THE DAILY HEY NOW!

Hey Now Books: The Coldest Girl in Cold Town by Holly Black

Sat, 30 Nov 2013 20:27:08 -0500

Honestly, I am so over vampires and I know a lot of you are too- so when I was camping out in the YA Fantasy Romance section of Barnes and Noble I was skeptical about a lot of the stuff I was looking at. However, something about this book called to me. Firstly, it’s Holly Black and I’m uncertain I can dislike anything Holly Black writes. Secondly, the premises was intriguing and while we live in a post Twilight world finding a Vampire Book that doesn’t sound like a complete rip off is very hard. However, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown surprised me yet. It was intriguing, clever, and contained a female character I didn’t want to stab in the throat ninety-nine percent of the time.

The story is about Thana. She’s got that typical YA book heroine thing to her. She’s tragic, doe eyed, and tough all at the same time which works for her without coming of as irritating and Mary Sue (most of the time.) Tana wakes up at a party with everyone around her dead/dying, her dopey ex boyfriend Aidan on the edge of turning into a vamp, and another vamp chained down. Thana has to race against the clock to get Aidan to a Coldtown (it’s pretty much a ghetto for vamps and weird humans who’ve gotten stuck there.) She packs up Aidan and Gavriel the sexy, mysterious, and somewhat kind vampire and hits the road with them. On their way there they meet some friends and foes and all in all it’s a fun journey.

The love story is definitely between Gavriel and Thana and contains one of the best vamp kiss scenes I’ve seen in a YA book (tongue biting and blood licking, it’s hot, gave me a bit of an early Sookie Stackhouse vibe.) What makes Gavriel and Thana so refreshing is that they both have secrets that keep their feelings hidden from everyone except themselves. The attraction is there immediately and I was very impressed with how compatible they were as characters without having been shoved down everyones throat.

Despite how great the story was one thing didn’t sit well with me and that was the fact the POV’s changed from time to time but there wasn’t any particular pattern to and when it changed from Thana to another character the first time it felt very jarring and slightly unnecessary. A plot device could have been used such as a text or a phone call. The only switches I did enjoy were the ones to Gavriel’s past with his maker that reminded me of Angel and Spike in a wonderful way.

Despite the point of view switching I did whole heartily find this book entertaining and was actually sad to find out it was a one shot and not part of a series, although I will say the ending was open ended enough that a series wouldn’t feel like something out of left field and I hope this might go on because I’m not quite ready to fully ready to say goodbye to Coldtown just yet.

Five Emotional Moments In Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 14:19:08 -0500

(Image courtesy of the BBC)

My celebration of the 50th started at the beginning of the year. I’ve been busy experiencing the events leading up to today beyond the TV and laptop screen. I attended as well as organized conventions and meetups held in honor of the 50th Anniversary. Every once in a while I would try out watching Classic serials to deepen my appreciation of the past. All of this was in anticipation of seeing The Day of the Doctor at yesterday’s Times Square 3D simulcast.

I realized it it impossible for me to objectively analyze The Day Of The Doctor and the specials leading up to it. The happy tears of joy, nostalgia, and excitement are what made the 50th so meaningful to fans. This list an attempt to highlight some the moments from the particular moments from The Day Of The Doctor, The Night of the Doctor minisode, and An Adventure in Space and Time that stirred something deep in our Whovian souls:

PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU ARE AVOIDING SPOILERS!!!

1) Four’s Return

The collective screaming, clapping, and sniffles was intense and could be heard whether it was a post on social media or the person next to you at a screening. I was so excited because I thought it would never happen. Tom Baker hasn’t filmed a Doctor Who scene since his regeneration. Whether fans were seeing their childhood come to life again, appreciated Four’s importance in Who history, or were glad to see their favorite Doctor again this was the moment with the most emotional impact.

2) Ten’s Return

Ten is my favorite Doctor. I couldn’t help but scream when I first saw David Tennant appear on screen. Many people came of age with or recently discovered Doctor Who thanks to Ten. Although Ten’s appearance was not a surprise, fans were still eagerly waiting in anticipation. 10’s interactions with 11 were perfectly written and much better than what I imagined. Not only did the Tenth Doctor get a fitting tribute, several unfinished plots from his series finally received closure.

3) The Night of The Doctor

This minisode did more filmed justice to the Eighth Doctor than the entire 1996 made for TV movie. Six minutes cemented years of Big Finish audio drama productions starring the Eighth Doctor as Doctor Who canon. Fans loved seeing Paul McGann return to the spotlight after years of neglect. Seeing Eight regenerate into the War Doctor was another fitting closure ending years of fan disappointment. I’ve never got around to listening to the Eighth Doctor Big Finish adventures but now is a great time to start!

4) One’s Monologue & One Meeting Eleven

An Adventure in Space and Time was a fitting tribute to the First Doctor, William Hartnell and the crew that brought Doctor Who to life on November 23rd, 1963. The special not only included the moments of nostalgia fans would expect but also the struggles and uneasiness of the earliest days of Doctor Who. As soon as David Bradley recited this quote from the Five Doctors everyone cried: “One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.” One’s vision to the Eleventh Doctor was another tearjerking moment. He realized his work has lasted much longer than anyone ever expected.

5) The Deconstruction of the Time War

Every Doctor helped to save Gallifrey from destruction. Ten, Eleven, and the War Doctor brought together the Classic Doctors through flashbacks as well bringing Peter Capaldi in from the future. This moment was an excellent combination of nostalgia and excitement from the future. Although the end of the Time War is a game changer for the mythos of Doctor Who, there’s an entire new dimension open for exploration. Yesterday was just as much a celebration of the past but a stirring of excitement for the next 50 years.

In efforts to avoid essay writing, we had to leave a few more moments out. What were your favorite emotional moments from the 50th Anniversary?

TDHN Books: Making Masterpiece

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:12:35 -0400

I am always fascinated by the process that brings my favorite books, television shows, and movies to life. On Wednesday night, I traveled to the Upper East Side Barnes & Noble to get the inside story on the program that brings Americans the best of British drama.

Making Masterpiece, written by Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton is part tribute and part memoir of one of the longest running shows in US television history. The book combines her reflections with interviews and anecdotes from Masterpiece actors and staff of the past and present. She describes it as “a story of family sagas”.

