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Issue 1 June 2010 Free www.readme.com

HARRY POTTER Drugs - how

SPECIAL authors tackle
Pottermania lives on! tough teen
issues
+ Themepark opens!
+ will the film flop?
EXCLUSIVE
Carrie Ryan on
Vampires: zombies
How they’ve cheerleading
gone from movie deals!
scary to sexy
Tips and tricks to TOP 10 BOOKS
get you published to read before
you’re too old!

PLUS
How to be a
journalist N
Learn from the
I
W 0
experts
£5 ouchers
k v
boo

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Coming June 5 2010

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 Contents
Drugs: p. 2
4
P. 24
ON THE Find out how your
favourite authors write
COVER:
ReadMe!
say it
read it write it
about drugs

www.read
me.com

r r i e R y a n:
Ca
P. 6 Issue 1 -
June 201
0

Drugssta
- how
OTTER
Free

Potter mania - ReadMe HARRY P

ckle

11
author

.
P. 11
p
tough teen

L issues
meets the fans SPEC IA
a lives on!
Pottermani opens! Secrets revealed:
k VE
+ Themepar EXCLUSI
+ will the fil
m flop? on
Carrie Ryan s
zombie
interview with author
P. 16 Vampires’v: e
cheerle ad ing
!
Carrie Ryan
movie deals
Find out about vampire How they
gone from
fiction and where it came scary to sexy TOP 10 BO
OKS
re
to read befo
from s to
Tips and trickished you’re to old
o !
P. 10
get you publ
N
Our top 10 books -
P. 36 PLUS to be a W£I 50 chers How many have
How u
Your guide to seeing your journaliste
Learn from
th bo
ok
vo
you read?
work in print experts
with ANTHO
ting workshop
Z! Win a wri
Y HOROWIT
h ANTHON

P. 34
Win a writing
workshop wit
P. 23
Competition time!
Day in the life of a real
Journalis
p. 34 ts:
journalist

read it write it say it

4 Book News
30 How to Write 47 Revision Tips
5 Your Bit
32 Flow Chart 48 Orwell
6 Harry Potter Fan Feature
33 Katy Moran 49 Agony Aunt
8 Harry Potter and the
34 Day in the Newsroom 50 The Future of
Deathly Hallows
36 So You Think You Can Books
10 10 Books to Read Before
Write?
You’re Too Old
38 How to be a Ghost
11 Carrie Ryan
Writer
15 Quiz page
41 What to Write
16 Vampire Fiction
43 Poet
18 Book Reviews
44 You Write It
23 Competition
24 Drugs
26
29
Julie Anne Peters
All
Editor’s Picks of the
things
Best Books vampire p. 16
 Of f
All the latest

Hot
news from the
teen book world

P re ss
The e e n
Youth panel pick
Orange Prize

fT
shortlist

e n o Teenagers from an online book

e
community are short-listing the

Qu ooks
best ‘Orange Prize for Fiction’
winners from the last 14 years.

B
It’s part of the award’s 15th
ote for Louise Rennison Queen birthday celebrations. The youth
h a n c e fo r you to v panel have
Here’s a c thor. of Teen 2008
v e fe m a le teen au chosen six books
your fa
ard”
n o f T een aw te the including ‘A Spell
ee to celebra of Winter’ by
The “Qu years ago ters for
was sta rt e d tw o
m o st fa n tastic” wri Helen Dunmore
nd
frothiest a and ‘On Beauty’
“feistiest,
. by Zadie Smith.
teenagers ongs and
o w ro te ‘Angus, Th To
h in 2008.
nnison (w the award The winner will be announced
Louise Re in g ’) w o n
ogg at the awards ceremony on June
Perfect Sn author, check out
an .uk/.
nomin a te
e n o f t een.co 9th, alongside the Orange Prize
ue
www.q for Fiction winner.
thinking!
You’ve go
t ti ll Ju n e 1 4

ith boo s?
th, so get

k
bored w
Got the Boys
giggles! New research shows a third of 8 -16 year old
boys can’t find any books that
Entries for the Roald Dahl Funny interest them.
Prize close at the end of June. The National Literacy Trust study found 32%
Publishers have been nominating of 17,089 boys were dissapointed by the
their funniest books from the last books they chose.
year, hoping their authors will win
the cash prize of £2500. What book We know there’s
has got you laughing your loads of books you
socks off? Let us enjoy reading-
know at www.readme.com drop us a
line and tell What’s your favourite
us what your book?
favourite is!
Check out:
o m
readme.c
www.readme.com
for up-to-date teen
book news!

4
 read it!

Your bit
Win an ny

iPod! t A ntho
I me witz
o
Hor y
ay of m
e best d en I
Send us your letters I had t h
th wh
t mon itz

!
and the best of life las hony Horow e

g u y s what’s printed here met A n t . v

I lo

Hey
o o k signing ooks,
on ReadMe’s Your Bit at a b rb
x Ride author
A le
page will win an 8 all th e be an hool.
ant to c
GB iPod Touch, with and w e finished s
You’re reading the very first free download of an e n I ’v
wh
issue of ReadMe magazine. audiobook of your choice.
, 14,
We’re Harry Potter crazy Sam ester
c
this month, check out the Glou
latest goss about the Deathly
Hallows film on pg 8, and Ed - Thanks Sam, check out
read about what Potter fans pg 36 for tips on how to get
have been getting up to on your work published!
pg 6.

We were lucky enough to get

Get involved!
an exclusive interview with
* Text ‘yourbit’
Read Me!
Forest of Hands and Teeth
author Carrie Ryan, (pg 11),
plus read about all things and your message
vampire on pg 16. to 87058 ReadMe Offices
Don’t forget to take a look at Minalloy House
our Write It section where * Follow us on 18-21 Cross Street
Sheffield
we give you tops tips on how
to get published (pg 36), and Twitter S10 7EJ
find out what real journalists TEL: 01142 225208
EMAIL: info@readme.com
get up to on pg 34.
* Join the www.readme.com
And there’s loads of chances ReadMe facebook Editor: Victoria Hawkins
for you to get involved.
Check out ‘You write it’ on groupu
pg 44 where we look at your Production Editor:
Katy Hallam
stories and poems.
* Snail mail:
Thanks for reading! ReadMe Offices Deputy Editor:

i a
Bridget Spackman

Vi c t o r Minalloy House
18-21 Cross Street Staff Reporter:
Andre Nunn
Sheffield
om
Check out:
www.readme.
S10 7EJ Staff Reporter:
Claire Lodge
readme.c com for forums, fan
fiction and loads
more!

5
Fan-tastic
If you thought Harry Potter was over - you’d
be wrong. In fact, there’s probably a horde of
wannabe wizards out there who’d be more than
happy to tell you so - a la Hermione Granger. The
Boy Who Lived may have grown up and defeated
the Dark Lord, but with two films and a theme
park in the works it’s going to be a long time ‘til
the craze dies down. If it ever will.

Fan Art The Chosen One

From pastel to pixel, HP fans impeccable oil painting of the There’s tons to choose from,
Check out:
have it all covered when it trio, or a cartoon strip of the but we’ve narrowed down the
readme.c
om www.readme.com
comes to fan art. marauders - you’re sure to best on our website for your for more exclusive
Harry Potter
find it. convenience! content!
Whether you fancy an

Fan Fiction
Millions have put quill to
parchment in an effort to pick up
where JK Rowling left off three
years ago.

Type ‘Fan Fiction’ into any search

engine and you’ll find ‘one-shots’,
novellas and even poetry.

Dumbledore’s ‘naked time’

“ Harry still longed for
the day when he felt
comfortable enough
to not sleep with his
Harry and Ginny
wand in his hand

”
kiss
- Purpose and Priorities
Top 5 Fan Vids
PotterPuppet- Just beware ‘shippers’, fiction
Pals - The Mysterious about couples you’d like to see,
Ticking Noise such as Snape and Harry (unless
that’s your thing!)
A Very Potter
Musical ‘Purpose and Priorities’ by
‘Singularity’ is one of many telling
Sirius Black (Harry the story of what happens next,
Potter MV) and can be found on arguably
the oldest fan fiction website:
South Park & harrypotterfanfiction.net.
Harry Potter
Quirrell and Voldy share a duet
SAGS - Harry Potter

6
 read it!

Spellbinding: The official poster

Theme Park
Fanatics the world over finally
get to see Hogwarts this year
as the ‘Wizarding World of
Harry Potter’ opens in America
in June.
If you can blag the airfare,
you’ll enjoy a stroll around
Hogsmeade and a tour of the
castle itself.
Rides include Flight of the
Hippogriff, The Dragon
Challenge and The Forbidden
Journey.
The Forbidden Journey ride
even includes an exclusive
scene filmed by the trio!
Ollivanders is on hand if you
need a wand (inset).
And once you’ve stocked
up on Quidditch robes and
cauldron cakes, you can relax
with a JK approved butterbeer.
Oh, and if you need the loo -
look out for Moaning Myrtle.

Emma Watson lights up Orlando

Lauren’s Harry Potter collection (so far)

Ultimate fan? Lauren

Stones

and more. To say she is a fan more detail. look into the folklore so it’s
Dumbledore’s would be an understatement.

“
quite interesting. And we’ve
Army It’s more about fun
“I’m the President, so I oversee
things, but there’s also a Vice
even learnt Ancient Runic.

President, Treasurer, Creative “There’s House Points for

Five years ago 21-year-old than Director and Secretary. exams (O.W.Ls) and at the
Lauren Stones created her
anything else

own Dumbledore’s Army.
The club has five members
who bring to life the lessons of
Harry Potter.
In her study the walls are lined
with posters, art, certificates
”
“At college me and my friends
realised we all loved the series
and thought it would be good
fun to explore the books in
“We meet once a month to do
lessons like Potions, Defence
against the Dark Arts and
Arithmancy.
“We substitute ingredients and
end of the year a House Cup.
“It’s more about fun than
anything else, so we also do
re-enactments and just hang
out so it’s not all studying!”
The ‘D.A’ still runs today.

7
 Dea t h l y
ReadMe’s
guide to the
final Potter
films

The long-awaited seventh film of the Harry Potter series will be at a cinema
near you in just three months. Filming for ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Part I’ wraps up in the next few weeks, but many fans are wondering how on
earth this epic finale will be turned into a fab film. Here’s ReadMe’s guide to what’s
tipped to be this Autumn’s top blockbuster:

What’s the plot?

The sixth Harry Potter film left fans devastated by the death of Dumbledore at the
hands of Severus Snape. Hogwarts was stormed by deatheaters as Voldemort
came back to power. But Harry’s been given a special mission by the
nd
Ru p ert a he dead headmaster to find the remaining “horcruxes” (places where
, t
aniel k for Voldemort hid his soul) and destroy them, overthrowing Voldemort
>> D are bac films once and for all. But what’s unlikely to make sense in the film?
a r
Emm o Potte
t w happen during the 7 Potters
last Bill Weasley sequence in the Deathly
Hallows film, since he didn’t
Bill Weasley will play a major appear in Half Blood Prince.
role, despite only being The film will include Bill and
mentioned in passing in Fleur’s wedding.
the previous films (he
appeared in a photo The Burrow
of the Weasley
family in Egypt in In the ‘Harry Potter and
‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ film,
the Prisoner of the Weasley’s home “The
Azkaban’.) Photos Burrow” was burned down by
from filming show deatheaters (which wasn’t in
Bill with scars from the book). So where will the
being attacked by Weasleys be living? And where
Fenrir Greyback. will most of the action at the
beginning of the book take
This will place?!
Battle of Hogwarts
The sixth book ended with
a mega battle between
Dumbledore’s Army and the
deatheaters - but the film
totally downplayed this. Our
sources say this was so the final
battle of Hogwarts at the end
of Deathly Hallows Part II could
be even more epic.

