Fall for the Fallen

Lauren Kate the author of the bestselling Fallen series is currently on a worldwide tour promoting her latest book Passion. She will be arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia tomorrow and will be having book signings at these dates and venues:

Tuesday, 12^th July 2011

Kinokuniya bookstore, KLCC at 3.00-4.00 p.m

Popular bookstore, Ikano Power Centre (IPC) at 6.00-7.00p.m

Wednesday, 13^th July 2011

MPH bookstore, Mid Valley at 10.30-11.30 a.m

Dear fellow Malaysians out there, this might be the one and only chance to meet and greet Lauren Kate so doesn’t let this opportunity fly away! If you are living away from the Klang Valley, beg borrow and steal a pair of fluffy angel wings and fly yourself here! You have every reason to do that!

For those of you who are still strangers to this wonderful thrilling series, here’s a review of a Fallen audio book which Lauren Kate has generously popped into my mailbox. I hope this review can give you some insights on the series.

Fallen is the first book of the series. It managed to scale the impossible heights of attaining a place in the top three spot of the New York Times bestselling list and held on to the title by maintaining it for two years!

Basically the book revolves around Lucinda “Luce” Price who is sent to Sword and Cross, a rehabilitation school for troubled teens, after a mysterious fire claims the life of her boyfriend and leaves her miraculously unhurt except for only singed hair. While her parents sent her to the foreboding place with all good intentions - to protect her from further harm and danger; unknown to them, they have just sent their daughter right into the heart of a very old battle between good and bad angels. What’s more, Luce finds herself irrevocably attracted to elusive enigmatic Daniel, a fallen angel. And yes, that’s where the trouble begins. “Get ready to fall …”

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The Fallen audio book by Bolinda Audio is available on Amazon.com for USD 26.00. The length of it is 10 hours and 58 minutes. I think it makes the perfect company to keep a person on a flight from London to New York well entertained especially if you are one of those people who gets a bad migraine while reading on a plane but still want have a nice dose of fiction. You could even probably use the few hours left for loo time and to catch some forty winks before you arrive at your destination. Just sayin…

I also find this audio book extremely convenient as it’s MP3 ready so you can just slide it into your laptop and have it sync to your iPod. It’s much better than lugging a CD player and extra batteries or the wire cord. Also by being able to transfer the audio book into my iPod, I could listen to it anytime and anywhere. To me it was great not having to bring a thick book along with me. Instead I could just tuck my iPod in the pocket of my coat and I was good to go. Plus, I find it extremely handy when it comes to reading while exercising. I used to struggle with balancing a book on the screen of the treadmill and always ended up with the book soaked with yucky sweat instead at the end of my work out.

The audio book is read by Justine Eyre who has quite impressing credits in the film industry. Her voice wasn’t one of those annoyingly shrill or squeaky ones that make you jump right up in your chair each time she was trying to emphasize on something. It’s also not that boring that immediately drifts you to dreamland after 15 minutes of listening to it.

The only Achilles heel in this audio book was the fact that it did not have the comforting additive smell of a paperback book.

For those of you who feel that angels aren’t really your cup of tea, Lauren Kate has a chillingly haunting story of a Southern belle titled The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove. The latest cover of the book is absolutely stunning.

Best of all, I have an autograph copy to share with you. Though it’s not the latest edition, this cover’s is still pretty. Don’t you think?

I'll share with you how to get your hands on this autographed on in awhile's time when I figure out the requirements :p 

XOXO,

Eibhlin Lim :) 

17 Magazine blog book review !

Hey people,

I know that I didn't post anything in February and I broke my own rule of updating my book blog at least once each month, but things have been getting pretty crazy here. I am still recovering from a nasty bout of bacterial infection. To make up for that 'missing' post, I have something extra special to share with you guys this month ! 

Recently, I 'visited' SEVENTEEN mag's blog and did a guest book review. The book I reviewed for them was Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn. The book's pretty cool and bound to make you cry and laugh in a single read. So be sure to check out the review over at their site ! Here's the link !

