IMPORTANT NEWS FROM RICHELLE MEAD: NEED SUPPORT!!

I have not been posting very often these past monthsbecause I am on a blog break because I don't have the time to dedicate to my blog. Hopefully thoug I will be in full swing  by September, making regular posts! But I have been making random posts that I feel I need to mention.. this one is a good one! I love Richelle's Mead's work and she has given us a challenge please read  a recent post she made!

Bloodlines Challenge

Bloodlines has been quite a rollercoaster, and it's hard to believe we're now less than a month away! I'm getting excited for everyone to read it. I'm also impatient because I'm already working on the sequel, and there are times I want to say something about it and then have to remind myself, "Oh, yeah. The first book's not out yet. No one will know what I'm talking about."

I believe without a doubt that people who loved the first VA series will love Bloodlines. I've talked to a lot of readers, in person and online, and I'm continually floored by the passion and dedication you've shown for the books. That passion wasn't just for Rose alone--it was for all the things that make the VA world so awesome, like the romance, action, and humor. All those things are still in Bloodlines (even Rose is a bit), and I've already been amazed and humbled at all those fans who have told me from day one how excited they are to readBloodlines and find out what happens in this next stage of the VA world. You guys rock.

Still, there are always nay-sayers out there who try to tell me VA readers aren't going to stick with me and read Bloodlines. I don't believe that at all. Like I said, I see the passion for the VA world every day. And after reading the excited reactions to Bloodlines' first chapter, I'm more confident than ever that you'll love Sydney's take on Moroi and Strigoi life. Nonetheless, some people have thrown a challenge down before me--a challenge I intend to accept.

The challenge: Can Bloodlines get 10,000 pre-orders in a week?

I say: yup.

Plenty of you have pre-ordered already, and from all the enthusiasm I've heard from readers, I know more are coming. I think this challenge is totally doable. To show my faith in this, I'm actually going to wager something that makes me nervous. People always ask me for cut scenes from past books, and I always decline. There's a part of me that thinks, "Well, if it's not in the book, maybe it's not meant to be seen." But if you guys can come through on this challenge, I'll deliver for you. If we get our 10,000 this week, I'll swallow my fear and release the original cut first chapter of Bloodlines--which is very, very different from what you saw in the official chapter last week. Originally, Bloodlines was going to be written in third POV, from every main character's perspective. And who was originally going to kick the book off? Adrian, of course. Now, there's a lot of Adrian wit and wisdom in Bloodlines as it is, but this "lost" first chapter was in his point of view, putting us right inside his thoughts (scary...but kind of enticing too, huh?). This chapter also covers things that were cut from Bloodlines, so it really is new material--not just a rehashing of what Sydney's told us. It bridges the gap between the two series.

So those are the stakes! If 10,000 people pre-order Bloodlines this week, we'll get to see the world through Adrian Ivashkov's eyes. When does the challenge kick off? Well...today! It'll run one week. If we can make our numbers, Adrian's lost chapter will be posted online the first week of August--before the "real" Bloodlines release.

If you've already pre-ordered Bloodlines, then I am super grateful and happy that you're ready for the next ride. Thank you so much for your support! If you've been thinking about pre-ordering but just haven't gotten around to it (I'm a procrastination queen, so I totally understand this), then this is the week to do it! Pre-ordering from any store counts. So does Kindle, Nook, etc. Here are some links to help:

Penguin's Official Bloodlines Page - Click on "Book Info" to be a shown a list of major retailers, indies, and e-book sellers with direct links to ordering Bloodlines. 

Autographed Books from University Bookstore - Here are the instructions to order from the Seattle bookstore I autograph and personalize books for. You can get the book made out to you, and they'll ship internationally.

And speaking of international stuff...I mentioned in The Bloodlines Q&A that at the moment, only English speaking countries have confirmed Bloodlines release dates. So, those in non-English speaking countries can cheer on the other pre-ordering countries until we know more. But, for those in the UK, Australia, and Canada, you can take the challenge and pre-order from any of your own major bookstores and indies. For the big retailers, I'm guessing Amazon and Waterstone's in the UK; Dymock's in Australia; and Amazon and Chapters/Indigo for Canada. You guys know better than me. I know all three countries also have really awesome indie bookstores too, so definitely support those if you love them.

