LOVE AT FIRST BITE – THE TWILIGHT COOKBOOK

from gather.com: 

An unofficial Twilight cookbook has been published. It’s called Love At First Bite: The Twilight Cookbook and you can buy it from Amazon for around $10! Now you know what to turn to when you finally manage to snag a date with Robert Pattinson and want to cook for him (and slip a roofie into his food.)

A few to-die-for recipes in it include Harry’s Famous Fish Fry, Blushing Bella Punch, Red Velvet  Cake, and more.

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SEE BILLY BURKE IN NEW TRAILER FOR “REMOVAL”

Check out Billy Burke in a very non-Charlie Swan type of role in the trailer for his film, “Removal”. You can see the trailer on the movie’s official website.

CHRIS WEITZ SAYS HE VOTED FOR HIS “HOMIE” ANNA KENDRICK FOR OSCAR

In an interview with People Magazine, Chris Weitz admits that he voted for Anna Kendrick for Best Supporting Actress, “because she’s my homie.”  He also comments on how “New Moon” could have more nominations if the Academy had a different composition of voting members.  He tells People, “If only the Academy were composed of teenage girls, I might be looking at a Best Picture nom,” he joked. “It’s a scandal that there are not more teenage girls in the Academy.”

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DAVID SLADE TO TACKLE “THE SHADOW” NEXT

from examiner.com:

According to Collider, Slade might be scheduled to helm the project thanks to the “handing off the director’s chair” of the movie by Sam Raimi.

“Previously set up at Sony Pictures, the reboot will go back to the comic book and radio serial roots of the character,” reports Dark Horizons.

According to the Latino Review, “‘The Shadow’ debuted in 1931 on a CBS radio show which aimed to boost the magazine circulation of sponsor Street & Smith.

KRISTEN STEWART AND DAKOTA FANNING IN FINAL PROMO POSTER FOR “THE RUNAWAYS”

With the film debuting in theaters in select cities on March 19 (everywhere on April 9), the promotional push for Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning’s “The Runaways” is gaining momentum.  While we’ve seen this image multiple times, this is the first time it’s been shown as a promotional poster for the movie.

CHRIS WEITZ ON “BREAKING DAWN”

In a recent interview with mtv.com, Chris Weitz shares his thoughts on whether the film should be done in 3-D, whether it should be two films or just one, and if he will return to direct the final installment(s) of the series.

Chris Weitz on Breaking Dawn in 3-D:

“I think that 3-D is great so long as it’s not used in a gimmicky fashion and it can supply extraordinary depth to the visual experience.”

One Film or Two?

“I think that it makes sense for it to be split into two parts, because it’s quite a dense book with a lot going on.”

Will he return to directing the Saga?

“But I think I’m on record saying I have a 2-and-a-half-year-old son, and each one of these movies — especially because it’d be such a long shoot as ‘Breaking Dawn’ — it kind of brings me to the edge of my physical and mental endurance.  And I just don’t believe I have it in me, and I think that it’s appropriate that someone else go ahead and do it.”

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AMAZON PRE-ORDER OF “NEW MOON” DVD INCLUDES FREE ON-DEMAND ONLINE VIEWING AT MIDNIGHT

Pre-order the DVD or Blu-ray at Amazon and get the Amazon Video On Demand version as a gift with purchase that you can enjoy instantly on your computer or compatible TV (starting just after midnight on release day).

ROBERT PATTINSON TALKS “REMEMBER ME” IN NEW PODCAST

from theimproper.com:

“Remember Me” could be considered Robert Pattinson’s first big outing — not playing a vampire — and the studio, Summit Entertainment, conducts an exclusive podcast with Rob about the film.

So what does Rob really think about the film? In various interviews during a whirlwind promotional tour in New York, Rob said he felt it was a movie that had to be made.

Now in exclusive podcasts, he talks in-depth about the film, its characters, including Emilie de Ravin, and the making of “Remember Me.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

ARE STEPHENIE MEYER’S “TWILIGHT” BOOKS LOSING A BIT OF THEIR HOLD?

from csmonitor.com:

We’ve all gotten so used to seeing them there that it’s a shock to have them disappear. But for the first time in more than two years, none of the books in Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series is ranked in the Top 20 of USA Today’s bestseller list. “Is that old vampire magic beginning to lose its spell?” the paper asks. “Maybe just a bit.”

