Busy week

Phew, it actually feels nice to carve out the time to do a blog post! What with the sickness that has continued to plague the house of Ashby, which was only interuppted by my son's seventh birthday party, it has been a pretty crazy time of late. Thankfully everyone is now on the mend and my son is already counting down until his birthday next year. That's Scorpio kids for you!!!!!

Writing wise, I've had to put my Djinn book on hold while I work on the next round of my revisions for Fairy Bad Day. I'm not sure whether to be happy or alarmed at how much my editor is letting me keep!!!! Though, as ever, I'm so grateful that my editor has such a great eye for knowing how to make my stories stronger - and slightly less silly!!!!
Not much else to report. I'm pretty happy that Liverpool beat Everton in the derby this weekend, though my husband, who was born just minutes away from Goodison Park is slightly less happy. What can I say, except 'suck it up, dude' (and of course I only say that safe in the knowledge that he will never read this blog!!!!!!)

Anyway, my revisions are due the day that my kids finish school for the summer so I'm going to be a busy girl over the next couple of weeks. Oh, but I might just have to find time to read the new House of Night book. I've also got to finish Hush, Hush as well, not to mention City of Glass. Did I mention that I love my reading pile??

So what's everyone else been up to? Deets please! Retweet this button on every post blogger

Vote for me

Yes, in a fit of 'my book trailer is cuter than yours' madness I entered the trailer I made for Zombie Queen of Newbury High into a competition. Of course I then promptly forgot all about that (let's blame the family all being on death's pretty door for that one). However, there are still two days of voting left so if you loved my adorable plasticine take on book trailers, then head over to You Gotta Read Videos blog and vote for me!!!!

And in case you haven't seen the trailer yet then here is another peek at how one author thought it would be amusing to ruthlessly exploit her children and husband for her own ambitions!!!

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Ridiculous

Last week it was stomach bugs all around for our family, then on Friday I went and got food posioning, which wasn't pretty and NOW my son has got a cold. Seriously, I blame it all on the rubbish spring that we've been having in NZ, because I swear if it was warm, then none of this would be happening!!!!

Still, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm pressing on with my Djinn book and have been watching lots of Zac Efron to make sure I get my Zac addicted character just right (yes, it's a sad trial since Zac is so darn hard to look at it!!!!). And speaking of ugly guys, has anyone seen New Moon yet? I'm thinking of going tomorrow though I must admit that I think it's more to see those werewolf boys than the vampires (because please, I still don't get how glitter is meant to be scary!!!!!).

Reading wise and I'm almost done with City of Bones (seriously, it's an amazing series and I recommend it to everyone) and then I'm going to start Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - okay, so I've sort of started it but that's because I'm a greedy sort of girl. And curiously enough both books are about The Nephilim. Anyway, if anyone likes their angels fallen, then it's definitely worth tracking down the UK series called Hex. They only did two seasons but they were awesomely amazing. Bad angels and lesbian ghosts? Really what more do you need????????

And now I'm off to write! Retweet this button on every post blogger

Nick Cave - Ship song

It's almost the weekend here in New Zealand and I thought I'd celebrate by chilling out to one of the most gorgeous songs ever written.

Not much else to report. I'm blogging over at Teen Fiction Cafe and my second djinn book is finally starting to take shape. What's everyone else been up to??

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GCC presents Laurie Faria Stolarz

Goodness it seems like ages since I've done a GCC tour but consider the drought well and truly broken because today I've got Laurie Faria Stolarz, who has two books to talk about it!!!

The first is BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS, which is a graphic novel (cute cover, yes?!) and it ties in with her amazing Blue is for Nightmare series, which has sold over 500,000 copies world wide!!! Want to know more? Of course you do, so here is the skinny:

BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS

Prophetic nightmares. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

All she really wants to do is work things out with Jacob and figure out what to do with the rest of her life. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS reveals the never-before-seen backstory - and what lies ahead - for the young, spellcasting lovers.

BLACK continues the harrowing adventures of Stacey and Jacob in the wake of Jacob's brush with death. Ever since he lost his memory, Jacob hasn't been able to remember Stacey - his own soul mate. He leaves Massachusetts, returning to his childhood home in Colorado, hoping to jog his memory. What he remembers is Kira, his ex-girlfriend. As Jacob works to piece together his past, will there be room for Stacey in his future?

And Laurie's other book that is out is DEADLY LITTLE LIES. This is a follow on to DEADLY LITTLE SECRETS (which has the coolest book trailer known to man. Check it out here!)

Deadly Little Lies: Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift: psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

What inspired you to write these books?

BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS is a companion book to the BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. When my editor approached me with the idea of writing a graphic novel, I was very intrigued because it gave me the opportunity to not only try something new, but to really picture the book as a movie. I have a background in screenwriting and wrote BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS in screenplay format, adding in ideas for illustrations and sidebars. It was an absolute thrill to write – to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator, and to see my work come to life in this way. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS does not take the place of a regular prose novel in the series. It is a companion piece, complimenting the entire series as a whole. It picks up where RED IS FOR REMEMBRANCE left off, and also shows some fan-favorite scenes from the entire series.

