Ever been for a walk in a thick wooded area and thought you saw something flit past? Or perhaps you have heard a soft childish giggle echo through the trees when no children are about?  If the answer is yes, then you have most likely been in the company of a Sprite without even knowing it.

Sprites are minor nature deities or nature Fae tasked with maintaining the natural balance of magic and nature and preserving “green areas”. Guardians of some of the most sacred magical places, Sprites are happy to let humans reside peacefully side-by-side unless a threat is raised.

It is believed the Alchemists of old, left offerings for the Sprites and in return were allowed to harvest herbs and flowers without hassle. Those that took without thanks, had the unfortunate horror of being “pixed” or hexed, with skin afflictions the most common and no doubt shaming result. An alarming and perhaps dangerous misconception, is the lumping of Sprites into the same category as  the common garden Faery (who are believed, on the whole, to be quite harmless and powerless). Although only minor on the scale of power that some of the Fae can punch, Sprites have the ability to harness the elements with such force, it is believed that they can in fact invoke floods, cyclones and bush fires.

As to the physical appearance of  Sprites … we again find ourselves in deep confusion. In some accounts they appear as breathtaking young maidens (especially those charged with protecting water). Other eyewitness accounts describe miniature versions of human children, with mischievous attitudes to match. Some theories also hold to the belief that Sprites can also change shape into plants, flowers and water when under threat (e.g. The Spiderwick Chronicles)

All in all, the same warning is repeated in all fables and myths – Sprites are a force to be reckoned with and deserve our utmost respect. So next time you think you see that glint in the corner of your eye, it may be prudent to leave a little offering, lest you find yourself pixed.

Some Sprite-ly Tales:

The Spiderwick Chronicles-Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Artemis Fowl– Eoin Colfer

Marianne has spoken at a lot of schools in the last couple of months, including last weekend at Voices on the Coast in Maroochydore. Here is some feedback from one of Marianne’s talks to the students at Moorebank HS in Sydney. This was reprinted from their school newsletter. If you’d like Marianne to speak at your school, contact Dorothy Tonkin at Random House Australia.

On the 23rd of March 2011 the author Marianne de Pierres came to visit some English students in years 9, 10 & 11. She came to talk about her new book which is her first book for young adults called ‘Burn Bright’. She talked about how to get into writing and what is the best way to start writing. She explained how her ideas for her short stories came around and told us that anything can start a story. She read a chapter from her new book and then told us that the story is based around her feelings from her childhood life at boarding school. The visit was really enjoyable and I cannot wait to read her book ‘Burn Bright’.

Shannon Yr 9

I really enjoyed the author visit. It was highly interesting to go and even though the trailer didn’t work it was fun watching what did work. Her story is unique and interesting and she explained a few concepts we weren’t sure about in the book itself. She told us how being an author is the best job in the world (which I agree with) and how she first got into it. She also told us how to get noticed if you wanted to start writing (which I found informative). I’m really glad Marianne de Pierres came to Moorebank High and we got to speak with her and buy her autographed book, Burn Bright!

Kelly Yr 9

On Wednesday the 23rd March students from year 9, 10 and 11 were invited to hear a guest author: Marianne de Pierres. Marianne has just published her first YA novel Burn Bright but she is well known in the book industry for her speculative fiction series Parrish Plessis and the award winning Tara Sharp humorous crime series (under the pseudonym Marianne Delacourt.) Marianne was happy to stay at the end to talk to interested students and sign copies of her novel.

Mrs Tierney Teacher Librarian

Marianne de Pierres is a riveting speaker. She described to us how her own experiences had paralleled those of her character, Retra, in her debut youth fiction, Burn Bright. She gave us a fascinating insight into the everyday life of an author; the work hours, the people she meets and even the places she goes. She joked that she doesn’t have to bother with dressing, preferring to lounge around at home in her pyjamas writing. Her visit was both enjoyable and persuasive, especially to the students who hold an interest in literature.

Lisa and Nik

How will you be dressed for Supanova Sydney and/or Perth? Not too long now and cosplay is going to be FANTASTIC this year.

You don’t have to go dressed as an anime character. Some of my favourite cosplayers in the last few years have been really inventive. We’ve had a really convincing Doctor Who and I don’t even think he was with the girl dressed as the Tardis.

We’ve seen Poison Ivy and I keep running into Batman. Hiya Batman!

But I thought this time with all the colourful people in music right now we could not go past two of the most glamorous ones in the industry, one male one female.

Aric of Beat That Face has the most impressive eyes I have seen on youtube, and they are the crowning glory to his take on Adam Lambert’s eye makeup from the For Your Entertainment album cover.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RQ-04Q0uY8 (there’s a funny skit before he does the tutorial)

Then the other stand out glamorous person in the last year had GOT to be Lady Gaga. Here’s MasqueradeMakeup’s version of the look Lady Gaga did in the Grammy Awards performance of Bad Romance.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNQZP-Loumk

But along with these two we should really look at two icons from the past as well, since everything old is new again. Cyndi Lauper is still rocking her signature look, but ‘back in the day’ she was the quintessential  pop icon and was more far out than Madonna when it came to hair and makeup… here is kandeejohnson’s take on recreating Lauper…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm7Gy9NdoIg (this is why anyone who lived through the 80’s would really rather they NOT come back)

And you can NOT talk music without mentioning the GODS of rock and roll KISS. Tinsoldier8 shows us how to do a Gene Simmons face…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_n6RuT7dj0

So don your fancy pants, grab your dancing shoes and a mic and rock on out at Supanova 2011.

