Hi, Y’all… Bec here with a bit of *FRICKIN’ FANTASTIC* news…

This just in:

Marianne just took out the award for best Science Fiction Novel at the Aurealis Awards for Transformation Space.

From everyone here at Team MDP: CONGRATULATIONS, Marianne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MARCH 1st, FINALLY!

Today is the official release date for… yes… you guessed it… Burn Bright!

Trust us when we tell you Marianne’s first YA novel is absolutely *brilliant*. Dark. Thrilling. Spellbinding. Transportive. But why take our word for it when you can have a copy in your hot little hands TODAY?! Run, don’t walk, to the bookstore. You can thank us later

From the staff here at burnbright.com, huge congrats to MDP on this very exciting day.

~Keep watching this space for info, updates, reviews, interviews, and MDP’s appearances~.

and…

BURN BRIGHT!

(p.s. — The Burn Bright blogger draw winner will be announced later today, so stay tuned!)

*Wants*!!!!!!!

Well, happy gnu year and welcome to the 2nd instalment of my monthly goodie bag. Each month, I’ll be giving you the low-down on what’s new in the merchiverse, from collectible cards and cool comics, to terrific toys and saucy statuettes. January’s treasure hunt unearthed new releases from the Dark Horse stable, tasty t-shirts, fractured fairy tale biz, and, as always, awe-inspiring art. So, without further ado, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s January!!!!!!!!!………..

Felicia Day is back with her comic and web series smash, The Guild. Day penned the upcoming Dark Horse release,Tink, which centres on the mysterious guild member, Tinkerballa (she of the video game addiction and natty purple get-up). Find out what happens when the Knights of Good snoop a liiiittle too far into Tink’s closely-guarded private life.

Another lovely lookin’ thang from Dark Horse is The Art of Alice: Madness Returns (on sale May, ’11). Legendary game designer, American McGee developed the original, gorgeous game that was released back in 2000. This year marks the release of this amazing-looking, 184-page hardback. According to the promos, The Art of Alice promises ‘an intimate look into the stunning and terrifying artwork behind this blockbuster reinterpretation of Lewis Carroll’s enduring masterpiece’.

I know it’s a while away, but here’s something to look forward to: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. This is the 10th year of Free Comic Book Day, ’the first Saturday in May each year – when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. You can check out FAQs here.

In the mood for an acclaimed anime romance? Summer Wars is just what you need. To give you an idea of how popular this full-length anime feature is, it pipped the mighty Evangelion in 1st week sales figs. Described as a light-hearted, science-fiction romance, Summer Wars follows teen misfit/maths whiz, Kenji, and the girl of his dreams, Natsuki, on an ultra-modern, world-saving, doomsday quest. Phew. Cover enough ground for you?

Something else I think you’re gonna want is the OMG-inspiring range of Tragic Toys (for girls and boys) by the utterly, insanely, fabulous Tim Burton.  Millionaire Playboy showcases the PVC deskmates, including Oyster Boy, Mummy Boy, Stain Boy, and The Girl With Many Eyes. The collection also includes fabulicious heat-sensitive mugs, pull-tab & light-up journals, playing cards and vinyl figurines. Burton-y goodness for every room of the house, practically!!

Offical Vampire Hunter D t-shirts are available and they are frickin’ fantastic.

Manga-lovin’ kiddies rejoice! Vol. 4 of the New York Times bestseller, Dengeki Daisy, is set for release on April 5.

You can pre-order this the latest tale in this shōjo rom com (by celebrated author/artist, Kyousuke Motomi) over at Amazon now.

Go-go gadget geek: ‘Finally, a USB drive ready to store your data AND defend the universe’ (thinkgeek.com). Yes. YES. YES! (Who comes up with these ideas?).

Pop over to toybeast.com and have a squiz at the Nightmare Before Christmas Jack and Sally Be@rbrick dolls. Weird, creepy, kinda cute. Very limited edition.

