April 2014 (issue) - featuring Laini Taylor [author of the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy]

Fandom Monthly Magazine presents...

April 2014

Featuring Laini Taylor

Almost Demon by AJ Salem book review (spoiler free)

The last thing Gemma Pope expects to study in the after-school book club is demon etiquette but that is exactly what she has to do to succeed as a summoner and save her hometown. Since taking the blame for the car accident that claimed the lives of her twin brother and two of her best friends, she s been seeing things. Dark shadows, opaque, menacing, multiplying. The clock starts ticking when the local mild-mannered librarian suffers a psychotic break and pulls a gun on her reading circle. People are dying in disasters and wars all over the world. Gemma s dad is getting weird, her classmates are becoming violent, and the darkness surrounding Harrisport is getting thicker. Does she trust hot English Lit teacher Mr. Flynn or Ian, the mysterious new kid in town, who has knowledge beyond his years and access to other dimensions? It is only when the gates to hell are opened, that Gemma learns who her real friends are. Discover what lies just beyond the veil of humanity in the sleepy town of Harrisport.

Rate:

3 of 5 stars

★★★

Book reviewer: Grace

Author interview & giveaway: Anna Scanlon - author of Unravelled

"No one heard us. They decided not to, to turn their heads away. It was too much to bear. Too much to know. Too hard to swallow. But now that the world knows, now that the world has heard, it all seems so simple, so easy to defray. I screamed and no one heard. Next time, will you be listening?" Aliz and her twin sister, Hajna, are enjoying their playful, carefree and comfortable life with their parents in Szeged, Hungary just before the Nazis invade. Seemingly overnight, their lives change drastically as they are transported to the ghetto on the outskirts of the city and then to Auschwitz to be used in Mengele's deadly experiments. After several months of brutal torture, Aliz is liberated to find that she is the only survivor in her family. At not even 11 years old, Aliz must make the journey to San Francisco alone, an entire world away from everything she's known, in order to live with her only known relatives whom she has never met-- a depressed aunt and teenage cousin who is more than ready to escape her mother's melancholy. Told through the eyes of both Aliz and her cousin Isabelle, Unravelled tells a story of survival, hope, family and the lives war and genocide haunt long after liberation.

Anna Scanlon is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area but currently resides in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom (she has previously lived in New York City, Budapest, Grenoble and Amsterdam). She holds an MA in History from the University of Amsterdam and is pursuing a PhD in History from the University of Leicester. She lecturers and teaches on the Holocaust and art and consults with schools and theater companies who are working on Holocaust related material. She has been writing since she was a little girl, keeping diaries whilst pretending she was Laura Ingalls Wilder and writing historical fiction novels about WWII and the Oregon Trail (obviously based on the video game series!). In the third grade, she wrote an "adaptation" of her favorite film "My Girl" for her class. Unravelled is her first published novel. www.anna-scanlon.com

Author interview & giveaway: S.K. Hartley - author of The Bad Boy series

I am all kinds of broken... 
My pain started when I was just ten years old, it was the day my mom got that dreaded phone call. Life has never been the same. 
I have known Logan White since forever, he is my brothers best friend and my secret protector. I used to have nightmares that drew me into a dark place and when the nightmares got too much, Logan was by my side. The nightmares are few and far between now, but my life is centered around the tragedy of my past. 
Logan is the definition of 'man whore', with girls lining around the block to drop their panties at the click of his fingers. But after an unexpected moment things change. Now Logan is somebody else; hot, sexy and so damn delicious and I want to know him. Desperately. 
But then there is Angel Walker who is far from the angelic nature of his name, with eyes so hypnotic that I lose my inhabitation’s just by staring into them. But he is a broken man who just screams sin. He doesn't want to protect me or care for me, He just wants me. 
Do I want the man who can cut through all of my pain or the man who could cause me more? 
Three hearts. Two souls. One broken mess.

The lines are blurred between what is real and what isn't, the darkness that was once a place I feared was now a place of safety. If I stayed in the darkness, the hellish reality of what was truly happening no longer seemed real.
But I was about to be pulled out from under the consuming blanket of dark shadows, and plunged into the murky depths of my past. I was about to be shown my demons and all it's evil sides, all of it's pain and grief. I could only hope I survive it.
What happens when the world you once knew crumbles and falls at your feet? 
Who will find me? Who will save me from my demons?
My dark prince or my white knight...
And will I find myself in the process.

