Neville FTW!

Jeannie returns to the podcast to join me in discussing the final Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. This podcast was recorded late Saturday night, July 16th, 2011. (Sorry, but it took me a long time to edit. We talked for a looooong time, so I cut a lot.) In addition to discussing the latest film, we fondly reminisce about our love of the Harry Potter books, and discuss the past films as well. This podcast contains spoilers for the final movie, so beware! Also, if you don’t want to hear people compare the books and movies, or you don’t want to hear opinions that are different from your own, do yourself a favor and sit this one out. We have been Harry Potter fans for 11 years, and feel entitled to air our opinions, thank you very much.

Then at the 1:23:45 mark (83 minutes and 45 seconds in) we discuss The Hunger Games book series. Jeannie just finished reading Mockingjay last week. Once again, there are spoilers, so beware.

Finally, there is some discussion of San Diego Comic-Con, beginning at the 2:04:40 mark (124 minutes and 40 seconds in). There may be some geeking out about Joss Whedon. Shhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone. Take a listen on the player below, or subscribe via iTunes. Enjoy!

Of course, in addition to navigating the crowded exhibit hall and waiting in line, we hope to view some panels. On Wednesday, July 20^th, Preview Night, there will be a special sneak peek of 4 Warner Bros. pilots from 6:00-9:00p.m. in Ballroom 20: Alcatraz, Person of Interest, The Secret Circle, and Supernatural: The Anime Series. We’re not sure yet whether we’ll be able to make preview night, but if we do, we’ll be sure to let you know what we think of the pilots.

On Thursday, July 21^st, our top priority will be the TV panels in Ballroom 20. You guys, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy Summers herself, will be at the Ringer panel! Slayer Comma The! In the same room as me! Getting into that panel is OF COURSE my #1 goal. We will show up bright and early and depending on when (or if—sob!) we get into the ballroom, we will happily enjoy the TV panels that precede it.  First up is Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe from 10:00-11:00a.m., followed by Covert Affairs from 11:15a.m.-12:15p.m., and then Psych from 12:30-1:30p.m.

The Ringer panel will take place from 1:45-2:45p.m. As my earlier geeking out indicated, Sarah Michelle Gellar will be there, in her second SDCC appearance. According to the panel details on the official SDCC website, it will feature “an exclusive sneak peek at the new series” followed by a panel that will include Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four), Nestor Carbonell (Lost, The Dark Knight), Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected), executive producer Pam Veasey (CSI: NY), and co-executive producers Nicole Snyder (Supernatural) and Eric Charmelo (Supernatural). When I told Francesca that “Baze” would be there, she got excited, so this is one that I think we will both really enjoy.

Following Ringer will be the Game of Thrones Panel and Q&A session from 3:00-4:00p.m. Be still my geeky heart. Seriously, SMG followed by GRRM? Good thing Francesca will be there to pinch me. I mean, seriously. The panel will be moderated by George R. R. Martin, author of the book series upon which the HBO series is based, who also serves as a co-executive producer and writer on the series. Love. I am currently reading the fifth book in the series, A Dance with Dragons, so it will be so fun to hear what Martin has to say and talk with other fans about the series. Cast members to be in attendance include Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), and Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo). Hopefully we’ll hear some fun behind-the-scenes stories and get a hint of what’s to come.

Next will be the TV Guide Magazine: Fan Favorites panel from 4:15-5:15p.m. Moderated by TV Guide Magazine editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum, this panel will feature several of my favorites: Nestor Carbonell (Ringer), Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Jorge Garcia (Alcatraz), Leslie Hope (The River), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Julie Plec (Vampire Diaries), Matt Smith (Doctor Who ), Kevin Williamson (Vampire Diaries), Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood). Julie and Kevin! Yay! Since we may not be able to go to The Vampire Diaries panel on Saturday (I’ll get into that below), this will be a great opportunity to hear them talk TV.

Then we plan to stay put for the Showtime: Tired of Ordinary Television? panel from 5:30-7:30p.m. It’s 3 for 1 with this panel, which covers Dexter, Shameless, and the upcoming series Homeland. The Dexter panel will include the world premiere of the new season’s trailer, and then moderator Ralph Garman (KROQ entertainment reporter) will oversee an interview and Q&A session with the stars and executive producers, including Michael C. Hall (star/executive producer), C. S. Lee (Masuka), David Zayas (Batista), and guest star Colin Hanks (Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Roswell). Also appearing are executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Scott Buck, and Manny Coto. So excited! The Shameless Q&A will be moderated by Mike Schneider (TV Guide Los Angeles bureau chief) and will feature William H. Macy (Fargo, Jurassic Park III), Emmy Rossum (Day After Tomorrow, Dragon Ball: Evolution ), and executive producer John Wells (West Wing, ER, Southland). Then my Brown Coat heart will grow three sizes when Morena Baccarin introduces exclusive footage from Homeland.  Yes, I will see Inara Serra’s portrayer! (Yes, probably from many rows back in a room full of hundreds of people, but STILL.) You can see why entrance to Ballroom 20 is so essential for me. I will report back in detail. That will probably be the end of the day for us (I’m sure that we will be starving and thirsty by that point), though we may stay for the Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog sing along from 8:30-10:00p.m., hosted by the California Browncoats (Room 6BCF).  

