* Kim Harrington is running a very cool contest to say “thanks” to those of you who pre-order her upcoming novel, Clarity. Everyone who pre-orders gets a spiffy swag pack, and gets entered into a drawing for a VERY cool mega thank you prize. (Plus, stay tuned in a few weeks for our week-long feature with Kim & Clarity!)
* The lovely Nina Malkin has revealed the cover to Swear, her upcoming sequel to Swoon. If you recall, we had a great feature with Nina last summer, and ran a contest to become a character in Swear. So when the book comes out, one of the characters is actually based on some Novel Novice visitors! So cool, right?!?! I absolutely loved Swoon (which, for any parents reading this, is really better suited for older YA readers due to some content) and I can’t wait to read Swear. Isn’t that cover FAB?!
A promise broken. A bond betrayed. Itās been six months since ghost-turned-golem Sinclair Youngblood Powers confessed his love, stole Dice’s heart, and disappeared from Swoon, perhaps from existence. Despite the hurt, Dice has been moving steadily toward… ordinary. Dreams of Sin still plague and pleasure her sleep, and the mark of Sin’s love remains on her skin, still sore. But Dice has been throwing herself into music, finding solace in song and sometimes even in the arms of her band mate, Tosh. Life seems almostā¦normal. The last thing Dice wants is to mess with anything remotely supernatural. But when her best friendās boyfriend goes missing, Dice has no choice but to become very much involved. She knows that his disappearance was no accident, and it somehow has everything to do with Sin. Because Dice can feel it: Sin is back. And the promises and deceptions he left in his wake have returned to haunt him. What do you do when an oath of devotion threatens to destroy the one you love? ninamalkin.com Coming in September 2011
* Warner Brothers announced this last week that British actor Henry Cavill has been cast as Clark Kent/Superman in the new Superman reboot being produced by Christopher Nolan and directed by Zack Snyder.
I can’t tell you how much I love this news. Cavill was excellent in the Showtime series The Tudors, and Superman has always been my favorite of the comic book superheroes. Also, little known fact … Cavill was once, a long long time ago, Stephenie Meyer’s fantasy casting pick to play Edward Cullen.
* Mark your calendars, Muggles, for April 15th! That’s when Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 comes out on bluray & DVD. Besides the movie, it will include special features, such as behind-the-scenes footage and sneak peeks at Part 2! (Plus, this gives us Potterheads plenty of time to rewatch Part 1 over and over, before seeing Part 2 in theaters this July.)
* It’s not YA, but Stephen King’s The Stand is probably one of modern literature’s best works. It’s really a brilliant novel, and I first read it when I was 16. So, there you go, teens. Don’t be intimidated by its 1000+ pages. (Ditto goes for King’s newer novel, Under the Dome, which rivals The Stand as his best work ever).
Well, Warner Bros. announced this week that they are working on a movie adaptation of The Stand — and I couldn’t be more excited, though also cautious. I’m thrilled at the idea of The Stand getting the big screen, big budget treatment. But it’s a lot of book to condense into a single film. King himself said it would make a better movie trilogy, broken into parts. He may be right, but that’s also why the book was previously adapted into a TV miniseries. (Which is great, by the way. Probably one of Gary Sinise’s best roles, ever.)
* Cassandra Clare, who is probably one of the most fan-friendly authors I’ve ever encountered, distracted her followers from City of Bones movie rumors last weekend with a few quotes from the upcoming Clockwork Prince:
Jem from earlier today: “But you are much prettier,” Jem said.
Will: “Tess,ā he said, and she thought, once again, how no one but him ever called her that. āThat is all I think about.”
Tessa: āJem!ā she cried again, and when he did not look up, she strode across the room, and wrenched the bow out of his hand. āJem, stop!”
And lastly: “I would die for you, you know that.” – unattributed. Clockwork Prince. There, distracted I hope!
See more on Mundie Moms.
* The Frankenstein story is getting a makeover, both YA book style and movie adaptation style. This summer, Simon & Schuster is publishing This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel — a YA book about Victor Frankenstein and his twin brother Konrad. It’s sort of the backstory to Dr. Frankenstein.
Besides getting the YA treatment, Summit Entertainment has also optioned the movie rights.
Novel Novice 
the cover of swear is really pretty! I can’t wait to have a HP marathon!
I hadn’t heard that The Stand was in line to become a movie. Like you, I think it’s one of King’s best, although I wouldn’t suggest any King-newbies start with that title, it IS a little daunting. It is a fantastic piece, though. And I love the miniseries–I still catch it on Scy-Fy every now and then. Also agree with you about Gary Sinise–he is a wonderful actor. So basically I’m wondering why “they” would want to redo something that’s already been done (for TV< but still), and done so well? Surely there are other SK books that could be done…like Under the Dome.