The Darkest Powers Series (REVIEW)

THE DARKEST POWERS TRILOGY...MAKES YOU WISH THE AUTHOR WOULD SAY "SCREW THE RULES OF THE 'TRILOGY'!" AND KEEP GOING!

So, I spent my weekend seeing a movie in IMAX,swimming, reading, grocery shopping, reading, sleeping reading, watching a DVD (or two, let's be honest), reading, hanging with the dog, reading, shopping at Borders, doing research at Borders, and you guesse it, more reading.

I read two books in two days.

Told you I did a lot of reading.

In fact, I'm on page 70 of the third book now...so I can't do a full review but I wanted to start.

BOOK ONE - THE SUMMONING

Basis of story (pulled from the internet):

My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost—and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.

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First off...if I've ready 2 books in 2 days I, A. Love the story no matter what I say below. B. Love the characters (Derek is my fave!) C. Recommend it.

Now to share my more lengthier thoughts...

This book takes a bit to get to the point where or heroine realizes she's a necromancer vs. just a schitzo. Yeah, its one of those books; where you spend the first half "justifying" why the heroine believes she's a supernatural vs. just crazy. I know, in books and movies we maybe jump too quickly to our main character "accepting" the "fantasy" of it all but that has a lot to do with one main rule I was taught by EVERY writing teacher; The world you create in the first few pages can be whatever you want...the reader will accept it. Wait too long and they won't.

Look, we "get" that you need to establish this isn't the "norm" for the girl but Ms. Armstrong takes her sweet time. Not that you as a reader don't care...you do...and you care enough to put up with the waiting but we really could've gotten to the "good stuff" earlier if she'd known where she was going...cause that's what it felt like...like she was convincing herself vs. us. Maybe I'm more into instant gratification (don't read into that) when it comes to my "submersion" into a book...I like to get to the goods...spend too much time "justifying them" and I find myself yelling at the author/main character to get on with it already. We get it, its a sci-fi book, we accept that, now move on!

Either way...as you reach the end of the first book you're hooked. You want to know what the fuck Chloe is going to do next and you are hooked on the characters. In fact, I'm not sure I'd care WHERE these kids were as long as it was them. I'd LOVE to drag them into my book for a cross-over...that would be hot. Especially Derek. His character arch is the most fascinating of them all...which is why I love him so.

BOOK TWO - THE AWAKENING

Basis of story (pulled from the internet):

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl — someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment — not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends — a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch — and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

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As we get to Book Two we are hooked and luckily Ms. Armstrong dives right in with very little of the "let's recap from last time" sections. Those drive me nuts. I don't put them in my books...though I think my eventual publisher will make me. :(

Anyhoo...

Book Two is a great pay-off to Book One! A character you thought was an enemy isn't...a character you thought was a good guy...isn't. There's cool shit about how these kids GOT so powerful...labs and hospitals and testing oh my! :)

Chloe is still our bloody damsel in distress who makes some bad choices but if she didn't, there'd be no angsty shit for a YA novel so...I'll not pick on it too much. I will say that if she and Zoey Redbird from the "House of Night" Series were stuck together in a book without their friends...it wouldn't matter HOW talented or powerful they are...NOTHING would get accomplished cause these two suffer from the same problem...they don't really learn and need other to help them see who they are. Which makes me throw up in my mouth a little...but not too much. ;)

I wanna talk about my love...my Derek. I always fall for some character in the story. And its not the romantic interest of our main girl...which is Simon. I love his troubled brother, Derek. He's got all sorts of issues dealing with other people and that is awesome! He's fascinating and growing both on you and on our main girl...but most importantly, he's growing, learning, more so than Chloe...which is why I think I love Derek more than her. LOL!

Anyhoo...book two is fun! The kids are on the streets running from the "bad people" and Ms. Arstrong decides to really put them through some hell; two gang fights...one with chicks in an alley and switchblades fighting for sleeping turf and one with dudes in a park. Yeah, I know, not real far fetched and sorta cliche but the one in the park has an interesting twist so...its passable. Besides...it is all Derek all the time by then (cause Chloe & he get separated from the other two for a bit) so I didn't care. :)

There are some great fights, escape scenes, Derek scenes, and more supernatural power usage...though, you wish that Chloe would see the benefits of her gift and not just the negatives. The bitch can raise the dead to serve her. Does she get help when she's looking to die? No. Why? I wish I knew! I'd saved me from yelling at the book last night.

