Featured on Friday: Siobhan Curham

Siobhan Curham is the author of five books. Her fourth novel, Dear Dylan, was published in April by Author House.

1. Is there a specific time or place that you do your best writing in?
I like to write best late at night, when most people are asleep and the world has quietened down. This isn’t always practical though, as I have to get up at six in the morning for my job as a children’s editor. Now I write whenever I get the chance, at any time of day or night – on the tube, in a café, in my head in a supermarket queue!

2. Who were your favourite authors as a teenager? Are they different to your current favourites?
As a young teenager I loved Judy Blume for the issues she covered in her books and her colourful characters. Then I went through a phase of loving really dark, powerful books like ‘1984’ by George Orwell and ‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath. Now I like to read a lot of the latest teen fiction by writers like Rachel Ward, Jenny Valentine and Kate le Vann.

3. If you were only allowed to take three books to a desert island, what would they be?
‘Catcher in the Rye’ by JD Salinger, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ by Elizabeth Gilbert and a collection of poems by Carol Ann Duffy.

4. Is there a novel that you wish you’d written? Why?

‘Catcher in the Rye’ – for the narrator’s voice alone. I’ll never forget first reading the book at the age of 13 and being blown away by the style. The way in which he talks directly to the reader was so exciting to me and it made me want to write.

5. Why did you turn down an offer with a traditional publisher to go down the self-published route?
I wrote ‘Dear Dylan’ to try and help teenagers who might be going through similar problems to Georgie. When a traditional publisher offered me a two book deal for it I was overjoyed. However, when they started to mess me about financially – offering me one thing verbally and quite another in my contract – I decided to bite the bullet and go it alone. It wasn’t a decision I took lightly, but I was so fed-up with being messed about I decided to give the e-version of the book away for free – something I never would have been able to do with a traditional publisher. Giving it away for free was also in keeping with the whole ethos behind the book; to try to help people. Hopefully this way it will reach as many young people as possible. Readers can download it from my website www.siobhancurham.co.uk

6. Dear Dylan encounters some heavy issues but manages to deal with them sensitively and realistically. How did you achieve this?
Thank-you. I am the mother of a teenage son and I do a lot of workshops in high schools. Through coming into close and regular contact with young people it reminds me of what a tough time the teenage years can be. It is very important to me that I keep it real though and don’t over-dramatise things. One key piece of advice I would give any aspiring writers out there is to always remember there are two sides to every story. If a character has a drink problem or is violent you have to ask yourself why that might be and try to show it in your story. Otherwise you risk ending up with characters who are two dimensional and unreal.

7. What made you decide to write Dear Dylan entirely in emails?
I thought it would be an interesting challenge as a writer and I also really like the way people tend to relax and let go in emails. I thought it would be a good opportunity to really get inside the heads of the two main characters and hear their voices. It was a lot of fun to write. Apart from the bit where they decide to meet and I had the challenge of how to let the reader know what happened. It’s not as if you email a friend just after meeting them to give them a blow by blow account of everything you have just done together – so that was a real tricky one for a while!

8. Are you working on anything at the moment? Can you tell us anything about it?

I’m writing my next novel for teenagers and it’s called ‘Finding Cherokee Brown’. It’s about a girl who is being picked on in school and how she finds the courage to fight back – in a spectacular and original way. Bullying is a subject that I feel very strongly about. I know a couple of people whose teenage lives were ruined by it so I wanted to write a novel exploring the issue and how somebody manages to overcome it.

I’m also setting up an organisation called Write Club with my friend and fellow author Sara Starbuck for young people who want to write. We will be running workshops and giving author talks and lots of other cool writing-related stuff. If anyone wants to find out more then please email me via my website or get in touch via the ‘Dear Dylan’ Facebook page.

Thank you so much, Siobhan! You can visit Siobhan at her website and read my review of Dear Dylan here.

Sophie

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer

Pages: 178
Publisher: Atom
Release Date: 5th June 2010

Other Titles by this Author: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, The Host

Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood…life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don’t draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn’t know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realise the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know is based on a lie, how do you find out the truth?

In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

My review of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is going to be hugely biased as I LOVE Stephenie Meyer and The Twilight Saga.

I loved every page of this. It was so good to be back in the, if slightly different, world of Twilight and to once again be sucked in by Stephenie Meyer’s unbelievably addictive prose. Speaking of the writing, I really noticed a difference in it from the rest of the saga. It wasn’t as luscious or flowery (though neither is a bad thing!) and was a lot simpler which really set it apart as Bree’s narration and not Bella’s.

