#UsborneYA

[maggiehaha]

A very THEATRICAL blog tour

[Scene]

 Darkness at first. As the lights slowly come up, we see the stage is empty. No set, no backdrops, just the bare boards of the stage and the black-painted back wall of the theatre – even the closed loading dock doors.

The lights soften as MAGGIE appears: first peering around the side of the stage, then taking a tentative step into the light.

 Maggie: Hello.

She pauses, frowns, then waves and walks towards the middle of the stage. 

Maggie (cont): Can you hear me okay? They asked if I wanted a microphone, but I have really bad microphone juju and I break them. Not on purpose. It just happens. (a beat) So. This is nice, right? Welcome to the Earl’s Theatre. I don’t know if you’ve been here before, but I’ve spent a lot of time here. A lot. (nodding) Looooots of time.

 Offstage, a crashing sound. Something heavy being dropped.

 Voice 1: (off) Sorry!

 Maggie ignores it, walks to the front apron of the stage.

 Maggie: I’m going to sit down. (Sits, feet dangling over the edge of the stage.)

 She looks out into the auditorium.

 Maggie: Here’s the thing. I love theatre. I always have. And I don’t just mean (makes air quotes) “THEATRE”, I mean… (patting the stage either side of her) actual theatres. I love the buildings, and I love what happens in them. I love the stories that come with them, and the people who make those stories come to life.

 Offstage, another crash.

 Voice 2: (off) Sorry!

 Maggie: Mmm. Where was I? (beat) Yes. Theatres. The thing I love most of all about theatres is that they can be anything. Be anywhere. Theatre has the power to transport us. To take us into other people’s worlds, other people’s lives. Theatre can carry us off across oceans –

 She snaps her fingers; waits. Nothing happens. She tries again.

 A backcloth drops from above, hiding the back of the stage: the deck of an old-fashioned ocean liner. The sound of waves. A seagull cry. A sudden blast on a ship’s horn. The smell of the sea.

 Maggie: (cont) or they can whisk us away to fantasy lands.

 She snaps her fingers again. Another backcloth drops, this time the walls of a castle. The distant sound of hooves thundering across grass, lances clashing, cheers. The smell of flowers and crushed grass.

 A KNIGHT in full armour strolls across the stage, his helmet under his arm, whistling.

 Voice 1: (off) No whistling in the theatre! It’s bad luck.

 The Knight pauses, shakes his head, then strides off again in the direction of the voice.

 Maggie: (cont) Newspaper offices, schools, factories, palaces – even the past… the theatre can take you anywhere you want to go.

 With each place she mentions, she snaps her fingers and a new backcloth showing that location drops until she reaches ‘the past’, which is just the castle again.

 Maggie: (side-eyeing the castle) Really?

 The castle is replaced with a new backdrop showing a large clock.

 Maggie: Fair enough. (beat) And at the end of the show, when the lights come up, they bring you right back here. You don’t even have to leave your seat.

 All backdrops rise back up out of sight, leaving the stage bare again.

 Maggie: (standing) Just like the theatre, we’d like to take you on a tour – and you won’t have to leave your seat for this one either. To celebrate the UK and Ireland publication of Theatrical…

 A two-metre high copy of Theatrical is wheeled on from the wings. It is, of course, gorgeous.

 Maggie: (with a flourish) Taa-daa! (beat) To celebrate the publication of Theatrical, Usborne and I would like to invite you on our very special, 30 day blog tour. Over the next month, we will be dropping in on our lovely host bloggers to share the theatre love. We’ll be talking about what makes theatre special to us, favourite shows, favourite actors, favourite theatre moments and experiences… and we’d like you to join in too.

 (Gesturing to the auditorium)

 Maggie: (cont) Has a show carried you away somewhere memorable? Is there a theatrical world you wish you could live in?

 (A burst of the Harry Potter & the Cursed Child music plays in the background. Maggie looks startled.)

 Maggie: (mumbling) I just really want one of the swooshy cloaks, okay?

 (The music stops)

 Maggie: (cont) But perhaps the most important thing about theatre is that it’s for everyone. If you’ve seen an amazing show, or you’re thinking of going to see something, we want to hear about it. Share your favourite #Theatrical moments with us - even better, tag the theatres; the actors, directors, writers and crew too. It takes passion, talent and a lot of hard work to put on a production: let them – and us – know you loved their work.

 (She moves to the front of the stage)

 We want to make this a celebration of theatre and the people who make it - just like the book - so if you see something and you love it, make some noise about it and we can keep the conversation going.

 (The lights begin to fade, slowly)

 Maggie: (cont) I’m so excited to hear your stories, and share a few more of my own along the way. So whatever you’re seeing, wherever you’re going… whether you’re a theatre-going veteran or it’s your first visit – stay tuned… (getting louder) and let’s make this the most Theatrical month ever.

