Have you ever wanted to be a zombie? Well here's your chance.
To celebrate the cover reveal of his upcoming book, My Zombie Summer: Part One: The Undead Road (which looks absolutely fantastic, FYI), David Powers King is offering up a once-in-a-lifetime-chance to fulfill those flesh-eating dreams go down in history as a zombie for all the world to see in the pages of his next novel, My Zombie Summer: Part Two.
Nothing brings the family together like a zombie apocalypse …
Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Barnes would rather watch a zombie movie than shoot a real one, but he has no choice if his family wants to survive the end of the world. Their plan? Drive across the
infected United States to a cabin in the Colorado Rockies without a scratch, but their trip takes a complicated detour in the middle of Nebraska when they find Kaylynn, a girl who can handle a
baseball bat better than Jeremy can hold a .45 Berretta. And when they stumble into a sanctuary, Jeremy soon learns that Kaylynn is stronger than she looks—a deadly secret lies inside her.
After the radio picks up a distress call from Kansas City about a possible cure, Jeremy’s parents go with a team to investigate. They never return. The only way to find their parents is for Jeremy
and his sister Jewel to rely on a dangerous girl who might just turn on them at any moment.
A while ago, David invited the blogosphere to let him turn one unfortunate lucky contestant into
a zombie for The Undead Road. The winner was Ilima Todd, who is now the awesome author of Remake. The next installment of My Zombie Summer is underway, and David wants to do this
contest again. Want to be in a zombie book? Not only is this your chance, but it is your choice!
Between now and next Wednesday, send an email to dpowersking [at] gmail [dot] com, with the subject line: Zombify Me! Contest. In your email, David wants you to tell him three things:
1: The name you will be identified as (example: your first name).
2: A description of yourself—the more detailed you are, the better.
3: How would you like the survivors to put you out of your misery?
Four casualties contestants will be chosen on Wednesday, November 25th. The most inventive or interesting entry will be zombified! The other three who are unlucky fortunate enough to survive
will be given special honors. Winners will be announced on December 2nd on David’s blog.
Prizes? The winner will be zombified in the pages of My Zombie Summer: Part Two, receive a signed proof of the novel (when it’s ready), and a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card. The runner ups will receive a free ebook of The Undead Road for their Kindle (other platforms TBA).
Thank you for participating, and good luck!
About the Author:
David Powers King was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to be a writer. He is the co-author of the YA fantasy novel WOVEN, published by Scholastic. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He currently lives deep in the mountain West with his wife and three children.
This is the final day of the Blog Party! and I just want to thank all of you, so much, for joining me. Thanks to you, it turned out spectacularly!
A special shout-out to May V, who was willing to hunt out contributors and spread the word about this crazy scheme.
And a big thanks to everyone who contributed. You were the ones who made it fun. ;)
Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour. And we're finally at the very top. So what's my very favorite of the all the character playlist songs? New Low by Middle Class Rut, from Chase's list. It's writhing with desperation, frustration, and determination. It's not really a feel-good song, but it embodies so much feeling. The reason it tops this list is how perfectly I think it illustrates that side of Chase that only he and Rory see. Again, this is a song you'll want for the finale.
Quote of the Day
Of Witches and Wind, pg 386
What Makes the Ever Afters So Special to You?
This is a darn good series. I love everything about it -from the fairy tales, to the friendships, to the character development, to the humor, to the detailed foreshadowing that will blow your mind. This is everything I've ever wanted in a story, but haven't found in one place until now.
These are my Book Soul Mates.
For me, so much of what I love about this revolves around the characters. You know when they talk about characters that jump off the pages? Are larger than life? That's what Rory, Chase, and Lena are to me. They've taken me on a fantastic journey and they feel like my very own friends. These stories make me want to be braver, more daring, and more adventurous, but they also make me want to love more, be kinder, and enjoy what I have. The good and the bad qualities in these three help me face my own good and bad sides, and they make me want to become better for it. I may not have to face trials like taking on an entire troll court single-handed, but because Rory did it, I feel like I could, too.
