How to use this Page

Darkside Nighttrap by Tom Becker Sorry there was no new blog entry yesterday I've had my head stuck in the new Darkside book by author Tom Becker who is from Ormskirk. I've been planning on doing the occasional children's book review on here hopefully with a tie-in interview. Scholastic have very kindly sent me a couple of books to read and fingers crossed I should be able to have a chat with the authors soon about how they got their break and about their writing. Nighttrap is the third in the popular Darkside series which follows Jonathan Stirling as he discovers a dangerous and strangely Victorian world hidden away under modern day London. The first book won the Waterstone's Childrens Book Prize and he has since completed Lifeblood and now Nighttrap in a planned series of five. In Nightrap, Jonathan's neighbour Mrs Elwood has been kidnapped and the teenager must steal the mysterious Crimson Stone in order to save her. Helping him are werewolf Carnegie, Raquella maid to Vendetta the Vampire and a criminal circus troupe. I have read the first Darkside book some time ago but I don't think you need to be familiar with the characters to enjoy this sequel. There is a little bit of back-story explained but not too much that it gets in the way. Nighttrap is a fast, easy read and quite scary in places - as you'd guess from the title and creepy glow-in the-dark cover. Tom Becker has been compared to Darren Shan but I think Nighttrap is actually better than Cirque du Freak. I like that there's a mixture of male and female characters and best of all the females are feisty and don't have to be rescued to often (except for poor Mrs Elwood!) The scenes are brilliantly original and wonderfully descriptive, especially the auction which had me in stitches and Carnegie (my favourite) is a fantastic character - a bit Sam Spade meets Hellboy. Tom is a big comic book fan, especially Alan Moore, and I think it really shows. In fact the book is so vividly written that it feels more like a graphic novel and I'd love to see it turned into one. I think it would also make for a great film - I loved the gondolas, mansion break-in and big finale. The only slight criticism would be that I guessed who the baddie was - but I'm afraid that's from reading too many Agatha Christie's as a youngster - but even I didn't see the final twist coming! Tom Becker Apparently Tom has always wanted to be a writer and sickenly Darkside was published when he was just 25 and too make fellow wannabe writer's even greener with envy it took him just three months to complete. He explains: "Darkside was the result of a childhood spent reading fantasy novels, a love of 1940s and '50s American detective films, and a fascination with the seamier side of Victorian history. Exactly how that all came together, I couldn't say - one morning, it was just all there in my head." I recommend Nighttrap for older children and comic book fans - just don't read it alone after dark! I have one copy of Darkside Nighttrap by Tom Becker to give away. To be in with a chance of winning it just tell me the name of Bram Stoker's book about a vampire. Email your answer along with your contact details, (subject line Darkside) to [email protected] by 5pm Friday June 12th 2008. Goodluck. * Darkside Nighttrap is out to buy in paperback by Scholastic on June 2 priced £6.99. Learn more about Darkside at www.welcometodarkside.co.uk

