Go on, take a sip. It’s good stuff. A Positive. Vlad says it’s nice.

Vlad says a lot of things, in fact. He’s been telling me all about what faces him his junior year of high school (writing ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS now) and, of course, most of you know that he shared his experiences in tenth grade with me a while ago (TENTH GRADE BLEEDS has been written and is waiting for copy edits). But what you don’t know is what happens in TGB. So…I’ve decided to give you a sneak peek at the first chapter.

CALM DOWN a second!! Don’t get your fangs all tangled (Is that even possible? well, I suppose if they grew in wrong…). This will just be between you and I. I’m not posting it anywhere else on the website, and it has yet to be copy edited, so it’s riddled with errors that I don’t want to hear about. But…I thought it might be fun to share. SPOILER WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ NINTH GRADE SLAYS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THIS SNEAK-PEEK!

Without further ado, the first chapter of the third book in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod:

CHAPTER ONE:
ENTER IGNATIUS

Ignatius drew the curved blade along the whetstone slowly, the gritty sound filling his ears. It had to be sharp, sharp enough to slice into bone if necessary. He didn’t expect to kill the halfling boy, only to damage him, break him, before dragging his nearly-lifeless body before the Council, as he’d been hired to do. But if the boy gave him any trouble at all, Ignatius would take his bloody pleasures slowly, so that the boy felt every bruise, every cut.

He almost hoped the boy would fight back, give him an excuse to torture him. After all, he had it coming. His very existence was an abomination.

Small sparks flew from the blade and at last, Ignatius pulled metal from stone. He ran his thumb along the steel, splitting his pale skin open. Blood–rich, red–dripped from the cut before it healed closed again.

He was hungry. It was always better to hunt when he was hungry. He hadn’t eaten in months, in eager anticipation of that insatiable need pushing him through the capture, and perhaps, the kill.

The Council had been clear: “Bring us Vladimir Tod and your reward will be immeasurable.” They never mentioned in what condition to bring him, had only barely stressed that he should be living. Little did they know, Ignatius didn’t require payment. Causing the boy’s suffering–and perhaps even his death, he thought with a pleasant shiver–would be reward enough.

The boy who would be Pravus. The thought enraged Ignatius further and he returned his blade to the whetstone, working it slowly, smoothing the edge into a razor.

Soon. Once the final paperwork was signed, his hunt would begin.

And Vladimir Tod would be made to suffer.

Okay, so not all of you hate Meredith, but it did give me pause to see that so many of you do. It’s cool, though–I don’t really have an opinion of Meredith just yet. And now…the results of my “What do you think of Meredith?” poll:

66 of you voted.

6.1% (4 votes) had no idea who Meredith was (which means you either haven’t read my books–SHAME ON YOU!!!–or you felt Meredith comes off as a distant stranger.

10.6% (7 votes) thought Vlad should dump Meredith (which means you either dislike her, feel she’s ill-matched with Vlad, or you’d rather it were YOU who were dating him…).

13.6% (9 votes) loathe Meredith with every fiber of your being. (Seriously, is it the pink obsession? Cuz that’s totally not my fault…)

24.2% (16 votes) think that Meredith is the perfect girl for Vlad.

and 45.5% (30 votes) think that Meredith is okay…just okay, nothing special.

So…what this tells me is that I need to spend more time with Meredith, getting to know her as a character. I won’t tell you what will happen between she and Vlad, or if anything will actually happen at all. But I will tell you that I absolutely appreciate your honesty as I charge forth with this manuscript. Fangs so much, Minions! =

Sorry I haven’t been blogging much, Minions. Vlad and I have been having a good, long talk about his junior year (TENTH GRADE BLEEDS has already been written and accepted by my editor, so I’m currently writing ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS). In short…it sucks. Not the story, but everything Vlad is facing. And here I thought 10th grade was bad…

What kills me is that I can share none of it with you, because anything I want to babble about will give away secrets that I’m not ready for you to know just yet….y’know? So bear with your Auntie Heather. I’m working hard not to disappoint you.

That being said, I’ve come to a point where I need input from my Minions. So, without further ado, a poll:

I’ve been stalking my grocery store magazine aisle for days now, waiting to catch a glimpse of the July 2008 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. Why? Because I knew there would be an ad inside for Vlad…and for the cool new Vlad contest at Sugarloot. And then yesterday…

WHAMMO! KAPOW! KA-CHA!
There it was. My ad! Or rather, Vlad’s. (Thank you, Penguin! You rock in all of your Penguin-y goodness!) Cool, huh? I thought so.

So…that’s my good news for the day. What’s up with my Minions? Are we enjoying summer break?

Wooooooooooow. Special Effects dye is soooooo stainy! Right now my bathroom looks like I committed a horrific crime with a hatchet (and maybe a pair of pliers *shifty eyes*). When the color on the bottle says “blood red”, you’ve got to know these people did their research.

So yeah, I dyed my hair…AGAIN. This time is all “Starry Night” black with two bright, blood red, wide streaks in the front. Weeeeee! I’ll have to snap some pics and share. I really like it. It just feels right on my head, y’know?

