The Farewell Post....

It's going to be difficult for me to do this....

On March 22, 2008, I created this blog, not knowing that over 4 years later... it would be seen by over 51,000 people from all around the world.

For the past two years, I have been majorly slacking with posting. I keep saying that I will stop that, but I never do. Life has moved on, and I'm now engrossed in several different projects, which take up a lot of my time. It may seem sad, but I barely have enough time to read anymore.

So, it is with great regret that I announce this will be the last ever post on this particular blog, although I will leave the site up. I will be creating another blog on Blogger under a different account soon, focusing on a different topic than Books. Hopefully, I can be more consistent with my posting on that one. Haha.

It has been a pleasure to share you my opinions and my stories these past 4 years. It's been one heck of a ride. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Jacob. :)

I'm Back....

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?

I've been super busy the last 5 months, but money has been tight, so I haven't bought books in awhile. And, I'm kinda of sad to report this, aside from reading Rick Riordan's The Son Of Neptune this past fall, I really haven't read a complete novel since July.

I'm going to change that. I recently picked up the US version of The Dead by Charlie Higson. This book is the sequel(altough if you read the description, it's technically a prequel) to his previous novel, The Enemy, which was one of my favorite books that I ever read. So far the action in The Dead is great, & it looks to be another great novel. Higson, in my view, is one of the most impressive writers ever, in my opinion.

So, yeah, I'm going to try my best to keep updating the blog.

Other Ramblings...

• Speaking of Riordan, he recently released the cover for the final book in The Kane Chronicles trilogy, The Serpent's Shadow, out May 1st. He revealed the cover on Rock Center With Brian Williams on Monday. I didn't know he would be on the show, otherwise I would have tuned in. Anyways, here's the cover:

• In case you don't know, I'm a big wrestling fan, too. One of the WWE's biggest Pay-Per-View events of the year, the ROYAL RUMBLE, will be held in my hometown of St. Louis later this month, & I will be attending. I might post some pictures of the event on the blog.

Borders Is Going Out Of Business. Oh Snap! Is The Golden Era Of Books Ending?

What sad news. BORDERS is going away. All stores are expected to close by September.

Everything is 10-40% off, so if there's anything good coming out of this, it's that you can get good books at a cheaper price. Still, it's sad to see so many people losing their jobs. Barnes & Noble & BOOKS-A-MILLION can oly hire so many people.

Even worse, it doesn't look like this economy situation is getting any better. News is breaking that Speaker Of The House John Boehner has pulled out of the debt talks. It's rather frustrating that while Congress & The White House are barely making progress, Americans are suffering.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, with E-Readers & Kindles(?), it seems that simply reading a hardcover or paperback book is being phased out. Do you think this? Please comment. Thanks, and have a great weekend, and don't stay outside too long(It's been 95+ Degrees In STL for the past 5 days)!

Books On The Road

This post today is coming from Lost Valley Lake Resort in central Missouri. I'm currently taking our family's 4th of July vacation, and thankfully, the resort has WiFi technology.

I'm down here until the 10th. I brought about 7 or 8 books with me to read, so I expect to finsh them all by the 10th.

CAMPING IS AWESOME!!!

Son Of Neptune Cover & Excerpt:

<<< This is the cover for The Son Of Neptune, out October 4th!

You can read an excerpt here.

Scorpia Rising

Synopsis:

Scorpia has dogged Alex Rider for most of his life. They killed his parents, they did their best to con Alex into turning traitor, and they just keep coming back with more power. Now the world's most dangerous terrorist organization is playing with fire in the world's most combustible land: the Middle East. No one knows Scorpia like Alex. And no one knows how best to get to Alex like Scorpia. Until now.

The chases have never been more intense, the fights more treacherous, or the risks so perilous to mankind. And this time, Alex won't get away.

INHERITANCE: COMING THIS NOVEMBER!

3 Years Of Books!

On Saturday, March 22nd, 2008, I happened to discover the magic of Blogger. Then, I created the magic of Books.

It's hard to beilive it's been 3 years. It doesn't feel like it has. But it has.

So, in short, thank you all so much for allowing me you bring you the latest Book news for the past 3 years.

The 3/14/11 WWE RAW- The day after...

March 15th-

Monday Night RAW episode #929 emanated from my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, from the Scottrade Center, yesterday. It was a fine, fine show.

Even guest star Snooki couldn't ruin it. In a way, she helped make it better.

