Heartstopper Netflix Review

Heartstopper is an LGBTQ+ Netflix show based on the series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman. The main characters are Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring. Charlie is an openly gay character in school, whereas Nick struggles to come to terms with his sexuality and his growing feelings for Charlie. It also follows the developing romances between Darcy/Tara and Elle/Tao.

The show features themes such as struggling with identity, bullying and homophobia. Some of the characters face challenges when they decide to come out to their school as a couple, which leads to some homophobic slurs. There is also some scenes of bullying for Charlie from the rugby boys (Nick not included). Lots of people will be going through some of the same issues as Nick (not knowing their sexuality) or Charlie (being bullied). This series shows that these characters are able to get through these issues and are able to be together at the end despite everything.

In terms of characters Nick and Charlie are the most perfect couple who you just want to protect. They would do anything for each other. Nick tries to protect Charlie from his bullying homophobic friends, and Charlie just wants someone who makes him happy which is Nick. Kit Connor and Joe Locke are perfect in these two roles.

All of the cast is perfect. Everyone is on tenterhooks for the will they/won't they storyline between Tao and Elle. It is very sweet seeing Elle try to make friends at her new school. Her new friends end up being Darcy and Tara who themselves have just become a couple, but they face lots of prejudice when the school finds out about this.

Imogen and Isaac are perfect new characters. I love seeing which book Isaac will be reading next in each scene he is in. His reading list includes Radio Silence by Alice Oseman and Gareth Thomas' book. Imogen's character is used to help Nick see how he truly feels about Charlie and how he will only ever see her as a friend, but she supports his decision.

And then there's Ben, the guy who just uses Charlie for his own amusement. He never acknowledges that he knows Charlie when he sees him unless he wants to meet him in secret. There's also the fact that Ben has a girlfriend. Lastly, there's Harry who is a posh, rich homophobic bully. He always picks on Charlie, Tao and Nick. He doesn't like the fact that his friend Nick is hanging out with the gay kid Charlie. These are the two characters you are allowed to hate in the show.

Mr Ajayi is a great character because he always gives Charlie advice and let's him hide in the art room when he wants to be alone. He tries to help Charlie through the bullying. He is also very supportive of Nick and Charlie's relationship. 

Charlie's sister Tori tries to help him through his problems when he feels alone in the world. She does everything for her brother. It's funny how she just turns up everywhere as well when you aren't expecting it. She is a great character in this show and I hope we get to see more of her in series 2. 

In relation to the graphic novels the show very strongly matches the books. All of the key scenes in the TV show, such as the snow scene and the beach scene, are in the graphic novels. I also like how they use images from the graphic novels, such as lightning bolts, flying leaves and cartoon people for Charlie's bullying scene.

My overall rating is 5/5 stars. I absolutely love this show. My favourite scenes are their first kiss, Charlie and Nick at the grab machine in the bowling arcade and the beach scene. The scene between Nick and his mum when he came out as bisexual is also a very touching moment. I also like seeing Alice Oseman in the show, such as the train scene when she is sat opposite them. This show helps anyone who struggles with their own identity find out more about themselves. There are not many LGBTQ+ TV shows on at the moment, but this shows that they can be made and stay true to the original source material they are based on. I would recommend reading the graphic novels first and then watching the Netflix series. 

Little Rumours

 Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce

Writing real monsters

I used to write Young Adult (YA) novels, exclusively. Then I began to write short stories for adults and realised how much fun it was to occasionally write about things that wouldn’t much interest teenagers. So, I started writing novels for adults.

Little Rumours is my second book for adults, The Girl on the Platform (2021) being my first.

All my novels whether for young people or older readers, have strong female characters and are dark and thrilling.

My books for teenagers tend to also contain elements of the paranormal, myths and legends. Even books like Savage Island and Cruel Castle, which is my teen horror duology with only human monsters, has hidden mythological elements.

Monsters are fun to write about and, as a writer, you can use them to explore issues. I’ve written about fallen angels, Nephilim, ghosts, Gods, hell hounds, parallel universes, giant carnivorous worms, zombies, witches and talking cats.

However, I soon realised that the scariest monsters are not witches, zombies and ghosts; they’re people. Good people who do awful things. Or simply bad people whose only interest is ‘what benefits me’.