S.K. Hartley is a mother, wife and a writer and has just written Finding You, book one in the Bad Boy Series. Based in the not so sunny North West of England you can find her either glued to her computer desk, in the public library (Yes, they do still exist!) or floating around her favourite authors books signings. Her inspirations are John Keats, Percy Shelley, William Blake and Herman Melville. Her favourite authors at the moment are Katy Evans, K. Bromberg, Julie A. Richman. Lauren Blakely, Jamie McGuire and Rachel Van Dyken. S.K. Hartley has an unhealthy obsession with coffee, chocolate and retro computer games and a healthy obsession of stalking indie authors.

Fallen by Lauren Kate book review (spoiler free)

What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours? 17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross . . . only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart.  Get ready to fall . . .

Rate:

1 0f 5 stars

★

The Covington Witches Parts 1 & 2 by Roz Carter book review (spoiler free)

Imara Covington has always known that she comes from a family of strong women. Only after an unexpected journey to the quaint town of Edenton, North Carolina, do the family secrets begin to unravel. Once she thought of her family as her safety net and her home as a haven, but now Imara is forced to confront the long buried secrets that are at the center of her family's strength. Part one introduces us to Imara Covington, a successful caterer who loves her work almost as much as she loves her family. What Imara doesn't know is that she comes from a family of witches and this installment starts the story of discovery for Imara. In Part two of THE COVINGTON WITCHES, we start to learn more about the Covington family. More secrets are revealed about just what some family members are up to in Edenton and Philadelphia. Imara sustains some shocks to the system. The cast of characters is expanding, but who is trustworthy and who has their own agenda is something Imara has to figure out. Blending Gothic horror, with contemporary suspense, THE COVINGTON WITCHES, will keep you turning the pages!


Rate:

1.5 of 5 stars

★

Author Interview & Giveaway: Sarah Goodman - author of The Life Series

“First comes love…then comes marriage…then comes a baby in a baby carriage.” We’ve all heard this saying. In fact, Elizabeth lived and planned her life by this children’s nursery rhyme. What happens when life doesn't go according to plan? What happens when the life you created falls apart? How do you pick up the pieces? When do you finally realize what life handed you is indeed perfect, even if it was never part of your plan? Elizabeth “Beth” Thomas is a thirty year old senior associate at a law firm. Married to her college sweetheart, Grant, they have traveled, built their dream home, and are ready to become parents. They struggle with infertility. Grant wants a normal life again. He wants to go back to the way it was before trying to have a baby consumed their lives. Once they agree to go back to a “normal” life, life hands over a different plan for Beth. Beth struggles with loss and heartache. She leans on her family, her two best friends, and her doctor. What Elizabeth doesn't see is that her life is going according to plan, only it took a different route to get there. "Sometimes we plan our perfect life, but life tends to give us life's perfect plan.”

Dr. Kate Caldwell strives to be the best in everything she does. Except her best wasn't good enough for her ex-husband, Keith. Keith crashed her dream of a fairy tale life when she caught him cheating on her. She is determined to focus on her new project and to giving her twin daughters a normal, happy childhood. Kate has plans to remodel the veterinary clinic her Granddaddy passed down to her. To fulfill one of her dreams she hires an architect and design firm to remodel the out dated practice and horse boarding stable. What Kate doesn't realize is her Life's Next Chapter will be mere yards away, remodeling her clinic.
Luke Ashton is the general contractor for his cousin’s company, Ashton Architecture and Design . Luke has been assigned to remodel Dr. Caldwell’s clinic, and he doesn't expect his latest project to include the woman who could knock his world off it's axis and set it right again. He finds himself working longer hours around her property, spending time to get to know Kate better. Luke is handsome, with his striking green eyes, rugged physique, and a body that would make any woman weak in the knees. He certainly turns Kate’s head. 
Kate and Luke feel the chemistry and tension between them, but both are skeptical about moving forward. Kate is terrified to let anyone into her life, let alone her heart. Luke has a past that easily scares women away. He’s struggled since he was eighteen, when unexpected circumstances turned him into a man. Luke is also a veteran with nightmares that follow him all day—every day. Do Kate and Luke give into one another’s baggage and avoid each other, like their heads tell them, or do they fight for the happily ever after they both want? When ‘life’ gives them more battles to fight, will they be strong enough to fight for each other? “Luke, my life story is crazy and complicated, why would you want to attempt this?” – Kate “Sunshine, we can’t erase our past, but we sure as hell can turn the page in your story and create our own crazy happy life together.” - Luke Does Life’s Next Chapter give Kate her fairy tale ever after, or will it be the chapter she quickly skips through?

What would you do if Life gave you a second chance with your one true love?

