Richelle Mead's Blog, page 8
April 1, 2013
Gameboard of the Gods: History and Background
As promised, it's time to get cracking on
Gameboard of the Gods
. Being set in a future world, it's one of the most complex books I've written as far as setting goes. So, for those interested in knowing what you're walking into with this book, I thought I'd get you up to speed on its history and background.
Gameboard of the Gods takes place a hundred years in the future. Around our current day, religious extremists unleashed a virus called Mephistopheles (they saw it as a demon punishing the world) that took out half the world's population. Countries and infrastructure crumbled as a result, causing many places to descend into chaos and even regress. Different regions coped in different ways. Some weren't very effective at all and went totally Mad Max. This part of history is referred to as the Decline.
The majority of the former US and Canada banded together to create a new country called the Republic of North America. It's usually referred to as the RUNA in the book, pronounced roo-na. Its capital is Vancouver (shout-out to British Columbia!). Noticing that those of mixed genetic backgrounds had greater resistance to the virus, the RUNA instituted a harsh policy where large parts of its population were forcibly swapped with those of another emerging country formed from parts of China and Russia. As the two countries began breeding heterogeneous populations with greater survival rates, they were able to better weather the virus until a vaccine was created.
Fast-forward a century later, to the book's setting. The RUNA's policies have made it the leading country in the world. It's regained the technology it lost in the Decline and has started to advance past where we are today. It's a bright, shiny country with compulsory education, efficient energy, birth control laws, a mighty military, smart phone-esque devices that manage every part of your life, public transportation everywhere, and all sorts of other good stuff. Citizens have small chips in their hands that facilitate what parts of the country they can move through. The RUNA has a very high opinion of itself and looks down on all other parts of the world--many of which are still totally a mess--which it calls "the provinces."
Genetic mixing is no longer mandatory, but those who still reproduce with "genetically optimal" partners get stipends from the government. In addition to this, the RUNA has one other big policy that it used in its recovery. In its eyes, religion was responsible for the Decline. The RUNA sees religion as a source of unrest, creating separatist attitudes and irrational behaviors. Consequently, it has a very strong stance against religion and belief in the supernatural. Most religions were stamped out, though some remained--including many new ones that were revivals of older gods from around the world. Those groups that are allowed to exist must be licensed and deemed not a threat. Any group that seems unstable or is growing too large is disbanded. Stay tuned because this particular policy forms a large part of the book's plot.
And that's a lot of stuff, so I'll close and let your minds boggle over that. Next time, we'll delve into our principle characters.
Gameboard of the Gods takes place a hundred years in the future. Around our current day, religious extremists unleashed a virus called Mephistopheles (they saw it as a demon punishing the world) that took out half the world's population. Countries and infrastructure crumbled as a result, causing many places to descend into chaos and even regress. Different regions coped in different ways. Some weren't very effective at all and went totally Mad Max. This part of history is referred to as the Decline.
The majority of the former US and Canada banded together to create a new country called the Republic of North America. It's usually referred to as the RUNA in the book, pronounced roo-na. Its capital is Vancouver (shout-out to British Columbia!). Noticing that those of mixed genetic backgrounds had greater resistance to the virus, the RUNA instituted a harsh policy where large parts of its population were forcibly swapped with those of another emerging country formed from parts of China and Russia. As the two countries began breeding heterogeneous populations with greater survival rates, they were able to better weather the virus until a vaccine was created.
Fast-forward a century later, to the book's setting. The RUNA's policies have made it the leading country in the world. It's regained the technology it lost in the Decline and has started to advance past where we are today. It's a bright, shiny country with compulsory education, efficient energy, birth control laws, a mighty military, smart phone-esque devices that manage every part of your life, public transportation everywhere, and all sorts of other good stuff. Citizens have small chips in their hands that facilitate what parts of the country they can move through. The RUNA has a very high opinion of itself and looks down on all other parts of the world--many of which are still totally a mess--which it calls "the provinces."
Genetic mixing is no longer mandatory, but those who still reproduce with "genetically optimal" partners get stipends from the government. In addition to this, the RUNA has one other big policy that it used in its recovery. In its eyes, religion was responsible for the Decline. The RUNA sees religion as a source of unrest, creating separatist attitudes and irrational behaviors. Consequently, it has a very strong stance against religion and belief in the supernatural. Most religions were stamped out, though some remained--including many new ones that were revivals of older gods from around the world. Those groups that are allowed to exist must be licensed and deemed not a threat. Any group that seems unstable or is growing too large is disbanded. Stay tuned because this particular policy forms a large part of the book's plot.
And that's a lot of stuff, so I'll close and let your minds boggle over that. Next time, we'll delve into our principle characters.
March 28, 2013
Let's talk about Gameboard of the Gods
Believe it or not, there's more going on in Richelleland than the movie and The Fiery Heart. No, really. And, it's happening sooner than those two. On June 4, Gameboard of the Gods (my twentieth novel!) comes out. Gameboard is the first book in my new adult series, Age of X. Yup, adult. There's been some confusion about whether it's YA, so just be advised there's some "content" in there. Of course, I was reading Clan of the Cave Bear and Harlequin novels when I was a teen, so who am I to advise? I grew up to write about succubi, so it looks like it all worked out.