DEADLY LITTLE LIES is the sequel to DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, (the first book in the TOUCH series). I’m really excited about it, because I think it has even more suspense, romance, and twists than the first book. It starts up a few months after Ben’s departure at the end of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET. Camelia’s spent those months researching everything she can find on psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch).

I often say that everything I know about writing has come from Buffy. Is there any movie/tv show/book/author that you think has helped your writing career?

I am completely with you with Buffy. I also learned a lot from the original 90210. Oh, boy was I addicted to the original 90210!

What's a normal writing day for you?

It really depends on the day. I have two kids, 6 and 2, so I find myself often working at night. On the couple days when they’re both in school (the two-year-old goes to preschool a couple mornings a week; the six-year-old is in 1st Grade), I grab a cup of really strong, black coffee and get to work.



The best blooper I've ever done as a writer was when I had my heroine hand the hero something. Problem was they were sharing the same body at the time! So to help lessen my embarrassment, I'd love to know what your best writing blooper is and did someone catch it before your book went into print?

There are little typos and errors that occur in all my first print runs. One of my very careful readers e-mailed to tell me that the number one was in place where a lowercase l should have been.

And now for the big question. Zombies - love them, hate them, couldn't eat a whole one?

Hate them. Ever since the movie Night of the Living Dead they’ve never been the same for me. If you can recommend a hot zombie protagonist I need to read about, however, maybe I can be reformed. You must read Breathers by SG Browne - I don't know if Andy is a hot zombie but he's pretty adorable and he does give some fabulous receipes!!!!!!
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The plague has struck

Yup, we've been hit by a stomach bug. First my son got it and then I did. I'm pretty sure we're on the mend now though it hasn't been pretty. Anyway, as a result, not much writing was done this weekend, but hopefully I'll get back on track this week. I even (very reluctantly) got out all three High School Musical DVDs - honestly, the things I do for my characters - so I guess I'll have to watch this week.

I just finished reading Catching Fire and despite the cliff-hanger, I still love, love, loved it. I'm now reading City of Ashes which is the second book by Cassandra Clare. These books have such a Harry Potter feeling - and I mean this is the very best sense - so I'm racing through them as quick as I can.

I've also got a GCC tour coming up tomorrow, which is pretty cool since it seems like ages since we've had a tour. And I'll be posting at Teen Fiction Cafe later in the week as well - about food - which hopefully, by that time won't make my stomach churn. Too much information? Yes, I thought so as well, but what can I say? I'm a sharer? And on that bright note I might take myself off! Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!! Retweet this button on every post blogger

And the winner of the last Zombie Survival Kit is...

Julie Cohen!

Julie if you can email your deets I'll get it sent out to - hopefully before the zombies hit the UK (because trust me, you don't want to be facing the undead without these little treasures!!!!!)

As for me - my second Djinn book is finally starting to take shape, though, in final proof that I have no control over my characters whatsoever,  my heroine's painfully annoying djinn guide has suddenly taken a liking to High School Musical. Nooo, say it ain't so. I mean last book he was hooked on American Idol which was fine because so was I, but HSM???? Still, I suppose it could be worse and it could be Hannah Montana that he wants to watch.

On a brighter note, I rewatched Twlight the other day in preparation for the next movie and I actually enjoyed it more the second time. I didn't really love the book which is why I didn't read the rest of them, but perhaps the movies will end up converting me? In other book news, something that I need no converting to is Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I'm halfway through it and it's just as amazing as The Hunger Games.

Not much else to report. I'm madly trying to get this book written before my kids break up for summer holidays. Plus, I have a feeling I'll be getting the second round of revisions for my next Puffin book, Fairy Bad Day, and they will no doubt keep me busy!

So that's me. What's everyone else been up to???? Retweet this button on every post blogger

Thank you

Yup, this is a big thank you to everyone who has given my book trailer some love - so pleased that we all seem to agree on the universal language of plasticine!!!! I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been going out there and buying Zombie Queen. I finally got to see it in one of my local bookstores the other day and even better, I noticed it had gone into a second print. I had known this was a possibility but it was nice to see it had actually happened.

And in a rare fit of bravery on my behalf, I even went up to the counter and introduced myself as a local author. It was very cool and the staff immediately asked me to the sign the books. Of course it would've been better if I'd concentrated and not spelt my name wrong. Whoopsie.

In other news, I've started working on my second Djinn book. I must admit I was a little bit daunted by the whole thing since the proposal I sent my editor was whipped up pretty quickly and up until yesterday I hadn't really given it much thought. Thankfully, I randomly got a book out of Mind Mapping out of the library and I stunned and amazed at how easy it was to do. Even better, it obviously suits my way of thinking because before I even knew what was happening, I had the whole thing figured out (my cps are sniggering at this point since I NEVER have the whole thing figured out - I just think I do!!!!). But the point is that it very quickly gave me a starting point. Plus, I got to steal my daughter's felt tips and draw in pretty colors. All in all a good day!!!!!

I've also been reading some fab books. Just finished Giving Up The V by Serena Robar and it's amazing. I've long been a fan of Serena's but I think this is definitely her best book yet. To me it totally seems like an updated Forever by Judy Blume and I definitely recommend it to everyone!!!!

So that's me, what's everyone else been up to? Retweet this button on every post blogger