Richelle Mead's Blog, page 11
January 20, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 26 & 27
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 26 & 27
Time for the wrap-up chapters, now that the dire action has resolved. It’s when we go over everything that resulted from the climax and make sure there are no unexplained threads leftover from the various plots and mysteries—unless they’re intended to extend into the next book. You know how a bunch of Harry Potter books end with Harry in the hospital while Dumbledore sits bedside and debriefs? It’s kind of the same thing.
Most of the debrief stuff in these chapters is self-explanatory, so let’s get to why we’re really here: Adrian and Sydney.
I was asked recently, “When is the moment Adrian knows he has feelings for Sydney?” Answer: right here, Chapter 27. Love hits people in different ways. I’m not entirely on board with love at first sight, but I do think you can meet a person and just be struck by them in a way that makes you take note and recognize that THIS is no ordinary person. It’s what happens when Rose first faces down Dimitri. In Gameboard of the Gods , my hero is at a party and feel likes the whole world comes to a stop when the heroine enters. Adrian and Sydney don’t have a moment like that right away, and that’s okay. Neither of them was ready for that moment when they first met.
But enough stuff’s gone down now, and Adrian is savvy enough about his own heart to finally realize what Sydney’s become to him. When it comes to women he’s really into, he has a type—which is okay, because most of us do. He likes strong women, ones who are a challenge to get, and ones who don’t take any crap from him. Rose certainly fit that bill, but it wasn’t enough to make things work. Sydney’s perhaps a bit harder to get than even he would like, but she’s treated him like no one else ever has. As we’ve established before, Sydney believes in him and trusts him. She’s made huge sacrifices for him, not simply as favors or because he’s so cute and charming. The things she’s done for him usually require him to step up in turn—which is again something few others do. Most just chuckle and say, “Here you go. I just can’t say no to you.” Sydney’s essentially saying, “Here you go. You are worthy.” She’s also a calming force to him, a tranquil hand upon the tempestuous emotions that both inspire and torment him. She is his balance.
All of this has been building subconsciously, and it crashes down on Adrian in that last scene in his apartment. This is that moment I was talking about, when his world stops and he realizes, This is no ordinary person, this is someone destined to play a big role in my life. When he goes on about how beautiful her eyes are, it’s not that he’s never noticed that she’s pretty. He has. (He’s Adrian. He always notices pretty girls). But when you look at someone through the eyes of love, they’re transformed into something more, something larger than life. Sydney was attractive to him before, but as he takes her in now, full of his feelings and realization of what an extraordinary person she is, she has become something more to him. She is no longer pretty. She is, as he will put it in the next book, the most beautiful creature walking the earth.
Does that mean he’s okay with running off with a human? Nope. Not even Adrian’s that reckless. He might be able to admit to himself that he’s fallen in love with her, but the taboos around them are strong enough that he thinks he can just squash his feelings. We’ll see how that works out for you in the next book, Adrian.
Tomorrow: The Golden Lily.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 26 & 27
Time for the wrap-up chapters, now that the dire action has resolved. It’s when we go over everything that resulted from the climax and make sure there are no unexplained threads leftover from the various plots and mysteries—unless they’re intended to extend into the next book. You know how a bunch of Harry Potter books end with Harry in the hospital while Dumbledore sits bedside and debriefs? It’s kind of the same thing.
Most of the debrief stuff in these chapters is self-explanatory, so let’s get to why we’re really here: Adrian and Sydney.
I was asked recently, “When is the moment Adrian knows he has feelings for Sydney?” Answer: right here, Chapter 27. Love hits people in different ways. I’m not entirely on board with love at first sight, but I do think you can meet a person and just be struck by them in a way that makes you take note and recognize that THIS is no ordinary person. It’s what happens when Rose first faces down Dimitri. In Gameboard of the Gods , my hero is at a party and feel likes the whole world comes to a stop when the heroine enters. Adrian and Sydney don’t have a moment like that right away, and that’s okay. Neither of them was ready for that moment when they first met.