(She ends by throwing her arms out.)

 (A beat.)

 Maggie: (stage whisper) Guys? The lights?

 Voice 1: Sorry!

Voice 2: Sorry!

 (Blackout)

[usborneyashelfies]

OMG OMG OMG. IT'S FINALLY HERE! COME MEET KIM CURRAN AND SLAY YOUR DEMONS - IN THE ACTIVITY AREA NOW, FOLLOWED BY SIGNINGS AT THE USBORNE STAND.

[allthingsgene]

Day 2 of #BGPHJulyChallenge2018 💕 “Currently Reading” . My current read is an ARC of Are We All Lemming & Snowflakes by @hollybourneya 🤗💕 Thank you @usborneya for the simple yet pretty copy of the book in exchange of an honest review! . What’s your current read? 😊 . #book #books #booksph #filipinobooklovers #bookworm #bookwormph #bookish #book #bookishfeatures #booksofinstagram #instabooks #ilovebooks #bookstagramfeature #mybooksfeatures #igreads #BookstagramersPH #usborne #holly ourne #usborneya

[lettersvanlia]

The Extinction Trials - S.M. Wilson

In Stormchaser and Lincoln’s ruined world, the only way to survive is to risk everything. To face a contest more dangerous than anyone can imagine. And they will do anything to win. But in a land full of monsters – human and reptilian – they can’t afford to trust anyone. Perhaps not even each other…

 Het boek speelt in de dystopische samenleving Earthasia, in de stad Ambulus City (de dystopie is dan wel weer een overeenkomst met The Hunger Games, maar welk succesvol YA boek gaat er niet over ondertussen), waar de inwoners geen enkele invloed hebben op het beleid van de regering. Al snel wordt duidelijk dat mensen eigenlijk bovenop elkaar leven, en er meer ruimte nodig is. Daarom wordt er elk jaar een soort proef georganiseerd naar een land waar de, zullen we zeggen, wat minder vredelievende variant van de dino’s leven, Piloria. De kandidaten moeten voor vertrek een aantal zware proeven afleggen om uitverkoren te worden. Het doel is om eieren van de dino’s mee terug te nemen naar Earthasia, zodat uitgezocht kan worden hoe de dieren uitgeroeid kunnen worden en er mensen kunnen wonen in Piloria.

 De hoofpersoon is Stormchaser (of Storm in het kort), haar moeder is een tijd terug overleden, maar ze heeft geen idee wie haar vader is. Ze zwemt vaak in een soort verborgen vallei waar vaak ook een plesiosaurus komt (vriendelijke, niet vleesetende variant). Dit is best wel een cool stukje vind ik, zeker omdat al snel blijkt hoe de samenleving tegenover dino’s staat (niet al te vriendelijk, uiteraard).

 Stormchasers beste vriend is Dell en samen besluiten ze om mee te doen aan de proeven. De belofte van voedsel is behoorlijk verleidelijk voor beiden. En dan is daar ook nog Lincoln. En oh hulde, het is niet de gebruikelijke liefdesdriehoek die in veel van de YA boeken naar voren komt (Peeta/Katniss/Gale in The Hunger Games, of Celaena/Chaol/Dorian in Throne of Glass). Ik moet zeggen dat ik dat ook weleens verfrissend vind, al is een beetje romantiek natuurlijk niet weg (zegt een fan van Feyre…). Tuurlijk, je vraagt je het hele boek af of het nou wat gaat worden tussen deze twee, maar het is niet het grootste thema van het boek naar mijn mening.

 Al gauw in het boek krijgt de hoofdpersoon argwaan wat de motieven van de regering betreft, en of het nou echt zo noodzakelijk is om de dinosauriërs allemaal met wortel en tak uit te roeien als voorgesteld wordt. Ook de vertegenwoordigers van de regering blijken niet te zijn wat je denkt.

Als ze eenmaal in Piloria zijn, gaat het tempo helemaal stevig omhoog. De gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar in razend tempo op, met hier en daar verbazingwekkende ontknopingen. Maar ja, kunnen ze elkaar, en andere partijen in dit boek, wel vertrouwen? Wat zijn de motieven en durven ze die elkaar toe te vertrouwen? Of ze uiteindelijk terugkeren naar Earthasia laat ik in het midden, maar ik moet zeggen dat de uitkomst me wel verbaasde.

 Overigens, er staat regelmatig op de cover van een Young Adult boek, met zo’n prachtige sticker, dat het boek perfect voor ‘liefhebbers’ van The Hunger Games is. 9 van de 10 keer ben ik dan juist extra kritisch en leg ik het boek dan ook eerder weg, zo van ‘zal wel weer niks zijn’ (waardoor die sticker dus juist géén aanbeveling is). Sowieso omdat het eigenlijk zelden klopt en daardoor inmiddels al niet meer geloofwaardig is.

