I cannot recall quite how long ago I saw a few of the pencil mock up’s for this LONG awaited book.

I was blown away by the beauty in just those graphite suggestions, and I’m pretty sure I did a happy dag dance right there on the spot next to Kylie, in public, at a signing. ~I apologise to the people of Carindale~ The thought of one of my favourite local authors being immortalised in a graphic novel was truly something that made me smile from ear to ear.

Though I’d never heard of Queenie Chan at the time, I’d fallen instantly in love with her work. Stepping forward (I’m pretty sure it’s been close to 18 months almost 2 years later) and I’ve now seen her work holding it’s own on Yunyu’s Twisted Tales tour in early 2012; making me want this book to become a reality all the more.

There may or may not have been a shimmering light and a choir of angels heralding the moment I finally sat down and opened Small Shen for the first time in the final days of 2012. Can you tell I was excited?

And the verdict is… Oh my goodness if you don’t own this book get yourself one, and buy one for a friend.

The thing I love probably above most things is it is a combination of well thought out and beautiful graphic novel and genuinely lovely storytelling. How can you not love a great story and pretty pictures of characters you’d only previously seen in your head.

If you haven’t read Kylie’s books it now allows you to make the decision of if you want to start the series where the rest of us did with White Tiger, or getting a jump on us all and starting with Small Shen.

That’s right, it’s a prequel. It leads you from 1720AD up into the opening scenes of White Tiger. We hop backwards and forwards through time and learn delightful details about what makes many of the characters tick.

The flow is a little stilted by the time change, but it works because there is no question of what era you’re in. The characterisation is flawless and is enhanced ten fold by Queenie’s eye for detail.

I had this book done in under a day and it took some serious self control to not take it along with me when hitting the after Christmas sales to read in the queues.

Both Kylie and Queenie are masters of their respective crafts and Harper Voyager must have had a genius day when they allowed the idea to become an actuality.

I’m putting my request in now for a colouring book of Kylie’s characters drawn by Queenie. Even big kids love to grab the crayons every now and again.

So the only question that remains… and Kylie literally gets this at least a hundred times or more at every signing…

When’s the next book coming out?!

http://kyliechan.com/

http://www.queeniechan.com/

Paperback,352 pages

Published December 1st 2012 by HarperCollinsPublishers Australia

ISBN 0732289831 (ISBN13: 9780732289836)

The time has come to make arrangements. I have contacted those who registered to come, so if you haven’t heard from me, please comment below or email me via the website.

For those who would still like to be a part of this fun event, there is time!

I am having an intimate evening with friends and readers at  bar and coffee restaurant while I’m in Perth.

And to make the evening even more special, I have a special guest.

Yunyu will be coming  as well!

We’ll be chatting, giving away grab bags and signing books and CD’s. However, you must register with us if you want to come, as the date, venue and time are being kept secret.

To register simply email us through the website : http://www.burnbright.com.au/contact/

You know how much we love Yunyu’s music!

To celebrate her latest project Twisted Tales, created in collaboration with manga artist Queenie Chan -and the fact that she’s just a great Aussie talent – we’ve got a whole lot of Yunyu love for you today. Starting out we’ve posted her latest interview with Cels Jansink, and then we have a preview of her first single Dorothy, and an intro to the Twisted Tales collaboration. Yunyu’s song Bluebeard, written for Marianne’s book, Angel Arias, will be released later this year.

Big 4 with Cels

1.      Firstly congrats on the release of “Dorothy” the first single from your new album “Twisted Tales”- a modern twist on some classic fairy tales. You teamed up with renowned manga artist Queenie Chan for this project and the end result is absolutely breathtaking. For those who haven’t yet discovered the Yunyu experience, how do you describe your particular brand of music?

It’s like reading science fiction and fantasy…packaged in world-traversing, genre-crossing 4 minute songs.

2.      You have also previously released two singles to coincide with the Burn Bright series (Angel Arias and Bluebeard) and collaborated with Marianne on the Ixion fairy tales performance. What was it about the world of Ixion that drew you in so completely?

Ixion is a colourful world about hedonistic decadence and a dark price to pay … kind of like the dark twisted fairytales that I like.

3.      Are there any plans for a tour in the near future?

Oh yes. See here. more coming in a bit. Tours for Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney have been planned …

http://yunyu.com.au/tour

4.      And lastly one just for fun. You’ve found the keys to a time machine and have just enough time for one trip before you’re discovered. Where would you go and why?

I’m quite liking this timeline that I’m on …warts, financial crisis and all, better the devil you know I say. But for the sake of some adventure … I’m going back to tell my younger self to throw my uni savings into a start-up called Google AND Apple. This way, I can make afford own time machine and not have to steal it for this one trip … time travel is a technology too good to be only used once.

My next trip would then be to Mr Schroedinger to steal his cat. That scientist is making zombie cats that are alive and dead at the same time and this abomination is very unacceptable.

Marianne and Yunyu both know the immense power music has over the world we live in; which is why they joined forces to add musical layers to Burn Bright and Angel Arias. Marianne’s words provoked imagery, setting the inspirational wheels in motion for more brilliant musical talent from Yunyu.

Yasmine Galenorn, hasn’t (as far as I know) collaborated to bring music to her books; instead listing the songs she had on her playlist while the writing process was in motion. The eclectic mix of tunes in her ear while she’s writing certainly colour her characters, her moods and the environment in which her stories take place. I haven’t had the guts to put together all the songs and listen as I re-read, but I am sure it would add spice.

