Publishing Christmas Shindigs that White People Like

I went to a Publishing Christmas Party on Monday night and it was oh-so chic.

I didn't know it before going but there was a theme for the night, of Mad Men, the TV show which I just happen to have gotten a little obsessed with at the moment (I'm up to season three!) and there were oodles of suits and beautiful sixties styles to be seen. There were also people in jeans, like me. But I was wearing a floral top so it was okay.

I had a chat with and spied across the room fantabulous people such as Steph Bowe, Lili Wilkinson, Gabrielle Wang, Corinne King and Cath Crowley and there were lots of other publishing folk there who I don't necessarily know by sight.

It was lots of fun and the Swing Dance performance by some dancers from Swing Patrol (which just happens to be the school I go to. You know. When I go) was an awesome touch. And then whoever wanted to had a quick lesson in the super-hot Bella Bar which consisted of lots of jiggling around on the spot and sometimes dancing as a girl and sometimes dancing as a guy but just keeping on with the dancing.

Those who know me know that I have a soft spot for swing and this feels like the perfect opportunity to show you all one of my favourite routines from the 2009 Lindy at the Light charity performances in Leeds, UK that I was a part of, though I wasn't in this performance. But I totes thought they were awesome. I got to see this (and a bunch of other routines including the one I was in) once an hour for five hours.

It was winter. And SNOWING in England. This year I have heat and plethora of bugs to contend with.

Anyhoo - enjoy!

It's Book Review Time! (1) Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

Paranormalcy was lotsa fun, a book you just want to keep reading and reading and reading until it's gone.

Evie has a great voice, she's a bit flighty, loves her soap operas and all things pink (like her taser) and will not hesitate to bring down a paranormal with it before tagging, bagging and reading it it's rights. She's pretty badass, but at the same time she's just a sixteen year old girl who wants to be a normal sixteen year old girl. She may be able to handle herself and kick some butt in some areas of her life but White created a well-rounded character in Evie: she is pretty damn terrified of her ex, Reth, a Faerie who is essentially stalking her and there's nothing she can do about it. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, right?

There was a great mix of paranormal creatures here and Kiersten added her own spin to the regular myths about them. I love it when writers come at known stories from new angles.

I really enjoyed reading Kiersten White's debut novel and look forward to more from her.