I’m a late-comer to this series as I don’t have cable TV. However, I saw the first season DVD on the shelf and snaffled it up lickety split. Season one was made in 2010, and in total there are (or at least will be, come the end of this year) three seasons to date. I give you “Lost Girl.”

Here’s the intro monologue:

Life is hard when you don’t know who you are. It’s harder when you don’t know what you are. My love carries a death penalty. I was lost for years; searching while hiding; only to find that I belong to a world hidden from humans. I won’t hide anymore. I will live the life I choose.

Doesn’t that just suck you right in?

Bo, (Anna Silk) is a smokin’ hot succubus in her late 20’s. She’s recently discovered she has Fae heritage and refuses to choose between the dark side and the light. This frees her up to become the super sleuth for both sides and every supernatural creature in between.

Kenzi (Ksenia Solo) is the first human woman we see Bo save from becoming a sexual assault victim, and in return, Kenzi offers to be Bo’s sidekick, housemate, friend and confidant. It is also a comedy match made in heaven.

For some drool-worth sex appeal and plenty of friction Bo is in a love triangle. Dyson, don’t mistake him for a vacuum cleaner cause this werewolf does not suck, played by Kris Holden-Reid. Then there is Lauren, the light Fae’s human in-house doctor, played by Zoie Palmer.  These two deny being competitive for Bo’s affections, but the tension is there just waiting to snap.

The fae are known for their good looks and their love of political hijinks and this series, created by Michelle Lovretta, really amps it up to a whole other level. There is more than enough visual stimulation with some rather raunchy sex scenes and the special effects aren’t to be sneezed at either. Storylines are a little unpredictable, some are funny, some are sexy, and there is a couple of creepy ones thrown in for good measure.

If you love Laurell K Hamilton’s Merry Gentry Series, Erica Hayes’ Shadowfae Chronicles and The Hallows series by Kim Harrison, I really recommend you seek out this TV series.  Lost Girl carries an MA 15+ rating and if you’d like more information here is the IMDB site… http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1429449/

Time to look at another extraordinary woman doing incredible things to make the world a better place; today Tara Moss is in our cross hairs spotlight.

Tara was born in British Columbia October 2 1973, and holds dual residency between Australia and Canada. We love her as one of our own and the fact that she has written at least 7 riveting books; hosts a plethora of intriguing TV shows and has spent time as a super model (not to mention researches for her books in such a way it makes news headlines, oh, and she’s a Mother on top of all that), hasn’t stopped her from making a difference.

She was a Cadet in the Admiral Rayner Cadet Corp during the 1980’s and was awarded Most Outstanding Cadet in 1986. By 1988 Tara was tall enough and pretty enough to start a modelling career. This lead to amazing opportunities to travel around Europe, the Americas, and goodness knows where else, until she took a step in the direction of becoming an author; walking away from being a model at age 25.

Tara’s researching has given her some extraordinary insight into her characters and into the lives of some unbelievably awesome people. From FBI agents, race car drivers, stunt guys, and ultimate fighters, Tara goes to extreme lengths to get the story straight from the horse’s mouth. She enjoys horse power but riding motorcycles and dealing with the g-forces with the Royal Australian Air-force Roulettes also makes her smile.

Her lifetime achievements have been complemented beautifully by a seemingly ‘normal’ life at home with husband and daughter… and the pet snakes, Thing and Gomez. What else could anyone have left to do? Advocacy and volunteer work, that’s what!

In 2000 she became an ambassador for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children http://www.ridbc.org.au/ which was founded in 1860. In 2007 Tara was inducted into the ranks of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, and was given the title of Australia Patron for Breastfeeding in 2011 within the UNICEF advocacy umbrella.

Tara was also spotted back on the catwalk for the opening of the Sydney Fashion Festival with and Alex Perry/ Target Breast Cancer Charity Parade in 2011.

While beauty and appearances play a small role in Tara’s career, her life is hinged on her achievements off the runway and the lengths she will go to, to help others while living life to the max.

In my opinion she is a true example of a real life, kick ass woman.

Sources

http://www.taramoss.com/gallery/behindscenes.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Moss

http://www.taramoss.com/press/bio.php

“I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,

pushing aside thoughts of Alex,

pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,

push,

push,

push,

like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead.

But the old Lena is dead too.

I buried her.

I left her beyond a fence,

behind a wall of smoke and flame.”

Lena barely made it across the wall into the wilds with her life and the journey has cost her more than she ever imagined. Now finding herself clawing her way back from the depths of despair, shaking off the lies she has been taught all her life and regaining her strength, Lena tries to push the memories of Alex and her life before far away. Finding a place among a rag-tag group of resisters, Lena learns that life as an Invalid is a constant fight for survival and as the war against those who support the cure heats up Lena finds herself smack bang on the front line. Can love really conquer all or are the “cured” right after all?

Pandemonium is the thrilling sequel to Delirium and once again Oliver has surpassed all expectations. A sizzling mix of forbidden romance, revolutionary tactics and the harrowing fight for survival, Pandemonium will sweep you away on a journey that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.

As much as I enjoyed the character of Lena in Delirium, I must say in Pandemonium she absolutely blew me away. Even though the circumstances that have caused her personal growth have been harrowing enough to witness as a bystander, let alone experience them one on one, Lena has emerged like a phoenix from the ashes with a passion, strength and moral conviction that is a pleasure to behold.

Of course being set in a world where love is illegal and after the heart-shattering ending of Delirium, I expected a new leading man to appear and tug at our heart strings but I must admit I was worried that I would find my loyalties divided. Needless to say I worried over nothing; Oliver is well versed in the surprising twist and those of us who fell for Alex as well as Lena can stay true to his memory and find more than enough room in our heart for another. The characterisation is a joy to behold and the amazing new cast of characters added a wonderful new dimension to the plight. As for the ending … well prepare for your heart to leap out of your throat and to be on tenterhooks waiting for Requiem.

This is a world where you will find your feelings and convictions tested over and over, and a protagonist who will teach us all just what love is. Yet again Oliver had knocked me for six with another powerhouse of a must read.

Pandemonium-Lauren Oliver

Released: Feb 28 2012

Hodder and Stoughton

375 Pages

ISBN:978-1-444-72293-2

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?