Today we hear from Bookbabbler Bethan…

Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles – Tamsyn Murray

Harriet Houdini: Stunt Bunny is back in action, this time as the star of Superpets Live! With visions of posh hotels, meeting adoring fans and performing her famous bunny-backflips in front of live audiences, Harriet can’t wait for the tour of Superpets. But evil Miranda wants her opera-singing poodle, Doodle, to be the headline act…whatever it takes. So Harriet’s going to need all her Stunt Bunny tricks to make sure she remains the star of the show!

This is a marvellous book. Once I had started reading it, I couldn’t stop because it is so extremely exciting.

If you like exciting books about animals this is definitely a book for you. I would recommend it to children aged 6-8 because it is quite easy to read, children aged 4 and 5 could have it read to them as it is not scary. This is a five-star book.

Thanks, Bethan. It’s here for you to buy now..

Today we hear from Amber…

My So-Called Phantom Lovelife – Tamsyn Murray

Boyfriend trouble? Try dating a ghost!
I knew the boy was different when I saw him walk on water.
When fourteen-year-old Skye Thackery meets Owen Wicks, it’s not exactly love at first sight. She’s getting over a broken heart and he’s, well, a ghost.
But as Skye gets to know him, she can’t help wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Dating a ghost isn’t easy, and things get worse when Owen declares he’s found a way to stay with Skye forever.
As Owen prepares to risk everything, Skye wonders if his desire to be more than just a ghost will cost them everything.

Tamsyn Murray is an author that I will probably always remember throughout my life. She’s one of the most talented authors I know of and her way of writing is brilliant. Her writing is humorous and fun, and is even better when she’s writing as a teenage girl. She seems to get inside the head of a teenager so well, and you find you can’t put her book down!

The story begins very dramatically. Main character Skye is with her friends messing about on a boat in the local river. They’re having fun, but then Skye catches sight of ghost Owen, standing on the water, watching them. Skye is the only one out of her friends that can see ghosts. Her aunt is physic and can see ghosts and auras. Suddenly the boat tips over and that’s when everything starts happening…Eventually Skye and Owen become very, very good friends. But Owen has a mysterious, hidden past that we don’t really get to know about until later in the book. Also past characters from other books in the series play big parts in this book too which is great.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous. The black and glimpses of pink look really good together. I also like how all of the books in the series kind of match.

I really love this book! It’s full of humour, drama, ghosts and scary moments…it’s perfect! 10/10!!

Sounds like you liked it then, Amber?! Thanks very much – you can buy it here now..

Britain’s Best Loved Bunny is on the road with the cast of Superpets: Live! To celebrate the release of her latest adventure, Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles, BookBabblers put Harriet Houdini on the spot…

BB: Hi, Harriet. It’s been a while since you found fame with Saturday night TV show, Superpets. What have you been up to?

HH: I wish I could say I’ve been on a relaxing holiday but things have been a bit mad since Superpets mania hit the UK. Touring with the rest of the cast has been great fun, though, and we had some amazing adventures. Watch out for a few new faces in Tour Troubles.

BB: Tell us more!

HH: Superpets: Live! took us all over the country. It was tough staying in luxury hotels but someone had to do it – we even met some other celebs, although no-one as famous as me. I perfected some brilliant new stunts for our amazing audiences and the other pets weren’t bad either!

BB: Any gossip about your co-stars?

HH: I’m not the kind of celeb who spills other people’s secrets but I don’t think a certain singing poodle enjoyed the travelling much. And Gloria Goodwood, who presents Superpets, got a new admirer but I couldn’t possibly say anymore about that…

BB: And finally, what’s next for Harriet Houdini?

HH: I’ll be back in a new adventure later this year, Stunt Bunny: Rabbit Racer, when the Wilson’s get a mysterious new neighbour and I battle it out with Tornado Taz to see who’ll be Top of the Superpets Pops. It’s chock-full of thrills, spills and Stunt Bunny skills!

BB: Thanks, Harriet!

Harriet’s adventures are written by her PA, Tamsyn Murray. Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles is on sale now. Stunt Bunny: Rabbit Racer will be out in August 2011. You can find out more about Harriet Houdini at www.tamsynmurray.co.uk

And there’s more – one lucky Bookbabbler could win a signed copy of Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles. To be entered into the draw, comment on this post, ‘like’ it on facebook or retweet it (UK only). We’ll pick a winner Saturday at 7pm – good luck!

