MICHAEL GRANT - NEW TRANSMEDIA EXPERIENCE + Q&A

Nexus Humanus

Right, so for those of you who don't know, Michael Grant, bestselling author of the Gone series (which I loved), Is releasing a brand new book this winter. Also it's going to be a part of a Transmedia experience. Right, now you're probably wondering what a Transmedia experience is. Well it's basically where a story is interactively narrative and told through a wide range of media such as written word, video, puzzles and more. Most of these are based around websites, and lucky for you, Michael Grant's Transmedia websites for his new book are already up and running! So the first site is societytwins.com which a sort of blog layout site, about two twin sisters and a missing brother. And the second site, which I urge you to sign up to is nexushumanus.com. This is a interesting site, and really leaved you hanging on what Michael's next book will be, so Sign Up! Because the more people that do, the more that will be released, apart from the Title abbreviation which is "BZRK". You're wondering, is BZRK a book or interactive story... Both! Let me guess? You so want to know what it's about now! Well never fear because I have an exclusive piece of info about the story:

The society twins and their missing brother

The missing son of a U.N. diplomat... the reemergence of a strange organization... a pair of society twins caught in the middle... this is just the beginning of "Go BZRK," a new transmedia experience from author Michael Grant.

If you're ready to take the plunge in an interactive story like you've never experienced before, visit societytwins.com and register with nexushumanus.com to take your first steps in a strange and compelling universe.

Filled with video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more, "Go BZRK" put YOU the player right in the middle of the action as you join Nexus Humanus and unravel a mystery that may hold the key to the fate of all mankind.

So how cool does that sound! So what are you waiting for! Go sign up to: nexushumanus.com. Unlock the secrets within and enjoy the Experience. And finally some of Michael's fans may already be familiar with Transmedia from a Transmedia experience from the Gone Series. So if  did or didn't know about the Gone Transmedia it a diary of Sinder, a character your introduced to early in Lies, and here story and the first entry is here: http://www.thefayz.com/archives/8

Q&A with MICHAEL GRANT

What is “Go BZRK”? Is this a book or some kind of interactive story?

Both. The book comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now.  One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package.

Why “transmedia”?

There are different approaches to transmedia.  Most people take a single story and reproduce it on various platforms.  My philosophy has been to make each element - ARG, app, web, book - a thing unto itself, each revealing some aspect of the world of BZRK.  I've been fascinated with this is as a new way to tell stories.  The book remains central, but now I can reach beyond the book and create a much more complete world.  I can tell stories that enhance the book, and stories that parallel the book, and stories that are offshoots of backstory.  I guess the answer to "why" is "because it's fun."

Is this the future of publishing?

I began a few years ago reaching out to publishers and saying we collectively needed to understand that the old models were dead or dying.  I want publishing to survive, and of course I'd like my own career to thrive.  So Egmont Publishing and my partners and I certainly hope this is a part of the future of publishing. 

How long is this running? Is this part of a larger picture?

We'll be running this in several chunks between now and the book release this winter. Because these things have a hard start/stop point, August is a ramp-up phase. There'll be a lot of content coming out, but the experience really gets underway at the end of the month… just in time to distract the kids from their schoolwork.

What if someone wants to follow the story but doesn’t want to participate?

You don't have to do anything.  You can do one thing and not another.  But the deeper you plunge the wetter you get.  I think every part of this is fun, I think people will enjoy the ARG, the app, the site and the books. 

App? You've mentioned that a couple times now.

Just wait and see.

What can you tell us about the story? What is “BZRK”?

It's a battle for the soul and freedom of the human race carried out simultaneously in the world we know, and in a world that you're not going to expect. It's a world where if you make a false move, you're going to lose your mind.

Insanity… is this something you have a personal familiarity with?

The line between writer and crazy person is very thin.  Both go around holding long, involved conversations with people who aren't there.

What’s this other world thing all about?

Do you really want spoilers? I'll tell you this. We'll be going "down in the meat." It's going to be vast, bloody, and beautiful.

Wait… isn’t this supposed to be for kids?

Adults like to flatter themselves that kids won't get, won't understand, won't be able to handle, more intense, more complex stories. That's nonsense.  It's the adults who are easy to creep out or scare.  Say the word "biopsy" in a room full of adults. Or "audit."  See?  Easy to scare.  Kids are a tougher audience because kids think they're immortal. 

HERE LIES BRIDGET - PAIGE HARBISON - REVIEW

Book: Here Lies Bridget
Author: Paige Haribson
Publisher: Mira Ink
ISBN: 9780778304999
Rating: B


"They say that before you die your life flashes before your eyes. You think it's going to be the good stuff - every kiss, every party. Don't count on it. I was Bridget Duke - the uncontested ruler of the school. If keeping the wannabes in their place meant being a mean girl, then so be it! I never thought there'd be a price to pay. Until the accident. Now, trapped between life and death, I'm seeing my world in a new light: through the eyes of five people whose existence I've made hell. And I've got one chance to make things right. If I don't, I may never wake up again..."

I have to admit this was a good book. From the moment I read the blurb I was drawn in and it didn’t let me down. It’s a very different novel but a better word would be Unique. I mean I did like it, and it slots into the same genre as Before I Fall and If I Stay.

The plot follows Bridget Dukes and she is the most popular girl at school. She is and will stay at the top of the triangle even if that means being the mean girl as well. Basically another girl comes along and she feels threatened and she has a car accident and she gets stuck in Limbo where she has to spend time in the life and mind of five people’s lives she made a misery. It’s a very light plot for something relatively deep. It focuses in on the sort of things that matter to teens and the sort of issues they can have because as well as being worried about popularity the book also focuses on self consciousness about the way people look, bulimia and anorexia and hints on bullying.

The plot was relatively good but I did feel that was slight too much repetition in it, but who cares about that. The point is that I enjoyed the book. I mean after all the mean (some may say EVIL) stuff Bridget does the lesson or message is a good one. I mean the book has some really good messages in it for anyone. Also the emotions are very good. I mean when Bridget is mean to her Step Mum you can really feel her Step Mums hurt.

As far as favourite characters go I liked Michelle. She should’ve have been in Bridget’s Place was kept on being put down by Bridget and the rest of the school after the crush incident. I found that I didn’t particularly like Bridget. I found her very cold and very shallow. I mean was she so apparent she couldn’t she any fault or wrong in her actions. She was horrid until the end where I suppose she learnt.

The writing was very light and airy I suppose. It was very fun and easy to read, and I finished it within a two hour car journey. It’s definitely a debut novel; there’s no denying that. Now you see what I want to know is will there be a sequel, but I wants one! Honestly though this was an amazing book so, go read it!