Her discussion focused on stories about the past and pieces of the present. Everyone who wanted spoilers on upcoming airings were very disappointed. She fondly remembered Alistair Cooke’s marathon introduction writing sessions and Diana Rigg sharing the best of London gossip. Along with these anecdotes she told parts of her own story. Eaton’s mom was an actress, and she inherited her passion for the theater.

Eaton also explained what goes into making a Masterpiece production. In the earlier days, already completed UK miniseries would be reviewed and picked for licensing. Today, pitches, pilots and scripts are judged carefully for their ability to capture the core of Masterpiece’s audience. Throughout the years, focus groups and complicated market research never contribute to programming decisions.

Some productions were instant hits such as the backing of the 1980’s costume epic The Jewel In The Crown. Others started out rough but turned out well in the end. Eaton initially turned down Downton Abbey due to concerns over US success but got a second chance to back the production. Unfortunately, many pitches for American costume drama sink due to the incredibly high cost of production. Some projects have unexpected results. Eaton did not expect Sherlock to become a runaway hit with viewers in their 20’s.

Although I am only halfway through Making Masterpiece, I highly recommend it. I find my appreciation for my older and newer favorite Masterpiece shows growing as I read. Fellow fans will definitely enjoy reading Eaton’s impressions of their favorite miniseries and actors. Her insider’s view of Downton Abbey and Sherlock can help ease the pain of the final stretch until January. People interested in television history and media studies will enjoy the chapters on the production process. Eaton’s narrative often strays from strict chronological order, however this keeps the reader engaged with her story. I expect the rest of the book to follow the same pattern.

I asked Eaton about her plans for the next 40 years, especially in regards to the younger audience for Masterpiece. There was not enough time to flesh these thoughts out, but I’m already looking forward to seeing the next 40 years of Masterpiece unfold.

Favorite Cosplayers Of New York Comic Con 2013

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 22:15:35 -0400

I love taking pictures of my own cosplay and of those from my own fandoms, but I also enjoy seeing what other people come up with. Narrowing down the favorites out of hundreds of photos was not easy. These cosplayers are my favorites because they made me laugh really hard, creeped me out, reminded me of childhood, or wore costumes I haven’t seen many people wear:

(Feel free to reply if you see your picture here and I’ll credit your cosplay page!)

US Presidents Gang:

Aladdin On The Walls Of ~~Agrabah~~ West 34th St:

Kelly from Misfits:

Gollum:

The Road To El Dorado (with special guest Eleventh Doctor):

Mr T vs. Villain:

What were your favorite cosplays from NYCC? There’s more con coverage to come, so keep checking back!

TDHN Exclusive: Elementary At Paley Fest: Made In NY

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:05:45 -0400

After many years of exclusive panels in Los Angeles; Paley Fest turned attention to the best of current TV productions in New York. Saturday night’s Elementary panel featured Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock Holmes), Lucy Liu (Joan Watson), Aidan Quinn (Captain Gregson), Jon Michael Hall (Detective Bell), Carl Beverly (Executive Producer), Robert Doherty (Creator and Executive Producer), and Craig Sweeny (Executive Producer).

SPOILER LINE- DO NOT CROSS IF YOU’RE NOT CAUGHT UP!

Episode 2: The audience were treated to a complete screening of Thursday’s episode. Without ruining it all, look out for Holmes arguing on the internet. Although he case has heavy elements of current events references, but the producers stress Elementary is not a “ripped from the headlines” show.

The Elephants In The Room: Elementary has to contend with two other incarnations of the world of Sherlock Holmes as well as adapting the original canon. The cast admitted to having reservations about starring in yet another Holmes adaptation, but they were won over by the script and the new ideas it contained. The goal of the producers and cast is to take the source material and adapt it in ways not seen in previous versions. Miller’s copy of canon “looks like a hedgehog” due to all of his notes on Sherlock’s personality. The elements that are kept from canon are the ones that work with the story the writers want to tell.

A typical Holmes and Watson conversation

No Hookups: Doherty strongly believes it is too easy for Holmes and Watson to develop a romantic relationship. Although some fans who spot them filming on city streets believe it should happen, the idea is off the table. Liu doesn’t feel the sexual tension and sees the relationship accented with caring and other emotional connections.

"… A Hammer In The Back Pocket": During the Q&A session, an Asian-American female fan praised Elementary for featuring a diverse cast of main and supporting characters. Liu stressed that her career has been a continued struggle against discrimination. The producers believe in promoting diversity by writing characters that cross boundaries and casting a wide net in casting. New York has many different varieties of people, and this comes through in the show.

The Season Ahead: Mycroft will appear in several more episodes, and will even cross the Atlantic. The cast filmed more scenes in London than what we saw in last week’s premiere. Bell’s brother will make a comeback as well. Moriarty will also be back to mess with Sherlock’s mind and heart. The producers are hoping Lestrade can also appear again. Filling a 24 episode order means the writers must think ahead to some extent.

This panel was not only entertaining, it was also highly informative. I left with a new appreciation for the show. Elementary fans, what are you looking forward to this season?

HEY NOW BOOKS: You Know What's The Next Twilight? NOTHING! Because Twilight is TWILIGHT.

Wed, 21 Aug 2013 22:17:50 -0400

Over the last year there have been several YA Adaptations brought to life on the big screen and every time I read an article about it I read the same thing over and over again: “WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT TWILIGHT?” “WILL THIS BE THE NEXT TWILIGHT?” I have an idea? SHUT UP AND STOP COMPARING EVERYTHING TO TWILIGHT BECAUSE THAT IS AS UNORIGINAL AS YOU CLAIM THE MOVIES YOU REVIEW ARE.

Here’s the thing, I’m not going to sit here and say Twilight didn’t set a standard for YA adaptations because it did. Just because I am not crazy over the series doesn’t mean I’m not going to give credit where credit is due. The Twilight craze took on the world by storm and it helped create the current set of YA Paranormal Romance books that are being written and adapted.

Essentially it did help introduce the YA genre to a wider, more adult audience. However, Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is not the first Paranormal YA series to make its way to other mediums and it wont be the last. The latest slew of films that are based off of Young Adult books are original in their own way, but the only thing that causes them to fail are the people that constantly try to seek out the new Twilight.

Twilight fans, or “Twihards” as they are referred to will never love anything more than they love their beloved series. This is a fact. Twilight’s predominant appeal lied in its ability to engage a massively diverse audience. In addition for some this was their first introduction to serialized literature, so Twilight holds a special place in their hearts and there will never be anything better or greater to them than Twilight. I have no problem with this at all, I understand that their love of Team Edward and Team Jacob because I too am a fan girl and have been since I was a child.