But enough stuff’s gone down now, and Adrian is savvy enough about his own heart to finally realize what Sydney’s become to him. When it comes to women he’s really into, he has a type—which is okay, because most of us do. He likes strong women, ones who are a challenge to get, and ones who don’t take any crap from him. Rose certainly fit that bill, but it wasn’t enough to make things work. Sydney’s perhaps a bit harder to get than even he would like, but she’s treated him like no one else ever has. As we’ve established before, Sydney believes in him and trusts him. She’s made huge sacrifices for him, not simply as favors or because he’s so cute and charming. The things she’s done for him usually require him to step up in turn—which is again something few others do. Most just chuckle and say, “Here you go. I just can’t say no to you.” Sydney’s essentially saying, “Here you go. You are worthy.” She’s also a calming force to him, a tranquil hand upon the tempestuous emotions that both inspire and torment him. She is his balance.
All of this has been building subconsciously, and it crashes down on Adrian in that last scene in his apartment. This is that moment I was talking about, when his world stops and he realizes, This is no ordinary person, this is someone destined to play a big role in my life. When he goes on about how beautiful her eyes are, it’s not that he’s never noticed that she’s pretty. He has. (He’s Adrian. He always notices pretty girls). But when you look at someone through the eyes of love, they’re transformed into something more, something larger than life. Sydney was attractive to him before, but as he takes her in now, full of his feelings and realization of what an extraordinary person she is, she has become something more to him. She is no longer pretty. She is, as he will put it in the next book, the most beautiful creature walking the earth.
Does that mean he’s okay with running off with a human? Nope. Not even Adrian’s that reckless. He might be able to admit to himself that he’s fallen in love with her, but the taboos around them are strong enough that he thinks he can just squash his feelings. We’ll see how that works out for you in the next book, Adrian.
Tomorrow: The Golden Lily.
January 19, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 24 & 25
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 24 & 25
Lee pulls a knife, and All Is Revealed.
I like that during this tense scene with Adrian and Sydney held captive, there's still a little snark, as well as a touching apology from Adrian for his earlier tantrum. I've commented in some other book club posts that every time they have to work together, it builds up their relationship that much more. This is no exception and actually kicks things up to an extremely high level. Part of it is just because of the stakes (no pun intended). Few things bring you closer than fighting for your lives. Additionally, they have to work together in a new way: with very little spoken communication. They've reached a point where they know each other well enough that can play off each other's subtle cues and can guess many (though certainly not all) of the other's thoughts. I love that they've reached this point and don't even realize it.
The logistics of a struggle like this are hard to write, especially since I'm not really an action person. I much prefer the romance and character development of a novel. But, just like Adrian's college admission, I had to go to great pains to make this scene work out. I had to come up with ways for them to be trapped yet still have the potential for escape. That's why we see the tie and knife. They successfully create a dangerous situation but also give our heroes a chance to fight back. If Lee had a gun, things would be much more hopeless.
Of course, they get pretty hopeless later when the Strigoi show up. The playing field doesn't just get leveled; it gets decimated. Much of the VA series was focused on the redemption of those turned Strigoi, like Dimitri and Sonya, but it occurred to me that there'd be plenty of people who were glad to let go of their souls for immortality and invincibility. We got a sense of this in Blood Promise, when Rose met humans who served Strigoi in the hopes of being turned.
Do you guys like Eddie's badassery? Again, I'm in these books for the romance, but I do so love it when one of these guys just turns it on--like when Dimitri defends Rose against the onslaught of guardians at the end of Spirit Bound. Eddie's gone through a lot, between the Mason and Rose shenanigans, being held by Strigoi, and his unrequited love for Jill. But despite these ups and downs, he never loses his edge. Mini-Dimitri is a force to be reckoned with.
In closing, why did I name Ms. Terwilliger Jaclyn and then call a Strigoi Jacqueline? No clue. Probably the same reason Adrian's dad and a random Strigoi were both named Nathan. Just the slip of a mind too distracted by writing witty banter and making deadline.
Tomorrow: the last two chapters of Bloodlines, including the much anticipated moment when Adrian KNOWS.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 24 & 25
Lee pulls a knife, and All Is Revealed.
I like that during this tense scene with Adrian and Sydney held captive, there's still a little snark, as well as a touching apology from Adrian for his earlier tantrum. I've commented in some other book club posts that every time they have to work together, it builds up their relationship that much more. This is no exception and actually kicks things up to an extremely high level. Part of it is just because of the stakes (no pun intended). Few things bring you closer than fighting for your lives. Additionally, they have to work together in a new way: with very little spoken communication. They've reached a point where they know each other well enough that can play off each other's subtle cues and can guess many (though certainly not all) of the other's thoughts. I love that they've reached this point and don't even realize it.
