Last week we had a Scholastic employee come to my Children’s Book Publishing course to talk.  Then she sent us advanced reader’s copies of a book called Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. It’s a YA novel… and the best way to describe the content is by calling it Twilight but with werewolves.  I really liked the premise—Stiefvater took the classic werewolf mythology (that the moon is what affects them) and made it about weather instead (winter being wolf season, spring/summer being human seasons)—but a few of the characters weren’t as developed as I would’ve liked, and some of the events seemed kinda abrupt.  While I generally liked the writing and the style, some parts could’ve used a bit more work.  But I finished the almost-400 pages in about two days, so clearly it’s not bad. In fact, I think if I had taken more time to read it, I would’ve enjoyed it more. I don’t think I properly absorbed it all.

The book doesn’t come out until August, and I’m sad that it won’t get completely huge marketing from Scholastic because they have the sequel to the Hunger Games coming out in September, so that’s where all the big bucks are going.  I think it’ll find an audience, though.  All those teen girls who wish there were more Twilight books, or that whats-her-head from Twilight had ended up with the werewolf instead.

One more thing to mention for now. Brittney made This video. it is hilarious and cute. watch it.

Me getting a better grade on the midterm (but i’m sure she’ll do better than me on the other two!); a bottle of wine; twilight; amazingly good experimental chili thanks to Britt; a second bottle of wine; a quote of hers I told Carrie I was going to write down but now cannot remember… and lots of mocking Twilight.

All around a stupendous evening. Thanks for hosting me, Carrie and Britt (even if it was unwilling on Britt’s part: Good luck on that midterm!)