As much as I understand the Twihards inability to let go of Twilight, I will never understand the media’s inability to shut up about it as if it were the first YA Paranormal Romance ever written. The fact is long before Stephanie Meyer wrote Twilight there were other science fiction/paranormal young adult books being written and had similar concepts. I can name many but for the purpose of this blog post and whatever remains of your sanity while reading it, I will list two.

1. The Vampire Diaries: When the series was being developed and marketed by The CW everyone and their great nana compared it to Twilight. I remember distinctly reading articles and criticisms about how much the series copied off of Twilight. The love triangle, the werewolves and the vampires, the concept of first love, etc. That’s all a great comparison and what not; except for one tiny minute detail people didn’t care to research. The Vampire Diaries is based off a series written by #1 New York Times Best Selling Author L.J. Smith and was first published in 1991. Twilight, the story it was being so vehemently compared to was first published in 2005. Once people quickly came to realize their Twilight comparisons of the series were unjustifiable they said The CW never had a show like this before, so it was picking up on the craze. Sure, The CW never had a show like Vampire Diaries, but one of the stations that helped form The CW network after the merger with CBS, however, did…

2. Roswell: Before The CW was The CW it was two networks, UPN and The WB. Both of which aired Roswell. Roswell, much like Twilight was about an unusual boy (in Roswell’s case it was alien from another planet, Max Evans) and a pretty girl whom he formed a bond with at first sight, (Liz Parker, the beautiful and charming doe eyed beauty.) Their love is forbidden because he’s an alien and you guys know the story. Love triangles run rampant, evil forces try to tear them apart. It’s all very compelling and an amazing show. Too bad no one ever really watched it and we were forced to send bottles of Tabasco sauce to The WB the first season and UPN the second to get it renewed. If Roswell came out today (it kind of is, the show Star Crossed that The CW is premiering this fall is very Roswell-esque) it would definitely be compared to Twilight for whatever reason, because a show about an alien in love is just like a vampire being in love. However the stigma lies with the fact that it’s about fantastical men being in love with “average” girls. The best part is that if Roswell did come out today and would be compared to Twilight it would have the same issue The Vampire Diaries had/has. The book series, which Roswell was based on, Roswell High, was published in 1998. This brings me right back to The Vampire Diaries. Yes Vampire Diaries success was partially in thanks to Twilight’s status, but it wasn’t the first time a YA series was brought to life on The CW. Gossip Girl was, and Roswell on The WB was one of the prime trials for the YA romance adaptation. But I guess research isn’t always a fun thing to do.

The point I am trying to make here, and it’s one that is so hard to thoroughly do without sounding arrogant is that when you strip Twilight to it’s core it’s nothing but a story about a girl and a boy in love. Edward may have been a really old vampire, but so were Angel and Spike. Bella may have been kind and beautiful but so were other female love interests before her. The story of Twilight is very generic in its nature, so the comparisons will always be there when it comes to pretty much everything else, because lets face it: love stories haven’t been creative in centuries. The story of the young, all consuming love, I’m pretty sure I read that in Shakespeare somewhere, I think it’s this little play called “Romeo and Juliet.” I am certain a lot of people have heard of it.

Stripped down to its very sparkly core Twilight is nothing but a love story. Take away the supernatural elements and you have an angsty Nicholas Sparks books except one of, or both of the main characters don’t die in the end or go to Rodanthe. Edward and Bella are in love, but they can’t be together for REASONS. They end up together anyway despite said reasons THE END. So is it really necessary to compare every YA Adaptation to Twilight? Not just to say, oh can this be the next big YA Hit? But to just generally compare its plot and characters immediately to Twilight.

I am not demeaning Twilight’s story in anyway, I wasn’t crazy about it, but that was a personal choice due to my issue with Bella’s characterization and Meyer’s overall writing style through out the course of the series. I much preferred Meyers’s second novel The Host, which was more adult, and sadly a film adaptation that flopped due to marketing issues as, you guessed it “THE NEXT TWILIGHT.”

I understand that “The Next Twilight” is just a way to get people buzzing, can this movie, FINALLY be as much of a sensation as Twilight just because it just so happens to feature young adult characters mixed with supernatural plot elements? Fact is most of these adaptations that were/are being compared to the Twilight have little to nothing do with Twilights story lines outside of the romance. The romance itself was generic; it was the storyline that made people like Twilight and the mythology behind the different vampire clans may have come a close second? Maybe? Sure it was fun to have a favorite boy for Bella, but a lot of the people into the series were very invested in the plot and side characters as a whole. Some of these movies being compared to the franchise are nothing like it. I mean, AT ALL. Here are some examples based off the books I have read that were/are compared to the series.

· The Hunger Games: Wait? The Hunger Games was compared to Twilight before it became a box office smash? Yes. Yes it was. The YA Dystopian Novel and now box office juggernaut was posed with the question: “Is The Hunger Games the next Twilight?” I bet people feel silly now because all The Hunger Games did was claim its own throne. I know it sounds weird to think that a story about a dystopian society and the girl that stood up to it could be compared to a story about a Vampire and a Human who love each other too much, but hey, I don’t get it either. But that’s the point of this tirade.
Beautiful Creatures: I can see the comparisons here more so than with the others. It is a story about love and what not, light and dark WITCHES. Wait? WHAT? Witches? Did Twilight really have those? Not in Twilight? You don’t say…
The Host: The only thing this has in common with Twilight is that they are by the same author. Alien body snatchers and vampires? Not the same thing.
Warm Bodies: A zombie in love with a human girl. Both a lighthearted book and movie. Definitely tons of bloodshed and vampire babies. Wait? Not like Twilight again? Whoops!
The Mortal Instruments: Half human half angels who protect the world against demons. Jace Wayland and Clary Fray do have that longing, can’t be together love, but WAIT A SECOND…the series was actually based on a Harry Potter Fan Fiction author Cassandra Clare wrote back in 2000, once again predating Twilight’s existence.
Divergent: A book about a dystopian society with a badass female characters, factions, and bringing the house down. Sounds more like The Hunger Games than Twilight, and YET the comparisons are still being made.
The Maze Runner: About a boy and one creepy maze. Lots of science fiction elements, but no vampires in sight. Definitely a lot like Twilight.