Last day of September, so last day of Tamsyn Murray’s residency with us. To see her off in style, a review of her latest book and a giveaway..!

My So-Called Haunting – Tamsyn Murray

Spirits, spells and bad boy hell…Who says the living have it easy?

Skye, a fourteen-year-old who can see ghosts, is very stressed. Not only is the ghost of sixteenth-century witch giving her fashion tips, but she’s struggling to settle into life with her aunt, and is developing a crush on the most unattainable boy in the school, Nico.

When her aunt asks for her help with a troubled teen ghost Dontay, she’s glad of the distraction. But then Nico starts paying her more attention, and she’s soon facing a battle to keep her love life and her psychic life separate.

As things get ever more complicated, it looks as though Dontay’s past might cost Skye her future.

After reading My So-Called Afterlife (the first in the series) I was SO excited to find out there was going to be a sequel. I waited patiently for it to be published, getting more excited to read it every day, and now it is finally here! The wait was so worth it – I loved it! I’d even go as far to say it was better than the first one – and the first one was amazing so just think how good this one is! Definitely worth reading.

This book was told by new character Skye, who is fourteen years old. She is psychic; she can see ghosts and speak to them just like her auntie, Celestine. There are a lot of new people, ghosts etc. in this book, but a few things from My So-Called Afterlife remain the same which I thought was nice. There’s a few unexpected twists in this book, and you have no idea what will happen next, it’s great! Tamsyn has done a brilliant job keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

The cover is really, really cool. It’s elegant, mysterious and fun at the same time! I love the bright pink against the black and grey, it really stands out.

I have no complaints whatsoever about this book. It was REALLY REALLY GOOD! I can’t tell you how good it was. Loved it! 10000/5!

Thanks, Amber- great review! And you lucky people have a chance to win this ‘REALLY REALLY GOOD’ book! To be entered into the draw, just comment on this post, retweet it or Facebook ’like’ it. We’ll pick a winner at 7pm on Saturday (UK only).

Today we hear from our author in residence, Tamsyn Murray. Tamsyn’s new book, My So-Called Haunting, is now out and in our shop.

Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dogs Tails: Five bad boys who are just too good to ignore

Every girl knows at least one; a boy she knows she should stay away from but there’s just something about him she can’t resist. Skye Thackery, the heroine of My So-Called Haunting, learns the hard way that your head might say no, but your heart can shout go. Here are five bad boys from TV, books and films no girl with a pulse could refuse:

5) Dorian Gray

On the surface, Dorian Gray has it all; he’s wealthy, good-looking and charming. But he’s hiding a terrible secret, one which means he can explore the worst side of human nature without it affecting his everyday life. The idea is that the bad things we do somehow stain us, both in character and in appearance, so when Dorian finds a way to project the evil things he does onto a portrait he keeps locked in the attic, it means he stays as young, attractive and likeable as ever in spite of his cruelty and criminal exploits. Eventually, everything catches up with him but I was fascinated by the way he could behave terribly but stay irresistible. Even so, he was one bad boy I only ever wanted to admire from afar. He might have a glamorous lifestyle and seem kind and charming but unlike with other bad boys on this list, it was all an act. Sadly.

4) Heathcliff

The passionate hero of Wuthering Heights would be on a lot of Bad Boy lists. Dark and moody, he was the first literary bad boy to really capture my heart. Although I often found him to be cruel, I could totally see why Catherine fancied him; sexy, rude and arrogant, he was everything a good girl should run from. But he had a really difficult life and she led him on a bit. I couldn’t help wondering what he would have been like if he’d born into a rich family – would he have been the Mr Darcy of the Yorkshire Moors? I desperately wanted things to work out for him and the love of his life but it just wasn’t to be. Does his ghost still haunt the windswept heathers or did he find peace at last with Catherine? I hope it was the second one.