Book Two ends less on a cliff hanger than Book One but you care now so much for the characters it doesn't need a cliffhanger to make you buy the 3rd book (which I bought when I bought Book Two btw) so you press onward.

BOOK THREE - THE RECKONING

Basis of story (pulled from the internet):

My name is Chloe Saunders. I'm fifteen, and I would love to be normal.

But normal is one thing I'm not.

For one thing, I'm having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother—who just happens to be a sorcerer—but, between you and me, I'm leaning toward the werewolf.

Not normal.

My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us—permanently.

Definitely not normal.

And finally, I'm a genetically altered necro-mancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.

As far away from normal as it gets.

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Ah...Book Three...I finally finished! :(

That's right...it's supposedly the last one...but it leaves it open for MANY more adventures so I'm HOPING HOPING HOPING Ms. Armsrong will give me more of Derek. ;) I know, I'm selfish. I love my boy...his struggles...his triumphs...

*sigh*

Anyhoo...let's talk about the book shall we?

This one makes my heart sing! They all seem to finally "get it" and their powers are being used. So cool! I was like...all hyped up reading this...its a much more tense of a story and that's a good thing. Ms. Armstrong has raised the stakes a bit and that works.

(Tiny SPOILER alert)

So, last night I must've re-read the last couple of chapters twice and the last one itself a time or two after that. Why? Cause I'm a sucker for a "happy" ending. No, it's not a super happy ending (there are people who die and some of the bad guys get away)BUT our heroine (and my man, Derek) finally get together (YAY!) and they DID save 2/3 of the people they spent 2 books trying to save. Oh, and my girl finally got to kiss...like really kiss my man...which, since you're seeing it from her perspective...you get to kiss him. Nice. Did I mention I dreamed of Derek last night? Oh yeah. Big, muscular, hot werewolf...*sigh* That's what you get when you are in the same series for three days straight...you can't help but dream about them.

Moving on...

I think this book was the best written of the three. It's pace is quick, the depth of both plot has easily gone a mile or two below the surface unlike the first two books that only go a foot down, the twist in said plot was one I didn't see coming (THAT takes some talent so kudos to Ms. Armsrong!) and its characters are growing into who they need to be to make this story come to a close. The book moves along really well and I only got frustrated at my lead girl once or twice (Yelling something at her like "Thank God Zoey and you aren't in charge of shit...nothing would get accomplished as you both sat and worried in the corner and failed to see yourself as valuable!").

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES! As previously mentioned, it does take 1/2 of Book One to get to the goods but...the full series is worth it. From what I understand, Ms. Armstong is continuing with the world she's created but with new characters. The new book is called "The Gathering". I plan to keep my eyes peeled for it. Do I secretly hope Chloe and Derek show up in it? I won't lie, I do. Their relationship is just so...awesome...I'll miss it. If I'm lucky she'll say "screw this" to the "trilogy" rule and give me more of my fave couple since Hunter and Morgan in the SWEEP series by Cate Tiernan.

That's all for now...on this. I do have another nugget for ya'll today though so stay tuned! :)

Tamsin Silver xo

Twilight Eclipse (Review)

Okay, so I like...went on a huge ass rant before I saw the movie so I only thought it fair that I tie up that rant now that I've seen the flick.

Mind you, I saw it Thursday and I've done alot since then (see previous post "Vacation = Awesome") so I'll try to remember my thoughts on this as best I can.

I was right! Due to having to cut down most of the book to 2 hours all of that whining Bella does in the book...GONE! Hip Hip Hooray! Hence...I give the film 2 & 3/4 out of 4 stars.

And you're saying, "But I thought you liked it?" I did! It just doesn't deserve more than that cause the acting can only be as good as the lines. Actors can only do so much with the lines given folks, that's what I'm saying. I'm not sure if Samuel Jackson was up there if even he could say them better so...this is NOT a slam on the actors; they had what they had. With ONE or two exceptions; Rob and Jackson seem to bring their A- game out on this film which is why it got a 2.75 vs. a straight 2.