Anyway, I'm super excited about Gameboard because it's a new project for me, which is always cool for an artist/author. I guess the best genre to put it in is "futuristic paranormal." So, you have sci-fi things like automated cars and genetic manipulation mixed with supernatural things like shapeshifters and magical talking ravens. And of course, it has all the other things I like to write about: dysfunctional romances, caffeine, mental health, mythology, mojitos. There are no 1980s references, sadly, since it takes place one-hundred years in the future. Maybe for the next book I'll work in 80s music as a high brow classic art form.
Over the next couple of months, I'm going to give you even more background about Gameboard of the Gods, such as primers on the world and characters, as well as excerpts. Today's post is just an intro, plus a refresher for those who've missed the official descriptions. There's a couple of them:
A brilliant but bitter exile, plagued with an addictive personality and a troubled past. A beautiful super soldier whose true nature holds more danger than anyone realizes. In a futuristic country that's turned its back on religion, these two unlikely partners find that a series of ritualistic murders are just the beginning of supernatural forces slowly attempting to reclaim the world...
Age of X is Richelle's newest adult series, mixing paranormal and near-future genres.
Then there's this one:
In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.
Hope that helps! We'll have more in the days to come...
Anyway, I'm super excited about Gameboard because it's a new project for me, which is always cool for an artist/author. I guess the best genre to put it in is "futuristic paranormal." So, you have sci-fi things like automated cars and genetic manipulation mixed with supernatural things like shapeshifters and magical talking ravens. And of course, it has all the other things I like to write about: dysfunctional romances, caffeine, mental health, mythology, mojitos. There are no 1980s references, sadly, since it takes place one-hundred years in the future. Maybe for the next book I'll work in 80s music as a high brow classic art form.Over the next couple of months, I'm going to give you even more background about Gameboard of the Gods, such as primers on the world and characters, as well as excerpts. Today's post is just an intro, plus a refresher for those who've missed the official descriptions. There's a couple of them:
A brilliant but bitter exile, plagued with an addictive personality and a troubled past. A beautiful super soldier whose true nature holds more danger than anyone realizes. In a futuristic country that's turned its back on religion, these two unlikely partners find that a series of ritualistic murders are just the beginning of supernatural forces slowly attempting to reclaim the world...
Age of X is Richelle's newest adult series, mixing paranormal and near-future genres.
Then there's this one:
In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.
Hope that helps! We'll have more in the days to come...
March 15, 2013
Bodies
Do I have your attention?
Wait...isn't that also the name of a creepy cadaver exhibit? Well, that's not what I'm going for. I'm talking about something a little more appealing--say, like, Zoey Deutch and Danila Kozlovsky training for the Vampire Academy movie:
This picture was tweeted recently by Alicia Strom, part of the team who's training Zoey and Danila up to be Rose and Dimitri. To give you context, Danila is resting after a major workout where he "kicked some major butt" and Zoey is checking in on him.
I love this for a couple of reasons. One is that it's just the first pic we've really had of them together (that wasn't PhotoShopped). Another reason is that I'm just so excited seeing them getting ready for the role. That is A LOT of work! I saw some people's reactions to this were: "Wait, they aren't already in complete muscled-up guardian mode?" Uh, no. Don't get me wrong--they're in great shape (and if you hunt, you can find more close-up Danila shots that show he's already got muscles going). But the truth is, most actors don't live their lives in action hero shape. The Avengers, for example? Those guys are all fit and work out regularly, but they kick it up when filming comes around to get that superhero physique. That's what actors do: they take on roles. :) And I love all the dedication that Zoey and Danila are putting into this one. Filming is planned for a couple months or so from now, so you better believe they aren't wasting any time. Just you wait.
I also thought I'd address a question about body type that keeps coming up. People are always speculating on Rose's body. The book mentions her having "curves," which some people read as code for "overweight." When I talk about women having curves, it's code for having breasts and hips...which is what nature has given most women, regardless if your body size is big or small. So, in my head, Rose pretty much has the kind of healthy toned body you'd expect from an athlete, but she also has good-looking hips and breasts like an average young woman would have. You know, because women have children. She's got muscles, but she's not a bulky bodybuilder. She's not stick-thin either. Make of that what you will. If Zoey survives her TRX training and boxing, she's going to be pretty spot-on. :)
The attention is drawn to Rose's "curves" because the Moroi's bodies aren't quite what the average human has. They're tall and slim, with narrow hips and smaller chests--which is why they're often likened to runway models. It's what their genes have given them, though. It's normal and healthy for them. (Though it is unhealthy for someone whose genes aren't geared that way, as we've seen with Sydney).
So, I don't know if that helps you with how I originally envisioned Rose or not. She's active and fit, and her body reflects that. Is she sexy too? Yeah. Because curves are. It's one of my pet peeves that society has a lot of issues with curves and determining what's a normal body. I think there's also a lot of misinformation about what a healthy weight actually is. Like I mentioned above, the media tends to distort things. Whenever I watch America's Next Top Model, and they make a big deal about having a "plus-sized" model who looks pretty average to me, I kind of want to punch my TV.
