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Yesterday I had the unnerving pleasure of filming a tv show! It was so fun, but I admit to being extremely anxious. It was for a local cable show called OFF THE PAGE. It's an author interview show sponsored by the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library and the show will air on KCCB Channel 8 Broomfield sometime in July. It'll also run on other cable networks throughout Colorado. The lovely hostess, Stacy McKenzie, is a business reference librarian and she hosts these interviews once a month. This month's focus was on young adult literature. Of all the wonderful YA authors in CO, I was thrilled that she contacted ME for an interview. I was actually the second vic, er, guest. The first interviewee was Amy Hadley, an amazing manga artist. She's written the Fool's Gold series for Tokyo Pop and also the upcoming Madam Xanadu for D.C. Comics. Her artwork was stunning and Amy herself was adorable, smart, quirky and humorous. I really enjoyed meeting her and will be reading her books from now on. I also hope to have her guest at my own library sometime. After watching her interview I became even more nervous because I didn't want to look bad after she did so well! Once I got miced up we were off and running. My palms were sweating! And it feels very unnatural to look straight at one person when there's so many other things going on around you. Fortunately, twenty minutes or so later, we were all done and Stacy told me I was "smooth!" Whew! I took that as a high compliment. Stacy asked me some great questions about Breaking Up Is Hard To Do and Sleepless. She also asked me how my job as a librarian and writer influence each other, how I might face criticism that my books have mature content that may be too old for some teens and what was coming next for me. She was a great interviewer and hopefully I did the questions justice. Confession: what I said is rather a blur. LOL. I'm supposed to get a DVD of the interview and I think they're going to help me get the interview on Youtube. If that happens you can be sure I'll post a link. Pics, behind the cut, provided by my wonderful hubby.   </div>

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Mull, Brandon. 2008. Fablehaven: Grip Of the Shadow Plague.

On a muggy August day, Seth hurried along a faint path, eyes scanning the lush foliage to his left. Tall, mossy trees overshadowed a verdant sea of bushes and ferns.

The third in the series, Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague continues the story of Kendra and Seth Sorenson, an unforgettable brother-sister team that (along with several 'responsible' adults including their grandparents) enjoys spending their summer vacations fighting in the ultimate battle between good and evil. If you haven't read the first two in the series, you should definitely do so. (That is if you love fantasy.) I enjoyed the first two. I really did. But this third one is even better--if that's possible. Every page was a pleasure. I didn't want to put it down.

For those that are familiar with the series, expect more of the same. But for those unfamiliar with Brandon Mull's fabulous series here's what you can expect. Adventure. More adventure. Danger. Action. Even more adventure. Some mystery. Some intrigue. Some surprises. If you love action, adventure, and mystery, then Fablehaven is definitely for you!

What's the third one about? Well the subtitle of "Grip of the Shadow Plague" says it all. Book 2 closes with the family securing--saving--Fablehaven, doesn't it? Does it? The traitor, Vanessa, has been captured and imprisoned in the Quiet Box. The Sphinx has taken away the other prisoner--the one who was released from the Quiet Box--and all seems to be well. But then if you remember Kendra discovers a note implying or suggesting that the Sphinx is not who he appears. That he is in fact the bad guy though he's been masquerading as one of the good guys--one of the top good guys--for decades and decades. The third book explores that claim and seeks to solve that mystery once and for all. But that doesn't even begin to capture what the third book is about. It is exciting. It is intense. It is good.

471 pages

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George, Jessica Day. 2007. Dragon Slippers.

It was my aunt who decided to give me to the dragon. Not that she was evil or didn't care for me. It's just that we were poor, and she was, as we said in those parts, dumber than two turnips in a rain barrel.

I loved all 321 pages of Jessica Day George's novel Dragon Slippers. Loved it. I loved everything about it. Everything. The characters. The setting. The action. It was just so good, so very very good. If you love fairy-tale type stories--think Robin McKinley, Shannon Hale, Mette Ivie Harrison, Gail Carson Levine etc--I think you will love Jessica Day George. Love her. Here is how the book jacket describes the novel,

"Many stories tell of damsels in distress who are rescued from the clutches of fire-breathing dragons by knights in shining armor and swept off to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, this is not one of those stories. True, when Creel's aunt suggests sacrificing her to the local dragon, it is with the hope that a knight will marry Creel and that everyone (aunt and family included) will benefit handsomely. Yet it's Creel who talks her way out of the dragon's clutches. And it's Creel who walks for days on end to seek her fortune in the king's city with only a bit of embroidery thread and a strange pair of slippers in her possession. But even Creel could not have guessed the outcome of this tale. For in a country on the verge of war, Creel unknowingly possesses not just any pair of shoes, but a tool that could be used to save her kingdom....or destroy it."

Creel is quite a heroine. As an adult reader, I love her. I do. But I know I would have loved, loved, loved her as a child. This is the kind of book I wish had been around when I was growing up! Then again, I'm just as happy to continue the friendship now. It's not too late for me or for you. Discover the magical world Jessica Day George has created and meet Creel and her friends (and enemies) yourself!

I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

http://www.dragonslippers.net/
http://www.jessicadaygeorge.com/
http://www.jessicadaygeorge.com/Blog.aspx

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Here Be Dragons a 2008 Book Challenge hosted by Stray Talk.

What? Read 3-5 books featuring dragons.

When? 1st of January to 30th of June, 2008

To sign up yourself, visit her site.

These are the ones I'm considering. I'll probably only get to three. But you never know....number four and five could slip in there before the deadline.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George (I'd love a review copy of this!)
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley
Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Simple question, don't laugh....does Lord of the Rings have dragons???? I've only seen the movies and am wanting to read the books. So if you know...please let me know.

I'm also open to suggestion on other titles.

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