Thursday, December 06, 2012

Telling Stories with Images


I recently saw a few movies that made me think about how it's possible to tell great stories with images, or how significantly images can enhance a story.

Last night I saw Life of Pi.

Full disclosure. I LOVED this book. Loved it. Loved how it made me think about the power of faith and/or how the human mind uses storytelling to cope with not only the unknown (God) but also to cope with traumatic experiences...

And the movie did the same, if maybe in a more heavy handed way. This movie is an interesting one for this topic because, while I think a big part of the appeal of the movie was the images, I also think images were a big part of the appeal of the book. The writer was able to describe things in such a way that we saw them as a reader... I must go back and take another look. It's been nearly a decade since I read the book.

Good news is that I loved the movie, too. The story is framed differently than the book, (I'm pretty sure... **see I haven't read the book in a decade) but the framing worked and added some context and a sense of reality and was a more interesting framing than a boy in a hospital bed talking to Japanese businessmen. Which, if I recall, didn't actually frame the book, just ended it... (And the framing in the movie meant we got some nice shots of Montreal.)

The other two I want to mention are probably a little harder to find: Beasts of the Southern Wild and Samsara.


Beasts of the Southern Wild I actually saw months ago and meant to talk about it then. If you can find this one somewhere, I highly recommend it, and also highly recommend seeing it on a big screen if you can.

It's the story of a little girl named Hushpuppy living in a swamp called the Bathtub. I'm not 100% sure, but I got the impression it's an area that was purposefully left partially flooded and unprotected after Hurricane Katrina. The government tried to move everyone out of the area, but some people refused to move. And still refuse to even when another storm approaches and floods them again.

But it's not really about that. It's about this very little girl (5 or 6?) who's almost living on her own. Her dad is around, but he makes her live in her own dwelling and barely takes care of her and he's not doing too well and often she needs to take care of him. The girl has been learning about prehistoric animals and imagines danger in the form of these great mastodon-sized pigs. And that image/idea comes to a head near the end of the film in an inventive way and shows the great bravery of our young heroine.

Great movie. Try to find it.

And Samsara. This one is purely visual. I'm not sure if there is a word spoken during this movie. It's a series of spectacular images set to music and it's mesmerizing. Wow. Hard to describe. Try to find it in a good movie theatre. And Go. :)

This trailer intrigued me enough to want to go, but it doesn't do the film justice.


Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Where is Deviants?

Well, that's actually a good question.

If you're heading out to your local big chain book store, or even indie... spoiler alert... the chances of finding Deviants on the shelves are very, very low.

Why is that you ask?

While there can be a lot of reasons that a particular book doesn't end up in stores (small publisher, bad distribution, not a "commercial" enough title or genre, no sales push from publisher...) in my particular case it's none of the above.

Bookstores in the US and Canada banded together to boycott my publisher, Amazon Children's Publishing. The official reason stated by the big US-based chain who started the boycott was that the publisher is only making the e-books available in the kindle format (not Nook, or Kobo, or the more generic e-pub), but I suspect the reasons go deeper than that. But that's not really what this post is about.

This post is supposed to answer the question: Where is Deviants?

Drumroll..... Answer:

To buy the e-book (currently only $3.99!) you can buy it at the kindle store here:  Deviants on Kindle.

If you don't have an account with Amazon.com yet, set one up. It's easy. You will need a credit card but it's probably one of the most secure retail sites out there. Amazon pioneered this online retailing stuff. They're good at it. Very. (One possible reason the other retailers are scared and boycotting the book released by the publisher they own..)

Don't have a kindle? No problem either. There are free kindle apps for your computer, tablet or smart phone.

To buy the hardcover, (prices vary), you can order from most online bookstores.  They will ship them directly to you (possibly for free if you order other things too--or, say, multiple copies. ;) ) or you can have them shipped for pick-up at a local store. Here are a few suggestions:


And if you live in Southern Ontario and/or the Kingston area, the following stores have Deviants in stock. (Many copies at these stores are even signed! *note to self* get up to Yorkdale to sign more of their stock.)

Indigo Yorkdale
Chapters Brampton
Chapters Barrie
Chapters Belleville

Not being on bookshelves makes it harder for me to help readers find my book. Want to help spread the word? If you've read Deviants, please consider posting a review at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca or wherever you post reviews. Tell your friends about it. Tell strangers about it. ;) Ask for it at your library. Ask your local bookstore to order it.

This has been a public service announcement from the Where's Deviants Task Force (WDTF).

Monday, December 03, 2012

Well That Was Fun!

The scavenger hunt is over!!

I'll be picking the winner of my bonus giveaway today and the overall winners of the hunt will be announced on December 5th!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the #YASH hunt, and good luck!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

YA Scavenger Hunt Begins!


Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

Hi!  I'm Maureen McGowan, I just had a book out called DEVIANTS and I'll be your tour guide for this portion of your fabulous hunt!

This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes!

At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

THE HUNT IS NOW OVER, BUT MY BONUS GIVEAWAY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MIDNIGHT!



Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there is also a red team for a chance to win a whole different set of twenty-five signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by August 5, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

I am hosting the fabulous Marley Gibson on the YA Scavenger Hunt!