Seeing Stephenie Meyer’s sparkly vampires being evil and ruthless and hunting humans was very strange, but very cool. I really enjoyed seeing the nature of ‘real’ vampires. I do like good vamps generally, but you need a bit of evil to shake it up every now and then and who better to do it than the current queen of vampire fiction? No one. She does I perfectly (can you see the bias creeping in now? :))

But what I loved most, as expected, is the Cullen’s. Seeing them through Bree’s eyes was a very strange experience and really brought home what a rarity such good, veggie vampires are. (Have you noticed how I talk about them as if they actually exist? I just noticed and it made me giggle to myself.). And it made me love them even more. Especially a certain ‘redheaded mind-reader’ *sigh*. I really, really do love him, you know. Bree’s reaction to Bella also made it very difficult to imagine Edward and the rest of the Cullen’s (except Jasper) as newborns. Very odd indeed.

Even without chapters and text breaks, I loved every word of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and it made me want to re-read the entire saga. I will read everything that Stephenie Meyer ever writes without a millisecond of hesitation.

For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Sophie

Birthday Contest! (CLOSED)

Today is my 18th birthday and to celebrate and make up for the fact that I have an exam this afternoon (yep, lots of sympathy, please! :)), I'm holding a contest.

You can win a book of your choice from The Book Depository.

To enter:
- Leave a comment (or email me at solittletimeforbooks@googlemail.com) with your name, email and book choice.
- Open to everyone The Book Depository delivers free to.
- Closes 11:59pm GMT on Tuesday 22nd June.

Extra entries:
- +3 Old follower (before 15th June)
- +2 New follower
- +2 Spread the word (eg. tweet, blog post, sidebar, etc.)

Good luck, everyone!

Sophie

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors - Francisco X. Stork

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors - Francisco X. Stork

Pages: 344 (ARC)
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 7th June 2010

Other Titles by this Author: The Way of the Jaguar, Behind the Eyes, Marcelo in the Real World

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors is a novel about the big things we live and die for, and the people who make those things matter. Two teenage boys bound together in a story of death, revenge and the ultimate friendship.

When Pancho arrives at St. Anthony's Home, he knows his time there will be short: If his plans succeed, he'll soon be arrested for the murder of his sister's killer. But then he's assigned to help D.Q., whose brain cancer has slowed neither his spirit nor his mouth.

D.Q. tells Pancho all about his "Death Warrior's Manifesto," which will help him to live out his last days fully--ideally, he says, with the love of the beautiful Marisol.

As Pancho tracks down his sister's murderer, he finds himself falling under the influence of D.Q. and Marisol, who is everything D.Q. said she would be; and he is inexorably drawn to a decision: to honour his sister and her death, or embrace the way of the Death Warrior and choose life.

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors is a funny and uplifting tale of a summer and a friendship that will change the life of two desperate teenage boys.

The title of this book suggests nearly 350 pages of sadness, well, it does to me anyway. And so I was surprised to find a book full of dry humour, hope, anger and revenge with only hints of sadness now and then. The friendship between Pancho and DQ grows slowly and turns into a connection that won’t be easily forgotten by the readers of The Last Summer of the Death Warriors.

What makes this friendship so special is Pancho and DQ. Now they are unforgettable! Pancho is the kind of guy I’d cross the road to avoid: angry, threatening, aggressive and coated in death. But there’s something incredibly attractive in his silence and mysteries. Pancho is the hugest contrast to chirpy, talkative, positive and terminally ill DQ. And yet they need each other to keep them going.

DQ’s Death Warrior Manifesto is what keeps him optimistic a rather hopeless situation and tries to pass it on to Pancho so he can let go of his desire for revenge. And I think that it’s a great manifesto to live by: no whining, embrace life and love everyone and everything. But it’s only great in theory, I doubt I’d be able to keep it up for even a day. I’m way too pessimistic!

I really enjoyed The Last Summer of the Death Warriors and I’m looking forward to reading more from Francisco X. Stork in the future.

For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Sophie

In My Mailbox 67

This meme was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. Check out their blogs for more information. All summaries are from the book jackets.

For review:
 

Pastworld - Ian Beck

To Eve, a lifelong resident of PASTWORLD, horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps are modern technology. Eve doesn’t even know she’s living in a simulation - until she is forced to flee the only home she’s ever known, and to confront the truth about her city and herself.

To Caleb, a tourist visiting PASTWORLD, the theme park is the perfect antidote to the stifling conformity and regulation of 2048. Until he finds himself at the scene of a murder, holding the knife, and suddenly becomes a fugitive from an antiquated justice system.