She not only unleashed a beat down Jersey Shore style, but she will do it again in three weeks at WrestleMania XXVII, WHEN SHE ACTUALLY WILL WRESTLE IN A MATCH!

Yep, you heard that right.

In other news, legendary WWE announcer(and my role model)Jim Ross made a triumphant return that got a humongous ovation. Since I had never got to see him in person the previous two times because of his condition, Bell's palsy, this was a very special moment for me. However, and former broadcast partner & best friend, wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler, were attacked & injured, thus being removed from the broadcast(King actually; J.R never announced last .)

Before King Left, he got in the line of the night(for the crowd anyway): "You're a bigger screw-up than Charlie Sheen!" Whether or not that was a positive comment for Charlie or not, we will never know.

Soild matches were thrown in, and "The Rock" cut a rather hilarious promo at the top of the show. All in all, a great RAW!

March

It's hard to believe Books is 3 years old this month. What an incredible 3 years it has been.

I'm currently reading Virals, a sort of spin-off of the TV show Bones.

Did I mention I like Bones? If I didn't now you know.

On March 14th, I will be attending WWE Raw at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis. Hoping to get on TV(fingers crossed!)

Everyone have a great weekend!

My Blog's Newest New Look... & More Changes Are Coming

My blog has a new look... again. Nice background, don't you think? But, the text color on some of my posts is a little dark and hard to read. If you have trouble reading some of my posts, highlight the text with your computer mouse.

Also, this blog isn't all about books anymore. They still will be the primary focus of the blog, but more frequently will the posts will be centered around other activities & current issues. Same with my Twitter. Hey, you know the guy who co-founded & created Twitter went to a school near my house?

Anyway, that about sums up the changes. Take Care, everyone.

-Jake, Creator Of Books

Could This Book Have Been A Human?

Strange video I just watched.

Power Play

From stitchkingdom.com:

The next in the incredibly popular series which centers on what happens inside the Walt Disney World theme parks at night (at least until they hit the high seas of the Disney Cruise Line in book five), Power Play ‘s official synopsis is as follows:


For the five teens who modeled as Disney Hologram Imaging hosts, life is beginning to settle down when an intriguing video arrives to Philby’s computer at school. It’s a call for action: the Overtakers, a group of Disney villains, seem to be plotting to attempt a rescue of two of their leaders, both of whom the Disney Imagineers have hidden away somewhere following a violent encounter in Epcot. A staged attack by new Overtakers at Downtown Disney, startles the group.

One of their own, Charlene, is acting strange of late. Has she tired of her role as a Kingdom Keeper or is there something more sinister at play? When caught sneaking into Epcot as her DHI, acting strictly against the group’s rules, Finn and Philby take action.


Has the ‘impossible’ occurred? Have the Overtakers created their own holograms? Have they found a way to ‘jump’ from the Virtual Maintenance Network onto the Internet, and if so, what does that mean for the safety of the parks, and the spread and reach of the Overtakers? Are they recruiting an army from outside the parks?

A dark cloud in the Kingdom Keeper era is unfolding, and with dissention in their own ranks, it’s unclear if there’s any chance of escape.

The Throne Of Fire, Vespers Rising, Zombies & More Stuff...

Yes, I know this is my first post since September. I'll try to blog a bit more from now on.

In other news, it has been announced that on May 3, 2011, Rick Riordan's Second Installment in The Kane Chronicles, The Throne Of Fire, will hit shelves. I personally can't wait for this one because I very much enjoyed The Red Pyramid when it came out last year. It appears this novel will be shorter than Red Pyramid (Barnes & Noble says about 464 pages) but it will still be great anyway. Here's a summary from the Kane Chronicles website:

THE THRONE OF FIRE



Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.






To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished. First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?






Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

A preview chapter is available here. I think you can download it, but I'm not sure.

In other news, It appears that the 39 Clues will continue when Vesper's Rising is released April 5th. I don't think the Cahills vs Vespers Series Name caught on. Here's a summary from B&N:


The Cahills thought they were the most powerful family the world had ever known. They thought they were the only ones who knew about Gideon Cahill and his Clues. The Cahills were wrong.



Powerful enemies the Vespers have been waiting in the shadows. Now it s their time to rise and the world will never be the same. In Vespers Rising, a brand new 39 Clues novel, bestselling authors Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman and Jude Watson take on the hidden history of the Cahills and the Vespers, and the last, terrible legacy Grace Cahill leaves for Amy and Dan.