8
 a l l o w s
read it!

y H
Rufus Scrimgeour
The new minister for magic
isn’t mentioned in the sixth
film, and in Deathly Hallows
he’s crucial as he leaves
Dumbledore’s personal things
to Harry, Ron and Hermione,
which are meant to help them
Filming
Filming the Deathly Hallows
Part I was planned to take
3932 days. Shots from on
location show filming’s taken
place all over Britain, including
Scotland, Piccadilly Circus in
London, Wales and Kent.
defeat the horcruxes. He’s
cast in the film though so he’ll The film’s being directed by
definitely appear, played by Bill David Yates, (who directed fifth
Nighy. and sixth Potter films), and the tion. It’s
screenplay’s by Steve Kloves a W a ts o n fi lming on loca Dobby dies.
Emm he re
The Split... (he’s written the screenplay for thought to b
e the scene w
five of the six previous films) .
It’s widely reported that
Deathly Hallows Part I will Alexandre Desplat’s writing the
end when Harry, Ron and soundtrack. It’s thought John 19 years later
Hermione are caught by Williams (who did the first two Check out:
deatheaters, and the second film soundtracks) might come Special effects similar to the
readme.c
om www.readme.com
for the latest Potter
part will open with their arrival back for Deathly Hallows Part ones used in the film ‘The news!
at Malfoy Manor. It’s hoped II. Curious Case of Benjamin
because two films are devoted Button’ will be used for the
to the final book, not much will last scene of Deathly Hallows
be missed out. Part II where we see the main
What do you
characters 19 years on. think the next
FILM TRIVIA Stunt Trouble
Harry Potter film
will be like? Join
our forum on
Sadly, when test filming in last www.readme.com
Daniel Radcliffe developed a cold from having January, Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt and chat with
to be in mud and dirt while filming the film. double David Holmes so badly other potty
injured his spine, he’s now Potter fans about
been told he can’t walk again. the upcoming
Jamie Waylett who plays Vincent Crabbe release.
won’t appear in this film. His character’s The type of stunt he was doing
role in the plot will be taken over by Gregory was so dangerous, he was
Also, see
Goyle. being paid double. exclusive behind
the scenes of
There are 55 people in the makeup Deathly Hallows
department for the Deathly Hallows film. filming!

Bill Weasley is played by Domhnall Gleeson,

son of cast member Brendan Gleeson (who
plays Mad Eye Moody)

9
 read it!

T O P 1 0 B O O K S
to read o l d !
y o u ’ re t o o
b efo re
8.
MY SISTER’S KEEPER
by Jodi Picoult
THE CURIOUS Picoult smashed onto the

9.
INCIDENT OF THE book scene in 2007 and has

10.
THE SOLITAIRE DOG IN THE delivered book after book of
tense decisions and twisting plots. This novel
MYSTERY NIGHT-TIME by Mark
discusses the heartbreaking consequences
by Jostein Gaarder Haddon of ‘saviour siblings’ - where a child is
Mark worked with autistic children before genetically created to become a donor for a
The real life of Hans Thomas collides with
writing this book and obviously got sick brother or sister. Be prepared to get the
fantasy in this truly bizarre novel when
some great inspiration for main character tissues ready!

5.
he is given a book about a magical island
Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old autistic
inhabited by playing cards that seems to
boy struggling to understand the world and
THE ALEX RIDER
be mirroring his own journey. A modern
all the weird and wonderful people in it. This SERIES by Anthony
fairytale that’s really clever! Horowitz
book will make you see everything from a

7.
completely new perspective. From Stormbreaker to Snakehead this
HOLES by Louis

Sachar
A totally unpredictable ride.
This book is almost like getting
three great stories in one: how
the Yelnats family came to be cursed, why
Stanley Yelnats is in a juvenile detention
centre, and who the heck is Kissin’ Kate
Barlow? If you can push through the slow
start then you’ll soon get lost in all the
exciting action.
6.
THE ANGEL
EXPERIMENT by
James Patterson
This book is fun, imaginative, adventurous,
and great to grab for a quick read! Follow the
adventures of Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the
Gasman and Angel - not quite humans and
not quite birds - as they try to escape the evil
clutches of the Erasers. Scary stuff!
series is the teenage world’s answer to
James Bond. When his guardian dies in
suspicious circumstances, 14-year-old Alex
Rider goes from schoolboy to superspy.
This action packed series will have you
biting your nails and rushing to the end.
THE S
E
DIARY CRET
OF AD

4.
MOLE RIAN
THE HARRY POTTER A
and 3/ GED 13

3.
HIS DARK 4
SERIES by J.K.Rowling
MATERIALS by Towns s by Sue
end
We all knew they were going Phillip Pullman
to be in here somewhere! Rowling Magical dust, Daemons and
absolutely changed the nature of teenage different worlds - this trilogy is The UL
T
literature with the story of everybody’s pure fantasy and imagination. the ULT IMATE teen r
IMATE ead fea
a great te tur
favourite wizard - Harry Potter. If It may be a complex book insight in en character. ing
you haven’t followed the adventures a teena to the w It gives
about the death of God and ge o
and scrapes of Harry and his friends the destiny of mankind, but it’s fascinat boys mind, w rkings of
ing hic
throughout the series, then you’ve been for both , and often hil h makes
also a story about loving life and s a r
a painfu exes. Townse ious, reading

2.
missing out! each other. lly hone nd take
through st tour s us on
A of t
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE by ever drian, who’s b eenage life
yt e
dog! An hing from his p ing bugged
WARDROBE by C.S Lewis one, ch
d when
you’ve
arents t
o the
ec fin
Ok, so a story about a magical land hidden in a wardrobe sounds and wa k out the rest ished this
a bit like the beginning of a fairytale, but give it a chance! This tch Adr of the s
(and th ian e
book has sold more than 120 million copies worldwide and has ree qua grow into a ries
rters!) y 39
ear-old
everything from mystical creatures to violent battle scenes. Lewis man.
really let his imagination go with this story and it’s guaranteed to
leave you smiling.
10
 read it!

Think you know

everything
there is to know
about zombies?

Think again.

11

Zombies’ answer to Stephanie
Meyer: Carrie Ryan
Bridget: So have you always
wanted to be a writer?
Carrie Ryan: I have since high
school. Before that I’m not
sure I even knew that I could
be a writer - I didn’t know how
someone became one. Then
I read about an author who
said she just decided to write
a book one day and I thought
“hey, I can do that too!”
So I wrote off and on through
college but it wasn’t until 2006
“
that I seriously tried to pursue
it again.
I’d just started working as a
lawyer and realized that if I
wanted to be an author it was
either now or never.
Bridget: Wow, were you
nervous?
Carrie Ryan: I don’t think I was
too nervous. I told myself that
for ten years I’d write, revise
and submit over and over again
until it worked out .
Bridget: Was ‘The Forest of
Hands and Teeth’ the first
manuscript you ever sent off?
Carrie Ryan: No! I’d written
two romance novels right after
college and sent the first one off
to a few agents. I was looking
for a new idea and my husband
said “write what you love”
and I jokingly said “the zombie
apocalypse?” And he was right.
12
That was The Forest of Hands
and Teeth and was the first
manuscript I ever finished after I
started writing again.
Bridget: Now you’ve probably
been asked this a lot, but why
zombies?
Carrie Ryan: Growing up I
stayed away from all scary
movies (after seeing the movie
Poltergeist when I was a
kid). And then one night my
husband convinced me to see
I’m sure I could have
been convinced to
cross the barrier.
Dawn of the Dead and I left
the theatre totally pumped
up. I just couldn’t stop thinking
about it all - how they survived,
what I’d do to survive. It was
really just sort of a joke -- my
husband got me the Zombie
Survival Guide and we watched
more zombie movies. I’m
fascinated by what it takes
to survive when everything
around you has irrevocably
changed.
When there aren’t stores to
ransack - everything is different.
ForeThe zombie book eve r
silver screen. Bridget g
I also love that you can make a
lot of social commentary with
zombies - as a monster they’re
really versatile. But they’re also
really visceral (primitive) - the
monster is you, it’s your best
friend, husband, mother, child...
and the line between humanity
and monster becomes really
thin.
Bridget: What do you think you
would do if you were faced
with the barriers in your book -
cross them or stay safe?
Carrie Ryan: Good question! I
have no idea! I tend to be the
”
type of person to follow the
rules, but I’m sure I could be
convinced to cross the barrier.
Although I’d probably have
done a lot more planning first -
it’s in my nature.
Bridget: Which of the
characters did you empathise
with the most?
Carrie Ryan: That’s a tough
question. I think because I
have to be in their heads I tend
to empathise with the point
of view characters, Mary and
Gabry (and the one in the
next book). Sometimes my
characters surprise me though.
I actually ended up really liking
Sister Tabitha and I’ve written
a short story that’s coming out
in July to explore her character
more.
It’s when Sister Tabitha was
a teen. She’s actually about
Mary’s age and I think you
see a bit more about how she
became the woman she is in
FHT.
Bridget: Sounds interesting!
Are you ever tempted to write
about other ‘monsters’?
Carrie Ryan: Hmmm... good
question! I have no idea! I
think if I were to write about
monsters they would be
true monsters - I like that the
zombies in FHT aren’t sentient.
(capable of feeling).
Bridget: Are you a fan of
vampire books or do you see
them as competition?
Carrie Ryan: I don’t tend
to think of other books as
competition - I think the more
books out there the better! At
this moment my TBR (to-be-
read) pile is teetering it’s so
large and there are definitely
some vampire and werewolf
books in there...
Bridget: Quite a range then? So
what can we expect from ‘The
Dark and Hollow Places’?

e st to Film
e ryone’s talking about is heading for the
t gets the goss from its author Carrie Ryan...
Carrie Ryan: I tend to tell
people that when you finish
The Dead-Tossed Waves
“
(DTW) you’ll know the setting
of the third book and that
the point of view character
is another girl. Usually that’s
enough for people to figure out
who narrates it and where it
takes place .
Bridget: What was the hardest
part to write in the DTW?
Carrie Ryan: Good question!
I can’t think of what was the
hardest emotionally to write...I
think the hardest overall
was the ending - I rewrote
it completely very late in
revisions.
Bridget: Is it true the FHT is
being made into a film?
Carrie Ryan: Seven Star
Pictures has bought the film
rights and they have a script, so
I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Bridget: Wow! Do you have a
close role in writing the script?
Carrie Ryan: The script is pretty
close to the book and I spoke
with the script writer and got to
give my input.
Bridget: If you had the final say,
would you prefer an all star cast
or unknown actors?
Carrie Ryan: Oh, I have no
idea! I think there are a lot of
benefits to both and I like to
leave those decisions in the
hands of people who know a
lot better about how all that
works than I do.
Bridget: So what was high
...the monster is you, it’s
your best friend, husband,
mother, child... the line
between humanity and
monster becomes
really thin.
school like for you - is it true
you were a cheerleader?
Carrie Ryan: Yep, I was.
It was fun and I was friends with
everyone else on the squad. It’s
always fun to have an excuse
to hang out with friends. I was
much more into field hockey
though.
Bridget: That sounds nice!
So what were your favourite
books as a teenager?
Carrie Ryan: I ended up
becoming a big fan of romance
novels. I can’t remember any
particular books I loved - I just
remember devouring them!
Bridget: Were there any
authors you aspired to be like
when you were growing up?
Carrie Ryan: I think when I was
in high school I would have
wanted to be Christopher
Pike or Jude Deveraux. An
interesting mix!
”
Bridget: Are you reading any
good books at the minute?
Carrie Ryan: Right now I’m
reading Incarceron, The Thief
(Megan Whalen Turner),
Raised by Wolves (Jennifer
Lynn Barnes) and Hunger
(Jackie Kessler). I just finished
read it!
White Cat by Holly Black
and LOVED it and can’t wait
for The Demon’s Covenant
(Sarah Rees Brennan) to come
out. I just came home from a
conference with a bag full of
books - I usually don’t read
more than one at a time.
Bridget: Do you have any
advice for teens wanting to get
into writing?
Carrie Ryan: I’d tell teens to
experiment with different
voices - try new things (that’s
how I found my voice for
FHT). And also read, and read
widely - I think you learn a
lot about writing and how to
pace and structure a plot from
reading books.
Bridget: Sounds sensible!
Thanks, it’s been great talking
to you.
Carrie Ryan: Thanks!
Check out:
o m
readme.c
www.readme.com
for the full
interview podcast!
‘The Forest of Hands and
Teeth’ (Paperback £6.99)
‘The Dead-Tossed Waves’
(Hardback £7.99)
‘The Dark and Hollow
Places’ - Spring 2011
‘Kiss Me Deadly’ Hare
Moon (£5.99) - August
2010
13
?
?
QU ?
read it! ?
? ?