In the end Twilight did the Young Adult genre and young readers a great service. It got people to notice the YA world as something that is brilliant and to not be taken for granted, but at the same time it did it quite the disservice to it as well. Every YA author that pens a paranormal series, or even a dystopian series, constantly gets slapped with the Twilight effect. Stephanie Meyer was not the first author to write a story about a love triangle, she wasn’t the first person to write about werewolves and vampires either. So why should YA Authors and Filmmakers constantly be branded as trying to mimic Twilight when they haven’t done such a thing? It is humiliating and by all means degrading to compare every story, every concept to Twilight when its all been done before. Paranormal Romance has been in the entertainment industry and has made many strides prior to the arrival of Twilight. Whenever I read a review and critic says “NOT THE NEXT TWILIGHT.” I laugh to myself, because everyone constantly talks about how unoriginal a movie is but then compares it to Twilight just like the guy next to him. In the end I understand the intention is to find something that can build up to the hype that Twilight had, but there are other fandoms out there that are just as big and just as devoted. People waited nights in advance to see The Doctor Who fiftieth Anniversary Panel at Comic Con, just like Twihards used to wait on the Hall H lines, but that stays out of the mainstream media, because in the end fandom is still somewhat hidden from the rest of the world.

My point, and it’s long (that’s what she said!) I guess is that it’s easy to compare every Young Adult adaptation to another than to actually research or read the book, but in the end it doesn’t do much at all because people read it and push the movie or book aside due to the stigma of the rabid fan base and Twilight’s reputation as a whole. I just wish the question of “What will be the next Twilight?” would be put to rest and just let the new adaptations be. Simply put: “SHUT UP ALREADY. NOT EVERYTHING IS TWILIGHT!”

C2E2 Doctor Who Cosplayers

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 20:40:39 -0400

Jesus—was a friend of mine, you Whovians are not a bunch to be reckoned with. So many Doctor Who fans have really surged in the U.S. as well as their cosplayers, so you get your own special post, especially special for you guys. Jerks.

But the Doctor Who cosplayers far surpassed those from last year and stepped it up, so take it away, maestro.

He even committed to David Tennant in the FACE. That’s true fandom.

Just off the night shift at the H&R Block, getting ready for some cocktails and John Coltrane records in his rec room.

I just liked his swagger.

Loved this sophisticate (adjective purely functioning in my mind) gentleman on the left who just had a certain air to him. As the next day, he was fully prepared…

…With another costume!

You can get it, girl.

Chill early-20s Aladdin professional seeks to share a 2 bedroom apartment above a dim sum restaurant or noise d.i.y. performance space. Must love cats.

Now I know people think jumping into photos like Gordo trying to get into every club picture in the school yearbook is cute (I made a Lizzie McGuire reference, handle it) but as a reporter, we want to murder you and every milkshake you ever intend to enjoy in your life. Yeah, that.

GORGEOUS, also had a missed connection before it was removed. Totally deserved.

This adorable young doctor had a sister with non-descript fuzzy cat ears who was mad that nobody wanted pictures of her, only her sibling.

Better to learn it now: We don’t want to see your cat costumes, ladies. Also learn, I have no guilt that warrants me to be nice to kids.

I guess they get My Little Pony in Heaven.

For more photos or close ups of some of these costumes, check out our facebook page and “like” us: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.362266443874963.1073741825.205982746170001&type=1&l=9823ac33f0

Some of our favorite faces from SDCC.—Part 1.

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 20:40:00 -0400

Some of our favorite faces from SDCC.—Part 1.

The Importance of Opening Credits On Television & Some of My Favorites

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 17:10:00 -0400

Remember when you’d watch television and your favorite show came on? You’d be able to hear it from anywhere because that song would start to play, you know, the one you just couldn’t help but sing a long to? Well pardon me for a asking a lot of questions, but where the heck did that go?

I recall when I was younger being able to watch any show on TV and know exactly who was in it and the tone of the show as a whole just based on the opening credits. When I was younger and really into Smallville, I used to watch the opening credits over and over again and when a new season came out I was excited to see which scenes they would put into the opening title sequence for the new season, what order the cast would be in, how they would line up certain scenes to the lyrics, etc.

Lately, there seems to be less and less opening credits on television. I get why, mostly because it gives the show more room to pack actually story and a lot of credits end up being cut when the episode is no longer due to ad space and other circumstances. However, there some shows out there that you have to ask yourself “WHY DON’T YOU HAVE OPENING CREDITS?” One such show was LOST, I mean the show was full of plane crashes, sadness and “WE HAVE TO GO BACK!” but ABC even felt the same way I did because back in 2009 they had a theme song contest for the show.

One of the essential qualities of a good theme or opening credits sequence for a show is that it tells the story without actually telling the story. A good theme song can have you singing all day, and just like Jack Shepherd it will make you want to go back; watch the show over and over again.

It’s a lot different these days, shows seem to incorporate opening credits less and less through the years and have replaced them with simple title cards and just watching actors names appear while you sit through a scene which if fine and all but I want to hum a tune, I want to be able to get pumped when I see my favorite actors on the scene. It’s an adrenaline rush at time and a great piece of nostalgia.

True story: I was watching Pete and Pete a few years ago and I hadn’t seen the show in YEARS, the moment the opening credits came on I almost cried, I felt like a child again and it brought me back to those Saturday nights when I would watch the show on my couch. I could watch episodes of the series but without the sound of that theme song I don’t think I would have felt for it as much as I did. A great theme song can bring back memories like no other. To those of us who remember our lives through the shows that we watched the opening credits bring us back, whenever we hear them we grow entranced, it’s just something that happens. So why can’t all shows just bring them back?

In honor of my love for this art I thought I’d share some of my favorite opening credits of all time. Agree, disagree, I couldn’t fit them all into one place so maybe a second part of this essay will be in the works soon enough.

So without further ado in no particular order…

Now I know I missed a bunch, so hit up the comments below to share your favorites and I might have to do a part 2.. .

Pacific Rim: It Gave Me A Lady Boner

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:50:00 -0400

****NO SPOILERS. JUST A BLOG ABOUT MY LADY BONER FOR PACIFIC RIM. NOTHING TO SEE HERE. ****

I first heard of the highly anticipiated Pacific Rim at a live taping of a Nerdist Podcast I went to back in October during New York Comic Con where director Guillermo Del Toro was a guest. I mean, I’ve heard that it was Del Toro’s newest movie but I wasn’t sure what the hell was happening or who was in it, or what it was even about. Once I did further research I saw it was a Robots VS Monsters movie and immediately said to myself: “Oh boy! Here comes the backlash!” Despite the early rumblings of nay and people quickly comparing it to Evangelion, the trailer for this movie was really damn good. I don’t go gung-ho over IMAX 3D but that trailer was just WOWZERS. Imagine my luck when my friend Jess sent me at text Saturday night that said “Hey want to see Pacific Rim the Monday before it comes out?” What does one say to something like that except,“HELL YES!”

