i intnd to ders dis place wif ova 40 diffo knds of ice-cream ....... *droool*

Yep they should have it coz it's out on Friday!!!!
If they have a waterstones or borders or something you should be able to get it. Good luck and have fun!

ilse of man with the scouts. we leave on friday not back da following sunday
im hopin to get storm glass wen im ova der

Ok i will, that's another set of books added to my very looooonnnnng list of books to buy which is stuck on my fridge door! Where are you off to on holiday?

i love the night world series
if you liked twilight ull love it. the single stories themselves are very good on there own but all together there class. im tryin to save the last one for my trip but its a really interesting premise for a book. when ur alowd u sud deffo buy it.

Is theNight World series any good? I keep seeing it in the book shop and i keep holding off buying coz i'm really not sure. And the fact that i bought 5 other books when i really wasn't suppost to, i only went in for 'a look'!!!!

You will love Storm Glass. There is always a character to fall in love with in every one of Maria's books and this one isn't any different.

it was a sunday and i had nothing else to do. i keep meaning to read my new books from xmas but then i got into the night world series and i got my hands on the nxt 2 books in the study series. plus im getting the frst glass book on holidays

I wish i could read that quickly!!!! I have so many books i want to read. But i guess i can enjoy them for longer.

hahaha i read books in a day aswel
i finished the final harry potter book in a day
im trying to break the habit..... :$:$:$:$:$

Maria V. wrote: "I hope Storm Glass meets your expectations!

I love hearing how people's friends and parents are all enjoying my books - I think this whole "is it for young adults or adults?" thing is soon going..."

I'm sure it will. I just need to read the Fellow Ship of the Ring, then I will be all over it! I think my mum is starting it today. :)

I was surprised to find it as a "young adult" book, because there are parts that are a bit grim... And the swears. I love swears, but I never seem to find them in those YA books... Well, I'm 24, and my mum is 45 (I think... naughty daughter!) my mum read each book in a day! She was meant to be doing her final essays for her nursing course.

never mnd found it. havnread all of it yet

wers night vision??????? ive not seen it

I just thought i'm going to have to wait even longer for Inside Out and Outside In! :o(

So he was curious about her but didn't start having feelings for her untill the fire festival?!

Mitch and Sophia did end well (really well ;o)) but it didn't stop me from wanting to find out more about them. I'm really curious about the light bending.

I can't wait for the next instalment of Ice Study - i would read your newsletter anyway!!!! :o) Will it be a short story or do you thing you will make it into a book?

I thought Mitch and Sophia ended well and didn't need anymore explaination ;>

As for Ice Study - well...you know me, gotta keep everyone on the edge of their seats ;> Gives you something to look forward to and a reason to read my newsletter...or a reason to read the rest of my newsletter ;>

As for Valek, he was instantly curious about Yelena when she was brought in for murdering Reyad (that's a big deal in Ixia and as chief of security he would know the details), but he wanted to know why, and what was going on in MD-5 so he delayed her execution until the current food taster died. This way he could find out what had been going on with Brazell and Reyad.

I hope that helps!

OMG i just finished reading NIght Vision and Ice Study.
How could you do this Maria!!!! How could you just end them there? I NEED To know what happens next. I cab imagine Mitch and Sophia getting into trouble all the time like Valek and Yelena except where Valek always comes to the rescue this time it would be Sophia.

I do have a question though? How does she bend the light? I would really love to find out more about this story!!!! HINT :o)

Another quick question - was thinking the other day bout the study series and something Alethea said in one of the other disscussions about realising when Valek had feelings for Yelena. I didn't realise until i was a good way through the book. Then it gave hints that he had thought about her that way since the fire festival but then he also gave hints that there was a reason her trial/hangging took so long to sort out!!! What did he mean by that and how did he know so much about her when he hadn't met her yet? And when did he start having feelings for her? Sorry - i was confusing myself to no end thinking about all of this.
Ok maybe that wasn't a quick question!!! Oups

Glad you liked the new story :) Don't fret too much about the date of the next newsletter - I'm not the best at being on time. I call it being Time Challenged. I'm aiming for the 20th, but it'll depend on a number of factors ;>

maria i love the ice study section on your newsletter
i really want to read the next section but when it comes out im away on a camp with the scouts so i wnt get it until i come bac on the 24th....... :'( at least its something that i can look forward to even if we dnt win

I hope Storm Glass meets your expectations!

I love hearing how people's friends and parents are all enjoying my books - I think this whole "is it for young adults or adults?" thing is soon going to be moot. I've gotten emails from readers ages 9 to 83! and that was before Poison and Magic came out with new YA covers :)

Maria V. wrote: "Hello Shley!

