Official Hunger Games merchandise is being revealed and TheHob.org has an exclusive preview of some of these must-have items. And not only that… they are giving them away!

Head over there and get an up close look and details for the giveaway taking place on Monday!

Stay tuned to thehob.org for in depth Hunger Games news coverage!

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Great news for Beautiful Creatures fans! The movie adaptation is under way set to begin filming in April and it was announced that Academy Award Nominee, Viola Davis, of The Help has been cast as Amma.

In the fall of 2009, writer-director Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) signed on to adapt Beautiful Creatures, the first of three novels by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl about Ethan, a mortal boy living in the South, and Lena, the girl he loves with enigmatic powers she’s trying to keep hidden. Interest in the project has been high as Hollywood hunts for another Twilight-esque literary phenom to turn into a blockbuster franchise.

More than two years later, Alcon Entertainment has announced it will finance and produce LaGravenese’s adaptation of Beautiful Creatures, in partnership with Warner Bros. Academy Award nominee Viola Davis has signed on to play Amma, described as “a seer who looks after Ethan and his father after Ethan’s mother’s death.”

Read the full article on EW.com

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Congrats to Nichole, comment #10. She is the winner of a copy of DRAWN by Marie Lamba!

To learn more about Drawn and read an interview with the author, click here: http://www.twilightmoms.com/2012/01/drawn-blog-tour-and-book-giveaway-with-author-marie-lamba/

*giveaway winners are chosen using random.org

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We are thrilled to be the next stop on the DRAWN blog tour with author Marie Lamba today!

Maria answers some questions for us and and comes to us with a paperback copy of DRAWN for one lucky reader! Leave a comment under this post for your chance to win DRAWN! Deadline is Tuesday, Jan 31st (International entries are welcome!) But first, let’s talk about the book:

The grounds of Blanchley Castle seem the perfect spot for some afternoon sketching. But Michelle soon learns that within these walls are rooms and artifacts filled with the stories of the people from its past. Tourists are shown around the castle-turned-museum by guides costumed in Medieval attire, however there is something strange about some of the “employees” who seem to play the part a little too well.

Past and present are blurred as Michelle comes to find herself part of a romance that bridges centuries. But is this romance real or is it time to start questioning her own sanity?

Mysterious and enchanting, DRAWN is a breath of fresh air. If you are looking for a page turner with a unique twist, then look no further.

TM: The premise behind DRAWN is such a unique one. How did you come up with, or develop the idea?

MARIA: The idea developed over many years, starting back in high school when an artist visited my class. She showed paintings she’d done of an old house. Within the shadows of her art were figures of a man in Revolutionary garb, of a woman in a wedding dress, and emerging from the darkness was an angry face. Spirits, she said. Ghosts that just appeared in her works. She said she channeled them through her art.

That got me thinking…

As a senior in college, I spent a semester living in England, wandering through old graveyards, and exploring castles and dreary castle dungeons.

That really got me thinking…

As time went on, I fell in love with the medieval era. Knights and quests and the ill-fated lovers in troubadour ballads. Adding into this mix was my own background as an artist. I started to wonder, what if an artist really could draw a ghost? And what if that ghost were from medieval times? If she could meet this ghost and they formed a bond, would that be an ill-fated love, or a love worth dying for?

Drawn became that story.

Is there a particular castle or castles in England that you modeled Blanchley Castle after, or histories that you drew inspiration from with regard to the medieval stories of the characters from Blanchley Castle’s past?

I definitely modeled Blanchley Castle on Warwick Castle in England. From the little chapel to the grassy green and the dank cobweb-draped dungeon, Warwick Castle haunts my novel, just as surely as Christopher haunts Michelle in the book. Warwick Castle is beautifully preserved, and part of it is populated with lifelike wax figures, which really brings the middle ages alive. You can’t help but imagine what it was like to live there.

Other true-ish details in the book: Michelle’s new school Wallingford Academy hosts a costumed banquet at the castle, and Warwick Castle actually does host themed banquets on its grounds.
Also, critical final scenes in the novel take place during a Ghost Tour at Blanchley Castle, complete with psychics and ghost hunting equipment. And, yup, you guessed it, these really have been held at the castle…and they continue to be! In fact there’s one coming up in April, if you’re interested.
Paranormal Nights, the site that runs the tours, talks about Warwick Castle saying, “Here death and revenge have bared their teeth, perhaps leaving a legacy so that in dark places here we may brush with shades of the past?”