As of late it’s been rare to find a movie that has both heart and is aesthetically pleasing. The premises of Pacific Rim is simple—Alien monsters attack earth, they live somewhere under the Pacific and are named Kaiju which is Japanese for “strange beast” although Japanese Science Fiction has made us adopt it to mean Monster, as it’s English Translation. These bad boys are categorized the same way a natural disaster would be (category 1, category 2, so on and so forth…)

At first we didn’t have much to fight them with until the world created Jaegers—robots that are super bad ass and are initially operated by solo pilots, that is until they find out the radiation and the neural damage could kill them. After the failure of the initial Jaegers operation with the solo pilots, the project figured out having dual pilots that forge a drift together would be more efficient and the success of the program helped fight the Kaiju for a good period of time. The pilots themselves would mostly be relatives, siblings, parents and children, lovers, etc. The plot essentially deals with the world getting together to stop another force, but there is still no real peace because we are still fighting. Humanity is at a cross roads, fight or be destroyed.

Upon first glance Pacific Rim can seem like any Robot movie, lots of cool effects and not a lot of plot. Pacific Rim defies that and not only has a compelling story to accompany all of its action, it also delivers on three aspects that help make a movie solid for any type of movie goer: action, drama, and heart. I know I might be the wrong person to say this but I would totally see this movie as a date night type of thing, or even a girl’s night out which is what I did the night I saw this movie.

Pacific Rim was beautifully directed, wonderfully written, amazingly acted and definitely one of the best movies of the summer thus far. Everyone in this cast sold this movie from beginning to end. There isn’t a moment through out this film that your jaw isn’t on the floor, don’t even bother picking it up because it’ll be right back in a few minutes. Also expect to clap a lot, because watching those fight scenes are brutal and perfect. I wish I could come up it more words about how much I love it, but I can’t. It’s solid from beginning to end I think I’ll just let my tweets from last night do the rest of the talking because I can’t even fathom how else to describe my love for this movie. I am anticipating a lot of people comparing it to pretty much every alien/monster movie in the universe, but probably won’t be able to understand any hate that I see for it, because man-oh man, it was just off the charts FUN.

Pacific Rim hits theaters this Friday, July 12^th. See it, you wont regret it. I swear it.

Random Penguin? Penguin House?

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 18:21:55 -0400

With the merger between Random House and Penguin Group complete, I thought this would make a good opportunity to talk about the lasting impression BEA left us with in 2013. BEA 2013 was buzzing with energy and excitement. On the outside, one would never know that something major was taking place in the backdrop to change the face of publishing forever. At BEA, authors were enjoying rockstar treatment; lines and crowds were everywhere.

Meanwhile, two of the Big Six publishers were waiting for governments worldwide to clear one of the biggest mergers in publishing history. July 1st marks the official birth of Random House Penguin Group, a company consisting of Pearson’s trade divisions under the Penguin Group umbrella and all of Random House minus their Germany counterpart, Random House Verlagsgruppe. What does this mean? For publishing professionals, it means slightly less choice in your employer. The new powerhouse publishing group employs 10,000 employees worldwide and based upon their choices for the new upper management of both Random House and Penguin Group, I am sure the crew will be eager to slash 25% of their workforce to save money… because you know, #publishing. If publishing trends in the past are anything to make assumptions from, the new group will probably decide to merge like imprints and divisions, further reducing choices for publishing professionals.

Agents, authors, and readers will also be out of luck once a bidding model is decided upon – since Penguin and Random House have different rules on how imprints can bid on proposals, it is important to note that one company allows imprints to big against one another for a manuscript while the other company does not allow that practice of author acquisition. I think this means a lot of great books that would have had a better chance of finding a home will be pushed aside because big publishers don’t like to take chances on unknown writers. On the plus side, this may allow Random House Penguin Group to throw their weight at Amazon in who knows what capacity. This new company will probably reinforce Simon & Schuster’s desire to merge with Hachette Book Group, reducing the publishing pool even more.

While there are many things to worry about with this merger, I think this is a great opportunity for the mid-size publishers to step up and snap up unknown authors that may resort to self-publication to get notice. After all, it was Bloomsbury that discovered Harry Potter, not Scholastic. Mid-size publishers are always more willing to take chances on authors that wouldn’t get the time of day from the Big Six. Hopefully the smaller publishers will use this merger as an opportunity to fill some new voids created by Penguin and Random House turning into one.

Retrospective: Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 21:28:30 -0400

So I’ve been meaning to write about this game for a while since it has been some time since I beat it. I’d like to get some bad flak out of the way for this game – it’s nice to see an Assassin’s Creed game on a handheld that is just as pretty as its home console counterpart; however, it seems like the character development skimps out a bit. I think that was a case for both installments of “Assassin’s Creed 3.”

It was exciting and fresh to see a female Assassin take the lead role in the franchise even if it was just for a portable on Vita. New Orleans was fun and I think the different personas added a nice twist to the combat system. At times it was annoying to have different levels of notoriety across different ‘costumes’, but it makes sense. There were a few things that just didn’t make sense to me that made this game really hard to play through at times: who is Aveline? I understand she is the daughter of a slaveholder who grants her freedom and she is also the adopted daughter of her father’s wife. How did she come to be an Assassin? Why did she share her activities so freely with her step-mother? Why is Aveline’s birthmother intent on keeping her distance? Just what is that damn disc everyone is so afraid of? I feel like these are important, pivotal questions which remained unanswered to the very end.

The gameplay is relatively intuitive – it plays a lot like its predecessors, although there are a few quirky things here and there ranging from stroking the back of the Vita to row a boat, to rubbing the backside
a certain way to pick-pocket someone. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to rub my handheld to steal some change! Hold triangle to steal, please! These extra ‘controls’ felt really gimmicky, like the mandatory sixaxis controls in Heavenly Sword (anyone remember that game!?) in which everything involved tilting the controller because.. sixaxis. I also couldn’t stand decoding maps or letters. I’m told to hold my vita to the light as if I am peeking at a real piece of paper, yet the damn camera controls are inverted for some reason and it’s actually the front camera that needs to be held to the light. Decoding maps and other riddles took forever because of this glitch that is NEVER FIXED. I suppose after the game breaking save glitch fix Ubisoft gave up on this game.