On Friday, July 22^nd, I have to leave San Diego to go to work, but Francesca may be able to attend some panels. Also, I may be able to make it to one of the later panels. We shall see. Highlights of Friday for those who can make it (or for those who want to YouTube it later) include the Locke & Key FOX Pilot Screening from 10:30-11:30a.m., followed by the corresponding panel from 11:30a.m.-12:30p.m. Both will take place in Room 8. The panel will feature creators of the comic, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez, and the writer of the TV pilot, Josh Friedman (Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles).

The ABC Family: The Nine Lives of Chloe King panel will take place from 12:00-1:00p.m. in Room 23AB. Super bummed that I have to miss this one, so I expect a full report from attendees and press. The panel will feature a sneak peek of an upcoming episode of The Nine Lives of Chloe King, followed by a Q&A session with Skyler Samuels (Chloe King), Amy Pietz (Meredith King), Grey Damon (Brian), Grace Phipps (Amy), Benjamin Stone (Alek), Alyssa Diaz (Jasmine), Ki Hong Lee (Paul), and executive producers Dan Berendsen and Gina Girolamo (Alloy Entertainment). Also, the panel will be moderated by Damian Holbrook of TV Guide, who is hilarious on Twitter and was totally awesome on the Starkville’s House of El Podcast during this past season of Smallville. Should be a fun time.  

Other Friday highlights include The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A from 12:30-1:30p.m. (Ballroom 20); Falling Skies from 3:15-4:15p.m. (Room 6BCF); Entertainment Weekly Presents … Totally LOST: One Year Later from 3:30-4:30p.m. (Room 5AB), featuring EW’s Jeff “Doc” Jensen and Dan “Dan” Snierson; Costume Designers: Designing For Television Production from 4:00-5:00p.m. (Room 9), featuring Shawna Trpcic (Firefly, Angel, Dr. Horrible, Dollhouse) amongst others; and True Blood Panel and Q&A session— from 5:30-6:30p.m. (Ballroom 20). You can get full details on Friday panels here.

There’s a chance I may be able to get back to the convention center for evening panels, and if so I would love to attend Girls Gone Genre from 6:00-7:00p.m. (Room 25ABC). The panel description states: “Meet the women who like to play with trucks and Barbies. And Wolverine action figures. And flux capacitors.” It will be moderated by Jenna Busch and feature panelists Marti Noxon (screenwriter/producer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Mad Men, Fright Night), Gale Anne Hurd (producer, The Walking Dead, Terminator, Aliens), and Marjorie Liu (writer, X-23, Daken: Dark Wolverine, Black Widow, Dirk & Steele novel series). Sounds cool, right?

Also, from 7:00-8:00p.m. is the What’s Up with Penguin panel (Room 9). It will feature Anne Sowards (executive editor, Ace/Roc), Jessica Wade (senior editor, Ace/Roc), and Erin Dempsey (director of trade marketing, Penguin Young Readers Group), who will “give you the dish on forthcoming books from such exciting authors and licensed properties as Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, S. M. Stirling, Rachel Caine, Heather Brewer, Richelle Mead, Kathy Reichs, John Flanagan, and many others.” Also they promise giveaways, including free advance reading copies. You think that there’s any chance I could get my hands on Bloodlines? A girl can hope.

From 8:00-10:00p.m. will be the World Premiere: Batman: Year One (Ballroom 20). In addition to screening of the animated the film, you can stay for a panel discussion with the voice cast. And what a voice cast! Panelists include Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie (The O.C., Southland), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica). Crazy, right? The panel will also feature executive producer Bruce Timm (DCU films), directors Lauren Montgomery(Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) and Sam Liu (All-Star Superman), and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano (DCU films), and will be moderated by Gary Miereanu.

On Saturday and Sunday, however, Francesca and I have to make some tough decisions. First, let’s discuss Saturday, July 23^rd. The two must-see events for that day are the Dark Horse: Joss Whedon panel and The Vampire Diaries Screening and Q&A. Unfortunately they both happen to take place at the same time. Sigh. I think that we really have to try for the Joss panel, since Whedonism is the closest thing I have to religion. (You can decide whether I’m kidding or not.) The Joss panel is from 3:00-4:00p.m. (Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront), and if we get into the room early, we’ll also have a chance to catch the Being Human panel from 12:00-1:00p.m. and the Community panel from 1:00-2:00p.m. However, I imagine that the Joss line will be insane, so I wonder if it’s even feasible. Hmmm.  If we do make it to the Joss panel, we could choose to stay put afterwards for the The Guild Season 5: Convention Timez! from 4:00-5:00p.m. featuring Felicia Day and more and then Charlie’s Angels from 5:00-6:00p.m., featuring the cast and executive producers Alfred Gough (Smallville) and Miles Millar (Smallville).