I’ve been toying with this idea since the beginning, playing with the concept of what makes good people into monsters and the idea of the anti-villain (good people who do bad things), rather than the anti-hero (a bad person who does good things). And the more I’ve written, the more obvious my interest in this topic has become. In Angel’s Fury (my first ever novel) I look at the second world war. Raising Hell, my most recent YA novel, is filled with recognisable monsters, but the real evil in the story comes from the politicians who want to use them for their own agenda. After all, monsters have no choice in the way they act (that’s one of the reasons I chose zombies for the novel – they’re literally brainless and seeking brains). People who know right from wrong, who still make the evil choice - that’s scary.

My books for adults have made the full transition. They are about people, not monsters. Often, otherwise good people, who make the bad choices. Who do the wrong things. They force the reader to ask themselves, what would I do in this situation?

In Little Rumours we are faced with three mothers whose worlds are each turned upside down when the worst possible thing happens and one of their children disappears. What would each mother do to protect their own child? What happens when this is the wrong choice, the bad choice, the evil choice?

And what would you do?

For more information about Bryony and her work, please visit her website www.bryonypearce.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Bryonypearce or on Instagram BryonyPearce.

If you would like to read Little Rumours, follow this link to Amazon Little Rumours: A dark and twisty thriller set in a small town built on secrets and lies eBook : Pearce, Bryony: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store. The novel is available in paperback, as an ebook or an audio book.

Sleep Tight Blog Tour

 7th March 2021- This is my stop for the Sleep Tight blog tour

Even in your dreams you’re not safe…
The nightmare is only just beginning…
When DC Rose Gifford is called to investigate the death of a young woman suffocated in her bed, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to the crime than meets the eye. It looks like a straightforward crime scene – but the police can’t find the killer. Enter DS Moody – an eccentric older detective who runs UCIT, a secret department of the Met set up to solve supernatural crimes. Moody wants Rose to help her out – but Rose doesn’t believe in any of that. Does she? As the killer prepares to strike again, Rose must pick a side – before a second woman dies.

This novel was based on a subject I have never read about, which is people being attacked after a mysterious man visits them in their dreams. All the victims have strange dreams where they are attacked by a mysterious figure and believe they are being stalked by this figure. But why is this person doing this and how are they doing this?

The main character Rose Gifford was a very likeable character and only wanted to do the best she could throughout her job. Everyone tried to put her down when she made lots of really good suggestions about the killer and the case in general. Her boss was not a very nice character in my opinion as she never listened to Rose, she would always shout at her and blame her for things. 

I enjoyed reading about the dreams in this novel as I'm sure lots of people have had similar dreams in the past where they believe a mystery figure is standing over them whilst they are sleeping. I was just intrigued to read about the killer getting to the victims in the real world not just in their dreams.

The pacing was good and it moved at a moderate pace. The action was spaced throughout the novel and not just in one general area like at the end. I also loved how you got the point of view of Kirsty throughout the novel as it added more to the story. You could read about her dreams and what was happening to her after the first body was found. 

The relationships between the different characters was good to read about as well. Rose had a very good relationship with her partner in the force, but not so good a relationship with her boss or Moody. However, she did begin to understand Moody's point of view towards the end of the novel. She also developed a good relationship with Kirsty and she really wanted to help her by finding the killer and helping her move on with her life.

This was a good novel and I will give it 4/5 stars. I enjoyed reading about a new subject area such as dream kills. I also enjoyed reading about the life of Rose Gifford and why her personality was the way it was and how it changed throughout the novel. 

Rating 4/5 stars

Lynn Zubernis Interview

Lynn Zubernis Supernatural Interview

Family Don't End With Blood, There'll Be Peace When You Are Done

I am a huge Supernatural fan and have been watching the show since 2005. How did you first get into Supernatural and why?

A friend of mine got into it right at the start, and wanted to share it with the rest of us. Every time we'd have a 'fangirl weekend' at one of our houses, she would bring Supernatural - on VHS tapes! We all watched Season 1 like that, all together. I liked the show, but wasn't really a fan of it or in the fandom that first season. When Season 2 started, I began watching it live, mostly so I could be caught up to chat about it with my friend. Then, during one of the first episodes of Season 2, I was grading papers while I watched, and I suddenly realized I was so captivated by it that I'd stopped grading, the papers had slid to the floor, my grading pen was hanging in the air. I thought, why did I not realize this is the most amazing show ever? That was it. I was hooked. I've never looked back.

I know you go to lots of conventions throughout the USA. I have seen you in lots of Alana King's videos on Youtube. Who have been your favourite cast members to meet?

