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. 

LISEL & PO - LAUREN OLIVER - REVIEW

Book: Liesl & Po
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
ISBN: 9781444723076
Rating: A


"A tale of one girl, two ghosts and the most powerful magic in the world. 'On the third night after the day her father died, Liesl saw the ghost.' Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice - until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone. That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable. Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey."


Lisel and Po... in under ten words it would be as follows. A beautiful book to curl up. It is a beautiful children’s tale that will be loved with years to come. It is filled with magic, friendship, and love and will live in the imagination of anyone who reads it. When I was reading it really took me back to when I was a child.


I loved Lauren Oliver’s Delirium, so I wasn’t surprised when I loved this book even more. It is such a unique plot, and I think it will become a phenomenal bestseller. I mean it was written very beautifully. The writing was strong, and descriptive and created a vivid image in your mind. It was a very whimsical writing as well. The description was lovely, and was played to the advantage so that Liesl’s stepmother came across very stereotypical stepmother, and you felt a lot for Liesl.


The plot was short but fantastic. It was long, or complicated, so in other words, perfect. It was like the book was crafted from magic itself. I guess the story just felt so real and lifelike because it was based on Lauren Oliver’s feelings to when she lost someone close and important to her.


My favourite character would have to be Liesl, no doubt about it. I mean I felt the right way about every charcter; I hated the stepmother, felt for Po, loved Mo like a brother, but Liesl was the main person of the book and towards her I felt every good feeling you can. She is such a young girl, determined on setting her father free, and the amount of love she felt made me love her.


The book is amazing. It’s a beautiful story filled with lessons of friendship, love and being together. It had everything I wanted and left my imagination sparkling with joy when it finished. This will be a new sensation.