Onto other details: there is a trading system side mission(or quest.. or mini game?) where you could make a butt-load of money using Aveline’s company to buy and sell crops, linen, and supplies. It seems
to be the counterpart to the Homestead trading in Assassin’s Creed 3; however, the controls are so horrendous it often took me ten minutes or so to figure out how to select a ship and where to send it. Once I figured out how to do it, the controls are so NOT intuitive that I would forget almost immediately how to send out another ship. Let’s just say I didn’t bother playing this part of the game very much.

Connor: Everyone was looking forward to meeting and running through New Orleans with Aveline. Well, he’s really just eye candy – you can’t do anything with him and all he does is follow you around somewhat incompetently. I think he is in this short game for just a few minutes depending upon how quickly you clear the missions.

I think this game is worth it if you can find it in the bargain bin. It’s been almost a year since its release so that may be possible at this point in time. I got mine with the Assassin White Playstation Vita bundle which I think was a very good bargain. I’m glad I did not pay full price for this title. Unfortunately, I think I’ll be waiting for the bargain bin for Assassin’s Creed IV since I’m still not convinced that it’s worth being a day one purchase.

Cosplayers at Senshi Matsuri!

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 21:23:00 -0400

What is a convention without cosplayers!? There were a great deal of moonies who were not afraid to show off their lovely frocks:

The Vendors at Senshi Matsuri 2013

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 20:57:00 -0400

What would be a con without vendors? I thought this needed its own post since the vendors at Senshi Matsuri were unique - they were independent artists, designers, or online stores catering to the fandom.

Everyone had really nice, high quality stuff!

Hitomi is a vendor specializing in colored contact lenses, eyelashes, bows, and fukus.

Lil Hevn was selling trinkets ranging from earrings to plush onigiri!

There was something for everyone!

This booth, Hikari wo Sagasu, had lots of japanese themed trinkets ranging from silver earrings to origami hair pins and clips. These girls were really sweet and I bought a pretty pair of earrings that remind me a bit of Sailor Pluto’s staff. Looking back, I wish I bought an origami hair pin as well.

All of their stuff is available online I’m told, so maybe I will eventually get an origami rose hair pin.

Did you buy anything interesting from any of the booths at Senshi Matsuri?

First Ever Senshi Matsuri in New York City!

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 20:42:04 -0400

After New York Anime Fest was gobbled up alive by New York Comic Con, it is nice to see a small event focused on a specific fandom that was pulled together by real fans instead of some corporate machine. Senshi Matsuri, hosted on Usagi’s birthday (June 30th) brought together over 200 Moonies under the roof of the tiny event hall in the Amsterdamn Houses next to Lincoln Center. It wasn’t overcrowded and it was far from empty - the perfect combination because I really can’t stand the sweaty and rude crowds that plague most big conventions.

Senshi Matsuri 2013 opened up with Twinkle Twinkle Sailor Stars presented by Lilith Oya:

After which was followed by a Senshi Fashion Show by Lil Hevn. Unfortunately the participants walked by so quickly I couldn’t get any individual shots.

The fashion show was followed by Uncle Yo’s standup geek comedy routine. For any readers who are unfamilar with him - he is basically a normal person making normal jokes. No, actually his humor is quite topical - if you don’t play video games, watch anime, or engage in other ‘nerdy’ or ‘geeky’ activities I don’t think you’ll understand anything he’s talking about. Today he poked fun at Big Bang Theory (a show I happen to like) and how it’s a very poor representation of geek culture but allows ‘outsiders’ to claim they understand us because they laugh at us from a safe distance. Of course he was funnier and I’m just going all English degree on a comedy routine.

His comedy act was followed by an event titled, “So You Wanna Be a Starlight” where some brave moonies took to the stage to show off their skills. Various acts involved singing and dancing.

The event wrapped up with one last performance and a cosplay contest.

The panels were engaging and well thought (descriptions taken from Senshi Matsuri 2013 agenda):

Sailor Moon & Feminism: It’s no secret that Sailor Moon is all about “girl power”— but just how much does this beloved anime measure up to feminist ideals? This panel looks how Sailor Moon deals with female empowerment, LGBTQ issues, body image, and more!”

Sailor Moon Cosplay 101: Lilith Oya brings you info and DIY tips on making the perfect Senshi Cosplays.

Basic Guide to a Magical Girl’s Wardrobe: There is no question that the gifted have a specific style, this is also true for the heroines of manga * anime.

Overall, I am happy with how the event turned out. I really do hope the turnout this year will allow the event to continue on next year and perhaps outgrow the small event center so it can find a home at the Hilton on 57th street or another very nice place suitable for a small convention. There are a few things that I would change for next year - but hopefully the crew who made this event happen will send out a survey asking for suggestions and comments. As I stated previously, it is really nice to go to an event that is truly about the fandom and not about lining the pockets of huge corporations.

Live From New York, It's Wizard World 2013!

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 17:58:00 -0400

We had the pleasure of attending The Wizard World Comic Con Experience here in NYC this year and it was a lot of fun. It’s more of a classic Comic Con experience then say the something more media infused such as NYCC or San Diego, but it’s still a con none the less. Lots of cos play and celebrities, I can say I had a good time. I only had the pleasure of attending one day due to the fact that I am poor because of SDCC and the fact I spent a ton of money on an actual camera, but I digress.

There were quite a few celebrities to take photo-ops with and my friend Clara who is a big Photo-Op fan girl too quite a few, but this wasn’t her first time at the rodeo, she’s been to other Wizard World events and even shared her experience with us last year.

This time around I chose to rome around aimlessly and just go with the flow. Although I don’t have Cos Play pictures I thought I would share some from the awesome panels I went to with Michael Rooker, Norman Reedus and the ever amazing Wil Wheton. Honestly, Wil was one of the best, he’s one of us and he just get’s it. Everything that came out of his mouth during the panel about geek/nerd culture was on the money. I’m going to stop yapping now and share some pictures with you folks, because that’s what matters anyway.

KHALEESI GONNA CATCH THEM ALL, YO! (This was a print we got from the lovely folks at TeeTurtle, who were super awesome and their designs are sweeeeettt. )

I have tunnel vision when it comes to Dana Scully.

Mmmmm. Star Trek Michael Rooker was super awesome.

