To contact Jerica or for more information about The Mash, email themash @ tribune.com.

Zombie Land: Move Over Vampires, There’s A New (Undead) Sheriff In Town

From the magical “Harry Potter” series and the extremely sparkly “Twilight Saga,” the supernatural have dominated teen pop culture. Now, how about a horde of decaying creatures just begging for some human company? It might be a while before we have a zombie romance — rotting corpses are unattractive and unfortunately don’t have rock-hard abs — but zombies are becoming very popular lately. Feed your craving with these zombie-themed favorites.

Books

“Pride And Prejudice And Zombies”
Author Seth Grahame-Smith puts his own nightmarish spin on a classic romance novel. Readers get most of Jane Austen’s original story, but also illustrations of Elizabeth Bennet determined to wipe out the zombie menace. What man wouldn’t fall for a woman who kills zombies?

“The Zombie Survival Guide”
This is your go-to guide for surviving the impending apocalypse. Author Max Brooks gives in-depth and illustrated descriptions of the undead enemy and how to fight them.

“World War Z”
Another by Max Brooks, this novel tells the devastating experiences of survivors from the worldwide zombie war, following the battle from beginning to end as society faced near destruction. Bonus: Brad Pitt stars in the movie adaptation set for December 12.

“Zombies vs. Unicorns”
A group of authors take sides to prove which mythical creature is better: Team Zombie, led by Justine Larbalestier, or Team Unicorn, led by Holly Black. Read unique short stories and author commentary about zombies and unicorns.

Movies

“Dawn Of The Dead”
This is probably the best zombie flick of all time. A band of people hide out from the apocalypse in an empty shopping mall, making it their home as they fight off zombies and a gang of bikers.

“Shaun Of The Dead”
Shaun just can’t catch a break: He’s not taken seriously at work, he loses his girlfriend, and the world gets taken over by zombies. But he’s determined to prove his worth as a hero instead of a loser, and win back his girlfriend.

“Zombieland”
A downplayed “Scott Pilgrim”-esque storyline thrown into a brutal apocalyptic world, unlikely hero Columbus teams up with tough Tallahassee to find zombie-free territory while crossing paths with two sneaky girls trying to survive by any means necessary.

TV

“High School Of The Dead”
This anime features a group of high schoolers and their school nurse in the middle of the outbreak. They set off on a journey to survive the virus plaguing the world and survive the fall of humanity as they know it.

“The Walking Dead”
Officer Rick Grimes and his family join a team of survivors as they search for a safe haven from the horde of “walkers.” Relationships are formed and broken, and their humanity is at stake. Based on the graphic novel by Robert Kirkman.

Fashion

“Every Night I Have The Same Dream, Issue 2, Volume 1″ T-Shirt
From threadless.com, this nightmarish shirt features graphic zombie-versus-human battle scenes in the style of a comic book on the front and back of the shirt.

“I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead In A Zombie Apocalypse” T-shirt
If you’re the type to keep your closet fully stocked with supplies and know exactly how to maneuver your way around the undead, then this shirt from Hot Topic is for you.

Iron Fist “Dead Broke” Wallet
Earn some odd stares from cashiers with this soft vegan vinyl wallet by Iron Fist. For $20, who better to guard your cash than a zombie?

Iron Fist “Zombie Stomper” Platform Shoes
Iron Fist has the perfect shoes to match your Iron Fist wallet!

“Keep Calm And Kill Zombies” Zip Hoodie
Inspired by the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster, this hoodie from Hot Topic will help you keep your cool while you’re fighting off zombies.

Music

If that’s still not enough zombie action for you, check out the Zombie Lover’s Playlist on The Mash!

About Jerica
Jerica Griffin is a student reporter for The Mash, a weekly teen-focused publication in Chicago, where this article originally appeared.

Inspired by the support of Wattpad users, Brittany recently self-published Life’s A Witch through Amazon CreateSpace. We met up with her at her launch party last week to chat about how the Wattpad community has impacted her, how she’s bringing a new perspective to the supernatural genre, and what it’s like to self-publish a story…

Ypulse: What was your inspiration for Life’s A Witch? Did you have a prior fascination with the Salem Witch Trials?

Brittany Geragotelis: You know, I’ve always had an interest in magic and witchcraft…doesn’t every kid sort of wish they could do spells? But really, I find the time period when the Salem Witch Trials were happening to be so fascinating–sad, but fascinating–and so when I began to toy with the idea of writing a book around this topic, I realized it hadn’t really been done in a modern, girl-power kind of way. Then, the conspiracy theorist in me began to wonder: what if those accused in the witch trials actually were witches? And what if the accusers were members of their own coven? The story just developed from there.