But I digress. I've turned the awesome training pic into a tirade about body image. It's a hot button issue for me because when I was a teacher, I used to see these beautiful teen girls getting down on themselves for being "fat." And it broke my heart. To be clear: there are a lot of unhealthy habits and bodies in our society right now--which also breaks my heart. It's a serious problem, and I know people often feel trapped by that and don't know how to change it. I lost 40 pounds in 2002, and there were some dark times there. I think at the end of the day we need to measure healthy bodies by our doctor's tests and not the pages of Vogue. Also, at the end of the day, terms like "average" and "normal" are dangerous, so use my words cautiously.
If you want to read something interesting on the topic, check out this interview with Whitney Thompson, ANTM's first plus-size (and extremely beautiful) winner. She has a lot to say about body image--and why runway models really are so small.
Wait...isn't that also the name of a creepy cadaver exhibit? Well, that's not what I'm going for. I'm talking about something a little more appealing--say, like, Zoey Deutch and Danila Kozlovsky training for the Vampire Academy movie:
This picture was tweeted recently by Alicia Strom, part of the team who's training Zoey and Danila up to be Rose and Dimitri. To give you context, Danila is resting after a major workout where he "kicked some major butt" and Zoey is checking in on him.
I love this for a couple of reasons. One is that it's just the first pic we've really had of them together (that wasn't PhotoShopped). Another reason is that I'm just so excited seeing them getting ready for the role. That is A LOT of work! I saw some people's reactions to this were: "Wait, they aren't already in complete muscled-up guardian mode?" Uh, no. Don't get me wrong--they're in great shape (and if you hunt, you can find more close-up Danila shots that show he's already got muscles going). But the truth is, most actors don't live their lives in action hero shape. The Avengers, for example? Those guys are all fit and work out regularly, but they kick it up when filming comes around to get that superhero physique. That's what actors do: they take on roles. :) And I love all the dedication that Zoey and Danila are putting into this one. Filming is planned for a couple months or so from now, so you better believe they aren't wasting any time. Just you wait.
I also thought I'd address a question about body type that keeps coming up. People are always speculating on Rose's body. The book mentions her having "curves," which some people read as code for "overweight." When I talk about women having curves, it's code for having breasts and hips...which is what nature has given most women, regardless if your body size is big or small. So, in my head, Rose pretty much has the kind of healthy toned body you'd expect from an athlete, but she also has good-looking hips and breasts like an average young woman would have. You know, because women have children. She's got muscles, but she's not a bulky bodybuilder. She's not stick-thin either. Make of that what you will. If Zoey survives her TRX training and boxing, she's going to be pretty spot-on. :)
The attention is drawn to Rose's "curves" because the Moroi's bodies aren't quite what the average human has. They're tall and slim, with narrow hips and smaller chests--which is why they're often likened to runway models. It's what their genes have given them, though. It's normal and healthy for them. (Though it is unhealthy for someone whose genes aren't geared that way, as we've seen with Sydney).
So, I don't know if that helps you with how I originally envisioned Rose or not. She's active and fit, and her body reflects that. Is she sexy too? Yeah. Because curves are. It's one of my pet peeves that society has a lot of issues with curves and determining what's a normal body. I think there's also a lot of misinformation about what a healthy weight actually is. Like I mentioned above, the media tends to distort things. Whenever I watch America's Next Top Model, and they make a big deal about having a "plus-sized" model who looks pretty average to me, I kind of want to punch my TV.
But I digress. I've turned the awesome training pic into a tirade about body image. It's a hot button issue for me because when I was a teacher, I used to see these beautiful teen girls getting down on themselves for being "fat." And it broke my heart. To be clear: there are a lot of unhealthy habits and bodies in our society right now--which also breaks my heart. It's a serious problem, and I know people often feel trapped by that and don't know how to change it. I lost 40 pounds in 2002, and there were some dark times there. I think at the end of the day we need to measure healthy bodies by our doctor's tests and not the pages of Vogue. Also, at the end of the day, terms like "average" and "normal" are dangerous, so use my words cautiously.
If you want to read something interesting on the topic, check out this interview with Whitney Thompson, ANTM's first plus-size (and extremely beautiful) winner. She has a lot to say about body image--and why runway models really are so small.
February 27, 2013
The Fiery Heart cover!
Hey! Hot news today. Our friends over at Bookish have revealed the cover to Bloodlines #4, The Fiery Heart:
Pretty awesome, eh? You can click the link to Bookish up above to read a small spoiler-free blurb about the book. The only other thing I'll add is that the "choice" it refers to that the book focuses on is the big exciting that happened at the end of The Indigo Spell. That's all I'll say for now. Amazon has a slightly longer blurb, but it too is *mostly* spoiler-free since there are still many people who haven't read Indigo yet. (If you're worried, skip it for now).
The Fiery Heart comes out November 19 in English-speaking countries, and--believe it or not--it's even hotter than The Indigo Spell!
Pretty awesome, eh? You can click the link to Bookish up above to read a small spoiler-free blurb about the book. The only other thing I'll add is that the "choice" it refers to that the book focuses on is the big exciting that happened at the end of The Indigo Spell. That's all I'll say for now. Amazon has a slightly longer blurb, but it too is *mostly* spoiler-free since there are still many people who haven't read Indigo yet. (If you're worried, skip it for now).
The Fiery Heart comes out November 19 in English-speaking countries, and--believe it or not--it's even hotter than The Indigo Spell!
