Richelle Mead's Blog, page 9
February 8, 2013
Welcome to University Book Store
Taking a book club break to give you...some books! Yesterday, I went in to University Book Store and signed their first big batch of Indigo Spell pre-orders (250!), which are due to ship out on release day (February 12). While I was there, I filmed the experience for you (with my phone), to try and help you see what happens behind the scenes when I do these mail orders for them. I'm not sure how useful it is since it gets anti-climactic when I forget to shoot them when they're all ready to be packaged up and shipped.
But, if you're interested in seeing it, you can watch my epic film efforts below! First, a few quick facts:
1. Do I have to order from University Books?
Only if you want autographs! Otherwise, go to Amazon, B&N, your local indie, Target, etc.
2. Is it too late to order one?
Only if you wanted it shipped on release day. You can order my books from them anytime. The next batch will ship out on February 14. Ordering info is here.
3. Do they ship internationally?
Yes. Check the link above.
But, if you're interested in seeing it, you can watch my epic film efforts below! First, a few quick facts:
1. Do I have to order from University Books?
Only if you want autographs! Otherwise, go to Amazon, B&N, your local indie, Target, etc.
2. Is it too late to order one?
Only if you wanted it shipped on release day. You can order my books from them anytime. The next batch will ship out on February 14. Ordering info is here.
3. Do they ship internationally?
Yes. Check the link above.
February 7, 2013
Golden Lily 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.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 19
Just noticed a consistency problem as I was re-reading this chapter. In it, Clarence owns a Jaguar. In The Fiery Heart, he owns a Porsche. Thankfully, FH is a long ways from print. I do stuff like that all the time, when I think I know some little detail by heart and don't check my notes. It's how Jill gets cited with different elements and Dimitri with different numbers of sisters. Oops.
Probably the biggest thing that happens in this chapter is Sydney finally openly (sort of) and willingly embracing magic in order to help Sonya. Much of the series is about Sydney's journey as she questions old beliefs and grows into a new person, and right here is a key example of what forces her to make that step so often. She almost always does it because someone she loves is at risk. For the people she cares about, she's willing to stand up to what she's always been told and to break out of her rigid role. She doesn't do it for glory. She does it because she believes people are more important than rules and tradition.
Another nice thing in this chapter is Sydney and Adrian's dynamic as she performs the spell at Ms. Terwilliger's. Their balance is perfect here. The scrying spell is Sydney's thing. It's not Adrian's, and he knows it. He's not trying to save the day or talk her out of doing something dangerous. He's willing to wait in the wings because he has faith in her to do it. At the same time, he is absolutely there 100% to have her back, support her, and strengthen her. This is how they work, and we're going to see it over and over in the series. Each recognizes the other's abilities and knows when to let him/her take charge. Right now it's Sydney's turn to step up. In another book, it will be Adrian's. And so forth. Neither of them is weak, but neither of them is all-powerful. Yet, when they work together and support each other like this, they can be damned near unstoppable sometimes.
Fun quote...
Sydney: I just thought of something crazy.
Adrian: Welcome to my world.
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 19
Just noticed a consistency problem as I was re-reading this chapter. In it, Clarence owns a Jaguar. In The Fiery Heart, he owns a Porsche. Thankfully, FH is a long ways from print. I do stuff like that all the time, when I think I know some little detail by heart and don't check my notes. It's how Jill gets cited with different elements and Dimitri with different numbers of sisters. Oops.
Probably the biggest thing that happens in this chapter is Sydney finally openly (sort of) and willingly embracing magic in order to help Sonya. Much of the series is about Sydney's journey as she questions old beliefs and grows into a new person, and right here is a key example of what forces her to make that step so often. She almost always does it because someone she loves is at risk. For the people she cares about, she's willing to stand up to what she's always been told and to break out of her rigid role. She doesn't do it for glory. She does it because she believes people are more important than rules and tradition.
Another nice thing in this chapter is Sydney and Adrian's dynamic as she performs the spell at Ms. Terwilliger's. Their balance is perfect here. The scrying spell is Sydney's thing. It's not Adrian's, and he knows it. He's not trying to save the day or talk her out of doing something dangerous. He's willing to wait in the wings because he has faith in her to do it. At the same time, he is absolutely there 100% to have her back, support her, and strengthen her. This is how they work, and we're going to see it over and over in the series. Each recognizes the other's abilities and knows when to let him/her take charge. Right now it's Sydney's turn to step up. In another book, it will be Adrian's. And so forth. Neither of them is weak, but neither of them is all-powerful. Yet, when they work together and support each other like this, they can be damned near unstoppable sometimes.
Fun quote...
Sydney: I just thought of something crazy.
Adrian: Welcome to my world.
February 6, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 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.
Quick reminder! - If you want to order autographed copies of The Indigo Spell from my local University Books, orders should be in by noon Pacific time on February 7 in order to ship out on release day. You can still order them later; they'll just ship out later. And of course, you don't have to get TIS there at all. There are lots of other non-autographed options--Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.--and you can get information on everything here.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 18
Oh, Sydney. Sweet, oblivious, adorable Sydney. Eddie's spelling it all out there for you, in explaining that he doesn't think it's right to engage in hand-to-hand stuff with Jill when he has feelings for her. (This is also me helping anyone out who was puzzled by Adrian being nervous around Sydney in self-defense class). Does Sydney make a connection between Eddie's case and hers, though? No, of course not.