Voor dit boek is de vergelijking enerzijds terecht, omdat het best wel vernieuwend is, maar tegelijkertijd is het ook weer heel wat anders dan The Hunger Games. Ja, toegegeven de proeven in het boek lijken enigzins die van The Hunger Games, maar hebben ook een ander doel. Een ander voorbeeld van een verschil tussen beide boeken is bijvoorbeeld de nadruk die in de Capitol ligt op hoe mooi alles is, of beter gezegd: hoe mooi alles LIJKT, terwijl in Earthasia de ellende er wel aardig dik op ligt.

Overigens is dit boek uitgegeven bij Usborneya, niet een enorme uitgeverij, dus ik heb er nog geen Nederlandse vertaling van kunnen vinden...

 SHOUT OUT to the one and only Monica, die me dit boek (zeer terecht) heeft aangeraden. Ik had het namelijk in een middag uit!

[lunaslittlelibrary]

The Pieces of Ourselves by @maggieharcourt #ThePiecesofOurselves 🧩 • Out 2nd April 2020 Published by @usborneya @usborne @usborne_books "Flora doesn't do people", not since the Incident that led to her leaving school midway through her GCSEs. The Incident that led to her being diagnosed with bipolar II. The Incident that left her in pieces. Until Hal arrives. He's researching a story about a missing World War I soldier, and he wants Flora's help. Flora used to love history before the Incident, but spending so much time with Hal is her worst nightmare. Yet as they begin to piece together the life of the missing soldier, a life of lost love, secrets and lies, Flora finds a piece of herself falling for Hal." #yafiction #contemporary #bookpost #booksofinstagram #books📚 #freebie #ukauthor #ukya #bookblogger — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2PcOUbd

[bookishaddict-blog]

November @bookboxclub unboxing: . Swipe for spoilers. . The theme was Haunted Minds, and it included a gorgeous book and some pretty neat items. . 🔹 The Memory Trees by Kali Wallace . 🔹 Raven Cycle inspired tea towel . 🔹 Calm Coloring book . 🔹 A cute tiny Heathcliff candle . 🔹 Delicious scented Finch and Violet Bath Salts . 🔹 Extras: exclusive samplers from @usborneya . I am SO looking forward to book club for this one. . If you'd like to try out this box on your own, you can use MAJA17 for a discount 😉 Full disclosure: for every sixth person who signs up with my code, I'll get a free box. . #Bookstagram #books #yabooks #bookboxclub #bookworm #bookblog #bookishaddict #readersofinstagram #read #bookstagramfeature #yalit #youngadultbooks #bookdragon #bookreviewer #bookphotography #yareads #bookbox

[last-page-books-blog]

#bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksgram #bookstagram #book #read  #monthlychallenge #novemberbookchallenge #november #bibliophile #yabookstagram #yalit #yafiction #yaauthors #yabooks #ukya #theplacesivecriedinpublic #hollybourne #tbr #waterstones #sprayededges #usborneya #yacontemporary @hollybourneya @usborneya https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xFZUrgNYj/?igshid=1vg8nvq1dl2e2

[zoejameswilliams]

#theplacesIcriedinpublic @hollybourne @usborne_books @usborneya a razor sharp and timely novel exploring what love is and what love isn't. . ..#bookblogger #bookstagram #bookstagramfeature #coverkidsbooks #instabook #ireadya #teenlit #kidslit #teenbooks #teenread #newbook #yalit #bookblogger #bookstagram #yabooks #bookstagramfeature #coverkidsbooks #instabook #ireadya #teenlit #kidslit #teenbooks #newbook #newfictions #newfiction https://www.instagram.com/p/B29XabqA-Mk/?igshid=7wyhrn3mkqly

[nickelbooks]

Usborne Ombre #independentbookshop #loveyourlocalindie #sendmybook #instock @annemarieconwayauthor @peter_bunzl @isthispbosch @sophieandersonauthor @janelawes @naturallystephperkins @hollybourneya @usborne_books @usborneya #linniingemundsen #chrisould @meryl.halls @book_tokens @booksaremybag (at Sittingbourne) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXbP50n5OX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13kbaf6rbni4x

[maggiehaha]

Introducing... THEATRICAL

I spent a lot of time travelling last week while I was on tour, so I managed to more or less miss the announcement of my new book (mostly because I was stranded on a station platform in Cheltenham in the middle of Storm Doris, with no trains going in or out. For over three hours. ANYWAY...) so now seems as good a time as any to tell you a bit more about it. There is a proper press release on the Bookseller site, but for those who can’t access it, here’s the general gist.