Are you a fan of fairy tales? If so, there are 2 new releases that might interest you. The first is this luscious Grimm Fairy Tales boxed set (droolamundo), published by Zenescope and available on January 9. The other is the latest volume (#15) in the Fables series: Rose Red… (From Amazon: ‘Rose Red, sister of Snow White, has finally hit rock bottom. Does she stay there, or is it time to start the long, tortuous climb back up? The Farm is in chaos, as many factions compete to fill the void of her missing leadership. And there’s a big magical fight brewing down in the town square, right under her window.’)

New Music: Mark Ronson has produced a brand-spankin’ new Duran Duran album, All You Need is Now. Who’da thunk? Here’s the first release:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Er5TsQrGg

1. Marianne de Pierres – “Burn Bright”

Well, I was lucky enough to read the early manuscript and was knocked out. This has all the elements of a rip-roaring success: it’s darkly thrilling, it contains powerful messages, and, above all, it’s a first-class page-turner. MDP’s first YA, BB is a total *WIN*.

2. Michael Pryor – “Moment of Truth”

This is a beautifully written book, with a clever plotline & gorgeous cast of characters. Michael Pryor is simply one of the most talented YA writers around.

3. D. M. Cornish – “Lamplighter”

The second book in D. M. Cornish’s highly acclaimed Monster Blood Tattoo series, Lamplighter is a triumph of storytelling and a definite must-read. Now to get my hands on the final book, Factotum!

4. Christine Bongers – “Henry Hoey Hobson”

Henry Hoey Hobson is the latest gem to emerge from the extraordinary imagination of Christine Bongers. Once again, Bongers’ humour, senstivity, and dazzling storytelling combine to produce a brilliant read. Highly recommended.

5. Karen Brooks – “Tallow”

The fantastic tale of a candlemaker’s apprentice, Tallow is intriguing, intricate, and romantic. The complex lead character is utterly unforgettable.

Bec Says

It’s that time again… The bearded bloke in red is about to pop down our chimneys with his Christmas cheer. What have you asked for this year? I have yet to put my order in, which is probably a good thing, since I’ve just clapped eyes on a whole lotta lovely things that I can’t wait to tell you about…

Let’s start with statuettes, shall we?

Got a Trekkie in your life? Hollywood Collectibles have issued a ltd edit. (600) series of painted polystone Kirks:

Ahead! Warp Factor 1!

You can pre-order Thor & Loki action figures from The Big Bad Toy Store now (US$18.99 each)…well in advance of the release of next year’s hotly anticipated blockbuster.

Size Matters

Got a spare US$175 lying around and want something truly striking on your shelf? Check the incredible Punisher Classic statue by Bowen Designs. Scheduled for February shipment, this digitally-sculpted beauty stands over 12 inches and would look *very* nice on my your desk, don’tcha think?

Who doesn’t want this ceramic Darth Vader cookie jar? WHO???

Take a cookie@ your peril. He's handy with a sabre...

Fellow Jack of Fables fans will be sad to hear that the final instalment of the series (issue #50) is available in February.

Don't sit in the corner.... Pre-order NOW!

Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls/Evelyn Evelyn vocalist and Neil Gaiman’s main squeeze) has a lavish new book set for your reading pleasure. Intro’d by Neil G, these 2 hardbound volumes are said to be the ‘wholly true and accurate account of the tragic events surrounding the extraordinary lives of Evelyn Evelyn, a darling but unfortunate pair of conjoined twins’. See what you think.

Prepare to slay some jello shots

Over at tfaw.com, you can order the natty new DH Deluxe BTVS lunch box and shot glass set. .