Anyhoo: three bits of info for the Minion Horde. One, NINTH GRADE SLAYS was given a kick butt review by Crystal of Crystal’s book reviews. Two, I answered Robin Friedman’s Question of the Week. And three, my son Jacob made a new YouTube video…in which he mocks his darling mother. (Stop by, give him stars and lots of comments!)

Okay, Minions. Many of you have been asking about that pesky “no violence” rule in the big new Vlad contest, so I inquired and the official word is this: “If you think you’re crossing a line in terms of violence, you probably are.”

It’s acceptable for someone to don their fangs and to pretend to bite someone, but it must look fake or fantasical–so, no real biting and drawing blood, Minions (as an aside, you should probably refrain from this practice anyway, as I’m not convinced it’s entirely healthy to drink other people’s blood). Also, no guns, and nothing that looks too real or else the folks moderating the contest might disqualify your entry and boot you out.

There are already entries, so get to work, Minions! Part one of this contest is getting a pic entered. Part two is getting votes!

Go forth, my Minions, and clicketh.

Auntie Heather is FREAKING OUT with excitement, Minions! Because Monday morning (as in midnight-oh-one-a.m.), June 16th, the big Super Secret Contest goes live!!! Are you thrilled? Dizzy with anticipation? Yeah…I thought you might be.

Now, as I’ve said before, this contest is unlike any other contest I’ve run before. We’re talking the coolest, most expensive prizes I’ve offered to date. We’re talking Penguin is placing a 1/3 page ad in Nickelodeon Magazine (July issue – hits homes/stores June 17th) and sponsoring the contest on a cool contest site which shall remain nameless until Monday! It also means that you’ll have to work extra hard to win. Because whether or not you win won’t be up to me…it’ll be up to you.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Gawd, I love torturing the Horde sometimes…

What’s the contest about? Well…I guess you’ll find out on Monday. =

Good luck, Minions!

And by the way, I just got the news this morning that Barnes & Noble (woops, almost typed “brains”…I’m feeling very zombie-ish today) will have Vlad Tod end caps in stores across the country in July!!! (FYI, an “end cap” is the end of one of their big shelf things, normally reserved for people like Stephenie Meyer…so clearly B&N has lost their mind, but in a good way, as they’re spreading the Vlad love) But dude…all Vlad books. I feel special. So does Vlad. =

The Official Minion Horde Summer Reading List
Here it is! The official list (alphabetized just for you) of books, comics, and manga that a Minion just can’t miss out on. So, copy it to a World file and print this sucker out, then get to reading!

BOOK LIST

THIRSTY and FEED by M.T. Anderson
GO ASK ALICE by Anonymous
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher
DEN OF SHADOWS series and KIESHA’RA series by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

A COLLAGE OF MAGICS by Anne Baldwin
ABARAT by Clive Barker
DARKSIDE by Tom Becker
DEAR DUMB DIARY series by Jim Benson
FLESH AND SPIRIT by Carol Berg
TITHE, VALIANT, and IRONSIDE by Holly Black
HOPE’S BOY by Andrew Bridges
MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs
LOST SOULS, EXQUISITE CORPSE, DRAWING BLOOD, LIQUOR, SOUL KITCHEN, and PRIME by Poppy Z. Brite
STORY TIME by Edward Bloor

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES series by Rachel Caine
DRAGON’S KEEP by Janet Lee Carey
1-800-WHERE-R-YOU and MEDIATOR series by Jenny Carroll (Meg Cabot)
I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU and CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE TO SPY by Ally Carter
BLOODLINE, and BLOODLINE:RECKONING by Kate Cary
HOUSE OF NIGHT series by P.C. and Kristin Cast
DREAMING trilogy by Queenie Chan
TOUCH THE DARK by Karen Chance
CITY OF BONES and CITY OF ASHES by Cassandra Clare
THE WERELING TRILOGY by Stephen Cole
ARTEMIS FOWL series by Eoin Colfer
THE BLACK COMPANY by Glen Cook
THE NAMED (1st book of Pellinor) by Allison Croggon

BLUE BLOODS and MASQUERADE by Melissa De La Cruz
THE BLUE GIRL, RIDDLE OF THE WREN, and WOLF MOON by Charles de Lint
LITTLE BROTHER by Cory Doctorow
YOUNG WIZARDS by Diane Duane
BLOOD COLONY by Tananarive Due
KILLING MR. GRIFFIN by Lois Duncan
BY THESE TEN BONES by Clare B. Dunkle

DAUGHTERS OF THE MOON, SONS OF THE DARK series by Lynne Ewing

BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES, WHITE IS FOR MAGIC, SILVER IS FOR SECRETS, and RED IS FOR REMEMBRANCE by Laurie Faria Stolarz
BEASTLY by Alex Finn
RANGER’S APPRENTICE series by John Flanagan
INKHEART series and THE THIEF LORD by Cornelia Funke

AMERICAN GODS and NEVERWHERE by Neil Gaiman
BODY OF EVIDENCE series and SAINTS AND SHADOWS series by Christopher Golden
LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green
VAMPIRE ISLAND and VAMPIRE ISLAND: THE KNAVEHEART’S CURSE by Adele Griffin

