“I was ripped from my body, I was less than spirit, less than the meanest ghost…but still, I was alive.”
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
How Romance's Hottest Writing Duo Turned Fanfic Into A Career
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The women behind Christina Lauren talk genre writing, fandom, and what it’s like working with your best friend.
Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs.
Courtesy of Christina Lauren
It's an exciting time to be Christina Lauren, aka romance-writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The pair have come a long way since they met, and immediately clicked, at a 2009 Comic Con panel on fan fiction. This was back when fan fiction was unrelated to their day jobs (for Christina, junior high counseling; for Lauren, putting her Ph.D. in neuroscience to work), and when writing was just a hobby. It was right before they decided to collaborate on a story that was so well-received they decided, hey, maybe they were onto something — and why not give writing a book together a try?
It worked: Together they've written 10 New York Times best-selling novels, they've been translated into 28 languages, and the projects keep piling on. They recently completed a rewrite on the script for Beautiful Bastard — the novel that started it all, first appearing online as Twilight-inspired fan fiction called The Office — which sold two years ago to Constantin Film. They've got Dark Wild Night — the third book in their critically acclaimed Wild Seasons series — coming out today, and YA paranormal romance novel The House — their first to receive a Kirkus starred review — out next month.
And more: The pair have just signed a new contract with Gallery Books for three novels — two stand-alone titles (summer 2016, spring 2017), and the final book in the Beautiful series (fall 2016) — plus one e-novella, Beautiful Boss (February 2016). It's an exciting time to be Christina Lauren, yes — but maybe even more so to be their fan.
We met with Christina and Lauren — who are so in sync they really do finish each other's sentences, and so supportive they volley praise back and forth — to talk over coffee about the lessons they've learned while writing professionally, navigating the fan fiction world, and working with their best friend. Here's what they had to say:
1. If you want to work with a writing partner, you have to leave the ego at the door.
How do you guys handle editing each other?
Lauren Billings: It's been pretty easy. I think from the beginning we've known the most important thing is for the story to be as strong as it can be, so any time Christina has criticism of something I've written, or vice versa, we both understand that it's for the better of the book.
Christina Hobbs: You can't be precious.
LB: You really can't be precious. And we just work really well together. Because she's very laid-back, and I'm very neurotic, but we need both of those things. And usually, when one of us edits, the other is like, "I knew that part wasn't working, thanks for ironing it out." There's no ego. That's the important thing. You have to really trust each other.
What Book Helped You During Your Depression?
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Sometimes what you need is a good read.
Depression is a very serious subject and something that many people experience.
Universal Pictures / Via giphy.com
Sometimes it feels like such a heavy burden on your life, and you never think you'll get out of it.
Summit Entertainment / Via rebloggy.com
There are many ways people cope with depression, and one of them can be reading a really good book.
Walt Disney Pictures / Via alicesadventuresintherye.tumblr.com
Maybe you escaped into the magical world of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and it made you feel less alone.
35 WTF Books That Actually Exist
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
“Old Tractors and the Men Who Love Them.”
This cool tip.
This super helpful tip for how to increase your smarts.
These recipes to avoid on a first date.
This cone full of the Lord.
Your Favorite "Game Of Thrones" Scene-Stealer Is Stepping Into The Spotlight
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Conleth Hill, who plays Lord Varys on Game of Thrones, talks to BuzzFeed News about his new film, A Patch of Fog, the lies of Wikipedia, and Varys memes.
Conleth Hill in A Patch of Fog.
Courtesy of TIFF
TORONTO — To Game of Thrones fans, Conleth Hill is Lord Varys, the master of whispers, the spider, the eunuch — and one of the show's best characters. He plays the role with a raised eyebrow, a resonant voice, and intelligence. Lovers of George R.R. Martin's books had high expectations for Varys, a fan favorite on the page as well, but the show's creators, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, cast the part in such a way that no one is complaining.
With his head shaved to play Varys, Hill is unmistakeable looking, but with his full head of hair, he has had a career varied enough that you may have seen him without realizing. Before Game of Thrones, Hill — who is from Northern Ireland — had a prolific career on U.K. television and on stage. (He has been nominated for two Tony Awards.) At the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, Hill is adding to his CV with A Patch of Fog, in which he plays Sandy, a rich, lauded novelist with a self-destructive pathology: He steals. When Robert (Stephen Graham of Snatch and Boardwalk Empire), a security guard, catches him, Sandy finds himself indebted to Robert — who, unfortunately, is an obsessive, friendless stalker.
Set in Belfast, A Patch of Fog, directed by Michael Lennox, is a stylish, tense showcase for both actors, as their characters vie for power over each other. BuzzFeed News met Hill for an interview to discuss the movie, and, of course, playing Lord Varys. By the end of the interview, we were looking at Tumblr gifs of Varys, causing Hill to exclaim, "It makes me feel like Lady Diana!"
When you first read this screenplay, what did you think of Sandy?
Conleth Hill: Well, to be brutally honest, when I first read it, it was in connection with a different part, which I rejected because it was only one day. Then a week before principle photography started, the original Sandy dropped out. So it was very fortuitous — luck comes into it. But I just thought he was a fascinating character. I knew that there was so much enigma there, which you don't really have to do much to portray, you just play it. What is so clever about it is I think he's equally as lonely and desperate as Robert; he's just in better surroundings and is more affluent, but equally lost. The shoplifting is a major factor, and the fact that his relationship is semi-secret. There was something kind of covert about him, and mysterious about him.