Ethan Parker found his true love at a young age, and having made it through both high school and college together, he was sure their love was indestructible. Ethan was ready to spend the rest of his life with Leah Ashton, the only woman he would ever love, until she confessed to being unfaithful and left him for her Spring Fling, Charles.
Shattered and broken, Ethan never fully recovered. Drifting through the last ten years, a mere shadow of his former self, he eventually returned home to Florida to be closer to his sister, Elizabeth. Hoping to find a shred of happiness, Ethan struggles to let go of his one regret—not fighting for true love.
Leah’s life with Charles never made it to happily ever after, and instead became her worst nightmare. After enduring a decade of physical and emotional abuse, Leah had lost hope of ever finding happiness. Thanks to her stubborn brother, Luke, a visit home at Thanksgiving forced Leah to share her secret with her family, finally ending the years of shame. Finally free to make her own decisions, Leah is determined to be happy, even if she is alone.
A chance encounter at a car dealership reunites Leah with Ethan, and suddenly life has hope again. Life has given Ethan and Leah a Second Chance, but will they be brave enough to take the chance? Can their love overcome the years of hurt to finally give them their Happily Ever After

Sarah is a native to Central Florida where she lives with her husband and three sons. Besides being a wife and mom, she is also a teacher. During her spare time she loves to read, write, spend her time at the ball fields cheering on her boys and relaxing at the beach.

Cover reveal: Dark Indiscretions: Monster Unleashed by Shakuita Johnson

Krista made her way down the hall and into the office she knew her mates would be. They were not going to like what she had to say but right now it was about her. She was tired of putting others before herself. Tired of pretending to be someone that she wasn’t. She paused for a moment in the doorway to look at her mates one last time. They were rung tight from her self-imposed seclusion and she knew this was only going to be the beginning of their heartache.

She took a moment to really look at her mates. They were total contrasts to each other. Where Taser was standing at only five-foot-five-inches and weighing one hundred and seventy five pounds. He had dirty blonde hair that stuck out all over the place and hazel eyes. On the other hand, Nathan stood at just less than seven feet and weighted over three hundred pounds of pure muscle. He had black hair with the most mesmerizing green eyes flecked with gold, belaying his paranormal status. They were both handsome. Any girl would be lucky to have just one of them as a mate.

Yet her she was ready to give them both up. It couldn’t be helped so no use in delaying the inevitable. Without preamble Krista spoke the words all men dread.</ h2>

“We need to talk. Now.”

“Now you’re ready to talk,” Nathan said with an arched eyebrow.

“It’s about damn time,” was Taser’s reply.

Krista saw where this conversation was going to go before it started. Both her mates were upset and yet she still couldn’t bring herself to care, much. She knew what she had to do and she didn’t plan on changing her mind.

“Are you both going to be assholes or listen to what I have to say?” Krista asked.

“Fine. Speak,” Taser barked.

Speak! What was she a damn dog? Krista was fuming and she could feel the air around her zinging with her anger.

“Careful how you speak to me,” she threatened in a low voice. “I am not some common animal that you can issue commands and receive obedience in return. You will do well to remember who and what I am.”

“Let’s all calm down and take a seat. We have just been worried. Taser didn’t mean anything by it. Let’s not fight but instead have a civilized conversation,” Nathan said. He didn’t need anyone losing their cool right now. Emotions were already running high as it was.

“Before the rudeness was introduced, what I was trying to say is I will be leaving here today and never returning. I’ve given this a lot of thought and there is just no way I can continue this existence how I was. I am no longer that person. I have changed. There is no point in a discussion because nothing you say will change my mind. The both of you will also not be joining me,” Krista stated.

Was she serious with this shit? She walks in here like she owns the world and decrees that she is leaving not only the pack lands but also her mates behind. Did she think we were supposed to be okay with it? Nathan was utterly speechless. Never in all his years would he have expected this shit when he found his Nyhiya. He could feel the rage building and getting ready to burst free.

“Come again?” Taser asked. “I think I may have misheard what you just said. I could have sworn it sounded like you were abandoning your mates.”

“No need to be dramatic. It’s not like you only have one mate. Nathan will keep you company but unfortunately I have things to do. Mates would only hold me back from my destiny. I don’t need any weaknesses my enemies could exploit. Now if you both will excuse me, I have preparations to make.”

With those parting words, Krista got up and walked out of the office. She didn’t have time to waste. She had to gather the few things she had here and leave to begin her hunt. She wasn’t sure where she was starting but she was sure she was leaving here tonight and by any means necessary.

Are YOU ready for the cover???

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Paper Towns by John Green book review (spoiler free)

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.