So far, however, none of the books has slipped too far. “Eclipse” is at No. 23 (down from No. 13 last week), while “Breaking Dawn” is at No. 24 (it was at No. 14 last week), and “New Moon” is at No. 31 (down from No. 20). “Twilight,” the first book in the series, slipped from No. 27 to No. 44.

It could be that readers are restless for something more. Actor Kellan Lutz, who plays the character Emmett in the “Twilight” series movies, called on Meyer this week to write a new book. As “Twilight” fans know only too well, Meyer did begin a fifth book in the series, titled “Midnight Sun.” But she ceased writing when the manuscript was illegally leaked and posted online. She reported in her blog that, after the leak, “I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on Midnight Sun, and so it is on hold indefinitely.”

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I have to admit…I will probably get The Twilight Cookbook.  I love to cook and I love Twilight and $10 is a reasonable price for a gimmicky cookbook.

I love Chris Weitz’s sense of humor about the Academy and their uppity attitude about films (OK, so I editorialized a little bit).  I do agree that a lot of good films get overlooked because they’re not artsy-fartsy enough for the Academy.  I hate that he won’t be returning for “Breaking Dawn”, but I completely respect and admire his reasons for it.

I don’t think that the on-demand enticement will be enough for me to get the movie from Amazon.  I want the 3-disc set from Target anyway.

I am really looking forward to “Remember Me” opening on Friday.  I love how he feels about this movie and the story that it tells.  The fact that the “Eclipse” trailer will show just before it just makes it all the more exciting!

I find it funny that people are relishing in Stephenie Meyer’s books dropping in the charts.  Hello….they’ve consistently been in the top 25 for YEARS.  Haven’t these people ever heard of market saturation?  It’s going to happen and it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with people losing interest in the story or the genre.  I’d venture to guess that she’ll remain in the top 100 for several years to come.  When/if she completes “Midnight Sun”, it would be safe to say that we’d see a huge surge in the popularity of the first four books once again.

What do you think of today’s Twilight Saga news?  Join us in the forum and share your thoughts.  We’d love to hear from you!

CHRIS WEITZ WISHES HE COULD CUT THE FROLICKING VAMPIRE SCENE FROM “NEW MOON”

In a recent interview with BuzzSugar, “New Moon” director Chris Weitz dishes on his favorite scene from the film, responding to questions about Rob and Kristen’s relationship, what he wishes that he could have left on the cutting room floor, and questions about the possibility of directing “Breaking Dawn”.

There are lots of different editions of the New Moon DVD. Which bonus features are you particularly excited about?

I’m excited that my voice will finally be heard! For me, the fun thing was doing the commentary with Peter Lambert, my editor, because it kind of re-created the atmosphere in the cutting room. Peter’s a really funny guy, and we were able to delve into not only the behind-the-scenes moments, but to explain why certain things were shot or cut together in certain ways. So that, for me, was the most fun.

When you go back and watch it again, are there things you’d like to change if you could?

I would like to never have shot Rob and Kristen running through the forest and Kristen’s just turned into a vampire. Because everybody always laughs and it makes me feel terrible. [Laughs] I would have shot it a different way so it wouldn’t get that response. But otherwise, I’m very happy with things.

What was your favorite scene to shoot in New Moon?

I’m very fond of the memories that a lot of the scenes invoke in me. My favorite scene is probably somewhere between the very last scene, and the cliffhanger that it’s left on, and the scenes in Italy. Just the experience shooting those scenes was so magnificent. We were in this beautiful hillside town in Tuscany, and going home to fresh-made pasta every night, and surrounded by thousands of fans of the series while we were shooting it. I know I’ll never experience anything like that ever again.

We still don’t know who will be directing Breaking Dawn, but what’s your take on the rumors that it will likely be two movies, possibly in 3D?

3D seems to be the new thing that everything has to be. I think the good thing about 3D is that it can lend tremendous depth to a picture, and really make it extraordinarily lush, visually. And also that it gets people to go out to the theater. Film directors want people to see things in the theater, on the big screen, at least the first time. So that’s a good thing. As for the book being broken up into two films, I think it’s a good idea. There’s so much material in the final book that I think it’s warranted.

How would you direct Breaking Dawn?

Very carefully, because I think that you want to deliver the fans a faithful version of the book that they love. Yes, there’s a lot of extraordinary goings-on. So it’ll have to be done carefully.