Kevin J Anderson teamed up with his wife Rebecca Moesta and a troop of brilliant musicians to create not one but two entire CD’s to go with his Terra Incognita series. Sailing the seven seas must be rockin’ with a pedigree of metal and symphonic rock stars like that. I do wonder however, just how the songs would mesh with how I see the stories in my head.

Then it comes to Mercedes Lackey, who has in total twelve; yes, that’s double digits people. 12 CD’s for sale on her website and they look to all have something to do with her books. I am kinda thinking there may be more out there on Ebay and Amazon if you look hard enough. Mum had one of them back years ago and until someone she loaned it to lost it, *gasp* she devoured the lyrics, the harmonies and every moment of artistry that was poured lovingly onto each track.

Check the author’s websites to see if they are collaborating with a musician, if they use music and if so which bands influence their writing style, or if they’re completely over achieving and making their own music to complement their writing talent.

I’m sure there are hundreds, if not thousands, of authors that take pleasure in the crossover of musical and printed magic. Whether it is a killer playlist, or actually taking the time to collaborate with other musicians to build melodious bridges between the two worlds; the fact still remains, adding music to your reading time will most likely add depth and colour to an already lavish experience.

Like wine and cheese together, everyone has their own opinions as to which songs suit which books.

Who do you listen to while you read?

We’re loving this brand new review of Yunyu’s song, Angel Arias and Marianne’s book Burn Bright:

Angel Arias + Burn Bright (book) = Pure Brilliance

by Firelighter18

I can’t rave more about this song if you’ve never heard of Yunyu I would recommend buying this song as it gives you a fantastic taste of what Yunyu has to offer in her music. If this is your first time hearing her I would also suggest buying Lenore’s Song and You Are Expendable both are simply excellent!

This song perfectly captures the book Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres I would recommend to you the novel as well it’s very dark,strange and gothic but a magnificence story to read with strong character’s and an amazing world that is unforgettable and it’s by far my favourite series to read. ; )

BUY the song from iTunes

Today we’re very excited to announce that Angel Arias (bk 2 of the Night Creatures trilogy) has launched its book trailer and has made a free song available to everyone who owns a copy of the book.

The song is entitled Bluebeard and is written and performed by the amazing Yunyu.

All you need to get your free song is to use an iPhone or Smartphone (borrow your friend’s if you don’t have one). The phone will have a QR Reader (if not you can get the app for free online) which you point to the tag in the back of the book and it will take them to a free download link of the song.

A QR tag looks like this … (NOTE: this is not the Bluebeard QR Tag – you’ll have to get that from the book)

Enjoy and tell us what you think!!!

Angel Arias trailer by R&D Studios

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H30_T0C1LbY&feature=channel_video_title

Hi All, just popping in with some news.

The book trailer (by R & D Studios) and Yunyu’s song will definitely be available as of next week. The trailer will be posted all around the place, however the song is only available to those with the book who can use the QRCode. We’re sorry for the delay but some unforseeable circumstances got in the way of it being ready on release day. It’s an amazing song though, and perfectly suited for book 2. WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

IMT there are some great giveaways still going on. The first is from Sassy Book Lovers who we love and have been very supportive of the books. This is open internationally so get in quick!

The second giveaway is on Facebook at Page Flipperz. Page says: Hi everyone and Welcome to my new facebook page!! To promote my new Facebook blog page Im having a giveaway!!! Pimp my page out and whoever you send out tell them to tell me who sent them. Comp will run for five days or once we hit 100 fans. I wll be randomly drawing a winner to win the first book from Author Marianne de Pierres BURN BRIGHT!!! INTERNATIONAL!!!

There’ll also be more giveaways next week on the Burn Bright FB page as well. So if you haven’t joined us, then don’t miss out on the chance to win some of Belinda’s wonderful handmade costume jewellery. You can view some it in the store.

Marianne and Yunyu are thrilled to announce that Yunyu has written another single to coincide with the release of Angel Arias (book 2 of the Night Creatures series). The single (title to be announced) will be available FREE to those who purchase the book via QR tag on one of the pages.

Beat Magazine blogs about Yunyu and Marianne’s collaboration in their online magazine.

And so far the winner of the 5 DAYS TO GO giveaways are: Ruth Cohen, Tamara Edwards and Carla Drake-Brockman. Congrats to you all. Two days remaining though, so tune in on FB tomorrow and Monday around 9am Queensland time.

Click banner to enlarge

On March 7^th at 8pm EST, tune in to www.coolshite.net to join the live podcast interview with Marianne de Pierres and Yunyu on the eve of their dual book and single release.

Her Royal Madness, Yunyu, has produced a stunning single, Angel Arias, written to complement de Pierres’ first young adult dark fantasy novel, Burn Bright. Bruce Moyle and David Quinn from CoolShite will interview them and play Yunyu’s single in a world premiere. Join the fun and win giveaway packs that include both the single and the book!

Listen to the teaser for the single

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y07iogdHqvQ

Watch the Book Trailer

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np4iHj1AIMg

Questions for the Yunyu and Marianne podcast can be emailed to CoolShite via:  feedback@coolshite.net or use the voicemail line @ (02) 8011 4365 or Skype @ razorbolt

For more information go to:

www.coolshite.net

yunyu music

www.yunyu.com