The logistics of a struggle like this are hard to write, especially since I'm not really an action person. I much prefer the romance and character development of a novel. But, just like Adrian's college admission, I had to go to great pains to make this scene work out. I had to come up with ways for them to be trapped yet still have the potential for escape. That's why we see the tie and knife. They successfully create a dangerous situation but also give our heroes a chance to fight back. If Lee had a gun, things would be much more hopeless.
Of course, they get pretty hopeless later when the Strigoi show up. The playing field doesn't just get leveled; it gets decimated. Much of the VA series was focused on the redemption of those turned Strigoi, like Dimitri and Sonya, but it occurred to me that there'd be plenty of people who were glad to let go of their souls for immortality and invincibility. We got a sense of this in Blood Promise, when Rose met humans who served Strigoi in the hopes of being turned.
Do you guys like Eddie's badassery? Again, I'm in these books for the romance, but I do so love it when one of these guys just turns it on--like when Dimitri defends Rose against the onslaught of guardians at the end of Spirit Bound. Eddie's gone through a lot, between the Mason and Rose shenanigans, being held by Strigoi, and his unrequited love for Jill. But despite these ups and downs, he never loses his edge. Mini-Dimitri is a force to be reckoned with.
In closing, why did I name Ms. Terwilliger Jaclyn and then call a Strigoi Jacqueline? No clue. Probably the same reason Adrian's dad and a random Strigoi were both named Nathan. Just the slip of a mind too distracted by writing witty banter and making deadline.
Tomorrow: the last two chapters of Bloodlines, including the much anticipated moment when Adrian KNOWS.
January 18, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines Chapter 23
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 23
Some budding fan artist needs to do Jill in the silver dress and mask. I'd love to see her get a little glam time!
Meanwhile, Adrian's having a hissy fit. I don't like to have these moments, but Adrian's no more perfect than any other character. He's still got some growing up to do and falls into these moods and spells of selfishness. Admittedly, he's caught off-guard by the change in collegiate fortunes, so we can kind of see why he's upset. Is that any reason to berate poor Sydney? Probably not. The upside is that even though Adrian takes a step back during this spat, he's later able to move two steps forward when he accepts the challenge that this snafu has caused. It ultimately makes him grow and shows us he's not so spoiled after all. Sometimes we need these low moments to bring about the high ones.
We also get another glimpse of Sydney's dark side when she goes all Godfather on Laurel. Sydney's not a mean person, but as I mentioned before, she doesn't let the people she cares about get hurt. She intends to make sure no one messes with Jill. Laurel's parting remark is great: "You know, you can be scary as hell sometimes." That's right. Again, I'm not trying to make Sydney mean or vengeful, but after everyone lauded Rose for holding her own in a physical fight, I wanted to show that a competent young woman can still be fierce and protective with her cunning, not just her fists.
Tomorrow we go back to two chapters a day for the weekend, and it'll be on to The Golden Lily next week!
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 23
Some budding fan artist needs to do Jill in the silver dress and mask. I'd love to see her get a little glam time!
Meanwhile, Adrian's having a hissy fit. I don't like to have these moments, but Adrian's no more perfect than any other character. He's still got some growing up to do and falls into these moods and spells of selfishness. Admittedly, he's caught off-guard by the change in collegiate fortunes, so we can kind of see why he's upset. Is that any reason to berate poor Sydney? Probably not. The upside is that even though Adrian takes a step back during this spat, he's later able to move two steps forward when he accepts the challenge that this snafu has caused. It ultimately makes him grow and shows us he's not so spoiled after all. Sometimes we need these low moments to bring about the high ones.
We also get another glimpse of Sydney's dark side when she goes all Godfather on Laurel. Sydney's not a mean person, but as I mentioned before, she doesn't let the people she cares about get hurt. She intends to make sure no one messes with Jill. Laurel's parting remark is great: "You know, you can be scary as hell sometimes." That's right. Again, I'm not trying to make Sydney mean or vengeful, but after everyone lauded Rose for holding her own in a physical fight, I wanted to show that a competent young woman can still be fierce and protective with her cunning, not just her fists.
Tomorrow we go back to two chapters a day for the weekend, and it'll be on to The Golden Lily next week!
January 17, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 22
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 22
More capers ahead! And wouldn't you know, Adrian can pick a lock. I guess he's more than just a pretty face.