Sydney and Adrian breaking into some rich person's backyard was a scene added at the last minute in this book. It has no real part of a major plot, except to give us more chance to build the rapport between Adrian and Sydney. He lets himself suffer in the sun in order to let her enjoy her little poolside break, and we also get to see her relax and be at peace. This isn't something that happens a lot to Sydney--and the fact that Adrian is one of the few people we see it happen with in her life is important.
Sydney and Brayden's Mojave vs. Colorado desert discussion got trimmed in the dinner scene. It's another of those obscure topics I had to do research on, and I had all sorts of geology mumbo jumbo to throw in. At this point in the book, though, we know the deal with them, so it's time to dial it back before nerdy funny becomes nerdy boring.
The unpassionate kiss at the end there is probably the last nail in Sydney and Brayden's relationship. I love especially that he thinks he lost control in the moment and is totally scandalized by it...while the rest of us get the impression that Sydney, who's underwhelmed to say the least, might secretly like a little scandalous loss of control. If only we knew someone who could deliver on that.
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.
Quick reminder! - If you want to order autographed copies of The Indigo Spell from my local University Books, orders should be in by noon Pacific time on February 7 in order to ship out on release day. You can still order them later; they'll just ship out later. And of course, you don't have to get TIS there at all. There are lots of other non-autographed options--Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.--and you can get information on everything here.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 18
Oh, Sydney. Sweet, oblivious, adorable Sydney. Eddie's spelling it all out there for you, in explaining that he doesn't think it's right to engage in hand-to-hand stuff with Jill when he has feelings for her. (This is also me helping anyone out who was puzzled by Adrian being nervous around Sydney in self-defense class). Does Sydney make a connection between Eddie's case and hers, though? No, of course not.
Sydney and Adrian breaking into some rich person's backyard was a scene added at the last minute in this book. It has no real part of a major plot, except to give us more chance to build the rapport between Adrian and Sydney. He lets himself suffer in the sun in order to let her enjoy her little poolside break, and we also get to see her relax and be at peace. This isn't something that happens a lot to Sydney--and the fact that Adrian is one of the few people we see it happen with in her life is important.
Sydney and Brayden's Mojave vs. Colorado desert discussion got trimmed in the dinner scene. It's another of those obscure topics I had to do research on, and I had all sorts of geology mumbo jumbo to throw in. At this point in the book, though, we know the deal with them, so it's time to dial it back before nerdy funny becomes nerdy boring.
The unpassionate kiss at the end there is probably the last nail in Sydney and Brayden's relationship. I love especially that he thinks he lost control in the moment and is totally scandalized by it...while the rest of us get the impression that Sydney, who's underwhelmed to say the least, might secretly like a little scandalous loss of control. If only we knew someone who could deliver on that.
February 5, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 17
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 17
Poor Adrian. He's trying to fight this Sydney thing with mixed levels of success. Getting the car as an excuse to spend time with her probably wasn't the best tactic in keeping his distance, but at least it still maintained some level of propriety. But throwing each other around in self defense class? Yeah, he's having trouble accepting that that's just platonic. After all, let's not forget that kind of thing was practically foreplay for Rose and Dimitri. So, Adrian's comically inept here as he tries to (literally) dodge her advances. Meanwhile, Sydney's all in battle mode and like, "Yeah! Let's do this fighting thing!" Aw.
More of the mystery surrounding Sydney's blood gets delved into during the latter half of this chapter, and I'll give you a heads up: very little of this plotline is dealt with in The Indigo Spell. The big running thread through the whole Bloodlines series is Sydney and Adrian's interpersonal stuff. Then we have a number of smaller action subplots: Sydney's blood, a "Strigoi vaccine," the Warriors, the inner workings of the Alchemists, and Jill's safety/exposure. It's impossible to have all of these in each book of the series. It'd be a mess, and none would get properly dealt with. So, we see each of them in varying degrees in various books. The blood thing takes a break in book #3, only to return in book #4. In book #4, the Warriors take a break. I figured I should point this out for those are like, "Hey, Richelle totally forgot about that plotline!" Nope. I've just got to jump around and give each its turn, while giving priority to the larger romantic thread. In theory, it's all going to come together and make sense in the last book...
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 17
Poor Adrian. He's trying to fight this Sydney thing with mixed levels of success. Getting the car as an excuse to spend time with her probably wasn't the best tactic in keeping his distance, but at least it still maintained some level of propriety. But throwing each other around in self defense class? Yeah, he's having trouble accepting that that's just platonic. After all, let's not forget that kind of thing was practically foreplay for Rose and Dimitri. So, Adrian's comically inept here as he tries to (literally) dodge her advances. Meanwhile, Sydney's all in battle mode and like, "Yeah! Let's do this fighting thing!" Aw.
