanda 'AJ' Betts whose book, Wavelength, I reviewed last year. She came up to the cash register to buy something and I got a bit nervous and tongue-tied when I introduced myself, but she was lovely :)

There were quite a few talks I had hoped to attend but unfortunately, my shifts in the book tent were at the same time so I was unable to make it to any of them, except for half of the Melina Marchetta and Bernard Beckett talk (which I embarrassingly had to leave in the middle of, to make it to my shift).

Marchetta and Beckett

I'm sure most of you have heard of Melina Marchetta, someone Australian bloggers talk about and whose books are recommended left, right and centre, but Bernard Beckett, is a slightly lesser known New Zealand YA author. I have seen some of his books around in the past but never actually read one. But this weekend, I bought two (and had to stop myself from buying the others)! I can't wait to start them!

August, Beckett's latest book which was released last week, and the multi-award winning Genesis were the two I chose. I desperately wanted to get both these, and a couple of Marchetta books signed, but, being stuck in the extremely busy book tent, wasn't able to get away. Instead, my amazing friend Bryton lined up for me! She is totally awesome. Unfortunately, Marchetta wasn't signing (so, so annoyed and I could rant about it for quite some time, but I wont) but Bernard was, and he very generously posed for a photo so I could actually see him signing my books :D

GIVEAWAY!

At my request, Bryton also got a second copy of both August and Genesis signed for two lucky followers! The give-away is open Australia wide until March 31st 2011.

To enter there are two simple steps:

1. You must be a follower.
2. Leave me a comment on this post with which title you would like to win and tell me something that you like about The Tales Compendium.

Also, telling others isn't required but is appreciated. Please feel free to use the give-away button found below and link it back to this page.

August by Bernard Beckett

Trapped in a car wreck, upside down, bleeding, broken and in pain, Tristan and Grace are staring at death.

As they await their fate, with only a glimmer of hope they might be seen and rescued, we discover the stories of their lives, the sequences of events that brought them together and the shocking truth behind the cause of their crash.

Part philosophical thriller, part love story, August is a compelling novel of power, humanity and desire.

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

It’s the year 2075.

The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. They live in complete isolation from the outside world. Approaching planes are gunned down, refugees shot on sight. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea.

Anaximander, a young Academy student, is put through a gruelling exam. Her special subject: the life of Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. What secrets has she discovered and what is her own surprising link to Adam? She is forced to confront the horrifying truth about her totalitarian world.

Genesis is a thriller that asks the big questions. What is it to be human? What makes a soul?

A Great Day!

Today has been a great day!

Today is my birthday and one of my amazing friends made me cupcakes. Being the wonderfully creative person she is, Bryton didn't just make me ordinary cupcakes, no I got cupcakes decorated with some of my favourite books!

For those of you unfamiliar with these books, we have: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Graffiti Moon, The Alchemyst, Shiver and Guantanamo Boy.

Bryton's website is still under-going some work but you can check out some of her other cupcakes and crafty designs here.


Many other wonderful things happened today so excluding birthday celebrations, other cool news is that I have discovered that Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampire series, and who is touring Australia and New Zealand in May, will be coming to PERTH!

This is very, very exciting news. Not only am I currently ADDICTED to her series, but I may actually get the chance to meet her. As Perth is such an isolated city, alot of people who come to Australia on their "AUSTRALIAN TOUR" usually leave Perth out of their visit, not to mention other capital cites in Aust such as Darwin, Adelaide and Hobart. Perth is the first place to be announced as part of her Bite Club Tour and my fingers are crossed for the other cities as more will be named soon.

Read my review of Glass Houses, book one in the Morganville Vampires series.

For a write up of each individual book, check out mummazappa's reviews at The Book Nerd Club.