In the fourth book Mrs. Meyer refers to Edward, in Jacob's head that is, as the "burning man" when he is dealing with post honeymoon issues (that's all I'll say in case you've not read the last book). I was thinking, after seeing the past two Twilight films that Robert Pattinson was going to have a hard time with that. NOT after this movie! I could see it...for the first time I could SEE the inner dialogue and pain Edward is going through due to his love for Bella (and Jacob's love for her)...Go Rob! The tent scene is primarily where you really see some great internal work I think...outter work on when he confronts Jacob for attempting to kiss Bella. The fire there is greatness! Not overdone...as I'd have thought he'd do.

Jackson Rathbone, who plays Jasper, gets to do a bit more in this movie...as do the rest of the Cullen's. We see more fighting (which is why I like this movie) AND we get Jasper's history. I think it could've been darker than it was but ya get what ya get when its PG-13 (please God please let Breaking Dawn be PG-17!). That said, Jackson did a nice job with it. But I might be biased. Ever since I saw his work on an episode of Criminal Minds where he blew me away I've loved this kid.

Kristen Stewart...was...well...herself as usual. As the previous review stated though, she did keep her parts of cheesy dialogue sounding solid so ya have to give her some props.

Taylor Lautner on the other hand...well...he has become the comedy relief of the show. And you're thinking, "He is in the book too". Not to this extent he's not. Problem is the cheesy lines from him sound cheesy. Maybe his are worse than the others and hence he sounds cheesier...I don't know. I just never really believe him. His "love" for Bella never feels as deep as Edwards...especially this time with Rob bringing out some better than his average acting. But Taylor is a young lad...here's to hoping he ups his game for the last book (2 movies) since its from HIS perspective for 1/3 of it dear God!

The movie is full of these "little moments" that count and because the actors nail the important ones...the movie is worth the time. To be honest, I really don't think we needed all the extra stuff with the Volturi or the new-born vamps in Seatle...but from a film perspective I can understand why it was added. It does make you care more when Riley (played by Xavier Samuel...and quite brilliantly too if I must say so) meets his fate. In the book I didn't give a shit...in the movie, I did. That says a lot for Xavier's work!

I missed having the Victoria from the past two movies, Rachelle Lefevre, in this movie. The new girl, Bryce Dallas Howard, just didn't seem to capture the inner crazy with outter calm as well as Rachelle but she's passable. That is all.

I will say, there were some funny lines even in the cheese. Two in particular stand out...and don't read this paragraph if you want to be suprised. One is by Emmett when they're wrapping up Bella's wrist after hitting Jacob. He comes in and says something to the effect of, "What happened? You try to walk and chew gum at the same time again Bella?" It wouldn't have been as cute if it had been said by any other actor I don't think. So props to Kellan Lutz. The second line is when Jacob enters the tent to "warm" Bella up (there's a snow storm and "cold as marble" Edward can't really help her out too much there) and he says to Edward, "Face it, I'm hotter than you"...**Insert laughter here** The girls (who were obviously Team Jacob) in the front of the theater exploded at this one. I did too...its funny in its own way. :)

Alice...aka Ashley Greene...is everyone's fave if you read the books (especially the unpublished "Midnight Sun" online) cause you can't help but love her character OR the fact that Greene nails the character to a tee! She gets to do some fight work with Jasper and some premonition stuff that you'll like if you're an Alice fan.

Other than all that...I suppose the only last things to chat on are the director's style, Editing, and CGI work. One I liked, one was ok, & one I did not like at all. We'll end this on a positive note so I'll go with what I didn't like and that was director David Slade's filming technique. I'm all for close ups...I am...hot folks on screen close up are still hot...but...DUDE! You're up Bella's nose like, half the friggin film man! Much of this film coulda been filmed in a dorm room and you'd have never known the difference, the shots were so tight! You saw them going to a location but once they were IN it...CLOSE CLOSE CLOSE! And don't tell me I sat too close...I sat in my usual spot I always sit...so, bite me. ;) It was up...their...noses! No, not all of it but when they were close, they were CLOSE.

The editing of the film was a bit choppy but it flows all right. It's a long book put into 2 hours...and as you're coming from a book of whining to make a movie of action...well...it is what it is and though slightly choppy, it works for the piece.

Last, and not least, CGI.