3) Joey Tribbiani

Joey from Friends is an easy choice for this list. Funny and deliciously handsome, if not too bright, he was fanciable in the extreme but his love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude marked him out as the kind of boy your mum warned you about. Joey often meant well but he had the attention span of a toddler on Jelly Tots and couldn’t help getting distracted by the pretty girls he met. I longed for him to meet his match and settle down but at the same time secretly wished I’d be the girl to tame him. At the end of the series, he was the only Friend not to be loved up, which was kind of sad. Come to think of it, I could still be in with a chance. Anyone got his number?

2) Angel

I first met Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the 1992 movie and I loved the black humour and OTT acting. Then the TV show came along and my love affair really started. Buffy was a great heroine; mixed up, vulnerable and up there with Jason Bourne on the kick-ass front. There was a host of excellent supporting characters, too, but it was the dark and brooding vampire, Angel, who really caught my attention. Mysterious and tortured (also utterly gorgeous, did I mention that?), Angel fights his murderous nature to help Buffy battle the evil hordes roaming Sunnydale. Of course she falls for him, in spite of the obvious fact it’s a match made in hell – who wouldn’t? But when Angel goes bad, he goes really bad. Even then, I still fancied him; the hallmark of a true bad boy. It just wasn’t the same after he left Sunnydale…someday, I hope he’ll come back and sweep Buffy off her feet. Sigh.

1) Danny Zucko

Danny Zucko from Grease is classic bad boy material – on the surface, brash and a little bit mean but underneath the cool exterior, sensitive and sweet. It’s a familiar story; sub-zero boy meets geeky girl but Danny has more going for him than most heroes. He’s gorgeous and sexy and, boy, can he move. I adored him from the very start of the film and his misguided attempts to win Sandy’s heart made me fancy him even more. Danny’s problem is that he can’t decide what’s more important; how he feels about Sandy or the opinions of his mates and the film is as much about growing up as it is a love story. Ultimately, he follows his heart, which is why he’s at the Top of my Bad Boy Pops.

Thanks, Tamsyn! Who would be on your list? Authors – you’re welcome to write your guest posts on this one and send them to us..

As Tamsyn’s ‘in residence’ this month, Amber shares her review of Stunt Bunny with us..

Stunt Bunny: Showbiz Sensation – Tamsyn Murray

Meet Harriet Houdini, a young rabbit with lots of attitude, as she settles into life with her new family. Never destined to be a boring bunny, Harriet finds herself scouted by the producer of hit TV show Superpets and starts her career on the showbiz ladder. From daring backflips to thrilling escape attempts Harriet really is a Stunt Bunny extraordinaire!

The cover is so cool! I love the way that it looks like Harriet is actually jumping out of the book; if you look closely and read the words behind Harriet, you can see that it’s an actual page from the book which I think is really clever. Also, it looks like Harriet has chewed her way through the cover, like she’s trying to escape, which is funny!

I loved Harriet’s thoughts. They were so funny and cute! Harriet is such a clever bunny. The character EE (stands for Evil Edward) is a really mean character, but he gets nicer near the end of the book.

Tamsyn is so good at writing comedy, so I expected this book to be funny and it didn’t disappoint! A bunny called Harriet Houdini who can do back-flips?! Genius. The idea for this book is amazing and I have no idea how she came up with it – brilliant!

Any reader, of any age, will love this book. I read this book in one sitting because it was just so funny – it made me laugh out loud in places. I definitely recommend this book if you want a light, short, humourous read and it would be ideal for your little brother or sister! I give this book 5/5, I loved it!

Thanks, Amber. remember you can ask Tamsyn any questions in our forum this month.

Tamsyn’s ‘in residence’ with us this month, and has written this fab post…

Danger, Danger! Why It’s Not Always Good To Talk.

Picture the scene; you’re reading a brilliant book, with a plot that twists and turns more than Nemesis at Alton Towers. The main character is in mortal danger…you’re not sure if they’re going to make it…they’re stranded miles from anywhere and the villain is closing in…then they whip out their mobile and call their mum. Straight away, the tension deflates like a balloon dog with a puncture and suddenly, you’re not sure this is such a great book after all.

In the olden days, it used to be so much easier for writers to put their characters into dangerous situations. Look at The Famous Five, forever falling down abandoned mines and catching smugglers in the act. How much fun would it have been if Julian had pulled out a phone and called 999 instead of exploring murky tunnels? Or if instead of carrying on through the wardrobe into Narnia, Lucy had texted Edmund to come and find her?

