‘Vampire Academy’ Author Richelle Mead Talks ‘Last Sacrifice,’ New Beginnings
MTV: How did you decide to write a young-adult vampire series in the first place?
Richelle Mead: I had sold my first two adult books—[“Succubus Blues”*] and then the “Dark Swan” series—there was such a lag in publishing that first book. So I had free time, and I thought, “I’ll just start a third series.” I was teaching eighth or ninth grade at the time. Vampires were mostly chosen because they were the next thing I hadn’t written about. Georgina [of the “Succubus” books] has demons and angels; “Dark Swan” is fairy based. It was like, let’s spin the wheel of paranormal creatures!
Did you make a conscious effort to have such a strong girl at the center of the story?
I’m always a little surprised when people say, “Wow, that’s a weird thing to have a strong female character.” I wouldn’t know how to write a weak female character. I read so much epic fantasy growing up, where you have these sword-wielding, in-your-face warrior maidens. I think that’s influenced me, so that even writing in the modern world, my characters have to be strong. There was never any question with this series that she would be strong both mentally and physically.
Vampires, Demons, and Forensic Necromancy
Amanda Downum’s debut novel, The Drowning City, came out last fall to stellar reviews. The blend of investigation, intrigue, and magic– all in a distinctly exotic fantasy setting really set it apart from the field and got people’s attention.
Now, Amanda has outdone herself with the stunning sequel The Bone Palace. Isyllt Iskaldur returns home and must investigate a royal conspiracy.
Praise for the new book has escalated to new heights. PW picked it as one of their best SFF books of the year and it has already been nominated for the RT Award for Fantasy in 2010.
more including an excerpt here.
Web Site for Teenagers With Literary Leanings
“I really went into it and thought, ‘We’ll be the social network for young-adult fiction,’ ” said Mr. Lewis, a former managing editor of The New Yorker. “But it became clear early on that people didn’t want a new Facebook.”
The young people on the site weren’t much interested in “friending” one another. What they did want, he said, “was to read and write and discover new content, but around the content itself.”
Figment.com will be unveiled on Monday as an experiment in online literature, a free platform for young people to read and write fiction, both on their computers and on their cellphones. Users are invited to write novels, short stories and poems, collaborate with other writers and give and receive feedback on the work posted on the site.
Simon & Schuster buys debut teen paranormal romance
Simon & Schuster has bought a debut teen paranormal trilogy for global publication in autumn 2011.
Editorial director Venetia Gosling bought UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) for three books from Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein, who was sub-agenting for Stephen Barbara at Foundry in the US.
The trilogy, comprising Fury, Envy and Eternity, is written by Elizabeth Miles. It is about three furies who exact vengeance on a group of teenagers deemed to have wronged others.
I applaud Figment.com – it’s important for teens to have a place to read and write. Hopefully some of them will become best-selling authors and use what they’ve learned.
Fury, Envy and Eternity sound really good, they’re going on my must read list.
What do you think of today’s book news?