? I?Z T I M E ?

? ?
Word

?
search!
? ?

??
?
Take a break from
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15
 p i r e s
V am BITE
From monster to heartthrob, we chart the rise and rise of our favourite fanged folk
The footsteps behind you echo
loudly as they give chase. Your
heart is pumping so fast that
you’re not sure your breaths
can keep up. And to make it
worse your legs are in agony.
In a flash he’s beside you. As
he eyes your exposed throat
and bares his fangs, a million
thoughts rush through your
mind. Do you:
A) Plan your escape, knowing
you have a polished stake in
your bag with his name on it.
“
B) Scream, faint, and hope a
passing stranger will come to
your rescue.
or
C) Ask him for his phone
number.
Believe it or not, all three
would probably be acceptable
answers if you’re a fan of
vampire literature. Whereas
nowadays the thought of a
sinister, brooding creature of
the night has fan girls across the
country screaming their undying
love, once upon a time it was
an entirely different story.
People have always been
fascinated by the supernatural,
and these fanged creatures
are no different. Centuries
before the word ‘vampire’
even existed in the English
language, folklore circulated
about corpses that rose from
their graves to harm others.
It was here that the ward of
garlic originated, thought to
repel vampires because of its
medicinal qualities.
The first ever literary mention
was in 1819 by John Polidori,
personal physician to the
poet Lord Byron. In 1816
16
he joined the bard’s family
at their country house for a
night of ghost stories. Polidori
challenged the others to create
their very own, and not only
did a young Mary Shelley begin
the famous ‘Frankenstein’, but
Byron began the musings of a
novel about vampires. As this
was abandoned, Polidori sought
to finish the novel ‘Vampyre’.
The short story was falsely
attributed to Byron, despite his
repeated denials, and became
a huge success. The book
follows Aubrey, a gentleman
The ‘Bloody
Countess’
would drain
her victims
”
and bathe in
their blood
Nosferatu: Not quite the ‘brooding
vampire’ we had in mind...
on his travels who encounters
a mysterious stranger called
Lord Ruthven. As the Lord
uses his charisma to entrance
everyone he meets, our
protagonist becomes suspicious
of his intentions. His fears are,
of course, correct and what
follows is a race against time to
warn the next victim before it’s
too late.
In 1847 ‘Varney the Vampire’
was released as a series of
penny dreadfuls by Thomas
Pecket Prest. They were
extremely popular among
teenagers and the working
class as regular books were too
expensive.
Another piece featured as a
penny dreadful was ‘The String
of Pearls: A Romance’, which
included the debut of Sweeney
Todd; the demon barber of
Fleet Street. This sinister tale is
likely written by James Malcolm
Rymer, though it has been
accredited to Pecket Prest in
the past.
One of the most infamous
vampire stories came in 1897
with Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’.
The story was originally called
‘The Undead’ and is thought
to be based upon Vlad the
Impaler; an aristocrat who
took pleasure in impaling his
enemies with sharpened spikes
during the fifteenth century.
The Romanian has also been
compared to the Countess
Elizabeth Bathory, rumoured to
be the first real ‘vampire’.
During the 1600’s the ‘Bloody
Countess’ worked with a
team of four others to lure
young women to their deaths.
Legends have circulated that
she became obsessed with
keeping her youthful looks,
to the point that she drained
her victims and bathed in their
blood.
Bathory is recorded to have
enticed people with etiquette
lessons, before trapping them
in a torture chamber never to
be heard from again. In total
she was convicted of 80 deaths,
though it is thought the real
number rang closer to 600.
On a less sadistic note, our
attention turns to the classic
‘Interview with a Vampire’ by
Anne Rice. This 1976 book is
the definition of how to write
a good vampire novel, and
widened its fan base further
in 1994 with a Hollywood
makeover featuring Tom
Cruise, Brad Pitt and a young

Bite me: Robert Pattinson as
Edward Cullen
BACK
Kirsten Dunst. It follows Louis,
a 200 year old vampire who
recounts his adventurous
‘life’ to eager reporter Daniel
Molloy.
Without spoiling too much we
learn about his sire Lestat and
the mind games he forces Louis
to play, and what is probably
one of the rare instances of
a child vampire in books–
Claudia.
The author Anne Rice famously
created the character which
was later played by Dunst
in homage to her deceased
daughter, Michele. The six
year old lost her battle with
leukaemia in 1972. ‘Interview
with a Vampire’ went on
“
“Anne Rice
created child
to spawn several sequels,
collectively known as the
‘Vampire Chronicles’, and hasClaudia for her
sold more than 8 million copies
worldwide to date.
deceased
daughter”
In the 1990’s there was a
more romantic trend with ‘The
Vampire Diaries’ by L.J.Smith.
This book series tells the story
of Elena Gilbert and her love
triangle between two feuding
vampire brothers, Stefan and
Damon Salvatore.
The trilogy set in high school
was initially intended to end
as just that, until mounting
pressure from fans urged the
author to pen a fourth book the
following year.
A spin off trilogy of books
surrounding Damon Salvatore
has been released to coincide
with the TV series. Interestingly
in the ITV2 series Elena has
changed from blonde to
brunette and instead of having a
4 year old sister Margaret, now
has a fifteen year old brother
called Jeremy.
The author has also won
praise by teenage readers for
her ‘Nightworld’ series which
began in 1996 and continues
to present day. Each book
in the series surrounds a
different person as they face a
supernatural way of life; ranging
from witches and werewolves
to vampires and shapeshifters.
Now, unless you’ve been living
under a rock the name ‘Buffy’
should strike a chord. This
bottle blonde ex-cheerleader
brought a whole new attitude
towards the helpless female in
1992 with the tongue in cheek
film of the same title.
Five years later its writer Joss
Whedon revamped the Slayer
with a hit TV series which ran
for six years and seven seasons.
The ballsy Buffy Summers,
most commonly associated
with Sarah Michelle Gellar,
vampire
”
discovers at the age of sixteen
that she is the Chosen One.
In every generation a young girl
is destined to fend off vampires
using their guiles and super-
strength. And she is one of
them.
The series spawned numerous
books beginning in 1998 which
provide sub-plot stories for
avid fans. ‘Buffy the Vampire
Slayer’ is probably one of the
key figures in vampire fiction
not only because of her fighting
Eclipse hits cinemas July 9
read it!
attitude, but also because of the
love affair that began it all.
Buffy and Angel, the vampire
with a soul, unintentionally fall
in love – even though they
both know it can never work.
Since then star-crossed lovers
have hit a new trend; the
vampire and the human.
As an antidote to this British
born author Darren Shan
created a saga depicting
vampires and demons as
something much less romantic.
The series began in 2000 with
‘Cirque Du Freak’ and followed
teenager Darren Shan (of no
relation, we’re sure?) as he
comes across a travelling circus
of freaks and mutants.
Among them, charismatic
vampire Mr Crepsley. In 2009
Universal Pictures released a
big screen adaptation of the
series, compiling the first three
books into one.
And of course this wander
down the literary timeline
wouldn’t be complete without
a word or two about ‘Twilight’.
In 2005 Stephenie Meyer
reignited the forbidden love
craze with perfect gentleman
Edward Cullen and accident-
prone teenager Bella Swan.
In the four book series, Bella
learns that Edward and his
‘family’ are vampires and each
possess a unique gift or ability.
Edward himself can read others
thoughts; all except hers.
In 2008 the film hit theatres
with Robert Pattinson and
Kristen Stewart as the lead
roles. One of the controversial
aspects of Meyer’s vampires is
that the creatures do not burn
in sunlight – they sparkle.
But with merchandise flying
off the shelves and a graphic
novel shadowing the series, it’s
unlikely that the ‘Twilight’ saga
is going to disappear into the
bargain bin anytime soon.
17
README~RE R
Re
READ
ADME~READ A
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ME~READMEM
This is where
we tell you
Hal
la m y

~README~R ~
what’s hot o f mst
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~README~R ~
sure books a writer s at scho
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18
 read it!

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README~RE
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mystery! I’m quite a busy person,
so a book needs to grab my
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EADME~REA
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19
 Katy says...
Bridget says...
! The g
r the girls irl
d e fi n a te ly one fo r y o f fleeing in question
This is ws the sto h
by the ome after b Violetta, a
is
Me’ follo ainbox, as
‘No and br e ot roy
-year-old s of Illyria vil Malvolio h her pare al runaway
Lou, a 13 avigate the woe (near
Ita
. With nts ar
ek
to n teena h
she trie s ger ta ly) being to er small co illed
life. charm kes to rn apa untry
teenage in mud rt, t
shabby when g fool Feste dy England he
h e m e e ts No, a r
it by
encou seems all h her side. ith the
w
When s a taste fo nter a ope is And ju
o m e le s s girl with t everything at quickly young lost, t
he p
st
h ve to pu r W
h o l, they ha h bad boy Lucas)
to stopp ealise he m ill Shakesp air
o ing M e
e s a n d a lc
c e w it o s tarts Acclaim alvolio ay be their are and
cigarett L o u ’s r oman h . B u t w hen N e d fo r g a n swer
ding mp ow? ‘The F a ut ood.
risk (inclu irl power can triu w far will Lou foll ool’s G hor Rees c to
at g o Twelft a
prove th g road, h h ir l’ afte m e up
n the wron as stage Night in O r watching with the id
to go d o w nd No h she be xford. a perfo ea for
e en Lou a awarded Violet c O
tionship
b e tw
it was ta’s st ame obses nce the p rmance of
ulent rela in France, where ble in English! ory is s la
the re ed with wh yers had le he
T
The turb m a ila
up a stor , and now it’s av means to
Don’t sult. at hap ft the
whipped er ’s P r iz e a t it really ere’s a bit le
– this t the ment
pened
next.
o o k s e ll r e s w h
the B explo , but th is actu ion of
De Vigan this book ste. triang ally a S h akesp
Delphine e and a family in my ta
les go
it keep , betrayals od book. C eare put yo
have a h
om 4 6 pages for s a r u
h misery
in 2
nship down you guess nd even the ammed wit off
too muc e n’t w e?’ relatio over s
side is
th
ing rig
ht o d d bit of
h love
e, A r f some o quic at the clim to the last
’t fo r L o u’s ‘Are w mind every girl o ere disapp kly, th ax is b page.
humo
ur,
n
If it were ho will re e back of class, th o at
where inted. But it does leav t up so mu e only
uil Th
o tt ie Lucas, w r in th m
wit h h
y ’v e d r o oled ove it
destin ’s the jour aybe this is you feeling and is
e ch
crush the any giggles. ation.
You b
ney th
a
one o
f a little
wouldn’t
be e the t matters m the instanc
judge. ore th es
. 3 /5! an the
it ’s w o r th a look Overa
Overall, ury ll
Puiblis I’d give this
Bloomsb ury.com
Pulisher: w w w .bloomsb her: B
looms 3/5!
.24 @ Price:
Price: £5 £8.24
@ ww
bury
w.blo
omsb
ury.co
m

Victoria says...
Who is Mar
go Roth Spie
Green’s late gelman? That
st book to co ’s the questio
me out in p n which Q,
aperback, h the main ch
The book o as to answer in o aracter of A
pens with n rder to find merican auth
in e-year-old Q her - dead o or John
the park. Nin and his neig r alive.
e years later h bour Margo
disgusting pra the pair hav Ro
e another ad
nks
the start of an on Margo’s cheating fe venture, invo th Spiegelman finding a
ag lla and her dislo lv ing an all-nig dead body in
out who this onising hunt for the mys ya ht revenge-f
“girl next do terious Margo l pals. It’s the most exc est, dishing
out
is this just on or” he’s bee , who disapp iting night of
e of her atte n in love wit ears the very Q’s life, but
ntion-seekin h forever real next day. Q it’s
g stunts? ly is. Has sh must figure
‘Paper Town e given up o
where she is s’ is a mix of n life altogeth
, but there’s styles - it’s a er? Or
snobbish. Bu also loads o puzzle book,
t by about h f romance. I getting the re
book as it de alf w have to adm ader to solv
als with more ay in, I was gripped, de it, at first I hat
e d this book - it
e Margo’s co
nfusing clues
adult theme sperate to fin about
s, and most d out how it seemed con
I would reco o f the humou w ould end. I th fusing and a
mmend this r will appeal in k o lder teens w bit
point, you w book with a to teens in th ill like this
on’t be able plea that yo at age group
to put it dow u don’t reac .
n! h chapter fif
Overall, this te e n la te at night -
deserves 4/5 because once
Publisher: B ! you reach th
loomsbury is
Price: £5.24
@ www.blo
omsbury.co
m

20
 read it!