The other way to go would be to get in line for Ballroom 20 in the a.m., in order to make the The Vampire Diaries Screening and Q&A at 3:30-4:15p.m. The panel will feature Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerholder, Candice Accola (Caroline, may she live forever), and Joseph Morgan. Quite a showing from Mystic Falls. Following TVD will be the Fringe Screening and Q&A from 4:30-5:15p.m. in the same room. Warning, so far it looks to be severely lacking in Pacey. However, Anna Torv, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, and John Noble will be there, along with executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman. Following Fringe in Ballroom 20 will be the Alcatraz Pilot Screening and Q&A from 5:15-6:00p.m. This panel will include a screening of the pilot, which will air midseason on FOX. It will also include a Q&A with stars Jorge Garcia (Lost) and Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy), and writer and executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost).

Another panel that I’d loooove to attend is The Secret Circle Screening and Q&A from 5:15-6:00p.m. (Room 6BCF). However making it to both TVD and TSC would probably take a minor miracle, but we’ll most likely try for this one anyway. The panel will include a screening of the pilot along with a Q&A session with Britt Robertson (Scream 4), Thomas Dekker(Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Phoebe Tonkin (H20: Just Add Water), Natasha Henstridge (Species), and executive producers/ writers Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries), Andrew Miller (Nothing), and Richard Hatem (Supernatural). If we make it in time to TSC, we’ll probably stay put for the Nikita Screening and Q&A from 6:00-6:45p.m. in the same room. The panel will feature Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible 3), Shane West (ER), Lyndsy Fonseca (Kick-Ass), and executive producer Craig Silverstein (Bones), along with exclusive footage. When Nikita ends, another TV panel will take place in Room 6BCF: Person of Interest Pilot Screening and Q&A from 6:45-7:30p.m. I’m interested in this pilot because of Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight) and Michael Emerson’s (Lost) involvement. It’s set to air on CBS, and it could be interesting.

Other panels of note on Saturday include Lost: A Year Later with Jay and Jack from 2:00-3:00p.m. (Santa Rosa Room, Marriott Marquis & Marina); IndieVest Pictures: Knights of Badassdom from 2:15-3:15p.m. (Hall H), featuring Ryan Kwanten, Peter Dinklage, and Summer Glau among others; TV Guide Magazine Presents: Super Supernaturals from 2:30-3:30p.m.  (Room 5AB), featuring John Barrowman (Torchwood), Kristin Bauer (True Blood), Thomas Dekker (The Secret Circle), David Greenwalt (Grimm), Theo James (Bedlam), Jim Kouf (Grimm), Britt Robertson (The Secret Circle), Phoebe Tonkin (The Secret Circle), and Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf); Calling all Lost Fans: Once Upon a Time at 3:15-4:15p.m. (Room 6DE), moderated by Damon Lindelof (co-creator, Lost); Universal Pictures: Snow White and the Huntsmen from 3:30-4:15p.m. (Hall H) featuring Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), along with director Rupert Sanders (Halo 3 campaign) and exclusive footage; Grimm: World Premiere Pilot Screening and Q&A with Cast and Producers from the New Supernatural Series from 4:15-5:15p.m. (Room 6A) moderated by Anthony Stewart Head (Giles!), and featuring David Giuntoli (Turn the Beat Around), Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights), Bitsie Tulloch (Quarterlife), Silas Weir Mitchell (Prison Break), Reggie Lee (Persons Unknown), Sasha Roiz (Caprica), and executive producers/writers Jim Kouf (Angel) and David Greenwalt (Buffy the Vampire Slayer); and An Early Evening with Kevin Smith from 5:45-7:30p.m. (Hall H ). You can find more details about the Saturday panels here.  Decisions, decisions …

Sunday, July 24^th, the last day of the con, is a little less busy, but there is an equally perplexing decision to be made. The Supernatural panel conflicts with the Castle panel. We have to choose between the Winchesters and Cap’n Tight Pants. (High class problems, I know.) Francesca and I have yet to come to a decision here. We love Supernatural so much, but we also love Nathan Fillion so much … sigh. If we decide to go the Winchester route, the Supernatural Screening and Q&A is from 11:15a.m.-12:15p.m. in Hall H. It will feature Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles and additional cast members and executive producers, in addition to footage from the upcoming seventh season. This panel directly follows Glee, which worries me a bit in terms of how that will affect our likelihood to get seats.

One-on-One with Castle Star Nathan Fillion will take place from 11:45a.m.-12:45p.m. in Room 6BCF.  The official description reads, “Enjoy a sneak peek into season four and walk away with Double Rainbow!” Hard to say no to that.

Following whatever panel we go to, we will then head over to the Smart Pop booth (Booth B-4) for my friend (and TVD Podcast co-host) Vee’s signing at 1:00 p.m. I will be bringing my copy of A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls for Vee to sign. Exciting! I also hope to possibly get my hands on the Hunger Games anthology that Smart Pop published recently.

Then we’ll head over to Hall H to get in line for the Buffy the Musical— sing along from 4:00-5:00p.m. Fingers crossed that we get a seat! I can’t imagine a better way to end the con than watching “Once More With Feeling” with a bunch of Buffy fans.