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KRISTEN STEWART AND TAYLOR LAUTNER TO PRESENT AT OSCARS

Last year’s Oscar ceremonies featured Robert Pattinson and Oscar producers are continuing to try to draw in the younger demographic with Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner slated to appear as presenters.   The awards will be broadcast in the US on ABC beginning at 8 PM (EST).  For viewers outside of the US, click here for international broadcast details.

BREAKING DAWN RUMORS ARE FALSE

from indyposted.com:

Reports are going wild on the Internet that the final ‘Twilight’ installment will be in two films, according to MTV. The studio is staying quiet and not leaving comments.

The final installment in the ‘Harry Potter’ films will be split into two parts to fit everything in and now ‘Twilight’ fans have suspected for a while that the final ‘Breaking Dawn’ will be the same way.

A representative for Summit Entertainment told MTV last month that “no decision has been made” after Deadline Hollywood ran a story about ‘Breaking Dawn’ being split into two films.

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AN “ECLIPSE” PHOTOSHOOT FOR IN STYLE MAGAZINE

from mtv.com:

While Robert Pattinson is busy promoting his new movie “Remember Me,” a few of his “Eclipse” costars were already making the rounds for the next chapter of the “Twilight” saga. Chaske Spencer, Tinsel Korey, Julia Jones and Alex Meraz tweeted about their day together on a photo shoot. Alex posted en route, “In a shuttle van with Chaske, Tinsel, and Julia…heading towards our destiny! Not really. Actually a photoshoot for InStyle magazine today,” while Chaske wrote while on the set: “Hanging out with Alex, Julia, and Tinsel today. Doing a shoot for InStyle Magz. in LA LA Land!!!”

SOURCE

DAVID SLADE’S SCARFDOG PRINTS

from latimes.com:

Fans of David Slade, the acclaimed director of cult hits including the psycho-sexual thriller “Hard Candy” and the graphic novel noirish vampire flick “30 Days of Night,” might be shocked to discover that the man has a sweeter side. While working on his third film, “Twilight 3: Eclipse,” the filmmaker has somehow found the time to fill his Fubear Studios website with intriguing illustrations and downright freaky animated films. He also has learned the art of giclee printing. Among his first available works: a quartet of prints starring Scarfdog and Duck, shown above.

Though they appear to be ideal for kids’ rooms, there is an adult story behind these cheery characters. “Scarfdog loves Duck,” Slade explains in a statement on the back of his signed, limited-edition 8.5-by-11-inch prints. “When Duck passes, she looks straight ahead, not at him. Scarfdog can only dream of a day sometime when his unrequited love is met.”

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STEPHENIE MEYER AND J.K. ROWLING WERE ASKED TO CO-PRESENT AN OSCAR?!

As we pointed out in another article, Oscar producers are trying to hit a younger audience and have “Twilight” mega-stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner presenting an award at this Sunday’s ceremonies.  According to an article about the show on the L.A. Times website, they also asked Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling to co-present an award.  According to the article, Rowling declined due to scheduling conflicts and Meyer does not work on Sundays, in observance of the Sabbath.

MUSE WILL NOT BE ON “ECLIPSE” SOUNDTRACK

from contactmusic.com:

The British band has contributed songs to the first two Twilight films, and even credited the franchise with introducing their music to a new teen audience.

A third track, which was to be featured in the upcoming Eclipse film, has now been pulled from the soundtrack – but the trio insist they are not angry with Meyer.

Drummer Dominic Howard tells MTV, “It’s nothing to do with Stephenie; she’s totally cool. It’s the people in the movie business, completely outside of the writers and the creative types. The non-creative types, I suppose, are the people who are quite hard to deal with in Hollywood, so it didn’t work out.”

But the group still plans to release the untitled love song.

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ROBERT PATTINSON ON “THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART”

In case you missed it, here’s Rob’s interview with Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show” as he promoted “Remember Me”.  They discussed what it’s like dealing with crowds of screaming fans, the Twilight Saga, among other things.  Enjoy!

I have to agree with Chris on wishing that the “frolicking vampire” scene had been left out of the movie.  It was pretty cheesy.   It’s interesting to note that Chris doesn’t mention Rob, Kristen, or Taylor participating in the audio commentary.  I assumed that they would be a part of it like on the first movie, but maybe not.

David Slade’s pictures are really cute.  They would make a great addition to a kid’s room and the price is quite reasonable.