More of the mystery surrounding Sydney's blood gets delved into during the latter half of this chapter, and I'll give you a heads up: very little of this plotline is dealt with in The Indigo Spell. The big running thread through the whole Bloodlines series is Sydney and Adrian's interpersonal stuff. Then we have a number of smaller action subplots: Sydney's blood, a "Strigoi vaccine," the Warriors, the inner workings of the Alchemists, and Jill's safety/exposure. It's impossible to have all of these in each book of the series. It'd be a mess, and none would get properly dealt with. So, we see each of them in varying degrees in various books. The blood thing takes a break in book #3, only to return in book #4. In book #4, the Warriors take a break. I figured I should point this out for those are like, "Hey, Richelle totally forgot about that plotline!" Nope. I've just got to jump around and give each its turn, while giving priority to the larger romantic thread. In theory, it's all going to come together and make sense in the last book...
February 4, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 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.
Okay, team! Sorry for slacking off on you this weekend. Things were kind of insane. I'm getting my act together now, and we'll do two chapter today to make up for the ground we lost.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 15 & 16
Jill's "in love" with Sydney. Or at least infatuated with the way Sydney can wear burgundy trim on her uniform. Definitely one of the bond's more surprising side effects.
Lots of little things happen in 15, with the biggest being its ending, when Sydney gets pitched to by the Warriors of Light. Here we get everything out on the table. I made the Warriors both like and unlike the Alchemists, with whom they share a common origin. They've got that same obsession with darkness and light, though the Warriors skew it to very extreme and unstable levels. (This, by the way, echoes closely to some of the old myths about vampires in Eastern Europe, which also had a strong emphasis on the duality of life and death. Contrary to some sci-fi fan's ranting I read the other day, George Lucas did not, in fact, invent the concept of light vs. dark battles). Anyway. The Warriors have strayed from their kin in organization. They're far more haphazard, as we see. You'll find no color coding with them, and the Alchemists would never use an outdated Xerox machine. I like this contrast for a number of reasons, one being that it makes the Warriors a little more manageable for me as the author. If they were that hellbent on destruction and actually organized, they'd be a much bigger threat in the vampire world.
Chapter 16 continues with an analysis of the Warriors, picking up the thread from book 1 that suggests maybe Clarence isn't as crazy as people have believed. We also get our first mention of Marcus Finch, whom you'll all get to meet next week.
But the pinnacle of this chapter, is unquestionably, when Adrian gets the Mustang. I absolutely love this. When writing epic, starcrossed lovers, it's easy to fall into cliches. Everyone does it. So I just really love having this Mustang be a subplot in the "impossible odds are keeping us apart!" romance. It's so unexpected and ordinary...and yet not. And it's also a gesture of love that's so tuned into Sydney that it really shows just how much Adrian gets her. It's not generic flowers or a violinist showing up at her door. Sure, Adrian's getting something out of it too--he gets to be with her. But the fact he knew exactly how to get through to her is really telling of how they've advanced.
There's a lot of detail here about the Mustang. I've mentioned before that I know nothing about cars and have to do research. This was a huge one. I had to look up pictures and all the stats on various years in order to get seat covers, bumper shape, engine size, and all that just right for Sydney to talk about. It's all completely left my brain now, though.
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.
Okay, team! Sorry for slacking off on you this weekend. Things were kind of insane. I'm getting my act together now, and we'll do two chapter today to make up for the ground we lost.
The Golden Lily, Chapter 15 & 16
Jill's "in love" with Sydney. Or at least infatuated with the way Sydney can wear burgundy trim on her uniform. Definitely one of the bond's more surprising side effects.
Lots of little things happen in 15, with the biggest being its ending, when Sydney gets pitched to by the Warriors of Light. Here we get everything out on the table. I made the Warriors both like and unlike the Alchemists, with whom they share a common origin. They've got that same obsession with darkness and light, though the Warriors skew it to very extreme and unstable levels. (This, by the way, echoes closely to some of the old myths about vampires in Eastern Europe, which also had a strong emphasis on the duality of life and death. Contrary to some sci-fi fan's ranting I read the other day, George Lucas did not, in fact, invent the concept of light vs. dark battles). Anyway. The Warriors have strayed from their kin in organization. They're far more haphazard, as we see. You'll find no color coding with them, and the Alchemists would never use an outdated Xerox machine. I like this contrast for a number of reasons, one being that it makes the Warriors a little more manageable for me as the author. If they were that hellbent on destruction and actually organized, they'd be a much bigger threat in the vampire world.
Chapter 16 continues with an analysis of the Warriors, picking up the thread from book 1 that suggests maybe Clarence isn't as crazy as people have believed. We also get our first mention of Marcus Finch, whom you'll all get to meet next week.
But the pinnacle of this chapter, is unquestionably, when Adrian gets the Mustang. I absolutely love this. When writing epic, starcrossed lovers, it's easy to fall into cliches. Everyone does it. So I just really love having this Mustang be a subplot in the "impossible odds are keeping us apart!" romance. It's so unexpected and ordinary...and yet not. And it's also a gesture of love that's so tuned into Sydney that it really shows just how much Adrian gets her. It's not generic flowers or a violinist showing up at her door. Sure, Adrian's getting something out of it too--he gets to be with her. But the fact he knew exactly how to get through to her is really telling of how they've advanced.