Thanks for joining Goodreads - you should get use to the site in no time - If I could figure it out (and I'm not very tech savvy), you can, too ;>

Yelena's guessing about Valek -..."

I think I've learnt how to use it now! :)

Thank you for answering, I look forward to finding out! I've ordered Storm Glass from the book depositary, so I will be reading it soon. Woop! :)

[by the way, my mum loved the three books.:)]

Hello Shley!

Thanks for joining Goodreads - you should get use to the site in no time - If I could figure it out (and I'm not very tech savvy), you can, too ;>

Yelena's guessing about Valek - since she can't read his soul, something must be blocking her. Her guess is pretty acurate and his immunity is something I'm exploring more closely in the Third Glass book (still untitled because I want to write more so I have a better idea of which title will work the best :)

Hello Maria. You may (or may not) remember me? You reccomended this site to me via Myspace. :)

Its pretty confusing here... need time to get used to it. I send my mum a link to join up (because she is the only one I know who loves reading like me...) and she got stuck on here for hours! She wasnt very impressed. (I also made her buy all three Study books - hope she likes them!)

I wanted to ask you - Yelena says that she thinks the reason Valek is immune to the magic is because he put up a massively strong null sheild. Now, is that fact, or was Yelena just guessing? And if she was just guessing, and wrong - why is he immune to magic?

I am so annoyed that I havent read Storm Glass yet. I saw it in the shop at the same time as when I bought all the Study books, but I didn't think to get that aswell - if I had known how much I was going to love them, I would have got it there and then. And it wasnt there anymore when I returned, and now I am too poor! (damn festivals and Britney Spears concerts!)

Thanks! Hope you are well. :)

Reema- lol I love your initial reaction! haha

I will have to watch that film and get back to you?!

Well you have to watch The Transporter, he has a lot of scenes with his shirt off, maybe it's because I'm "older," but he is sexy to me.

Just had a look to see who Jason Statham was - OMG No. He's not sexy and he's bald!!!!!

lol I know, me too!

yea valek has to be sexy as well as attractive so this could be a difficult choice....... i hate thinkin :( it makes my head hurt :(

Haha I know what you mean about the long blonde hair thing-I personally think it would be awkward if a guy I was dating had longer and prettier hair than mine! lol

Hmm- I'm not too certain about Rufus as Valek- I don't get that assassin vibe from him.

I love hugh jackman and viggo mortensen, but I don't think they'd be good as Valek either.

I could see Jason Statham as Valek. I just don't find him as the most attractive guy.

ive herd dat name....... omg he was in the new italian job wasnt he ??? da one set in LA!!!!!!!!!!! i love him in that

I can see Jason Statham as Valek, but him from the Transporter, not the sequels, or really much else he has done, but rippled body, looks good in a fight scene. LOL!

Personally i was thinking hugh jackman(xmen) or else viggo mortension(lotr) for valek personally......wat bout ari and janco ...... thats something i wnt to knw ...????


OMG i gotz magic study!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do people think about Rufus sewell as Valek? If you don't know him do an image search on google for him. Then imaging him with longer hair (It goes curley when its longer!) and stick some blue contacts in.

Rachel - Im not the long blond hair type! :o) Kade sounds awsome in the books so he has to be amazing looking!!! The elf just doesnt do it for me!

Reema- Haha yeah I don't like Johnny Depp as Valek either. But you can't see a long, blonde haired elf as Kade?! heehee Jk!

WOW i can't wait for that. Kade is ALMOST as amazing as Valek and im not sure about Ulrick and Devlen yet so i'm looking forward to finding out more about them.

I'm not so sure about Johnny Depp as Valek and as for Orlando Bloom, i could see him as Kade, but you're right Maria - more from Pirates rather than LOTR.

Thank you soooo much for telling me about this site, it's so cool. :O)

Thanks for all the great comments!!

Opal's next adventure is Sea Glass - due out officially August 25, 2009. I posted a brief synopsis....somewhere....but can include it here :)

Like the colorful pieces of sea glass washed up on shore, Opal has weathered rough waters and twisting currents. But instead of finding a tranquil eddy, Opal is caught in a riptide. Her unique glass messengers which allow instant communication over vast distances have become a vital part of Sitian society. Once used solely by the Councilors and magicians, other powerful factions are now vying for control. Control of the messengers equals control of Sitia. Unfortunately that also means control of Opal.