“Jennifer Blood is a suburban wife and mom by day, and a ruthless vigilante by night! Every day she makes breakfast, takes the kids to school, cleans the house, naps for an hour or two, makes dinner, puts the kids to bed, and kisses her husband goodnight”. For serious. With an intro like that, who can resist checking out the new series from Garth Ennis, the writer of The Boys, Punisher, and Preacher? Jennifer Blood #1 launches in Feb, through Dynamite Entertainment:

In other news, Marvel’s brilliant new ‘Point One’ project kicks off in February ’11. Great news for comic noobs, this series offers a budget entry point for getting up to speed on the sagas of such Marvel faves as Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wolverine. Each issue will feature unique numbering and give readers a self-contained story from Marvel’s top creators that will intro the characters and their lives. The Point One books are then followed by a regular issue of that month’s series, continuing with the stories and characters intro’d in the Point One special. The project commences in Feb with this trilogy: Amazing Spider-Man #654.1, Invincible Iron Man #500.1, and Wolverine #5.1. Point One continues in March with Captain America #615.1, Deadpool #32.1, Hulk #30.1, Thor #620.1, and Uncanny X-Force #5.1. April presents readers with Avengers #12.1, Secret Avengers #11.1, and Uncanny X-Men #534.1.

Dark Horse’s Domo Party Lights. Do we really need a reason? Well, alright then: Christmas!

Attention Dr Who fans… Dalek Sculpted Wall Clock. Enough said. Quite obviously, this belongs in the NEED, and not WANT, column:

Last, but not least… Utterly brilliant new tees over at Threadless. Do yourself a favour and check out the range.

Bec Says:

And you thought it was a passing phase… Steampunk is still piping hot and continues to fascinate and enthrall spec fic fans everywhere. A quick Google of the term will provide you with a mountain of info, sites, fashion tips, new music, and dedicated blogs. Following on from Bel’s recent Steampunk 101 post, I thought I’d update you with further info about this fascinating sub-genre.

From October 20-November 3, the sci-fi/fantasy blog Tor.com will focus on steampunk: its place in mainstream culture and where it appears to be heading in future. Check it out for guest bloggers, news about steampunk events, and some tasty giveaways. You can also download a nifty steampunk timeline.

Newteevee has news about the independent web series, Riese. If you’re interested in checking out this new steampunk series, episode 1 is being relaunched on SyFy.com. Catch their tweets here.

Gamers: Head here for BioShock Infinite updates or check out the following trailer (it looks incredible):

The Steampunk Tribune (‘reporting on Steampunk since 2007′) is a fantastic source of regularly updated news and trivia. For instance, I just learned that the League of Victorian Imagineers are holding an exhibtion entitled Steampunk: Tomorrow as it Used to Be, from 23rd. October – 5th. December 2010, in Oamaru, NZ.

For a very entertaining read, check out the Exhibition Hall Fanzine here. It includes writing art/literature/articles/updates from all over the world. PDFs of past issues are also available for download.

Beautify your boring old desktop with a bit of help from the steampunk wallpaper folks.

(Steam)pimp Your Desktop

Visit Parliament and Wake and prepare to be inundated with amazing imagery, ideas, and attitudes.

Have your say and interact with other steampunks at the Brass Goggles forum. And Brass Goggles is only one of many, many, many, MANY Steampunk blogs, let me assure you!

Interested in new steampunk releases? This November, check out The Horns of Ruin by Tim Akers. The fifth book in Stephen Hunt’s Jackelian series—Jack Cloudie—can be pre-ordered on Amazon.  Heartless, the latest instalment in Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, is set for release in July, 2011. If you haven’t read any steampunk yet, this list of 20 core titles from Library Journal is a good place to start.

Bands such as Vernian Process, Abney Park, and Unextraordinary Gentlemen are making amazing retrofuturistic steampunk sounds that you really must investigate. You can also listen to live steampunk streaming via The Clockwork Cabaret, a weekly radio show featured on WCOM 103.5 (NC, USA). Hear what the show’s hosts have to say here:

Finally, check out some fab art from worth1000.com‘s recent Steampunk:Nature comp.