YP: How do you feel you can keep the supernatural genre fresh and interesting for young readers who have been reading about witches, werewolves, and vampires for a while now?

BG: Witches and magic (don’t even get me started on werewolves and vampires) are obviously topics that have been done before, but I felt that by using a bit of the history behind the Salem Witch Trials mixed in with a modern-day heroine, it might just be enough to bring forth a new creative world. And by having Hadley be pretty, popular and powerful, yet not the stereotypical Queen-B (emphasis on the B), I figured it was a story that hadn’t quite been told before. I hope readers agree.

YP: How did you get involved with Wattpad and how has that community shaped your writing?

BG: Wattpad, and the community of book lovers on there, has revolutionized my writing career. When Wattpad approached me about publishing something on the site in November of 2010, I’d already experienced nine years of rejection from agents and publishers who all said, “We love your writing…but this just isn’t for me.” The way I looked at writing had hit a bit of a low by this point. But when Wattpad suggested I publish something on there, I hesitated because people in the literary world had cautioned me against ever putting things out there for free. But after talking to a few other published authors who also publish their writing on the website, and doing some soul-searching, I realized that by posting on Wattpad, I’d be doing what I’d always wanted to: create stories that others could enjoy.

Instead of giving Wattpad a book I’d previously written though, I decided to write something original for the Wattpad audience. I did some research into what the community on Wattpad liked to read and began to write an outline for Life’s a Witch. This process was totally new to me, as I typically write on my own schedule and once I’m done, I have my editor read through it before anyone else gets to see it. Since I was writing and publishing LAW at the same time, the version everyone on Wattpad was seeing wasn’t the cleanest copy. As an editor myself, this was a hard thing to let go of.

But the great thing about publishing as I wrote the book was that I was able to get real-time feedback on the story. I would know right away if my fans were buying a certain storyline or were catching on to who the super-secret villain was or even if they didn’t like a character. This feedback never changed my storyline drastically, but it did help me to know if I was doing my job as a storyteller.

When my “reads” began to get up in the millions, I felt like, for the first time, I was hearing from the real gatekeepers: the readers. And it felt amazing to know they were falling in love with Hadley and the rest of The Cleri. I can’t describe what it’s felt like to have my stories up on Wattpad. It’s by far the smartest decision I ever made in regards to my writing career.

YP: Getting a publishing deal is a huge challenge; how did you maintain your drive?

BG: What can I say? I love to write. It’s what I’m compelled to do. It’s what I’m passionate about. But for the first five years or so of rejection, I held onto some words of wisdom that my favorite author said. I remember reading either on one of Meg Cabot’s blogs or maybe it was an interview with her, that she endured years of rejection…every single day except for one, and that was only because the mail didn’t come on Sundays. And look at her now!

Then, after my agent dropped me in 2007, I thought maybe the universe was telling me I wasn’t meant to write. So, I took a 6-month hiatus. But after some time, I started to get the itch again and decided that just because things weren’t working out the way I thought they would, didn’t mean I wasn’t meant to write. I believe I’ve been given a gift (or at the least a great imagination) and whether one person reads my books or a million do, I’m going to write, because I love it.

YP: What’s it like to self-publish your book? Did the fact that your book was available online affect the deals publishers offered you?

BG: Life’s a Witch is my first published book and I published it myself. I thought about this for a long time before doing it, but as soon as I stopped thinking there was only one way to become an author,and once I opened my mind up to all the opportunities that are out there in the literary world, things started to fall into place. This process has been really interesting and there’s a lot more involved in it than I would have thought, but I like the fact that I have a hand in every decision made about my book. As for whether or not my self-publishing or having LAW online has affected deals by mainstream publishers….well, that remains to be seen, I suppose. In the last two weeks though, I’ve received dozens of inquiries from publishers, agents about foreign rights, movie/TV rights and even an offer to create a graphic novel. I’m currently weighing my options and will let you know what happens from here!

YP: What are your plans following this book release? Do you intend to release any of your earlier unpublished novels?

BG: I’m already publishing another of my books, Fate Reloaded, on Wattpad, and though it’s not nearly as successful as Life’s a Witch was, it’s finding its audience. I also have several other books that I’m considering publishing myself, both on Wattpad and in paperback. And I’ve already got the storyline written out for the sequel to LAW, which I’ll begin writing in a few weeks!

YP: You have a fun trailer out promoting your book. What’s your take on trailers and how they affect readers’ perception of the book and its characters?