Maybe they’re talking about Michelle’s brush with Christopher, like in this scene from Drawn when she first meets him at the castle: 

With a jolt I remember the drawing of that guy in my sketchbook. To get his attention, I clear my throat.

In an instant, he stands, grabs my arm and shoves me against the wall. His face is close. His eyes filled with fury.

Sharp stones bite into my back. Tears spring into my eyes. “Let go!” I shout. I try to pull from his grip.

His glare softens, his grip loosens. “Forgive me. I thought…”

“You thought what?” I pull my arm from him.

He takes a step back. “I beg your pardon. I was taken by surprise. There have been dangers…”

I’m rubbing my arm. Blinking away tears.

“I have hurt you.” His voice is surprisingly gentle. He’s around my age and wears a brown woolen cape over an emerald-green tunic that fits him better than most of the rental costumes I’d seen tonight. His square jaw and strong chin add ruggedness to his face, and his eyes…

His eyes are studying me. I feel my cheeks burn.

Oh, wait, that all happened at Blanchley Castle, not Warwick Castle. My bad.

You’ve had a previous book, WHAT I MEANT…, published by Random House and then began your own publishing company. As an independent publisher and a writer, what have been the greatest rewards and challenges for you along the way to bringing your work to readers, without some of the advantages of having a “big name” behind you.

The greatest reward is having total control of your novel. It’s very old school. I have final say over the cover (and in the case of Drawn I got to draw the cover, too), I picked the paper color, the typeface used, and what appeared on the back cover. It’s all my vision through and through. Really exciting for an author.

The greatest challenge is letting people know that this book exists. Getting wonderful reviews for Drawn and for my other indie YA novel Over My Head has been so gratifying, but it doesn’t mean much if interested readers never find my books. That’s a bit of a heartbreak for a writer…

The good news is that my novels can be ordered through any bookstore and found online on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com and Smashwords.com, but unless folks know where to look, the titles can definitely get lost. Here’s were readers can really make a difference, honestly. If you find a book you love, any book, but especially independently published titles like Drawn, then you can give it wings just by telling your friends to read it, by sharing it online, posting reviews about it, blogging about it. Talking up your favorite books gives your favorite writers the boost they need to write more of the stuff that you’d like to see. It’s all word of mouth. Talk about old school!

It’s also noteworthy that you are an agent, too. You wear many hats in the literature industry! And must be full of wisdom and advice for aspiring writers. When you are going through countless queries from hopeful authors, what helps a story or idea stand apart from all the others? As an agent what kind of query grabs your interest?

It’s really interesting as an author to now be sitting as an agent on the receiving end of query letters. Endlessly fascinating, and I feel like each time I go to my agent inbox I’m on a treasure hunt. The submissions vary widely from the ridiculous to the brilliant.

When it comes to the query letter, I wish I could tell every single writer who sends me a wacky letter to be more careful, to not blow their chances by making goofy mistakes. Simple things like getting my name right (!) and spelling words correctly (!!) and following my submission guidelines (!!!) will mean I’ll actually read the full letter and start to read the first 20 pages pasted into the bottom of the email. You can find my guidelines, and the types of projects I represent by going here: http://jdlit.com/submitpages/mariesubmit.html

What grabs my interest in a query is a writer with a clear sense of story. Describe your book idea in a way that makes me sit up and think, hey, this sounds interesting. The stories that stand out are ones with a strong voice. Ones that are written with confidence. Ones that don’t remind me of something I’ve already read, but that feel fresh and real.

And here are some general submission tips: Get right into the heart of your story when you write a book. If the novel starts off with a lot of back story, or characters driving to a destination where the story starts, or a character looking to buy a property where things will happen, well you’ll probably lose me long before I reach the good stuff.

Also, don’t tell an agent things like “this is the best book you’ll ever read,” or “this will be a best seller,” or “I know Hollywood is going to want to make this into a movie.” It really marks you as an amateur. Instead, let the agent come to that conclusion. If your book is fabulous, it will definitely speak for itself.