I actually enjoyed the ending of Into The Gauntlet, and I personally don't think continuing the series would be a good idea. However, this doesn't mean I won't read it. I think KK4 is released on that same day, but I'm not sure.

I have been reading a horror novel titled The Enemy by British author Charlie Higson, and let me say it is brilliant. In these troubling days when a excellent book is hard to find, The Enemy stands out, altought I recommend it for mature audiences. The book has been out since May of last year, so its taken me a while to find it. It comes out in paperback May 10.

It's sequel The Dead comes out June 14. You can bet I'll buy it.

The fourth installment in the Tunnels Series Comes Out February 2nd and will be called CLOSER. The summary is below:

Closer to victory...or closer to death? An army of darkness is on the march: Who won't escape with their life? The fourth book in the New York Times Bestselling TUNNELS series!

At long last reunited with his dad, Will now spends his days exploring the "land of the second sun," decoding the cryptic glyphs carved into its three mysterious temples--or eyeing the wild animals with renegade girl Elliott. Chester, meanwhile, has finally returned Topsoil, where his homecoming is rapidly becoming a horror show. But an army of darkness is on the march. And the ruthless Rebeccas have once more cheated death. With a corps of cold-blooded Limiters at their command, they're determined to hunt Will to the bitter innards of the earth. This time, who WON'T escape with their life?

Interesting Article For New 39 Clues Fans, Thought That You Might Want To Read....

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/09/22/baldacci-to-write-39-clues-book/

Will there be a 39 Clues Series # 2?

The ending to Into The Gauntlet was the most shocking ending to any book I've ever read.

Isabel Kabra is going to prison. For life.

Speaking of her, by the way, I managed to hack into a Lucian e-mail account & retrieve her final e-mail that she will ever be sending:


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Isabel Kabra




The final push

Lucians—

We’re approaching a crucial moment in our history. In the next few days, you’re going to have to ask yourselves a life changing question: How far are you willing to go to find the final Clues?



For those of you sitting there twiddling your thumbs, I’ll make it easy for you. The answer is: WHATEVER IT TAKES.



For the past 500 years, our ancestors have shaped the world through their hunt for the 39 Clues. They’ve overthrown kings, toppled empires, and even waged war in pursuit of the most precious items on earth. But the Clues are more than a mere hidden treasure. They are the key to our destiny.



Lucians are born to lead. We’re made to rule. And with the power of the 39 Clues, we’ll be unstoppable. Because of you, we’re almost unbearably close to assembling all the Clues. And soon, if everything goes according to plan, we’ll be in the position to seize the remaining Clues from our enemies.



You’ve all done incredible work on the hunt. We can’t back down now. The other branches are growing desperate, and I suspect there may be some last minute surprises.



I’m ordering all active agents to accompany me to England. Ian, Natalie, and I will need your help.



I hope you’re ready. There will be no second chances.



— Isabel
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, speaking of all agents being in England, Ekat's: If you haven't returned to the strongholds since the dramatic ending to the clue hunt on Cahill Island, here is Bae's latest e-mail. It is before the encounter in England:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bae Oh




The moment of truth

Fellow Ekaterinas,

For the past 500 years, the hunt for the Clues has pushed our ancestors to achieve greatness. It’s what drove Howard Carter into the bowels of long forgotten Egyptian tombs, gave Marie Curie the strength to continue her research despite personal tragedy and illness, and inspired the Wright brothers’ dreams of flight.



Their genius, commitment, and sacrifice were only the beginning. Because of you, our branch has collected nearly all 39 Clues. We are within striking distance of victory—of achieving everything we’ve ever hoped for.



As you read this, Alistair is en route to England where, we believe, a crucial secret is hidden. There are rumors that the other branches are sending their top agents to investigate. I know Alistair has disappointed us in the past, listening to his heart instead of his questionably-sized brain. But even he knows what’s at stake.



The Ekats MUST be the ones to find the Clues. We are the only ones equipped for that sort of power. The only Cahills fit to handle that level of responsibility. I know most of you understand this, and I think Alistair has come to understand as well. He’ll do whatever necessary to secure our victory.



I need all agents prepared to head to England. If there is some sort of final confrontation, we won’t have any time to lose. This is what we’ve been working for. Five centuries of Ekaterina history comes down to this moment.



It’s time to make Katherine proud.