Steampunk Fly from worth1000.com

• Steampunk Music:  Rasputina – Gingerbread Coffin
• The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing – Goggles
• Abney Park – Sleep Isabella
• Johnny Hollow – Boogeyman

Bec Says

Following on from Belinda’s last musical post, I thought I’d talk…well…words. I don’t know if anyone caught Frances Whiting’s ‘Hit Me With Your Lyric Stick’ piece in the Courier-Mail on Aug 22, but it was about the worst lyrics ever written. One of the examples she used was this rather memorable verse from Richard Harris’s Macarthur Park:

Tragedy

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don’t think that I can take it

Cause it took so long to bake it

And I’ll never have that recipe again.

Then there’s that ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’ offering from Charlene (whatever happened to Charlene? Perhaps she finally went there & found  it was too good to leave…). Frances Whiting cites one particular verse that makes her scratch her head, but the whole thing creeps me out, frankly. Check it out here and see what you think.

She also talks about The Black Eyed Peas’ My Humps lyrics… Oh, you know… ‘I’m a get get get you drunk, get you love drunk off my hump, My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump…’ (etc..you get the picture). Small wonder Fergie wet her pants. It was probably over having to sing those words. Remember when Alanis Morissette converted My Humps into a ballad, highlighting the absurdity of the lyrics?

Is Anyone Really Listening?

Then there’s Shakira, bless her. So many confounding lyrics I hardly know  where to start (not that anyone’s listening to what she’s saying, anyway)… ‘lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don’t confuse them with mountains’ (because that would be most unfortunate. See: Early Mountaineering Misadventures, Vol. II, 1975. Penguin for further details).  Mo Collins from Mad TV did a spoof of Shakira baby here.

Other notable mentions include Taio Cruz’s Dynamite (‘I hit the floor coz that’s my plans, plans, plans, I’m wearing all my favourite brands, brands, brands, Give me space for both my hands, hands, hands, you, you, coz it goes on and on and on’ (does it ever)… Black Lace’s Aga Doo (‘push pineapple..grind coffee’…oh, and they later released a song entitled ‘Gang Bang’, for those interested)… Toto Coelo’s I Eat Cannibals (‘your love is so edible to me…I eat cannibals’)… the romantic stylings of Nickelback and that touching, touching tune Figured You Out (‘while you’re passed out on the deck…I love my hands around your neck’..*sigh*)… and the lyrical genius that is Kesha’s Blah Blah Blah (she likes to dance with no pants on…but you’re not getting in the back of her car if you keep talking that blah blah blah…got it?).

Pantless Dancing Aficionado

What are your favourite bad lyrics?

Music: Missing Persons - Words

Bec Says

Today, I’m wondering how Young Adult—or teen—fiction is defined….not always an easy task. Wikipedia suggests a general target age range of 14-21.  Suite101 defines YA fiction as follows:

“Young adult literature has certain unique features which set it apart. Books for teens are almost always written in the first person and usually have:

• a teenage protagonist
• adults characters as marginal and barely visible characters
• a brief time span (the story spans a few weeks, yes, a summer, maybe, a year, no)
• a limited number of characters
• a universal and familiar setting
• current teenage language, expressions, and slang
• detailed descriptions of other teenagers’ appearances, mannerisms, and dress
• a positive resolution to the crisis at hand (though it may be subtle and never in-your-face moralistic)
• few, if any, subplots
• about 125-250 pages in length (although many of the newer YA books are much longer)
• a focus on the experiences and growth of just one main character
• a main character whose choices and actions and concerns drive the story (as opposed to outside forces)
• problems specific to adolescents and their crossing the threshold between childhood and adulthood

Also, a lot of new YA lit is unique in that it is edgy: pushing the limits of socially acceptable content in teen books, especially regarding drug and alcohol use, violence, abuse, suicide, and social norms in human sexuality. This edginess pushes teenage fiction beyond appropriate boundaries for children’s books.”

Does anyone remember this clip from The Young Ones? ‘Nozin’ Aroun’. (If you do, you’re not a young adult. Sorry!)