You came in at the last minute, but I'm curious about the kinds of conversations you had with Stephen Graham about the dynamic between your two characters, which constantly shifts throughout.
CH: He's tremendously intelligent about things, and succinct and economical, and that appealed to me as well. All the kind of lack of awareness of space, he brought that all to it — that wasn't scripted per se. And I had no idea how close he would get, or what he would be doing, and then you have to react and still play the scene. It was very exciting, and very educational, I have to say — he taught me so much.
As an American moviegoer, I'm not sure I've seen fancy Belfast in a movie before. Sandy has a nice life he's trying to protect! You're from Northern Ireland — tell me about that aspect of this movie for you.
CH: You know, one of the many disadvantages of making movies in Northern Ireland is that for so long people weren't interested in financing them unless there was a sexy war conflict aspect to it. So yeah, the fact that The Troubles, religion, anything like that aren't mentioned in this movie is basically how most people in Northern Ireland live anyway. That's never been a huge factor for all of us from day to day. That again was an appeal. We know now it's a great location spot for movie-makers because you have an urban center, and then within 15-20 minutes, you can be in the wilds of the country. Anything that shows off where I come from, I'm very proud of.
There were some little things in the screenplay I really liked — a moment when Sandy is pleading with Robert, and he's about to say the "sword of Damocles" is over his head, and then realizes he's talking to someone less educated, and changes it to a "big sword." It's very detailed and layered.
CH: Part of his irritation was Robert's ignorance or misuse of words. He would get quite impatient with that, kind of biting on tinfoil when he used the wrong word — he calls him a "paganist" rather than a "plagiarist" at one stage. Stephen was determined not to make him the caricature-y, stereotypical sort of stalker psycho. There's so much pathos in what he does, and I think that's the strength of it as well. Sometimes you're rooting for Robert; sometimes you feel so much for what he's going through in his loneliness.
Hill and Graham in A Patch of Fog.
Courtesy of TIFF
I never trust Wikipedia, but —
CH: No, don't. When I did Conan O'Brien, the researcher said, "So, I believe your first wife made you go into acting." And I was, like, "First wife?" That implies more than one. I have never been married. But I think someone went in there and had a laugh. But I don't mind.
Is that the bit on your page about how you were once a fisherman and then went into acting?
CH: Yes. I have never been a fisherman.
There's just a full lie on your Wikipedia page.
CH: Yes. I'd love to know who did it. Not for revenge or anything, but to say it's quite funny.
Have you always been an actor, then?
CH: I went to art college for a year, then went to drama school, then started working. I've been working for about 30 years now.
Did you feel you could have a career that would be contained within the U.K.?
CH: I made the decision quite early on to live where I wanted to live, and then go where the work was if I could afford to, because I love where I'm from and I've always lived there. It's worked out very fortuitously. I remember being on Broadway for the first time, and somebody gave me the box set of the first series of The Sopranos. And that white noise over the HBO logo at the beginning, and how brilliant the show was, I went, I'd love to do something like that. I loved the ensemble of it as well. But I'd have to leave home, and make all these changes to my life. I think the lesson is if you wait long enough, they'll come to you. So the fact that I can wrap in Belfast and be in my garden in the afternoon is a bonus.
Game of Thrones literally did come to you, geographically.
CH: I did resist it for so long, I have to say. Because I didn't know anything about the novels. And how it was described to me by my agent at the time, I was like, "I don't want to do that." She persevered, thankfully, and said, "Look, they're in Belfast, go meet them." OK. Then David and Dan were just so brilliant. It's been a nice ride. I don't know how long it will go on — none of us know. Because we're past the books now, so everything is new ground for all of us.
You've said you haven't read the books.
CH: I can't wait to read them when I'm finished. I think he's a genius. And without him, we wouldn't be here. But the reason I didn't is because I wasn't doing the books. I didn't want to read a brilliant scene in the books that wasn't in the TV series and worry about it. Or vice versa.
36 Things That Would Be Different If "Harry Potter" Were Set In Canada
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The sorting hat would be a toque.
Buzzfeed Canada // Warner Bros. / Thinkstock
1. Harry's Hogwarts letters would all have been lost by Canada Post.
2. Hagrid would tell Harry "Vous êtes un magicien, 'Arry."
3. Instead of being half-giant, Hagrid would be half-Bonhomme.
4. Harry's vault in Gringott's would be filled with loonies and toonies.
5. The Hogwarts Express would be a VIA train and it would take days to cross Canada to get to Hogwarts.
6. Platform 9 ¾ would constantly be under construction.
7. Hedwig would be a Canada goose.
Kat Angus/BuzzFeedCanada
8. The sorting hat would be a toque.
9. Dumbledore would reward the Hogwarts houses with Shoppers Optimum points.
10. The Defence Against the Dark Arts class would feature a special unit on operating a wand while wearing mittens.
11. Wizards would use magic to remove snow from the streets.
12. Stephen Harper would be the Minister of Magic.
13. Butterbeer would be called Maplebeer...
14. ...And everyone would have to go to Quebec to drink it.
15. Harry's invisibility cloak would be a Hudson's Bay blanket.
The Hardest Weasley Family Quiz You'll Ever Take
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The hottest family in the wizarding world.
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