And the best writing advice I can offer? Never give up. I spent 10 years writing and perfecting my first novel, and that one never sold. If I gave up then, I would have never written What I Meant… or Over My Head or Drawn. If writing is your dream, work hard at it, keep improving, and never ever get discouraged. Remember that big dreams always take time.

Dream big!

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There has been an online outpouring of love for the Santos family who recently lost everything in a tragic house fire. Twilight Mom and book blogger of OnceUponATwilight.com, Yara Santos is very well loved and respected within the social literary community and that community wasted no time in organizing efforts to help her family through this most devastating and emotional time.

Numerous authors like Lani Woodland are hosting drawings for those who donate to the relief fund set up for the Santos family. Prizes include books and swag: 

All you have to do is donate money to Yara’s fund, then forward the paypal payment email to us at laniwoodland at myself dot com. You can erase the donation amount. We just need proof you donated. Then we will use random.org to pick a winner. This is open Internationally. We will keep this running for the next week. Ending at 11:59 Jan 28th. Thank you!

If you are an author who would also like to include some of your swag or books for the prize pot feel free to contact me.

Please visit Lani’s blog for all the details! http://www.laniwoodland.blogspot.com/2012/01/helping-out-friend.html

Other efforts include the gathering of basic needs like clothing, and day to day useful items. To inquire as to the family’s specific needs at this time and where to send items, please send an email to: FireReliefDonations@twilightmoms.com

Monetary donations may be sent via PayPal by clicking on the Donate button. (above) Every cent goes directly to the Santos family. Feel free to add the link or donate button code to your blog or website. (see below)

There is also a book drive to replace Yara’s extensive collection in time for her birthday on Feb 25th, and to gather books for her boys (age 5 and 10). Please visit Mundie Moms here:  http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2012/01/yara-birthday-book-drive.html for details on Yara’s Birthday Book Drive. 

A Facebook Page is in the works and will be the central location for all donation information and updates. We will be sure to share that link when it is available. 

Many thanks to the online community of fans, blogs, authors, twitterers, Facebookers, and friends for what you have done to spread the word. Tragic events can open hearts and inspire thousands, as you’ve each proven.

*Paypal Donation Link:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=6jPdkZ1fkmrau-nCealopWESTh9z47NHDMdSvuDbXXaDtsr5mJaPzSIwE0a&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8db2b24f7b84f1819343fd6c338b1d9d60

*Donate Button code:

<form action=”https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr” method=”post”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”cmd” value=”_s-xclick”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”hosted_button_id” value=”FQPR2Y8CCGK44″>
<input type=”image” src=”https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif” border=”0″ name=”submit” alt=”PayPal – The safer, easier way to pay online!”>
<img alt=”" border=”0″ src=”https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif” width=”1″ height=”1″>
</form>

*NOTE: Add </form> in the line directly above the first line of code if the button does not take you to the donation page for the Yara Santos Family Fund. 

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Yesterday,a fellow Twilight Mom, Book Blogger at OnceUponATwilight.com, and dear friend to many lost everything in a devastating house fire. Thankfully, the family is entirely safe. But, Yara (aka “Twilights Dance”), and her family have a difficult and emotional road ahead of them as they do what they can to pick up the pieces. 

Please give what you can, no amount is too small. Every cent donated will go directly to helping Yara’s family as they are in need of clothing and all the essentials of everyday life.

Send your prayers and keep them in your thoughts in the coming weeks and months. 

Thank You! 

Lisa Hansen – Owner, TwilightMOMS.com

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A 24 hour Blackout Protest by Wikipedia, WordPress, TwitPic, Reddit, and others will begin at midnight
in opposition to the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act making it’s way through US Congress. TwilightMOMS.com will join in the SOPA Blackout Protest January 18th.

While we are a mere speck compared to web giants like Wikipedia, we still hope to bring awareness on this issue to our audience and encourage everyone to learn more about SOPA and PIPA.

This bill would dramatically change the Internet and criminalize virtually any person posting pictures, links, music clips, video clips, etc. on social networking sites like Facebook, or fansites like TwilightMOMS, average blogs, video uploading sites like YouTube, news sharing sites like Reddit, picture sharing sites like TwitPic, even hobbyist sites such as Pinterest. The list is endless.

The Internet is the most essential communication and information sharing tool for Americans, and for people everywhere. Please research SOPA  / PIPA and speak out! 

