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- Music:Disparate Youth by Santigold
Alternate Worlds Panel
on Monday, February 27th, 4:30 to 6:00 at Case Western
(Guilford Parlor on the first floor of Guilford House, 11112 Bellflower Road)
With Casey Daniels and Marc Sumerak
Young Adult Literature Panel
On Wednesday, March 14 at 7:00 pm in the Pritchard Room of the Hiram College Library.
The other members of the panel will include area writers Angela Johnson, Tricia Springstubb, and Jen Dutton with librarian Rollie Welch moderating.
SCBWI Critique Meet
on Saturday, April 21 at 10 am at the Chagrin Falls Library
(100 East Orange Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio)
RSVP required
- Music:Hex Girlfriend by Neon Indian
First, if you're looking for a fun holiday event, please check out this amazing fundraiser for Ohio City Writers:
on Tuesday, December 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Second, here are some recent (and some not-so-recent) reviews:
The Book Cellar named Past Midnight as one of the Top Ten books to read during Halloween!
http://www.thebookcellarx.com/2011/10/to
This book is filled with ghostly encounters, is super fun, and has great characters. It's the perfect read for after you watch that creepy movie and are freaked out!
Review of One Hundred Candles from Stuck in Books: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/2011/07/one-h
I really like the premise of this series. It’s different. Most paranormal books are about believers but this one is about a family that tries to disprove paranormal activity with science. But while so much of it can be explained away that way, some of it just can’t. It really adds a level of believability to this book. It’s got that “it could happen” factor.
Review of Beyond the Grave from Wordspeak: http://wordspeak0913.blogspot.com/2011/1
Each page left you wanting more and it was impossible to put down. I like when a book finishes a strong as it started.
In two weeks, I'll be in Cincinnati for Books by the Banks!
Review of One Hundred Candles from The Watson Kitchen: http://thewatsonshouse.blogspot.com/2011/0
I love how easily I was drawn into the life of Charlotte Silver. There was never a dull moment. This book was a complete page turner and had me on the edge of my seat till the end. With the end leaving you hanging, I had to start book three, Beyond the Grave, right away! My Rating: 5/5 stars
Review of One Hundred Candles from Katie’s Amazing Book Reviews: http://katiesamazingbookreviews.blogspot.c
I’m in love with the slight creep factor in these books! There are some intense moments where I was just a little scared...but not too scared. Purnhagen gets you scared but doesn't over do it. There was some awesome supernatural stuff going on in this one.
Review of Beyond the Grave from Writer’s Diary: http://marychrapliwy.blogspot.com/2011/0
This well-constructed tale by Purnhagen drifts into back story seamlessly without drifting so off course as to disrupt the tale. That's not an easy task for any writer - it can disrupt a story beyond repair if it isn't well done. Fortunately Purnhagen does it well and those flashbacks work well to further develop the story. This book had me up way past my bedtime with its supernatural roller coaster ride.
A great review of Beyond the Grave from BurnBright.com: http://www.burnbright.com.au/lisa-review
Review of One Hundred Candles from Elegantly Bound Books: http://thegreatyaescape.blogspot.com/201
The Past Midnight series is one of my favorite series right now because it's so fun to read and it includes all my favorite elements in a story.
- Music:Polish Girl by Neon Indian
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/b
Review of Beyond the Grave from Mama Knows Books: http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com/2011/0
Toward the end I refused to put this down and read the last few chapters straight through because I had to know if they would succeed and what would happen after they did, if they did. This was an excellent book.
Review of Beyond the Grave from The Book Life: http://sarahliveslovesreads.blogspot.com/2
This one had a solid ending with everything wrapped up pretty nicely and I can't seem to find anything saying there will be another installment, but if there is I will gladly pick it up!
Review of Beyond the Grave from A GREAT read: http://jessica-agreatread.blogspot.com/2
I totally loved this book! Probably my fave from the trilogy! And if this is truly the end, then I think it ended rather nicely!
- Music:Santa Fe by Beirut
The first reviews for Beyond the
Grave, the final book in the Past Midnight series, are here!
Review of Beyond the Grave from My Guilty Obsession: http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com/20
I was sad to see this series end I really was, it just was one of those series that grow on you. Where each book gets better and better.
The story and characters get more intense and you just become invested in them. I love how they all grew and the ending was a very satisfying one. It left me feeling happy and I didn't feel like anything was unanswered or left hanging. I really can't wait for Purnhagen to write something else. I really enjoyed her books, way more than I thought I would. I would give it a solid 5 Stars.
Review of Beyond the Grave from Book Goggles: http://mybookgoggles.blogspot.com/2011/0
This is definitely one of my top 10 books of the year. If you haven't read any of Purnhagen's previous books, you need to get them & read
them just so you can read Beyond the Grave. It's that good. I have to say, this book is making me want to start over at the beginning of the series & re-read them all, including 1.5. This is a must read for anyone who loves supernatural fiction! Not a teen? Don't worry because you don't have to be under 18 in order to love this book.
5 out of 5 stars!
Interview and Giveaway for Beyond the Grave at 365 Days of Reading: http://365daysofreading.com/post/8510524
Review of One Hundred Candles from Julie’s Reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/187
This book was JUST as good as the first -maybe even better! I really love the writing style of this author. She weaves magic with her words. Everything flows so simply and I don't get stuck on anything. I never want to stop reading. This book had me up late at night. There was NO places to put the book down, as something was always going on. I had the chills the whole way through, imagining ghosts and demons
were watching me.
Read it. Now.