17.com.my Ten Things I Love About You review
 

Interview with Lauren Kate !

Lauren Kate is the author of bestselling Fallen and Torment. I had the opportunity to interview her via Skype earlier this year at MPH bookstore in Mid Valley for stuff@school, The Star Newspaper. Today, I host her in my book blog for once another interview ! Let's have a look on what she has to say... 

1. Are you on team Cam, Daniel or Miles ? Why? 

I’m on Team Daniel for Luce and Team Cam for myself. Daniel and Luce are soul mates and there’s just no messing with that, but personally, I love the bad boys and so Cam (who’s based in part on my husband) holds a special place in my heart. Miles is a wonderful character too, but to me, he’s more of a friend. I really want Michael Cera to play him in the movie.
( Team Bad Boys ! They have this weird thing going on that draws a mostly good girl like me. Guess, a little danger is always tempting ! LOL! ) 

2. How was the character Arriane born? Was she based on anyone you know personally?

Arriane is the girl I would be if I could get away with it. She’s my favorite character to write because I get to funnel in so much stuff I’d never say aloud into her dialogue.

3. The girls on the cover of the books have really pretty dresses. Do you know where we can get them?

I know, they’re breathtaking, aren’t they? I don’t have exact information about the designer of the dresses yet, but I’ve been told Morgan LeFay makes something similar.

4. Do you have any shout out to your readers ?

Your support keeps me writing—thank you so much for your enthusiasm and kindness!

5. Do you have any advice for budding authors out there?

Live curiously. Make the whole world your muse. Keep it all in a journal until you’re bursting with the story. Write it down. Finish it. Make writing pals with whom you can share you work. Take their suggestions. Revise, revise, revise. Don’t ever give up.
( This is one of the most motivating things I've ever read. It really struck a chord in me !)

6. What is the factor or source of inspiration that keeps you going on even though you face the thing, every authors dread - the blank page monster ?

Right now, it’s the characters who are keeping me inspired. I’m so invested in their story and even I don’t know what’s going to happen in the end. I keep writing so that I can find out!

7. Can you share with us a hint on what to expect and what will take place in the book after Torment,  Passion?

Passion is a wild and crazy beast. It spans five thousand years of Luce and Daniel’s past together and will see Luce finally getting to the bottom of her mysterious history with Daniel. There’s tons of action, a change of setting with almost every new chapter, and as always, lot of gorgeous wings. For everyone who’s anxious for answers to so many open questions—this is the book for you!

8. Most of the scenes in the book Torment takes place in San Fransisco. Why did you choose to set the story in San Fransisco ?

I was living in northern California when I started writing Torment. Fort Bragg, the town where the fictional school, Shoreline, is located is the place where my husband proposed to me. It’s a very romantic place for me and perfectly suited for the book.

9. In the book Torment, we were introduced to a newer type of angels - The Outcasts. Can you explain to us a little more on their race and how you got the idea to write about them ? What are important parts or roles The Outcasts play in the storyline in Torment and the coming books ?

The Outcasts are a group of angels who fell with the other fallen angels after the War in Heaven. They’re sort of the angelic equivalent of social climbers. They try to weasel their way in with whoever seems like the most powerful at the time. So when things got challenging on earth for the fallen, the Outcasts tried to go back immediately to Heaven. Heaven rejected them, sensing their insincerity. That’s when they tried to go to Hell, but even Satan didn’t want them—and usually he tries to take everyone.  He cast them blind for their impudence, but they can still see the burning of certain angels’ and mortals’ souls. They’ll be back in a big way in the books to follow Torment.

10. How many books will there be in the Fallen Saga ? Can you give us a rough sketch of the publishing  plans ?

I’m planning on four books. Torment picks up right where Fallen left off and comes out on 9/28. Passion is up next, and traces Luce and Daniel’s history across time. That will come out in the summer of 2011. The final book, Rapture, will tie everything together in January of 2012. 


Here's a sneak peak of the cover of Passion :

Pretty, isn't it ? I can't wait to read it too :)