What amazes me is that pretty much every cast member I've met has been so wonderful! I've worked with so many of them putting together Family Don't End With Blood and There'll Be Peace When You Are Done, and they have all been such a pleasure to work with. I'm in awe of how personal they got in their chapters in FDEWB, especially Jared Padalecki, Rob Benedict and Kim Rhodes. Those three chapters are amazing, so powerful and so personal. Everyone wrote their hearts out, though.

In terms of meeting them for the first time, I didn't meet Jared, Jensen or Misha for the first time at a Supernatural convention. Meeting Jensen for the first time way back in 2007 at Comic Con was nervewracking for me since Dean Winchester is my favorite fictional character EVER, but he has been unfailingly nice from that very first meeting, even when I was a total stranger. I met Jared for the first time that year too, in the candy line at a community theater in Texas, where we were both there to see Jensen in 'A Few Good Men', so that was much less nervewracking. I was blown away by how sweet he was. I met Misha for the first time in Vancouver, after he'd only done a few episodes of the show, for an interview at a local bar/restaurant.  I was struck by a) how smart he was and b) how open he was. That was a memorable conversation - we ended up talking for so long that Misha missed his next appointment!

Meeting Chad Lindberg (Ash) also comes to mind. It was memorable because the second time we met up, it was in New Orleans at an academic conference. We had become friends with the filmmakers who made 'My Big Break', starring Chad, and they all came to the conference to screen the film. Then we all hit Bourbon Street. It was Chad's first time there, and we had a wild time introducing him to the fun of it! But honestly, I love them all. They are an incredibly talented and creative bunch but they are also just plain good people.

I love your book 'Family Don't End With Blood', but unfortunately haven't yet read 'There'll Be Peace When You Are Done' as it is not out in the UK yet. How do you compile all of the different stories for these books and how long did it take to make each book?

FDEWB was easier and less stressful to put together, partly because we didn't have a strict timetable. I could let everyone write at their own pace, both actors and fans. Jared took two years to write his chapter, because he took it so seriously and worked so hard on what he wanted to say. Everyone did. And the actors who wrote for that book were mostly the people I knew the best from the conventions, so it was easy just to check in with them about how it was going since we saw each other frequently. There were some times when they saw me at a con and were like "Oh no so sorry, Lynn, I'm almost done my edits, honest!" before I could even say hello.  I felt like their professor or something!

For There'll Be Peace When You Are Done, we had an impossible timeline (a matter of months) to put the book together so it would come out in May when the show was scheduled to end. The book went to print before the show stopped filming, in fact. That meant that some people who wanted to write chapters just could not do it. Jared, Jensen and Misha were incredibly busy filming the show and dealing with its upcoming loss emotionally, so they couldn't sit down and write something like Jared did for FDEWB (for two years). That's why Jared and Jensen's chapters include some of the emotional things they had previously said about the show ending at public events, all in their own words, along with some new thoughts about Sam and Dean's legacy - so the chapters would be inspiring enough to really help fans through a tough time. Misha's contribution is short but heartfelt - and hopeful. There are a few people who didn't get to contribute anything and that was difficult, but the time frame was next to impossible.

I was lucky that the same publisher who did FDEWB (BenBella Books) took a chance on There'll Be Peace When You Are Done. They were on board for one of the most important things - donating a portion of proceeds from both books to charities born from the show and the fandom. For the new book, those charities are Random Acts (Misha Collins' global nonprofit) and SPNSurvivors (a nonprofit started by a Supernatural fan that focuses on suicide prevention). We wanted this book to help people, in multiple ways.

Apart from Supernatural what other films and TV shows do you like?

I don't have time to watch much else - I did love The Magicians, which also recently wrapped, and I like Eric Kripke's new show, The Boys. Schitt's Creek was a happy place recently as I belatedly discovered that show. And in the past I've loved shows like Buffy, Angel, X Files, Star Trek(s). I've never been in a fandom other than for Supernatural though, which has made it a very different experience.  Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is a friend, so I'm partial to most of his films but have loved other genre films too.

Who have been the most memorable people (not cast members) you have met at conventions?

You mentioned Alana King - I didn't meet Alana at a convention, but that's where our friendship solidified and where we've had all kinds of adventures together. I did meet my friend Kim at a convention; she started taking photos for my website at cons and then we became good friends. She contributed tons of gorgeous photos for FDEWB and coordinated all the photos for the new book, and we've also shared adventures all over the US.  I also met my friend Laurena at a convention, in a very odd way. At one of the earlier Chicago Supernatural conventions, there was a hurricane as the con ended, and I got stranded in Chicago without a hotel room. I finally found one that turned out to be in a VERY bad area (think bullet proof glass everywhere and so dangerous that the pizza delivery guy refused to come inside the motel!)  Terrified, I put out a tweet asking if anyone in the area could help me out, and Laurena answered! We had met at the con, and she drove over and picked me up and rescued me - and the rest is friendship history!  I also met some people who I'm still friends with to this day at my very first convention in 2007 in Vancouver. There were no actors there, just fans, but it was my first time meeting others who shared my love of the show, and we've stayed in touch for the past 13 years. And lastly, a big shout out to my fellow vendors, who are like a big extended Supernatural family at this point. I miss all of them!

