Ever since she was a child, Violet Ambrose could sense dead things by their echoes—unique imprints that the deceased gives off—which also attaches to the killer. The echoes call to Violet, who is unable to resist and she follows them until the source is located. Living in a house surrounded by dense woods, Violet’s father could often be found patiently trailing behind his toddler as she followed the echoes of prey that failed to elude its predator.
When Violet was eight-years-old, the echo that she responded to wasn’t a dead bird or squirrel, but that of a little girl whom Violet found peering out of a shallow grave.
Trolling on EW.com this morning, I ran across an article that Penguin has decided to reissue some old books with tattoo inspired covers. While the artistic value is appreciated, some, who have been into the tattoo culture well before it became a fad, may look at this as just one more thing fostering its continued dilution into the mainstream. Thank you, Ed Hardy.
Major international corporations have applied the methods of master management coach, Zen Ohashi. Tasked by another company to put together documentation on his program, Zen felt a bit overwhelmed and looked to his friend and colleague, Zono Kurazono, for help. Together Ohashi and Kurazono fulfilled their obligation and then took it a step further; the results were Wow: A Handbook for Living.
Vivien Armstrong Gray came from a politically ambitious, well-bred Georgia family. Her younger sister Melanie was a pleaser and rarely rocked the boat. Melanie met her politically-aspiring husband, JJ (Jordan Jackson Jr.) in college, had two kids and settled down in a well-to-do Georgia suburb. After JJ was killed in a hunting accident two years ago Vivien practically left skid-marks to get away from her sister’s pain.
Perky Karen Vera considered herself the most “legendary” cheerleader on Peachtree High’s JV cheer squad. Standing at 5’1” with natural blonde hair—despite her half-Cuban ancestry—she proved it by sticking the landing atop of the JV squad’s, awe-inspiring 17 foot pyramid; at least until “loser extraordinaire”, Kevin Jenkins, yelled that Karen wasn’t wearing underwear.
Dr. Diane Fallow had just left the mountain top home of Roy and Ozella Barres after picking up Indian artifacts to be displayed at the museum for which she works. A big storm was coming and Roy Barres was on his third rendition of the same story regarding the arrowheads when it was determined Diane would need to leave immediately before the storm hit full force.
Not since Lisa McMann’s Wake in 2007 have I felt compelled to contact an author about their book; but, after reading Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, which was so poignant, beautiful and amazing, I was left with no choice. On the eve of her debut release, Lauren was kind enough to answer a few questions:
Elaina wakes up in the hotel with Ben – who is sleeping with his fangs extended like some type of vampire morning wood—she tries to escape, but Anna comes home foiling the effort. Elaina is locked in the bathroom, where she finds Bonnie in the bathtub—and not in a good way. Later, Anna gives them the sob story about her mother being collateral damage in Katherine’s sexual deviance with the Salvatore brothers. This week was a trip back to the past where we see Evil Elaina aka Katherine working her wiley vampiric ways on both Salvatore brothers. Nice! Katherine is staying with the Salvatore’s whom Emily works for; while she helps the vampires. We also learn that Pearl is Anna’s mother; and may be locked in the tomb with Katherine and the others. Vervain for everyone! Stefan gives Elaina enough of the plant to keep everybody vamp-free for the foreseeable future. Later, Elaina and Jeremy order pizza and the delivery guy turns out to be Elaina’s road kill—we’ll call him Hoody (he has a name, but won’t be around long enough to matter). Jeremy searches for his three-fitty to pay the man, inviting him in as he slowly works out the math. The ever concerned Stefan, the victim of a jump and dump—over a photo no less—is frantically calling Elaina to make sure she’s ok. As if to thumb her nose at Stefan, Elaina leaves her vervain necklace on top of Katherine’s picture—the only thing she’ll prove is that her neck is not puncture resistant; but I digress.
