The Living sequel to be released in May

From the Facebook of Matt de la Pena:

Yesterday I finished the final revision of THE HUNTED (sequel to THE LIVING). This story takes some crazy turns. And Shy’s story ends in an unexpected place. I’m so excited to get THE HUNTED into the hands of readers! MAY 12. Mark your calendars!

Well, if the sequel takes any more crazy turns than the original, it will be a pretty wild ride.  Now that I’m kinda sorta maybe getting back to keyboarding again, I hope to get my long-delayed The Living posts up (and LeakyCon, too, John!)

Honest Trailers Parodies Divergent

You’ll find lots of references to Hogpro favorites!  Honest Divergent Trailer

Shared Text: Teen heroine quotes Dumbledore at family’s funeral.

I am glad Ms. Rowling’s words could bring comfort to this brave young lady in her time of grief. She gets my vote for Fan of the Year.

UPDATE:  JKR apparently heard about the story and sent the young lady a letter “written” by Dumbledore himself.

The fandom world really does contain its own type of magic.

Louise’s Predictons for Future Cormoran Strike books

After finishing The Silkworm, and re-reading The Cuckoo’s Calling, one thing is clear:  there are a million different directions this series could go.  Between Cormoran’s extended and largely dysfunctional family, the assorted supporting characters we’ve met and the tantalizing hints dropped about both the protagonists’ histories, there remain enough questions to fill up the five remaining books, even if our heroes’ never get another paying client (though for the sake of their wallets, I hope they do!)

One thing I have already noted:  Strike claims to have eight half-siblings.  The Wikipedia article on his rock-star daddy lists 6 through his father; we also know his sister Lucy.  Either Rowling miscalculated or Supergroupie Leda still has one more offspring out of there we haven’t  heard about yet.  Beyond that…  will Strike ever establish a relationship with his father?  What really happened when Leda died?  What drove Robin away from her psychology degree and into the unusual hobby of stunt driving?  Why is Charlotte continuing to taunt Cormoran, confirmed child-hater, with a miscarried/aborted/never existent baby.  And most importantly, how did Matthew ever manage to slip the otherwise sensible Robin a love potion?

I’ve had a little time to consider John’s idea that the Cormoran Strike series would parallel the 7 books of Harry Potter.  Here is my response.  Spoilers, ho! [Read more…]

“Panem Today, Panem Tomorrow, and Panem Forever”

Read about the commercial that is a kind of film trailer here.

Cue John’s Alchemical Analysis in 5…4…3…2…