How fun that I get to host an author who's also a friend! Marley is someone who really knows that the answer to the meaning of life is ???. Now, if  we could remember the question!

Marley Gibson is a young adult, romance, and non-fiction author. Her YA books included her popular GHOST HUNTRESS series, RADIATE, a fictionalized version of the cancer she went through as a teenage cheerleader, and POSER, about a South Beach Miami model who prefers to shy away from the limelight. Gibson's Resisting Temptation series, includes the books CAN'T TOUCH THIS, CAN'T FIGHT THIS, and more to come.

She co-wrote THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL with her husband, TruTV and Travel Channel's, Patrick Burns. She also co-authored CHRISTMAS MIRACLES and THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS with New York Times bestselling author, Cecil Murphy. She and her husband live in the Florida Keys in an RV motor home they loving call Midge, with their two rescue kitties, Madison and Boo. She can be found online in many places:

www.marleygibson.com
www.ghosthuntress.com
www.radiatebook.com
Facebook - marley.h.gibson
Twitter - @MarleyGibson

Find out more information by checking out the author website or find more about GHOST HUNTRESS: THE JOURNEY here!

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE JOURNEY


Teen psychic Kendall Moorehead is about to embark on the most dangerous and shocking ghost hunt of her life. After all, it isn't every day that the ghost of Princess Diana steps in as a personal spirit guide. But Shy Di isn't the only surprise awaiting Kendall and her team of teen paranormal superstars as they begin a whirlwind tour of Europe with renowned TV medium Oliver Bates.

As soon as Kendall sets foot on British soil she immediately encounters her first specter -- a meeting that raises many questions, and sends her hot boyfriend Patrick rushing to help with the mystery... and to comfort in the way only a boyfriend can. Surely the trip to Paris and Rome will be even more romantic than this first day in London. That is if Kendall's ex-boyfriend Jason stays out of the way.

But love problems and eerie British ghosts aren't Kendall's only problems. Team leader Oliver has brought along Scottish teen psychic Christian Campbell, a rising star with a sinister aura about him --- literally. When Christian starts dabbling with a Ouija board during their paranormal investigations, things turn dark, as a potentially demonic entity named Dojo emerges. This being torments Kendall, making her doubt her mission and calling as a psychic. Kendall races to battle not only Christian and his shadowy methods, but also Dojo... wondering if both might be far more real than she wants to believe.

Buy GHOST HUNTRESS, THE JOURNEY here.


***********************
Don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win all 25 signed books by everyone on the blue team! Plus, you can also do the red team hunt, then you'll have a chance to win 50 signed books!! To enter, you need to find my favorite number somewhere in this post--hint, it's in red. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
 ***********************
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Tracy Deebs!
  ***********************
And I'm doing a BONUS GIVEAWAY for my new book DEVIANTS here! Please enter to win one of two prize packs.   
 
Prize pack:
- signed hardcover copy of my new book, DEVIANTS (unsigned outside of North America)
- cool book-related swag (swag only mailed to North American addresses, sorry)

You get 5 bonus entries if your blog comment answers this question: What book does the clue for my favorite number come from?

     a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
HAPPY HUNTING!
On to the next site!

Monday, November 26, 2012

YA Scavenger Hunt!!

I'm so excited to be part of the winter YA Scavenger Hunt!

For more info, check out the official site here: linky.



Check out the amazing list of the authors and teams!

The hunt will begin this Thursday, November 29th at noon pacific time and will end on Sunday, December 2nd, at noon pacific. There will be multiple prizes given away and it's a great chance to add some books to your holiday wish list! I know I'm already making my own wish list.


The Blue Team




HEATHER ANASTASIU


JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT


RACHEL CARTER


ANNA COLLOMORE


JULIE CROSS


TRACY DEEBS


LEIGH FALLON


TARA FULLER


MARLEY GIBSON


CYNTHIA HAND


P.J. HOOVER


AMALIE HOWARD


CORRINE JACKSON


STACEY KADE


SUZANNE LAZEAR


S.R. JOHANNES


MAUREEN MCGOWAN


COURTNEY ALLISON MOULTON


LEA NOLAN


AMY PLUM


LISSA PRICE



PETER ADAM SALOMON


JESSICA SHIRVINGTON


JESSICA SPOTSWOOD


RACHEL VINCENT

The Red Team




JOSEPHINE ANGELINI


RAE HACHTON


TERA LYNN CHILDS


KRISTI COOK


GINA DAMICO


KIMBERLY DERTING


ALEX FLINN


MICHELLE GAGNON


DAVID MACINNIS GILL


NANCY HOLDER


COLLEEN HOUCK


TARA HUDSON


ELANA JOHNSON


JESSICA KHOURY


GINA LINKO


MYRA MCENTIRE

Timekeeper (Timeless, #2)
ALEXANDRA MONIR


E.C. MYERS


GREGG OLSEN


JOY PREBLE


BETH REVIS


VICTORIA SCHWAB


J.A. SOUDERS


VICTORIA STRAUSS


EDNAH WALTERS

That's the list. The hunt starts Thursday! Leave a comment and tell me which books you are the most excited for.

And again, here's a link to the official #YASH hunt page!
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