Do you have any future writing plans at the moment? Do you have any more Supernatural books planned?

Every time I finish a book, I swear I'll never do another one, because it's so much work and so stressful. But then inevitably I get inspired and go back on my promise. No absolute plans now, but we'll see. Ask me in another six months!

Would you ever attend conventions in other countries (not the USA or Canada)?

Absolutely! I went to the Rome convention Jus in Bello once and had an absolutely amazing time. I also went to one of the first Rising Cons in Spain and again had an incredible time. I would love to do tons of other cons, but unfortunately the airfare is often prohibitive. That's actually one the book ideas floating around my head - this show has a truly international fandom, and it would be interesting to have contributors from all over the world talk about their experience of the show and the fandom. The fans I met in Rome were from all over the world, and it was so much fun to share something in common while also relishing our cultural differences and how that impacts our fandom experience.

If you could play any Supernatural character who would you want to play and why?

Rowena is what popped into my head, but I think that's just because I really love that character. And because she's not entirely dead. But really I'm not cut out for the hunting life, so I'd probably be best as someone like Donna's ex "new Doug" (played by Brendan Taylor, who I adore). He got a taste of what it was really like to be a hunter and was like, nope. That would probably be me!

How has life changed for you since Supernatural started?

The most wonderful friends have come into my life because of this show. I've travelled to so many places and had so many adventures (and misadventures) that I would never have experienced if it were not for Supernatural. I doubt I would have had the courage to start writing and publishing books (other than the academic ones I need to publish for my career as a professor and psychologist). The show has changed both my personal life and my professional life, and enriched both, and I'm very very grateful.

Do you have any words for all Supernatural fans who are sad, like me, that the show is ending?

I think we're all sad, and that's okay. When you love something, and something is important to you, it hurts to lose it. For many of us, Supernatural is one of the good things in our lives that keeps us going through the bad times. Its characters are familiar, inspiring - and beloved. We will miss them. The fandom community is equally important, a global group of like-minded people with whom we share thoughts and feelings and adventures, whether in person or online. Don't let anyone tell you that this is not a loss and that it is not worthy of grief. It is. The reason we put together There'll Be Peace When You Are Done is to provide comfort and inspiration in the face of that grief (and all the other losses we're unexpectedly facing in this pandemic).  We want the book to be something you can hang onto, and go back to. Something that will remind us all of just how special this little show has been and always will be, and what its legacy will be going forward. I asked everyone who contributed a chapter, both actors and fans, to talk about what they thought the legacy of this show and these characters will be, so the book is full of hope. It's a celebration of all that Supernatural has been and will continue to be. Because all the things it has given us? That will never end.

Emily McKay Interview

Emily McKay

The lovely author Emily McKay was kind enough to agree to do an interview with me. However, because of the current situation going on in the world we were unable to do this interview in person, so have relied on the use of email instead. Below are the questions I asked Emily and all of the answers she kindly replied with. 

Storybound is a novel about travelling inside a book. What book or book series do you wish you could travel inside?

First, off, the series that inspired the idea  behind Storybound, The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher. Definitely. Even though it is a very scary world, it’s a world where there are so many good people fighting to defend the weak. I think that’s what I love about it. Oh, and everyone is smart and snarky. Who doesn’t love that?

As for other worlds I would to visit,  Narnia … because it was my first love. I think I spent my whole childhood opening wardrobes and trying to climb inside. Pro tip: they must have had some super sturdy furniture in England, because the wardrobe I begged my parents for was not big enough to get lost in.

Hogwarts. Obviously. Based on the amount of HP fan fiction in the world, I’m not the only one. And, if you haven’t stumbled over it, The Setup Wizard is amazing. I’m totally ready for Universal Florida to build a Hogwarts hotel, so that we can go there without having to walk past all those damn muggles on the way to the park!

Also based on Storybound, who is your ideal book boyfriend(s) and why?

