Zombie Swimmer: My first video

I’ve been doing a little experimenting with a video camera for a class I’m taking. My first video is posted over at Project Mayhem. It’s a little on the silly side.

Happy Halloween!!!

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Friday Photo and a Winner

This photo, taken this in some small town outside of Milan, exemplifies the feel of Nightshade City for me. I read Nightshade City while I was in Italy and since Hilary’s writing has an old-world style  to it, reading it amongst buildings several hundred years old really added to the immediacy of the story. I’m pretty sure I saw Billycan’s shadow darken the window above.

And the winner of both Nightshade City and The White Assassin–I used a random number generator to choose–is Natalie Bahm.

Oh, Natalie. Where art thou? Come hither and collect your prize!!

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THE WHITE ASSASSIN WICKED AWESOME BLOG TOUR!

The White Assassin
Book II of the Nightshade Chronicles
by Hilary Wagner

The White Assassin
Book II of the Nightshade Chronicles
by Hilary Wagner

Publisher: Holiday House

Pub Date: October 11th, 2011
ISBN: 9780823423330

Ages: 9 up

Official Website: www.nightshadecity.com

Blog: www.hilarywagner.blogspot.com

Okay people, here’s my take on both The White Assassin and Nightshade City (that’s book one of The Nightshade Chronicles): Hilary Wagner has created this super cool world that has a sort-of old-world Gothic feel to it. She’s populated this world with some incredibly memorable characters and woven a complex and well-layered plot.

Plus, even if you don’t read much fantasy, like me, you’ll connect with these characters because what they are going through is very human.

And man, does she know how to write a villain!! I’ll stop now because I don’t want any spoilers slipping out.

Here’s the cover copy for THE WHITE ASSASSIN:

Book II in the Nightshade Chronicles begins three years after Juniper and his rebel band of rats liberate the Catacombs and defeat their oppressors.

A sense of peace has settled over Nightshade City, but it is a false one. Billycan, the white assassin, has been found. Deep in the southern swamps, he now rules a primitive horde of savage swamp rats eager to overrun Nightshade City and claim it for their king. With the help of an ancient colony of bats and an uneasy alliance with the swamp snakes, Juniper and his Council set out to thwart Billycan’s plans. When an old secret is revealed—one so shocking it shakes both Billycan and Juniper to the core—the fate of Nightshade City and the life of Juniper’s only son depend on Juniper’s decision: should he help his mortal enemy? The past resurfaces with devastating impact in this exciting sequel to Nightshade City, a dark tale of intrigue, deception, and betrayal.

Nightshade City, Book I of the Nightshade Chronicles is a CBC Best Book of 2011 and a Crystal Kite finalist.

So, here’s the deal. I’m giving away a set. That’s right.  A copy of Nightshade City and a signed ARC of The White Assassin to one person. Comment below by Midnight EST Wednesday October 26th for a chance to win. And, I’d be grateful if you helped spread the word about these books and this giveaway. Thanks 🙂 🙂 🙂

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