So bring on the troll court. I can take it.
And that's the deep philosophical question of the week. Take the floor, ladies.
May V:
The Ever Afters is my favourite series for many reasons. Seriously, I love it so much! Maybe too much.
The
plot, the characters, the author, and even my fellow readers all make
it a huge part of my life. I mean, the reason I am who I am today is
because of reading The Ever Afters.
However, before reading Of Giants and Ice, I never actually liked books. I always thought they were boring and a waste of time.
(I know, I know. You're all saying, "HOW DARE YOU!")
When
I was in sixth-grade (or Grade 6), I was so afraid to stand out and be
different because it seemed like everyone was supposed to act the same
way. So I didn't stand out. At all.
"You
look out the window and wonder when the good stuff happens--when your
life gets jump-started. You might not be sure what that real life will
be, but you know that this isn't really it."
-Rory Landon, OGAI. (Page 1.)
Soon,
school was out and it was the summer before seventh-grade. While I was
cleaning my room, I found a book on my old, dusty table.
The
cover read,"Of Giants and Ice." At first I thought, "Ew. It's a book." I
looked at the illustration of three kids holding swords. They are actually smiling, I thought. They have swords...that means they're fighters. They're brave! I read the back page, thinking, This book is different. They're different.
I guess you could say that's when my life actually began.
I started reading. I read all night, and I didn't care.
The Ever Afters is special to me because it changed
me. I started to look at the world with new eyes, as if magic could be
anywhere. As if I even had some magic in myself.
(I guess that's why I love Rory so much. I was a lot like her.)
My life would change, I promised myself, starting now.
"Your life starts when you start taking matters into your own hands--no matter how scared you might be."
-Rory Landon, OGAI. (Page 343.)
Pretty soon, I became addicted to books. I called myself a fangirl and a dreamer.
The
following school year, I became more confident in myself. I don't even
care if people judge me for loving books. Whenever I felt doubt, or that
I thought that I wasn't good enough, I remembered Rory--no matter what
challenges she went through, she always had courage and did what she
believed in.
If she can believe in her own story, I can too.
Haley R:
The Ever Afters series has been one of my favorite series for a couple
of years now and for good reason. Not only does it have some of the
most engaging books I've ever read, I have an emotional connection to a
lot of the characters and would physically cry if some of them die. I
never cry reading book or watching movies. One reason I love the series
is that I see myself in a lot of the characters. Lena's slightly nutty
love for science and inventing. The way that Maggie is overly cheerful
to cover up the fact that she's hurting. The way Rory is kind of
afraid about what her future will hold but she faces it bravely
nonetheless. Ben's great puns. Sherah's/Chatty's mischievousness.
Chase's love for food. How Lena is sometimes made fun of for her
brain. The way Rory wants to protect her family and friends.
Clare R.
Why I love the Ever Afters. First off, it’s full of fairy tales, which I
love. Also, the main character, Rory, is someone you can relate to. I
really love Rory with her optimism and spirit
I also love how it’s a kid's book, yet it touches on deeper meanings of
friendship and failure and deception and disappointment and much more. I
love the humor, the other characters, the plot, and genre, and
basically everything about it! It’s everything I could ask for in a book
and more!
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party!
giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th. The winner will be announced tomorrow. (Giveaway open only to US residents.) You can tweet daily for even more chances to win!
Can you believe Of Enemies and Endings hits the shelves tomorrow? Whose already pre-ordered a copy? We're going to bring The Ever Afters finale in right. Today, we're sharing pet theories and predictions of what's going to happen before the end.
Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour. #2 in the Character Playlist Countdown is something you'll want to have on hand when you start reading OEAE. Apres Moi by Regina Spektor comes from Solange's playlist. It's intense, unpredictable, moving, and operatic. It's flamboyant and frightening at the same time, like The Snow Queen herself.