Andre says...
There’s a hint of Harry Potter Katy says...
about a book where an entire
family is killed, except for one boy, When
Z
brought up by mysterious people of now oe’s family
h m
and warned away from an evil herse ere she do ove to the
lf caug esn’t e middle
man who wants to kill him. ht in a x
war. dange pect to find
Her o rous p
n laygro
Gaiman takes this popular story, have lo ly new frie und
s nd
and gives it his own twist. Bod is and th t the plot a , Gary, see
re fte ms
adopted by ghosts after his parents headc ats from Kn r years of ta to
are murdered. As he grows up, he learns the ways of ase) a a g g s (th unts
new g nd
the graveyard and encounters ghouls and ‘the Hounds The w irl to t now it’s up e school
a ake ac to the
of God’, but is told not to venture into the real world, differe y each cha tion!
nt cha pter o
because his parents’ killer still wants him dead. schoo racter f the s
lt ’s tor
impos eacher Jim eyes make y is told th
sible t s r
The language makes it impossible to put down, o put Carrington this debut ough a
down so ten book
! se it’s b
especially towards the end. Gaiman is fantastic at ‘Inside
My H almos y
anti-b ead’ s t
keeping you wrapped in his imagination, and it’s easy ull ta
to see why his previous books were such successes. who t ying week, rted life as
he Kn a
aggs o and it’ll soo short story
f your n have for
I’d rec schoo
‘The Graveyard Book’ is definitely geared towards omm l are.. you wonde
ever b en . ring
younger teens. The description and language would een b d this to an
ullied. yone
probably not be enough to keep an older reader - espe
Overa cially if
interested. ll, I’d g you’ve
Publis iv
her: B e this 5/5
Price: lo !
While it is a fun read, it may be too short for an older £5.42 omsbury
@ ww
reader with not enough going on. The ending is also a w.blo
omsb
huge letdown considering the previous six chapters of ury.co
m
build-up.

Overall, this is a 3/5!

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Price: £5.99 @ www.bloomsbury.com

Claire says... at really likes

d th e only person th e
to him se lf an r, Will has som
st ra ng e te en ager. He talks fin d o ut th at he’s not a lose
a bit of a . But you soon
Will Hodges is la ire ac ross the street
lle d C
him is a girl ca
He’s a returner
. Not only that
serious issues. G er m an y and Poland. in the
fo re an d ki lled peopl e in
hi ch ha te s fo reigners being
alive be yw
at he has been is part of a part
He finds out th he w as yo un g and his dad
ed when
but his mum di ences
re ad , w ith re ally short sent
UK . ns e er
ok! It’s an inte he is when oth
en ha lf w ay through the bo o rld . H e w o n’t accept who fr ie nd s th ink
o ut be fo re you’re ev hi s o w n po w erful w re st o f hi s fa mily and
l th is ithin th e
And you find al ung boy lost w evious life and
te th e at m o sphere of a yo se lf an d w ha t he did in a pr
to crea about him through.
convince him hat he’s going ws the
returners try to e th ey do n’ t kn o w w
en se re ad and really sho
ca us im m it
he is strange be wn but it is an you won’t put
ee r yo u up when you’re do ar an te e o nc e you pick it up
t one to ch hat’s wrong. I
gu
Returners’ isn’ t’s right and w
All in all, ‘The o o si ng w ha
n a person ch
struggle betwee
down again.
5!
y it deserves 4/
Overall, I’d sa
msbury
Publisher: Bloo msbury.com
io ce : £5 .2 4 @ www.bloo
Pr

21
 read it!
Bridget says...
Andre says...
– the
is a vampire e This is
th
Solan g e
pire to b Forest e hotly-ant
ale vam of icip
first fem d of bitten and s where Hands and ated seque
stea hecy say the fir T
st boo eeth’, and o ‘The
lt
born (in the prop . The picks u
d ) a n d k left o
turne queen Gabry ff. Sor p
become ther is the t of.
she will y Natasha has o and ha s hy on
ad te ea
sinister L h. decide s taking risk mong her fr
o ug it’ll be s. So w iends,
ideas th an old fu he
u c y take tu ’s
rns amuse n to cross t n the gang
frie n d L ge to follo ment he bar
e r h u m an best a d e to kill Solan Mudo know the w suit. Esp ark, she’s r ier to
p r
and h er is m p (the (or Un dange ecially elucta
Solange tory, as an ord ti-vampire grou e for many c rs
name onsecrated that lie bey ce they all
sin nt
es an ng
to tell th y and a human ed to seek reve s). , or zo
mbies
ond in
clu
fa m il m in – they de
entire p deter But w
a) turn u he
it’s ha n playful cr
go by
Helios-R f their leader. e rd for ush C
o than on 78
the death r y in less s2
wishin G
g she abry to say
atcher
b
th e enti r e s to
a H arvey ta k e
g had. no. O egs her to b
ld d r lp feelin f cour
While I
just to lyxa n
author A nd you can’t he One n se she e brave,
w o r d s , e ight of ’s soo
hundred o so and by the ted. secon r n
d d part ebellion lea
page s to isa in
p p o have y to the ds to t
ed and d obably o tr he
a bit c o n fu s
g a , you’ll pr ut ready u reading w ilogy by Car apocalypse
t’ s a to find ith bait rie Ry in the
‘Twiligh t least a little, b rd out w e an
ho’ll s d breath an , which wil
e a ll y love the ding’ a It’s ha
If yo u r
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ead-To
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enjoy ‘M come away fee before – olas writte ssed W h e
’l l a ls o a ll b e e n done d s N ic h n. aves’ is
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t book
th r.
to forge
t ie Meye n? , intell
r – b y Stephan t Edward Culle Overa
ll, igently
bett e ’ve g o Publis this deserv
hen you her: G e
Drake w Price: ollanc s 4/5!
! z
this 1/ 5 £9.99
v e r a ll , I’d give r y
@ ww
w..orio
O sbu om
r: Bloom msbury.c nbook
Publishe 4 @ www.bloo s.co.u
k
.2
Price: £5

Katy says...
This new no
vel by Melis
people, che sa De La Cru
ck. Danger, z hits all the
one of New ch eck. It’s an e right spots. V
xciting life fo amp
immortal, it
Yorks most
p o werful famili r Mimi and Ja ires, check. Beautiful
seems like n es. Popular ck Force, th
vampire - is othing can st , intensely go e rich twins
mysteriously op them. Th od looking, of
m urdered. at is until one of and not forg
their own - etting
As new mem a blue blood
bers are init
about The C iated into an
have to do is ode, they so elite society
and lies that find out what on find out th where vamp
proves hard ’s after them ey ’re not be ire elders te
er than they an ing told the ach the you
could ever im d why. But in a world d whole truth
. Now all the
ng
‘Blue Blood ag ine. o m inated by se
s’ ends on a crecy y
impatient I’d cliffhanger an
wai d I was abso
the next chap t until the next book is lutely
ter! published be gutted! I couldn’t wait to
fore you star find out who
t this one! T would win,
Buy it now! hat said, I ca so if you’re
I give this 5/5 n’t wait to ge
Publisher: B ! t m y hands on
loomsbury
Price: £5.24
@ www.blo
omsbury.co
m

Go to:
o m
readme.c
www.readme.com
to submit your own
book reviews!

22
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Calls from mobiles may cost more. Remember to get the bill-payer’s permission before calling.

23
 E

“Is she as
S U
E IS
TH

of it as I
Books have an amazing ability to transport you somewhere beyond even your
imagination. You can go anywhere, meet anyone and see things you’ve never
even dreamed of. Some people spend most of their lives in another person’s
head while they do exhilarating, impossible things. Now and again though, a
book comes along which picks you up and puts you down in the worst of places.
Andre took a look at two of the best.

“
JUNK There are no geeky wizards or sexy
vampires in this one. The villain is much
By Melvin Burgess more real. When Gemma starts
‘Junk’ was so popular It’s really easy to say experimenting with
when it was released in ‘drugs are bad.’ It is also cocaine - you know

”
1996 that it was made completely ineffective.
into a BBC drama. I bet you’d switch off exactly how that
It puts you in the shoes
of a teenage couple
straight away, wouldn’t
you?
feels.
who decide to escape
the constraints of To the majority of people, someone who
But Burgess tells the
home and live life by takes drugs is just a ‘druggie’. In this book,
story from the viewpoint
themselves. you become one of those people. You
of various people, so
understand all of the choices they make,
when Gemma finds
They want to be able even if they’re the wrong ones. There can
herself experimenting
to live a life of freedom, be no better way to find out the real truths
with cocaine – you know
like an adult, doing than to read this book.
exactly how that feels.

“ ”
whatever they want
whenever they want. Burgess himself said:

“Characters are there to make decisions

There they meet two free spirits, Gemma
and Tar, who show them how fun living
There are no geeky and sometimes they make some pretty
on your own can be, before it all takes a wizards or sexy stupid or wrong decisions or crazy
decisions, but that doesn’t mean to say
dramatic and gritty twist.
vampires in this one that they’re being condoned or that I think
Ask any normal teenager whether living they’re right.
by their own rules sounds like their idea
of bliss and you’d probably get a definite “It’s just that it is interesting to watch
‘yes’. But Burgess’ story is not for the faint- people doing that or wonder why they’re
hearted. doing that.”

And when Tar ‘Junk’ manages to be genuine and realistic

comes down and steals without preaching. It shows you the
Gemma’s stash to make him harsh realities of life on the streets, as
feel better, you are with him every well as tackling issues such as alcoholism,
step of the way. domestic violence and prostitution.

24
 read it!

scared Fact Fix

Drug misuse: Death by

am?”
drug misuse happens
because the person was
intentionally using a drug
or combination of drugs
carelessly.
Drug poisoning: Deaths
are normally either
suicide or accidental -
because the person was
CANDY
teenage boy who addicted and took too
stumbles across much.
By Kevin Brooks a girl in horrible
circumstances. Number of deaths from
‘Candy’ is another love drug poisoning only in
story which goes horribly Behind it all, is the 2008:
wrong thanks to drugs.Joe story of a young
is a teenager who finds couple who fall in Men: 2,075
himself lured into a world love and want to be Women: 853
of drugs and prostitution together, no matter
because of the girl he falls Deaths from drug
what the odds. misuse in 2008:
for.
Brooks said: Men: 1,364
When he stumbles across “’Candy’ is about Women: 374
her and her pimp in a being a boy, falling in
London café, he can’t love, finding yourself Most deaths from drug
forget her and vows to in places you’ve misuse were people
help her escape, leading between the ages of 30

“
never been before.
him into a murky and and 39.
violent world which
threatens his entire family. Joe sees Number of deaths from
different types of drugs:
Joe sees for himself what running away
for himself what
running away from Heroin/morphine: 897

”
from home on a whim can do. Candy Methadone: 378
finds herself in a grotty flat with other
prostitutes, hooked on heroin given to
home on a whim can Antidepressants: 381
Paracetamol: 242
her by the terrifying Iggy and sleeping do. Cocaine: 235
with men to pay for them. Diazepam: 133
“I’ve been to those places myself, and I Ecstasy: 44
This book reveals how difficult it is to give wanted to write about how it all feels, Cannabis: 19
up once you’ve been hooked. and what it does to you, and how the Asprin: 15
things that you want aren’t always good
When Candy and Joe escape Iggy’s for you, and you know they’re not good
Number of mental
clutches and hide out in the Suffolk
disorders caused by drug
for you… but you still keep wanting poisoning in 2008:
countryside, she is forced to go cold them, don’t you?”
turkey and takes the reader through Male: 705
every symptom and emotion of Without giving too much away, both Female: 139
withdrawal for three agonising chapters. books end on a sad note – one character
in each struggling to come to terms with Number of mental
‘Candy’ is also chillingly good because life after drugs in endings that will force disorders caused by drug
it revolves around a character who is you to realise the realities of the lives misuse in 2008:
normal enough to be just about any some people live.
reader. Men: 578
If you’re fed up of your teachers boring
Women: 107
In ‘Junk’, Tar was fleeing from a violent you to death, pick up one of these
home and Gemma hated her parents books for a fantastic insight into a topic
Check out:
and was keen to try new things. In everyone should know a bit about.
‘Candy’, Joe is a completely ordinary readme.c
om www.readme.com
to find out more
Next month: SEX about drugs and
drug-related teen
novels.