Follow me on Twitter @heroine_tv for day-to-day SDCC updates. Are you going to SDCC? What are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments. Also, I hear that there is a lot of swag at these con things, so if I get any cool stuff (that is not immediately claimed by family members), I’ll try to host a giveaway on the site. We shall see …

Earlier this week I finally unveiled a new project that has been on my mind for the past year.  I started a book blog: Raspberry-Cordial.com.  The name comes from one of my favorite scenes in L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.  “But I didn’t meant to set her drunk!”  Hee.  Anne with an E is my favorite literary heroine, so I figured that was fitting.  I’m really excited to have a place to write about books, and over the summer I will be building up the content.  I’ve been compiling a list of post ideas over the past year–I just need to find the time to write them.  My first post discusses Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later, a sequel to the Sweet Valley High series, in which we learn what has become of the Wakefield twins following high school.  However, the site will not be Sweet Valley centric, but rather a place to talk about a variety of genres of fictional literature: Young Adult, Fantasy, the Classics, and Sci-Fi.  After all, as Jane Austen wrote, “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”

I’m getting excited! (And mostly because Tyrion will finally be back!) Thanks to Jennifer Arrow of E!Online for linking to this awesome video via Twitter.

Proposed cover art for A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, via George R.R. Martin's "Not A Blog."

Good news, A Song of Ice and Fire fans.  George R.R. Martin has confirmed on his Not A Blog page that he is close enough to finishing the fifth book in the series to warrant an actual publication date.  If all goes according to plan, we should be able to purchase the book on July 12th, 2011.  That is only four months away! The book is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com: A Dance with Dragons [Hardcover]. Additionally, you can pre-order the Kindle edition:A Dance With Dragons [Kindle edition]. Now I just have to finish A Feast for Crows in the next few months, so that I’ll be ready for the next installment. So many books, so little time.

And for a little taste of nostalgia, here’s the trailer for the original film. If you haven’t seen it, rent, buy, or steal it at once. Fun fact: Mildred Pierce was not James M. Cain’s only novel to be translated to the silver screen. He also wrote The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity. If you’re into film noir or vintage crime novels, put Cain’s books on your “To Be Read” list immediately.

Photo Credit: Vampire-Diaries.net

A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls: Your Favorite Authors on the Vampire Diaries is a brand new collection of essays about the television show The Vampire Diaries, written by a variety of authors of Young Adult fiction.  I was actually not familiar with any of the contributing authors before reading the book, but I’m excited to rectify that soon, and have put books by Sarah Rees Brennan, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Claudia Gray, etc. onto my “To Read” list.  So many books, so little time … but back to this book.  A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls was edited by Red and Vee of Vampire-Diaries.net,  along with Smart Pop Books editor Leah Wilson.  If you are a fan of The Vampire Diaries, it’s a safe bet that you have visited Vampire-Diaries.net many a time.  I love it so.  The site takes itself just seriously enough, while also maintaining a healthy sense of humor and a good deal of perspective (perspective is rare and wondrous on the internet).  With so much uninformed and self-promoting crap online, it is just a joy to find a fan-site that actually gets it right.  Vampire-Diaries.net is a thing of fandom-beauty, and the people who run it are even more awesome than their site.  Red and Vee are both super cool and super smart, well-schooled in the ways of The Vampire Diaries since the early 90s, so we fans are lucky to have them overseeing such a project.  Additionally, I count Vee as one of my good friends, so when she told me about this book project some months ago, I was thrilled—both as an obsessive fan of The Vampire Diaries (read my recaps for the glaring evidence), and as a friend.  Yeah, this book review is biased—let us get that out of the way at the get-go.  Deal with it.

An imprint of BenBella Books, Inc., Smart Pop Books has made a name for itself by publishing a wide variety of essay collections about pop culture.  As an avid Whedon fan (I know, you are all SHOCKED), I already had three Smart Pop titles on my book shelf—Finding Serenity and Serenity Found, along with The Psychology of Joss Whedon—before making room for A Vistor’s Guide to Mystic Falls.  If you have read any Smart Pop books before, you may have an idea of what to expect, as this latest edition follows the recognized format.  The volume is made up of an introduction by Red and Vee, and twelve essays, each focused on a different aspect of the television show.  However, A Visitor’s Guide also has its own special qualities.  Whereas other collected essays have a tendency to veer towards the overly academic, A Visitor’s Guide reads more like an enjoyable piece of literature.  As an academic, I love geeky intellectual attempts to over-analyze pop culture, but sometimes such essays can take themselves a bit too seriously, and lose some of the fun.  In this vamp-centered volume, no fun has been sacrificed.  Seriously.  Extremely readable, and written with a wide variety of fans in mind, I would recommend the book to all fans of The Vampire Diaries, not just extremely geeky ones like me (to you extremely geeky ones, I recommend The Psychology of Joss Whedon—not light bath tub reading).  At the same time, this is also a very thoughtful and intelligent collection, inspiring me to think analytically about the show.  Certain arguments may run counter to your own passionate views, but it will definitely get you thinking.  Yes, we fans of The Vampire Diaries can think about more than shirtlessness—here is proof!  In fact, maybe you should buy the book just so you can wave it people’s faces who deride your love of teen shows on The CW.  (I can’t with good conscience recommend that you use the book to hit anyone who mocks your love of television, but do what you have to do.)  