February 14, 2013
So what are you doing next Valentine's Day?
Well, if you've managed to read The Indigo Spell, I hope you're loving it. And if you haven't gotten it yet, it's the perfect way to heat up your Valentine's Day. People are swooning over Adrian's pursuit of Sydney, and you'd better have fans and smelling salts ready for when The Fiery Heart hits shelves on November 19 this year.
But guess what? Next Valentine's Day is going to be pretty special too because if all goes as planned, there'll be a Vampire Academy movie for you to attend! Lots has been going around about this, and I blogged about it before, but I thought I'd sum up the current stats in as short and sweet a way as possible.
Is there going to be a Vampire Academy movie?
That is the plan, and if all goes as it's supposed to, the movie will be out February 14, 2014.
Is the title changing?
The title is being expanded to Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters, so that each movie has a unique title from the series. More explanation about that is here.
Who's directing?
Mark Waters
What's cool about him?
Lots! He directed Mean Girls and many, many other movies and is super dedicated to VA. He's very intense about getting the characters and world-details spot-on, even down to details like Moroi clothing, accents, and the size of Rose's nazar (which isn't even in this first movie - he's planning ahead!).
Who's writing the script?
Daniel Waters
What's cool about him?
Lots! Daniel wrote the screenplays for Heathers, Batman Returns, and more. I've read the VA screenplay, and it's very true to the book! It has some adaptations and small variations, which are always necessary in books-to-movies, but it does an amazing job capturing the action, romance, friendship, and humor. All the essential scenes are there, and there are no weird random things thrown in.
Who's playing Rose?
What's cool about her?
Lots! Zoey is a young actress people are already raving about. Mark Waters told me when she walks into a room, people feel her energy, and she was one of the few actresses who worked out for the role before auditioning. She's training even more now and has all the books so that she can really get into Rose's head.
Who's playing Dimitri?
What's cool about him?
Lots! Danila is one of Russia's most famous and renowned young actors right now. That's right--a real Russian. No fake accents! I'm told people who saw his audition tape were like, "Oh my God!" (in a good way). Plus, he's hardcore. Mark Waters says during a Skype session they had, there was a window open behind Danila with a freezing seventeen-below Moscow winter outside. Was he affected? No. He said it was "refreshing."
Who's playing Lissa?
What's cool about her?
Lots! For starters, check out her reaction to getting the part! Mark Waters said when she auditioned, she did it with an amazing grace and regality that immediately made you go, "Yes, that's a Moroi princess." She's a fair bit taller than Zoey too, as a Moroi should be, and I'm told when they're together (which I can't wait to see), they perfectly capture the duo.
Who else is in it?
No one else has been cast. There are rumors, but nothing confirmed. That news will be announced when it's available, which I don't know yet.
Can anyone audition?
There are no open auditions. Auditions are facilitated through a casting agency who works with the agents of actors who are interested.
When will filming start?
Early summer, if everything is on track.
Where will it be filmed?
That's still being determined, but they showed me some pictures of places they're considering, and the locations are gorgeous.
Do you have control over the movie, Richelle?
No.
Why not?
Because I write books. :) The Waters Brothers, Preger Entertainment, the Weinstein Company, and everyone else involved on the team make movies. That's their specialty, and control is turned over to them when I sign over the rights in our contract. This is absolutely normal for books-to-movies, even for authors much bigger than me. Casting, script, location, etc. is all decided by them, but they've been awesome about constantly talking to me, asking questions to make sure they've got info right, and even asking my opinions! Not many authors get that, so I feel super lucky to be involved at the level I am. It's actually more responsibility than I expected, and I feel a lot of pressure in making sure my input does right by you guys too.
I heard JK Rowling called all the shots in the Harry Potter movies.
No.
I heard Stephenie Meyer selected Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson herself.
No.
Aren't you worried if you can't control every single detail yourself, Richelle?
Nope. Like I said, I'm the book pro. The VA movie team are the film pros. They call these shots because they know what they're doing. Their background and experience alone has me reassured that the movie is in good hands, and the way they've kept me involved and asked my opinions especially makes me confident of their dedication! Mark and Daniel Waters even flew to Seattle from LA for an afternoon, just to have lunch with me and get questions answered about the characters and books in person.
Really?
Yes. Here's proof:
Like I said, the dedication the team has to this project is mindblowing. I seriously can't think of better creative people behind or in the scenes to be working on this.
Do you guarantee that everyone will love this movie?
No, that's impossible. No book-to-movie adaptation is ever loved by every single person. My own books aren't loved by every single person. But I think most of you are going to be on-board with this. The production team that signed on didn't just do it because it's a series that sells well. Mark, Daniel, and the others behind the scenes actually love the books--and they'll even sit down and elaborate why. People trying to make a quick buck on a crappy adaptation wouldn't be able to do that, and they wouldn't have any contact with the author until the day the movie comes out. I meant it when I said this is pretty much the best group I could've imagined to be working on this, and I think they'll do a fantastic job. It won't match some people's visions; that's inevitable since books are run by our imaginations! But I think you'll be pretty pleased, and hey, if you aren't (and I apologize in advance if you're someone it just doesn't work for), you've always got the books to go back to and your own images and portrayals!