There's a lot of detail here about the Mustang. I've mentioned before that I know nothing about cars and have to do research. This was a huge one. I had to look up pictures and all the stats on various years in order to get seat covers, bumper shape, engine size, and all that just right for Sydney to talk about. It's all completely left my brain now, though.
February 3, 2013
Indigo Spell Moment of Zen #1
We are still full steam ahead on The Golden Lily book club and VA movie news! But let's not forget that The Indigo Spell is coming out next week! To get ready, I'll give a few of the most awesome moments to help us count down. They're not too spoilery, but look away now if you're worried.
In this scene, Adrian and Sydney are undercover as a couple:
“Wow,” said Adrian. He sat down on the bed and tested its bounciness, giving it a nod of approval. “This is amazing. What do you think, buttercup?”
“I have no words,” I said honestly.
He patted the spot beside him. “Want to try it out?”
In this scene, Adrian and Sydney are undercover as a couple:
“Wow,” said Adrian. He sat down on the bed and tested its bounciness, giving it a nod of approval. “This is amazing. What do you think, buttercup?”
“I have no words,” I said honestly.
He patted the spot beside him. “Want to try it out?”
February 2, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 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.
Well, if you were around yesterday, you may have heard that there's been movement with the Vampire Academy movie! To get the scoop on that, check my post here. Very cool stuff. And as awesome as it is, a movie's still a long time off, so let's focus at what's coming up: The Indigo Spell! And to get ready for that, we need to get back on track with...
The Golden Lily, Chapter 14
Hot tip, Brayden: when a girl disses you at a dance to go off with another guy, it's already over.
Here we follow up on the aftermath of the red dress, as Sydney takes Adrian home. This is probably one of the most powerful scenes in the book and another that plays out very cinematically in my head. In fact, it must have for others too because the Official Bloodlines Page got some actors together to film it. Do a search for "Golden Lily blackout fan favorite," and it should turn up something.
The emotion in this scene is so thick, you cut could it with a knife, and both Sydney and Adrian are at their most vulnerable, pouring their hearts out to each other. Adrian gets a couple of emotional gut punches here. One is from Sydney having helped him--without him asking. Here he is, trying to get over loving a human, and then she goes and does stuff like this for him. It's a hard thing for him to understand. He's used to getting things from people, but usually it's through his charm and wiles. For someone to do it because they are is an exhilarating--and terrifying--thing for him.
The other blow to him is, as mentioned last time, Sydney in that red dress. And we get probably the second most powerful moment here at the end of the chapter when Adrian gets angry over Brayden. Jealousy is a normal reaction in this sort of situation, but I love that what upsets Adrian isn't another guy vying for her attention--it's that said guy doesn't give her the attention she deserves.
"No one can look at you in this dress, in all that fire and gold, and start talking about anachronisms. If I were him, I would have said, ‘You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.’”
With that line, Adrian's declared his love, and Sydney doesn't even realize it. But believe me, she's still affected by it. Being appreciated for your stellar mind is an amazing thing, but realizing someone finds you beautiful and glorious can be just as great--and it's never happened to her before.
Fun fact: I originally mistyped the "fake pine" scent candles as "fake pain." I bet those would've sold great in the 90s grunge era.
Tomorrow: I'll try to catch us up with two chapters.
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.
Well, if you were around yesterday, you may have heard that there's been movement with the Vampire Academy movie! To get the scoop on that, check my post here. Very cool stuff. And as awesome as it is, a movie's still a long time off, so let's focus at what's coming up: The Indigo Spell! And to get ready for that, we need to get back on track with...
The Golden Lily, Chapter 14
Hot tip, Brayden: when a girl disses you at a dance to go off with another guy, it's already over.
Here we follow up on the aftermath of the red dress, as Sydney takes Adrian home. This is probably one of the most powerful scenes in the book and another that plays out very cinematically in my head. In fact, it must have for others too because the Official Bloodlines Page got some actors together to film it. Do a search for "Golden Lily blackout fan favorite," and it should turn up something.
The emotion in this scene is so thick, you cut could it with a knife, and both Sydney and Adrian are at their most vulnerable, pouring their hearts out to each other. Adrian gets a couple of emotional gut punches here. One is from Sydney having helped him--without him asking. Here he is, trying to get over loving a human, and then she goes and does stuff like this for him. It's a hard thing for him to understand. He's used to getting things from people, but usually it's through his charm and wiles. For someone to do it because they are is an exhilarating--and terrifying--thing for him.
The other blow to him is, as mentioned last time, Sydney in that red dress. And we get probably the second most powerful moment here at the end of the chapter when Adrian gets angry over Brayden. Jealousy is a normal reaction in this sort of situation, but I love that what upsets Adrian isn't another guy vying for her attention--it's that said guy doesn't give her the attention she deserves.