—Bae
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We all know, of course, that the freaking MADRIGALS(Amy & Dan) won the hunt. Even more stunning, it turns out that they weren't as evil as we thought. They were trying to get the Cahill Family united, and here is why, so all branches, listen up:

There is another family like us Cahills, called Vespers. They are interested in our clue hunt. And the Madrigals Leader, a newly found Fiske Cahill, has sent us messages that proclaim that some of the things the Vespers have done make Isabel Kabra look like Mother Teresa...

Watch your backs. All of you.

Hopefully, The Publishing Industry Will Be A Bit More Interesting Than It Has In The Last Few Months...

If you've noticed, I haven't been posting alot lately. I think this is my 20th Post Of The Year, compared to the 200 plus in the last two years.

There is a reason for this. Now that pretty much all of the notable series' around the world have culminated, there really insn't much to talk about anymore.

The publishing of the final Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Novel (look up) this fall will mark the conclusion of yet another publishing phenomeon. And it doesn't even have a summary yet!

So, with school back in session, hopefully the publishing industry will be a bit more interesting than it has in the last few months...

I'm back....& some more Ekat E-Mail...

I'm back from a long, misrable vacation.

But, hey, there were some good parts to. I finally saw The Lightning Thief movie. OK, but not my cup of tea. The book is WAY better than the movie. In the movie: no Ares. No Clarisse. No Mr. D. No Mention of Kronos. Smelly Gabe looks like a senior citizen. Awesome action, however...

And finally... the next 2 Ekat E-Mails!

JUNE 25TH

From: Victor Wood


Update from the stronghold

Ekats—

Victor here, filling in for Bae. He’s in his office yelling at Alistair, and from what I can hear, it seems like they might be in there for a while. Alistair stopped in Cairo on his way back from China, and there seems to be some disagreement as to where he should go next. Bae has ordered him to investigate some strange activity in Peru, but Alistair wants to go to Jamaica. Apparently, something happened to Amy and Dan down there, and Alistair is anxious to make sure they’re “okay.”



Needless to say, Bae is not pleased that Alistair wants to waste time “babysitting the orphans.” But Alistair seems pretty adamant about it. I heard him yell something about “not letting Isabel get away with it again.”



Does anyone know what happened in Jamaica? What’s the point of having a secret stronghold in the Bermuda triangle if we can’t keep tabs on stuff like this? Bae expects a full report, stat.



— Victor

JULY 13TH
 
From: Victor Wood


Madrigal encounter

Ekats—

I’ve just returned from an extremely dangerous mission on Easter Island. I’d been tailing the Tomas agent Maleia Kalani while she was in Tahiti for a so-called surfing competition. When she chartered a plane to Easter Island in the middle of the night, I knew something strange was going on.



As you are all aware, the Ekaterinas have long suspected that the Madrigals may be up to something on that island—though no one knows exactly what. I'm sure it involves the island’s unique varieties of bacteria, believed to have powerful chemical properties—and think of the benefits such a discovery would have for the scientist who found it! And for the Ekats, of course.



But it turns out agent Kalani wasn’t interested in bacteria. She snuck off toward the island’s giant moai statues. I followed her, at great risk to myself. Before long, I heard a strange noise coming from the direction of the moai.



I waited to see what Kalani had done, but then I saw another agent running toward me, Lucian agent Alana Flores. She didn’t notice me, of course. I was too well hidden. I would have stopped her to find out what she was doing on the island, but before I could, a group of people dressed all in black ran past, clearly in pursuit of the Lucian.. I thought it best to make a strategic exit.



There is definite Madrigal activity on Easter Island. I am preparing a detailed report to give to Bae as soon as he returns to the stronghold. Until then, stay away from that island!



—Victor

THE LOST HERO Cover Revealed!

Ok, so it was actually unvailed on Monday, but her is the cover for Rick Riordan's new novel The Lost Hero, out October 12th. The first two chapters are unlockable by typing in "newhero" on the directed spot. Prepare for a real shocker unveiled in the 2nd Chapter: Percy Jackson is missing. Uh Oh, we got a real problem...

Major NEGATIVE News On Changes To 39 Clues Website!

Fellow 39 Clues Hunters,

As you may have noticed, The 39 Clues website has made some MAJOR changes for members of the branches! As I logged on this afternoon, I was thinking WHAT THE FREAK IS THIS? Of course, I didn't say it out loud, because I was in a library. Politte's in my last name you know...

I have found it VERY difficult to navigate, and almost called tech support to find my EKAT INBOX!

Click the phone if you need to find that, by the way.

Well, good luck- um, you know... figuring it out youself. Yeah...

GO EKATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!