YA New York

So. Alma Alexander’s Worldweavers trilogy was completed earlier this year with the release of Cybermage. I was fortunate enough to interview her after the book came out, but have been tragically derelict in my duties when it comes to this here website. Hopefully I can make it up to you a bit now, by posting the interview along with a brief description of Alma’s awesome work.

If you’ve been reading the Worldweavers series up until now, you know that our heroine, Thea, was long considered to be a magical dunce. In her world, where magical talent is the norm for humans, Thea showed no aptitude for the arts until she was shipped off to Wandless Academy. At that point it became apparent that she’s not only a magician, but a rare powerful one, whose talent lies in the supposedly un-magical area of computers.

In Cybermage, Thea and her friends meet the famous scientist Nikola Tesla at various times in his life, whilst attempting to keep an important magical object out of the hands of a race called the Alphiri.

The book, Alma’s tenth, is awesome, and I heartily recommend the entire series to you. It’s funny, interesting, dramatic and also exceptionally creative.

Without further delay, I bring you Twenty-one Questions with Alma Alexander:

Question One

Me: You write under the name Alma Alexander, but you seem to be pretty free about your given name [Alma Hromic Deckert]. Why do you use a pseudonym?

Alma: Because when The Secrets of Jin-Shei was being published, my agent phoned me up and said they wanted a pseudonym. They wanted a name that was easier to pronounce. It was presented to me as a dealbreaker. My middle name is Alexandra so I went with that, so it felt more like me. [Alma's maiden name, Hromic, is pronounced H-rome-ich.] (more…)

I think books about modeling are kind of over. Which is not to say it hasn’t been a good run: We’ve had Melissa Walker’s Violet, Cheryl Diamond’s gritty memoir, and Meg Cabot’s awesome sci fi experiment with Nikki/Em. (I would be happy to see more of any of these, btw.)

But then the other day I took in a big delivery of some of those “stock” model books. And I just knew: It’s over. It’s over the way Gossip Girl (the books, not the televisions series) is over, the way vampires are over.

That being said, I have enjoyed one of these factory-produced novels, and I think it deserves a callout: Model, Incorporated is a well-written, engaging story (continued from This Year’s Model) about a young woman from New Jersey whose modeling career is either stalling or taking off, whose love life is a mess, and whose parents are doing their best not to be overprotective. I love how the writer and editors wove it all together.

You see how I said writers and editors, there? I’m sure that Carol Alt, the model (once the face of Lancome) and raw diet proponent to whom this book is credited, had some involvement in the book. Indeed, it seems to be based on her own life story, and we even get a little plug for raw foods.

But the copyright goes to … Altron, Inc. My bet is that there’s some writer out there who has just knocked one out of the park and ought to have a try at making a name for herself. Or himself. (You go, ghostwriter!) And if you’re looking for a last beach read of the summer, you should definitely look for this at your local library.

Since I am awake at this unearthly hour, I thought I’d round up some reviews of Twilight, the movie. (By the by, I am no longer a Stephenie Meyer virgin. And while I’m not a rabid fan, I did find the first two books enjoyable. I have yet to read the third and fourth, but mean to do so quite soon.)

Back to the subject, there are quite a few reviews of this film, which it seems is attracting every red-blooded American teenager.

My favorite critic, Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, calls the film “sodden” and “prosaic,” but faults the book upon which it is based more than he does the director or actors.

The Houston Chronicle’s headline? “Twilight goes for beauty over substance.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the movie is “better than the book,” but isn’t effervescent in its praise. However, the reviewer does liken the film to “a midnight buffet at the blood bank.”

The Washington Examiner calls the flick “anemic,” as does the Sacramento Bee.

And then there’s the New York Times — not really my first choice for movie reviews, but this one may be worth your time. According to the NYT, Robert Pattinson is a bore, and the movie — apparently like the books — is brimming over with a message of abstinence above all. (Oddly, I didn’t get that impression from book one, but I can see why others would categorize the books that way.)

Our fabulous LA correspondent, the lovely Jami B., will be watching the movie this weekend, and then doing one of the things she does best: she’ll review it for us. (Jami and I were college buds, and I have to say she was always good for a killer film review. The girl knows what she is talking about when it comes to movies, especially teen movies.) I too will be attending, so Jami and I will go head to head this weekend, bringing you as much Twilight news as is fit to print.

As for me? I’m going to watch mainly because I adored Kristen Stewart in Speak, the film version of Laurie Halse Anderson’s impeccable book. The casting — other than Kristen as Bella — has had me a bit riled for some time, but maybe the movie will cure me of that.

By the way, for those of you who read Go Fug Yourself, answer me this: WHY does Robert Pattinson seem to think that “slovenly” and “handsomely rumpled” are the same thing? The guy clearly needs some lessons on personal hygiene. Or at least on how to dress in public. Or maybe just a haircut?

After you watch the movie, feel free to share your own reviews in comments. On this post or on any of the ones that are sure to follow. C’mon, you know you’ve all had your tickets for ages. You wouldn’t miss this for the world — even if you’re loathe to admit it. So tell us what you thought. Only one thing: No spoilers!