(It's also fun to pair it with Hero
by Regina Spektor, a song on Rory's playlist. Ms. Bach talked about how
much it helped her write the characters for the villain and hero to
have complimentary songs by the same artist.)
Quote of the Day
Of Enemies and Endings Predictions
Some of you know that I've already read and reviewed OEAE, but don't panic. These are predictions I wrote up before then, I just decided to save them for the Blog Party! In other words, they're still spoiler-free.
Hold onto your hats, because these are all...intense.
Solange will attempt to prove once and for all that Rory is just like her. She's already stated as much throughout the series, like in OWAW (pg 352) "I was the direction your life was headed...you would have become me, if you had lived." I suspect this will happen by Solange attempting to draw a final parallel between her and Rory.
This final parallel could be tragic. Possibly involving Chase. Consider this other line from OWAW (pg 50) when Rory finds Sebastian "The stone soldier was looking sidelong, a sad smile forever frozen around his mouth, his shoulders hunched forward -he'd been protecting something when the spell had hit him, something precious. Or maybe someone."
Someone will try to revive Sebastian.
We'll get to find out more about Solange and her Tale and her journey to becoming evil.
So there are some of my predictions for Of Enemies and Endings.
What about your favorite pet theories? Share them now! Haley R:
Sebastian will be unfrozen and will have some part in the Snow Queen's demise.
Hansel will die.
The Snow Queen's heart is in a box and by finding the box, Rory or someone will kill her.
This isn't exactly mine but I agree with it. I think that Adelaide will be using the wishing coin to influence Chase in some way.
Sherah will get legs or something that gives her legs.
Aurora H:
I have a pet theory that I don't think can actually canonically come to pass, but I'll share it anyway.
That
a member of the Canon will give up their golden apple during the war to
a fatally injured person, and then go out on the battlefield and die.
My
top candidate is the Director, going out to confront Solange. Cue the
emotional drama, friendship and betrayal talk, and Mildred gets a blast
of ice to the heart.
Second choice is Hansel, who saves Rory from impending doom, and dies with a remark about her swordwork.
Both
of those would likely turn to dust before being able to confront, but
that would still be feelsy enough, just them giving up their apple. In
my opinion.
So many possibilities!
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party!
giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, and I'll announce
the winner the next day. (Giveaway open only to US residents.) You can tweet daily for even more chances to win!
So glad you're back! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. It's Day 5, here at The Ever Afters Blog Party!, and the weather is looking sunny with a chance of fangirling. I have something super, super cool for you today, so let's get started!
Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour. It's an unfortunate truth that people in your life are going to judge you, whether they have the right to or not. I was experiencing a situation like this when I first really listened to #3 in the countdown, That's Alright by Laura Mvula from Lena's Playlist. There was a line that reached out and grabbed me.
Who made you the center of the universe?
Who made you judge and jury over me?
Now this is one of my fighting songs. I turn it up when I feel like I'm being judged unfairly or that I'm not meeting the approval of someone whose opinion shouldn't matter to me any way. Plus, it's such a fun and bouncy beat!
Quote of the Day:
What is your Favorite Scene or Moment in the series so far?
I had to pick two:
My first favorite scene is the ending from Of Witches and Wind. The adventure is over, things are getting back to normal, Rory figured out how best to stand up to her homeroom bullies -and then Chase shows up. Given that a good chunk of the story line was focused on Rory's fear that she didn't matter as much to her friends as they did to her, that moment that Chase walks into her homeroom class in the midst of Madison and her KATs makes me giddy. Every. Time. Forget the Chaurora factor; Chase is just an awesome friend.
"So? Good surprise or bad surprise?"
"Good surprise. Definitely good."
-page 386
Of course, I have to say the scene at Titania's ball in Of Sorcery and Snow.
"Rory, your shoes look the least dangerous." Chase grabbed my hand. His palms were hot. "You're with me." -page 108
Chase is so adorable, trying not to be obvious, and Rory's mostly clueless.