If I had to pick a favorite essay in A Visitor’s Guide, it would be the first essay, “Women Who Love Vampires Who Eat Women: Gender Dynamics and Interspecies Dating in Mystic Falls,” by Sarah Rees Brennan.  From the title alone, no one should be surprised.  Hello, look at the title of this blog!  When I was reading Brennan’s essay, I felt like I was reading my own thoughts—including some thoughts that I never even knew that I had, but which now consume me.  I kept nodding along, and saying “Yes!  Uh huh!  This!”  Through comparisons to Buffy Summers and Bella Swan, Brennan analyzes “the allure of the vampire boyfriend,” exploring the vampire-human relationship, and what it means for the characters of Elena, Stefan, and Damon.  But what I really appreciated in the essay was her treatment of the disturbing trend on The Vampire Diaries towards what I have repeatedly bemoaned on this blog: the killing off of all the awesome chicks.  Of course, Brennan discusses this unfortunate tendency far more eloquently than I have been able to; and she does so while still remaining respectful to what the show does right, and without sounding shrill, one-note, or preachy.  I love her for that, and you will too.  Also, on a lighter note, she provides the best description of Jeremy Gilbert EVER: “The Vampire Diaries took a classic character, the damsel with a near death wish, and made her a boy, and we see how different Elena is by comparison.”[1] Hee.  So perfect.

Another of my absolute favorites is “Sweet Caroline,” written by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.  Right from the start, I was hooked: “I’ve prepared a speech about Caroline Forbes.  Please don’t interrupt me, because I have a lot to say on the matter, and I really want to get this right.”[2] Caroline lovers unite!  Of course, I must admit that I was not always so enamored by Caroline’s character; in my recap of the pilot, I referred to her as “the poor man’s Cordelia Chase.”  I was so wrong.  I’m not sure when exactly I fell in love with her, but I do know that my feelings about the character changed pretty early on in the series, and my Team Caroline standing has only increased exponentially in season two.  Barnes captures why Caroline’s character is so compelling, as one of the only characters “who truly exemplifies the high school experience.”[3] Caroline’s vulnerability is ever apparent, so how can we not love this girl, who wants so desperately to be loved?  Barnes concludes: “Caroline is a mean girl who isn’t mean, a shallow girl who wants things so deeply it hurts, and the voice on the show of every girl who’s been treated badly, dismissed, or told a million times over that she’s just no good enough—for a boy, for her friends, for her parents, or any or all of the above.”[4] Indeed.  Another element of Barnes’ argument is that “Caroline is the voice of normality in the show: the one with ordinary relationships and ordinary traumas and a very human desire to connect with another person and really matter.”[5] Given what happens to our oh-so-human Caroline in the beginning of Season 2, one wonders what Barnes would have to say in response.  Luckily, we have an answer, with her follow-up essay for SmartPopBooks.com: Caroline Is ‘Seriously Badass.’” Both of Barnes’ essays are must reads, so get to it.

A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls has something for everyone (except for us Alaric lovers—next volume, please!).  Other gems include Bree Despain’s essay on why Bonnie is “A New Kind of Best Friend,” which may just have you reevaluating your attitude towards the oftentimes misunderstood witch.  Claudia Gray’s “The War between the States,” explores the historical aspects of Mystic Falls, as a Civil War era town in America.  She addresses ignored topics of slavery and ethnic prejudice, as applied to the show.  Jon Skavron discusses the history of the female vampire in our literary tradition.  Bonus: his essay totally inspired me to snag free Kindle copies of John William Polidori’s The Vampyre and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla: A Vampyre.  I am excited to peruse these early examples of lady vamps for myself, in the near future.

I also very much enjoyed “Dear Diary,” in which Karen Mahoney explores the diary format, as used in the show.  She compares this element of The Vampire Diaries to other television shows like Roswell, along with its roots in the epistolary novel tradition—most notably, Bram Stoker’s Dracula.   (And hey, while we’re on the subject of epistolary novels, you should check out Jane Austen’s Lady Susan.  It is wicked fun, despite being unfinished.  If Susan were a vampire, she and Katherine would totally be friends … until Katherine inevitably betrayed her.)  Also not to be missed is Vera Nazarian’s “You’re My Obsession,” in which she examines the theme of obsession, and its importance in vampire tales.  She provides a far more detailed analysis than my frequent description of vamps as “obsessed stalkers.”  (But they totally are.)

And for you Damon and Stefan fans—I’m pretty sure there are a few of you out there—there is plenty of material for your enjoyment too.  Alyxandra Harvey provides a hilarious imaginary debate between two high school students, one a Stefan fan and the other a Damon fan, in which they enlist the aid of Jane Austen and Emily Brontë for a school assignment: “In Which Our Intrepid Heroines Discuss the Merits of the Bad Boy Versus the Reformed Bad Boy with the Help of a Couple of Dead Women Who Know About Such Things.”  While I am not convinced by her arguments about where Stefan and Damon fit in among other literary heroes (you have some good qualities Stefan, but you’re no Mr. Darcy), it was a very fun read.  Kiersten White provides damning evidence against the supposedly nicer brother, in her essay “Don’t Be Fooled by that Noble Chin: Stefan Sucks.”  White brings up some important flaws in Stefan’s moral character, his selfishness in particular, but I found her argument far too strident, the logic falling apart when she takes blaming him too far.  Most characters on The Vampire Diaries—and most people in the world, for that matter—need to take more personal responsibility, each individual being accountable for his or her own actions.  There is plenty of blame to go around in Mystic Falls, and we can’t lay it all at Stefan’s door.