BP: Thanks! I think today’s readers are looking to consume stories on all different platforms; that can cross into book trailers, book soundtracks and other immersive experiences. As a reader, I personally enjoy picturing characters in my own way without having the author “show” me what they look like. However, my reading experience wasn’t ruined by watching Harry Potter. I think for young people especially, when they fall in love with a story or world someone’s created, they want access to as much of it as possible. I think I write very visually to begin with, so coming up with a book trailer was a logical next step for me. Plus, it can’t hurt to show the potential for the story to be translated into TV/film…

Remember, to contact members of the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board, you can email them at youthadvisoryboard @ ypulse.com, or simply leave a note in the comments.

YAB Review: ‘Forever’

First Impressions?

I’ve been a fan of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series since “Shiver” was released in 2009. So, for me, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation for “Forever,” and that left me with high expectations. As I presumed, “Forever” jumped right into the action on the first page.

When were you hooked?

To say that I was hooked from the first page is not an exaggeration. “Forever” dived right back into the lives of Sam and Grace. The action picked up considerably a few chapters in, with a near-death experience or two, and the entire novel maintained a fast-paced. The relationship between Sam and Grace was so sweet and perfect that it made me want to cry at times and those romantic moments during high-tension scenes were definitely a favorite of mine.

Sum It Up…

“Forever” is a direct continuation of the previous Wolves of Mercy Falls books, “Shiver” and “Linger,” and may be even better than its predecessors. Stiefvater’s strength still lies in her lyrical prose and realistic characters. All of the characters, from Sam and Grace, to Olivia and Cole, progress and develop so much. During the course of “Forever,” Cole and the others are continuing their search for a cure to becoming a wolf but the answer doesn’t come easily and there is more than one near-death experience involved. While there is less focus on relationships than there was in the previous two novels, a few tear-jerking moments still remain. Stiefvater really shocked me with a few twists that I did not see coming. The only negative to the novel was that Stiefvater mentioned several things from previous books that I could not remember clearly, and did not explain them, which sometimes left me confused.

Final Verdict?

“Forever” is a must-read for fans of “Shiver” and “Linger.” Anyone that has not read them should definitely pick them up before reading “Forever” but should expect to be hooked on the series from the beginning. “Forever” ends on a note that leaves the reader both satisfied and yearning for more. Overall, it’s a novel I highly recommend!

About Skyanne

Skyanne Fisher was the girl skipping school in fourth grade to stay home and write. Now in high school, Skyanne still spends most her time writing. She also reviews books and writes for her school paper. She’s obsessed with foreign cultures, loves cities, and can’t stand small towns. It’s her goal to be fluent in multiple languages and she hopes to major in writing at Columbia College Chicago. In the mean time, she spends her time daydreaming about the days when she’ll be traveling the world.

Girls tend to spend more time reading than boys, but some authors are making a push to get teen boys back into the habit of cracking a book for fun instead of schoolwork, and with stories like these, we hope they succeed. Here’s a roundup of a few books for guys that have crossed our desk recently. They all have one thing in common: the protagonists get themselves into some pretty crazy situations that are just as dangerous as they are fun.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

This book is the definition of a “page turner.” Perry is a senior in high school and college plans are weighing on his mind when his family decides to host an exchange student for a year. He hoped for a hottie, and instead gets Goji, a frumpy Lithuanian, who turns out not to be what she seems. Their night at the senior prom turns into a high-octane thrill ride through Manhattan with constant twists, turns, and brushes with danger. The books chapters are cleverly introduced with college essay questions asking Perry to define who he is, and with each chapter, he gets closer to understanding himself. We’re not surprised that this book has already been optioned for a movie.

The Robot by Paul Watson

Two charmingly geeky freshmen, Gabe and Dover, have been lifelong best friends with two very different interests. Gabe is into computers, and Dover is into girls. When Gabe’s mom convinces his domineering, robotics engineer dad to take a weekend vacation, the boys take a page from “Weird Science” and slip into his lab to find a hot femme-bot. Once they switch her on, the fun begins…when she escapes! Tracking her down takes them on the adventure of a lifetime with high-speed car chases, secret agents, and, of course, beautiful girls.

Paradise Rules by Jimmy Gleacher

Gates is just trying to survive his family’s dysfunction in this modernized version of “Caddyshack.” He’s about to be a senior in high school, takes his girlfriend out for milkshakes, and tours his Boulder, CO, neighborhood on his bike…but he’s also already hustling millionaires on the golf course and hooking up with an older woman. Still, Gates is a good guy and means well, even if what he says and does sometimes goes awry, landing him in trouble. His mom is ignoring him, his boss is angry with him, his girlfriend is leaving him, and he might be in trouble with the law, but Gates is doing all he can to pull his life back together. Despite the teenage narrator, this book is definitely R-rated for gratuitous sex scenes. (That’ll get guys reading!)