And in the midst of it all, a dark and deadly figure prowls, claiming victim after victim. He’s the Fantom, a creature both of the past and of the future, in whose dark purpose Caleb and Eve will find their destinies combined.

I’ve had my eye on this since it came out in hardback last year, so thanks, Bloomsbury!

Manifest - Artist Arthur

Krystal just met the perfect boy. Trouble is, he’s dead.

When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom’s hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He’s cute, funny, a good listener - and everything she’d ever want - except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal’s ghost-whispering talents soon lead other “freaks” to her door - Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. they set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realise that they aren’t the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky’s death, will she lose him for good?

Thanks to Kimani Tru for this one. I do like a ghost story every now and then.
 

Forest Born - Shannon Hale

Growing up in the Forest, Rin always turns to the trees when she needs peace or reassurance, then one day she senses a change. Rin knows that something bad is happening, and maybe she will find answers in the city.

But a mysterious threat haunts Bayern too, and Rin must join the magical fire sisters - Isi, Enna and Dasha - before venturing back into the woods towards the kingdom of Kel, to face what lies in wait for all of them.

Shannon Hale once again proves herself an irresistible storyteller, bringing readers back to a world rich with plot twists and a little dose of magic.

Thanks to Bloomsbury for this. I didn’t like the other Shannon Hale book I read so I’m not sure if I’ll read this one.
 

Sweethearts: Star-Crossed - Jo Cotterill

‘You did WHAT?’ screamed Mari. ‘You turned down the cutest boy ever? Are you crazy?’

This summer, Fliss is playing Juliet opposite her dream Romeo. If only she could tell him how she feels!

But unless she finds some inner confidence, she’s going to miss her chance with him.

Because someone else has her eyes on Fliss’s role - and her leading an…

This sounds so cute! It also came with four little packets of Sweet Hearts (fizzy, fruity candy for you non-UKer‘s) and a bookmark. Thanks, Red Fox/Random House.

Annexed - Sharon Dogar (ARC)

From Goodreads: Everyone knows about Anne Frank, and her life hidden in the secret annexe - or do they? Peter van Pels and his family are locked away in there with the Franks, and Peter sees it all differently. He's a boy, and for a boy it's just not the same. What is it like to be forced into hiding with Anne Frank, to hate her and then find yourself falling in love with her? To know you're being written about in her diary, day after day? What's it like to sit and wait and watch whilst others die, and you wish you were fighting? How can Anne and Peter try to make sense of one of the most devastating episodes in recent history n the holocaust? Anne's diary ends on August 4, 1944, but Peter's story takes us on, beyond their betrayal and into the Nazi death camps. He details with accuracy, clarity and compassion, the reality of day to day survival in Auschwitz - and the terrible conclusion. It's a story rooted firmly in history and it asks a question of us all: Are we listening? 'Is anybody there'? Peter cries from the depths of his despair in the camps. Read it, and you will be.

I loved Sharon Dogar’s first two books so I’m really looking forward to this. Thanks, Andersen Press!

Blog Tour:

A Most Improper Magick - Stephanie Burgis (ARC)

At twelve years old, any proper young lady should be quietly sitting at home practising her embroidery, learning French and keeping her opinions to herself.

But Kat Stephenson is no ordinary young lady.

Kat’s father may be a respectable vicar, but her late mother was a notorious witch, her brother has gambled the whole family into debt, and Kat herself is the newest target of an ancient and secretive magical Order.

In the first thrilling instalment of The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, Kat sets to win her older siblings their true loves, battling highwaymen, sinister aristocrats, wild magic and even ghosts along the way.

I’m reading this at the moment and it's extremely cute and lots of fun.

Bought:

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer

Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood…life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don’t draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn’t know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realise the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know is based on a lie, how do you find out the truth?

In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

Yay!! Need I Say more?

Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce

Countless teenage girls have been murdered…and Scarlett and Rosie March know how they die; torn apart by werewolves. For Scarlett, the memories of a similar attack have left not just emotional scars, but physical ones. The sisters fight side by side to save others from the same fate.

When the mysterious and brooding Silas arrives he inadvertently causes a series of events that could endanger them all. As passion grows between Rosie and Silas, Scarlett uncovers some shocking secrets about Silas’s family history that could tear the sisters apart - one way or another…

After all of the brilliant reviews I’ve read of this, I had to get it. And the cover is gorgeous!

I also got a fabulous new laptop that Im completely in love with. Technically I shouldn’t be using it yet as it isn’t my birthday until Tuesday, but hey ho!

Sophie