I think that it’s interesting that they asked Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling to present.  I wonder what their reaction was when she told them that she couldn’t due to her religious beliefs?

I’m bummed that Muse will not be making an appearance on the “Eclipse” soundtrack and I’m sure that Stephenie Meyer is as well.

I absolutely loved Rob’s interview with Jon Stewart!  He seemed very relaxed for this one.

What do you think of today’s Twilight Saga news?  Join us in the forum and share your thoughts – we’d love to hear from you!

‘Buffy’ star James Marsters talks ‘Twilight,’ reprising Spike

James Marsters, who played the bleached blond vampire Spike on Joss Whedon’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and its spinoff “Angel,” approves of the new breed of vampires that have taken over pop culture, especially the ones in Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” novels.

“I like them man. They got my niece to read,” Marsters says on a conference call to promote his guest starring role on “Caprica.” “She wasn’t reading a lot, but she hit ‘Twilight’ and just ate them up and read them five, 10 times. Now she’s on to other vampire romances. She reads like a novel a day now. So, go Stephenie Meyer.”

Hideous or not, Marsters is more than willing to don the fangs again.

“When Joss came to me and asked me about [reprising the role of Spike] right as ‘Angel’ was coming down, I told him, ‘I’ll follow you to hell, I’ll follow you to heaven. Just give me a call. I’ll do one line for you. I’ll do 10. Sure I’ll do Spike for you. Of course I’ll do Spike for you.’”

Read more of the interview on Zap2it.com

Join us on the forum to discuss…..

I love me some Spike.  Buffy was my first Vampire Show and I loved it. Still do. Spike was the hot bad guy, but oh so fun.

I followed the spin-off Angel too. I was sad when it got cancelled.

Were you a fan of Buffy or Angel? Which one was your favorite?

It makes me laugh to read that James appreciates Twilight. I do agree with him in that it gets teens reading. Whatever works!

Don’t forget that if you tell us why the book you voted for is the most romantic, and you could win a copy of Twilight or The Time Traveler’s Wife!

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

VOTE here

Read the Book Summaries here

Because Valentine’s Day was this weekend, our Cover Cluster this month is flowers! Enjoy!

The Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood: The times and species have been changing at a rapid rate, and the social compact is wearing as thin as environmental stability. Adam One, the kindly leader of the God’s Gardeners–a religion devoted to the melding of science and religion, as well as the preservation of all plant and animal life–has long predicted a natural disaster that will alter Earth as we know it. Now it has occurred, obliterating most human life. Two women have survived: Ren, a young trapeze dancer locked inside the high-end sex club Scales and Tails, and Toby, a God’s Gardener barricaded inside a luxurious spa where many of the treatments are edible. Have others survived? Ren’s bioartist friend Amanda? Zeb, her eco-fighter stepfather? Her onetime lover, Jimmy? Or the murderous Painballers, survivors of the mutual-elimination Painball prison? Not to mention the shadowy, corrupt policing force of the ruling powers…

Meridian by Amber Kizer: Meridian’s parents try to give her a normal childhood in spite of the strange attraction she holds for the dead and dying animals that appear in her bed nearly every morning. On her 16th birthday, a horrific traffic accident occurs right in front of her, causing her terrible pain even though she is uninjured. Her parents realize that the time has come to tell Meridian what she truly is: a Fenestra. Within hours she is on a bus heading to Revelation, CO, and her Auntie. She learns that a Fenestra is a being capable of opening windows into the afterlife for the dying. With the help of Great-aunt Merry, also a Fenestra, and Tens, her Protector, Meridian comes gradually, though reluctantly, to understand her powers and her place in the eternal struggle between the forces of light and darkness for the souls of humankind.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer: Recovered from the vampire attack that hospitalized her in the conclusion of Twilight, Bella celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend Edward and his family, a unique clan of vampires that has sworn off human blood. But the celebration abruptly ends when the teen accidentally cuts her arm on broken glass. The sight and smell of her blood trickling away forces the Cullen family to retreat lest they be tempted to make a meal of her. After all is mended, Edward, realizing the danger that he and his family create for Bella, sees no option for her safety but to leave. Mourning his departure, she slips into a downward spiral of depression that penetrates and lingers over her every step. It’s not until Bella befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school with a penchant for motorcycles, that both the pace and her disposition begin to take off. Their adventures are wild, dare-devilish, and teeter on the brink of romance, but memories of Edward pervade Bella’s emotions, and soon their fun quickly morphs into danger, especially when she uncovers the true identities of Jacob and his pack of friends.