Rate:

4 of 5 stars
★★★★

Author Interview & Giveaway: Kenna McKinnon - author of SpaceHive

There's a buzz in the air—and it's deadly…

After getting kidnapped by giant alien bees, twelve-year-old Jason Anderson is transported to a spaceship called SpaceHive. There, he learns of a horrifying plot to annihilate Earth's human population so that extraterrestrial bees and wasps can migrate to a new world.

As a swarm of spaceships make a beeline toward Earth, Jason must convince three friendly worker bees to help him escape his space prison and find other humans to aid in his mission to stop the invasion. But General Vard, wasp commander of the Black Watch, has other plans.

Can Jason unite the nations of Earth in their common fight to destroy these alien invaders? Or will Earth be lost to the sting of conspiracy and a worldwide massacre?

Errl, an alien Sasquatch teen from Planet X, visits Earth on a MiddleSchool research trip with his classmates and a kind but absentminded alien teacher, who accidentally leaves Errl behind when their airpod crashes on Earth. Errl is not fond of school and has no plans for his future. Errl is rather clumsy and doesn't like water. When his classmates go for a swim Errl leaves for the forest, promising to come back before the rescue ship is due to pick them up. He is confused and doesn't make it back to the ship on time. Errl is left alone to fend for himself on Earth and try to make his way back to the rescue ship when it is scheduled to return in ten Terra days. He becomes lost and disoriented, and frightens a group of Cub Scouts. Errl becomes separated from his classmates and confronts a hostile Cub Scout leader in the woods, who tries to shoot him. The Scout leader fires on him and Errl runs. He runs to a river and tries to swim across to escape. Hungry, exhausted, cold and tired, he is pulled downriver by the current. He is swept over a waterfall and spends the night in a mud cave at the side of the river.  He finds a trapper's cabin in the woods and is discovered by the trapper, whose name is Joe Locke. He runs and stumbles into a small town called Parsnip Creek. The men of the town have formed a posse to hunt him down.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Read the novel…Bigfoot Boy: Lost on Earth, published November 18, 2013 by Mockingbird Lane Press. Author Kenna McKinnon

Kenna McKinnon is the author of SpaceHive, a middle grade sci-fi/fantasy novel traditionally

published by Imajin Books; The Insanity Machine, a self-published memoir with co-author

Austin Mardon, PhD, CM; and DISCOVERY – A Collection of Poetry, all released in 2012.

BIGFOOT BOY: Lost on Earth, was released on October 30, 2013 by Mockingbird Lane Press, a traditional small press. A children's chapter book, Benjamin & Rumblechum, will be published by Mockingbird Lane Press in late 2014. Her books are available in eBook and paperback worldwide on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and in selected bookstores and public libraries. Her interests / hobbies include occasional runner, volunteer, sporadic student of hatha yoga, karate and kickboxing, weightlifting, and frequent walker. She lives in a high-rise bachelor suite in the trendy neighborhood of Oliver in the City of Edmonton. Her most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she graduated with Distinction with a degree in Anthropology (1975). She has lived successfully with schizophrenia for many years and is a member of the Writers' Guild of Alberta and the Canadian Authors Association. She has three wonderful children and three grandsons.

|Kenna's Author Website|Facebook|Twitter|Goodreads|

FMM: Are any of your traits similar to the ones of your characters?

KM: Yes, I would say Jason is independent and can get along on his own without 

parental supervision, which I often did as a child / youth. He is much braver than I am, 

though, and much more skilled in science and modern technology. The boy Joey in Bigfoot Boy: Lost on Earth faced bullying, which I did also as a child and even into my adult years. I'm going to work with Grade Fives in an elementary school in Alberta, in May, on this topic. Hunny, the female Bigfoot, is a bit obstreperous, which I can be. I'm also a caring person, which I hope shows up in my characters.

FMM: How long did it take you to write SpaceHive? What obstacles did you face?

KM: It took me approximately five years to write SpaceHive, including the editing. 

I originally wrote it as an adult book and it was much longer, but was convinced by 

the publisher of Imajin Books to rewrite it to a young adult/middle grade style. She 

eventually accepted the book to publish it in 2012. The primary obstacle I faced is promotion. I love to write but my promotion skills  need attention. Lack of experience was another obstacle faced while I was doing the original writing and then the edits.

FMM: Do you have a specific writing style?

KM: I would say I've developed a specific writing style. My themes are often universal 

in scope with a subtle moral or lesson to them, and my mood is usually optimistic and 

hopeful. I'll leave it to my readers to discover what it is about my writing style they  recognize and like.

