Author Event Recap & Giveaway: Richelle Mead

Hello readers!  On this past Wednesday June 4th, I was lucky enough to attend an author event for Richelle Mead, one of my all-time favorite authors. She's a favorite for countless readers, as well, so this was a packed event held at the Santa Monica, California Barnes & Noble.  I had just finished reading Gameboard of the Gods (my review) a few days before this event so I was really excited to see her and ask her a few things about this exciting Adult series, the Bloodlines series, and the Vampire Academy movie!!  

  

 Gameboard of the Gods: To begin things Richelle talked about Gameboard of the Gods.  She described what the book was about, and where the idea came from.  Here are some interesting tidbits: The idea for Gameboard came to her in while in graduate school. She wondered if a world took religion away from the masses, would they gravitate back to it? Richelle thinks people have a spiritual nature whether they practice religion or not. 

Justin (the main male character) was based on a guy she knew in college.  He was a lot of fun, total party boy, and she was always astounded by how much he could drink. Something she didn't think much of back then, but when Richelle looks back now she thinks how very unsafe it was. Yet, he'd show up the next day in class and was just mind-blowingly brilliant! Like Justin, he was a ladies man. Yes, that's meant to be plural! She lost track of him, but I'll bet he eventually hears that he inspired this character. Don't you? 

Mae's personality quirk of keeping all emotions tightly locked up was inspired by Richelle.  She

grew up in a family of volatile and big personalities, so her way to cope was to hold things in and be the opposite of volatile.

The story is like her Sci-Fi reads from growing up.  You're dropped into the world without being taken by the hand and having everything explained step by step. Richelle said hang in there for the ride because everything will eventually come together and make sense. 

There will be 12 months between releases, because the plot is more difficult, than her other books. She's not certain how many books will be in the series yet, but she knows how it will end. She's not yet sure how long it will take to tell the story.  She might know after the next book.

Vampire Academy Movie:
Richelle was very excited to talk about the movie is very happy with cast choices, script, director and screenwriter.  She said the director emailed her some of the scene with Christian and Lissa in the attic, and she was very emotional. Richelle said what they came up with was so beautiful and better than her own imagination! I don't know about you but I can't wait until its releases!!

Fiery Heart: Bloodlines #4:

I'm so excited for this book, and apparently Richelle is very pleased with the way it turned out.  She said a lot of readers thought The Indigo Spell was hot. Well, Fiery Heart is HOTTER! But it's also very emotional and deep. In VA it's always been said that Spirit drives people crazy, but this book will explore mental health and depression, something we'll see Adrian face with Sydney at his side. She said it's very poignant and you'll be all over the place with your feelings. Sometimes, you'll be like: Oh, Adrian! *insert sad face* and others you'll be like: Oh, Adrian! *insert lustful/steamy looks* Richelle said Fiery Heart is to the Bloodlines series what Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise was to Vampire Academy.  It doesn't mean you'll be sobbing for days (well maybe), but that it's gut wrenching, emotional and it's where you'll say: this is where the series gets real! *bites nails nervously!*

Dr. Who Episode:
Richelle wrote an episode for the much loved and well established Dr. Who series, which should be out in e-book form at the end of this month. Click HERE for more info. It's for the sixth Dr. and it's Peri's POV, which is her favorite character.  She said that it was a little intimidating because BBC went over it with a fine toothed comb. Details must not conflict with the known Dr. Who universe.

As usual when I go to these events, I like to bring back something for our readers.  So I have a SIGNED hardcopy of Gameboard of the Gods to giveaway.  The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Just fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Good luck and thanks for visiting The Readers Den!

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