On Location with Jennifer Hillier

There's another great event upcoming, if you live in the Greater Toronto Area. Jennifer Hillier, a Canadian author, will be launching her debut novel, Creep,  on November 7th. Check out the flyer below for more info:

To read more about Jennifer's work, check out her website here. She's already got a second book in the works and let me tell you, any book that has Jeffery Deaver telling you to lock your doors, sounds like a win to me! Hope you can make it out to the event.

Review: Betsy Wickwire's Dirty Secret by Vicki Grant

Betsy’s life is officially over: Dumped by her boyfriend, betrayed by her best friend . . . how is she ever going to show her face again? 

Determined to avoid everyone and everything from her previous life, Betsy stumbles into an unusual café and an even more unusual girl. Dolores Morris—a mouthy, green-haired outsider Betsy can’t quite remember from school—talks her into starting a cleaning service. Before she knows it, Betsy is down on her knees, dressed like a dust bunny, scrubbing strangers’ toilets. 

It’s a long way for the most popular girl in school to have fallen. But Betsy finds comfort in the wine bottles and prescriptions and other dirty secrets she finds hidden in her clients’ homes. She also finds love with a client’s son, friendship with Dolores and a liberated sense of herself. Her new life soon falls apart, though, when valuables begin to go missing from some of the homes she and Dolores have been cleaning. Betsy discovers the hard way that not all dirty secrets can just be swept under the rug.

Available from  Chapters, HarperCollins Canada,

Betsy Wickwire's story is a completely relatable one: having your heart broken in such an overwhelming manner has happened a million times over. And Betsy's ensuing desire to hide herself from the world....well,who hasn't wanted to do that at one time or another? It's these initial reactions to Vicki Grant's Betsy Wickwire's Dirty Secret  that had me hooked..

Review: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Format: Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (Jan 13 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554682738
ISBN-13: 978-1554682737

From the Publisher:

Kelley Winslow is living her dream. Seventeen years old, she has moved to New York City and started work with a theatre company. Sure, she’s only an understudy for the Avalon Players, a third-tier repertory company so far off-Broadway it might as well be in Hoboken, but things are looking up—the lead has broken her ankle and Kelley’s about to step into the role of Titania the Faerie Queen in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But Faeries are far more real than Kelley thinks, and a chance encounter in Central Park with a handsome young man named Sonny Flannery plunges her into an adventure she could never have imagined. Sonny and Kelley find themselves drawn to each other—and into a terrible plot that could spell disaster for both New York and the Faerie realm alike.

In My Opinion:

I vaguely remember seeing the movie adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream but haven't read the Shakespeare original, so I was very interested in reading a modern day YA version of this story (it's kind of like cheating a bit, I know or at least I thought so, lol)

We start off in modern day New York, meeting the main character Kelley. What struck me as unusual here is that Kelley is 17 and living on her own (though sharing an apartment with another girl.) But Kelley is fiercely independent and strong willed. I think in reality, this probably happens more than I'm aware of out in the suburbs, with young adults heading to the big city to realize their dreams. It also neatly tidies up the sometimes underplayed roles of parents in YA books. So, kudos to Lesley Livingston for making this believable!

As Kelley runs into Sonny and strange things begin to happen, Kelley's true identity is revealed. It also seems that New York is full of people more unusual than we humans could have imagined, though the Fairy King, Auberon, has been trying to minimize the exposure of otherworldly creatues for quite some time. The Celtic mythology woven through the story and the explanation of Old World versus New World was very well done.

I very much enjoyed the ethereal quality of Wondrous Strange. I loved the chemistry between Kelley and Sonny and had my heart in my throat towards the end, wondering if Sonny would escape unscathed from a certain enchantment. I found that the story wrapped up nicely but also left enough curiousity in me that I'll definitely be continuing on with Darklight.

It would have been nice to have had the background of Shakespeare's tale but it was not necessary to enjoy this book. I am curious to see if the Wondrous Strange version of the Fairy heirarchy is similar (or relevant) in both. So, I'll put Shakespeare on the TBR, but Darklight will be up much sooner. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

If you'd like to browse through Wondrous Strange, you can sample the first 20% of the book at the Harper Collins website by clicking on the book cover above. Enjoy!

Press release: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

This was a press release I received from Barbara at Penguin Group Canada and I thought it would be great to share it here. I only wish I could have participated in the online auction! This is a fantastic author, along with his phenomenal publisher, doing something for a wonderful cause.