25

Bulli e d t o
The door shut and instantly all
the air in the car compressed.
I couldn’t breathe. Minutes
ticked by. The walls closed in.
She left me there, alone, and I
knew, I just knew she was never
“
coming back for me. My bladder
ballooned like I’d been guzzling
water for weeks, and even when
I crossed my legs and scrunched
up tight, I couldn’t hold it.
At the first dribble, I squealed.
Then I exploded. I don’t
remember screaming or honking
the horn. The fear of being
locked inside, I remember every
day. If I close my eyes, I can
hear the ringing in my ears,
still, from the blaring horn.
I see the distorted faces of
everyone peering through the
window. Mom’s panicked eyes.
The door unlocking and her hand
wrenching mine away from the
horn.  Victoria caught up with
This is from American author
Julie Anne Peters
26
Julie Anne Peters’ latest book,
“By the time you read this I’ll be
dead”. It’s a hard-hitting novel,
about a girl called Daelyn who
can’t talk , gets bullied, and wants
to commit suicide, helped by
weird websites online. Sounds
depressing? Well there’s some
hope in the shape of a guy called
I told her, ‘I quit my
job today. I’m going
to be a writer’
Santana
who helps her think about her
choice of death over life.   Ok, so how on earth did you
Julie-Anne Peters for a chat
about hearing voices in her head
(!) and the ideas
behind her books, which often
cover tough topics like bullying
and homosexuality.
Hi Julie! To start with, what
made you write a book about
“bullycide” (when someone kills
themselves because of bullying)?
Recently, nine people,
most of them high school
students, were charged
in Massachusetts for
bullying a girl so
badly that she
committed
suicide. In
essence, a real
case of bullycide.
Maybe, hopefully, people
in t e rview with
Exclusive American
aw a r d w in n in g
t h o r J u li e A n ne Peters
au
will begin to see that it’s a real
problem we need to address in
society.  the people using them with evil
Have you had feedback from
teens that the book’s been
helpful since it’s been out?
Lots of teens have written to
tell me how much the book
”
affected them, that they felt
Daelyn’s pain quite deeply. I
hope young people will see
that Daelyn is making the worst
choice possible; that there are
alternatives to self-destruction.
I’d like them to think, reconsider,
if suicide is where they’re at
in life. I’d like them to search
out suicide help lines and give
themselves a fighting chance.  out. One day I walked into my
How do you feel about the sorts
of websites that appear in your
book, which show teenagers
ways of committing suicide?
Do you think they should be
censored?  stumbled backward and went,
I don’t agree with censorship.
If you want to find information,
you’re going to find it one way
or another. What we should be
interested in is identifying young
people who are headed in that
direction, helping to give them
more coping skills in life. And
I don’t think social networking
sites like Facebook and Myspace
themselves are the problem. It’s
intent.
So let’s go right back to the
beginning. When did your career
as an award-winning author get
under way?
Well actually it was after many
years doing other things! My
first degree was in Primary
school teaching and French. I
taught school for a year (which
was a miserable experience),
then went back to college for
a degree in computer science.
Later, I got a masters in business
and information systems.
become an author from being a
computer boffin?
I got burned out.  My job
required travelling and I was
living on the road, not even
knowing where I was sleeping
half the time. It was affecting
my own sanity- I needed to get
boss’s office and said, “I quit.”
When my partner, Sherri, came
home from work, I told her,
“I quit my job today. I’m going
to be a writer.” She kind of
“Okaaay. Have you ever written
anything?” I told her, “No, but
hard how hard can it be?” Ha ha
ha ha ha. Ignorance is bliss.
What was it like putting pen to
paper for the first time? What
inspired you at the start?
I’d been hearing voices for a

o d e a t h
while. (I thought I was just going
bonkers!) The only way to get
them out of my head was to
write them down. This one girl,
Casey, kept talking to me, telling
me about her life. I didn’t know
anyone named Casey, but I
recognized her feelings from my
own adolescence. It was a relief,
and a joy, to write.
Were your books influenced by
childhood experiences?
For the most part. I think so.
There are personal experiences
in all my books, even though
I don’t always recognize them
right away. Sometimes I’ll
wonder, where did that story
come from? And it’s not until
many weeks or years later that
I’ll make the connection.  editor called me out of the blue
Your first book for teenagers,
“
‘Define Normal’, explores
issues about family breakdown
and judging by appearance-
were these issues you were
Patience, practice and
particularly keen to
write about?  latest book ‘By the time you
I think that book came
from my work with perseverance are the
3 Ps to becoming
kids who struggled with
family issues. When I
first started writing, I
was making less than
zero dollars (you gotta
love poverty if you
successful
become an artist), so I took a
part-time job in a school for at-
risk youth. I saw how these kids
had to grow up too soon. That’s
where Antonia (in the book)
came from. To give her a bold
antagonist, and unlikely friend,
I created this character, Jazz.
Jazz is my wild side, yearning to
break free.
So how did you first get
published?
I read every book I could find on
how to format manuscripts (not
the five lines music’s written on,
but your own work!) and submit
them. I began sending work to
magazines first, and getting back
hundreds of rejections. I was
working blind because I didn’t
know there were things like
workshops for writers. But the
more I practiced, the more I
read, the better writer I became.
Eventually, a few of my pieces
were accepted and I began to
build credits. Then one day an
and said, “Julie, I have your book
manuscript here and I like it very
much. It has a lot of kid appeal.
I was wondering if you’d be
willing to work on it with me to
improve it and maybe make it
publishable.” Was I willing? Hell
yes! (I didn’t even know which
book she was talking about. I
had dozens of manuscripts at
publishing houses.)  will make it. Be realistic with
Which book did you have
read it!
published first then?
‘The Stinky Sneakers
Contest’. A book for 6-9 year-
olds. quite ready to publish a novel,
but you can build your publishing
That sounds like a great book! credits by submitting work to
And did it take long to break print or online magazines. 
into the teenage readers
 
“market”?
Perfect your craft. Find or create
a group of peer writers to give
It was about eight years and you honest feedback on your
seven books later that “Define work. If you plan to write for
Normal” was published. It was teenagers, you need to know
actually marketed as a book for how your work comes across
8-12 year olds, but I told my to them. Always be willing to
editor I thought it would appeal revise, but maintain your vision.
to teen readers. And it looks like HAVE a vision.
it did!  
So what are you working on
How would you advise teenagers at the moment? What are we
who want to go into writing as a keeping you from?
career and get published? 
What I SHOULD be working
Love the process of writing;
on is a new book titled, “She
Love it a lot because it may take loves you, she loves you not”.
years and years before you’re It’s in the final stages and will be
good enough to be published,
published in the spring of 2011. 
or lucky enough to find the right
You can buy Julie Anne Peter’s
read this I’ll be dead’ from
Hyperion Books for £7.92. 
”
editor at the right time. Patience,
practice and perseverance
are the three Ps to becoming
successful, and even then only a
small fraction of aspiring authors
your goals. Maybe you’re not
27

i t o r ’s P i c k s
Ed
of the best upcoming books
e s t Templar
The Yo u n g
This adventure novel tracks orphaned
teenager Tristan, who gets involved with
the Crusades after a group of Knights
Templar stay at the Abbey where he
grew up. He’s made keeper of the Holy
Grail, the most sacred relic: but will
he bring it home safely among the
bloodshed and death? This historical
fiction book will be a hard one to
put down!
Published June 30th
by TickTock Books
£6.99
Rush
Jake King is a young adrenaline junkie
who joins a crew of firefighters. But when
he joins their secret society “The Rush
Club”, it proves more deadly than any
fire, both for Jake and the girl he loves.
Published June 10th
by Speak
£5.90
read it!
s t o t h e R epository
Key
If you’re a fan of the “Blue Bloods” series,
or you like vampire novels, you’re going to
love this book about the day-to-day life of
vampire Schuler Van Alen (from the Blue
Bloods series). It has journal entries,
never-before-seen letters about the
vampire elite and revealing short
stories. Be prepared to be scared!
Published June 29th
by ATOM
£4.89
A Kiss in Tim
e
This will be a great way to kick-start
the summer, as you read about Jack’s
trip around Europe. It’s not an ordinary
holiday though - he gets sucked in to
a real-life fairy tale. Think Disney’s
“Enchanted” with less cute animals, and
more teenage angst. You’re in for a bit of
romance at the end!
Published June 16th
by Speak
£5.40
29
 How to WRITE:
Are you always daydreaming in class about unleashing the next Harry Potter? Or maybe you
think you’ve got what it takes to become a globe-trotting journalist, chasing down celebrities
for that juicy gossip? Well now we’ve gathered all the best writing tips in one place, just for
you. This month, it’s time to get to grips with writing short stories and news reports. Start
turning your daydreams into reality right now!

Short stories...
y,
1. BEGINNING, MIDDLE, END h t awa k
raig hin
S T l i n g st ave a t efore
FI R b
The beginning: Let your audience know what crib nd h ut b
. P LAN g et s own a te abo
makes your characters tick. 2 t to it d wri
u wan d to s ant to aper.
y o e p
The middle: Your main star will run into some So you ne t you w uches is
tion clow g
n?
u t h a t o i r a s
trouble here! b ut w ven Insp clas blin
abo r pen e r i te? it of a er drib at a
you to w a b rev a go
The End: This is your big fireworks moment. w hat e you end fo Have
re e! Ar y. Sp ush?
t su r d r s.
No ywhe come eleb c idea
v e r y a s t c r e
e n tr late mo
The r your k for
o o
ove ance. urit
eb
o m v o
r r fa
p you
u
Pick

3. WHO’S WHO? 4. KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Your characters are the life of your story, so Stick to a small group of characters.
spend lots of time thinking about who they are
and what they do. Don’t try to set a short story over weeks,
months or years, or you’ll end up confusing
Look at people you know for inspiration - would yourself and your readers more than a trigo-
that evil teacher at school make the perfect nometry lesson. Eek!
villain?
Get your mates to have a look over your
Use the rule ‘show, don’t tell’ - if your main work when you’re done.
characters trashed after a boozy session, don’t
say that - have them stumbling down the road
and slurring their words.

30
 write it!

whatever you want!

a rt i c l e . . .
A news
1. THE INTRO 2. THE REST OF THE STORY
3. WHO’S WHO?
Your news intro (the first sentence of your story!) Journalist’s use the ‘Inverted Pyramid’ to write
should sum up the whole event. Use the five W’s - their reports. This just means getting the most
Your characters are the life of your
Who, What, Where, When and Why - to get you important info in at the top of the story and
started. story, so
working downspend
to thelots
leastof time thinking
important at the
about who they are and what they do.
bottom!
Write what you’d tell your best mate about the Look at people you know for inspira-
story if you only had 10 seconds to explain it! Try to go
tion back to that
- would the beginning of the action
evil teacher and
at school
explain how and why it happened.
make the perfect villain?
Keep in mind that you don’t have to use all the info
available - your writing needs to be clear so don’t Useactive
Stay the rule
(and I‘show, don’t
don’t mean headtell’ - if your
to the
overload sentences with too much detail. main characters
swimming trashed
pool!). Write aftertense.
in the active a boozy
session,
E.G don’t
“The cast say ARE
of Glee thatcelebrating
- have them receiving
their first major television award
stumbling down the road and slurringtonight. ”
their words.

the
2.BEGINNING, MIDDLE, END iso
3. SPEAK UP IT! tral
eu rs.
TO
F
P LE! to be n . aracte r
M e h
P O IT SI posed go zoonf c y ouvpethe f
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E p r l
4. K EEP are su a ngorou stmoake ylol suid’el s r
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what makes
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a al y l r
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This isn’tmiddle:
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into some trouble here! D s s
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oww arguupm
c l lo ’
oreu shoul er peaovpe‘saourceney.our
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The End: This is your big fireworks e ne d s m h h oto
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31
 a w r i t e r ?
a n t t o b e
W Do you prefer
There are so many options for people
who want to work with books -

u
writing fiction whether thats reading, writing or

w i l l y o or non-fiction? something completely different.

