Picture This

A frequent question I get is "if there was a movie who would your dream Nightshade cast be"?

It's a super fun game to play and I do have answers. But before I give them, I have a qualifier:
It's really, really important to me that readers envision characters the way they want to. The people I'll mention here are just my ideas - but I love that every person that encounters the Nightshade pack will have their own picks.
Those who follow me on Twitter know that I've had Ren pegged for a long time. I am also engaged in an epic battle with Rachel (aka LadyHawkins) auteur extraordinaire of Hex Hall for the heart of Ben Barnes. You will never have him Rachel!!!
But Shay was eluding me. And how it pained me that I couldn't find anyone who captured the way I'd imagined him!! Then the lovely Mitali (aka AlleyofBooks) introduced me to this guy:
One Max Irons.

And he is PERFECT for Shay. *Swoons* I am sooooo happy. Thanks, Mitali!!

So there are the two lovely boys vying for Calla.

As for Calla herself, She was tricky too. The model they found for the cover was perfect. In terms of actresses, the closest I've seen of the way I imagine Calla is this photo of Dianna Agron: And there you have it.
Those are my picks - I'd love to hear yours!

Nightshade Goes to London

No this isn't a repost of my UK book deal - though Atom Books has been posting some awesome tweets about Nightshade and Wolfsbane. UK publication doesn't happen until January 6, 2011 - but Nightshade is hopping across the pond next week for the London Book Fair.
I am pretending (while pining) that I also am going on this trip for four reasons:

1) I love London

2) I am convinced I would love book fairs and hope that with enough wishes to the Universe I'll eventually get to go to one.

3) I'm dying to meet my awesome UK editor Samantha, who is uber cool and so much fun

4) I love London (I know I already said that, but I really , really love it)I was already green with envy over Bologna, where there were awesome things like Kristin Cashore sword fighting.
and now Calla is going to London without me, but I'll think she'll do fine hunting down more foreign deals.
But I'd be fine spending my time swooning over these rows and rows of books. (Hey look, there's Penguin! Hi Penguin!!)
I mean it's at frickin' Earl's Court! Earl's Court is where they have Lady Gaga's concerts - it's that big.

Sigh.

Maybe Calla will bring me a souvenir.
No. Not that please.

Ben Barnes AND Robert Pattinson? That's more like it! Good hunting, Calla!!

Hexy Time

2010 is a great year for debuts, but today in particular is a book birthday for a novel I've been early awaiting:

Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall
For those of you who've followed Rachel (@LadyHawkins) and I on Twitter you're familiar with our realization that we are star-crossed BFFs whose friendship is marred by our battle for the hand of one Ben Barnes.Admittedly Rachel goes for Ben as Prince Caspian
while I'm swooning for his portrayal of Dorian Gray
When at last we clash over our boy Ben, it will be epic: Titan style.
I'm fortunate to have such a worth adversary as Rachel. Her book is fantastic - a great mix of spine-tingling chills and laughing out loud - and I'd recommend you run out and snap it up. Time to get Hexy! Congrats, Rachel!!!