I'm IN LOVE with the CGI peeps who do the wolves. IN LOOOOVE. Love love love. The wolves movement is so real, right down to ear movement. There's this point where Bella speaks to Jacob when he's in wolf form and he leans his head to her and she scratches his ears and its like, the most precious moment between them (notice its not where Taylor is present). But that wolf moment isn't he only one that rocks. From just them showing up to the fighting it all looks real and beautiful and makes me wanna go home and pet my dog (who looks like a black wolf mind you).

So there you have it. I enjoyed the movie...but I'm easy to please. As long as I have fun the plot doesn't have to be amazing or the acting extrodinairy...(neither of which happen in Eclipse)...I just have to feel like I was entertained. And I was. I think even the boys will like this movie due to the fighting and stuff...no blood mind you though...again PG-13...but it isn't missed too much. "Kill Bill I & II" make up for it...watch those afterwards if you need a blood intake. ;)

Catch the movie if you are a Twilight fan. Catch the DVD when it comes out if you've not been a fan and are curious...this is the better of the three movies for sure. But to be honest...the 2nd of the last two films will be the best...or so I hope, since its my favorite part of the series.

That's all for now...hope my movie thoughts calmed those of you who read my book thoughts and wanted to slap me. :)

Tamsin Silver signing off.... xo

Vacation = Awesome!

So I have a little bit of an obsession with the Salem Witch Trials.

There, I said it. They say that admitting your problem is half the battle.

Yeah, okay, whatever.

Anyhoo...so this Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer FINALLY made it to Salem, MA after YEARS of writing about witches and the like (LDG and another story are based in that area) and after directing The Crucible in the fall of 1997. Yes,I've been to Boston but not to Salam...so this time around I made it a point to take the train up there.

Mistake #1: Had money on me. This means I shopped. I was good though, I didn't spend more than I could afford (unlike my shopping counterpart who spent twice what I did!). I totalled up my purchases (which will be listed at the end of this blog in case you care) and they came to $123. That's for two days of playing tourist in both Salem AND Boston so...not bad really. I was constantly saying, "Justify this purchase!" If I couldn't, I didn't buy it. Simple as that. Hence, I spent MUCH less than I would've years ago. Yay! Go me!

Mistake #2: Went by train instead of by car. This means I didn't get to see the big stuff I really wanted to see. This was sad because as it turns out...Salem used to be both the town of Salem and Salem Village. What was Salem Village is now broken into TWO cities; Danvers and Peabody. This means that if you want to see John Proctor's house or his burrial site or Giles Corey's home/land...etc. You need, that's right, a car. That way you can drive to these locations. I picked up a book that tells you how to get to all those for my next visit. My plan is to rent a car this fall and go. It's important to me. I remember sitting in my classroom when I found the picture of John Proctor's gravestone on the internet...I cried for a good 5 minutes. THAT is how deep I got into the show. My cast were also very affected by the show...and remember it till this day. Trust me, I get emails. :)


Mistake #3: Thought it would be a good idea after walking all of Salem to walk all of Boston the day after. (My feet and calves hurt my darling...oh yes, they hurt.) That's right...I thought doing the Freedom Trail ON the 4th of July would be a cool idea. Yeah, well, so did every other tourist. LOL! Matt and I got lucky though. Somehow everywhere we went that day we missed the line by seconds. We'd arrive at a landmark, wait briefly and then go in. When we'd leave there'd be this HUGE line. It was that way all day. Woot! I learned a lot and saw a lot of things. I think my favorite thing was this:

When the British occupied Boston there was a General by the name of Thomas Gage who was in charge and he decided to send troops to Lexington and Concord to thwart the Sons of Liberty who were rumored to be stock-piling weapons. Now, General Gage only told two people his plan to send troops secretly at night to Lexington and Concord; his next in command and his wife.

Who do you think, of those two, leaked the info that got back to Dr. Joseph Warren? His WIFE did! The rest you know, yes? Well, if not, Dr. Warren is the one that had Paul Revere do his midnight run to warn the troops in Lexington ("The British are coming! The British are coming!"). He was captured by the British and not allowed to return to Boston for a year because of his actions. BUT, even though he was captures other riders got to Concord in time so that most of the stored up amunition was hidden in other cities. Now, its not proven that Mrs. Gage was a Patriot spy...its much more likely that, as a born American, she was torn and was actually trying to attempt averting a war by stopping the British troops. Alas...it had a different effect than she thought.

