Mundie Moms

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Page Turner's interview with Beth Fantaskey


One of our affiliates

has a great interview with Beth Fantaskey-
3. Was Jessica’s Guide your first book and what was your inspiration for it?

I wrote a few manuscripts before Jessica’s Guide, but that was the first one that I really believed in. There were lots of inspirations for the story, but much of it is rooted in my family life. My children are both adopted, and we often speculate about what their biological parents were like. I took that to the extreme by imagining Jess’s birth parents as vampire royalty...

Please see more of the interview here:

AND.....
They're having an awesome Halloween Contest...

The prize(s) will be a surprise, but I will give you a few hints.

  • A new book (one that has been released in the last 3 months) that deals with something paranormal/fantasy.
  • a gift card of some kind
  • Halloween movie
  • lots and lots of treats
This contest is open to everyone. We will be using random.org to pick our winner. To enter, leave a comment letting us know one of your favorite things about Halloween.

Book Review-Never Cry Werewolf


Never Cry Werewolf
by Heather Davis
Published by HarperTeen
September 2009
Source: Bought

3.5 out of 5 stars

Read a brief summary and the first chapter-
http://www.blogger.com/

Book Description:

Moonlight can totally change your life.

And it all starts so simply.

You. Him.

The moon.

You're toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy . . . but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good-looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

I have a things for wolves in stories (Sam in Shiver, the wolf pack in the Twilight Saga) so when I read the description of this book, I was excited to read it. I found that I really enjoyed Davis's fun writing style. The story is a quick, fun read. The characters were fun, but I didn't feel as attached to them as I normally do in books. The character's aren't as developed in depth and the story line is a fun, but not in-depth story.

It's not hard to figure out who the werewolf is, mixed in with the other teenage campers at the prestigious brat camp in Oregon. We met Shelby who's 16, lost her mom a couple years, lives with her dad and more or less money hungry step mom who's had them move from WI to Beverly Hills. Shelby gets caught kissing a boy out the in gardens which sends her step mom over edge. Apparently Shelby's been in trouble before with boys, and her dad and step mom decide brat crap will cure her. Upon arriving at a prestigious brat camp in Oregon (filled with a lot of other well known celebrities kids), Shelby meets Austin Austin Bridges, III (and son of a rock star, who's from England) and a Ariel, who knows Austin and his family, but not their secret. We learn more about Austin through Ariel and what she tells Shelby.

We learn Austin's family has a secret and Austin turns to Shelby to help him keep the secret, a secret. Only his family, and two other people know this secret. For most of the story Shelby herself is trying to figure out if she should really trust Austin, but she's so drawn to him to can't help but believe him despite the doubts she keeps having. It's not until he changes and saves her does she really learn to trust him. Along the way their friendship develops into something out. It's not until she realizes she can trust him, does she then do something that will cost her a trip to the dreaded brat camp her step mother wanted to send her to in the first. Shelby risks it all to save Austin and keep his family secret, a secret.

Over all this was a fun read, which I read in one sitting. I would have liked to know a bit more about Austin and Shelby. I liked the story, and I liked how it ended. I liked the book that if there were to be a squeal I would read it.


A Prince Caspian Parody by Sarah Rees Brennan



How can we NOT love an author who brings us fanfiction parody goodness??

I know that Sarah Rees Brennan is our featured Book of the Month for November and that we're only currently in October. But, I came across this piece of fanfiction a few months ago and I quickly devoured it as well as the first chapter of Demon's Lexicon.


Before you could say, "For Narnia!" I pre-ordered Demon's Lexicon. The decision was based purely on those two pieces of writing. And well, yes, a thing I have for Hot Boys with Swords. I know some of you share that as well. Don't make me raise my eyebrow at you.

So here's a snippet of this really funny parody. Enjoy -



Peter the Magnificent and Caspian the Super-Fine: A Prince Caspian Parody

GENERAL: Lord Miraz, you have a son!
MIRAZ: Well, you know what that means.
GENERAL: Set off fireworks around the castle?MIRAZ: Exactly! Oh, and kill my nephew Prince Caspian.

DARKLY OMINOUS CLOAKED FIGURE: Nobody will notice me sneaking into Caspian’s bedchamber.
AUDIENCE: Why not?
LIGHT: falls on Prince Caspian’s sleeping face
AUDIENCE: Oh I see. Cloaked figures slip into Prince Caspian’s bedchamber every hour of the night!
DOCTOR CORNELIUS: Actually I had to join a line. Wake up, Caspian!

CASPIAN: … ’M kind of tired after dealing with the line…
DOCTOR CORNELIUS: YOUR UNCLE IS GOING TO HAVE YOU KILLED.
CASPIAN: This is not sexy talk!

GENERAL: Fire at will!
GUARDS: riddle the bed with arrows
CASPIAN IN THE WARDROBE: I see that this is not going to be the most subtle royal assassination in the world.

DOCTOR CORNELIUS: Take this horn! Go to the woods! No time to explain! I am a sage with a flowing white beard, when have you ever known my kind to explain anything?
CASPIAN: Fair enough.
MIRAZ: Guards! Launch a hot pursuit of the prince and cut him down from his horse!
GUARDS: I see that this is not going to be the most subtle royal assassination in the world.

CASPIAN: I ride through rocks! I ride through raging waters! I get smacked in the head by a branch and fall right off my horse.
CASPIAN: Who would have thought this wood could be so full of trees?
GUARDS: Death to Caspian!
DWARFS: Death to you all, including Caspian!
CASPIAN: This is just not my night. I think I will blow this horn: what’s the worst that could happen?

You can read the rest here along with Sarah's other fanfic goodies. And don't forget November 12th we will be chatting with the delightful Sarah, herself. I know it seems far away, but we all get so busy around Halloween. So hurry, go pick up the book now. Here's some more inspiration - the UK cover of Demon's Lexicon.


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