Wh a t Take our quiz to

be?
find out what you’re
destined to become!

Fiction

Non- Do you
fiction like finding out
Do you
like writing new things?
longer pieces or
shorter pieces?
No Yes
Longer

Shorter Do you Do you like to

Would
you like to like help people to
write for a TV talking about learn?
show or film? books?

No Yes
No
No
Would you
Yes like to write for Are
theatre? you good Yes
at expressing
opinions?

No Yes
No
Yes

Script- Novelist Play- Poet Book Librarian Proof English Newspaper

writer wright critic reader teacher reporter

32

Twenty – six year old Katy
Moran has only been writing
for a couple of years but
already people are tipping her
“
for a huge future. Her new
book ‘Spirit Hunter ‘ hits
the shelves this month and
ReadMe can’t wait to find out
what’s in store so Claire
caught up with Katy to get
some juicy insider goss and
find out where she gets her
”
inspiration from!
If you haven’t heard of her
already, you soon will do.
Since her first book Bloodline
“ “
was published in 2008, she’s
been going from strength to
If you think of
James Bond in the
”
dark ages - you’re
there.
”
strength and now she can’t
wait to find out what we think
of her latest offering.
“My newest book is a
spy story set along the
dangerous and ancient
Silk Road (historical trade
route between China and
the West). The two main
characters fall deeply in
love, but they’re fighting on
opposite sides in a war. It’s a
great book for people with a
real imagination who like to
see a bit of a dark side too.
Most of my books have the
same kind of vibe.
Inspiration is a big
thing too. If
something
captures your eye,
write about it.
If you think James Bond in
the Dark Ages – a thrilling but
violent and scary period of
history combined with a bit
of love and difficulty-you’re
there!”
Katy admits that being an
author is all she has ever
wanted to do since the age of
ten. But, she says, writing for
teens isn’t as easy as people
think.
“Writing teenage books can,
at times, be difficult because
they are such hard years.
That’s why I try to make my
books about adventure and
imagination because it takes
us away from the day to day
slog. It’s all about escaping.”
So where does she get her
ideas from?
write it!
One to
watch:
Katy
Moran
“Inspiration is a big thing can sometimes help you on
too. For instance when you your way.”
look around, if something
captures your eye write about
it, seriously that’s where I ‘Spirit Hunter’
started.
by Katy Moran is
“My mum and dad found an out in paperback
old brooch in an antique shop
on June 7th from
one day and I was fascinated
about how old it was and Walker Books for
where it had originally come
from, so I researched it , £6.29
wrote about it and found out
so much about the Vikings
and the origins of our country.
“It’s not just about writing ,
it’s about learning on the way.
Katy thinks the key to success
is to try, try and try again!
“I’d always wanted to be a
writer but I only got published
a few years ago.
Write about what
makes you tick
and put all of your
energy into it.
“It’s about perseverance.
If you really want to write,
absolutely go for it. Write
about what makes you tick
and put all your energy into it.
As well, try to read as many
books as you can because
other people’s writing styles
33
 A day in tThis month ReadMe’s talking to Ed Stilliard and Emma Ray,
two experienced journalists who work for The Hinckley Times
newspaper in Leicestershire. They’ll give you the low-down on
what really goes on in the world of journalism so you can decide if
it’s the career for you!

And while all of this is

happening I have to keep
on top of the stories I need
to write - the ones that are

A
really going to shock the
readers.
Ed Stilliard,
28, says... The best thing about my job is
the variety and I deal with so
many different people. I write
T he only constant routine I
have in my work is the
stories about people dying,

R
councils making outrageous
journey I make to get there and
decisions, politicians making
to get home again!
statements, criminals being
sent down, hospitals, schools

E
Apart from that, my days
suffering with ever-dwindling
are filled with anything and
resources and much more.
everything.

P
Every so often someone will
When I first started out as a
have a shocking story where
local reporter I only ever got
there’s heartache and pain;
to write stories about cheque
real people affected by real
presentations and charity

O
problems, without an easy
events - not the most exciting
solution.
stuff, but everyone has to start
somewhere!
One time, two soldiers from

R
Nuneaton died and I suddenly
Now it’s a completely different
regretted always wishing for
story and my work couldn’t
that amazing story because it
be more exciting, especially on

T
was so emotional dealing with
deadline day when everything is
their families.
manic.
But even though there are
The phone is constantly ringing

E
hard times, I absolutely love
and it could be anyone on the
my job. There’s always that
line - from people letting us
ever-approaching deadline
know about fundraising events
to be met to get the paper
to local celebs!

R
out that gives me a real buzz
and then I can look forward
We also keep an eye on what’s
to more totally unexpected
happening in the national news
things happening the next
because stories there can be
day!
included in our local paper.

34

the life of...
A
Emma Ray,
36, says...
A s with all jobs in
newspapers, no two days
are the same, but for a news
editor there is a bit more
structure.
My main responsibility is
to check what stories the
reporters are working on and
see where there might be gaps
in our coverage that we can
sort out.
I also help point the reporters
in the right direction when they
are writing the stories because
I was a reporter for 22 years!
This could involve suggesting
people to interview, asking
questions which are not
answered in their stories, or
checking up on certain facts.
When the stories are written I
read through them and choose
which are the strongest.
These will go at the front of the
paper, while the less important
stories will go towards the
back.
Once stories are completed
and I’ve decided which pages
they’re going on, myself and
the editor can begin to design
the pages themselves.
First we draw the adverts on
write it!
N
the page so that we know how
E
much space is left for the news.
Then we work out whether we
D
need a picture on the page and
how many shorter stories are
needed to fill the space around
the main lead story.
Once all that’s done, the stories
are sent out to a team of sub-
editors, who make sure all
I
T
the grammar and spellings are
correct before writing headlines
for them.
O
When the page is completed it
is printed out so anyone in the
office can check for any final
R
mistakes and then I make any
corrections.
But even though I work for a
newspaper my job also includes
updating the website and our
Twitter and Facebook pages
because now journalists are
expected to work across all
media platforms - TV, radio,
print and the web.
That’s a basic day but with
so many phone calls and
emails flooding in to the office
practically anything can happen!
Check out:
om
readme.c
www.readme.com
for more help
on becoming a
journalist
35
 SO YOU THINK YOU C

he rs on yo
ur own
: Remember to keep
back-up copies of
wr
g publis ok’
chin f i n i shed ‘bo ct all of your work!
Approa ept a oa
i s h e r s d on’t acc ing an agent t sible
y publ ut hav ’s impos
- Man uscript) witho oesn’t mean it
(man d h
r b e h a lf. That F i n d o ut whic
on you arch .
u g h ! t o d o y our rese e written.
tho eed u’v
l o n e, you n ike the one yo
i t a l need
o u c h o ose to go ublishes books e l i n e s . Do you you
- If y her already p guid his,
b l i s a n y specific I f y o u ignore t
p u hav e site?
w h e t h er they e on their web our stuff.
out pla c ow y
to find s there a ke sure you kn a compu
ter
- Try a l e t t e r o r i
o m a o u u s e
to send ly, s If y
rite it. ut yourself an
d
t n o t g et a rep h a n d w
migh don’t it ab o ou
i n q u i ry, but . Tell them a b n’t matter if y
ter of onal does
S e n d in a let y more professi experience (it
- look wa you have any
it will ore
w h e t her u s c r i p t. No m
explain man
) p p e n s i n your
don’t. of what
ha
m a r y e
d e a s m all sum !
h p o l i t e . If you’v
u g but
- Incl wo pages thou t h e -point,
tha n t ght - t o -
r a nd strai t sort of style. y
o u r l e tter c l e a
i m f o r tha p u b l i s her, onl
py ,a one and
- Kee pplied for a job m m o re than to each other
ever a lies f r o s tal k
o u g h t o get rep em! Publisher
ky en e of th
o u’re luc hing out to on ll got a copy. e
- I f y
e f u l l t e y ’ v e a n d l e t t ers to th
send th ’t like it if th k best an
d se
w o n u r b o o
they ts yo
y o u t h ink sui one.
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d i t t o the one what you’ve
- Sen t elling t
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i t t o a nother. t h e m a friend d it’s
ed send , send s, an
I f i t is reject n t w o months n three month
- tha tha
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e publis happen e.
- If th asking what’s to someone els ally
letter o s e n d it i t m i g ht be re
y safe t ough
probabl l i s h e r s even th ntly patient.
s pub ost imp
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r
i t a t e o r haras a n d m i s m , r e w
’t irr calm ritic
- Don ing. Be polite, r a d v i ce and c
tempt the i
e p g o i n g! Take !
d ke gain
f y o u ’ r e rejecte try and try a
- I y,
ript. Tr
36 manusc
 write it!
Ever fancied seeing your book
CAN on the shelves? If you think

write?
you’ve got the story to make
it big, then we’ve got the tips
to help you get published.

ry agent: r
Hiring a litera S ea rc h th e Yellow Pages fo
your genre .
t w h o specialises in agent.
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s w h o ca n h el p you find an
ation
writers organis with the publis
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sa m e ru le s a s
er of in q u ir y following the p lo t. B e fr ie n dly, polite and
- Send a lett ce and th e n
br ie f su m m ary of experien re ss ed en v el op e so the agent ca
with a andadd
clude a stamped
professional. In
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a sk a li te ra ry agent for th fe e, th ey ’r e p robably shady
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em!
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There are writers w h a t th ey ’re doing, and th l!
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10 a n d 2 5 p er cent of what y
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er e a re a ls o a lot of companie l w h o y ou a gr ee a deal with
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 How t
‘Ghost
(But we d

Howzat! Dickie Bird’s

“ You must speak in

the authentic voice

”
autobiography, the best-selling
sports book of all time, was in
fact written for him by someone
else. But don’t worry this
of the subject
isn’t out of the ordinary, many
‘celebrities’ get someone to do
the donkey work for them. In this An autobiography is an account of a person’s life written by
case it was Keith Lodge, and here that person. So the ghost writer has, in effect, to become that
person. For the purposes of the book, I had to become Dickie
he tells ReadMe the ins and outs
Bird. Not an easy task, I can assure you.
of becoming a ‘ghost writer’.
It meant stepping into his shoes: understanding what made
him tick, empathising with his thoughts and feelings, being
aware of his hopes and dreams. I also had to take note of his
vocabulary, his phrasing of sentences, and the way he spoke.
It was a case of trying to get into his mind, so that what was
written was truly representative of him and would come
across as being straight from the author’s mouth. So I had to
be extremely careful not to lapse into using my own words or
style.

You may not have heard of Dickie Bird, but ask your dad,
uncle, and even your granddad and they will all know
who you’re talking about. He is the world’s most famous
cricket umpire and I had the task of writing his life story...
stressful? You bet! It is difficult enough writing a book of any
description. But what about when you are asked to write
an autobiography for someone else - to become a ghost-
writer? That is what happened to me, and I found it a daunting
prospect.
A ghost writer has nothing to do with Casper or eerie
happenings in the after-life - it’s a term used to describe
someone who is employed to write material for another
person, who is the named author.
“
I was well aware that quite often you would find an
unacknowledged and anonymous ghost-writer writing the
standard ‘me and the lads’ pages of the sportsman pretending
to be an author. And it does not work. It is obvious that it is
not the sportsman himself who has done the writing. And it
detracts a great deal from the publication.
It is far better when the ghost-writer is named and yet
the reader is still left thinking the words are those of the
sportsman, which is what I set out to achieve with Dickie’s
book.