Norman Reedus! ::fans self::

Happy Wil Wheton.

Shades of Evil Wil Wheton.

That’s all I could post here with out TUMBLR having a fit, but for more pictures from the event check out our facebook album here! and make sure to like our page too. If we hit 100 likes by the end of this there just might be a nice little present for our 100th liker which I hope might be incentive enough. Oh-hoho!

A Letter to Orphan Black: Please Come Back Because I Miss You

Sat, 29 Jun 2013 23:38:03 -0400

Dear Orphan Black,

How do I put this lightly without sounding harsh and probably needy?

But please come back because I miss you?

I turn on my local BBCA station every Saturday night and anticipate your arrival but you never show up, my heart shatters and I become weak. I know you’ll be back and all but I loved you and all of those good times we shared. I know you’re probably wondering why I love you so, and here are some reasons.

1. Tatiana Maslany is perfect in every way. The woman plays a ton of characters and sometimes you forget it’s just her. I wish science fiction got more action in the Emmy world because this woman needs a statue with her name on it STAT. She goes from bad ass punk Sarah to Ukrainian, tail cutting Helena. (No, really, she cuts off this dudes tail, I died.)

Half the time the woman is pretty much acting against herself. She has with everything and everyone including herself. She is flawless and no one should ever forget that. Ever.

2. Paul. I mean a picture speaks a thousand words so I’ll just leave that there.

3. Mystery and a cool story. I don’t think I never stopped giving a shit the first season. I didn’t stop not even for a second because everything was moving at such a great, fast pace and once you think you’ve figured it out you feel like a fool because you are WRONG. ALL WRONG. It really reminds me a bit of Fringe, The X-Files (the episode with the Eve’s anyone?) and Nikita. All those shows mixed into one show has to be awesome right? Then that’s why it’s awesome.

4. And the best part? Felix.

Best best friend ever. He shares his house with all of the clones as needed and he is the definition of ride or die. He is also sassy and wonderful.

Now that I am done explaining my obsession, as you can see I really miss you and I’m anticipating when you hit my TV screen again. I appreciate the second season for which I am both anxious and crazy over but when you come back you’ll soothe my soul. You’ll make everything just right. Just right.

Love,

Diane

Mad Men: Or How I Learned To Start Watching Again Because Of Kevin Rahm

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:28:00 -0400

***FINALE SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!***

Unlike our resident Mad Men fan Amanda who has a great relationship with the series I have one that has been rocky to say the least. Mad Men is like an estranged significant other in my world. The breakup wasn’t bad, we just kind of left it as is and moved on, but I still check up on it from time to time. Mad Men was my favorite show until it’s fourth season, my Sunday night would be devoted to the series, (as was True Blood, but that’s a story for another day.) After a while my heart was discontent with the series. I fell out of love with the characters and the story lines. I would still peek to see what was going on but I decided I wouldn’t come back to it, and it was heart breaking because I loved it so as evidenced here:

Here I am with the three seasons I actually enjoyed. Pure bliss. I even have the zippo lighter special edition DVD set

(Side note: It’s selling for somewhere around $115 on Amazon right now. SAY WHAT?)

One Saturday night I was talking to my friend Michael (of Geek Crash Course fame, watch and subscribe to their channel for some knowledge and stuff. He also came up with this title, so credit where credit is due, friends.) I told him I hated Mad Men these last few seasons and he told me to watch it because things were finally coming to a head. I saw some GIF’s on Tumblr of Peggy and Ted and I admit I was curious.

However, I was cautious. I waited a while for things to finally hit Don hard but nothing seemed to ever REALLY catch up with him. Sure, things sucked for him but I wanted to see some turmoil and torture for Don, because let’s be honest here, he’s a dick. I wasn’t sold at first, but then I learned that Kevin Rahm’s character Ted Chaough, usually portrayed in an almost villainous role the last few seasons was back and this time he was holding his rightful place as the Anti-Don.

I gave it a shot, because of Kevin Rahm, Ted, Tumblr gifs of Peggy and Ted being cute and a promise Michael made to me about Don’s downward spiral finally being front and center. I wasn’t disappointed.

Don’s Ultimate Decline:

Jon Hamm needs an Emmy. Don was finally getting his in every way. He was acting like a child for who knows how long, but this season made him even worse than before.

-He was constantly fighting for Peggy’s soul like he owned her. I feel like Don always felt like Peggy owed him because he made her who she is, and yes, she did learn a lot but Peggy also had natural talent. I was glad when she left the agency and moved on but then she got dragged back into Don’s world and it was almost painful to watch sometimes.

-He acted like a child professionally for most of the season, even when the agencies merged Don treated Ted like he was out to get him, when Ted just wanted Don to respect him and his ideas, because the fact remains that Ted is good at his job, if he wasn’t Don wouldn’t be so hellbent to get into a pissing contest all the time.

Ted engages Don several times throughout the season, but he knows what Don is doing. Ted slowly gets tired of Don’s shit and upstages him.

Can we talk about how amazing Ted was in the scene when he takes Don up in the air?

Don doesn’t just screw up professionally, he screws up personally too.

He once again starts his cheating thing, you would think a man would learn and damn it all of his wives are hot! His relationship with Sylvia was probably the grossest he’s ever had. I mean, there was a bunch kinky sexy times going on, that whole scene where gets all Christian Grey on her was kind of interesting, but it was all about Don’s need for control. In the end Sylvia loved her husband, but that didn’t stop her from screwing with Don again, this time getting caught by an unsuspecting Sally.

Poor Sally Draper is a lot like her father, and she loves him a lot. Seeing something like that? Not going to work wonders for her when she’s older. She’s disappointed in her father, and more importantly she’s mad at her father in ways she’s never been mad at him before. This hurts Don, but I wish it would hurt him more.

Things finally catch up to Don in the finale when he blows everything at an important meeting with Hershey. He pretty much tells them his whole life story, how he grew up in a whore house, how crappy his life was and it hurt him because the partners told him to take an indefinite vacation.

The Draper home isn’t so great either when he blows it with Megan who leaves. He lets Ted go to California for him, thinking he did the right thing because Ted was begging, but ultimately he didn’t think of Megan who quit her job and was excited to move out to the west coast to fully explore her career. That’s the problem, Don never thinks of what he does and what kind of effect it has on the people closest to him and he felt this in the finale. Don ends his crappy week by taking his kids to see the whore house he grew up in. Maybe this little vacation from work and finally getting his childhood off his shoulders would make him a better person next season. Probably not.