Much love,
brina

This week has been a tangled mess. I’ve not finished a book since I read Margo Rabb. Indeed, I’ve been reading no fewer than three — no, four — books at once. Thing is, they’re all too smart or too emotional or too literary, and right now I’m too frazzled to read anything that requires my undivided attention. What I really needed was bubble bath reading. What I really needed was something pink and shiny.

And this weekend I stumbled upon Rachel Maude’s Poseur. And it’s exactly what I needed. Better yet, her next book in the series is due out in October. Which means you have time to catch up.

Four girls who could not be more unalike end up in the same class at the prestigious Winston Prep in L.A. Worse still, it’s a class they each proposed, but unfortunately it’s nothing like any of their ideas. Melissa wants a class that is all about her, while Charlotte proposes a “sewing circle.” Petra is anti-fashion in a sort of vegan/PETA way, and Janie … well, Janie just wants to design things that are totally rock and roll.

I tend to stay away from series stuff if I can. Not because it isn’t any good, but because it’s hard for everyone to follow and because I have a weird 1980s knee-jerk response to any series. It’s like Sweet Valley High and The Babysitter’s Club scarred me for life. If you don’t know what these books are, that’s good. Stay that way, my friend.

But when it comes to Rachel’s work, it’s hilarious, insightful and evil simultaneously. This is a good thing. Poseur is pretty much pure chick lit gold: Catty high school girls meet Project Runway. Only, I met Rachel once, and she seems like this shy sweet young thing who hasn’t a cruel bone in her body. Then again, Lauren Myracle also seems incredibly sweet, and her newest book — which I’ll tell you all about in a week — is about scary evil nun ghosts. So people can surprise you.

Anyway, Rachel’s next book, The Good, the Fab and the Ugly, is available for pre-order on Amazon now, and hits the shelves on Oct. 1. So get cracking on that first book, yeah?

Darlings, I’ve neglected you terribly. I must confess that the reason I took a blogcation was that I have a little bit of a deadline coming up next Monday, and while it’s not an “off with her head!” type of deadline, I am of course still stressing about it.

So I’ve been working non-stop on my own project, and YA New York has fallen into disrepair. I promise I’ll be back amongst the constantly-blogging soon. But today! Today is my 29th birthday, and I am going off to Playland in Rye, New York, where I celebrate my birthday every year.

Anyway, I thought I’d link to some of the best YA blogs around today, so you’d have something to read in my absence:

• Maureen Johnson is always hilarious. I think it’s a rule that she has to be.
• John Green is also worth reading, though even more worth watching, as he and his brother Hank do lovely crazy YouTube videos.
• E. Lockhart, who has gotten a lot of accolades lately for her fabulous book, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, is also a great blogger. As for her book, it is hands down number one on my Best Books of 2008 list. Of course, it’s possible that could change in the next few months. But I doubt it.
• Meg Cabot is not only the High Priestess of YA, she also rivals Maureen Johnson for best YA author blogger. And if you have lots of time on your hands, you should check out her YouTube videos. Awesome!

First, a reminder:

In just three hours, you, yes, you, could be here:

Books of Wonder
18 W. 18th Street
Reading with:

Melissa Walker
Lisa McMann
Linda Gerber
Claire Mysko
Katie Davis
and
Jenny Davidson

I, however, cannot be there, due to circumstances beyond my control. Alas, no pics from me tonight, but there will be another night with other authors, and though I can’t send pics and gossip from these, I’ll send pics and gossip from those.

Hopefully, you can go tonight. And if you do, and you want to snap your own shots and write something up for us, I’ll send you a box of literary goodies. Let me know if you’re up for it, or for covering any other YA NY events e-mail me!

Dearest darling friends,

This ear infection of mine (I haven’t had one since I was sixteen, by the way) has dragged me down way more than I hoped it would. Which means I’ve read a lot of books, done some kind of shoddy reviews lately, and not posted a billion things I want and need to. Here’s a glimpse at what you’ve got in store:

• An interview with Suzanne Supplee, which I have not yet had the time or energy to edit
• A review of the Worldweaver trilogy by Alma Alexander
• An interview with the uber-fabulous Lauren Mechling, which I will be posting just before her new book, Dream Girl comes out on July 22
• A review of The Opposite of Music by Janet Ruth Young
• Some discussion of the similar universes of Melissa Marr and Holly Black — Faeries in contemporary American teen lit, or something along those lines
• Actually, there’s way more than that coming at you, and I can’t even remember what else I’ve got on the back burner. There are all these books I’ve read and meant to review, but things have gotten lost in the construction dust. (Have I mentioned that I hate contractors and hope I never, ever have to deal with them in my apartment again?) But please be patient. I can’t really hear you very well right now. I mean, I can if I listen with my right ear and you speak reasonably loudly. But my left? No dice.

For now, I suggest you satisfy yourself by reading what Libba Bray and Justine Larbalestier are saying about writing a book and how it is a soul-sucking, terrible process that no one should ever suffer. Well, Justine says it’s demonic, and Libba compares it to a nasty love affair. As for me, with my current book, I think I’m still in the throes of passion. Don’t worry; it’ll fade, I’m sure. And then I’ll get back to that place: “Me? Write a book??? HAH! Hah! As if. It could never, ever happen.” But Libba and Justine have both proven it’s possible, even when you reach that place. Anyway, their blogs are very funny and entertaining, so go read them.

Smoooch!
brina