SPEAK, PROM, and CATALYST by Laurie Halse Anderson
THE GUARDIAN by Jane Hamilton
VERDIGRIS DEEP by Frances Hardinge
SWEETBLOOD by Pete Hautman
THE ONE WHERE THE KID NEARLY JUMPS TO HIS DEATH AND LANDS IN CALIFORNIA by Mary Hershey
HEART-SHAPED BOX by Joe Hill
OUTSIDERS and RUMBLEFISH by S.E. Hinton
ALEX RIDER series and GATEKEEPER SERIES by Anthony Horowitz
BUNNICULA by James and Deborah Howe
SOCIETY OF S by Susan Hubbard
SORCERERS OF THE NIGHTWING by Geoffrey Huntington

DON’T DIE DRAGONFLY by Linda Joy

THE DIARIES OF THE FAMILY DRACUL by Jean Kalogridis
DUMA KEY, THE STAND, PET SEMETARY, and SALEM’S LOT (in my opinion, pretty much everything) by Stephen King
YOU DON’T KNOW ME by David Klass
THE RED QUEEN’S DAUGHTER by Jacqueline Kolosov
THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova
A SEPARATE PEACE by John Knowles

TANTALIZE by Cynthia Leitich Smith
HOW THEY MET AND OTHER STORIES by David Levithan
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series by C.S. Lewis
THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FAN BOY AND GOTH GIRL by Barry Lyga

WICKED by Gregory Maguire
BOYS THAT BITE, GIRLS THAT GROWN, and STAKE THAT! By Mari Mancusi
WICKED LOVELY and INK EXCHANGE by Melissa Marr
UNINVITED by Amanda Marrone
THE OTHER BROTHER by Brandon Massey
HELL HOUSE and I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson
BEAUTY and SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley
WAKE by Lisa McMann
VAMPIRE ACADEMY series by Richelle Mead
SUCK IT UP by Brian Meehl
HUNTER’S MOON by O.R. Melling
TWILIGHT series and THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer
BLOODSUCKING FIENDS and YOU SUCK (a love story) by Christopher Moore
UNINVITED by Justine Musk

INHERITANCE CYCLE series by Christopher Paolini
MAXIMUM RIDE series by James Patterson
MONSTER by Frank Peretti
DEFINE “NORMAL” by Julie Anne Peters
DARKANGEL TRILOGY by Meredith Ann Pierce
SONG OF THE LIONESS QUARTET by Tamora Pierce
WHAT HAPPENED TO LANI GARVER by Carol Plum-Ucci
KING DORK by Frank Portman

WITCH CHILD, SORCERESS, PIRATES! and BLOOD SINISTER by Celia Rees
VAMPIRE HIGH by Douglas Rees
UNLEASHED and TRIPPING TO SOMEWHERE by Kristopher Reisz
WITCH’S SISTER series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
VAMPIRE CHRONICLES series by Anne Rice
SORORITY TRILOGY by Serena Robar
THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss

VAMPIRE KISSES series by Ellen Schreiber
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME by Lisa Schroeder
THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold
THE BOOK OF DEAD DAYS by Marcus Sedgwick
CIRQUE DU FREAK series by Darren Shan
ELSEWHERE by Will Shetterly
THE SCHWA WAS HERE, EVERLOST, UNWIND, and FULL TILT by Neal Shusterman
THE SEER series by Linda Joy Singleton
VAMPIRE DIARIES series by L.J. Smith
VAMPIRATES by Justin Somper
DOPPELGANGER by David Stahler Junior
DANGEROUS GIRLS and THE TASTE OF NIGHT by R.L. Stine
DRACULA by Bram Stoker

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LARRY by Janet Tashjian
SWEEP series by Cate Tiernan
FLIPPED by Wendelin Van Draanen
SCARLET MOON by Debbie Viguie
THE UGLIES series and MIDNIGHTERS series by Scott Westerfeld
A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT by Laura Whitcomb
MEMORIES OF SUMMER by Ruth White
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
ORPHANS OF CHAOS by John C. Wright
THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALRED KROPP and ALFRED KROPP: THE SEAL OF SOLOMON by Rick Yancey
ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin
THE BOOK THIEF and I AM THE MESSENGER by Marcus Zuzak

MANGA/COMIC LIST

SWITCH and DOLLS by Naked Ape
LENORE, THE CUTE LITTLE DEAD GIRL by Roman Dirge
FROM FAR AWAY by Kyoko Hakawa
OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB and MILLENIUM SNOW by Bisco Hatori
VAMPIRE KNIGHT by Katsuri Hino
VAMPIRE HUNTER D by Hideyuki Kikuchi
FAIRY TAIL by Hiro Mashima
ONE PIECE by Eiichiro Oda
DEATHNOTE by Tsugumi Ohba
GINTAMA by Hideaki Sorachi
D.N.ANGEL by Yukiru Sugisaki
THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE CROSS by Arina Tanemura
JTHM (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac) by Jhonen Vasquez
BLACKCAT by Kentaro Yabuki
GODCHILD by Kaori Yuki
KILL ME, KISS ME by Lee Young Yuu
ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND by Watase Yuu