More News and Reviews

February 2010

Feb. 27: California Readers Luncheon -- Burbank , CA

Feb. 11: Talbert Middle School -- Huntington Beach , CA

Feb 8: Bernice Ayer Middle School -- San Clemente, CA

Jan 2010:

Jan. 29: Pacetti Bay Middle School -- St. Augustine, FL

Jan. 27: Oakleaf Jr. High -- Orange Park, FL

Jan. 26: Lake Asbury Jr. High -- Green Cove Springs, FL

Jan. 25: -- Gamble Rogers Middle School, St. Augustine, FL

Dec 2-14:

Dec 14: Adams Middle School -- Los Angeles, CA

Dec 11: Klein Middle School -- Klein, TX

Dec 10: Hodges Bend Middle School -- Houston, TX; West Memorial Jr. High -- Katy, TX

Dec 9: Spring Oaks Middle School -- Houston, TX

Dec. 7: Quail Valley Middle School -- Missouri City, TX

Nov 21st:

CSLA Conference, Ontario, CA

Dec. 3:

Millikan Middle School -- Sherman Oaks, CA

Dec. 2:

Paul Revere Middle School -- Pacific Palisades, CA

Dec. 1:

Danville Public Library

Nov. 7-14

Madison Middle School -- Seattle, WA

Einstein Middle School -- Shoreline, WA

Meeker Middle School -- Tacoma, WA

Denny Middle School -- Seattle, WA

Oct. 20

Teen Read Week

Sherman Oaks Public Library

Oct. 4

Orange County Children's Book Festival

Sep. 28-Oct. 3

Tour of Chicago Area Middle Schools

Rochelle School -- Rochelle, IL

Leland School -- Leland, IL

Earlville -- Earlville, IL

Madison Jr. High -- Naperville, IL

Kennedy Jr. High -- Lisle, IL

What people are saying:

"I enjoyed [The Prophecy Keepers] very much! It's a real page-turner. If I'd known I'd race through it so fast, I'd have allowed myself to read it much earlier. It's very exciting with so much happening and so many surprises, but it's also very satisfying in terms of [Bryant's] creation of another world with its own customs and history and language(s), which nonetheless has so many relationships with ours. Lisandra is a very recognizable and sympathetic teenager although she lives in this different world with its magic and supernatural struggles. Of course I picked up lots of allusions to Old and Middle English, Homer, Spenser etc: the Duessa/Fidessa ambiguities, Arethus, Redcrosse. Obviously it's a much richer novel if you have this background, but I don't think it's essential to understanding and enjoying it. I think schoolkids who have never heard of Spenser will still be fascinated by it as many people have been by Tolkien without being medievalists themselves. I'm longing to read the next one!"

--Dr. Priscilla Martin, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford (Sep 2009)

July 25

Ventura County Book Festival

July 11-14

ALA Convention, Chicago
Empyrean Hill Books attended its first ALA Conference to showcase The Prophecy Keepers. Melaine came along to talk with people and sign books.

June 6

Melaine concluded her four month school book tour today at Calle Mayor Middle School. Many thanks to the all the teachers, librarians, and students who made her visits fun and rewarding!

April 18

Passport to Reading, Woodland Hills, CA

Feb 15

Click here to read an interview with Melaine by Fantasy Book Review

The Prophecy Keepers called "Best Debut of 2008" by Fantasy Book Review

February

Melaine kicks off four month book tour of California middle schools! Read more...