In “Case Notes: Salvatore, Stefan and Salvatore, Damon,” Heidi R. Kling looks at the deeply complex relationship between the Salvatore brothers, which is a key aspect of the show.  Then, in “Damon Salvatore: Vampire Hunter,” Mary Borsellino examines Damon’s propensity to kill his fellow vampires.  Of course, Damon’s human kills far outnumber his vamp ones, and he’s not out staking vampires in order to make the world a safer place, so I wouldn’t necessarily grant him the “Vampire Hunter” title.  Buffy or Angel, he is not.  Still, this is an interesting angle to explore, and it certainly got me thinking.  In fact, that is my favorite thing about all the essays in the book—each one inspired me to think analytically about the source material.  There is more to watching television than swooning, after all.

With the concluding essay, “A Visitor’s Guide to Fell’s Church: A Book Series Primer for TV Series Fans,” Red and Vee tie everything together.  As any reader of The Vampire Diaries book series knows, the show is its own animal—departing far from its origins.  However, as Red and Vee explain, the themes of love, friendship, family, and loyalty provide continuity between the two mediums.  Despite the many differences, there is a similar spirit in both the show and the novels.  As Red and Vee discuss what the book series means to them, it would not surprise me if you were inspired to read L.J. Smith’s series yourself.  As is, I am inspired to do a little re-read.

A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls is available in paperback and in Kindle edition on Amazon.com, and in many other places where books are sold.  I can’t recommend it enough.  After all, the more people who buy it, the higher the chance that a second volume will be released in the future.  Don’t you want essays on Alaric, Katherine, and Matt?  What about an essay on all the gaudy jewelry of the show?  Or the flashbacks?  Or werewolves?  Soooo necessary.  Let’s make it happen.

[2] Jennifer Lynn Barnes, “Sweet Caroline,” in A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls, 144.

[3] Barnes, 145.

[4] Barnes, 157.

[5] Barnes, 156.

Author and entertainment blogger, Danielle Turchiano, with her dog Madison, and a copy of her book.

I recently received a review copy of Danielle Turchiano’s second book, My Life, Made Possible by Pop Culture, a self-published collection of autobiographical essays.  The book is based in part on Turchiano’s pop culture blog of the same name, and features reflections on love and loss, seen through the lens of pop culture.  Through analogies to super couples and TiVo, and the romantic lessons learned from television—Saved by the Bell, California Dreams, Days of Our Lives, Friends, Full House, and more—Turchiano explores her childhood, and her romantic history.  More than a series of anecdotes, My Life, Made Possible by Pop Culture is a vulnerable expression of a person confronting and examining the forces that shaped her—forces that consist of family, friends, and romantic entanglements, both inside and outside of television.

The book is a quick and entertaining read, well worth an afternoon for any television addict.  As I was reading, I sometimes found myself laughing, nodding in recognition, shaking my head in disbelief, and even getting a bit teary-eyed.  With her conversational style, and sense of humor, Turchiano provides an honest portrait, full of awkward moments, and some analysis to put it all in perspective.  Yes, this is a “pop culture memoir,” but it is entirely aware of that fact, and its implications.  While Turchiano freely admits to years spent with “stars in her eyes,” it is clear that she has come a long way since her childhood certainty that she and a certain soap opera star were meant to be.  Like all of us, I’m sure that figuring out who she is will be a life long journey for Turchiano, but unlike most, she was brave enough to share some of that journey with the rest of the world.

When I learned about Danielle Turchiano’s book, I was impressed that a twenty-five year old had self-published one book, let alone two.  I wondered what inspired a blogger to attempt something so ambitious, and also incredibly personal.  I was able to satisfy some of my curiosity in an interview with Danielle.  

Lucia: In doing a little research, I learned that you wrote another book before My Life, Made Possible by Pop Culture.  I have not yet read Stars in Their Eyes, but I understand that it is a novel.  What inspired you to go from fiction to autobiography?  Do you plan on writing another novel in the future?

Danielle: Stars in their Eyes is a novel that I self-published back in the fall of 2007.  It was originally an original television pilot script that I had pitched around but nothing had ever come of it, so still wanting to tell the story and wanting to have control over how and when it ended, I just turned it into a novel. Around the same time I started my blog “Made Possible by Pop Culture,” on which this new book is partially based. Since television was my greatest influence growing up, I began the blog as an outlet to talk about how shows and characters affected me both in the past and today.  The inspiration really came because I was working on another novel, and I was getting stuck in certain elements of the story.  When I would take breaks from it, I would write blog entries.  It started out very slowly, but soon I found that some stories I wanted to tell were too long for blog entries, so I put them aside and they ended up forming the chapters of the book.