For Immediate Release

Online charity auction of new Guy Gavriel Kay novel amasses final bid of over $500; matching bids donated to Indigo’s Love of Reading fund

Toronto – March 26, 2010 To celebrate the launch of Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay’s much anticipated new novel, Penguin Group (Canada) announced earlier this month that the first book off the press, autographed by the author, was up for bids on Ebay.com. Signed and verified by the publisher, it included a product identification slip and letter from the printing press identifying the book as the first copy printed in Canada. The auction wrapped up with a bid of CDN $535 submitted by Neil Negandhi of Toronto.

Negandhi, a long time fan, has also won an auction of the first copy/first edition of Kay’s Lord of Emperors in 2000, and another for the first copy of Ysabel in 2007. “I’m really looking forward to diving into another one of Kay’s beautifully constructed stories, this time half a world away in ancient China. Supported by fascinating characters and settings, Kay’s thoughtful writing always elevates his work into memorable explorations of ideas,” he raved.

Kay will match the winning bid and Penguin Group (Canada) will contribute $500 for a final sum of CDN $1570 to be donated to Indigo Books & Music, Inc.’s Love of Reading Fund. The fund directly supports high-needs elementary school literacy programs across Canada.

Earlier this month, Penguin Group (Canada) launched GuyGavrielKay.ca, a website dedicated entirely to Kay’s oeuvre, and featuring an array of music files, artwork, and downloadable wallpaper and posters, plus a first chapter excerpt of Under Heaven, a journal by the author, Twitter and Facebook links, book synopsis, and Canadian tour information.

Under Heaven is on-sale in Canada this week. Inspired by the glory of Tang Dynasty China in the eighth century, Guy Gavriel Kay melds history and the fantastic into something both powerful and emotionally compelling. Under Heaven is a novel on the grandest narrative scale, encompassing the intimate details of individual lives in an unforgettable time and place.

Guy Gavriel Kay is the author of ten previous novels and an acclaimed collection of poetry, Beyond This Dark House. His work has been translated into twenty-two languages and has sold over two million copies worldwide. Kay has twice won the Aurora Award, is a three-time World Fantasy Award nominee, and is the recipient of the International Goliardos Award for his contributions to the literature of the fantastic. He is currently writing the screenplay for the second of his novels in development for film. Last Light of the Sun has been optioned by Chartoff Productions and Ravinett Productions.

Celebrating its 75th birthday in 2010, Penguin Group (Penguin.com) is one of the world’s largest English-language trade book publishers, has established divisions and key market positions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, China, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

Penguin Group Canada, founded in 1974, is one of Canada’s leading trade publishers, publishing and distributing a wide range of imprints including Allen Lane, Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, Hamish Hamilton Canada, New American Library, Penguin Books, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. Penguin Group Canada proudly distributes Bloomsbury, Faber & Faber UK, Hippocrene, Prometheus and WW Norton & Sons in Canada.

Review: Neil Flambe and the Marco Polo Murders by Kevin Sylvester

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Key Porter Books; 1st edition edition (Feb 18 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554702666
ISBN-13: 978-1554702664

Product Description:

Neil Flambé is a fourteen-year-old wunderchef. He can cook anything, and he brags that he can cook it better than anyone else. He`s cocky, but he may also be right. Patrons pay top dollar and wait months for reservations at his tiny, boutique restaurant. What many of Neil’s patrons don’t know is that he’s also a budding detective. It all started when he used his knowledge of cooking and his incredible sense of smell to acquit his mother’s client of murder. Ever since, Police Inspector Sean Nakamura has relied on Neil to help him crack case after case. Now, the city’s crime scene has taken a turn for the personal. Some of the best chefs in town are turning up dead. The cops are stumped; the only real clues are a mysterious smell and some equally mysterious notes that seem to have something to do with Marco Polo. As more chefs fall prey to the killer, Neil finds himself working not only to solve the murders, but to eliminate himself as the prime suspect!

This story starts off with the impending death of Marco Polo and a secret he shared with only one other person. This secret becomes the underlying story to the deaths that surround our young protagonist, Neil Flambe.

What I enjoyed in this book was the historical references to Marco Polo's journeys and his dealings with Kublai Khan. While I have heard of these two figures ("In Xanadu did Kublai Khan a stately pleasure dome decree..."), I had no deeper knowledge than basically their names and the begininning of the famous poem. Kevin Sylvester takes a cute book, intended for young readers, and spins in some history and learning (just don't tell the kids!)

The chapters were about 4 pages long; the story was fast paced and fun (except for the poor murder victims, but it is fiction, right?) This is a book I will give to my daughter to read in a year or two (when she's 9 or 10.)

There are parts of this book that are a little far-fetched. Neil, the 14 year-old wunder-chef and his abilities as a "nez", sniffing out the clues, may be unrealistic, but it was still enjoyable. I must say though, if Neil was my son, he'd have been grounded through much of the book for his bad (superior to everyone) attitude!