 Okay … the book boyfriend question is hard for me. Because once an author sells me on a relationship, in my mind, the guy is off limits. Like, there’s no way I’m breaking up Mr. Darcy and Lizzie! Or Harry and Ginny! Which, of course, is part of where the conflict in Storybound comes from. But, that’s also one of the reasons that Harry Dresden works as a book boyfriend … because even though I believe he belongs with Murphy, they aren’t together yet. If they ever get together, he’ll be off the table. Does that make sense? 

Out of all the genres you have written (supernatural, fantasy, romance) what has been your favourite to write?

Oh, that’s a hard question!

They all have good things and hard things about them. 

I mean, romance is my first love. And there will always be a romance in everything I write. 

I mean, I’m the person who can read what is obviously a children’s story and be like, “Oh! I think there’s chemistry between that badger and that bunny! I wonder if they’re going to get together???”

So I guess that’s the answer. I love writing the romance no matter what I’m writing. 

Having said that, it is so hard to get the chemistry right between characters sometimes. So that is always hard. But so much fun when you mail it!

Are there any standalone books or book series that you wish you could of written? 

Yes!!!! But then this is hard too. 

Because inevitably, there’ll be a moment when I’m reading where I’m like, “OMG. This is so good. I wish I’d written it.” But then, when the book is really good, I always end up thinking, “OMG. I’m so glad I didn’t write it! What if I’d messed it up???”

I think that’s the writer’s biggest fear. That you’ll have an amazing idea and then suck the fun out of it because you’re a talentless hack.

Your the Farm Trilogy is about vampires. What are your favourite vampire books, TV shows or films?

          

Okay, so here’s the funny thing (giving that The Farm series is considered horror), I am a big wimp and can’t read a lot of the classic vampire literature.

But I do love Twilight. Yes, it has it’s flaws, but I really do love it. (Though, I like The Host way more, and wish more people had read it, because I’d love a sequel!)

And, Tracy Wolff’s Crave is totally awesome. I’m reading it right now (well, listening on Audible) and love it!

And then, for movies, I love The Lost Boys. And Buffy (both the movie and the TV show). We just watched the movie What We Do in the Shadows and it was amazing!!! 

I think, I have to have a balance of horror and humor, otherwise it’s too intense. Not that What We Do in the Shadows was true horror.

So maybe I just always want humor. In everything. Always.

If a movie or TV show was made of Storybound,  who would you want to play the main characters Kane and Edie?

Oh, this is easy! Because I always “cast” actors when I writing. For me, it’s a little about how they look, but mostly about the kind of “energy” they have, if that makes sense. Well, I didn’t really have the parts “cast” for most of the writing. Then when I saw The Kissing Booth, I was like, “OMG! That’s totally Edie and Kane!!!!” 

So, short answer: Joey King and Jacob Elordi. 100%

When writing your novels are there any places in particular you like to sit and spend time writing in? 

I know it’s now exciting, but I have an office in my house. That’s where I do most of my writing. 

Writing is so much about routine. About creating a space where you are prepared to work and where you’ve done good before. My office is what works for me.

Now, the other thing I like to do is wake up slowly and lay in bed and let my mind stay in that almost dream state as long as I can. I believe our brains do a lot of work while we’re asleep. So I try to lay there and think about my dreams and what my subconscious brain might have been working on while I was asleep. I know that sound very hippie-dippy. But a lot of good stuff comes from those Theta brainwaves you generate when you’re dreaming.

In regards to your romance novels, are there any job roles (police, fireman, swat, etc) you want to write romance novels about?

Well, for years, I wrote for Harlequin Desire. And for that line, it was all “Rich guy, businessman, billionaire!” While I loved writing those books and writing for Harlequin, I feel like that subset of heroes just done for me for a while. 

I’m working on a romance right now where the hero is a professor studying soil microbiology. Maybe I’m over correcting?

I always wanted to write a romance about a guy who writes horror novels and looks very scary and intimidating and the heroine is hired by his publisher to give him a makeover. I could never sell my editor on that idea when I wrote for Harlequin. So maybe I’ll work on that someday.

If Kane and Edie were in a TV show which show would they each be in? 

I would love to see a Storybound/Supernatural crossover! Wouldn’t that be fun? Edie and Kane pairing up with Winchesters for an episode!

What are your writing plans for the future? 

Well, I’ve got StormBound — the sequel to StoryBound — up next. And I can’t wait to get that story out in the world. And then SoulBound will be the final book in that series. 

I’ve some romance projects I’m going to work on after that. There are lots of books to write!

Thank you so much for having me!