*Feel free to take the image above and post it to your blog/website/social network…while you still can!

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Congratulations to Catie S, comment number 11, who is the winner of the BLOODROSE ARC giveaway! 

Thanks to everyone who entered and keep your eye out for more giveaways! 

*Winners are chosen using random.org

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Have you read Andrea Cremer’s NIGHTSHADE Series? If you have, then you are aware that BLOODROSE is the long awaited 3rd book in this deliciously addictive story. Reading it will put you through the full range of human emotions with its ups and downs and unpredictable surprises!

Leave a comment below for a chance to win the ARC version of BLOODROSE. The deadline is Thursday, Jan 12.

*Sorry. US residents only.

Good Luck!

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For anyone who read Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly, I’m sure you’ve been dying to get your hands on the sequel, Hallowed, which will be released on January 17. And if you haven’t read Unearthly, I highly recommend it – it’s one of those novels that you can’t put down and has you dying for more.

Having read Hallowed already, let me tell you – it is just as fantastic as Unearthly. There may be less action and overall story arc than we saw in Unearthly, but Hallowed brings more Tucker and Christian, plenty of answers to lingering questions, and LOTS of emotion…I laughed and cried through the whole book. Plus there are some hilarious references to the Edward’s “stalking” in Twilight. Cynthia has a wonderful way of writing such realistic characters, conversations and situations even in a paranormal world.

So, can’t wait till January 17 to get this book? We have an advance reader copy of Hallowed to give away to one lucky person, courtesy of HarperCollins!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me why you want to read Hallowed. The contest will run from today through Friday at noon ET when I’ll pick a winner. Good luck!

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Congratulations to comment number 34: Rachel She is the winner of the beautiful eReader/iPad cover from M-Edge! 

Merry Christmas! 

It looks like we were able to bump this cover up to #5 on the list of Top Voted Designs on the website! Woohoo!

Keep an eye out for future giveaways! Thanks for being awesome fans!

*contest/giveaway winners are selected using random.org

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Win this E-Reader/iPad cover!  

If you’d like a chance to win The Meadow cover for your e-reader or iPad, go to the M-Edge website HERE, vote for this cover (or any design you like), then come back and leave a comment under this post. 

A winner will be chosen at random on Friday. 

Remember to include your email address in the box provided. (not in your comment).

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Have you gotten your Breaking Dawn Movie Companion yet?

 It’s available now. Just in time for Christmas!

 Click on the image to the left. 

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I’ve always loved the creativity that The Twilight Saga has inspired, and singer/songwriter/performer Mandala at Twilight is the perfect example! We have two Mandala at Twilight prize packages to give away, each featuring a CD and a t-shirt. But first, let’s get to know Mandala a bit better.

Q: How did you find the Twilight books?
Mandala: I had just finished Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, the final book in the Harry Potter series, and was looking for a new book series to read. A few friends of mine had been talking about Twilight, so I went to my local bookstore to take a look. I got Twilight in paperback and had planned to wait for New Moon to come out in paperback before I bought it. That was a silly notion, but I did wait. Needless to say, I did not wait for the other two and got them as soon as they came out.

Q: What appealed to you about the series?
Mandala: There was just something about the books that drew me in. I have to say, the first few pages were difficult for me because I was unsure if I could get into books about high schoolers. I was so long out of high school that I worried I would not be able to relate, but something pulled me in and I could not put the books down. It is hard to pin-point, but I think it is the universal nature of the story. Many people get so mad at Jacob for kissing Bella in Eclipse, but that seemed like a very real moment to me. I mean, who has not done something really stupid when in love? This was exactly the kind of thing a teen boy would do when is at wits end. The books are full of these real moments.

Q: What inspired you to create Twilight-themed music? How would you describe your music?
Mandala: I started writing songs about Twilight because I was going through a rough time. The books were a wonderful distraction for real life, and turning my energy toward writing down my thoughts was a therapeutic way of dealing with the darker emotions I was feeling.

The music I created was edgier than other music I had written. It was electronic, but much more industrial than pop. I was feeling a lot of intense emotions. I had been fascinated with vampire lore and legend for years, and for me, there was always an association with more aggressive music. This edgy sound, mixed with vocals that were sometimes angsty and sometime sultry just seemed like the perfect fit.