It is evident Kevin Sylvester knows his way around a spice rack, or at least, has done some yummy research. Neil Flambe and the Marco Polo Murders is chock full of edible alliteration (and other culinary references) with a dash of history and mystery; this makes a recipe for one fun, entertaining read! I look forward to seeing what adventures Neil Flambe has in store for us next!

Author Interview and Book Trailer - Rhythym and Blues by Jill Murray

I am very excited today to present my first ever author interview! From a tweet I found last week, I discovered Jill Murray, author of Break on Through, her first novel, and now, her latest release, Rhythym and Blues.

Jill is a cool, approachable author (that answered my questions in record time); she's also Canadian, so I'm happy to share with the blogging world this new discovery for me. So, sit back and enjoy as we discuss Rhythym and Blues, writing, publishing, and what moves make a b-girl! Also, check out the book trailer at the bottom of this post that the all-talented Jill Murray created herself....talk about versatile :-)

EEL - Tell us a bit about the book and your inspiration for writing it:


Jill - Rhythm and Blues is a spin-off of my first novel, Break On Through. In that book, Alya is probably the character about whom we learn the least, and so it seemed like an exciting prospect to have her grow into a story all her own. She gets recruited into a an all-girl pop-R&B group, and the story takes off from there.

EEL - Rhythym & Blues is your sophomore novel. Did you find it easier to write the second time around?

Jill - Every novel I complete and then see through the editorial process teaches me something-- a lot of things. This makes it possible to grow as a writer and make entirely new mistakes on each new project. Rather than getting easier, it remains infinitely difficult. This challenge is what's appealing, and hopefully it means my writing is getting better all the time.

EEL - I've read that your first novel, Break on Through, was not initially intended as a YA novel. Did that hold true with R&B too? Or does the age range just feel like a better fit with your writing and/or choice of topic?

Jill - Break on Through was always a YA novel. It was a never-published manuscript I wrote prior to starting Break on Through that began its life as a regular old adult novel and then had "YA" prepended to it in later drafts. I like writing for young adult voices, but I don't know if it's a question of fit or preference. It's what I'm doing right now.

EEL - Breakdancing is a recurring theme in your novels and obviously a love of yours - do you think that recent main stream exposure on TV (ie. So You Think You Can Dance, America's Best Dance Crew, etc.) has given the dance form more mass appeal or have they taken the "street" out of it & watered it down?

Jill - B-girling is a very young dance form. To expect it to stay the same forever is asking too much. If it's anything like ballet, it will barely be recognizable as itself 300 years from now. If we want it to last that long, we have to let it grow and change. Its roots will always be what they are, and the street will always be a part of that. I don't think it's something that any one interpretation or representation of it can detract from.

EEL - Rhythym & Blues has been dubbed "LGBT-friendly" - how has the response been so far, regarding a teen novel with this label? Are you seeing much more openmindedness in this regard (ie. a widening of the market)?

Jill - Things are off to a good start with a great review on the Queer YA blog (DaisyPorter.org/Queer YA). I think teens, especially teens who read, are already very open-minded. They're probably confused that the rest of us are so slow to get with the program sometimes.

EEL - What is Alya's favourite dance move?

Jill - Alya loves the big new thing she's learning RIGHT NOW. Something hard. Something that looks impossible, but feels amazing. Sometimes, a huge leap, that lets her fly through the room and take up space. Sometimes, something so subtle and smooth, you'd swear she was made of liquid-- once she's practiced it a thousand times.

EEL - Montreal vs Toronto - which has the better b-boy/girl scene?

Jill - The scenes are SO different. When I first arrived back in Montreal, I was astounded by the sheer number of really strong b-girls in the scene, in particular. Also, of the willingness of guys and girls alike to take classes. When you think of how much smaller Montreal is in population, it's amazing how much depth and variety there is to the dancing here-- not just in breaking, but in many genres across the board-- not to take anything away from Toronto. The two break scenes are very friendly with one another. For instance, the owners of Street Dance Academy in Toronto, and Studio Sweat Shop in Montreal are good friends.

EEL - When did you start break-dancing? How often do you practice now?

Jill - I started in my mid 20s, in Toronto, just recreationally. I've been doing it on and off for years, between injuries, and crazy work schedules, and writing projects, and all the adult stuff that life is crammed with. These days I'm doing more House dancing, and I've been getting back to yoga, which feels really good. In February, at Studio Sweatshop, I did SweatFest, which was 28 classes of all kinds, in 28 days. That was unusual but fun. I don't normally get to dance that much.

EEL - You are your own webmaster, how do you think the internet affects book promotion/exposure? Is it more effective with a hands-on approach from the author, herself?