Either way...MANY thanks to Mrs. Thomas Gage (aka Margaret Kemble) for saving the Sons of Liberty that night, back in April of 1775. We greatly appreciate your attempt at stopping the war! :)

Here's a painting of the lovely lady! You'll need to copy and paste into your browser window I believe: http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=g&p=c&a=p&ID=10614

With that I'll end off by saying this...strong women who make big decisions, obviously shaping history, show up all throughout history both on this continent and the others. I was happy to learn of one more. Here's to the women who have shaped our history for the better! I raise a glass to you!

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THE SHOPPING LIST (in case you care)

IN SALEM

a. A cast iron mini caldron with the symbol of the goddess on it...the exact one from the birthmark on the neck of my main character of Living Dead Girl. I couldn't pass it up. $12

b. A Prosperity Key (it is hanging on my necklace). I think it funny...you spend money for a Prosperity Key...you're already doing the opposite of being prosperous. Oh well...I wanted one as a charm for my necklace. $4

c. Black T-shirt with a tomb stone on it with all the names of those who died due to the Salam Witch Trials. This was almost a no brainer. I saw this shirt as a must...remember, I directed The Crucible years ago and let me say this, due to all my research and work on this show...I felt VERY attached to these people who died. This shirt seemed the only smart T-shirt to buy. $10

d. Cute black and orange mug with the word SALEM on it with a flying witch. For my office desk...how can I not have a witch on my desk as I write my book. It is currently sitting next to the caldron...fitting. $7

e. A book entitled "The Craft - A Witches Book" by Dorothy Morrison. It has TONS of info I need for writing so as to keep my witch work in LDG as correct to Wicca as it can be. $16

f. Went into the Witch House and they had an amazing selection of stones (the powers of which I reference all the bloody time in my books). Fill a bag for $6.

g. One Salem magnet for my fridge at home cause I have a strange hobby of collecting magnets from cities all over the world that I go to and my friends go to. It's the "thing" I ask them to bring me back from the city they visit. Sounds silly, I know, but I love them! $1.50

h. Touring book so as to find the other sites like the Proctor House in Danvers and so on. $4

i. Purchased two museum fares. $6 each.

IN BOSTON

j. A beautiful silver & sugulite ring (again...the ring in my book is a silver ring made with crystals, sugulite and a triquetra knot design) which are rare to find. Its simple and pretty. $25

k. Book ends made of this beautiful blue stone...I forget the type. I've been coveting a pair my buddy Matt has at his house for awhile...and then found these on sale! $22

l. Purchased a tour of Paul Revere's house. VERY worth it! $3.50

So that is my spending on me...without going into train fair (which wasn't expensive btw) or food...so my total of pointless purchases comes to...$123. $3 more than I'd planned on so overall...I did pretty well if you ask me. :)

A Review you DON'T want as an author

Okay...so I know I said I'd not write again till after the holiday but, well, I lied. I forgot that this is the week "Twilight; Eclipse" comes out in theaters. And as she writes in my genre (sorta) I feel the need to talk about the "event" that is Twilight Madness.

Before I begin my "rant" I want to say this; I think the Twilight Series is a fun, indulgent, romantic (in the obsessive teenage sense) novel that is a bit addictive. You see, I too devoured the four books in two weeks, like most women (and gay men) on this planet. I recommend you read them if you've not...they're now part of our iconic history and as they are a phenomenon...you should read up on what they are. You're not allowed, in my opinion, to have an opinion of them (books or movies) unless you actually read/watch them.

That said, I give you the review from NYC's Metro paper that holds a line that as an author, I DREAD to EVER hear (if I'm lucky enough to have my books published and then made into movies that is). I will put the line I speak of in bold.

This review below was Written By Ned Ehrbar, who also writes for Metro World News in Los Angeles.

Title of said review: Third times a mediocre charm for this 'Twilight'

Subtitle of said review: 'Eclipse' is the best movie yet in the teen vampire series, but hte competition hasn't exactly been tough.

The review itself:

The third film in the "Twilight" series is the best to date, but that's faint praise considering the previous installments. The cast's development of their now-iconic characters as well as new director David Slade's camera work make "Eclipse" a marked improvement, but the film is stunted by its source material.

The lesson here appears to be that practice sometimes makes mediocre, but it's not really Slade's fault. He does his best, adding actual action sequences with brutal beheadings -- though no blood, since these vampires are PG-13.