So what about the writers? How do they avoid this kind of condescension and self-conscious bid for hipness? How do writers who are no longer Young Adults themselves manage to recapture the feeling and attitude of youth? What do you think? Which of your favourite Young Adult authors best reach their intended audience? What elements contribute to their success?

Music: Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag

Bec Says

From Wikipedia:

The word angel in English is a fusion of the Old English word engel (with a hard g) and the Old French angele. Both derive from the Latin angelus which in turn is the romanization of the ancient Greek ἄγγελος (angelos), “messenger”.^[1] The earliest form of the word is the Mycenaean a-ke-ro attested in Linear B syllabic script.

God’s messengers… Heavenly beings… Guardians… Spiritual guides. However you view them, people have been fascinated by angels from time immemorial.  Their history and categories are far too involved to go into here but you can really get lost in all the fascinating folklore, not to mention the beautiful art that’s been born of angelic inspiration. Here are some of the more famous angels and their tasks:

• Malachim (translation: messengers), general word for angel
• Michael (translation: who is like God), performs God’s kindness
• Gabriel (translation: the strength of God), performs acts of justice and power
• Raphael (translation: God Heals), God’s healing force
• Uriel (translation: God is my light), leads us to destiny
• Seraphim (translation: the burning ones), protects the gates to the Garden of Eden
• Malach HaMavet (translation: the angel of death)
• HaSatan (translation: the prosecutor), brings people’s sins before them in the heavenly court
• Chayot HaKodesh (translation: the holy beasts)
• Ophanim (translation: arbits) Astrological Influence
• HaMerkavah (translation: the chariot), transports God’s glory

Then, of course, there are the fallen angels, of whom Lucifer is the most famous. 

~Do you have a favourite angel? ~

Music:

Massive Attack – Angel

Sarah McLachlan – Angel

Slayer – Angel of Death

Do you ever feel that you’re being watched over? (Maybe you are…)

Bec Says

After Julia Gillard’s recent vow to start being herself, and the cynical reaction that remark drew from certain quarters, I did a lot of thinking about people and their personas. In her excellent article in The Courier-Mail this week, Karen Brooks examined Gillard’s comments and made some very sensible (and thought-provoking) points. You can read it here but here’s an excerpt:

But what is real anyway? We all hide our real selves in varying degrees. It’s a form of privacy, self-preservation and it’s also our right. We cannot be real all the time and nor should anyone expect us to be. It’s how we are able to juggle the variety of social relations we have. It does not mean we’re any less true to ourselves or others.

I agree with that and wonder what you think? Don’t we sometimes conceal aspects of ourselves and modify our behaviour, in keeping with certain social etiquette and different environments? I guess the rules are a bit different for pollies but it is interesting to consider how much of ourselves we really show the people we know.  Has social networking changed this? Do you share more with distant acquaintances on your Facebook ‘friends’ list than you would if you were seated together at a function? Are we entering into a more confusing atmosphere of masks and revelations? I remember reading an article in Marie Claire magazine a while ago, in which the journo described current teens and 20-somethings as ‘Generation Exhibition’, owing to their apparent need to share all their goings-on in public forums. Do you consider yourself part of that group? Is it a fair title? In the same article, the writer described a girl who’d blogged about a trip to London; she’d made it sound like she was having a blast. In reality, she confessed, it was a total wash-out and a miserable period of her life. Why, then, this desperate need to appear to be super-happy and leading the most exciting life ever?   

How much of your true self do *you* reveal to other people? Does it change? If you do wear ‘masks’, is it for diplomacy’s sake? Are you just telling Auntie Marjorie that you *love* that koala sweater she knitted from her Woman’s Day pattern to save her feelings? Are you only posting the good stuff on your blog because you think misery makes for boring reading? Are you taking down your Justin Bieber posters before certain friends arrive just because you want to make the environment nicer for them? And tell the truth: those outrageous photos from the fabulous party you went to last Saturday night….are they a true reflection of the amazing time you had?

Music:

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

Lene Marlin – Disguise