It wasn't the enchantment. Chase is what made me like this so much.
page 111
It's just so perfect and awkward and adorable!
I realize these are both basically Chaurora scenes. I didn't think I was quite that obsessed about the pairing, but I know if I were to list my favorite scenes in OGAI and OEAE, they would be centered on Chase and Rory too. Hopefully, the more I read the series, the more favorite moments and characters I'll find. That's the best thing about a series that's still so much fun the fourth or fifth or even fiftieth time -you'll be in a different place in your life, with a different mindset, so you'll always find a new favorite part.
Clare R
My favorite scene/moment is… well, besides Chapter 7… Rory had just
killed Mark, and was really depressed, and then Chase comforted her with
his story and the world turned right again XDXDXD. It was a simple
moment, but revealed a lot about Chase’s character and was just so
Chaurora.
See? It's not just me. Chaurora. ;)
Jon T.
My
favorite scene is when Rory and Chase face off with the dragon in its
cave in Yellowstone. For a novice, and her first encounter with a
dragon, Rory did a kickin job of responding to the dragon's attack and
saving Chase and herself. Way to go Rory. Then George dispatched the
dragon. What a team.
What's better than talking with fellow Characters about your favorite scenes? Hearing what the author's favorite scenes are. ^_^ Shelby Bach stopped by to share a few of her all-time favorite scenes from the series, so sit back and enjoy!
~*~
It’s impossible for me to
pick one all time favorite scene in the series, so instead, I selected a
handful! (Disclaimer: These picks are FULL of spoilers….)
Of Giants and Ice
The scene at the end of
Lena’s Tale, when Jimmy Searcaster climbs on to the beanstalk, trying to catch
the Triumvirate, and helping Chase down, she knows they won’t make it down in
time.
You can click on the image to enlarge it!
This was one of the first
scenes I imagined for the series, and I looked forward to writing it the WHOLEtime I was drafting Of Giants and Ice.
Of
Witches and Wind
The scene in the Glass
Mountain, right after Rory and Chase rescue Ben, when Mia is chasing them.
I can’t read this part
without giggling!
Of Sorcery and Snow
The scene when Chase uses
that wishing coin in the Snow Queen’s dungeon.
This scene was not in the outline. Actually, I didn’t
realize how important it would to be the book—to Chase’s character development
in general—until the idea struck me one Sunday.
I planned to just jot down
some notes on some index cards. I ended up filling eleven with the whole scene.
It didn’t even need much revising in the next few drafts.
Of Enemies and Endings
Ahhh, so many favorites! And
I can’t share any of them in detail, because they are major spoilers. So, I’ll
just have tell you where they are in the book:
The last six pages of Chapter 13: They never fail to make me
emotional.
Lena on pages 361 and 362: Lena
proves—yet again—that she is made of awesome.
The library and courtyard
scenes at the end of Chapter 23: The day after I finished the first draft of OE&E, this scene was still bugging
me. So, I went back and rewrote it, and now, I grin whenever I reread it.
~*~
A big thanks to Ms. Bach for playing along! Now who is UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED to read Of Enemies and Endings?!
Two days.
That's it.
Just TWO. DAYS.
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party!
giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, and I'll announce
the winner the next day. (Giveaway open only to US residents.) You can tweet daily for even more chances to win!
They were tired out from their adventures, so I used my sly photo-taking skills to get some close-ups of the details. You can see Lena's hair is actually braided and strung with beads; Rory has a tiny patch of the Ever After School crest; Chase even has pockets on his cargo pants; Rory's sweatshirt was made with exacting detail; need I even mention HOW AWESOME LENA'S CONVERSE ARE?! Each doll bears the Lazy Blue Daisy trademark on the back of their foot. ^_^
It's day three already! And do you know what that means? Five days to Of Enemies and Endings! Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour I participated in last November. #5 comes from Solange's playlist. I fell in love with her songs, because they all had such bursting music, powerful singing, and a quality both gorgeous and haunting. The World is Not Enough by Garbage, in particular, is eerie and stunning. Before you go any further, experience the chill factor and gear up for Solange's final move on June 30th.