To contact a member of the Youth Advisory Board, you can email them at youthadvisoryboard @ ypulse.com or simply leave a note in the comments.

Book Review: ‘The Cupid War’ By Timothy Carter

First Impressions?
When I heard that this book was a romantic fantasy, I wanted to read it right away. It has people falling in love without being able to be together. It is similar to “Romeo and Juliet” with the feeling that the couple could never really be together but still try to make it work. The story has romance but also plenty of adventure for those who prefer action over romance.

When were you hooked?
I liked the title of the book, and I thought that it would be about love and how hard it can sometimes be. I didn’t think that it would be about cupids fighting with depression! When I realized that it was a story told from the perspective of an actual cupid, how he became a cupid, and how the cupids are in a war against “dark forces” (depressions), I thought the idea was really creative and interesting. The author took a familiar mythical character and turned a predictable story on its head, making it even better.

Sum It Up…
When the main character, Richard, slips and falls off a bridge to his death, he has to fulfill his karma by becoming a cupid. While working on his first opportunity to help people fall in love, he notices an “old friend.” Unfortunately, this “friend” is the same person who made him want to jump off the bridge in the first place…damn!

With suspicions forming regarding his old friend, dealing with a new boss, and maybe falling for a girl with a special gift, Richard has a lot of adjusting to do. Add to this a squadron of dark mythical creatures (depressions) trying to cause people to make the same mistake that he did, and Richard’s afterlife proves more challenging than his original life.

Final Verdict?
The story is well written and includes characters that are imaginative and engaging. It is obvious that the author put a lot of thought into creating “The Cupid War.” I would have liked more description of this fantastic world: the settings and environments. Equally, more detail on what the characters looked like (aside from whether they had blond or short hair) would have made for a better mental picture of each character. But overall, I think this book was creative, fun, and definitely worth adding to a summer book list. I would recommend this book to people who like romance and adventure.

About Sydney

An American citizen, Sydney currently lives and studies in Canada. She reads…a lot! The good news is that Canadians are generally polite and friendly and don’t seem to mind when she causes mayhem as a result of her nose being permanently attached to a book. That doesn’t mean that an international conflict of “War of 1812″ proportions couldn’t happen as a result of Sydney’s time in Canada. While svelte and diminutive, she’s more than capable of generating disproportionate impact…

To contact a member of the Youth Advisory Board, email them at youthadvisoryboard @ ypulse.com, or simply leave a note in the comments.

Summer Reading: Teen Book Recommendations

Summer is often equated with long, endless days spent relaxing from a stressful school year with nothing to do. That may not always be true but summertime generally brings more downtime and that means time to read. Below are a few of the books that my friends and I are most excited to read (or reread) this summer.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. Sarah Dessen is known for her coming-of-age teen girl stories with characters and plots that keep readers rapidly turning pages until the very last. Her newest release, What Happened to Goodbye, follows McClean as she tries to find her true self after trying on different personalities in each town she’s lived in. Like Dessen’s other novels, it has depth without being an “issue” book and light moments that make it perfect for reading on the beach.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater. Maggie Stiefvater captured the attention of many with this trilogy, beginning with Shiver, which follows the romance of a girl and her wolf-turned-boy. The entire trilogy is packed with emotion and makes for an unforgettable story. With the third and final book just released, summer is the perfect time to reread the series or pick up the first book!

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott. Any of Elizabeth Scott’s novels, which are similar in theme to Dessen’s, make lovely summer reads. Her newest novel, Between Here and Forever, is the story of two sisters, one very much alive and functioning, the other in a coma. Enter a boy and some secrets and you have a book with substance and a lovely, summery cover.

City of the Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. The fourth book in the “Mortal Instruments” series by Cassandra Clare arrived this spring and it’s a must-read for any fan of the series. The stakes are raised, the tension is higher, and the ending leaves the reader in shock. For those that have never read the series, now is the perfect time to try it out. It’s full of magic, romance, and adventure and will appeal to fantasy fans and non-fans alike.

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs. Forget vampires and werewolves. Mermaids are the perfect creature for summer. After all, they do live in the ocean and nothing screams summer like the beach. Tracy Deebs’ debut novel follows Tempest as she is forced to choose between staying human and giving in to her mermaid instincts. There’s a hot guy, some surfing, and a gorgeous setting, which makes it even better.

The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka. Sometimes the best thing for summer reading is a “guilty pleasure” book — something light and fun that doesn’t require a ton of thinking. The A Circuit is just this sort of book. It follows four very different girls as they navigate the wealthy world of competitive horse showing. There are catfights, a mean girl, and some crazy teen behavior that make it a quick and fun read. Fans of series like “The A-List” and “Gossip Girl” will love this novel.