Spells by Aprilynne Pike: Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger–and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.  When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Sleepless by Cyn Balog: Eron DeMarchelle isn’t supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn’t encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human’s life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest. But he can’t deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can’t reach her. Eron’s time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn’t seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn’t recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Evermore by Alyson Noel: Seventeen-year-old Ever survived the car crash that killed her parents, younger sister, and their dog. Now she lives with an aunt in Southern California, plagued not only by survivor guilt but also by a new ability to hear the thoughts of all around her. She tries to tune out all these distractions by keeping her hoodie up and her iPod cranked loud, until Damen, the cute new boy at school, convinces her to come out of her shell. Damen, however, is frighteningly clever—and has the strange ability to produce tulips from nowhere and disappear himself at critical moments.

The Everafter by Amy Huntley: Seventeen-year-old Madison Stanton is dead. When she awakes in a vast expanse of nothingness, she realizes that she doesn’t remember her past life, much less how she died. As she explores her surroundings, she finds glowing items scattered about her, such as a bracelet, a pair of socks, keys, and a sweatshirt. When she imagines putting the shirt on her nonexistent body, she’s brought back to a moment in her former life. From this experience she learns that every object around her is something that she lost while she was alive, and that using it will bring her spirit back to the moment in which it went missing. Armed with this knowledge, she attempts to discover how she died. With some help from the spirits of her boyfriend Gabe and her ex-friend Tammy, Madison learns the shattering truth of her demise.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr: Wicked Lovely takes place in modern-day Huntsdale, a small city south of Pittsburgh whose name evokes the Wild Hunt of mythology. High school junior Aislinn and her grandmother have followed strict rules all their lives to hide their ability to see faeries because faeries don’t like it when mortals can see them, and faeries can be very cruel. Only the strongest faeries can withstand iron, however, so Aislinn prefers the city with its steel girders and bridges. She takes refuge with Seth, her would-be lover, who lives in a set of old train carriages. But now Aislinn is being stalked by two of the faeries who are able to take on human form and are not deterred by steel. What do they want from her?

all summaries from amazon.com

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Hachette posts 2009 growth, though US suffers Meyer slowdown

www.thebookseller.com: Hachette’s book business grew 5.3% in 2009, despite a “sharp slowdown” in the US in the fourth quarter thanks to a decline in sales of Stephenie Meyer’s books.

Full-year revenues for 2009 at the publishing business were €2.3bn, up 5.3% on a reported basis or 6.5% on a like-for-like basis, with the growth largely attributed to the ongoing success of Meyer’s Twilight saga. Hachette UK had a record year “reporting very strong sales for 2009″, a separate statement issued by the UK office added, though it did not break out its sales numbers.

The Hachette Book Group’s fourth-quarter growth was less impressive, up just 0.2% on a like-for-like measure. The result was blamed on a “particularly dynamic” fourth quarter of 2008 when Meyer was riding hight, and in December alone Hachette sold 8m copies of her books.

More here

Essential Sci-Fi Novels

blog.adaptiveblue.com: Our list is filled with literary classics, popular essentials, and the newer books that are currently capturing your imagination. Our list now includes contemporary favorites such as the gasp-inducingly good Hunger Games, Boing Boing blogger Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and Twilight author Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi foray The Host.

Adding award winners is also a big priority when improving our lists. The Hugo and Nebula ceremonies are like the Oscars of science-fiction and fantasy writing, except with less Harry Winston jewelry present. Title holders such as Dan Simmons’s Hyperion, Vernor Vinge’s A Fire Upon the Deep, and Greg Bear’s Darwin’s Radio are now in their rightful place at GetGlue as part of the list.

We also recognize that our original list could be more diverse. Samuel R. Delaney has been a force in literary science fiction for decades, and his Dhalgren now sits on our list with works from other genre giants such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.

More here

Well I’m not that surprised that twilight books are getting low numbers and selling less. I spent half of December on book stores and saw how people would by other books that weren’t based on twilight; it is not that fans are tired of it, it is just that twilight has opened a new door to all these great books. Stephenie Meyer herself has recommended House of Night and the Mortal Instruments series among others. It’s like any other book, fans will keep coming and new ones will discover it soon and everything will start again.

What do you think?