There are bright spots, including some all-too-brief diversions into the backstories of a pair of Cullen vampires, Rosalie (Nikki Reed) and Jasper (Jackson Rathbone). Also worth noting: It's becoming clear that Stewart has quietly been doing some impressive work as Bella. While some might write off her performance as half-asleep, she's actually showing remarkable restraint with the dialogue's overwrought romance-novel nature.

If only Tayler Lautner had such skill.

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Okay...Thank you Mr. Ehrbar! Now for Tamsin Silver's thoughts PRE-MOVIE (for I see it tomorrow night)...yes, I'm going to go see it in the madness. Remember what I said...know of what you speak of!

I'll say it flat out, without reserve, or fear of hurting your feelings if you're a TwiHard...

I hated the 3rd book of the series.

There, I said it.

I ended up having to skimmed much of it. You may ask why...and I'll be happy to tell you! :)

It's cause Bella drove me absoluetly fucking insane! All the girl does is whine and whine and whine in this book and we're stuck in her head so we have to hear even more of it than poor Edward does. And, if she's not whining she's being clingy and selfish. Oh sure, she has a moment of "revelation" at the end of the bloody book (while in the tent) that she's been selfish and feels "bad" about it...but it takes hundreds of pages for this girl. She's supposed to be smart and mature for her age but this book backpeddles her to like 13 years of age!

The book's ONE real redeaming quality is that we get to know other characters better (like Rosalie and Jasper) and ther's a huge fight scene...oh wait...THAT cool fight scene is going on somewhere where Bella ISN'T at and we just get the fight between Edward and Victoria (and Seth...can't forget Seth Clearwater, to be played by BooBoo Stewart...yes, that's his name). Not that the small (and fast and simple) fight with them isn't cool...but the REAL fight Mrs. Meyer leaves out. A 629 page book and you CAN'T give us the BIG ass fight scene we've been leading up to the WHOLE fucking book? **sigh** When reading the book you console yourself with the words, "Don't worry, the last book will show the big fight scene"...uh, yeah, don't hold your breath.

Anyhoo, at least the movie version of "Eclipse" will be showing the BIG fight scene. And THAT, my good people, is why I'M going to this movie (that and I looove the CGI wolves a lot!). Not only that but the movie looks to show a bit more of other folks like the new vamps out to kill the Cullen's as well as the back story on Jasper and Rosalie (they skipped poor Alice's back story...which is given to you in book one but movie #1 opted out of sharing it with you). This means the movie's story won't totally center around our whining selfish heroine. Then again, they really had no choice when making the movie I suppose...since most of the book is ramblings of a selfish whining girl...that wouldn't have made too much interesting "meat" for a movie, now would it? Hell, it barely made much of an interesting plot for a book. And don't even get me started on the writing simplicity and over-indulgent descriptions...ugh...I could go on and on...but I'll save that for the Mrs. Meyer.

Those be my thoughts. I see the movie on Thursday night before I pack to leave for Boston for the holiday...so chances are I won't get to write my pithy review of it until we all return to our regularly scheduled program of life on Tuesday...so hang in there TwiHards...I'll hopefully not trash your movie like I did your book.

But do remember what I started with in this entry...I did love reading them. The story itself is quite inventive and fun (if you don't see Edward as a bit of a stalker and Bella as a obsessed nut job) and I like them, for what they are. And don't you DARE say "well, they're just Young Adult Books"! Read some Cassandra Clare stuff and then compare that type of YA to Twilight and you'll see why I say not to lump all YA together!

And yes, I'm not a published author yet...nor do I have a movie deal (yet)...but I just feel some of our phenomenon is ill-based. Just my opinion...take it or leave it...its cool. That's what my blog is for. Oh, and before someone whines saying "But Mrs. Meyer's books have a movie deal and have made millions". Have no fear...I see that and bow to her for it! But what will make me take a knee vs. a simple bow, is that Cassandra Clare also has gotten a movie deal for her Mortel Instruments trilogy (being done by the same folks that did Lord of the Rings btw) and with writing THAT good...the movie hopefully will rock too.

Oh...and just so I say it...the BEST part of the series is in Book 4...

(SPOILER ALERT if you're one of the 2% on the planet who've not read the last book!)