"No one can look at you in this dress, in all that fire and gold, and start talking about anachronisms. If I were him, I would have said, ‘You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.’”
With that line, Adrian's declared his love, and Sydney doesn't even realize it. But believe me, she's still affected by it. Being appreciated for your stellar mind is an amazing thing, but realizing someone finds you beautiful and glorious can be just as great--and it's never happened to her before.
Fun fact: I originally mistyped the "fake pine" scent candles as "fake pain." I bet those would've sold great in the 90s grunge era.
Tomorrow: I'll try to catch us up with two chapters.
February 1, 2013
Movie Press Conference
Hi guys! Sorry for the radio silence and not having a book club post up today. Things have been a little crazy with my son being sick, The Fiery Heart due on Monday, and some stressful things going in my personal life. So, I don't have a ton of time, but I wanted to take a minute because lots of rumors and news have been going around about the Vampire Academy movie, and I wanted to address those as best as I'm able. Which brings me to the first one...
How much say does an author have in a movie?
On paper? Not much. This is standard across the board, no matter what stories have gotten around about Stephenie Meyer approving a script or JK Rowling screening actors. We have to think of it this way. I'm not paying millions for people to turn my books into a movie. They're paying millions of their own money, so it's understandable they'd want to be very involved in the decisions. They know about making movies. I know about writing books. We each have our thing, and I'm very happy to let Preger Entertainment and their team do theirs, which is why I signed with them in the first place. I totally believe in them and support everything they've been doing.
That being said, Preger Entertainment and their team have been AWESOME about keeping me in the loop and asking my opinions. Do I get ultimate say? No, but they've shown me script and actor choices and asked for my opinions, which is so cool because believe me when I say, a lot of authors don't get that consideration. I'm super lucky.
Is the title changing?
Sort of. It's more accurate to say the title's getting an addition. If you've read past interviews with me, you might know that Vampire Academy wasn't my first choice for the book. I actually sold it as Kissed By Shadows. People at my publishing house weren't sure that title would work for a few different reasons, and eventually, we decided on VA since it's so memorable. When the movie came around, the production team had some concerns about that title, though. For one thing, there's a lot of other "vampire" stuff out there, and we want VA to stand out. Don't believe me? I get constant emails from people saying they love the Vampire Diaries because they get mixed up. The other thing is that VA isn't exactly an accurate title. It makes it sound like it's more about school. If you're a fan of the series, you know that in the last half of the series, they're hardly at school at all. The big focus of the series is Rose and Lissa's bond and ESPECIALLY Rose and Dimitri's relationship. That's what makes this stand out from other vampire books, so it was decided that VA would stay the movie series name but that the first movie would get a more distinctive title.
The team asked me for ideas, and I gave a few name suggestions that they considered. Blood Sisters is a title that other countries use who don't want the first book and the series to have the same name. It's a name I liked, and the team liked it too. It emphasizes the bond and will hopefully appeal to new fans. Because here's the thing: the more successful this movie is, the more likely it is that more can be made. An awesome movie will go nowhere if no one comes to see it. So, VA is the name of the franchise, and each movie gets its own name. This is Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. If it's a hit, and we move on to the next one, that'll be Vampire Academy: Frostbite. Does that make sense? No one's tryig to diss me or the series in this process, and I assure you, we'll still hear "Vampire Academy" tossed around plenty--just like when Fellowship of the Ring came out, I went and said, "Give me a ticket for Lord of the Rings."
Is the script totally different from the book?
No. I was actually blown away when I saw how true it was to the story. Seriously, it's awesome. I have no idea where this Rose, Lissa, and Dimitri triangle rumor came from, but it's NOT true, unless they completely rewrote the script in the last month. Rose and Dimitri have eyes for each other, and Lissa and Christian are kissing in the church. The only differences are very minor things--like in The Hunger Games, where Prim gives Katniss the mockingjay pin. Is that what happened in the book? No, but it streamlines some things, saves them from hiring an extra actress, and doesn't affect the main plot. Rest easy, there are no crazy changes, like werewolves attending the school or Rose and Christian discovering they're long lost siblings. Although, that last one might be hilarious.
Seriously--the script is great. They've given Dimitri lines that are going to make you swoon, especially in the lust charm scene.
What about the cast?
If you haven't heard already, the cast is Zoey Deutch as Rose, Danila Kozlovsky as Dimitri, and Lucy Fry as Lissa. Reactions are all across the board. Some people love them, some are worried. Some love only one actor, some love another. Here's the thing: there is no cast everyone will love. It's impossible. I could download the characters from my mind, and I'd get hate mail saying they were all wrong. :) The casting agency worked very hard in choosing these actors, and I think they did a great job. I have it on good authority from friends who've worked with the lovely Zoey Deutch that she's an amazing actress. And I think it's awesome that they chose a Russian for Dimitri! I mean, I wouldn't know the difference, but I'd hate it if real Russians saw the movie and were like, "That guy is obviously fake." As for Lucy Fry, she certainly looks the part, and it's fun that she's Australian, since that's one of VA's biggest fan bases. The international cast reflects VA's international following.