About Skyanne

Skyanne Fisher was the girl skipping school in fourth grade to stay home and write. Now in high school, Skyanne still spends most her time writing. She also reviews books and writes for her school paper. She’s obsessed with foreign cultures, loves cities, and can’t stand small towns. It’s her goal to be fluent in multiple languages and she hopes to major in writing at Columbia College Chicago. In the mean time, she spends her time daydreaming about the days when she’ll be traveling the world.

Here’s what Candace had to tell us about young Carrie Bradshaw, her advice for today’s youth, and the potential for a Carrie Diaries TV show or movie…

Ypulse: What prompted you to enter the YA market?

Candace Bushnell: I thought these stories would be fun for teens. But YA, Chicklit, Romance, Paranormal—these are only labels. My goal was to write the best book about Carrie Bradshaw and friends that I possibly could.

YP: Carrie grows up quickly — one night in New York and she’s already sipping cocktails at fashionable parties. She manages to live a life that young girls aspire to, while at the same time being a very relatable person. What aspects of the character are most appealing for young readers?

CB: Young people always want to be adults — and usually think they’re more grown up and mature than they actually are. Carrie’s pretty typical of that syndrome, except in her case, she really is thrust into a world not only of adults, but of particularly sophisticated, successful adults where she has to learn to sink or swim.

YP: Samantha’s advice to Carrie is to “fake it ‘til you make it.” What’s your advice to young girls (or guys) dreaming of making the leap from the suburbs and small towns to the big city?

CB: Remember, that advice is coming from Samantha! My advice to young girls is work hard, develop discipline and a work ethic, and always be respectful towards those older and more accomplished. In other words, it’s not always about you!

YP: Carrie has a love for grown-up fashion. Is there too much focus on luxury fashion for teens?

CB: Of course there is! But many of these luxury brands have been around for more than 150 years—they’ve moved from selling to kings to commoners—how can a mere teen resist? It’s all very Jane Austin-ish and something I’ve already addressed and skewered in my novel One Fifth Avenue.

YP: You’ve signed on for two more YA novels with HarperCollins. What will they be about?

CB: I haven’t decided yet, but I’d love to write one more book in the Carrie Diaries Series.

YP: Any plans to bring “The Carrie Diaries” or “Summer and the City” to TV or film?

CB: There certainly seems to be a lot of talk, but nothing concrete as of yet. Stay tuned!

The Survivors Is More Than Just A Good Book: Transmedia & Marketing

The Survivors is a Young Adult Fiction book series by Nashville-based author Amanda Havard that tells the story of fourteen ill-fated survivors of the Salem Witch Trials and their descendants, who have been in hiding for over three centuries in rural Montana.

What makes this series really interesting — and worthy of the buzz it’s creating — is the way that Havard has woven social media and music into her own creative process and also used it to enhance the reader’s experience.

Harvard has an exciting and new vision for YA Fiction that incorporates all types of media to share the story of The Survivors. I sat down with her to discuss how her novel is rooted in history and mythology, her obsessive attention to detail, her transmedia strategy, and her collaboration with indie singer-songwriter Chris Mann on an original song for the book.

Derek Baird: Your novel opens with a prologue set in 1692 Massachusetts during the height of the Salem Witch Trials. Throughout the novel you’ve woven in historical events and make references to folklore, myths, and legends. What made you decide to include these elements? Do they serve a deeper purpose in the series?

Amanda Havard: I like to think that The Survivors is a “what if?” story in a world where obscure mythology and folklore are true and the unexplained holes in history are filled by these truths. Supernatural creatures are intriguing — they always have been — but we’ve seen a lot of the same stuff in recent years. When I set out to write this series, I wanted to come up with something supernatural and new, and so that’s how I created the concept of a Survivor.

Yet when I went looking for what a Survivor really was or could be or where it came from, it quickly became more intriguing to incorporate sixteenth century Romanian folklore or unexplained historical events to create a back story or to world-build, so to speak, than it was to solely make up things on my own. To me, there is a certain challenge in fantasy world-building where you start from scratch, but there is a wholly different challenge in fitting fantasy into the world that exists now.

By utilizing folklore and mythology, and weaving in real history, I gave myself a chance to tell a story with a rich background from the get-go, giving my readers a chance to read about the weirder, cooler, more obscure, or more overlooked stories in our history. The inclusion of this kind of content really gives a chance for The Survivors to have a more elevated, almost academic element than what you might expect — ­and that will only grow as the series continues. It also gives readers a chance to read this story in context: it’s happening in their world, as it exists now and has existed throughout time.