...after Bella wakes up a vampire! Then it all just ROCKS! Well, minus the fight scene that again, never comes. :(

So yes, I'm not a fan of the book, but for now...I look forward to wolves kickin' new vamp ass in the movie tomorrow night!

Tamsin :)

Helping other writers is fun!

So...on Saturday I did something I've never gotten to do before, and that's meet up with a fellow writer to help her with her book!

WHAT FUN!

My friend Rachel, who is 15 (going on 30 when it comes to ideas for writing), and I spent Saturday afternoon seeing a movie and then chatting about our books over dinner. Poor Cosi Cafe...we sat there forever! LOL! (I left a 30% tip though to make up for it). She's my "teen reader" that I get feedback from and in return I help her with ideas and whatnot for her stuff.

Anyhoo...

Rachel has this amazing idea for a book. It's all based on science to the point where her books will border on the concept that "this could actually happen in the future". Which is one of the reasons I think its brilliant!

I had her tell me the main plot and then some of the twists she wants to do...and I realized something that I wanted to impart to fellow writers (not that more than 3 people read this but hey...I can dream). Don't choose a twist just for the sake of having it. Don't come up with something SUPER science-fictiony (not that that's a word but you get what I mean) just because you write science fiction. If you're going to create a twist or come up with something really sci-fi-out-there...make sure it's needed for the story and adds to it vs. detracting from it. Make sure it doesn't constrict your writing options. All twists and sci-fi-imagination should open doors for your story to build upon and not close them. Writing is hard enough as it is...hell, writing sci-fi where you create a well-rounded world is hard as hell...for the love of all that's holy, don't make it harder on yourself than you have to for the sake of being SUPER SCI-FI. Make sense?

I don't want to get into details as it isn't my place to discuss her book idea but I'll say that we had a great conversation of taking a closed idea and opening it up. Then I took what I've learned from working with my editor and emparted it unto her. Explaining how her first few pages need to be tight. How they need to let us know the world we're in and what's going on in a way that pulls us into the story and into our heroine's head.

We talked about how the book would open and I could see it in my mind (the start of a new story comes to me so easily its sorta ridiculous) so I wrote her first 2.5 paragraphs and sent them to her to build her new ideas off of. I'm very excited to see where she takes it from there! It really is a GREAT idea for a book...if she doesn't ever get around to writing it...I will...with her permission and help of course. :)

So that spurned me to go home and write so on Sunday I did some writing...followed by a nap and then some cleaning of the apartment and lastly, some "Leverage" (GREAT show on TNT).

My weekend was great...and my upcoming week looks pretty mighty too, if I must say so...not counting tonight's laundry, that is.

Tomorrow Night: Shakespeare at Central Park with my friend Seth
Wednesday Night: Going Away Party for Geoff before Grad School
Thursday Night: (don't judge me but...) my friends and I have tickets to Twilight Saga - Eclipse
Friday: I head to Boston for the weekend and don't come back till the 5th! Woot!

I'm STOKED that I'll be in Boston...specifically walking the Freedom Trail and then at the Boston Harbor watching fireworks on the 4th itself! Boo-ya! PLUS...I will be going to Salem while I'm there so be prepared for pics to show up on my Facebook page when I get back of witch stuff! Yay! It's going to be a FANTASTICAL (that's fantastic and magical together btw) weekend!

I hope you too have a safe and happy and fantastical holiday!

xo

Tamsin :)

In the Ether.

Yep. That's where my manuscript is for all I bloody know.

"I thought you sent that to the agent who requested it?"

Oh, I did. And in that email I asked if she'd be so kind as to let me know she got it.

I heard nothing so 2 weeks later I sent a nice email asking if she got it...noting in said email that in no way did I expect her to have read any of it yet.

Did she get back to me?

No. :(

*sigh*

Alas, this is the life of a writer who isn't officially contracted...the low man (or woman) on the totem pole so to speak. So now I wait to hear back from her and that could happen in two months or never. Annoying to say the least but what am I to do?

I shall continue to submit! THAT is what I will do.

Once the 4th of July holiday is over and I'm back from Boston (where my story takes place by the way) I will start putting my "list" into a formal spreadsheet so as to start sending my letter out to more agents.

Am I happy about it? No. But I can't put all my eggs in one basket...no matter how much I think the lady who asked for it is a good fit for me and my book. What if she were to take a year to get around to my book? I can't sit on my arse that long people. I need an agent this year...that is my goal...and we're almost half way through 2010!