Review of Past Midnight from YA Book Haven: http://yabookhaven.wordpress.com/2011/07/1
What “Past Midnight” has going for it is that it isn’t your typical young adult novel in that the main character isn’t driven by a teenage romance. Sure, Charlotte has a crush on one of her male friends, but that isn’t the story. The story focuses on Charlotte, her family, her friends, and the paranormal world she’s just beginning to truly experience. I easily plowed through this book. I needed to know what was going on. I needed to know who *they* were and what they wanted from Charlotte. It’s a very interesting story and I’m ready to start the next book. If you haven’t yet read “Past Midnight”, get to it! You’re going to want to read this series, especially with “Beyond the Grave” coming out in August (the third book in the series)!
Review of Past Midnight from Elegantly Bound Books: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/156
Since I also really enjoy a good mystery, this book was right up my alley! Ghost hunters trying to figure out the mystery of why some ghosts have decided to haunt their daughter. It was so fun to read because I always wanted to know what was going to happen next and if they had discovered more information when they were digging into the past.
Review of Past Midnight from Page by Page: http://thepagebypage.blogspot.com/2011/0
Past Midnight had just enough suspense, thrill and scare to make me satisfied. I enjoyed everything about this book. Mara Purnhagen wrote
this book extremely well. It was one of the best books I have ever read. Go check this out, I believe you won't be sorry. I hope to check her other books out soon. I absolutely adored this book and I think you will too.
And here’s a video review of Past Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3d0W47oc
Review of One Hundred Candles by Monica Must Read: http://monicamustread.blogspot.com/2011/0
It seems these books get better as the go so I can't wait to read the next installment in the Past Midnight series.
Review of One Hundred Candles by Reading Vacation: http://readingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/0
Mara Purnhagen has great ghost sense! She made the maybe demon creepy and destructive, and it lived up to the picture I had in my mind.
The ghosts haunting Charlotte’s school were more amusing to me. The pranks they pulled, and how they resembled the One Hundred Candles stories, were both creepy and entertaining. My favorite prank was when they opened all the freshmen lockers.
- Music:Helena Beat by Foster the People
https://www.facebook.com/HarlequinTEEN?s
- Music:Tamer Animals by Other Lives
And here are a few more reviews for One Hundred Candles:
Review from Kevin
Paul Shaw Broden: http://kevinpsbroden.blogspot.com/2011/0
ONE HUNDRED CANDLES burns brightly for Mara Purnhagen.
Interview with The Write Stuff:
http://brittanyroshelle.wordpress.com/20
Review from Just Joanna: http://www.justjoanna.com/2011/07/one-hu
I was so engrossed and enthralled with her book, it felt like no time at all when I was finally finished with the last page. From poignant moments to times when my heart was racing with anticipation, I felt a range of emotions through the reading of this book which makes Mara Purnhagen my new favorite author.
Review of Past Midnight from
Reading Vacation: http://readingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/0
Past Midnight is a fast read with a unique spin on ghosts. I liked the characters, the mystery, and the overall idea. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, One Hundred Candles.
So it's official... CBS bought the TV option to Past Midnight! No, this doesn't mean it will be on TV in the Fall. It does mean that the network can now make a pilot-- if they want. We'll see.
Also, another novella in the series (Haunting the Night) will be released next month! Cover coming soon.
On to the recent reviews of One Hundred Candles:
Review from Fic Talk: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/172
One Hundred Candles is the second book in Mara Purnhagen's Past Midnight series. I was completely blown away by this
book. A very, very strong sequel, in my opinion. Wickedly intriguing, exciting, and riveting. It was scarier, there were new things happening for Charlotte, for her family.
Review from The Baryon Review: http://thebaryonreview.blogspot.com/2011/0
The exciting sequel to Past Midnight is a fun teen angst paranormal thriller starring a realistic family dealing
with paranormal phenomena. The key is that the four Silvers and Shane act normal including reacting in a way to what they encounter in a plausible manner. Young adult readers will appreciate One Hundred Candles as Mara Purnhagen goes golden with this enjoyable teen urban fantasy.
Review of first two books from
Bookworm Lisa: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/2011/0
I would say that the paranormal activity is more intense in the second book. I felt more connected to the story and was
drawn into the world that Mara created. I liked the way the story was written. It is perfect for the audience, the young adult and teenager. The emotional issues were expressed well and I think many could relate with them.
Series review from Libra Ago: http://ht.ly/5eZAX
Enter Mara Purnhagen, who has written creepy ghost stories that make me want to burn the candles late into the night as I read, even with the possibility that I won't be able to sleep in a creaking house later. The premise struck me immediately—the daughter of ghost debunkers is followed home by the spooks that apparently don't exist—the writing and characterization are solid enough to provide a captivating story. While her books will probably be classified as paranormal romance, I prefer to think of them as magical realism. These ghosts are the goosebumpily realistic kind that could potentially happen to anyone—if you believe in ghosts. Maybe even if you didn't.
Review from author Yolanda
Sfetsos: http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2011/06/on
I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't stop reading it. Charlotte's a very engaging narrator and I'm instantly hooked into her stories. I also like her friends, they're all interesting in their own way. Her family life intrigues me, and Noah's not only a good friend but he's also a sweetheart.
In some places, this book is downright creepy. It's also sad, but so awesome! I enjoyed everything about it, and can't wait for the next book.
Five-Star Review from Red House Books: http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com/2011/0
I love Mara Purnhagen's writing . It's very easy to get immersed in her style and I loved feeling like I was experiencing the story instead of just
reading about it.Not a whole lot I can say without giving too much away. BUT if you like ghosts stories like I do, you should really pick up this series.
- Music:Exile Vilify by The National