As far as other novels go, I am constantly writing! I do have one complete one that I was shopping around, and one that is currently in first draft form.  I also have bits and pieces of other ideas that who knows what I will do with them?  Maybe a short story here, another pilot script here: writing, next to television, is my greatest outlet.

Lucia: I think that it is pretty brave to share your childhood experiences, in addition to your dating history, with the world.  What kind of feedback have you received from family and friends who have read the book?

Danielle: Friends and ex-boyfriends I discuss in the book are all nicknamed to protect identities, though I will say that a few of my long-time friends who have read the book knew who I was talking about right away because they were there with me at those points of my life and remember the scenarios and situations.  One of the greatest compliments I have received about the book is from a friend (who is mentioned within the pages) who told me she read it at a coffee shop and was physically reacting to so much of it that people kept looking over at her to see if she was okay.  She said she laughed out-loud in some places and teared up in others.  Striking that balance has always been hard for me.  I didn’t want this to just be another flippant dating memoir; I wanted it to be a real journey, emotionally, with growth and setbacks, and while yes some of it is meant to be funny, some of it is meant to make you feel the awkwardness, the aloofness, the aloneness.  So when she said she did, I felt like I accomplished what I really set out to do.

Lucia: You state in the introduction, “mine is a true tale, but it is also somewhat of a cautionary one.”  As you explain it, television gave you a skewed perception of romantic relationships (though that was certainly not your only influence).  In your writing, however, you show a refreshingly clear understanding of the “ridiculous” and “unrealistic” expectations you had.  At what point did you start becoming self-aware in this regard, and realizing that pop culture was at the root of some of these unrealistic standards?

Danielle: That’s a really good, insightful question, and I wish my answer was going to be as eloquently put, but in all honesty it took awhile—perhaps longer than it should have.  I guess I kind of equate it to a little kid whose parents are getting a divorce but that kid does everything possible to try to bring them back together.  The kid knows on some intellectual level that they are not meant to be anymore, and if the kid goes back and looks objectively at their relationship over the past x amount of years, there is clear evidence to that fact.  However, emotionally, the kid needs to believe something else.  I think the point I first became aware that the standards were dated or just plain not realistic for the world in which I was living was when I was in junior high, and it wasn’t just about having first kisses and first dates, but for some of my friends, losing their virginities, going to keg parties, etc.  That’s not how things were on ‘Saved by the Bell’! (haha)  But even then, I still wanted to believe certain things so I held out hope for a little while longer.

Lucia: On the flip-side, what has been the most positive lesson that television has taught you?   Or, how has television contributed to your life, in a positive way?

Danielle: Oh, don’t get me wrong: even though I call these tales quote-unquote cautionary, I say that with love.  I don’t begrudge the fact that I derived my life lessons from television because they made me who I am today, and I think that person is just a little bit stronger for turning the analytical eye to my teacher.  And aside from that, those who read the book will see that I didn’t have a very large or very strong familial support system in my life growing up, and I learned very quickly that that was not the case for everyone.  I learned so much about what people will do for the ones they love but also that there is no “normal” definition of family anymore. Shows like Days of our Lives, Full House, and Gilmore Girls helped immensely.

Lucia: You include an entire section decrying the evils of TiVo [which I say with some hyperbole, because it was actually quite a fun and humorous way for Danielle to explore the theme of addiction, and create an analogy for bad relationships].  Personally, I don’t own one, and never have … though I’ve often desired one.  Do you still feel the same way as you did when you wrote that chapter?  Or have you caved?  Also, in the current everything-is-on-the-internet world that we live in, I actually find DVRs pretty unnecessary.  I can watch pretty much anything at anytime, if I want to, just with a high speed internet connection.  What is your attitude towards online viewing?

Danielle: Haha well that TiVo chapter was really just a fun way for me to explore an analogy because someone once told me I was addicted to television, and let’s face it, they were totally right.  So within the TiVo chapter, I talk about why it is bad for me.  I see its merits, but I know that installing one in my house would be the slippery slope everyone always talks about.  As it is I have to watch so many shows because I write about them for news media sites like Examiner (where I am the LA TV Insider), and then there are other shows I just love and connect with on a personal level and want to make sure I watch, and I like the fact that I still have to make the conscious choice on what I will be tuning into.

I have not caved.  I came really close this fall season because of the Tuesday/Thursday at 8pm night intense time slot competition.  The truth is, I do end up watching a lot online, and I justify it because I am not a Nielsen household so I am not hurting overnight ratings by waiting for a particular show until the morning.  And in fact, online ratings are taken into account in the 7-day numbers, even though most networks still rely pretty archaically on the overnights—something which as much as I am adamant against TiVo, I am even more against this.  A bit hypocritical, yes, I know!

Anyway, I watch a lot online, but I don’t particularly enjoy it because the screen is smaller; my internet sometimes buffers in the middle of an episode; and I hate that some networks run the same commercial at each break in the piece.  But it’s convenient, and so I think it really is the wave of the future.

Lucia: I know from your blog and Twitter that some of your favorite current shows include Supernatural, Dexter, and Life Unexpected.  If you had to identify the elements that make good television for you, in just a few sentences, what would they be?