Will the other books become movies?
We hope so! But this one has to happen first and do well.
Where can I stay up to date?
The Official Vampire Academy Movie Facebook page does a good job at keeping everyone updated with the latest news and articles. I also post info here and on my social networking hot spots (Twitter and Facebook links are below on this page). IMDB is right about 90% of the time, so you can sometimes rely on them. That thing you heard from a friend whose other friend read it on a message board might not be the most reliable source, though.
But guess what? Next Valentine's Day is going to be pretty special too because if all goes as planned, there'll be a Vampire Academy movie for you to attend! Lots has been going around about this, and I blogged about it before, but I thought I'd sum up the current stats in as short and sweet a way as possible.
Is there going to be a Vampire Academy movie?
That is the plan, and if all goes as it's supposed to, the movie will be out February 14, 2014.
Is the title changing?
The title is being expanded to Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters, so that each movie has a unique title from the series. More explanation about that is here.
Who's directing?
Mark Waters
What's cool about him?
Lots! He directed Mean Girls and many, many other movies and is super dedicated to VA. He's very intense about getting the characters and world-details spot-on, even down to details like Moroi clothing, accents, and the size of Rose's nazar (which isn't even in this first movie - he's planning ahead!).
Who's writing the script?
Daniel Waters
What's cool about him?
Lots! Daniel wrote the screenplays for Heathers, Batman Returns, and more. I've read the VA screenplay, and it's very true to the book! It has some adaptations and small variations, which are always necessary in books-to-movies, but it does an amazing job capturing the action, romance, friendship, and humor. All the essential scenes are there, and there are no weird random things thrown in.
Who's playing Rose?
What's cool about her?
Lots! Zoey is a young actress people are already raving about. Mark Waters told me when she walks into a room, people feel her energy, and she was one of the few actresses who worked out for the role before auditioning. She's training even more now and has all the books so that she can really get into Rose's head.
Who's playing Dimitri?
What's cool about him?
Lots! Danila is one of Russia's most famous and renowned young actors right now. That's right--a real Russian. No fake accents! I'm told people who saw his audition tape were like, "Oh my God!" (in a good way). Plus, he's hardcore. Mark Waters says during a Skype session they had, there was a window open behind Danila with a freezing seventeen-below Moscow winter outside. Was he affected? No. He said it was "refreshing."
Who's playing Lissa?
What's cool about her?
Lots! For starters, check out her reaction to getting the part! Mark Waters said when she auditioned, she did it with an amazing grace and regality that immediately made you go, "Yes, that's a Moroi princess." She's a fair bit taller than Zoey too, as a Moroi should be, and I'm told when they're together (which I can't wait to see), they perfectly capture the duo.
Who else is in it?
No one else has been cast. There are rumors, but nothing confirmed. That news will be announced when it's available, which I don't know yet.
Can anyone audition?
There are no open auditions. Auditions are facilitated through a casting agency who works with the agents of actors who are interested.
When will filming start?
Early summer, if everything is on track.
Where will it be filmed?
That's still being determined, but they showed me some pictures of places they're considering, and the locations are gorgeous.
Do you have control over the movie, Richelle?
No.
Why not?
Because I write books. :) The Waters Brothers, Preger Entertainment, the Weinstein Company, and everyone else involved on the team make movies. That's their specialty, and control is turned over to them when I sign over the rights in our contract. This is absolutely normal for books-to-movies, even for authors much bigger than me. Casting, script, location, etc. is all decided by them, but they've been awesome about constantly talking to me, asking questions to make sure they've got info right, and even asking my opinions! Not many authors get that, so I feel super lucky to be involved at the level I am. It's actually more responsibility than I expected, and I feel a lot of pressure in making sure my input does right by you guys too.
I heard JK Rowling called all the shots in the Harry Potter movies.
No.
I heard Stephenie Meyer selected Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson herself.
No.
Aren't you worried if you can't control every single detail yourself, Richelle?
Nope. Like I said, I'm the book pro. The VA movie team are the film pros. They call these shots because they know what they're doing. Their background and experience alone has me reassured that the movie is in good hands, and the way they've kept me involved and asked my opinions especially makes me confident of their dedication! Mark and Daniel Waters even flew to Seattle from LA for an afternoon, just to have lunch with me and get questions answered about the characters and books in person.
Really?
Yes. Here's proof:
Like I said, the dedication the team has to this project is mindblowing. I seriously can't think of better creative people behind or in the scenes to be working on this.
Do you guarantee that everyone will love this movie?
No, that's impossible. No book-to-movie adaptation is ever loved by every single person. My own books aren't loved by every single person. But I think most of you are going to be on-board with this. The production team that signed on didn't just do it because it's a series that sells well. Mark, Daniel, and the others behind the scenes actually love the books--and they'll even sit down and elaborate why. People trying to make a quick buck on a crappy adaptation wouldn't be able to do that, and they wouldn't have any contact with the author until the day the movie comes out. I meant it when I said this is pretty much the best group I could've imagined to be working on this, and I think they'll do a fantastic job. It won't match some people's visions; that's inevitable since books are run by our imaginations! But I think you'll be pretty pleased, and hey, if you aren't (and I apologize in advance if you're someone it just doesn't work for), you've always got the books to go back to and your own images and portrayals!
