TENTH GRADE BLEEDS Launch Party!

The party was AMAZING!

My entire group dressed up -- including the boyfriend & me. Obviously, we were the Joker and Harley Quinn. The decorations were FANGTASTIC!

As was the face painting. (It was fun having loads of people come up to me & Taylor, knowing who we were & taking pics!)

Even Heather's husband, Paul (one of my absolute favorite people on the planet, might I add) was in on the party spirit -- he was dressed as Otis Otis! We found my shirt and his outfit needed to be documented in a photo together.

And, of course, another of my absolute favorite people, and the whole reason we went out of state -- Heather.

All in all, it was absolutely amazing! And a load of fun, with games, goodies, and prizes. Not to mention Tenth Grade Bleeds was available for purchase!

It was really neat seeing all these people there, celebrating Vlad, screaming for Heather, and just all around honestly loving Heather and her books. I've known Heather since the first release, and recall my first signing with her, and how each have grown since. And honestly, I'm very proud to know someone so wonderful who has come so far.

~Angel

Picture it.

I was thinking about having a contest for Tenth Grade Bleeds today, but I have a contest coming up in the next few weeks *eee!* and don't want to throw too many together too quickly.
SO -- what am I doing with today's entry?
I am giving you a mission, ladies and gents. Take pictures with your copies of Tenth Grade Bleeds and link them to Heather on her Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/heather_brewer

Now, go forth, Heather Minions!

~Angel

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

Tenth Grade Bleeds, the third and best of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod so far, is out TODAY! Go, pick up your copy NOW! You won't regret it!

~Angel

Review: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

If you thought eighth grade was tough, try it with fangs and a fear of garlic...

Junior high school really sucks for thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod, and not in the good slurp-up-the-blood kind of way. A gang of bullies harasses him daily, the principal is dogging his every move, and the girl he really likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has to hide the fact that he's a vampire.
When the one teacher he really connects with mysteriously vanishes, Vlad is determined to find him. But then Vlad finds an unsettling note scribbled across his essay: “I know your secret.”

Vlad must locate his missing teacher, dodge the principal, resist the bullies’ tempting invitations to Bite me!, and get a date for the dance—all before he is exposed for the teen vampire he is.

High school totally bites when you're half human, half vampire...

Freshman year sucks for Vlad Tod. Bullies still harass him. The photographer from the school newspaper is tailing him. And failing his studies could be deadly. A trip to Siberia gives "study abroad" a whole new meaning as Vlad connects with other vampires and advances his mind-control abilities, but will he return home with the skills to recognize a vampire slayer when he sees one? In this thrilling sequel to Eighth Grade Bites, Vlad must confront the secrets of the past and battle forces that once again threaten his life. Find out why author D.J. MacHale calls The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod "Gruesome, heartwarming, spellbinding."

High school can be so draining when you're half-human, half-vampire...

It's another sucky year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. The evil vampire D'Ablo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vlad's powers. His best friend Henry doesn't want to be his drudge anymore. And as if all that weren't enough, it's getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on the people around him. When months go by with no word from Uncle Otis and D'Ablo shows up demanding Vlad's father's journal, Vlad realizes that having a normal high school year is the least of his concerns. Vlad needs to act fast, and even his status as the Pravus won't save him this time...

Review:

The only sucking this series does involves blood. I am absolutely in love with The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod! Not only are they witty, original, and all around amazing -- they keep getting better. Not a lot of books continue to get better with each installment, but Heather Brewer has managed to accomplish this and then some!

You follow the life of Vladimir Tod -- as well as the obstacles associated with being a teenage vampire. There are the normal things, like his crush, Meredith, and the bullies. But throw into the mix the fact that he is a creature of the night, living with his Aunt Nelly after his parents died in a mysterious house fire. With each book you get pulled in farther and fartheer, with new characters and new challenges for Vlad to overcome.

I super highly reccomend this series to anyone and everyone!

~Angel

Interview: Heather Brewer!

Heather Brewer, Myself, and Jackie Kessler -- New York, Backspace Writer's Conference, August 2008

The one, the only -- the fantastic Heather Brewer!

1.) What was the inspiration for The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod?

I was extremely unpopular growing up and as such, I know what it's like to feel like a total freak. The story of Vlad is very much a way for me to deal with the issues I faced every day as a teen. Also, my son Jacob is very much like Vlad. So Vlad is kind of a half-me/half-Jacob hybrid.

2.) What are some of your favorite things about being published?

My absolute favorite part of being published is getting to hang out with my Minions regularly. Going to work in my jammies is a close second.

3.) What made you want to be a published author?

I learned quickly to escape into books, into other worlds when I was younger. I've always wanted to provide someone else with that escapism.

4.) What inspires you?

Everything. Dreams, reality, conversations, silence. Everything.

5.) You have an ever-growing Minion Horde. Tell us a bit about your thoughts of the relationship between authors and their fans?

I think a strong relationship between readers and writers is crucial to success. As an author, I'm having a conversation with my readers. Without them, what's the point?