Danielle: Oh man, I’m terrible at being concise on Twitter, but I’ll do my best here!  And the truth is, I like those three shows for very different reasons.  I am also very quick to separate the best quality (production value) from what speaks to me on an emotional or personal level.  I am not what film schools call “a passive television viewer”; that much is clear from the blog, the book, my Twitter, etc!  I overanalyze; I critique; I look for that connection.  Television is more than entertainment to me; it is a source of identification, and at times, expression.  So, the kind of television I gravitate towards are those meaty characters stories.  The show has to be grounded in reality; in other words the characters have to feel like they have been plucked from life—from this life.  The world around them has to feel like it could be right around the corner.  For that reason, there is a lot of genre TV that I see the merit in but just don’t connect with.  And you know, hot male leads never hurt!

Lucia: You talk about your love of reading at a young age in the book.  Proof that TV fans are also readers!  (I was, and am, quite the bookworm myself.)  Are you still a voracious reader?  What types of books do you read?  Any recent recommendations that you’d like to share?

Danielle: I feel like I don’t read as much as I used to because I don’t have as much free time as I used to, but whenever I do have a spare moment I am heading to the beach or down to my pool with a book in my hand.  I like good stories, regardless of what medium they come in!  I am still a HUGE Stephen King fan, and I have already pre-ordered his new one!  I also recently read and fell in love with The Passage, and then not as recently but still loved just as much The Help, Waiting for April, and The Irresistible Henry House. I have a soft spot for celebrity memoirs, too, as well as more “chick lit” authors like Caprice Crane.  I definitely don’t keep up with book releases the way I do for television premieres, so I am sure there are a bunch of newer ones that are deserving of praise, too, that I just haven’t gotten to yet.

Lucia: You mention the idea of adoption in the book, as a possibility you have considered.  If you were to adopt, do you think that you would you allow your child to watch “so much TV, it’ll make [his/ her] eyes bleed” [a quote from Danielle’s blog]?  How would you apply what you’ve learned from your experiences into advice for children’s television viewing habits?

Danielle: I’m a big proponent of letting a kid make his or her own mistakes because from my own experience, I’ve found you don’t really learn until you see what works for you and what doesn’t.  Everyone is different.  But that being said, I acknowledge there are some shows that aren’t appropriate for young kids.  I write in My Life, Made Possible by Pop Culture about how my father censored needlessly when I was a certain age, but (for example), as much as I love Dexter (and I LOVE Dexter!), the subject matter is too dark, and some of the kill scenes too gory, for a really young child.

The thing is, as much as television was my greatest influence, it wasn’t my only influence.  I did spend time in organized sports in elementary school (SO not for me!); I took part in a creative writing class, the drama club, and the yearbook staff in junior high; I had friends that weren’t as into television so when we would hang out we would do other things.  I think it’s important for kids, when they’re still young and formulating who they are and what they enjoy, to try a variety of things and make informed decisions.

Do I hope I adopt a little kid who has a passion for writing, television, or other artistic outlets?  Of course!  I understand that; I am that.  But if he or she wants to be a soccer star or go to baseball games every weekend, I’d learn to love that, too.

Additional notes:

You can find out more about Danielle Turchiano and her writing on her blog, My Life, Made Possible by Pop Culture.  Additionally, you can follow her on Twitter or on Facebook.  She also recently did an interview with Jenna of We Heart TV, that you should check out: “This post, made possible by pop culture …” Finally, you can purchase the book through links on Danielle’s site, or via Amazon.

Winter is coming, indeed.  While the teaser is extremely short, I am thrilled with the look and tone of the show.  They seem to have got it right.  For screen shots of the trailer, frame by frame, go here.

Like I mentioned, I’m a big fan of the book on which the series is based: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.  I read it last summer, after my brother recommended it to me.  Since then, I have been slowly working my way through the second book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Clash of Kings.  I will definitely finish it this summer (if I can ever put down those darn Vampire Academy books), and then get started on the next one.  There are four books in the series, so far, and the impatience of the fans for the forthcoming books makes me happy that I’m a latecomer to the fandom.  Less waiting for me.  The books in this series are not quick reads, as they are about 900-1,000 pages each.  Martin is a very witty and intelligent writer, and there is a lot of subtlety there.  I’m not exactly speeding through A Clash of Kings–more like savoring it.  While billed as “fantasy,” the series deals with a lot of political intrigue and very little magic or “fantasy.”  I should also warn you that it is not a happy story; instead, it is one that might appeal to fans of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.  Martin’s world is harsh, dark, and cold, and his slogan “Winter Is Coming” is well chosen for the tagline of the HBO series.

HBO has also released the following image of our hero, Ned Stark, as played by Sean Bean:

Photo Credit: Helen Sloan/ HBO (via Winter-is-Coming.net).

For more detailed coverage of the series, including the casting process, check out Winter-Is-Coming.net.

If you’re interested in more coverage of the park opening by the Leaky team, check out the rest of the PotterCast YouTube videos.  Also, the official site for the park is very shiny, and has info on attractions and how to buy tickets.