We also, in passing, get a brief nod to Adrian's creative process when Sydney sees his paintings. In a very short amount of time, he's had a flurry of erratic artistic inspiration, throwing out whatever came into his mind on to the canvas. These bursts of frenetic energy are among a set of behaviors that are going to start to add up (along with his blue moods, substance abuse, and extravagant purchases) in The Fiery Heart. Although much of his mental state is tied to spirit's darker side, this outlet of art is one of the magic's more beautiful aspects.
Meanwhile, I devote almost a page to Sydney puzzling out his auditing fee because I'm still too bureaucratic to let him go to college without jumping through a bunch of hoops. Nerd. (Me, not her).
Getting back to the caper at hand. It's actually a pretty complex one, what with Sydney distracting Keith while Adrian does a little breaking and entering. Two noteworthy things come out of this, aside from the evidence they're looking for. One is this exchange:
Keith: They use mind control. Spirit users like Adrian are really good at it. For all we know, he's been using his powers to endear himself to you.
Sydney: He's not doing a very good job, then.
The other thing that comes out here is a skeleton in the Sage closet! Even though I wrote this, the revelation about Carly still hits me with a shock because so much of this book consists of sleuthing hinjinks, high school drama, and Sydney's intellect. Then, BAM! You get something as ugly and hard as rape. It almost doesn't feel like it's a part of the rest of the narrative, but that's kind of the point, and Carly's case is far too common: those who hide a harsh secret under a pleasant facade, out of fear of disgrace. Sydney, as we'll soon see, does not let such things go quietly.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 22
More capers ahead! And wouldn't you know, Adrian can pick a lock. I guess he's more than just a pretty face.
We also, in passing, get a brief nod to Adrian's creative process when Sydney sees his paintings. In a very short amount of time, he's had a flurry of erratic artistic inspiration, throwing out whatever came into his mind on to the canvas. These bursts of frenetic energy are among a set of behaviors that are going to start to add up (along with his blue moods, substance abuse, and extravagant purchases) in The Fiery Heart. Although much of his mental state is tied to spirit's darker side, this outlet of art is one of the magic's more beautiful aspects.
Meanwhile, I devote almost a page to Sydney puzzling out his auditing fee because I'm still too bureaucratic to let him go to college without jumping through a bunch of hoops. Nerd. (Me, not her).
Getting back to the caper at hand. It's actually a pretty complex one, what with Sydney distracting Keith while Adrian does a little breaking and entering. Two noteworthy things come out of this, aside from the evidence they're looking for. One is this exchange:
Keith: They use mind control. Spirit users like Adrian are really good at it. For all we know, he's been using his powers to endear himself to you.
Sydney: He's not doing a very good job, then.
The other thing that comes out here is a skeleton in the Sage closet! Even though I wrote this, the revelation about Carly still hits me with a shock because so much of this book consists of sleuthing hinjinks, high school drama, and Sydney's intellect. Then, BAM! You get something as ugly and hard as rape. It almost doesn't feel like it's a part of the rest of the narrative, but that's kind of the point, and Carly's case is far too common: those who hide a harsh secret under a pleasant facade, out of fear of disgrace. Sydney, as we'll soon see, does not let such things go quietly.
January 16, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 21
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 21
Wow, all sorts of things are happening here! The various tattoo threads are all starting to come together into one evil master plot, and Sydney engages in a bona fide act of revenge. I always feel a little silly writing pranks like that, like when Mia made the snow fall on Lissa in Vampire Academy. I guess I want to delude myself that I'm only writing highbrow stuff, but let's face it: people are petty. Laurel totally deserved to have that happen to her. This also gives us a surprising glimpse into Sydney's vengeful side. Overall, she's a pretty even-keeled person who doesn't act on selfish impulse, but if you mess with the people she loves, she will mess with you--which we'll soon discover even more about when the deal with Abe comes to light. I won't lie--I like having a dark twist like that inside a seemingly innocent character.
People always ask me how much I have in common with my characters. Well, you know when Jill's practicing in high heels and is in danger of breaking her neck? Yeah, that's totally me in heels. It's something I've never been able to master. I would love to, especially since I'm only 5'2", I apparently just don't have that kind of balance gene because disaster ensues when I wear them.