So...dear stalker (you know who you are)...expect my "list" soon. :)

Tamsin :)

White Cat

So, it's a lazy...and HOT...Father's Day here in NYC and as I lay around in my PJ's in my air conditioned room I pick up Holly Black's newest book (I'd bought it just before my writing deadline and show so it had been set aside) and I read all 310 pages of it today. Took me about 6 hours. I grazzed on snacks and read all day. LOL!

I've never "reviewed" a book on here but...I think it's high time I do! Not that my opinion matters but, I'd like to start looking back at my thoughts of books I've read so...here goes...

Holly Black's "White Cat"

First off let me say that I love the concept for this upcoming series called The Curse Workers. White Cat is the first in the series (I believe book 2 is called Red Glove). It is set in an alternative reality where everyone wears gloves because there are people in the world who have the ability to curse (or bless) you with just a touch of their hand on your skin. It's obviously been outlawed and because of that these families have turned into criminals...more specifically they've become crime families...think "Soprano's" but with powers (hell, it even takes place in Jersey!).

Anyhoo, the story revolves around Cassle...a teenage boy who is the only "legit" member of his family...going to a private prep school in NY and this is all due to the fact that he's the only member of his family w/o the ability to work curses. He seems to be the only one who didn't get the gift.

He is a very torn teenager (more than the norm) because his memory is spotty with concern to the fact that he killed his best friend, Lila, when they were 14.

First off, it was really interesting to have the lead of story be a male. Most YA is female led for the main reason, most of those reading YA novels are girls. As we all know, boys and girls develop differently. For boys, math skills develop first where as girls, well, we develop linguistically first. Reading, writing, etc. So its not suprising that YA readers are primarily girls.

Secondly, this is highly imaginative, well written, by 1/2 way through it you are starting to really "see" the world she's got going on and I think it sets up a GREAT book 2 and 3 and so on. When they come out, I'll buy them cause I am praying Cassle finds a way to fix what his mom has done. I also look forward to seeing how he deals with being in school while dealing with all he's learned about himself and his family.

OH! And I must say...the other characters in this? Daneca, Sam, and Grandpa? LOVE THEM! Such GREAT characters and they're on the "good side" so you can love with without feeling guilty. ;)

Okay then...here are my 3 other things about the book that I'll throw out there.

#1. Though it starts with a bang (Cassel sleep walking out onto the school roof in the middle of the night and almost falling off) it then gets a bit slow while you get to meet the other characters. DON'T LET THIS DETER YOU! Its important to meet these characters you get to know in this section...push through. Once his brother picks him up from school, the investigation pace picks up and is full throttle the rest of the way.

#2. If you are like me, and read a ton of YA, and are an adult, you miiiight figure out the big "reveals" early. *sigh* I blame my father. We used to watch Mystery Theater on PBS when I was a kid and it was a race to who could figure out "who done it". So, alas, I was able to figure out ALL the BIG STUFF 1/4 of the way in. But, I've spoken to others that have read the book and THEY did not so obviously I'm a freak. My point here is this; Even if you are someone who figures stuff out the journey is still worth the reading! I'm a "journey" person. I can know the ending and I still like to read the book because I enjoy the journey of it. So, if you're like me...don't worry if you figure it all out...you'll still have fun with it!

#3. If you're a Disney ending girl/guy...the ending of this book is going to make you a weeee bit pissy. I have no fear that Holly will straighten it out by the end of the third book of the series. But the ending falls withing the same lines as the end of the first Mortel Instrument book, City of Bones, when you wanna scream out in utter emotional pain with choice curse words. Well...Holly and Cassie are friends for a reason folks! That's all I'll say.

I highly recommend this book...as I said before, I think its a brilliant concept! I think the characters are real and loveable or dispicable, depending on who we're talking about. Cassle's brothers are a friggin piece of work! Though, Cassle does screw them over rightly so! My fave is what he does to Barron...oh I laughed SO hard at the line about "Pizza every other Tuesday where we share our feelings"...good stuff!

So, read it...if you've not already...no matter if you are a young adult or an adult who was trained to figure out the twists in Agatha Christie...it's a fun read that made my "day at home in my PJ's" just loverly.

Time for bed...night all!

Tamsin Silver :)