38
 write it!

to be a
st Writer’
n C a s p e r , w e ’r e talking
e don’t mea
autobiographies!)

“
I can’t stress enough that the first essential This was the most difficult task of all. The book had lots of
in any autobiography is that you should description and sadly, Dickie’s range of adjectives is quite small.
speak as if you really are the sportsman
you are writing for.

This is what makes the art of the best

ghost writers so difficult and painstaking,
It was an example of
as well as time consuming.
It took me nine months of hard work to how difficult the work

”
of a ghost writer can be
complete the required number of words for the publishers and
that meant recording countless tapes building up the
account of Dickie’s life story - in which there was never a dull
moment! I believe it is always best for the ghost-writer to be
someone who the sportsman already knows, and I have to say I
found it extremely helpful that I had known him all my working There are only so many times you can describe places as
life. ‘tremendous’ and people as ‘lovely’. Therefore, I was forced to
use many of my own words and, as a result, it lost the genuine
I was also the ghost writer for two more of Dickie’s books - ‘Dickie’ flavour of the autobiography. It was a further example of
“White Cap and Bails” and “Dickie Bird’s Britain.” The first of how difficult the work of a ghost writer can be. But it can be very
these was a follow-up to the autobiography and had accounts rewarding. So, keep writing folks. And one day, you too may be a
of Dickie’s memories of events at the various grounds on which successful ‘Ghost writer’.
he had umpired. It proved more difficult than the autobiography
because most of the best stories had been told in the first book,
and some stories in the later book were told at second or third
hand. The result was that, although the book sold well, it was not
as satisfying for me, or for the reader. It was not quite authentic
Dickie Bird tale-telling - and it showed. Ewan

“
Mcgregor
starred

Empathise with in the

film ‘The
Ghost
his thoughts and Writer’

feelings, know his

hopes and dreams
39
If you’re fed up
waiting for the next issue of
ReadMe!

Che
all t ck ou
info he la t our
, au test w
thor boo ebsit
and inte k-re e for
ama rvie lated
zing ws,
writ revie
ing ws
tips
!

www.readme.com
 write it!

t o
h a t
W t e :
r i
w
let the dice decide!
Struggling to know what to write?
Find one from that old board game under the
bed, and roll your way to a fab short story.

How to play:

1) Roll the
dice once for Genre Hero Problem
each category
Setting Villain
2) Circle what
you get Best Time
Horror School Friend
Zombie
Travel
3) Start
writing

Action The A Spy Vampire

Magic
4) Send us
your finished
beach Powers
stories!
Head- Hero falls in
Fantasy China Granny teacher love with a
villain

Comedy Home Talking School Hero’s

friend is
Giraffe Bully murdered

Romance MI5 Shakespeare Terrorist

Someone
goes
HQ missing

Thriller Dark Wizard

Were- Terrorist plot
forest wolf is uncovered
Check out:
om
readme.c
www.readme.com
to submit your short
stories! 41
sphere May 2010

Poetry is fun, so
get some done!
Poetry is so boring
isn’t it? In fact
the funniest thing
about reading
poets’ work in
those dull blue
anthology books at
school was trying
to understand
what on earth they
were on about.
And let’s not
even get started
on Shakespeare…
zzzzz!
But poetry, according to award
winning author and poet Ian
“”
McMillan, CAN be made fun if
we all just use a little
imagination and a little music.
“Poetry can be so much fun,
honestly. And I know that might
sound like I’m mad but hey, I
am! Seriously though, we’re
surrounded by rhythm and
rhyme and we should enjoy
making up our own poems, we
all like song lyrics and poetry
is just the same. Make poems
about people you know and
their funny and daft habits and
tendencies. That is always
“”
a laugh. Don’t offend them
though, that could be
awkward!”
Poetry can be
so much fun,
honestly
Ian certainly knows what he’s
talking about. Like many of
us he always wanted to be a
writer but didn’t know how
or where to start. It was only
when he got a grant from a
local arts foundation that he
became a household name.
Now he goes into schools,
colleges and theatres talking
and teaching poetry and has
regular radio shows on most of
the BBC stations.
But he is the first to admit
that the way poetry is taught
in schools is probably the
reason for students dropping
to sleep in lessons. He believes
that there has to be more
emphasis on newer material
and the poems that are studied
shouldn’t be so ‘old school’.
Shakespeare
isn’t all that
bad!
He said: “I think it’s always
important to analyse and
discuss the work of poets from
the past such as Shakespeare
because that shapes what we
know about poetry today, it
helps us to work out what life
used to be like and our place
in the world. And besides
Shakespeare isn’t all that bad!
But I certainly think that there
should be more focus on the
pupils own work.
Poetry is about the creativity
and enjoyment of your own
work too.
write it!
“Poetry is about writing with You have to analyse
one another. I’d probably Shakespeare because let’s be
write a poem with a couple fair he was a bit of a genius,
of students and then get them and the teachers seem to love
to write their own using the everything he ever did, but
techniques that they’ve been don’t be put off by him.
shown. That way it’s involving
everyone.”
‘We’re surrounded
So next time by rhythm and rhyme and we
you’re
counting the
should enjoy making up our own
number of poems, we all like song lyrics and
stale bogies poetry is just the same’
on the English
room wall or
imagining a rocket
up the backside of your
teacher rather than sifting Poetry, according to Ian, is
through the pages of your about you and your
anthology and analysing imagination. So get writing
the ‘greatness’ of those poetry rather than just
writers, think about Ian and
what he says about
reading it, you never know you
might just enjoy it.
poetry.
Ian McMillan
43
 Each month you can send in your short
stories, and the best entries will be
printed here on the You Write It page.
We judge them and the winner will
receive £50 in book vouchers plus
advice and tips from a published
author.
New Y o r k
Y man’s eyes and he had found
Tears
Dominic, 16,
Carlisle
A blanket of grim clouds
hung over the sky, casting
a gloomy aura over the city
of Manhattan. The autumn
breeze seemed unusually
harsh on this particular day
but it went unnoticed by
people as they went about
their lives, except for one
person.
A young man sat hunched
on a park bench amidst the
chaos of the lively city. His
eyes were transfixed on
something that appeared to
be nonexistent, yet in his
mind was staring right back
at him.
An unusual, and often
frightening, observation made
by passersby was that his eyes
were a light yellow shade,
almost as if lightning was
captured in his pupils.
Their gasps of shock went
unnoticed by him, though, for
his focus remained diverted.
Tears were fresh in this young
44
r i
w
u
o
it futile to stain the sleeves of
his already-dirty coat even
more, so he allowed them roll
down his face.
The wind continued its
assault on the adolescent’s
face, painting his light skin a
faint red colour. The meagre
clothes he wore proved
useless in fending off the
biting cold. The ripped,
dirt-stained jeans, torn
white T-shirt with grime and
sweat marks, and tattered
brown jacket gave him the
appearance of a vagrant, but
none of this mattered to
him. A look of inner turmoil
crept onto his face as he
broke his gaze on the invisible
tormentor.
Why do I keep doing this to
myself? Why can’t I get over
it? They’ve been dead for
years. He thought to himself.
He felt like shouting at the
top of his lungs, but all he
managed to do was break
down in tears again.
Some great
description here
Dominic!
Buffy
Elizabeth, 14,
only be fair that she would
be put through the immortal
torture that he had to face
and would have to live with
for the rest of his perpetual
life.
Then Buffy saw it, just lying
on the floor. Before anyone
London could notice she picked up
the weapon and suddenly
Buffy Anne Summers glared
a screeching sound pierced
into the morbid eyes of her
through the dense room.
attacker. After all of the
The war had begun.
battles that she had faced and
took victory, none of them
ever caused the pain that she
was about to suffer.
The Slayer froze. Nothing This is very scary
in her power could stop this. Elizabeth, well done!
She knew that if she moved
all these people would perish,
massacred by the villain that
faced her.
e
i t
She could not risk that, but
B
The
was there any way to defeat
this beast if she did not move?
This battle would end either
way. These people would
either come out here alive or
all of them would die and she Samuel, 14,
would watch them screaming
in agony.
Gloucester
But if these people would
I hadn't thought that I wanted
die how could the girl cope
this, but when I saw him bite
with all this regret? Not being
her I couldn't let myself do
able to save the many people
nothing. Before I had been
that mattered to her the
three and helpless, but now I
most.
was older and stronger.
The predator smiled at the
I stood and looked at him.
girl, mocking her, curious to
He held her harshly, his
predict what the she would
mouth clamped onto her
do.
After all, that small girl was neck, his teeth ripping into
her flesh, blood oozing out of
able to defeat his family killing
her jagged skin into his open
them along the way. It would
 !
ri t e i t
mouth.
I ran at the two of them
and ripped her away from his
teeth. Blood dripped from his
mouth.
When I leaped on top of
him his face changed from
predator-like to startled. But
after that my strength seemed
to have left my body. Pulling
her away from him had taken
up all my strength.
I looked into his eyes; I
remembered the condition
he and his coven had made.
It took seconds for me to
realize what I had to do.
I scratched my nail across
my neck. My nail pierced
through my skin and blood
found it's way to the surface.
I saw the resistance in his
e
eyes, but I pressed his mouth
against my neck.
I felt my blood flow through
my body and into his mouth.
Nothing could have prepared
me, but I couldn't help but
think that when he bit into
me it was not the pain I saw
in my father or mother's eyes.
This was what I now craved,
they had not.
The life that he drank from
me I had given up freely.
A cracking vampire
tale, Samuel. We
can’t wait to read on!
Winner
s s i n
Assa
Chloe, 14,
Sheffield
His lips trembled against
mine. I could hear his heart
beat race and felt his chest
moving up and down on
mine. His hot breath brushed
my cheeks and then he pulled
away.
He took a couple of steps
back then pulled out a large
gun from out of the back of
his baggy dark blue jeans and
pointed the gun to my head.
His eyes were wide and blood
shot and his pupils were fully
dilated from the drugs.
“For God’s sake just shoot,”
I snarled.
This was all his fault. I tried
against the ropes that tied me
to the wooden chair I was
strapped to. The ropes dug
into my skin, rubbing it away.
I could smell my own blood.
“It’s not my fault, I don’t want
to do this,” he said, his eyes
watering.
“Just get it over with,” I
growled, my bare chest, apart
from my sports bra, rising up
and down rapidly.
A black man walked into
the metal cell and pulled out
another gun from his belt.
“Enough chit-chat. Either
you shoot her or I shoot, but
the bitch has to die,” he said,
aiming the gun at a more
private part of my body.
“You’re gunna move that
Email your short stories to
youwriteit@readme.com.
They must be 250 - 500 words
and remember to include your
name, age and address.
Good luck!
gun sunshine,” I warned.
“Or what?” He laughed
mechanically.
“Don’t,” Jim warned him, his
face now wet with tears.
Jim wiped his face with
his free hand, the other still
pointing a gun to my head.
“You two lovers ever do
it? Doubtful! You’ll still have
chance after I shoot her, she’d
probably have been stiff in
bed any how,” the black man
laughed.
Adrenaline shot through my
body. I broke the straps on
my feet and ripped the rope
off my hands.
I flew at the black man and
wrapped both my hands
around his gun, then bent it
back and slammed it into his
face. I quickly moved to his
left and stamped on his foot,
then moved to his right and
kicked him in the crotch.
I picked up the gun from
the floor and bashed it into
his head making sure he was
unconscious, then I turned to
Jim, my gun facing at his head.
“We still gunna do this?”
Jim asked, his true face
reappearing, his tears
gone and his natural
snarl back.
“The tears were too
much, my opinion,” I
said to him.
“I don’t get you. All of
Anthony Horowitz
write it!
you’re stupid double agent
macho-ness,” I spat at him.
“But I fooled them about
loving you. You do look good,
like that...” He said cocking
his gun towards me.
“I knew all your brain power
would be in your pants,” I
snarled.
“My agency is gunna be so
glad when you’re dead,” Jim
said.
“That’s the bad thing
about double agents,” I said,
“They’re always into the
monologuing.”
I fired my gun, the bullet
going into his head, his finger
didn’t even flinch on the
trigger.
“Eyes always have to be on
the prize,” I said kicking his
dead body aside.
“One assassin down, two
to go.”
Well done Chloe!
Your chilling story
has won you £50 in
book vouchers and
an exclusive
writing
workshop
with top
teen author
Anthony
Horowitz!
45
Available
from:
 write it!