Darkside Nighttrap by Tom Becker Sorry there was no new blog entry yesterday I've had my head stuck in the new Darkside book by author Tom Becker who is from Ormskirk. I've been planning on doing the occasional children's book review on here hopefully with a tie-in interview. Scholastic have very kindly sent me a couple of books to read and fingers crossed I should be able to have a chat with the authors soon about how they got their break and about their writing. Nighttrap is the third in the popular Darkside series which follows Jonathan Stirling as he discovers a dangerous and strangely Victorian world hidden away under modern day London. The first book won the Waterstone's Childrens Book Prize and he has since completed Lifeblood and now Nighttrap in a planned series of five. In Nightrap, Jonathan's neighbour Mrs Elwood has been kidnapped and the teenager must steal the mysterious Crimson Stone in order to save her. Helping him are werewolf Carnegie, Raquella maid to Vendetta the Vampire and a criminal circus troupe. I have read the first Darkside book some time ago but I don't think you need to be familiar with the characters to enjoy this sequel. There is a little bit of back story explained but not too much that it gets in the way. Nighttrap is a fast, easy read and quite scary in places - as you'd guess from the title and creepy glow-in the-dark cover. Tom Becker has been compared to Darren Shan but I think Nighttrap is actually better than Cirque du Freak. I like that there's a mixture of male and female characters and best of all the females are feisty and don't have to be rescued to often (except for poor Mrs Elwood!) The scenes are brilliantly original and wonderfuly descriptive, especially the auction which had me in stitches and Carnegie (my favourite) is a fantastic character - a bit Sam Spade meets Hellboy. Tom is a big comic book fan, especially Alan Moore, and I think it really shows. In fact the book is so vividly written that it feels more like a graphic novel and I'd love to see it turned into one. I think it would also make for a great film - I loved the gondollas, mansion break-in and big finale. The only slight criticism would be that I guessed who the baddie was - but I'm afraid that's from reading too many Agatha Christie's as a youngster - but even I didn't see the final twist coming! Tom Becker Apparantly Tom has always wanted to be a writer and sickenly Darkside was published when he was just 25 and too make fellow wannabe writer's even greener with envy it took him just three months to complete. He explains: "Darkside was the result of a childhood spent reading fantasy novels, a love of 1940s and '50s American detective films, and a fascination with the seamier side of Victorian history. Exactly how that all came together, I couldn't say - one morning, it was just all there in my head." I highly recommend Nighttrap, just don't read it alone after dark! I have one copy of Darkside Nighttrap by Tom Becker to give away. To be in with a chance of winning it just tell me the name of Bram Stoker's book about a vampire. Email your answer along with your contact details, (subject line Darkside) to [email protected] by 5pm Friday June 12th 2008. Goodluck. * Darkside Nighttrap is out to buy in paperback by Scholastic on June 2 priced £6.99. Learn more about Darkside at www.welcometodarkside.co.uk

Sticky note: please scroll down for current posts.

Ready? Set. Shoot!

This photo contest theme is: Holiday Cheer
Post your picture beginning NOW to 4:00 central time December 14.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Don’t you love this time of year? Can you smell the fresh baked goods? What about the pine of Christmas trees? And look at all of those colorful packages! What about the beautiful glow of the candles? Are the kids getting excited? Do you have all of your shopping done? Let’s see those gorgeous decorations! It’s time to post a picture of your favorite holiday moments. Be creative, be fun - the more original the photo, the better chance you’ll have of winning!

Here are the rules. When you have your entry posted, please insert the direct link into the Mr. Linky below. Bloggers/readers are the judges. Please vote for your favorite entry (a voting poll will appear in this post) beginning at 5:00 p.m. U.S. central time December 14th to 8:00 p.m. U.S. central time December 17th (I’ve extended the voting period by one day in order to entice your weekly readers to vote for you!).

The winner will be announced here (as well as emailed) shortly after 8:00 p.m. U.S. central time December 17th. Considering it’s the holiday season, and I’m feeling in the holiday giving mood, let’s do something a little different - are you ready? The winner will receive … drum roll please …

A $25.00 MASTERCARD GIFT CARD!! You can use the gift card any place that accepts Mastercard! The sky is the limit!

If you have questions, please email Karen at [writefromkaren90 at yahoo dot com].

As always, many thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for permission to borrow this great idea.

Please help spread the word! Copy the code below and paste the above banner into your blog today!

To include the above banner (400 pixels wide) in your post, copy and paste this code:

Come on bloggers - show us your favorite Holiday Cheer moments!!

Would you like to see my holiday cheer moment? Click the “more” button below.

To help you get started, I’ll post my own picture:

This doesn’t look like much on the surface, but I love this picture. It was taken Christmas morning, 2002. I love this picture because of their expressions. They are beside themselves with excitement because Santa has come and they are anticipating opening their gifts. Look at MK’s (the blonde boy) fist and the way he’s gritting his teeth; he’s so excited he can barely contain himself. And GD’s facial expression is pure joy.

This is probably my most favorite time of the year - Christmas morning before any of the gifts have been touched. The excitement is thick, anticipation is high and possibilities are endless.