That’s why writers are always looking for ways to escape from the tyranny of modern technology. Historical novels don’t have a problem, obviously; nor do fantasy stories.  Science-fiction brings different challenges but it’s easy to invent some future catastrophe to wipe out the network.  It’s writers of stories set in the modern day who have it worst. Most come up with ingenious plot devices to give reasons why mobile phones aren’t available to save their characters; in My So-Called Afterlife, Lucy is a ghost and can’t text the living (but I took pity on her and gave her a ghostly mobile to keep in touch with other ghosts). In Dark Life by Kat Falls, the characters spend a lot of time underwater, with no way to keep in touch. It gives the more dangerous scenes a real edge, especially when you know there’s no help around the corner.

So, next time you’re reading a book and start wondering why the main character doesn’t just phone a friend, have pity on the poor tortured writer. They’ve probably spent ages thinking up reasons why the mobile isn’t working. Because let’s be honest, a flat battery lacks imagination. And none of us wants to be guilty of that.

Thanks, Tamsyn! You can chat to Tamsyn in our forum and ask her any questions you like…

Tamsyn’s ‘in residence’ with us this month, so we’re sharing our thoughts on her books with you. Today we have a review from Amber..

My So-Called Afterlife – Tamsyn Murray

“I knew it was time to move on when a tramp peed on my Uggs…” Meet Lucy Shaw. She’s not your average fifteen year old – for a start, she’s dead. And as if being a ghost wasn’t bad enough, she’s also trapped haunting the men’s toilets on Carnaby Street. So when a lighting engineer called Jeremy walks in and she realises he can see and hear her, she isn’t about to let him walk out of her afterlife. Not least until he’s updated her on what’s happening in her beloved soaps. With Jeremy’s help, Lucy escapes the toilet and is soon meeting up with other ghosts, including the perpetually enraged Hep and the snogtastic Ryan. But when Jeremy suggests Lucy track down the man who murdered her, things go down hill. Can Lucy face up to the events of that terrible night? And what will it cost her if she does?

My So-Called Afterlife is probably the best book I’ve read this year! Seriously, I think it was more addictive than the Twilight series! It was such a funny, gripping book and Tamsyn got the sarcasm of a 15 year old girl just right. It made me laugh out loud in places – I was surprised to hear it’s her first book! Most books make me lose interest half way through, but this book didn’t, it was so brilliant I read it in a day! My favourite character is Lucy Shaw (the teenage ghost) because she was such a funny character, and her thoughts sometimes made me laugh. I was really sad when the book finished – the 184 pages flew by!

The ending was good too – all the ends were tied up, although it did leave you wanting more!! I have absolutely no complaints about this book! It was fabulous all the way through. Tamsyn, you should be proud!

Thanks, Amber. You can buy the book from us now, and we’ll soon be bringing you our review of the next book in the trilogy, My So-Called Haunting, out this month.

Tamsyn’s our ‘author in residence’ this month, so we thought we’d get to know her a little better..

Who were your favourite authors when you were a child?

When I was about eight years old, my mum gave me a book called The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. It was the first fantasy book I’d ever read and I loved it. Set around Alderley Edge in Cheshire, the story is about two children, Colin and Susan, who discover a hidden world of dwarves, wizards and mortal danger. The plot twists and turns relentlessly and features one of the most perilous journeys I’ve ever encountered.

As I grew older, fantasy became one of my favourite genres but the truth was I’d read anything I could get my hands on. I whizzed through all the Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl books, loved the Narnia Chronicles and the Anne of Green Gables series. So I can’t say I had favourites, really; the brilliant library in my home town meant I got to read lots of different authors.

Stunt Bunny is named Harriet Houdini – how did you come up with the name?

I wish I could say I was visited by the ghost of that famous escapologist, Harry Houdini, but the truth is a bit less interesting. One of my rabbits escaped in our back garden and led me a real chase until I caught her. I started thinking about how I could make a story out of it and realised she couldn’t have an everyday, run-of-the-mill name. The moment I came up with Harriet Houdini, I knew it suited the character of a cheeky bunny perfectly and a star was born!