Plus, I’m a kid of the Google generation. I see something, and I want to know more about it, so I Google it. You can do that with The Survivors. You can read the books or websites that my characters read to research. You can see what they see. You can go on their journey with them because this stuff is real.

DB: When it comes to marketing the book, you’ve embraced all types of new media, especially Twitter. In many ways, your characters’ Tweets are the prequel for the series. Talk about your transmedia strategy and why you decided to embrace Twitter both as a marketing tool and medium to deliver the story of The Survivors.

AH: In the early chapters of The Survivors, I just threw out there that Sadie, my protagonist, had a Twitter account that her human friend, Corrina, made her get. This led me to reserve Twitter account names for both characters, just in case. But about a month later, I found myself thinking a lot about how much more goes into a character that what ends up on the page, and it dawned on me that I could really embrace Sadie’s viewpoint if I tweeted as if I were her. But if I did that, then Corrina should tweet as Corrina.

I asked my good friend and co-conspirator to take the helm as Corrina for Twitter purposes so that Sadie and Corrina could have authentic, unscripted conversations as themselves in real time. We became addicted to it, and it wasn’t long until we realized that others would be addicted to it too.

Putting my characters on Twitter has made them accessible in a way that no character has ever been before. You can know what Sadie is doing right now (or what she’s been doing since 2009), and the timeline of the story doesn’t even start until this summer! And, soon, as the timeline of the story permits, we’ll have more character Twitter accounts. Now that the book is actually out, people are talking to Sadie.

Two book bloggers recently did an interview with Sadie and Corrina, and that was just awesome. We want to see more of this. We want readers to be able to connect to these characters as just what they are: people. In this way, The Survivors extends beyond the singular medium of the book. It is so much bigger than just the words on the page.

DB: For the first book in your series, you collaborated with indie singer-songwriter (and Warbler #6 on “Glee”!) Chris Mann to record an original song based on the book. The end result is the single “Pretty Girl.” Why did you want to produce original music for the series? Tell us more about your collaboration with Chris Mann.

AH: I’ve always been a songwriter, and, living in Nashville, I’ve always been fascinated with the music industry. The choice to use music happened organically. When I first began the story, a week or two into it, I found myself wanting to get better in touch with Sadie. Songs are such a crazy juxtaposition to books: they must communicate the same emotion, characterization, and story but in so few lines. So when I had a hard time getting my head around this or that part of the story, I sat down at my piano and wrote a song to Sadie. Then, I’d write songs from Sadie’s point of view. Then from Everett’s. Then Lizzie’s. And so on and so forth. They became a huge tool in character development.

And then, after taking the bones of the first one I ever wrote and collaborating with some hugely talented people in Nashville, we ended up with the version of “Pretty Girl” Chris Mann recorded.

Chris is awesome. He’s so hugely talented, so committed, and truly awesome to work with. The fact that his look has a likeness to my darker, more brooding leading man, Everett Winter, did not hurt how glad I was that he was the one to sing the song. Chris and I are now working to market the song together. The music video for it is on his YouTube channel. He recently appeared at a huge book convention with me, signing books as Everett while we had the music video for “Pretty Girl” playing at our booth. It was fantastic.

Ultimately, the songs, like everything else, are another way to make the story and the characters from The Survivors come alive in new ways that most story characters don’t get a chance to. And “Pretty Girl” is just the first of many. We’ll actually be back in the studio in a few weeks to do the next one.

This, in my view, is how transmedia is supposed to be: content expressed as a set of experiences played out across many types of media, all of which build and strengthen the concept as a whole. The Survivors is just that. And I’m eternally grateful to Chris for having been such a willing participant in making that happen.

DB: I’ve noticed in the book you have an almost obsessive attention to detail — from clothes to hotel rooms to interstates — you’ve clearly done your homework. What is the purpose behind all of it? In other words, is there a method to the madness?

AH: I’m glad you asked this because, yes, there is a method to the madness. I get asked about the fashion all the time, for example. People assume that I picked some designers, threw their names together, and thought that conveyed something about my characters arbitrarily. Or they think I chose to make Sadie like fashion because I like fashion. That’s not it. Sadie is a non-human trying to pass as a human. In her mind, based on the people she first met in the human world, paying attention to fashion was a great way to pass for human. And noticing the things others are wearing? That’s what she would do. That’s a part of her character. That’s just one example.

