MONDAY MASHUP: Stephanie Meyer & Fifty Shades of Grey, A Unique Way to Charge Your iPhone, Archangel’s Storm Excerpt, Zombie Boot Camp & A Beckham Pick-Me-Up
Welcome to our new feature where we talk about random things we’ve seen around the blogosphere. It could be an interesting article, a book trailer, maybe a fun piece of news we feel you should know about, and maybe even a stylish pair of shoes or handbag we’ve seen (if Laura has her way!). Basically it’s a bit of a mashup! Enjoy…
Hi guys, it’s Carolyn here with this week’s Monday Mashup. Hope you all had a fab Diamond Jubilee weekend!
Stephanie Meyer Speaks Out About Fifty Shades of Grey
I’m sure you’ve all heard about E. L. James’s Fifty Shades trilogy *unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere* This started out as Twilight fan fiction, and has since become the book everyone is talking about. I must admit I succumbed and have read the entire triogy this week, and although they’re not the most well written books I’ve read and could have done with quite a bit more editing, they were certainly addictive reading. As the books continue to sell and the buzz increases I have been interested to see if Meyer would offer up her thoughts. This week she did to MTV while on the set of Host, the upcoming film adaptation of her book of the same name.
I was interested to read that Meyers doesn’t hold any grudges again James. Here are my two favourite quotes from the interview, which you can read in full here
“I haven’t read it. I mean, that’s really not my genre, not my thing,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve heard about it; I haven’t really gotten into it that much. Good on her — she’s doing well. That’s great!”
and
“It might not exist in the exact form that it’s in,” Meyer said. “Obviously, [James] had a story in her, and so it would’ve come out in some other way.”
I personally think she’s being very professional about it all, and since I’ve read Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey, I can honestly say that while reading it I didn’t think of Bella and Edward once. The story, characters, content and tone of the novels are very, very different. I would read Fifty Shades over Twilight any day! So what about you? Are you more Ana and Christian or Bella and Edward?
Booksi Docks
I saw a tweet from Sophia at Fiction Vixen about these gorgeous iPhone charger docks. I’m definitely going to get one, and luckily they have one of my all time favourite books, Dracula! But if this book isn’t your thing, then they have lots more from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Ayre to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Don’t you think they are just the coolest thing ever!
Source: Booksi, Rich Neeley Designs
Archangel’s Storm Excerpt – Nalini Singh
Nalini Singh is one of my favourite paranormal romance authors. In her newsletter there was a link to the first chapter of her upcoming book, ARCHANGEL’S STORM, the fifth instalment in her amazing Guild Hunter series. This is Jason’s story and I just cannot wait for this book! Also, don’t you just LOVE that cover?!
Source: Nalini Singh
Zombie Boot Camp
My birthday has come and gone, and still I didn’t get my zombie experience. I hinted but to no avail. This looks awesome and I will continue with my endeavour to get the hubster to join me at Zombie Boot Camp – but I won’t hold my breath…
Source: Zombie Shop
Here is a bit about it:
Welcome to Zombie Boot Camp – Where good meets evil and the living meet the dead
Zombie Boot Camp is an event that borrows certain elements from SWAT training, paint-balling, Live-Action Role Play (LARP), and ‘Scare attractions’ to create a unique experience that we hope you’ll rave about for years to come.
Zombie Boot Camp is set in alternative present, where a zombie outbreak has spread across the UK. Private security firms are brought in by the government to train specialist teams of zombie hunters in the worst affected areas.
When you arrive at RAM Training, YOU are the latest recruit to sign-up for Zombie Boot Camp. Your day will begin being issued with boots, helmet, safety goggles, Kevlar body armour, jacket and trousers (gloves are optional). You will join a group of up to 8 participants then you’ll recieve a brief from one of our associate research-scientists about the zombies, before you begin your training.
During basic training you will learn the following drills:
- Close Quater Battle Fighting using: semi automatic assualt rifle, pistol or pump action shotgun
- Execute an explosive break in to buildings
- Unarmed combat techniques
- Use household items to incapacitate a zombie
- Fight as a cohesive team
- Deploy as a foot or vehicle patrol to find fix and destroy Zombie infestations.
Once your training is completed you’ll be taken out to test your skills on some live targets! But for some reason there seems to be a ever-increasing zombie presence in the area… Maybe with your training you might live long enough to find out why.
Sounds awesome don’t you think? So, what do you think – would you do it?
A Beckham Pick-Me-Up
As it’s Monday, I thought I would give you a little treat. Here’s a Beckham pick-me-up. I hope it helps ease you into yet another week – where do the weekends go!?
Have a great week everyone!
8 Comments
I’m still not bought into the 50 shades hype. I admire Meyer’s for her professional approach to this, but would argue about the fact that it started off as a fanfic of her Twilight books. I think this has played a big part in how successful the books have been. James may have still written the books, but I don’t think that without this bit of hype they would be as mainstream.
Oooh, that Ipod dock is awsome!!!! Wonder if I can swing one for my birthday!
That zombie role playing thing was held or going to be held in Glasgow. I remember because someone was talking about it on the local radio station up here.
And there is nothing like a little male totty pick me up for a monday!
Reply
I think 50 shades is a book you with love or hate, but either way you don’t have to read it
Nothing like a bit of Mr B to cheer up my day!
Reply
I hadn’t heard that about the 50 Shades books.
I adore that dock, much nicer than my clock/radio dock, am off to check it out
As for Beckham – never seen what all the fuss is about am afraid… I was more excited about the dock
Ooh and the zombie experience, I think I’d love it but would probably poop myself at the same time!
Reply
I’m surprised you haven’t heard of 50 shades, it seems to be everywhere at the moment. And you don’t see the allure of Beckham?? I just don’t comprehend LOL
Reply
I think you posted about a zombie experience a while ago, a different one to what’s mentioned above… I actually looked into that one, as it takes place half an hour from me and it’s reasonably cheap…. I soooooo wanna kill some zombies lol!
Nah… not into Becks, he doesn’t do anything for me… { Alexander Skarsgard or Andrew Lincoln, or both together, now you’re talking lol! } I didn’t realize he was so heavily tattooed though!
Reply
I did, it was part of a Christmas post I wrote last year. Yes, this is slightly different but I was hoping after my attempt last year I would get it for my birthday but no such luck *grumps*
Not into Beckham?? What’s wrong with you
x
I must say I’m not really into tattoos, but on Beckham they are H.O.T.
Reply
Just finished the last of the Fifty Shades Trilogy this weekend and I am totally with you on this one. I enjoyed the Twilight Saga while I was reading it, but if I had to re-read one of them, I’d definitely pick the Fifty Shades Trilogy. I never once pictured Edward and Bella while reading about Christian and Ana. In my mind…Christian is WAY hotter than Robert Pattinson, haha.
Reply
Oh yes, Christian is way, way hotter than Edward!! No contest for me! And I just love a guy who’s all broken inside and then the heroine just brings him round. I must admit that this is one of my favourite tropes
Reply