What can we expect next from Harriet?

Harriet is going on tour, with the cast of Superpets: Live! Expect more amazing stunts, more talented pets and a whole lot of sparkles. Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles will be in the shops in February 2011 – miss it, miss out!

‘My So-called..’ are going to be a trilogy – fab! Tell us more about the books.

My So-Called Afterlife was teen ghost Lucy’s story and introduced us to an afterlife where ghosts can text, party and even snog. My So-Called Haunting picks up the story with fourteen year old Skye, a psychic with a habit for attracting bad boys. Struggling to settle into a new life in London, it’s not long before Skye is sucked into the seedy world of gang culture. Can she put her gift to good use or will it tear her future away?

The next book in the series is what I’m working on right now. I can’t give too much away but it promises to be best yet! And I’m hoping there’ll be more Afterlife books in the future – watch this space!

What do you love most about writing for children and young adults?

The best thing about writing for children and young adults is that it’s such fun! I love be able to take the story wherever I want to, without having to include much boring, everyday stuff. And I can be as silly as I like, because it’s my job

Share 3 of your passions with us.

My first great love is writing – obviously! There’s nothing quite like the buzz of getting something down on paper and knowing your readers are going to love it as much as you do.

When I’m not writing, then I’m reading. I always tell people that long before I was a writer, I was a reader and I think it really helped me with my own stories. I’m constantly in awe of other writers’ work and can’t imagine my life without books.

Lastly, I love music and would be very unhappy if someone told me I could never sing again. I trained as a classical soprano and like nothing better than hitting the high notes. Unfortunately for my friends and family, I don’t always reach them!

Thanks, Tamsyn. You can ask Tamsyn anything else you want in our forum this month, so pop over and ask away!

Today, we’re delighted to have an exclusive interview with Harriet Houdini, celebrity rabbit and star of the brand new book Stunt Bunny: Showbiz Sensation

So, Harriet, tell us about yourself:

You mean you don’t already know? Where have you been? I’m a small grey bunny with a big dream, a rabbit with star quality. I live with the Wilson family and Stunt Bunny : Showbiz Sensation is the story of how I hopped out of my hutch and auditioned to become the star of Saturday night television show Superpets. Oh, and I love carrots. Did someone say they were whisking me up a carrot juice?

Describe a typical day in the life of a VIP:

I’m usually awake first but I don’t get up until my owner, Susie, brings me my morning carrot. Then I have a quick hop around the living room and nibble on Susie’s dad’s slippers. After that, I might read my fan mail or get my nails done. Once Susie gets home from school, she puts me through my paces with the tinkly ball and, after a bit of TV, I catch up on my beauty sleep.

What’s it like living with the Wilson family?

Susie is my favourite person in the world – she’s great. Her mum isn’t bad either but I try to keep away from her naughty little sister, Lily. For a five year old, she’s got a wicked streak. The worst of the lot is their dad, Evil Edward. He’s never liked me and blames me for everything that goes wrong around the house.

What’s the deal with Superpets?

Superpets is a TV show featuring talented pets from all over Britain. Imagine what Britain’s Got Talent would be like if all the contestants were animals – that’s exactly what the Superpets Search for a Superstar competition is like. So there’s an opera singing poodle, a hula-hooping monkey and a counting kitten. The winner of the contest gets to appear on Superpets every Saturday night.

Any gossip about your Superpets co-stars?

Most of them are really great but that poodle is a pain in the fluffy tail. She really thinks she’s got what it takes to win but I’m determined to show her that I’m not just a pretty face. The hedgehog dance troupe, Spike-tacular are a great bunch, though. I think they’ll make it big one day.

What’s next for Harriet Houdini?

I’m going on tour! Superpets Live! will be appearing at a stadium near you early next year and you can read all about our adventures in Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles in February 2011. Now, where’s that carrot juice you promised me?

You can find out all about Harriet Houdini and her Superpets co-stars at www.tamsynmurray.co.uk There’s a Stunt Bunny word-search to print off and even a Stunt Bunny puppet to make!

We have also added the book to our shop now, but we thought we’d go one better than that and sneak a couple of signed copies for a Bookbabbler giveaway. To enter, just comment on this post, retweet it or Facebook ‘like’ it (UK only).