One more thing to consider about the cast. None of us witnessed the casting process. Only the movie team did, and they didn't just pick pictures off IMDB. These actors were screened, auditioned, read the script, did action scenes, and had to do a lot of other stuff to prove themselves. We didn't see that. The movie folks have and made decisions because they saw something awesome in this talented trio. Remember when Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Katniss, and people were ready to riot? Then the movie team dyed her hair and gave her a bow, and she was awesome. That's how this is going to pan out too, except no bow. I'm sure they'll grow out Danila's hair, though.
Will this movie ruin the books?
Um, no. The books are the books. Even if this was the worst movie in the history of movies (and it won't be, not with the talent involved in writing, directing, and acting in it), no power will go in and rewrite the books. They're the canon, the original, the truth, and I'm still continuing their story. If you love them, you'll keep loving them. The movies won't change that. Movies are an awesome opportunity for us to see these scenes and people come to life, and I'm extremely supportive and excited to see what the team is going to pull off for us!
Bottom line
This process is still very, very young. Keep calm, and have faith. There's good stuff ahead! And whatever your thoughts are on the movie news, I want you to know that I understand people have such strong opinions because they love the books so much. And you can't imagine how much it means to me that the books I work so hard on can have such a huge emotional impact on you and are so important to you. Thank you for loving them as much as I do.
I really, really hope this helps clear up some confusion! I wish I could write more, but I'm exhausted from some late nights with my son. Those of you who have written with excitement about the actors--thanks so much! And those who are worried--just hang with us and see. :)
For the latest news and articles (because there are certainly tons of them now), check out the Official Vampire Academy Movie Facebook Page.
How much say does an author have in a movie?
On paper? Not much. This is standard across the board, no matter what stories have gotten around about Stephenie Meyer approving a script or JK Rowling screening actors. We have to think of it this way. I'm not paying millions for people to turn my books into a movie. They're paying millions of their own money, so it's understandable they'd want to be very involved in the decisions. They know about making movies. I know about writing books. We each have our thing, and I'm very happy to let Preger Entertainment and their team do theirs, which is why I signed with them in the first place. I totally believe in them and support everything they've been doing.
That being said, Preger Entertainment and their team have been AWESOME about keeping me in the loop and asking my opinions. Do I get ultimate say? No, but they've shown me script and actor choices and asked for my opinions, which is so cool because believe me when I say, a lot of authors don't get that consideration. I'm super lucky.
Is the title changing?
Sort of. It's more accurate to say the title's getting an addition. If you've read past interviews with me, you might know that Vampire Academy wasn't my first choice for the book. I actually sold it as Kissed By Shadows. People at my publishing house weren't sure that title would work for a few different reasons, and eventually, we decided on VA since it's so memorable. When the movie came around, the production team had some concerns about that title, though. For one thing, there's a lot of other "vampire" stuff out there, and we want VA to stand out. Don't believe me? I get constant emails from people saying they love the Vampire Diaries because they get mixed up. The other thing is that VA isn't exactly an accurate title. It makes it sound like it's more about school. If you're a fan of the series, you know that in the last half of the series, they're hardly at school at all. The big focus of the series is Rose and Lissa's bond and ESPECIALLY Rose and Dimitri's relationship. That's what makes this stand out from other vampire books, so it was decided that VA would stay the movie series name but that the first movie would get a more distinctive title.
The team asked me for ideas, and I gave a few name suggestions that they considered. Blood Sisters is a title that other countries use who don't want the first book and the series to have the same name. It's a name I liked, and the team liked it too. It emphasizes the bond and will hopefully appeal to new fans. Because here's the thing: the more successful this movie is, the more likely it is that more can be made. An awesome movie will go nowhere if no one comes to see it. So, VA is the name of the franchise, and each movie gets its own name. This is Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. If it's a hit, and we move on to the next one, that'll be Vampire Academy: Frostbite. Does that make sense? No one's tryig to diss me or the series in this process, and I assure you, we'll still hear "Vampire Academy" tossed around plenty--just like when Fellowship of the Ring came out, I went and said, "Give me a ticket for Lord of the Rings."
Is the script totally different from the book?
No. I was actually blown away when I saw how true it was to the story. Seriously, it's awesome. I have no idea where this Rose, Lissa, and Dimitri triangle rumor came from, but it's NOT true, unless they completely rewrote the script in the last month. Rose and Dimitri have eyes for each other, and Lissa and Christian are kissing in the church. The only differences are very minor things--like in The Hunger Games, where Prim gives Katniss the mockingjay pin. Is that what happened in the book? No, but it streamlines some things, saves them from hiring an extra actress, and doesn't affect the main plot. Rest easy, there are no crazy changes, like werewolves attending the school or Rose and Christian discovering they're long lost siblings. Although, that last one might be hilarious.
Seriously--the script is great. They've given Dimitri lines that are going to make you swoon, especially in the lust charm scene.
What about the cast?
