Weekly Catchup

Google Reader refuses to work for me anymore so I'm hideously behind on all my blog reading - however I've managed to pick up a few cool links for you.

First up, huge congratulations to PC & Kristin Cast - Chosen just hit #2 on the NYT list!!!! Can we give a big woohoo!!!!

Also, a heads up that Friday (U.S. time) is the first anniversary of PW's Beyond Her Book blog - and Barbara Vey is throwing a mega-party, complete with all sorts of cool stuff. So don't forget to swing by.

Magic Bites author Ilona Andrews is answering questions over at the RT Forum, so go pester her, ask her any questions you have about the Kate Daniels' books!

And you guys must go read about the DABWAHA - this is going to be a tournament like no other!

Okay, that's all I got. What's your news? Catch me up people!

Chosen - PC & Kristin Cast

A heads-up that Chosen has just been released! This is the third book in PC & Kristin Cast's fabulous House of Night Series. (Click on the tags at the bottom of this post to see my posts on the earlier books).

Here's a link to PC Cast's homepage, which has links to blurbs for Marked & Betrayed, the first two books in the series - you definitely have to read this series in order, as the story carries on from book to book. Zoey gets into a lot of trouble in book 3, and there are some major developments in her life (and at the House of Night). I can't wait to see where the Casts take their heroine in book 4!

Any of you reading this series? What about other YA (Young Adult) books? Any recommendations?

Wicked Lovely – Melissa Marr & YA Books

This is another young adult book that I think adults will love, too. I certainly did. It’s about a girl, Ash, who can see the fae (who are all around us). However she’s spent her life pretending she can’t see them, because of the possible (dangerous) consequences. Then one of the faeries, Keenan*, starts to court her.

Keenan is the Summer King and he’s been looking for his Summer Queen for centuries. He thinks Ash is the one and he’s not going to take no for an answer. Throw in Ash’s sexy outsider boyfriend, Keenan’s chilling mother, and Donia, the last (unsuccesful) candidate for Summer Queen, and you’ve got a deliciously dark story. Link to author's website.

From memory, I’ve read three books or series I consider YA this year (PC & Kristin Cast’s “House of Night” books, Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” and this one), and it’s a departure for me – I don’t think I’ve read that much any other year. Is it because YA is changing, or is it because YA has always had intriguing stories but now some books are making it big, making us pay attention? What do you guys think?

*Hey, I have a Keenan in my books, too!

Interview with PC & Kristin Cast

Today I've got something special for you - an interview with the writing team of PC & Kristin Cast, authors of the awesome House of Night series. You guys know I loved Marked (book 1), and I'm so excited to tell you that Betrayed (out now) was just as good!

PC is going to be dropping by the blog to answer any questions or comments you guys have, so hit her with them. She's also giving away a signed copy each of Marked & Betrayed. The post will be up all weekend - we'll draw the winners from the comments noon on Monday, New Zealand time, so feel free to bug PC till then!

1. How/when did the two of you decide to write together?

PC: Well, I was working on chapter 1 of MARKED and I kept screaming down the hall asking Kristin questions like, "KRISTIN! What do teenagers call being drunk?" and "KRISTIN! Is it revved or gunned an engine?" (This was her first semester in college before she moved on campus.) Somewhere in the middle of my shrieking I realized it would be way easier on both of us if she and I just co-authored. Kristin agreed - I ran the idea past my agent, and she thought it was great. And off we went.

2. I'm always curious about the technical aspects of collaboration. How do you write the books - do you do a chapter each? A scene each?

PC: When we first started writing together I would write and chapter, send it to her, then she'd rewrite and send it back to me. We're on our 4th book now and our system is much smoother. We discuss plots, conflicts, characters, etc., and then I write a draft of the book and send it to Kristin. She rewrites and sends it back to me. Sometime I call her in earlier and have her read sections and we discuss. Also, I often leave blanks in Zoey's internal dialogue and Kristin fills them in for me.

3. For PC: Is it easier or harder to collaborate with someone as close to you as your daughter?

PC: I've only had limited experience collaborating with another author (Gena Showalter and I have done some writing together - which was a very enjoyable experience), but I'd say it's much easier than I think an outsider would imagine. Kristin and I have always been very close and we're used to being honest with each other. Plus, I can beat her, which is a definite plus.

4. For Kristin: What's it like collaborating with your mother? Does she try to be the boss?

Kristin: Working with my mom is really easy, because she tends to be laid back and really wants and values my opinion. Also, I get to tell her when she sounds old and when she’s wrong (which is completely awesome!).

5. How many books in the House of Night series? Is it open-ended or closed?

Right now we're contracted for six books, but I'd call the series open-ended. I don't know how we're going to get done what we want to do in only six books.

6. I loved Marked and after reading Betrayed, all I can say is that you two are amazing! Did you know you were going to be writing a series when you began Marked?

PC: Thanks Nalini! Coming from an author I respect so much that's a wonderful compliment. When I began MARKED I was only planning two books, but St. Martin's wanted three in the original contract, which is a good thing, because no way did we get the story told in two books! Before we'd finished with the third they were already wanting three more - again, a good thing because the plot had just exploded.

7. In Betrayed, something earth-shattering happens. I want to ask you about it but I don't want to spoil it for your fans, so...do you want to make any general-will make sense after you read the book-comments about Betrayed?

PC: I'd say to trust us. We're going to make you cry, but just believe that there are some characters we love too much to actually kill off, even if it means creating a whole new species of beings.

8. What's book 3 titled and what's it about?

PC: Book three is titled CHOSEN, and it beings a month after the events of BETRAYED. It gets darker as the issues Zoey has to deal with become more serious. And keep in mind - teenagers tend to make mistakes, and Zoey is definitely a teenager.

Kristin: I think CHOSEN is amazing! It is my absolute favorite – well, so far.

9. You have amazing covers for this series. Did you have any input into that aspect of things?

We gave them a lot of input about Zoey's tattoos, which they translated into the amazing design on the cover.

10. Anything else you want to add?

PC: In October St. Martin's is launching the House of Night website,
www.houseofnightseries.com. It's going to be an interactive site, so we would love to get your feedback!

Kristin: I just want to make a general thank you to everyone for their support and emails!

(Don't forget to comment and enter the giveaway of one copy each of Marked and Betrayed!)

Marked - PC Cast and Kristin Cast

I was lucky enough to grab a signed copy of Marked at one of the signings at the Dallas conference and I am sooooo glad I did. This is a flat out awesome book (and I'm not just saying that because I think PC Cast rocks.)

This is a young adult book but like with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, you shouldn't let that stop you. Marked has a very smart, likeable heroine, a cool, dark world, and more than enough mystery to carry the series. (As a sidenote, while comparisons with Twilight are probably inevitable because both books deal with the vampire myth, they're two very unique (and wonderful) stories).

Basically, in the world of Marked, vampires exist. At a certain point in adolescence, it becomes obvious whether you're going to become one or not. That's when you leave your old life behind and enter the House of Night, where you learn to live your new life. The catch is, not everyone makes it through the Change. To make things even more complicated for our heroine, Zoey Redbird, the vampire goddess Nyx has given her special abilities and dark things are afoot in the House of Night.

I thought that premise sounded very intriguing and the book didn't let me down. Highly recommended. Check out PC's website for more info. (The book is co-written with her daughter, Kristin, who is just adorable. I probably shouldn't call another author adorable, but Kristin was so cute!).