About the time I started reading New Moon, my mother began having some major health problems. The book was an escape for me. This was also the time I started writing Twilight-inspired songs. I remember sitting in the waiting room at the hospital composing “Run.” Looking back on it now, I find it intriguing that, as I was confronted with my mother’s mortality, I was escaping into books that dealt with the desire to live forever.

“Welcome” is a perfect example of all my favorite vampire books and movies rolled into one. The Volturi are the Twilight inspiration for this song because they are most like traditional vampires from other stories. It was also inspired by Anne Rice’s vampires and the Bella Lugosi version of Dracula. All of these characters are regal and eloquent, but under the surface they are pure monsters.

As my mother’s illness wore on, and I watched her slip into a deep depression, I wrote “Ghost.” I was moved by how the movie depicted the months passing in New Moon. I saw my mother in Bella Swan. What I love so much about that song is that every single word is about my mom, and still, every word is about Bella. I think it is one of the best songs I have ever written.

Also, it was around this time that I met the man who is now my husband. I tend to identify with Edward more than Bella. “Dusk to Dawn,” though written for the great man in my life, seemed to me to be the exact same feelings Edward had for Bella. However, “Without You,” which is also about my husband, is more along the lines of Bella’s feelings.

A few years after my introduction to the book series, my mom passed away, and a couple of the songs on the album reflect the emotional roller coaster that resulted from it. I think the songs are perfect for the album because, though not directly about Twilight, they deal with love and loss, and mortality versus immortality.

Writing was a mix of two very different things for me: escaping from reality and being able to relate what I was going through with what I was reading in the books. The beauty of it, is that I can write songs about the characters, or I can write about myself and my life, and still the songs fit perfectly into the context of what happens in the books.

Q: Have you always had an interest in music?
Mandala: I think my parents knew I would grow up to be a musician when, at two years old, I played the maracas to my step-dad’s Rolling Stones album. However, I think it took me until the age of four to start having day-dreams about being a Rock & Roll star. I began taking piano lessons in the third grade. Growing up in a family of musicians, it was a dream that was encouraged. About nine years ago I began performing with a band, and a few years after that I began performing as a solo musician in addition to being in the band. I was really fortunate to perform as Mandala at Twilight at a midnight book release party for Breaking Dawn. That was one fantastic show!

Q: What do you have coming up next? Can fans see you perform live anywhere?
Mandala: I recently went back to school for Audio Production, so I am not performing much these days. When I do have shows, I have them listed on my show calendar on my website. I am always willing to travel outside of the Washington DC area (where I’m based) if requested to do a show. The contact information is on my website as well.

Right now I am focused on writing songs and improving my techniques in the studio. I did just make a music video for “Soundtrack to Your Demise,” the title track for my Mandala at Twilight album, and it can be seen it here: http://www.youtube.com/mandalasongs

Mandala at Twilight’s album and singles can be purchased on Amazon and iTunes.

Now for the giveaway…

As I mentioned, we have two prize packs to giveaway:

1. Mandala at Twilight’s “The Soundtrack to Your Demise” and a Mandala at Twilight t-shirt
2. Mandala at Twilight sampler CD including 6 tracks from “The Soundtrack to Your Demise” and a Mandala at Twilight t-shirt

Want to enter? Just leave a comment on this blog post! Contest runs until Monday (December 5) at noon ET, then we’ll choose two winners at random. Good luck!

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Watch the trailer for The Hunger Games movie just released this morning! via TheHob.org 

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TOMORROW – Monday, November 14 – Watch the Live Stream of the Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Black Carpet Premiere here on TwilightMOMS.com at 8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific. 

We will have embedded live streams from both Yahoo!Movies and MTV so you can get as much coverage as you want. 

Amanda, from TwilightMOMS will also be on the carpet interviewing the cast and other celebrities attending the event. Be sure to follow @TwilightMOMS on Twitter for up to the minute news and pictures. 

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Twilight Mom, @robkris13, shares some pics of tent city before and after set up, and visits by Kellan Lutz and Charlie Bewlie.
                                

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Stephenie Meyer paid a visit to fans camping out for the Breaking Dawn Premiere in Los Angeles! She signed books, took photos with fans, handed out autographed books! Lucky campers!    

h/t Twilight Mom, Yara! @TwilightsDance

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