THEATRICAL, to be a 2018 paperback original, follows 17-year-old Hope Parker who has always dreamed about a career in the theatre - not on the stage, but behind it as part of the crew. So when the opportunity to be part of the stage management team on a production at her local theatre comes up, she jumps at it. But confronted with a badly-behaved Hollywood star as their lead, a director who can’t get along with anyone, fans camped out at the stage door and an usher she can’t get out of her head, it looks like this time the real drama will be happening backstage.

I’ve loved theatre ever since I can remember - and while watching a production is always a special (sometimes provocative, sometimes challenging) experience, as theatre should be - it’s the world backstage that particularly fascinates me. And it is a world; a community, a living, breathing entity. 

Every theatre is an iceberg, and for everything and everyone we see on the stage, there are a dozen more people and a thousand things we don't and never should. That’s the point... and that’s exactly why I wanted to write a book set there.

THEATRICAL turns the spotlight on this part of the theatre world: the part Hope has always dreamed of belonging to. Stage management, design, make-up, lighting, wardrobe, technicians, rehearsal, set build... they’re all there. Mind you, Hope’s expecting the learning curve to be steep but she wasn’t prepared for this - especially not when she keeps bumping into Luke, one of the theatre’s front of house staff.

And because it wouldn’t be a production without a lead actor, there’s Tommy K: a walking, talking ego fresh from Hollywood and making his stage debut. He’s a star... and boy, does he know it.

I am so excited about Hope’s story and her world, and can’t wait to introduce you to her, to Luke and Tommy, George and Priya and all the other members of their theatre company. And I’m thrilled that I get to tell the story with the wonderful team at Usborne, who have come to feel like family. I can’t imagine a warmer, more generous or more perfect home for Hope than at Usborne.

So here’s to the people behind the scenes; behind the curtains.

Let’s get on with the show...

[usborneyashelfies]

“The costumes are how we reveal ourselves to each other." A brilliant, insightful, funny and all in all hugely fitting tribute to cosplay from Adam Savage. We can’t recommend watching highly enough!

[amillion-books]

Here's a #shelfie with one of my FAVOURITE reads of the year - #Unconventional by @maggieharcourt that the lovely folks over at @usborneya sent me! This is the PERFECT BOOK for ALL FANGIRLS/ Convention loving people AND Readers and you should GET IT NOW. QOTD: Fav 2017 read?

[allthingsgene]

Current read: BEING MISS NOBODY by Tamsin Winter 💕 Thank you so much @usborneya for the review copy! 😘😘 🌷 Anyway, I'm currently taking over @designsbytheia 's account, please do give her account & shop a visit. I swear, her items are LOVELY! ❤️ CHECK OUT MY LATEST POST THERE!! 🌷 QOTD: Aside from reading, what do love doing? 🌷 #book #books #booksph #filipinobooklovers #bookworm #bookwormph #bookish #booklover #booklr #booklion #bioknerd #bookwhore #bookaholic #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #blogger #bookreviewer #bookreview #yalit #yalit #epicreads #daniellejensen #hiddenhuntress #stolensongbird #bookstagramfeatures

[yourtheonewhosealwaysonmymind]

Book 20 of 2018. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Terror. Wonder. Survival. Welcome to The Continent of monsters ...✨ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #exile #theextinctiontrialsexile #theextinctiontrials #SMWilson #thehungergames #jurassicpark #dinosaurs #books #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #nowreading #bookclub #bookworm #goodreads #instabooks #bookchallenge #ontheshelf #YA #readingchallenge #bookshelf #contemporary #youngadult #fantasy #dystopia #sciencefiction #usbourne @usborneya #bookreview

[fayereadsblog]

My Thoughts On... Slay by Kim Curran

My Thoughts On... Slay by Kim Curran @usborneYA @kimecurran

My Thoughts on… Slay by Kim Curran Meet SLAY – SLAY do two things and they do them well: they play killer music and they slay killer demons.

When Milly, the lonely daughter of a world-famous opera singer, arrives home to discover that her mum has been taken over by something very evil, she finds herself in mortal danger. But the last people she expects to rescue her are the hottest boy band on…

[lunaslittlelibrary]

The Pieces of Ourselves by @maggieharcourt #ThePiecesofOurselves 🧩 • Out 2nd April 2020 Published by @usborneya @usborne @usborne_books "Flora doesn't do people", not since the Incident that led to her leaving school midway through her GCSEs. The Incident that led to her being diagnosed with bipolar II. The Incident that left her in pieces. Until Hal arrives. He's researching a story about a missing World War I soldier, and he wants Flora's help. Flora used to love history before the Incident, but spending so much time with Hal is her worst nightmare. Yet as they begin to piece together the life of the missing soldier, a life of lost love, secrets and lies, Flora finds a piece of herself falling for Hal." #yafiction #contemporary #bookpost #booksofinstagram #books📚 #freebie #ukauthor #ukya #bookblogger https://ift.tt/2PfnH7P