I'm going to clip today's post a little short to give you a heads up about a Twitter chat I'm doing tomorrow, January 17. And by chat, I mean I'll be doing my best to answer as many questions as I can in a half hour with 140 characters each. The times and stats are here, with the main takeaway being to mark your tweets with #readpenguin. I'll try to get to as many of you as I can, and if possible, we'd like to talk about worldbuilding in writing. But hey, we'll see how it goes. :)
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 21
Wow, all sorts of things are happening here! The various tattoo threads are all starting to come together into one evil master plot, and Sydney engages in a bona fide act of revenge. I always feel a little silly writing pranks like that, like when Mia made the snow fall on Lissa in Vampire Academy. I guess I want to delude myself that I'm only writing highbrow stuff, but let's face it: people are petty. Laurel totally deserved to have that happen to her. This also gives us a surprising glimpse into Sydney's vengeful side. Overall, she's a pretty even-keeled person who doesn't act on selfish impulse, but if you mess with the people she loves, she will mess with you--which we'll soon discover even more about when the deal with Abe comes to light. I won't lie--I like having a dark twist like that inside a seemingly innocent character.
People always ask me how much I have in common with my characters. Well, you know when Jill's practicing in high heels and is in danger of breaking her neck? Yeah, that's totally me in heels. It's something I've never been able to master. I would love to, especially since I'm only 5'2", I apparently just don't have that kind of balance gene because disaster ensues when I wear them.
I'm going to clip today's post a little short to give you a heads up about a Twitter chat I'm doing tomorrow, January 17. And by chat, I mean I'll be doing my best to answer as many questions as I can in a half hour with 140 characters each. The times and stats are here, with the main takeaway being to mark your tweets with #readpenguin. I'll try to get to as many of you as I can, and if possible, we'd like to talk about worldbuilding in writing. But hey, we'll see how it goes. :)
January 15, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 20
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 20
Fun fact: I had a whole bunch of goofy names for the school’s sewing club, like Pins and Needles and Sew Long. Each time I submitted the manuscript, the names kept getting edited out, so I guess only I thought they were funny. In the end, the club stayed nameless.
I have no trouble making up crazy fantasy world rules and whatnot, but doing crazy things with real world bureaucracy makes me twitchy. It sounds so dull, but I really had to sleuth out how Adrian could take classes right away and deal with the whole issue of admissions, credits, tuition, etc. because in real life, you can't just jump into a college like that without a lot of time and paperwork. There’s a part of me that still worries him getting in is a little farfetched, but in the face of witches and vampires...well, I guess we can look past some college paperwork.
Just because most humans in this series don’t know about vampires doesn’t mean the idea isn’t alive and well in pop culture. Look at the Dracula set-up at the mini-gold course, for example. So, it’s not far out there that a pale girl who doesn’t like the sun would get mocked for being a vampire. Even if Laurel doesn’t seriously believe Jill is one, a mean girl like her wouldn’t hesitate to jump on a physical feature and make fun of it. If Jill had body hair problems, she’d probably get called a werewolf.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 20
Fun fact: I had a whole bunch of goofy names for the school’s sewing club, like Pins and Needles and Sew Long. Each time I submitted the manuscript, the names kept getting edited out, so I guess only I thought they were funny. In the end, the club stayed nameless.
I have no trouble making up crazy fantasy world rules and whatnot, but doing crazy things with real world bureaucracy makes me twitchy. It sounds so dull, but I really had to sleuth out how Adrian could take classes right away and deal with the whole issue of admissions, credits, tuition, etc. because in real life, you can't just jump into a college like that without a lot of time and paperwork. There’s a part of me that still worries him getting in is a little farfetched, but in the face of witches and vampires...well, I guess we can look past some college paperwork.
Just because most humans in this series don’t know about vampires doesn’t mean the idea isn’t alive and well in pop culture. Look at the Dracula set-up at the mini-gold course, for example. So, it’s not far out there that a pale girl who doesn’t like the sun would get mocked for being a vampire. Even if Laurel doesn’t seriously believe Jill is one, a mean girl like her wouldn’t hesitate to jump on a physical feature and make fun of it. If Jill had body hair problems, she’d probably get called a werewolf.