Will the other books become movies?
We hope so! But this one has to happen first and do well.
Where can I stay up to date?
The Official Vampire Academy Movie Facebook page does a good job at keeping everyone updated with the latest news and articles. I also post info here and on my social networking hot spots (Twitter and Facebook links are below on this page). IMDB is right about 90% of the time, so you can sometimes rely on them. That thing you heard from a friend whose other friend read it on a message board might not be the most reliable source, though.
February 11, 2013
The Internet has a lot of feelings
Are you ready for The Indigo Spell? In some parts of the world, it's already February 12! Other countriese (like my own) are almost there. Wherever people are, they have a lot to say about this!
How are you feeling??!
How are you feeling??!
February 10, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 23 & 24
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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 23 & 24
Oh my gosh, you guys. We did it. We made it to the end of The Golden Lily. When I started this project last month, I thought I was taking on an impossible task. But here we are, with commentary on every book in the Bloodlines series (well, aside from Indigo). So. Let's get moving.
Assorted things happen in 23, but for me, the highlight is Brayden breaking up with Sydney because she's too "volatile." It's so silly (to me, at least) because we know Sydney's such a stable, reliable person...but I suppose in Brayden's eyes, after he's been pushed around and cancelled upon because of the whirlwind events in her life, she might truly seem like a bad relationship choice. Even Sydney realizes in this scene how crazy it is that she's being categorized as unreliable, and it's so absurd and unexpected...she loves it.
But let's move on to the main event in 24, which is probably the reason a lot of you have hung in there through these posts. We start of with Adrian's "intervention" in finally and openly calling out Sydney's eating and body obsessions. He's hinted at it before, but here's the first time he's basically like, "Look, this isn't funny. It's a real problem." Sydney isn't in the full throes of anorexia or anything like that, but you don't have to be that far gone to still have a problem. Even if you aren't endangering yourself physically, there's still a lot of mental damage you can do by constantly judging yourself.
And then...there it is. It starts with Adrian's adorable confession about the Mustang. Were you guys able to figure out before this that he'd been faking it? It's so hard striking the right balance when I seed these little surprises. I think it's fun if you guys can put clues together, but sometimes I worry it'll be so obscure that I over-foreshadow and make it obvious.
This leads us to The Kiss, which has Sydney reeling--in more ways than one. The power of description isn't always in just specifically explaining the physicality of what's going on. In this scene, a huge part of the impact is describing Sydney's reaction. I purposely made this contrast with the earlier kisses with Brayden, which were pretty mechanical in nature. But here, we don't just have the excellent and well-excecuted (because it is Adrian, after all) kiss itself. We have all of Sydney's thoughts and feelings, how she responds physically and most startling of all for her--how she stops thinking, at least for a moment.
I said at the end of Bloodlines that Adrian had firmly fallen for her but wasn't quite able to accept it as a real thing. Here, he's able to do that. He acknowledges it and, despite all the complications and taboos, is willing to act on it. Sydney's a book behind him. All her feelings have been brewing behind that logical mind of hers but haven't reached that place where she can articulate them, let alone admit them to herself. And that's why she's just so floored here. There aren't many things she doesn't figure out on her own, so this is BIG. Add to that all the hang-ups she's had instilled in her, and you can understand why she's so brutal. Poor Adrian. For such a ladies man, he certainly has trouble with women. But, don't worry. He takes it in stride, at least if the first two chapters of The Indigo Spell are any indication, and something tells me from the way that Sydney keeps thinking of him and gets flustered around him that her heart is in for some serious self-analysis.
And there we go! Are you guys ready for Tuesday? Some copies have crept out early, but I know most of you will be waiting for release day! Whatever side you're on, be careful sharing spoilers if you've read it, and be careful reading comments if you haven't read it. The Indigo Spell is pretty powerful--and hot, did I mention that?--and I hope you guys love it!
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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 23 & 24
Oh my gosh, you guys. We did it. We made it to the end of The Golden Lily. When I started this project last month, I thought I was taking on an impossible task. But here we are, with commentary on every book in the Bloodlines series (well, aside from Indigo). So. Let's get moving.
Assorted things happen in 23, but for me, the highlight is Brayden breaking up with Sydney because she's too "volatile." It's so silly (to me, at least) because we know Sydney's such a stable, reliable person...but I suppose in Brayden's eyes, after he's been pushed around and cancelled upon because of the whirlwind events in her life, she might truly seem like a bad relationship choice. Even Sydney realizes in this scene how crazy it is that she's being categorized as unreliable, and it's so absurd and unexpected...she loves it.
But let's move on to the main event in 24, which is probably the reason a lot of you have hung in there through these posts. We start of with Adrian's "intervention" in finally and openly calling out Sydney's eating and body obsessions. He's hinted at it before, but here's the first time he's basically like, "Look, this isn't funny. It's a real problem." Sydney isn't in the full throes of anorexia or anything like that, but you don't have to be that far gone to still have a problem. Even if you aren't endangering yourself physically, there's still a lot of mental damage you can do by constantly judging yourself.
And then...there it is. It starts with Adrian's adorable confession about the Mustang. Were you guys able to figure out before this that he'd been faking it? It's so hard striking the right balance when I seed these little surprises. I think it's fun if you guys can put clues together, but sometimes I worry it'll be so obscure that I over-foreshadow and make it obvious.