FMM: What is your favorite genre/theme to write?

KM: I think so far my favorite genre has been science fiction or fantasy, with a hint of the  supernatural. My theme is often that of universal salvation and hope.

FMM: How long does it take you to edit and finalize a book into a publishing worthy state?

KM: I now have a professional editor, Morgen Bailey of the UK, and Judith Hansen in 

Michigan. It takes about six months to edit and finalize a book, but it took me longer to  finalize SpaceHive. It was my debut novel and needed a lot of input from my publisher,  Cheryl Tardif, who was extremely helpful.

FMM: What is the best part about being an author?

KM: I love to write and that is the best part. Also the independence it affords. I can write at home and at any hour of the day or night, and do what I love.

FMM: Have you ever despised any of your writing? 

KM: No, I looked at some of my original novels and they needed years of experience, and much of my earlier poetry was naïve, but I loved them at the time and in many ways, I do enjoy my own work.

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Author Interview: Marissa Meyer - author of the Lunar Chronicles

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf . . .), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was given a small book of them when she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

FMM: What inspired the idea of The Lunar Chronicles?

 MM: It started when I entered a writing contest in which the host had listed about ten random prompts and writers had to choose two of them to include in their stories. My two prompts: set it in the future and include a fairy-tale character. My contest entry was a sci-fi version of "Puss in Boots" and I had so much fun writing it that I thought I would try to do an entire series of sci-fi fairy tales! (The ironic part of that story is that only two stories were submitted for the contest—and mine didn't win!) A couple months after that I was drifting off to sleep when the lightning bolt struck: Cinderella… as a cyborg! I crawled out of bed and spent about an hour brainstorming and jotting notes. Thus, The Lunar Chronicles was born.

FMM: If you could pick a song to go with one of your novels, which song would it be?

MM: For me, the theme song of the series is "Invincible" by Muse. It's all about banding together to take down a foe that seems unstoppable - "Tonight, we can truly say - together we're invincible." That's become a big theme in the books, too. That only by all the heroes and heroines banding together and setting aside their differences and working as a team can they overcome Queen Levana and the Lunars.

FMM: Would you consider that your characters are part of yourself?

MM: I definitely put a little piece of myself into each character - including the bad ones! I find that I have to have something in each character that I can relate to in some way, otherwise I don't think I could write them authentically. Sometimes it's easy for me to pinpoint that characteristic, other times it's more deeply buried, but it's always there. In the end, though, I tend to think of my characters as very close friends, more than extensions of myself

FMM: What is your source of story inspiration?

MM: Story inspiration can come from absolutely anywhere - whether it's a dream or a some song lyrics, a newspaper article or a picture you see on Pinterest, a snippet of overheard conversation or some experience you had a long, long time. You never know when inspiration will strike or where it will come from. The trick is being open to recognizing it when it does hit!

FMM: Has writing changed you as a person? 

MM: I've always considered myself as a writer, even when I was a little kid, so it's difficult for me to imagine myself as any other than a writer. I think writing has allowed me to hold on to and appreciate my imagination in a way that a lot of people lose as they become adults. I'm still idealistic and optimistic. I would think that I'm more accepting and empathetic than I would have otherwise been, too, as writing forces you to see the world through the eyes of many different people, not just your own. But who knows! I do know that I'm living my dream life right now, and I feel lucky for that every day.

March 2014 (issue 7)

Fandom Monthly Magazine presents...

March 2014

Mexico Divergent Premiere coverage

Our Mexico Divergent Premiere coverage! Fandom Monthly Magazine attends the Divergent Mexico (Divergente) premiere where Shailene Woodley and Theo James attend.
Thank you so much to Sofi Rodriguez at @liveforshadowhunters on Instagram for attending this for us!


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The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel (spoiler free book review)

Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the mall. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. Becca knows from experience the damage that love can do. After all, it was so-called love that turned Huxley from her childhood best friend into a social-world dictator, and love that left Becca's older sister devastated at the altar. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Becca strikes back—for just one hundred dollars via PayPal, she will trick and manipulate any couple's relationship into smithereens. And with relationship zombies overrunning her school and treating single girls as if they're second-class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even Becca's best friend, Val, has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend. One night, Becca receives a mysterious offer to break up the most popular couple in school: Huxley and the football team's star player, Steve. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date—starting rumors, sabotaging cell phones, breaking into cars…not to mention sneaking back into Huxley's good graces. All while fending off the inappropriate feelings she may or may not be having for Val's new boyfriend. No one said being the Break-Up Artist would be easy.



Rate:
4.5 of  stars
★★★★