Quote of the Day:
Of Witches and Wind, pg 175
This is still one of my favorite Chase lines. He's just like, Gosh, Rory, you found out my big secret a day ago and YOU ALREADY FORGOT?
Favorite Character
So who's your favorite character? Or maybe your top two, if you can't narrow it down. ;)
You might have gotten the hint, but my favorite, hands down, has always been Chase Turnleaf. I first liked him because he's funny and cocky, but even in the beginning of OGAI, you could tell there was a good kid under the jerk side -somewhere. I loved watching his and Rory's friendship develop up the beanstalk; it's still one of my favorite storytelling bits of ALL TIME, seeing them go from enemies to best friends.
As the series develops, I love his fierce devotion to his friends. He might make fun of Lena and Rory sometimes, but he doesn't let anybody else say bad things about them, and he'll defend them from anybody, even his idolized dad. He's not only self-confident, but he's confident about his friends. He pushes them to be better, because he knows what they're capable of, and he builds their own self-confidence. He's half coach, half cheer squad, and he definitely makes Rory a better person (and vice versa). His personal development in OWAW blows me away every time. To see what he was and what he became, to know what he went through to fight for what he wanted. The fact that after all that, he can still laugh and look at the world with so much optimism shows such incredible personal strength. Plus, wings. And magic. And a secret back story. Story magic, right there. And, okay, he's totally sweet with Rory. Do I need to bring up OSAS chapter 7 again? Not only that, he acts as a pillar for Rory. He makes her laugh, he pushes her to be the best she can, but he supports her, too, and he usually knows what to say to make her feel better or make sense of things. He can simultaneously protect her and support her and I love that.
May V. says:
My favourite character is Rory Landon because no matter what challenges
she faces, whether it's in the fairytale world or in the real world, she
does whatever it takes to do the right thing. Sometimes Rory just
freezes and stands there, unsure of what to do, but she always pushes
away her fears in the determination to help others.
I also admire her because I feel that I can relate to her. She used to
feel that the life she was living wasn't actually the life she was
supposed to live. But when she tried something new, her life became more
exciting for her.
I admire Rory for her bravery, selflessness, kindness, understanding,
determination, and strength. Hopefully, one day, I can be like her.
To be like Rory Landon is a good goal indeed! She's got so many fantastic traits and -I have to agree, May- she's easy to relate to. Watching her deal with her fears and insecurities helps me face my own. This is one reason I plan to give this series to all of my niblings (nieces and nephews) because Rory Landon especially, but also so many of the other characters, would be spectacular role models for kids. Plus, they're just darn good books!
And this just in from Brookanna:
My favorite character in the Ever After series is Chase. Putting aside the whole part-fae thing (which is awesome), Chase is a great, relatable character. He wants things that most people want - popularity, a reputation, pretty girls…and while he sometimes loses sight of what's really important, it doesn't take much to remind him that loyalty and heroism are more worthwhile in the long run. As the series continues, he develops into a stronger character with a more accurate moral compass, kind of the way we all hope to develop in our own lives. Another great aspect to Chase's character is the way he wants to distinguish himself after living in his father's shadow. He wants so badly to make his mark, but to a large extent he feels like his destiny is out of his control (a feeling most of us can relate to). Chase doesn't wallow in self-pity - he exercises discipline and develops the skills that he will need when he does get his big chance, so that when his Tale does come, he is ready for it, and ready to make the most of it.
What she said. ^^ Chase Turnleaf for the win!
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party! giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, and I'll announce the winner the next day. (Giveaway open only to US residents.)
Apparently Chase convinced them to scale the bookshelves using yarn as rope. He didn't realize this form doesn't have wings. Poor Chase. Still not sure how he convinced Rory to climb up...