I also use the real details — brands, hotels, cars — because I think there could be fun partnership with these entities down the line. Wouldn’t it be fun to see a fashion spread of Sadie, Corrina, and Ginny in Alice + Olivia or maybe Elizabeth and James or Tracy Reese looks? Or a pair of sunglasses at Tory Burch that you can buy because Sadie has worn them? Or a room in a hotel in Turkey where Sadie and Everett stayed? Or a discussion of some character’s choice to drive an Audi R8 over all other sports cars in its class? We like blurring the lines between fantasy and reality (don’t think we don’t!), and, because of it, the possibilities are endless.

But more than that, the detail adds to the legitimacy. I owe it to my readers for the details to be spot on. Every place in the book is real, down to the unmarked dirt road in the middle of a forest in Montana where Sadie leaves her car parked before venturing into the mountains. I’ve been there. You can go there. You can take the highways she takes, fly the flights she flies, wear the clothes she wears, listen to the songs she listens to. You can live out the story Sadie is telling you because, supernatural madness aside, it all exists.

And “existing” means we can play with your willing suspension of disbelief. How far-fetched is it that there are Survivors hiding on the mountainside in Montana when that particular place is unmarked, uncharted, has no trails and no people there? It isn’t that far-fetched.

The detail gives you exactly what you’re looking for in fiction: an escape to a place unlike your own and yet one you can relate to, a trip into a life you haven’t lived but could.

DB: Anything else Ypulse readers should know about The Surviors?

AH: If you like the first book and what we’ve done so far, just wait. What I’ve got coming up my sleeve is bigger than you’re imagining. I promise.

About Derek Baird

Derek Baird consults with companies and non-profits like Yahoo!, Facebook, Pearson, Kia Motors, Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC), Simon Wiesenthal Center, United Nations GAID Program, Stone Yamashita Partners, PBwiki.com, Digital Outlook, Yahoo! Southeast Asia, Togetherville and others on the use of educational technology media. He also advises clients on social product development, digital and social media strategy, and conducts consumer insight research on the way that teens, kids and their parents use digital and social media in their daily lives. Derek helps his clients to navigate and market their products in the digital media, education, non-profit and entertainment ecosystem.

Derek has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on new media, web strategy, social media, user-experience/design, educational technology, edutainment and online communities. His writing has appeared in journals, magazines and books in the US, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Singapore and Sweden.

So it’s all about the Kindle then, right? Wrong. Students are twice as likely to say they want a tablet (such as an iPad) rather than an e-reader, according to a recent Ypulse Report on technology. Girls would prefer to have a tablet, but they are more open than boys to owning an e-reader. Girls may be more likely than boys to see value in a dedicated device for digital reading because they are more prolific readers than boys.

For now, publishers are focusing on e-readers, and they’re producing ebooks for a wide range of devices. Nickelodeon launched a collection of Spongebob and Dora the Explorer ebooks exclusively on Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Sesame Street has an ebook app for the iPad with 150 titles. And if you think it’s a little crazy to offer children’s books for the iPad, think again. Parents happily hand over their devices to their children and use them together to read. That may be why Toys “R” Us is getting ready to sell iPads in stores in the near future.

Everything sounds rosy in the world of e-books — sales are up and kids are excited about reading — but it’s not perfect. There are competing file formats for different devices, and there’s the problem of piracy. Just like P2P networks pose a problem to record companies, they are an issue for publishers as well. Digital books are cheaper to print and deliver than physical books, yet they often cost more, which doesn’t make e-book readers very happy. And e-books being “durable” — never dog-eared or worn out — some publishers want library editions of ebooks to expire after a certain number of checkouts.

There are also interesting innovations on the horizon. Also taking a cue from the music industry, 24 Symbols, currently in beta, is attempting to provide a streaming book service for its members with options for cheaper, ad-supported accounts and a premium model that is ad-free. Think Spotify for books instead of music.

We’ll see how publishers and readers sort out these challenges in the next few years, but it’s certain that digital books are catching on with kids from pre-school to college.

As always, to contact our Youth Advisory Board directly, just email them at youthadvisoryboard at ypulse.com, or leave a comment below.

YAB Review: Britney Spears, ‘Femme Fatale’

Britney Spears has done it all. She started out as a teeny-bopper on Disney, worked her way to all-American girl status, and then did a 180, becoming a sex goddess for a couple of years before seemingly having a mental breakdown (which, for those of you who don’t know, included shaving her head and a lot of embarrassing crotch shots). During that dark time, she released an album appropriately titled “Blackout,” which, ironically, it is argued to be her best work to date. That is, until her latest CD, “Femme Fatale,” hit the scene this week.