I'll close with a little more info for those still curious about Bloodlines. The links to the Q&A and first chapter I posted above will definitely give you the most background on the book. However, there are also some awesome reviews from readers who got to look at the book early that'll give you some insight as well:

Eleusian Mysteries Review - From a fan of the first series, who now adores Sydney as a narrator

Bibliopunkk - Reviewer who thinks Bloodlines has its own unique feel yet still perfectly continues the VA series

Teenage Bibliophile - This reviewer never actually read the first set of VA books - but had no trouble getting hooked on Bloodlines
Makshift Bookmark - A reviewer who was unsure about spin-offs and ended up loving Bloodlines. Best quote: "My fear of venturing outside Rose Hathaway's POV was unwarranted. FEAR NOT, SKEPTICS."

Exhausting post! Thank you again to those who have pre-ordered already, and thank you in advance to those who jump on the challenge this week. I'm so excited to see what unfolds! I don't write much in third or a male POV, so I'm also going to be excited and nervous when I post Adrian's chapter and get reactions. (Did you notice my use of "when I post"? Like I said, I'm pretty confident we can meet this challenge).

Rose's Song for Dimitri

As many know I think I am beyond obsessed with anything VA. I love running into VA posts that I find on different blogs. I have never really thought of songs characters could sing to each other. this post made me completely understand.... here's the link. I will show you a preview.. I am really a sucker for anything content wise about VA..

SUNDAY, 3 JULY 2011

Rose Hathaway's Song to Dimitri Belikov; YA Love Songs #1

**Spoiler Alert for those who haven't read Spirit Bound, #5 book in the Vampire Academy Series**

I have found the ultimate perfect song for Rose to sing to Dimitri in Spirit Bound after Lissa brings him back from the dead. I heard this song and it all just clicked.

Song's Name: I'll Stand by You

Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don’t be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I’ve seen the dark side too

[This first verse is just when Lissa changed Dimitri. He was weeping in Lissa's arms; Cause I've seen the dark side too? When Dimitri was Strogoi? Rose had seen his dark side too, but she still loves him and wants to help him with his new life]

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

[I mean, how obvious is this? No matter how many people Strogoi Dimitri killed, no matter how many f up things he did while being turned will change how Rose feels about the good Dimitri]

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you

[She wont even let the official guardians touch him. She didn't let Eddie kill him in Spirit Bound, nor Dimitri's old mentor turn Strogoi, she actually helped kill that one]

Click here for the rest...

WHY I LOVE DIMITRI!!!

I love when I read blogs and they make post about my favorite book series in the world Vampire Academy!!

This post has all the reason why you will fall in love with him!! I mean he is just beyond hot & sexy.
This is the link to where this post originated from! I will give you a preview..







Welcome to the first YA Bachelor post and man is it steamy. The wonderful Alice ofAlice Marvels is here to host our first bachelor Dimitri Belikov of The Vampire Academy series by Rachel Mead. After checking out this post, please hop on over to Alice Marvels and enter to win a signed copy of Vampire Diaries!

(SPOILER ALERT: There are HUGE spoilers here for the Vampire Academy series from Book 3, Shadow Kiss, on, so do NOT read this if you haven’t gotten there yet.  Just gaze into Ben Barnes's eyes for an uncomfortably long time, then look away!)

Dimitri Belikov

(aka Dimka, Comrade, Badass Guardian God)

Dimitri is half-vampire, half-human (also known as dhampir) and he is the ultimate badass Strigoi-slaying Guardian. Which is saying something, because all of the dhampir Guardians are well-trained ass-kicking machines, who dedicate their lives to protecting delicate full-blooded Moroi vamps from nasty, uber evil red-eyed Strigoi vamps.  

Dimitri has a tightly controlled, stoic ferocity that goes nearly unchallenged in the world of Guardian fighting and defense. Until he is assigned to train Rose Hathaway. Rose challenges him in every possible way, and it is so smexy to watch them clash. Given Dimitri’s incredible hotness, Russian accent, and intensity, is it any surprise that she is totally hot for teacher?

From the moment he sweeps into book one, cowboy duster swinging, as he brings Rose and Lissa, kicking and snarkily screaming, back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, he dominates EVERY scene he’s in. He is completely irresistible to read about, even when, SPOILER, SPOILER, SPOILER EXPLOSION - he becomes the thing he hates the most - a Strigoi.  Dimitri utterly nails the tortured, “been to the dark side and back” vibe.  Reading about him is so addictive, that in nearly every scene of the series there’s a little bullhorn in the back of my mind squawking “What’s going on with Dimitri, how will this affect Dimitri?” The guy is simply irresistible.