Don’t forget to go on over and say hi to Marianne on the Dymocks stall!

The Dead-Tossed Waves is the first sequel – or companion – to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Ryan’s super successful zombie novel. I have to confess, I didn’t like The Forest of Hands and Teeth. In fact, it was one of my least favourite reads last year. I found it stilted, hard-going. So why did I bother with its companion? Well, late last year I reviewed a brilliant collection of short stories: ‘Zombies vs Unicorns’ right here at Burn Bright. One of the featured stories was ‘Bougainvillea’ by Carrie Ryan. It was set in the same world as TFoHaT, but with a different protagonist. I loved it. Bougainvillea made me want to know about Ryan’s dark world.

While TFoHaT is the story of Mary, The Dead-Tossed Waves is told from her daughter Gabry’s point of view, and set twenty (maybe more?) years in the future. Gabry is a far more likable character, not as tightly wound as her mother was (although Mary seems to have loosened up somewhat over the years).

Gabry and a group of teenage friends decide to risk all and escape for a night beyond the barrier, the wall that keeps them safe from the hoards of Mudo, also known as the Unconsecrated, or, as we would call them: Zombies. Unlike her mother, Gabry is scared. Scared of disobeying the rules, scared of dying – and scared of living. Of course, their adventure in an abandoned amusement park ends badly and that’s where the fun begins. Some of her friends are turned by a ‘Breaker’, or fast moving Mudo, some are killed and some are missing. Gabry escapes back to her lighthouse home, pretending she was never there that night while her surviving friends are left to accept the consequences of actions that could have endangered the survival of the human race. From our vantage point inside Gabry’s head, we learn how she copes with the guilt of betraying everyone she loves, and in turn, how she goes about setting that right. It is a fast-moving tale that sets you on edge; one minute you relax into a scene, thinking the characters are safe, the next something diabolical happens – no one is safe in a world full of Mudo.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a beautiful story of how one young woman can change everything. Gabry has real depth, it’s easy to empathise with her even while we cringe at her mistakes. Ryan has also managed to create a love triangle in a world full of stinking, rotting body parts that actually works. In fact, it’s kinda hard to decide which team you’re on – Gabry and Catcher’s or Gabry and Elias’. Ryan makes the reader question themselves – what matters more, lust or love? The evil you know, or the one you don’t? Is it really worth giving up all you know and love to ‘do the right thing?’

Unlike the first book, this one delves deeper into the character rather than the world around her, though somewhere along the way, we learn far more about this dystopian world than we did before. The Dead-Tossed Waves not only stands alone as an excellent read, but makes much more sense of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Just goes to show… it’s always worth giving an author or a series a second chance.

The Dead-Tossed Waves – Carrie Ryan

Published 08/02/11 by Random House

Paperback, 432 Pages

ISBN: 9780575090927

Bel Says

With the closure of the Angus and Robertson Grand Plaza, Sunnybank, and Garden City, and Borders closures at Garden City and the CBD stores; it has left the book-aholics on the south side of Brisbane really left out in the cold.

So what options do we have left to us? I’m not overly fond of buying books online but if it’s your thing, you can still buy books with Borders online, Amazon, Book Depository, and Ebay. I like my solid bricks and mortar stores far better.

The Really Good Book Shop on Jackson Road at Bowns Plains is very cool. There is still an Angus and Robertson near Anzac Square and I believe one at Loganholm and Indooropilly. There is Dymocks both in the CBD and at Indooropilly. QBD is in most decent sized shopping centers and one in the Myer center. Pulp Fiction is in the arcade down the escalators at central train station. There’s Rosemary’s Romance in The Blocksidge & Ferguson Arcade on Adelade Street (just go up in the lift) and a fantastic second hand book shop on Charlotte Street near Pancake Manor.
Oh and I forgot that Target, Kmart, and Big W seem to be stepping up to the plate in place of the two major stores that have taken a hit this year.

These are just some of the stores I frequent on my travels. I’m sure there are so many more stores out there my head would explode. I’d love to hear where you go on the South Side of Brisbane to feed your craving for books.

A P.S from Bec: Yes, it’s always sad to witness book store shrinkage/disappearance. I thought I’d add a few of my faves to Bel’s list. If you haven’t visited Black Cat Books in Paddington, go & have a looksee. It’s a small, indie store that stocks a great range of titles & features a gorgeous coffee shop/back yard wonderland downstairs. They also hold regular author events, so check their website for deets.

There’s also Riverbend Books on the ever-popular Oxford St, Bulimba, and TLC Books in Manly. Riverbend enjoy regular author talks and appearances, so check ’em out. My absolute fave is West End’s Avid Reader. Home to a couple of my favourite authors, Trent Jamieson & Krissy Kneen, Avid’s another indie wonder that hosts regular events & signings.

The wonderful Bent Books is just a stone’s throw from Avid, btw. In the CBD, you can always swing by the fantastic, Folio Books, American Bookstore or McGill’s Technical Books.  Last, but not least, are the Coaldrake’s stores. Whether you’re closer to the Paddo Barracks or Valley Emporium, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice in these gorgeous stores.