January 14, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 19
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 19
Have you ever seen one of those Project Runway episodes where their challenge is to design for “real women” instead of their usual models? And there’s always some designer who does a crap job and starts whining, “I’m not used to designing for women who aren’t size double zero...blah, blah...she has breasts and hips...wah, it's not fair...” That sort of fashion industry mentality was what inspired the idea of having Jill scouted for modeling. Really, it’s a wonder more Moroi aren’t recruited. They've got those tall, crazily slim builds that most humans don't have but that designers love.
In other news, Sydney’s unwittingly about to embark on the slippery slope of magic! This idea came from two places. One was just to find more ways to challenge Sydney and break her from the strict rules she’d been raised in. The other purpose was that I felt it was just time to start expanding on this magical world. If vampires exist in my fiction, it seems inevitable that other types of the supernatural would be running around too. We don’t look much past the Moroi inner circle in the Vampire Academy series, but this series gives us the chance to step back and see what other paranormal shenanigans are afoot.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 19
Have you ever seen one of those Project Runway episodes where their challenge is to design for “real women” instead of their usual models? And there’s always some designer who does a crap job and starts whining, “I’m not used to designing for women who aren’t size double zero...blah, blah...she has breasts and hips...wah, it's not fair...” That sort of fashion industry mentality was what inspired the idea of having Jill scouted for modeling. Really, it’s a wonder more Moroi aren’t recruited. They've got those tall, crazily slim builds that most humans don't have but that designers love.
In other news, Sydney’s unwittingly about to embark on the slippery slope of magic! This idea came from two places. One was just to find more ways to challenge Sydney and break her from the strict rules she’d been raised in. The other purpose was that I felt it was just time to start expanding on this magical world. If vampires exist in my fiction, it seems inevitable that other types of the supernatural would be running around too. We don’t look much past the Moroi inner circle in the Vampire Academy series, but this series gives us the chance to step back and see what other paranormal shenanigans are afoot.
January 13, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 17 & 18
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 17 and 18
Jill’s being a little bratty here, but you can’t really blame her. Like I said the other day, she really has had a rough time, and I think we’ve all known a few people who deserved a frozen shower.
Meanwhile, it’s time for Chairman Ivashkov to look for a job! This is probably my favorite scene in the whole book. It firms up what’s going to be the standard dynamic between Sydney and Adrian. On the surface, she’s playing the straight man for him to bounce his wackiness off of, but at the heart of matters, she’s becoming his anchor in a world gone mad, and he’s helping her break out of some of the rigidness that governs her life. An outing like this also marks what’s going to become a dangerous trend with Sydney for the whole gang: helping them in a personal and friendly way, not just an Alchemist one.
Fun job hunting fact. Sydney’s generous doctoring of his resume was inspired by an old job of my sister-in-law’s, at an employment agency where she too had to help improve people's resumes. She’d convert things like “caught and sold worms for live bait” to “worked extensively with wildlife.” And that “What’s your greatest weakness” question Adrian gets asked is straight out a bunch of interviews I endured when trying to find a clerical job with my liberal arts degree. Seriously, who asks that? Why do they ask that? Does any potential employer expect someone to say kleptomania or alcoholism? And if a person deso give the correct “I care too much” or “I’m a perfectionist” answer, everyone knows it’s crap. Employers: I beseech you. Stop asking that ridiculous question.
Sydney blowing up at Jill and Eddie later isn’t entirely unwarranted. I forgave Jill her brattiness earlier, but running off is out of line when her life is in so much danger. Sydney’s job is to deal with unexpected problems—but not ones they cause for themselves. And after Adrian’s job shenanigans, it’s no wonder Sydney’s a little touchy.
The closing spirit dream is a reality check to remind us that helping vampires job hunt is by no means the same thing as embracing their magical abilities. Sydney has not advanced to a point where it is at all cool for her to be in a world created of magic. This scene does, however, represent major, major advancements for Adrian. First, he apologizes and takes responsibility for his silliness. This isn’t a behavior we’ve seen from him in either series. He usually either refuses to acknowledge he’s doing anything wrong or is just forgiven because of his charm. Here, he grows up a little and is rewarded with what is clearly a new experience for him: someone believing in him.
Tomorrow: we're back to one chapter a day.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 17 and 18
Jill’s being a little bratty here, but you can’t really blame her. Like I said the other day, she really has had a rough time, and I think we’ve all known a few people who deserved a frozen shower.