If that isn’t enough of a problem, Opal’s determination to prove blood magic is still being used is met with strong resistance. The Council doubts her, her mentor doubts her, and even her family is concerned. When her world is turned upside down, she begins to doubt herself. In the end, Opal must decide who to believe, who to trust, and who has control—otherwise she will shatter into a million pieces and be swept out by the tide.

Characters that have a major role in the story are Janco, Devlen, Kade, and Ulrick.

Maria, you are such an awesome author, and I think it is so funny that Kade is Orlando Bloom as he looks in Pirates, because from the first time he was introduced that is totally who I thought of! So, what's in store for Opal next?!

I love all of Marias books, I even picked up storm glass and am getting excited to pick up another from this line of books! She is an amazing author!

that wasnt my idea....... i havent got a clue but he better be hot whoever he is r i shall be quite annoyed ..*evil look*

Keelin- hahahaha I loved your conversation! It was really funny, although I'm sorry you couldn't get the book. Can you order Magic Study through the book store?
Hmm...I don't know about Johnny Depp as Valek, though.

no i tried to get my mum to order it off the internet for me but shes one of those "im not putting my credit card details online" types.
the entire convo went something like this...

"mum can i have Magic Study?"
"what shop is it in?"
"ul have to buy it off the internet."
"no way am i putting my details online so that some fake company can steal all the money out of my account!"
"mum its amazon.."
"it doesnt matter who it is im not doing it..."
"they make more money in the space of about an hour than you amke in a year mum.... dad tell her to wise up"
"im not getting involved"
"ur not gettin it thats the end of it ....now go get your homework done .."
*storming off...slaming doors.....throwing massive tantrum*
"You are a WHILE STRESSFUL WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

pretty much what happened when i asked her to buy me fire study as well....i had to get the shop to order it in for me

btw my friend suggested johnny depp as valek....not sure what use would fink

lol well its true.. and fyi... i think my poison study is being passed around the school.. i gave it to my friend a month ago and keep getting random people telling me who they are giving it to.

I like the way this thread is going :)

Keelin - I hope you pick up Magic Study, soon. And glad you like Orlando -I wasn't a big fan of his in LOTR - too blond and boring - but he's hot as Wil Turner :) I haven't seen the movie Twilight yet... I did read the books and I did ask for the DVD for my b-day ;>

Emily - you're my new BF ;> You GO girl!

So I just have to say... I read Twilight wayyyyyy before the Study series.. And I completely loved it and bought everything about it... Started the Twilight trend at my school and of course saw the movie at 12 in the morning.... And then I picked up Poison study at the bookstore and read half of it sitting there in the floor. And turns out... I loved these books wwwwwwwaaaaaaayyyyyy more then Twilight. :). I also gave them to my friends who also said they enjoy Study better then Twilight.. And I'm really excited about storm glass especially now that I know they are connected!!! :).

Wow that would be great if you could get your friends on the study series!! You don't have Magic Study??

im having to lend out all my twilight books cuz my friends not read dem yet......illl start dem on da study series wen i EVENTUALLY get da second wan
it da only one i not gotz yet but heres hoping

Keelin- Haha oh Edward has not taken Orlando's place. ;-]
But the book isn't out in the US either, I won an ARC!! :D And it's a fantastic book!!

i havent read storm glass yet....(stupid book not ut over here yet).... but i had a MASSIVE crush on orlando bloom but i swaped him for edward after the film...... i must say maria ... nice choice in men ...

GASP! That's who you imagined as KADE????!?!?!
I love him more already lol :D :D

I think that's very interesting about your inspiration for Margg and Rand. Haha I think it would be funny if that lady read your books and found out Margg was her! Are there enough hints to come to that conclusion?

And I like who you would cast for Yelena, but I must admit that I'm not a big fan of Val Kilmer (although I haven't seen top gun) But that's ok-I have Kade now haha :D

I haven't been over here in a while - sigh - just too busy :(

Well - if this isn't too late to answer Thu's question... Sometimes I have a picture in my mind of the character and other times I create one from various people I know. Margg was a lady I worked with who I didn't like ;> Rand is basically my brother-in-law, except Rand is taller and thinner and has a bad leg.

Yelena is completely from my imagination - the closest actress I've seen so far is Summer Glau (not as River, but as the Terminator chick :) I still haven't seen Valek - he's more like a young Val Kilmer - like when he was in Top Gun - but with dark hair.

In Storm Glass - Kade is based on a poster I have in my office - it's the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie (the best IMO) - the poster has Orlando Bloom as Wil Turner - and that's Kade. So I do use pictures, too. I know one author who casts her entire novel before she writes.