Ted: The Anti-Don:

The real reason I came back was because of Ted. I needed a breath of fresh air from the all of the dark smoke that surrounds Don Draper every episode and Ted was it.

-Where as Don would make mistakes and the consequences were minimal, Ted would make mistakes and feel them hard. People like Ted, he’s approachable, he’s well aware of how good he is an Ad-Man and so is everyone else around him. Professionally he keeps himself nice, his employees like him and there isn’t much you can really hate about Ted.

Truthfully, Ted and Don have a lot in common. They are both men who feel stuck. Don in his fake life and Ted in his marriage. Ted loves his wife and his children and there is no doubt about that, but there is something about Peggy that makes Ted want something more. It’s clear that he’s in love with her, and yes things happen between them but Ted makes the right decision and he doesn’t leave his wife and kids for her, instead he wants to fix his mistakes.

-Don, on the other hand, would have just slept with Peggy some more and screwed her over all the while screwing over his wife. Ted begs Don to go to California because he needs to salvage what he has. Peggy isn’t exactly happy about this and I wish she would be more understanding, but at the same time I think Peggy should know better than to mess with a married man and think he was going to just run off with her. (Remember her and Pete? THEY HAD A BABY.)

Shipper moment here: I love Ted and Peggy but I feel like she belongs with Stan and his beard. Shipper moment over.

Sure there are other awesome things this season:

Creepy Bob Benson
Joan slowly letting Roger back.

Dawn
The entire episode where they’re on speed. Ken tap dances, it’s a winner.
Trudy finally telling Pete to run along, and Alison BrIe being awesome in general.

Ultimately, the best part of it for me was finally seeing Don’s story take the turn we all knew it would take eventually. I hope this is the end of the old Don Draper and the beginning of the newer, even worse Don Draper.

I tuned back into the show I gave up on and maybe I was wrong, maybe I should have stuck around. I have to go back later this summer and watch season 5 and I actually can’t wait. (I can wait a little, I want to finish my Star Trek Marathon. Sorry Mad Men season 5.) But I am back now and I can’t wait for Season 7.

Neil Gaiman Discusses The Dangers Of Fiction At BEA 2013

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:57:58 -0400

Our coverage of Book Expo America continues with Saturday’s most popular event. Hundreds of fans packed the panel room to get a chance to see Neil Gaiman in person. Standing ovations, cheers, and enthusiastic applause welcomed his entrance into the panel room. He shared details about his new releases, upcoming projects and fodder for philosophical thoughts. Here are the highlights:

"I Felt Guilty About Dads…"

His new children’s story coming out in September Fortunately, the Milk, features a dad who went on a simple errand and ends up saving the world from alien domination. This work is righting the wrongs of a previous children’s story about a boy who traded his boring dad for two goldfish. “I needed to do something dads could be proud of,” Gaiman said. This book was written in small sections over the course of a year.

Why Fiction Is Dangerous

Gaiman declared “fiction is dangerous because it gives people empathy.” He also stated fiction can cause people to go into the minds of others and learn about alternative ways of thinking. Fiction can give people ideas about what in the world needs to change and the imagination to make it happen.

These ideas were supported by two related anecdotes. The first was about attending a science fiction convention in China a few years ago. In the past the government banned or restricted access to science fiction due to criticism of communism, but times were changing and new ideas were being introduced. The second was about the reading material of the world’s movers and shakers. Many of the leaders of Google, Microsoft and other technology companies grew up reading science fiction.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Later this month adult fans can get their hands on his new novel. The story is told from a 7 year old’s point of view. Gaiman started writing in 2003 after speaking to his father about a brief childhood memory. A gambling addicted lodger who stayed with Gaiman’s family killed himself by driving the Mini off a cliff. The tone of the novel is much darker than his previous works. The concept was originally planned as a short story but it evolved over time.

Works In Progress

The script for the TV version of American Gods is still under review by HBO. He started writing the script by inserting everything not featured in the novel. HBO sent it back wanting more material based on the original story. In terms of novels, he is working on a fictionalized account of the life and times of the Jack Benny radio show. For fans who are wishing for sequels to older work, the wait continues. Gaiman said "…there are sequels I would love to write and then I go ooh shiny."

Gaiman’s appearance was definitely the highlight of my experience at BEA this year. I had no idea what to expect because I have never heard him speak before. His talk was a wonderful mix of serious literary lecture and easy going storytelling. If you ever have a chance to see him in person, go. You will not regret it.

BEA 2013 kicks off!

Thu, 30 May 2013 22:29:00 -0400

BEA is here once again and that means some pictures, swag, author signings, and industry panels. Since I was on limited time for Thursday, I can only discuss my limited tour of the show floor so far!

As always, there are hundreds of big name and little guy publishers to be found:

Pardon my lousy iphone photography skills!

Have you ever heard of Rizzoli? They make some wonderful, distinctive illustrated titles ranging from fashion and high art to pop-culture.

Of course, what is BEA without one of the “Big Three” publishers? I’m sure Penguin, Random House (Random Penguin? Penguin Random House?), Pearson, and the other New York based companies are enjoying BEA in NYC once again. Book Expo 2015 might not be in New York. It’s very possible a lot of publishers in the NYC area may stay home in 2015…

Above is Peter Brown signing copies of the super cute illustrated book, Creepy Carrots. I like to think of this book as the Tale of Peter Rabbitfor grownups. I’m sure he thought I was creepy trying to get one focused picture with my iphone while I juggled a pile of free books in one hand, phone in the other.

Speaking of swag - this year ABRAMS opted to provide galleys instead of finished books - which to my knowledge is a first since I have always observed ABRAMS giving away one free copy of a new title. In a way this is better because there was a great selection of titles to check out via their galley samples. I grabbed an uncorrected proof of Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too: A Guidebook for Men and Their Cats.

Pardon the lousy picture of course - anyway, I really can’t wait to get my hands on the final copy. As a cat lady with a boyfriend who isn’t too keen on my furbabies, I’m in love with this book. There are chapters describing cat ladies, cats, how men handle cats versus women, and why men should like cats. Additional information includes what to do if a cat vomits on you, how to pet your cat, and what is not a cat. Each section is accompanied with charts, graphs, fun facts, and witty comments.

I’m happy to see a book like this and can’t wait to buy a copy.

Book Expo America runs from May 30-June 1, 2013 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in NYC.