If you’re a Melbournite you have the chance on May 4th to attend a kaffee klatsch with Alison Goodman (Eon/Eona) and Marianne. There is a maximum limit for this free event. So email b.asciak (at ) gmail (dot) com and register your interest. Start time will be after 4pm, at a place to be decided in the CBD.

Marianne here,

I was having a bad morning, lost my expensive new distance glasses and had a few other negative family things happen (which I won’t bore you with!). Then in the flip of a wrist, the blink of an eye, things got better.

It began with this amazing review of Burn Bright by Dr Karen Brooks:

” This is such a fast-paced, tight narrative with absolutely splendid and evocative writing. de Pierres knows how to hook the reader – her metaphors are sharp and powerful – you breathe the air of Ixion, you feel the effects of the tablets the young initiates swallow and you experience the pulsating terror that the night creatures evoke … I was reminded of other fabulous narratives such as Logan’s Run or the Hunger Games. I want to resist comparisons – but, while drawing on some similar themes, I feel Burn Bright is better than either of these. It is so original and intoxicating…” Read the entire review here.

That got me off my seat doing Belinda’s Happy Dag Dance. I have enormous respect for Karen Brooks. She’s a brilliant writer and critic and social commentator. If you don’t know what I’m referring to then read her bio. She is also a delighful, charming individual and a strong, intelligent woman. Needless to say, I’m thrilled!

This was followed by news that my pal Alison Goodman of Eon/Eona fame will be joining me for a kaffee klatsch in Melbourne soon (email Braiden if you’d like to attend: basciak (at) gmail (dot) com Places strictly limited.)

Then, a photo popped up on FB of me with my twin sister, Isobelle Carmody (it’s a psychic connection!) which made me grin no end.

These lovely moments were heightened by Janette Dalgliesh, just this morning, joining the Tara Sharp team; this rather cool blog post about loving speculative fiction from Holly Harper at Readings Books, entitled The Myth of Fanatsy; and finally, The Spotlight Reports feature on Yunyu and I, today.

Whew! Pinching myself for all the goodness. Now sending it your way as well.

MDP xx

*Melbourne Readers All*, I’ll be in town in the first week of May on Book Tour and have some time to spare on the Tuesday that week if you’d like me to visit your school or bookshop. You can contact me about this through here or via the contact forms on my other websites. First in best dressed! Would love to come and meet you!

Meanwhile in other news, Burn Bright continues to get most gratifying reviews, which I am accumulating over here. I’ve also just done an interview with YA Concoction, and She Who is Know as Jess, and Eleusinian Mysteries are doing Burn Bright giveaways of their own volition. Many thanks guys! And Missie at The Unread Reader has included Burn Bright in her YA Aussie Book Tour.

I am still receiving many emails from people asking about how they can buy Burn Bright. At the moment, you can only buy it in Australia and New Zealand. However, we hope to sell it in the USA other places in the world over the coming months. If you would like to be able to buy the books wherever you are, then may I suggest you blog about that desire, and mention it on all your social networks. That will help a great deal! And please consider liking the Burn Bright Facebook page.

I can tell you though, that it will be published in Turkey in early 2012! Woohoo for our first international translation!

The other good news is that Yunyu’s song, Angel Arias is now available all around the world.

So what in the heck is a grablet??? Well it’s a grab letter and I’ll be offering a limited amount of them to celebrate the launch of Burn Bright. All you have to do is send a SSAE (stamped self addressed envelope) to Burn Bright Grablet, PO Box 5473, Alexandra Hills, Brisbane, Queensland. 4161, Australia. And in your return envelope you’ll get a bookmark, a sticker (see the Stickers Page in[intlink id=”4454″ type=”page”] Extras[/intlink] for other choices), and a signed Glitter Rose bookplate.