Mundie Moms

Friday, October 1, 2010

Tales from The Under Grave



This year we're looking forward in taking part of Tales from the Under Grave, which will be from Oct 22nd-Oct 31st.

Who's Hosting The Event-
Danielle of Frenzy Of Noise - http://frenzyofnoise.blogspot.com/
Khelsea of Once Upon A Review http://onceuponareview.blogspot.com/

What Will Take Place-
So far, I know we will be treated with Ghost stories written by some of our favorite Authors, there will be mini-challenges, giveaways, and a whole assortment of fun

The Trick-OR-Treating will be happening on these sites:

Christina - Chrisina's Books
Courtney - Courtney Reads

(You can follow #YASpooktacular on twitter if you want some as-they-happen spoilers.)
Twitter: @daniellebunner OR @onceuponareview

J.K. Rowling's Exclusive Interview

Are your DVR's set as TODAY J.K. Rowling will have her exclusive interview with Oprah! Since we're HUGE fans of Harry Potter, we'll definitely be tuning in.

On Our Minds At Scholastic has posted an exclusive clip from the interview,for fans to watch. Let me say, it's worth watching!

After you've watched the show today, be sure to let Scholastic know what you thought by sharing your comments on their Facebook page,
Twitter #harrypotter, or comment on their blog with your thoughts.

You can find out more about visiting their blog here http://onourmindsatscholastic.blogspot.com/

* J.K.'s picture and information were found on Scholastic's blog*

Banned Books Week Guest Author Post by Andrea Cremer

There are plenty of things to be nervous about when you’re heading into your first school visit. Is what I’ve prepared going to hold their interest? What if no one asks me questions? What if I get on stage and throw up?

What I wasn’t worried about was getting taken to the principal’s office, but when I arrived at the school at 8:00 a.m. that’s where I was taken. It turns out that upon learning of my visit a parent had objected to my being there, citing the ‘inappropriate content’ of my work.

Now given that just a few days earlier I’d posted a blog in support of Laurie Halse Anderson, whose book Speak had been challenged in Missouri, and that I’d posted about how I thought someday Nightshade would be challenged on Page Turners Blog I felt a little like the universe testing my sense of irony. I expected challenges, but I simply wasn’t prepared for an objection on my first day visiting a school.

Standing in the principal’s office I felt very small and a bit like I’d been sucker punched. I was a very well behaved child, and at age 32 this was my first time being sent to the principal’s office, told what I’d done wrong and how I should behave. The principal went on to request that I keep things from getting “PG-13” and that I didn’t say anything like encourage the students toward “vampire conversion.”

Vampire conversion? Okay, first of all, there are no vampires in Nightshade. Secondly, do any authors give presentations at schools that promote vampire conversion? I wanted to know if Heather Brewer and Richelle Mead get this question at their school visits.

As I went to the auditorium I felt a bit ill. I was already nervous and now I worried about having to censor myself when I spoke and answered questions. But then I started to get angry because I remembered who I am. I teach for a living. I know how to talk to students. I wrote a book I love and I don’t think it’s at all inappropriate. I have a Ph.D. in history and I understand the ways in which violence, religion, and sexuality have shaped societies. I use that research to inform my novels. These subjects shouldn’t be avoided or hidden. They need to be discussed. Running away from the more difficult topics of history only makes it more likely that patriarchy, inequality, and ignorance become more deeply rooted in our cultures.

Fortunately I was saved by the wonder that is young readers. Over the course of the day I spoke to about 400 students. They were all amazing. Their questions were smart and engaging. Their ideas were fantastic. Each session was buzzing with intelligence and enthusiasm. When I finished, my voice was pretty much gone but it was one of the happiest moments of my life. And nothing about that trip to the principal’s office mattered. Not one bit.

One of the event organizers did some digging and found out that the objection had come from a parent who hadn’t read Nightshade. She’d just seen my blog post supporting Laurie Halse Anderson. Turns out my first encounter with censorship stemmed from my speaking out against it. All it does is make me determined to barrel ahead without fear. And I’m not doing it for myself. I’m doing it for each of those students, who gave me more with their questions and ideas than I could ever hope to give them.

___________________

Andrea Cremer is the author of the upcoming release, Nightshade, which will be released on October 19th by Philomel Books/Penguin. You can find out more about Andrea and her books by visiting her site here http://www.andreacremer.com/ and her blog here http://www.blurredhistory.blogspot.com/

Thank you Andrea for this post! This is one of the reasons why we're speaking out against banned books. It seems more often than not, a book is challenged by someone who hasn't even read it. TEAM NIGHTSHADE!

Giveaway Winners

Our Smart Chicks Signed Swag Winners Are:

Prize Pack Number 1 goes to #69- Laura Kneidl
*a SIGNED 5x7 Smart Chicks Kick It Tour poster, SIGNED by Cassandra Clare, Rachel Caine, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black and Kelly Armstrong. I'm also including two tattoo runes
* 2 Sets of: a SIGNED Cassandra Clare book plate, a signed Rachel Caine book plate and a signed Melissa Marr book mark (one winner per set)

Prize Pack Number 2 goes to #3-Savannah Smith
* a SIGNED 8x10 Smart Chicks Kick It Tour page signed by Cassandra Clare, Rachel Vincent, Holly Black, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelly Armstrong, Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl
* a SIGNED Cassandra Clare book plate and a Beautiful Darkness Poster (not signed)

The Clockwork Angel AudioBook Winner is #44-Viki Sloboda

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our winners! Winners have been notified via email.
Be sure to check out the rest of our giveaways in our right hand side bar.
Have a great weekend!

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