This leads us to The Kiss, which has Sydney reeling--in more ways than one. The power of description isn't always in just specifically explaining the physicality of what's going on. In this scene, a huge part of the impact is describing Sydney's reaction. I purposely made this contrast with the earlier kisses with Brayden, which were pretty mechanical in nature. But here, we don't just have the excellent and well-excecuted (because it is Adrian, after all) kiss itself. We have all of Sydney's thoughts and feelings, how she responds physically and most startling of all for her--how she stops thinking, at least for a moment.
I said at the end of Bloodlines that Adrian had firmly fallen for her but wasn't quite able to accept it as a real thing. Here, he's able to do that. He acknowledges it and, despite all the complications and taboos, is willing to act on it. Sydney's a book behind him. All her feelings have been brewing behind that logical mind of hers but haven't reached that place where she can articulate them, let alone admit them to herself. And that's why she's just so floored here. There aren't many things she doesn't figure out on her own, so this is BIG. Add to that all the hang-ups she's had instilled in her, and you can understand why she's so brutal. Poor Adrian. For such a ladies man, he certainly has trouble with women. But, don't worry. He takes it in stride, at least if the first two chapters of The Indigo Spell are any indication, and something tells me from the way that Sydney keeps thinking of him and gets flustered around him that her heart is in for some serious self-analysis.
And there we go! Are you guys ready for Tuesday? Some copies have crept out early, but I know most of you will be waiting for release day! Whatever side you're on, be careful sharing spoilers if you've read it, and be careful reading comments if you haven't read it. The Indigo Spell is pretty powerful--and hot, did I mention that?--and I hope you guys love it!
February 9, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 21 & 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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 21 & 22
Are you not entertained?
Admit it. You never would've guessed the uptight, paper-pushing Sydney we met in Russia during Blood Promise would be facing down a bunch of renegade vampire hunters in a makeshift arena in southern California. I'm not even sure the Sydney we met at the beginning of Bloodlines could've done that, and yet, here she is, standing up to a scary-ass mob and making a very good case for Sonya--which is totally lost on these guys, unfortunately.
And look who's here to save the day! Our favorite dhampirs show up in the nick of time. I always go on and on about how exciting it is when quiet, serious Eddie and Dimitri flip into battle mode. But you know what? I like it almost as much when Angeline does. She's been such a goofball in this book (and it doesn't stop in the next one...or the next one...), but when it counts, we have to remember that she too is a very skilled fighter. Even if she hasn't had as much formal training as the other guys, she can still kick ass when she's called upon.
But let's not fool ourselves. It's Adrian coming to the rescue here that really melts our hearts, largely because he is not a warrior, yet he still steps up and breaks the rules to get Sydney himself. I like how even in their daring escape, there's still a little of the banter we love, like this line from Sydney: "Of course I can climb it. I'm practically a prodigy in PE. The question is, can you, Mr. Smoker?" There are few situations in these books where I can't find room for a funny line. The ones that don't have those jokes are usually the spots that make you cry and throw the book across the room. So, if you don't see any jokes, be prepared.
I had to go research (i.e. ten minutes on the Internet) Sydney's method of testing the electric fence. I thought I'd seen people throw a stick against them in movies (didn't they do that in Jurassic Park?), but everything I read said that wouldn't actually work. Ah, the things I have to do to keep Sydney on her game.
Our action wraps up with a successful escape, though not without Sydney finding out that Stanton essentially used her as bait with the tracking device--and that everyone else knew. I certainly don't like to see Adrian receiving the brunt of Sydney's wrath here, but as she even notes to herself here, it's interesting that what hurts her the most is that he didn't tell her what was going on. Don't worry--she forgives him quickly, but we've now pretty much reached the ultimate level of trust between these two. They both take it as a given now that they'll always get the truth from each other. That's not exactly hawt, sexy stuff, but it's a requisite piece of love.
Tomorrow...the big ending!
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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 21 & 22
Are you not entertained?
Admit it. You never would've guessed the uptight, paper-pushing Sydney we met in Russia during Blood Promise would be facing down a bunch of renegade vampire hunters in a makeshift arena in southern California. I'm not even sure the Sydney we met at the beginning of Bloodlines could've done that, and yet, here she is, standing up to a scary-ass mob and making a very good case for Sonya--which is totally lost on these guys, unfortunately.
And look who's here to save the day! Our favorite dhampirs show up in the nick of time. I always go on and on about how exciting it is when quiet, serious Eddie and Dimitri flip into battle mode. But you know what? I like it almost as much when Angeline does. She's been such a goofball in this book (and it doesn't stop in the next one...or the next one...), but when it counts, we have to remember that she too is a very skilled fighter. Even if she hasn't had as much formal training as the other guys, she can still kick ass when she's called upon.
But let's not fool ourselves. It's Adrian coming to the rescue here that really melts our hearts, largely because he is not a warrior, yet he still steps up and breaks the rules to get Sydney himself. I like how even in their daring escape, there's still a little of the banter we love, like this line from Sydney: "Of course I can climb it. I'm practically a prodigy in PE. The question is, can you, Mr. Smoker?" There are few situations in these books where I can't find room for a funny line. The ones that don't have those jokes are usually the spots that make you cry and throw the book across the room. So, if you don't see any jokes, be prepared.