Meanwhile, it’s time for Chairman Ivashkov to look for a job! This is probably my favorite scene in the whole book. It firms up what’s going to be the standard dynamic between Sydney and Adrian. On the surface, she’s playing the straight man for him to bounce his wackiness off of, but at the heart of matters, she’s becoming his anchor in a world gone mad, and he’s helping her break out of some of the rigidness that governs her life. An outing like this also marks what’s going to become a dangerous trend with Sydney for the whole gang: helping them in a personal and friendly way, not just an Alchemist one.
Fun job hunting fact. Sydney’s generous doctoring of his resume was inspired by an old job of my sister-in-law’s, at an employment agency where she too had to help improve people's resumes. She’d convert things like “caught and sold worms for live bait” to “worked extensively with wildlife.” And that “What’s your greatest weakness” question Adrian gets asked is straight out a bunch of interviews I endured when trying to find a clerical job with my liberal arts degree. Seriously, who asks that? Why do they ask that? Does any potential employer expect someone to say kleptomania or alcoholism? And if a person deso give the correct “I care too much” or “I’m a perfectionist” answer, everyone knows it’s crap. Employers: I beseech you. Stop asking that ridiculous question.
Sydney blowing up at Jill and Eddie later isn’t entirely unwarranted. I forgave Jill her brattiness earlier, but running off is out of line when her life is in so much danger. Sydney’s job is to deal with unexpected problems—but not ones they cause for themselves. And after Adrian’s job shenanigans, it’s no wonder Sydney’s a little touchy.
The closing spirit dream is a reality check to remind us that helping vampires job hunt is by no means the same thing as embracing their magical abilities. Sydney has not advanced to a point where it is at all cool for her to be in a world created of magic. This scene does, however, represent major, major advancements for Adrian. First, he apologizes and takes responsibility for his silliness. This isn’t a behavior we’ve seen from him in either series. He usually either refuses to acknowledge he’s doing anything wrong or is just forgiven because of his charm. Here, he grows up a little and is rewarded with what is clearly a new experience for him: someone believing in him.
Tomorrow: we're back to one chapter a day.
January 12, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 15 & 16
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 15 and 16
Adrian calls Sydney out about her weight, the first time anyone’s done it in the series, telling her she needs to gain ten pounds. She’s not malnourished enough to need quite that much, but it’s definitely a long overdue conversation, one that’ll really come to a head in the next book. It’s significant that he’s the one who does this. Just like in the last chapter, the two of them are really tuning into the other and aren’t afraid to say what no one else will.
This chapter also introduces us to Adrian’s alter ego, Jet Steele, a name rivaled only by Homer Simpson’s Max Power. I honestly have no idea where the idea of him having a secret identity came from. Maybe I’d been seeing too many Chuck Finley jokes on Burn Notice.
We have a nice Eddie line here, when Sydney remarks that vampire hunters would be a game-changer since you wouldn’t be able to tell who’s a threat or not. Eddie’s says: “It’s pretty easy, actually. I just treat everyone as a threat.” He reall is like a mini-Dimitri!
And how cool is it that we finally see Sydney do some Alchemist stuff in this book? So far, she’s been a chauffeur having to deal with high school social life, so this is a good reminder that she’s also trained in some crazy ancient pseudo-scientific arts. I love that it launches her into the dorm’s resident wise woman, with people coming to her for birth control and other needs.
More firsts follow in 16 when Sydney and Adrian engage in their first caper. Having them work together is another stepping stone in their relationship, both because they have to think collectively--and because they actually have to trust each other. Trust is a big part of friendship (and anything beyond that). Of course, I doubt anything could’ve prepared Sydney for Adrian’s tattoo diversion. I do remember writing that scene and that I just kept adding on more ridiculous things as time went on, with the flaming ninja throwing stars being the icing on the cake. As outlandish as the whole thing is, it distracts the tattooist long enough for Sydney to do her thing and also shows us that Adrian has some restraint when he finally draws the line: “...maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill.”
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapters 15 and 16
Adrian calls Sydney out about her weight, the first time anyone’s done it in the series, telling her she needs to gain ten pounds. She’s not malnourished enough to need quite that much, but it’s definitely a long overdue conversation, one that’ll really come to a head in the next book. It’s significant that he’s the one who does this. Just like in the last chapter, the two of them are really tuning into the other and aren’t afraid to say what no one else will.
This chapter also introduces us to Adrian’s alter ego, Jet Steele, a name rivaled only by Homer Simpson’s Max Power. I honestly have no idea where the idea of him having a secret identity came from. Maybe I’d been seeing too many Chuck Finley jokes on Burn Notice.