What was the biggest draw? Are you a fan?
I fondly remember my eight-year-old-self sitting by the radio for hours just praying that Britney’s “Lucky” would play. I knew every word to that innocent song of yesteryear, but as her professional and personal life slowly began to wane, so did my attention. While she was off the radar musically (and blowing up the press socially), I really didn’t give her much thought. So, all in all, I wouldn’t consider myself the biggest Britney Spears fan. Lately, though, she is back on her A-game, thus re-attracting my interest. I can’t deny myself a true pop diva, so of course I had to buy her latest album, regardless if it was good or bad. At this point in her career, the quality of her music doesn’t really matter; Britney Spears is to pop music what cherry pie is to the United States. No matter how repetitive or tired the tradition becomes, it will always remain an American classic. Britney is famous for simply being Britney. She is too big of a star to burn out now.

How did you buy album?
I pre-ordered the extended version on iTunes.

What were you expecting? How did it measure up?
I don’t necessarily understand the appeal of Britney nowadays. Closely examining all the publicity she’s been doing to market “Femme Fatale,” I’ve not been impressed with her performances or personality. For interviews, she seems to walk the straight and narrow line, never giving away anything too personal or scandalous. On some level I understand this tactic. She is probably still scarred from her paparazzi days and that traumatic time in her life. On the other hand, her highly cautious answers take away from her charm and character. When she performs, she appears stiff and out of touch. This might be because she hasn’t toured or made public appearances for a long time. Regardless, she needs to take a few cues from her fellow starlets (*cough cough* Lady Gaga or Beyonce) and brush up on her technique.

I bring up these traits because they also translate into her music. Her first hit, “Oops I Did It Again,” oozed innocence, and “Toxic” (one of my personal favorites) screamed sex appeal. With the releases of her newest singles, “Hold It Against Me” and “Till the World Ends,” I wonder, who is Britney Spears these days? Never before in history has it been a better time to be a female pop singer. Each artist capitalizes on a unique individualistic persona. For example, Ke$ha is the wild party girl, Katy Perry is the pinup bubble gum beauty, P!nk is the feminist bad ass. All of these women have an angle. Listening to “Femme Fetal,” I didn’t hear a voice—a message—and in case you weren’t aware, partying until you drop doesn’t count (and if it did, that image is owned by Ke$ha). Dance song after dance song, I kept searching for Britney, but behind the electronically altered wispy voice, there isn’t much of her there.

But wait, I said I liked the album, right? While I have a lot to say on context and character, the focus on the album is truly the music, and “Femme Fetal” is a really fun and well thought out pop album. Critics and I agree that it is one of Britney’s best. There is nothing wrong with dancing till the world ends. With this album, she only proves further how absolutely fabulous she is at what she does. I’m thoroughly enjoying most of the tracks.

Favorite tracks?
While I haven’t had a ton of time to soak up the full effect of the CD, a few tracks stand out as solid club bangers.

Favorite Track #1: Till the World Ends
Starting off the album and her second single, Britney starts the party right by creating an off the chain dance song. She is in total vixen mode and ready to pounce! Written by the party queen herself, Ke$ha, the song is very addicting and will be stuck in your head for weeks. This is one of the few tracks where I feel Britney is in complete control of the song, instead getting lost in the madness of massive beats.

Favorite Track #2: Hold It Against Me
The lead single is definitely one of the more innovative songs on “Femme Fetal.” She experiments with dubstep (a genre of dance/club music) with the song’s driving beat. I forgive the silliness of the lyrics because from the minute the track comes on, I am transported to a crowded L.A. club, ready to party the night away.

Favorite Track #3: I Wanna Go & Seal It With a Kiss
I couldn’t decide between these two songs. “I Wanna Go” is more beat driven, perfect to dance along with, while “Seal It” is crazy sexy. Britney is truly at her best when lust and hormones are involved. It’s so easy to envision the scene it sets up between two undercover lovers. I wonder if it is semi-autobiographical…

Overall? Live show?
In the end, Britney can do no wrong and we, the listening public, will always love her for it. This is a great batch of songs that will circulate through my iPod quite frequently. I still prefer Ke$ha’s brand of tunes to Britney’s, but can’t I like them both?

I would love to attend a Britney Spears concert. I bet it would be a blast and a half to see her rockin’ the stage. She’s got the music down solid, and when she remembers how to loosen up and truly embraces performances, she will once again be a pop star to be reckoned with.

About Alyx

Alyx Steadman is a junior in Montana, where he frequently appears in musicals and writes about the world around him. His interest in current media and its effect upon the youth of today leads him to slave away many-an-hour on the computer, absorbing every piece of pop culture his brain allows him to retain. Having a strong belief in equality and a fascination with media, he hopes to pursue a career in journalism where he can spread his advice and opinion to all the millions of Internet junkies just like him. He’d like to continue to thank Ypulse for the opportunity to write about topics that are interesting and specifically pertain to him.