I had to go research (i.e. ten minutes on the Internet) Sydney's method of testing the electric fence. I thought I'd seen people throw a stick against them in movies (didn't they do that in Jurassic Park?), but everything I read said that wouldn't actually work. Ah, the things I have to do to keep Sydney on her game.
Our action wraps up with a successful escape, though not without Sydney finding out that Stanton essentially used her as bait with the tracking device--and that everyone else knew. I certainly don't like to see Adrian receiving the brunt of Sydney's wrath here, but as she even notes to herself here, it's interesting that what hurts her the most is that he didn't tell her what was going on. Don't worry--she forgives him quickly, but we've now pretty much reached the ultimate level of trust between these two. They both take it as a given now that they'll always get the truth from each other. That's not exactly hawt, sexy stuff, but it's a requisite piece of love.
Tomorrow...the big ending!
Indigo Spell Moment of Zen #2
We're almost there, you guys! I can't believe The Indigo Spell comes out on Tuesday and that my kick-off event in Seattle is Wednesday. Eek! It felt like it was going to take forever to get here, and now we have less than a week to go. I'm super excited because I can't wait to start talking about The Fiery Heart next. :)
In the meantime, here's some more Adrian and Sydney to pass the time...
“I’m not a warrior or a goddess,” I said at last.
Adrian leaned closer. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re both.”
I knew that look in his eyes. I knew it because I’d seen it before.
In the meantime, here's some more Adrian and Sydney to pass the time...
“I’m not a warrior or a goddess,” I said at last.
Adrian leaned closer. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re both.”
I knew that look in his eyes. I knew it because I’d seen it before.
February 8, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 20
Ah, the calm before the storm. We have some nice Eddie moments in here. I like the small character detail that Sydney gives us about him, about how he's always near the phone in case someone needs him. If it wouldn't slow him down aerodynamically or something, he'd probably keep a bluetooth ear piece in at all times to be available to Jill. He also shifts into badass mode a little bit in this chapter when he tries to throw Trey around, and it causes a conflict in my heart. I like Trey, and I know he's in a bad place right now. At the same time, it's kind of thrilling when calm, collected Eddie kicks it up a notch. Warrior Eddie (aka mini-Dimitri) is fun.
And speaking of conflict...did you notice poor Adrian's struggle there near the end? Those of you who've read ahead know that here is where something gets planted on Sydney--theoretically for her and Sonya's protection--and Sydney's the only one of the gang here who doesn't know about it. Adrian knows, and it's killing him to withold it from her. Even Dimitri's on board with the secret, and although they've undoubtedly all explained to Adrian why it's best that Sydney's in ignorance, it just goes against Adrian's nature to keep her in the dark, especially when she already had her own plan going in. It's kind of a callback to what I said the other day, that the two of them have faith in each other and their abilities. Adrian's not convinced the others needed an alternate plan. Admittedly, we'll soon find out the backup plan actually does pay off, but that's not the point. The point is this testing of Adrian's loyalty to Sydney in the face of others' urging, and I'll give you a spoiler: this is the last time others will win out.
Four more chapters to go! Can you believe it? We'll have finished both Bloodlines and The Golden Lily and be read for The Indigo Spell on Tuesday! Super exciting. This times out well because all the big ending stuff for TGL will happen this weekend, and I'll do two chapters a day again. Those who know how the book ends...be ready for Sunday's discussion.
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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 20
Ah, the calm before the storm. We have some nice Eddie moments in here. I like the small character detail that Sydney gives us about him, about how he's always near the phone in case someone needs him. If it wouldn't slow him down aerodynamically or something, he'd probably keep a bluetooth ear piece in at all times to be available to Jill. He also shifts into badass mode a little bit in this chapter when he tries to throw Trey around, and it causes a conflict in my heart. I like Trey, and I know he's in a bad place right now. At the same time, it's kind of thrilling when calm, collected Eddie kicks it up a notch. Warrior Eddie (aka mini-Dimitri) is fun.
And speaking of conflict...did you notice poor Adrian's struggle there near the end? Those of you who've read ahead know that here is where something gets planted on Sydney--theoretically for her and Sonya's protection--and Sydney's the only one of the gang here who doesn't know about it. Adrian knows, and it's killing him to withold it from her. Even Dimitri's on board with the secret, and although they've undoubtedly all explained to Adrian why it's best that Sydney's in ignorance, it just goes against Adrian's nature to keep her in the dark, especially when she already had her own plan going in. It's kind of a callback to what I said the other day, that the two of them have faith in each other and their abilities. Adrian's not convinced the others needed an alternate plan. Admittedly, we'll soon find out the backup plan actually does pay off, but that's not the point. The point is this testing of Adrian's loyalty to Sydney in the face of others' urging, and I'll give you a spoiler: this is the last time others will win out.
Four more chapters to go! Can you believe it? We'll have finished both Bloodlines and The Golden Lily and be read for The Indigo Spell on Tuesday! Super exciting. This times out well because all the big ending stuff for TGL will happen this weekend, and I'll do two chapters a day again. Those who know how the book ends...be ready for Sunday's discussion.