 So just WHY is Dimitri so irresistible? 

1. Um, would you just LOOK at him?

He’s rocking the Tall Dark and Deadly vibe - complete with bottomless black eyes, longish brown hair, a hulking 6’7 frame, and lean muscle. Dimka gets called “a God” nearly as often as “Dimitri” by Dhampirs and Moroi alike. Is it because of his looks or his fighting? Who cares, it FITS.

Though no mere mortal could do him justice, I have selected Ben Barnes, because he’s my fave choice for the movie. But don’t let my choice for Movie Dimitri sway you. Let me know what you think! Make your opinion known in my Vampire Academy Casting Poll here:

2. Forbidden fruit is SUH-freaking-EXY - and Dimitri has a big fat “HANDS OFF” stamped on his forehead for much of the series

Not only is Dimitri 7 years older than Rose, he is her teacher/mentor. His ridiculously strong sense of honor and moral compass makes their relationship a sexually charged adventure in impulse control, as they roll around on top of each other, training to kill Strigoi.  Then the poor guy goes and becomes the thing he hates more than anything in the world - a red-eyed vicious Strigoi. I know I’m not supposed to think he’s sexy, I’m supposed to run away screaming “monster! monster! hide your children!” but I was transfixed. So yeah, being attracted to a soulless Strigoi is as illicit as it gets for Rose, but boy do I understand it - the girl just can’t help herself.

Even when Lissa cures "Strig-itri," returning him to the Dimka we know and love, he’s STILL off limits. He’s horrified by his past Strigoi crimes that he goes through the whole “don’t look at me, I’m a horrible, hideous, unloveable thing!” routine.  When Dimitri FINALLY starts to see that he isn’t the world’s biggest monster, that there is beauty in the world, and in him, OF COURSE Rose is dating Adrian. Damnit Dimitri! 

3. He is the king of sweet-nothings

You never expect a strong, warrior type to suddenly say toe curling, melty things like “You’re so beautiful, it hurts sometimes.” or “I was worried about you- so, so worried. You have no idea. And it became useless to try to act like I could ever put any Moroi life above yours. Its not going to happen; no matter how wrong others say it is.” or "If I could dream, I know I'd dream about you.I'd dream about the way you smell and how your dark hair feels like silk between my fingers. I'd dream about the smoothness of your skin and the fierceness of your lips when we kiss. Without dreams,I have to be content with my own imagination—which is almost as good. I can picture all those things perfectly."

*SIGH* It’s always so much more pleasurable to see someone with the ultimate control have all resolve melt in the face of love. Which is exactly what happens to Dimitri in the face of Rose.

4. He has a good sense of humor.

It is quite a feat to be able to trade blows, with fists or with words, with Rose Hathaway, but Dimitri more than holds his own. Their training sessions are full of smoking hot physical combat, but what makes their chemistry really smolder are the words! Dimitri is perpetually amused by Rose, and gives her a hard time as much as he can. He’s so intense and serious and Guardian-like most of the time, that it’s always a pleasant surprise when he rattles off something wry and funny, and you’re reminded, hey, this guy likes to flirt!

5. He’s a hot foreigner from a strange, strange land.

He hails from Siberia, which is, as far as Rose is concerned, Antarctica.  His accent is crazy sexy, and when he’s about to say something sweet, he slips into his Russian nickname for Rose, “Roza.” 

Every time a sentence begins with “Roza,” it ends with swooning. 

6. Dimitri is a closet dork and it’s adorable.

He has seriously questionable taste in music (in his defense, the stuff he’s listening to his probably hot somewhere in the world right now, maybe Eastern Europe), and is obsessed with westerns and cowboys. But in a quiet, minds-his-own-business kind of way.  

And, bestill my heart, he’s kind of a bookworm. Defiantly, he tells Rose, “Some people read books for fun.” Yes, and some people read books about YOU for fun, Dimka.

7. He loves his family, and he’s a legend in Baia, his hometown, for being a standup guy.

When he was a wee little dhampir, he beat up his Moroi father for abusing his mother. (Even before he grew into his godlike body, he was delivering godlike justice.) He’s always been affectionate and loving with his many sisters, and his neighbors in Baia regaled Rose with countless good stories about his kindness, generosity, and willingness to stick his neck out for others.

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