If you haven't heard already, the cast is Zoey Deutch as Rose, Danila Kozlovsky as Dimitri, and Lucy Fry as Lissa. Reactions are all across the board. Some people love them, some are worried. Some love only one actor, some love another. Here's the thing: there is no cast everyone will love. It's impossible. I could download the characters from my mind, and I'd get hate mail saying they were all wrong. :) The casting agency worked very hard in choosing these actors, and I think they did a great job. I have it on good authority from friends who've worked with the lovely Zoey Deutch that she's an amazing actress. And I think it's awesome that they chose a Russian for Dimitri! I mean, I wouldn't know the difference, but I'd hate it if real Russians saw the movie and were like, "That guy is obviously fake." As for Lucy Fry, she certainly looks the part, and it's fun that she's Australian, since that's one of VA's biggest fan bases. The international cast reflects VA's international following.
One more thing to consider about the cast. None of us witnessed the casting process. Only the movie team did, and they didn't just pick pictures off IMDB. These actors were screened, auditioned, read the script, did action scenes, and had to do a lot of other stuff to prove themselves. We didn't see that. The movie folks have and made decisions because they saw something awesome in this talented trio. Remember when Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Katniss, and people were ready to riot? Then the movie team dyed her hair and gave her a bow, and she was awesome. That's how this is going to pan out too, except no bow. I'm sure they'll grow out Danila's hair, though.
Will this movie ruin the books?
Um, no. The books are the books. Even if this was the worst movie in the history of movies (and it won't be, not with the talent involved in writing, directing, and acting in it), no power will go in and rewrite the books. They're the canon, the original, the truth, and I'm still continuing their story. If you love them, you'll keep loving them. The movies won't change that. Movies are an awesome opportunity for us to see these scenes and people come to life, and I'm extremely supportive and excited to see what the team is going to pull off for us!
Bottom line
This process is still very, very young. Keep calm, and have faith. There's good stuff ahead! And whatever your thoughts are on the movie news, I want you to know that I understand people have such strong opinions because they love the books so much. And you can't imagine how much it means to me that the books I work so hard on can have such a huge emotional impact on you and are so important to you. Thank you for loving them as much as I do.
I really, really hope this helps clear up some confusion! I wish I could write more, but I'm exhausted from some late nights with my son. Those of you who have written with excitement about the actors--thanks so much! And those who are worried--just hang with us and see. :)
For the latest news and articles (because there are certainly tons of them now), check out the Official Vampire Academy Movie Facebook Page.
January 31, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 13
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 13
First up: I'm doing another Twitter chat today, from 8-9pm Eastern/5-6m Pacific. That gives us an hour for me to knock out as many questions as I can, so we'll see how I do.
Now let's get on to Chapter 13, though some of the themes here are ones that are developed more in 14. Never underestimate the power of a girl in a pretty dress. Maybe it's a cliche. I mean, think of all the movies with the nerdy girl who takes off her glasses and lets down her hair, and suddenly, everyone's gaping. But hey, that happens for a reason.
Seeing people transformed is a powerful thing. We value our loved ones for what's on the inside, but humans are physically driven, so an outside transformation can leave a big impact. This especially true for romantic love, but let's face it, desire and attraction are woven into love of the mind and soul. So, it's no surprise that Adrian's helpless in the face of this dress. It might even be more true because he's an artist and therefore a very visual person. That kind of red is striking and has an emotional grab on its own, let alone when his object of affection is wearing it.
I also just love the fantasy aspect of it all. The VA/Bloodlines world is very down to earth in appearances. I don't really have distinct things that fans can dress up in at my signings. People are usually in jeans, and we all know Sydney in particular dresses pretty demurely. I actually base most of her wardrobe form Banana Republic's website. So, to be able to create something from another era, so unlike what we normally see, and then to put on her of all people...well, that's pretty cool for me too.
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 13
First up: I'm doing another Twitter chat today, from 8-9pm Eastern/5-6m Pacific. That gives us an hour for me to knock out as many questions as I can, so we'll see how I do.
Now let's get on to Chapter 13, though some of the themes here are ones that are developed more in 14. Never underestimate the power of a girl in a pretty dress. Maybe it's a cliche. I mean, think of all the movies with the nerdy girl who takes off her glasses and lets down her hair, and suddenly, everyone's gaping. But hey, that happens for a reason.
Seeing people transformed is a powerful thing. We value our loved ones for what's on the inside, but humans are physically driven, so an outside transformation can leave a big impact. This especially true for romantic love, but let's face it, desire and attraction are woven into love of the mind and soul. So, it's no surprise that Adrian's helpless in the face of this dress. It might even be more true because he's an artist and therefore a very visual person. That kind of red is striking and has an emotional grab on its own, let alone when his object of affection is wearing it.
I also just love the fantasy aspect of it all. The VA/Bloodlines world is very down to earth in appearances. I don't really have distinct things that fans can dress up in at my signings. People are usually in jeans, and we all know Sydney in particular dresses pretty demurely. I actually base most of her wardrobe form Banana Republic's website. So, to be able to create something from another era, so unlike what we normally see, and then to put on her of all people...well, that's pretty cool for me too.
January 30, 2013
Book Club: Golden Lily 12
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 12
Oh my God. It’s time to meet Malachi Wolfe.