6.) What is the craziest thing to happen to you at an event?

A girl asked me if I'd sign her butt once. I declined. Oh, and a boy asked me if anyone ever followed me home after events – when I said no, he said (in a creepy stalker voice), "Well, how would you know, with all those people on the road?"

7.) If Vlad had his own soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

"Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace is absolutely Vlad (especially in the third book, Tenth Grade Bleeds). Some other songs I'd have to include are "Shut Me Up" by Mindless Self Indulgence and "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.

8.) And what about yourself? Do you have a theme song?

I'd love for my theme song to be Darth Vader's theme music, but it's probably closer to "White and Nerdy" by Weird Al.

9.) Any advice for the aspiring authors out there?

Follow my formula for getting past those "stuck" moments: butt + chair = writing.

There you have it, ladies and gents -- the one and only, neato groovy sock wearing, vampire loving: Heather Brewer! Now, stay tuned all this week for more Vlad-related things, all in celebration of the next and greatest installment of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod - Tenth Grade Bleeds!

~Angel

Are you ready?!?

The Vladimir Tod themed agenda for this week:

- Tuesday: Interview with Heather Brewer!
- Wednesday : Review -- The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod (Eighth Grade Bites, Ninth Grade Slays, and Tenth Grade Bleeds)
- Thursday: The release day for Tenth Grade Bleeds!
- Friday: A SURPRISE! ('cause I'm not 100% what idea I'm going with. Haha.)

And then, of course, Saturday is the Launch Party in Fairview Heights, Illinois. And yours truly shall be attending. I'll post picks and whatnot either Sunday or Monday!

So stay tuned, kiddies. It's going to be a FANGTASTIC week! Follow the blog, even get your friends and family to follow!

~Angel

Review: WAKE & FADE by Lisa McMann

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

I must admit, when I first cracked my ARC of WAKE, by Lisa McMann, open and saw it was all written in present tense and third person, I was a tad unenthused. I’ve read a lot of bad things about books written in the present tense, but I proceeded to read the first chapter.

That’s when I found myself hooked. You are reeled in by Janie’s unusual ability to get sucked into peoples dreams, and how that affects her life drastically. She’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime. But then a strange nightmare keeps recurring to her. A strange house, a grotesque kitchen, and this terrifying monster with knives for fingers coming for her. Sounds a little like Freddy Krueger, I know.

You’re heart goes out to Janie, as well. She struggles through several obstacles aside from her accidental dream-invasions. Like her rough home life, and her rollercoaster with a boy named Cabel that changes how she sees everything. There’s also her job when she’s not in school -- she helps out at Heather’s Nursing Home. She works as much as she can for what she can, and everyone loves her there. Janie has to work, so she can save up for college and take care of herself. Her mothers welfare check only covers the rent and the booze. Besides, she finds a good companion in Martha, a kindly old blind woman. When Martha dies, she leaves a note, along with five-thousand dollars for college, for Janie. This note makes Janie’s heart stutter. This note becomes a catalyst for the rest of the series. Like any good book, there is the exciting and unexpected ending, which you’ll just have to read for yourself.

All in all, WAKE was a thrill ride. It’s obvious with Lisa McMann’s debut novel, she’s got a good career ahead of her. I understand now why WAKE has hit National Bestseller status.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck. Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open--but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability. And it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a Dream Catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd even feared...

With the sequel, FADE, things only get better.
In FADE, you dive farther into Janie’s gift and learn about what darkness it holds as well. Caleb, Captain, and even Janie’s car, Ethel, all reappear in this chilling new installment. Granted, I cannot say too much about FADE, because I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t read either -- I will say, at least, that I love both of these books. And FADE is just as awesome -- if not more -- than WAKE.
So, the next time you come across a copy, check out these two NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS.

~Angel

Interview: A.S. King!

A couple of days ago, I posted a review for The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King. Luckily for us, my readers, she agreed to do an interview with me!


First of all -- YOU ROCK! I absolutely LOVED The Dust of 100 Dogs!
Now that I have that out, onward to the questions:

1.) How did you get the idea for The Dust of 100 Dogs, and what effect did living in Ireland have on your novel?
The book wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t lived in Ireland . I got the idea while walking my dogs during the time I was learning about Cromwell’s 1649/50 invasion. I realized there was a very good chance Cromwell’s troops used the very road I was walking on—which made the history lesson very powerful to me. The more I learned about Irish history, in general, the more I felt the urge to write about it. I hope to write more about Irish history in future books.

2.) What made you want to write books for publication?
I know I wanted to write books when I was in 8th grade—but the idea I had then was more of a non-fiction thing. I always wrote poetry and worked hard at my research papers and other writing assignments. Even in art school (I have a photography degree) I thought that my pictures would one day land in a book, with essays. But I didn’t have the time or opportunity (or guts) to write until I moved to Ireland when I was 24. I remember the book that pushed me to say, “Hey! I want to do this now!” It was Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses. If I ever write a book as enjoyable and intelligent as that one, I will be really happy.