10
TOP REVISION TIPS
3. Un
memo derstand h
d ry wo ow yo
1. Plan ahea rks ur
between now Informati
you’re going to do on
Sit down and plan wh
at few hour starts fading from
s. Revise y
and the exams. work for the same our memory afte
you and things at r
first. revision gradually regular in just a
u find most difficult into song e x te rv
s! Whate tend it - or just tu als that
Revise the areas yo ver work rn the
s for you
mary notes 4 .
. Don
2. Make sum than t ’t revise m
wo su o
Gather material and
reduce it into brief,
clear notes.
time bjects re
This will at a
help you
help you keep you
retain the r mind fr
informati esh and
on for lo will
nger.

5. Eat properly
Eat healthily and regularly. Your mind needs energy.
Even chocolate works, but not as well as a banana!

6. Choose your study

place
7. Make sure your study place is comfortable, well-lit,
La quiet and ensure there are no distractions.
Cu st
kee e card -m
p i
to s ng in and s in
u f p ut
you
r
m o
ma rmat st-it
r
o er
forg arm ise a ion to notes ev
et t s for nd, a a isi
o ta the if ne minim re gre on
ke b ed u at f
8. t u
hem s rid be,
e s tic
m . U or
se
off
Ke tho to the k the them
m
Ne ep u g h! e xam all
breaks
r . D over
you ves c c r
a a lm on’
r e g u l a
9. Take
bef t o n s t
ore make top yo
the sim ua to stop
exa ple bso f w ill ca u se your memory
m a mis rbin g yours el
nd ta g Over workin
don kes. inform ta l information.
’t o Go a t taking in vi
ver to b ion
stud ed and vousness.
y at early caus ca u se fr u st ration and ner
the th e This can also
last e nig
s
ce paper
min h t
ute
P r a c t i
.
10.
will help you
in at io n s o r past papers r.
exam are looking fo
Taking mock th e examiners
an d w h at
underst
ch night.
u tin e co m p leting one ea
a ro
Try to get into
47
 Pa i g e . . .
D e a r A untie Book characters find themselves in the worst
scrapes. ReadMe’s Auntie Paige gives our
favourite fictional heros and heroines the
advice they need to overcome their demons.

VE
BABY LO ALL ALONE

Dear Auntie, b im printed on

my Dear Auntie,
d ) Ja c o
nd (and ex
-boyfrien destined to
e two are to me
My best frie at birth, and now th e o ne so close
All my life I’ve dr
eamt of finding
u g h te r it h so m zombies. But no the ocean and es
baby da I cope w caping the
r. How can w I have, I’m al
on
be togethe ughter? family got left be e. All of my frien
my only da hind. I want to
go back for them
ds and
being with sure they ’re ok
ay. But it will be to make
here, but if I do very dangerous.
ht Saga n’t bother trying I’m safe
, The Twilig
Bella Swan ys... able to live with to get to them
aige sa
myself. What sh I won’t be
n t i e P ould I do?
Au Mary, The Forest of
Hands and Teeth

Dear Bella, en to their Auntie Paige s

f w h a t will happ ached ays...
a re n ts a re scare d o
rs , o n c e they ’ve re
Many p eir daugh te Dear Mary,
specially th that your
children, e e m b ra ce the fact ust. It’s
in a g e . Y o u shou ld
o u k n o w you can tr
a certa ne y out. Trust your instin
te r’ s su it o r is someo c h ild ’s p a rtner inside cts. It sounds as
though you can
daugh w your from them if they ’ve
at you kno opping you our own gotten you this rely on
not often th as a couple that’s st e of y prepare for the
worst though, M
fa r. I think you sh
ould
If it’s your
past
in d y o u for the sak ghter. you bargained fo ary. You may no
g th is , put it b e h
in e ss o f your dau r. t find what
accep ti n ha p p come
o f m in d , and for the e’s older for trying to
peace when sh SPY OUT
thank you CAST
She won’t ul mate.
e e n h e r and her so
betw Dear Auntie,,
T
DODGY PAS I know this
sou
dragged into nds crazy but a few m
th onths ago I
Dear Auntie,, crazy missio e world of MI6 and I’v got
ns to count! e been on
and what I back to sch Now I finally to o many
w ith m ys elf knowing who , ool. I want
to see my m have a chance to go
I’m struggling to
liv e e planet before long, I’m afr
a re tu rn er - I’ve been on th pe w ith aid I won’t
fit in anymo
ates but it’s
been so
used to be. I’m t co pulled apart
War Two. I can’ by my dou re. I feel lik
d I ki lle d pe op le during World ne be ca us e they ’ll ble life - wh e I’m being
an d I ca n’ t tell anyo at should I
do?!
knowing what I di d an because my Alex Rider, S
e. I kn ow I’m not imagining it torm Rider
think I’m strang lp!
d out. Please he
w ith me when I foun
fri en d w as Auntie P
aige say
Returners s...
Will Hodges, The Dear Alex,

e says...
Auntie Paig Oh Alex! A
ltho
scary, you’v ugh seeing your friend
e got to rem s again mig
Just because ember that ht be a bit
you’ve bee these are y
Dear Alex, mean you w n away for a o u r friends.
you now on’t still hav few month
at yo ur fri en d knows because probably w
orried they
e things in co
mmon. Th
s it doesn’t
th est speaking to
It’s a good thing to. I would sugg
you’ve bee
n liv
won’t live u
p to the ex
ey ’re
ne to ta lk ays better est mates ro ing! Why don’t you in citing lifesty
have so m eo
lly th ou gh , because it’s alw und to you vite a few o le
someone profes
sio na but if you
t. Yo u’ re no t a bad person, school start
s? You’ll be
r house for
a gaming se
f your clos-
to get it off your
ch es ways bet- ssion before
th es e aw fu l im ages then it is al common e
xperiences
less nervou
s and it’ll giv
of
have flashbacks to talk abou
t at school.
e you some
ta lk . G oo d luck.
ter to
48

By George! Orwell
really was good
We check out one of the 20th century’s most famous writers and find out
whether he really is worth all the fuss...
George Orwell. A daft He then put it in ‘modern’ English:
old bat and a politically He is probably best known for his
obsessed fellow whose novels Nineteen Eighty Four and Animal
writings are like Farm, but his views on the accuracy and
Marmite, you either
you love or you hate
them. But go beneath
the surface of his
ramblings and
you see that he
is a great role
model for all of
us.
Do you bang your head on the desk or
tut in disgust if a teacher mentions his
“His advice on writing, any
type of writing, is both
refreshing and as clear cut as you will
ever need it to be.”
name? Or do you cartwheel around the
room after listening to his literary genius?
Ok, I know it’s probably not the latter
but I can absolutely guarantee that if you
study english language or literature, be it at
school, college or university, you will come
across him and his work time and time
again. So you’re just going to have to get
used to it I’m afraid.
Wazurk
Regardless of what you think of George,
and there were times when he sounded
like a bit of a wazurk when he wrote
about politics and other shizzle like that,
his common sense approach to the English
language, led him to be described as the
20th century’s best chronicler of English
culture. Don’t get me wrong, there are a
lot of people who still aren’t overly keen
on his work, but he is far more respected
now, in academic circles at least, than he
ever was when he was alive. He died over
half a century ago aged forty six.
sustainability of the English language are
of way more benefit to up and coming
writers and authors like you than anyone
else of his generation - and now! He was
a true writer with a real grasp of our great
language. So if you want to be successful,
pin back your lugholes!
His advice on writing, any type of writing, is
both refreshing, and as clear cut as you will
ever need it to be.
He said:
1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or
other figure of speech which you are
used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short
one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out,
always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can
use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific
word or a jargon word if you can think of
an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than
say anything outright barbarous (silly!)
Simples! Well you would think so. But
Orwell decided to translate a passage of
good English into modern English to show
how bad our language had gotten. (Oh,
and just a word of warning, if you prefer
the second passage to the first, then you
probably shouldn’t continue to read this
article!)
Ecclesiastes
The passage from Ecclesiastes reads: ‘I
returned and saw under the sun, that the
race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor
yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet
favour to men of skill; but time and chance
happeneth to them all.’
say it!
“There were times
when he sounded like a
bit of a Wazurk”
‘Objective considerations of contemporary
phenomena compel the conclusion that
success or failure in competitive activities
exhibits no tendency to be commensurate
with innate capacity, but that a considerable
element of the unpredictable must
invariably be taken into account.’
What on earth is all that about?! It doesn’t
even come close to making sense!
Orwell knew that it was the second kind
of sentence that was gaining ground in the
modern English of his day and he warned
that it was in danger of becoming universal.
He just wanted things simple, what’s wrong
with that? We all do. Just because some
people use big over-the-top words doesn’t
mean they have a clue what they’re
jabbering on about. It’s the structure and
the passion that goes into the writing that is
important. Simple is always better.
Well, that’s not bad advice for a man
that died sixty years ago. Could you,
in all honesty, argue that he didn’t have
a point? Just look around us. In books,
magazines and on television we are
stifled with words and phrases which
when you look at them closely are just a
load of rubbish really.
So, on behalf of all of us, we apologise
Mr Orwell and we will never think of
you as a daft old bat again. Quite the
opposite in fact.
Check out:
o m
readme.c
www.readme.com
for more info
on classic authors
49

f u t u r e
T h e ?
b o o k s
of The iPad is making a big splash,
but will technology enhance your
Yes!
reading experience?
Andre Nunn
As a huge fan of gadgets and gizmos, an e-book couldn’t be
more exciting.
It not only means you can read a book whenever and wherever
you are, it means you can carry hundreds of them around in
your pocket! Depending on how much cash you have to splash,
the amount of books it holds could be almost unlimited. You
could carry your entire bookshelf around with you!
If you’re on a long journey and you’re fed up of listening to your
Dad’s Status Quo or staring blankly out of the window, you
have hundreds or thousands of adventures at your fingertips.
It means if you get bored with ‘The Lord of the Rings’, you can
simply press a few buttons and you’ve got ‘The Diary of Adrian
Mole’ at the touch of your fingers. If you’re bored of Rowling,
you can try some Pullman.
And when the whole world’s attentions are focused on carbon
footprints, e-books are a more eco-friendly way to catch up on
what’s happening with your favourite characters without causing
too much damage to the planet. And all for the price of one
Christmas present!
Something can be said for the feel of a good old-fashioned book
between your fingers, but even more can be said for the book
which just keeps going.
50
say it!
No!
Katy Hallam
Ok, so I’ll hold my hands up. I’m addicted to Facebook and I’ve
spent so long on MSN messenger that smiley’s have practically
replaced my mate’s faces. But there is absolutely no way that
gadgets and technical wizardry can add anything to the pleasure
you get from curling up with a really good book.
For a start, it’s just not good for your health. Think of all the blurred
vision and headaches (ouch!) you’ll get reading an entire novel off
a computer screen. If you’re a reader that devours books quicker
than a tube of Pringles, then the paper version is the only way to
go. And they’ll last forever (if your little sister doesn’t get hold of
them!)
It’s not that easy on our wallets either. At a massive £429 for
the cheapest version, the iPad is hardly pocket money. But local
libraries are completely free and have fantastic teen sections
crammed with all the big names (from Stephanie Meyer to
Anthony Horowitz!)
And at that price you won’t want to carry it everywhere. Books
are the perfect companions on a bus ride or a trip to the beach -
and they don’t need to be plugged in! Just imagine getting half way
through a new book when the power supply runs out? Or you
have a power cut at home and can‘t finish it for hours? (Eek!)
There’s just no way that the bright and beautiful books that cheer
up our rooms should ever be reduced to a screen. Long live the
paper novel!
Be whatever
you want to be.

www.hud.ac.uk
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