Most things in my books are part of a grand, carefully thought out master plan. All these romantic ups and downs, the spirit experiments, the red dress...those were all laid out in my head when I began conceiving this series, some of them in exquisite detail.
You know what wasn’t planned? Malachi Wolfe.
As mentioned yesterday, Sydney was pretty shaken by the attack, and it was important to me that she be proactive and try to protect herself rather than sit around and cry. Her taking the self-defense class with Adrian was also another opportunity to build their rapport, and I can never turn down that chance. How did their instructor become such a larger-than-life character and possibly one of my favorite ones ever? No clue. It honestly just kind of happened on the spot.
My best friend in high school and I used to make these silly home adventures movies in which the two of us played every character. Only one of us could be on screen at a time (since the other was filming), so we were constantly trading the camera back and forth. One day, we did one where she played this enigmatic pirate-esque character with one hand who was stalking me because I’d uncovered some unholy sea treasure. Whenever she showed up to talk to my character, she’d tell some story about how she lost her hand that was different each time. This was totally unscripted, and I never saw these stories coming. If you watch the video (I still have them all), you can hear me start to lose it while filming because she'd just deliver these wonderfully cracktastic speeches in this totally deadpan raspy voice. She’d make them up on the spot, based on whatever was in the camera's frame, like a bag of kitten chow: “Oh, I see you have a cat. I used to have a cat. You gotta watch out for them. One day I was leaning down to feed it, and it bit my hand clean off.”
Malachi Wolfe isn’t based entirely on her genius character, but every time he starts going off on one of his tales of adventure, I’m hearing her tell the story, and I imagine everyone else having a totally stunned WTF? expression on their faces.
Fun fact: if you saw me on tour for The Golden Lily, then you probably heard me read the excerpt from when Wolfe starts class and talks about taking out a rabid moose with nunchucks. I had such a hard time keeping a straight face during these readings, both because of how ridiculous it was and because there’s a typo:
The new mom raised her hand. “You used nunchucks on a moose?”
Wolfe got a haunted look in his eyes. “I used all sorts of things on that bastard.”
Did you catch it? He got a haunted look in his eyes , but Wolfe wears an eye patch. I noticed my mistake at my first live reading and edited it to “eye” each time. It would make me want to start laughing while I read, and I had to catch myself.
Fun fact #2: Malachi Wolfe has his own Twitter account. Are you following @MalachiWolfe? He’s pretty quiet right now, but I have it on good authority he’ll have some epic adventures to share soon.
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 12
Oh my God. It’s time to meet Malachi Wolfe.
Most things in my books are part of a grand, carefully thought out master plan. All these romantic ups and downs, the spirit experiments, the red dress...those were all laid out in my head when I began conceiving this series, some of them in exquisite detail.
You know what wasn’t planned? Malachi Wolfe.
As mentioned yesterday, Sydney was pretty shaken by the attack, and it was important to me that she be proactive and try to protect herself rather than sit around and cry. Her taking the self-defense class with Adrian was also another opportunity to build their rapport, and I can never turn down that chance. How did their instructor become such a larger-than-life character and possibly one of my favorite ones ever? No clue. It honestly just kind of happened on the spot.
My best friend in high school and I used to make these silly home adventures movies in which the two of us played every character. Only one of us could be on screen at a time (since the other was filming), so we were constantly trading the camera back and forth. One day, we did one where she played this enigmatic pirate-esque character with one hand who was stalking me because I’d uncovered some unholy sea treasure. Whenever she showed up to talk to my character, she’d tell some story about how she lost her hand that was different each time. This was totally unscripted, and I never saw these stories coming. If you watch the video (I still have them all), you can hear me start to lose it while filming because she'd just deliver these wonderfully cracktastic speeches in this totally deadpan raspy voice. She’d make them up on the spot, based on whatever was in the camera's frame, like a bag of kitten chow: “Oh, I see you have a cat. I used to have a cat. You gotta watch out for them. One day I was leaning down to feed it, and it bit my hand clean off.”
Malachi Wolfe isn’t based entirely on her genius character, but every time he starts going off on one of his tales of adventure, I’m hearing her tell the story, and I imagine everyone else having a totally stunned WTF? expression on their faces.
Fun fact: if you saw me on tour for The Golden Lily, then you probably heard me read the excerpt from when Wolfe starts class and talks about taking out a rabid moose with nunchucks. I had such a hard time keeping a straight face during these readings, both because of how ridiculous it was and because there’s a typo:
The new mom raised her hand. “You used nunchucks on a moose?”
Wolfe got a haunted look in his eyes. “I used all sorts of things on that bastard.”
Did you catch it? He got a haunted look in his eyes , but Wolfe wears an eye patch. I noticed my mistake at my first live reading and edited it to “eye” each time. It would make me want to start laughing while I read, and I had to catch myself.
Fun fact #2: Malachi Wolfe has his own Twitter account. Are you following @MalachiWolfe? He’s pretty quiet right now, but I have it on good authority he’ll have some epic adventures to share soon.