3.) What was your publication journey like -- was it smooth, or rocky?
Rocky and long. I wrote 7 novels over 12 years before I found an agent. But now that I’m on this side of it, I’m thrilled it took me that long. Sound crazy? Maybe it is—but what I learned was amazing. Patience, great writing habits, and most importantly, the ability to write books for myself, without caring about publishing. I write for me, and I do it because I love it. This is more important than I can say.

4.) What inspires you?
Music, great books, great art, and great people. I have met many people who have overcome ugly things. Those people inspire me greatly. I feel our culture gives attention to shallow stuff (the various weights and wardrobe accessories of TV stars, for example) while ignoring the depth of human experience. I am inspired by the reality of human experience, even if it isn’t easy to look at, because it’s real and people who navigate through difficult times are heroes.

5.) What is one of the craziest things that you’ve experienced at an event?
I have to say—having so many of my former classmates turn out for my first local event was wild! For an hour, it was like a mini-reunion, and it was inexplicably cool. Their support is incredible and just goes to show you—you never know what’s going to happen in the future. If you’d have asked me in high school if I’d even THINK about going to my 20th class reunion, I’d have laughed at you. Now, I see people from high school every month or two, and enjoy their company immensely. Also, since we’re on the subject of crazy things & events…I find it pretty crazy when haters come out to confront authors. Being a positive person, I find the motive a bit odd. Why not go to an event of an author you like and say nice things, rather than openly hate an author whose book you didn’t like? I mean—who doesn’t know that reading is a subjective thing?

6.) If there was a soundtrack for The Dust of 100 Dogs, what songs would be on it?
Yay! No one ever asked me this before! Here’s a playlist:

Crisis by Bob Marley & the Wailers
Burnin' and Lootin' by The Wailers
I Wanna Be Your Dog by Iggy Pop & The Stooges
Running Away by Bob Marley & The Wailers
War Pigs by Black Sabbath
Stepping Razor by Peter Tosh
Draw Your Brakes by Scotty
My Life by TLC
Night of the Living Baseheads by Public Enemy
You Can Get it if You Really Want by Jimmy Cliff
Pressure Drop by Toots and the Maytals
Adore by Prince

7.) And how about you -- what would your own theme song be?
Impossible to choose! Here are my top three, though: The Wailers’ Small Axe or Duppy Conqueror, and Jimi Hendrix’s If 6 Were 9.

8.) What kind of advice can you offer for aspiring authors out there?
Write every day. Read a lot. Then write some more. Then read some more. Learn to write because you love writing and forget about the publishing business at first. (And don’t forget that stories come from life experiences, so all that crappy stuff that happens to you will actually come in handy one day.)
Thanks so much for having me around to your blog, Angel! And thanks for reading D100D & shouting out about it!



There you have it! An amazing interview from an amazing author! Now, go out and buy The Dust of 100 Dogs IMMEDIATELY!


~Angel

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a feature reviews online commonly use to show their readers what they've recently gotten in for reading or reviewing purposes.

Here are the four most recent things I have recieved in my mailbox:

- "Black & White" by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittridge
- "The Living Dead" by Various authors, such as Clive Barker, Stephen King, and Joe Hill.
- "Monster's Proof" by Richard Lewis
- "Tenth Grade Bleeds" by Heather Brewer

I've already read Tenth Grade Bleeds and have my review ready for it. I just need to read the other three to complete that batch. You can expect my review for the first three books (including Tenth Grade Bleeds) in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series the week of June 22nd - 26th. June 25th is the release of TGB, and that following Saturday, the 27th, will be her launch party -- which I will be attending. I'll post pics and things either Sunday or Monday after that.
So stay tunred, boys and girls. We have lots on the way.

~Angel

Review: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with "the dust of one hundred dogs," dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body-with her memories intact.
Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

First things first: Oh. My. God. I love this book.
Now that that is out of the way --
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King is one of the most original things I have ever read in my life. It’s filled with some of my favorite things: pirates, Ireland, dogs, violence, kick-ass characters, and adventure. The characters are so real and well developed, it’s breathtaking. You really feel for Emer and Saffron. You cheer for them. Your heart breaks as Emer struggles and suffers. You want to help Saffron get back to Jamaica. You just honestly care.
Not to mention -- Emer is my hero.

I can’t say much else without spoiling, so I’ll leave it at this:
Buy this book. Now.
Read it several times.
Friend A.S. King because she is awesomeness embodied -- trust me.

Author: A.S. King

EAN: 9780738714264

Trade Paperback

Young Adult/FictionPrice: $9.95
Release: February 2009

~Angel

NEW Feature

Hey all!
I just thought I'd let you know that I'm going to begin working on a new feature on the blog -- Contests. I don't have enough readers (yet!) to hold my own. However, I do intend to begin promoting others contests. Starting with Bloody Bookaholics contest for Eyes Like Stars! Go check it out and enter!
http://angelyoungreviews.blogspot.com/

New Review from me coming soon!

~Angel