Jill - I think it's most effective when you can work in tandem with your publisher. When I think of an idea, I let my publisher know about it, and I ask for input or help when it's appropriate. The stuff I make (like my book trailer: http://www.jillmurray.com/2010/03/24/book-trailer-rhythm-and-blues/) gives them more to work with, and I try to find out what kinds of things would be most helpful to them. I want to multiply my options by being creative and available for promo opportunities. At the end of the day, your publisher has one or several of your books to promote, but only you can look out for your whole career; not being hands on isn't a serious option.

EEL - Did you find it hard as a Canadian author to find a publisher or agent? Has your work crossed our borders yet?

Jill - We're still working on getting my work out of the country. We're pretty lucky in Canada, to have good Canadian publishers who can make editorial decisions on their own terms. Sometimes it seems like they have more flexibility than say, American publishers, who strike me as more aggressively market-driven-- which of course has other benefits. I don't think that being in Canada is holding me back. It's just a matter of writing the right story for the right place at the right time. It'll all come together when it's good and ready.

EEL - You write, sing (according to your publisher), dance, web design and do event speaking - is there anything that you are afraid to do or something that you're dying to try but haven't yet?

Jill - I was afraid of breaking before I tried it, but it looked way too fun not to. My reaction to fear is usually to force myself through it (after a period of building myself up.) Just the simple act of trying something usually shows me an aspect of life I hadn't noticed before. And everything is less scary if you tell yourself you're allowed to totally suck at it. I don't try these things because I think I'll be a hotshot at them. I just want to know what they feel like.

EEL - What is your favourite dance move? And, for the non-breakdancer, is there a simple move that we could try at home?

Jill - I'm rather a fan of anything that involves backbends, or turning, because I have a leftover addiction to spinning, from my figure skating days.
I think the simplest, best "move" anyone can try is go to a place where people are dancing, and join them. Just that is so intimidating for so many people-- guys especially, in my experience. So I say, get on that dance floor, enjoy the music, and see for yourself how much no one else cares what you look like, and how great it feels to burn off energy in time with the beat.

I want to thank Jill for taking the time to be here with us today. And while this may not have been the most hard-hitting, edgy interview, I hope you all enjoyed it and leave here curious to check out Jill's work. I will be reviewing Rhythym and Blues soon, so keep an eye out for it!

Review: Love Struck: A Novel by Chantel Simmons

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Key Porter Books (Feb 15 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554702585
ISBN-13: 978-1554702589

Product Description:

In the vein of her popular debut novel, Stuck in Downward Dog, author Chantel Simmons brings us a funny, heartfelt story about losing the perfect life—and finding a real one. When twenty-seven-year-old image consultant Poppy Ross discovers that her handsome and seemingly devoted husband Parker is having an affair, she is dumbfounded. Before she has chance to confront him, however, he is struck by lightning. When he regains consciousness, he has lost his short-term memory—including that of the affair. Given a chance to erase history and possible save her marriage, Poppy decides to remake herself in the mistress’s image, so that Parker might never be tempted to stray again. Her quest to become his perfect woman has disastrous and hilarious results—and might turn out to be the worst thing possible for her marriage.

From very early on, I wanted to give Poppy Ross a big smack upside the head! She is the embodiment of all paranoias that we woman experience at times: about our looks, our relationships, the value of our lives, etc. But she takes these to new, undiscovered (sometimes scary) levels. From Poppy's perspective, who wouldn't go a little crazy knowing that their "competition" is a voluptuous, sexy, British-accented husband stealer?

But "perspective" is the key word here. Poppy runs around trying to correct her deficiencies based on assumptions, however right or wrong they may be. The hilarity ensues from Poppy's attempts to become new and improved (funny for us, not so much for Poppy.) Let's just say I've learned a few valuable lessons about so-called self-improvement that will prevent me from trying certain things popular in today's society. (Give me Crest White Strips over dental "whitening" any day, lol.)

I also didn't really like Parker's character much. But, again, we're seeing things through Poppy's eyes, so his qualities may seem lacking in this skewed vision. Too often she says that she changed because of or for him; never a good reason to change, right? But, as things unfolded, Parker becomes a much better character; that is, as we get out of Poppy's head and into their lives. Poppy seriously needed to remove her head from...well, you know.

This was a fun book but also highlighted the fact the communication is very important in any relationship (and, no, I don't mean spending Friday nights home talking about your feelings, lol.) It also emphasizes the importance of the life-work balance that can be very off balance into todays world.

For me, Chantel Simmons offers up a funny look at life, relationships, and the disasters that can potentially happen when a couple get into a funk. She does this from a local-to-me setting which is always an added bonus. Very cute.