We have a nice Eddie line here, when Sydney remarks that vampire hunters would be a game-changer since you wouldn’t be able to tell who’s a threat or not. Eddie’s says: “It’s pretty easy, actually. I just treat everyone as a threat.” He reall is like a mini-Dimitri!
And how cool is it that we finally see Sydney do some Alchemist stuff in this book? So far, she’s been a chauffeur having to deal with high school social life, so this is a good reminder that she’s also trained in some crazy ancient pseudo-scientific arts. I love that it launches her into the dorm’s resident wise woman, with people coming to her for birth control and other needs.
More firsts follow in 16 when Sydney and Adrian engage in their first caper. Having them work together is another stepping stone in their relationship, both because they have to think collectively--and because they actually have to trust each other. Trust is a big part of friendship (and anything beyond that). Of course, I doubt anything could’ve prepared Sydney for Adrian’s tattoo diversion. I do remember writing that scene and that I just kept adding on more ridiculous things as time went on, with the flaming ninja throwing stars being the icing on the cake. As outlandish as the whole thing is, it distracts the tattooist long enough for Sydney to do her thing and also shows us that Adrian has some restraint when he finally draws the line: “...maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill.”
January 11, 2013
Book Club: Bloodlines 14
Book Club Disclaimer:
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 14
Duh-duh-DUH! The bond is revealed. Poor Jill, trapped in Adrian Ivashkov’s head. And poor Jill, having been murdered. Honestly, I think the experience of having been brought back from the dead would seriously mess with a someone. Rose and Jill are remarkably well-adjusted when, really, I should be writing books about them in therapy. No one wants to read that, though.
And here’s Sydney, off to rescue Adrian “from himself.” What was Adrian doing with two girls in a beachside apartment? Well, that’s a mystery never to be revealed. Maybe they were just hanging out and talking. OR MAYBE NOT. I’m pretty sure your imaginations can come up with more sordid things than I could, and besides, this is a YA book.
Adrian and Sydney have some nice moments here and not just because of the funny lines. It’s a stepping stone in their relationship. You can be nice or mean to someone without much effort. But to reach a point where you can call someone out on some of their most intimate flaws is a much bigger thing. Sydney brings up the taboo topic of Adrian’s mom (which will also be addressed in The Fiery Heart), and he calls her out on blindly submitting to Keith (which is in turn linked to her blind devotion to the Alchemists). They’ve both tapped into some serious matters here, and that, as much physical attraction, builds a relationship.
We’re doing double duty for the weekend tomorrow: two chapters each day.
Spoilers ahead! I'm not recapping these chapters in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but I do refer to some things that happen in them. These posts are to give some commentary and behind-the-scenes info for people who want to read along (or re-read) with me or walk down memory lane. If you haven't read the books, you might have some surprises ruined. So maybe go grab a copy and read along as we count down to The Indigo Spell! :)
THESE POSTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE INDIGO SPELL! You're safe if you've read the first two books in the series.
Bloodlines, Chapter 14
Duh-duh-DUH! The bond is revealed. Poor Jill, trapped in Adrian Ivashkov’s head. And poor Jill, having been murdered. Honestly, I think the experience of having been brought back from the dead would seriously mess with a someone. Rose and Jill are remarkably well-adjusted when, really, I should be writing books about them in therapy. No one wants to read that, though.
And here’s Sydney, off to rescue Adrian “from himself.” What was Adrian doing with two girls in a beachside apartment? Well, that’s a mystery never to be revealed. Maybe they were just hanging out and talking. OR MAYBE NOT. I’m pretty sure your imaginations can come up with more sordid things than I could, and besides, this is a YA book.
Adrian and Sydney have some nice moments here and not just because of the funny lines. It’s a stepping stone in their relationship. You can be nice or mean to someone without much effort. But to reach a point where you can call someone out on some of their most intimate flaws is a much bigger thing. Sydney brings up the taboo topic of Adrian’s mom (which will also be addressed in The Fiery Heart), and he calls her out on blindly submitting to Keith (which is in turn linked to her blind devotion to the Alchemists). They’ve both tapped into some serious matters here, and that, as much physical attraction, builds a relationship.
We’re doing double duty for the weekend tomorrow: two chapters each day.
