Fanboys Anonymous

I had the great fortune to interview ambitious Tennessee playwright Harrison Young. Online Fighting and A Cocaine Comedy are his first plays to be produced on the stage, but he plans to do even more to give the people what they want—and some of what they didn't know they wanted. His work has tickled the funny bone of audiences from Knoxville, Tenn., to Manhattan, and now through the internet via interview. Without further ado, Mr. Young.

Aaron: Let's get straight to it: A/S/L?

Harrison: (laugh) 28. M. Brooklyn.

A: Where did you grow up and attend college?

H: Well, I grew up in Celina, Tennessee. It is a small town. I was in the first graduating class of Clay County High School in 2004. Just so you have an idea of how big a school it is, we had a big class of 77.

A: Very large.

H: Oh yeah, it's humongous. So after graduating I moved to Knoxville with three classmates, to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in the fall of 2004, where I would eventually graduate in 2009.

A: Awesome. So, what drew you to playwriting?

H: I enjoyed writing in various ways growing up, but I never really knew how to use it. I tried doing little children’s novels as an 8-year-old. Didn’t work out too well. I wrote a little bit of poetry in high school.

A: What kind of poetry?

H: Sonnets.

A: (laughs)

H: What? I like the sonnet format.

A: Were they addressed to anyone?

H: They weren’t, “To you, from me,” kind of things, but you know, I’d have someone in mind when I wrote my sonnets. It didn’t work too well, but maybe you have a line or two that works and go from there.

As far as getting into playwriting, it was in college whenever I took a playwriting class with Kali Meister. I got to write a little bit of sketch stuff before 2008 but as far as just focusing on, “This is how you write a beginning, a middle, and an end, strong introductions,” any number of things like that, it was that one month workshop that did it. It was non-credit by the way but it did as much for my career as most classes at UT (University of Tennessee).

A: That’s pretty damn interesting.

The work you are known for so far is comedic writing. What are some of the influences that made you want to take that route?

H: Comedy is a wonderful filter for life. I think I come from a funny family. I think of my dad growing up. He had one of the first jokes I can remember: “My son is pretty good when he’s asleep. He just can’t sleep enough.”

A and H: (share a laugh)

H: I enjoyed that joke so much that I would finish the joke for him even with it going against me. I just loved the idea of humor enlightening one’s life. My brother is probably the funniest person in the family. He’s in the Navy, so you can guess what kind of jokes those are. My mother has a wonderful sense of wordplay too.

Also, I enjoyed comedy stand up as an art form. I think the first album I listened to was Jeff Foxworthy’s You Might Be a Redneck If… album.

A: The classic, of course.

H: Later on, my friend introduced me to bootleg copies of the audio files—not the video—of some Comedy Central Presents episodes. That way we could listen to them in the car.

A: Oh, this is before YouTube took over.

H: Yeah, this is before iPods. Before you could purchase the entire discography and listen to it a few minutes later. Like, “Oh look! Someone has Windows 98! Wow! Oh man, and a burnable disc drive! I just hope I have enough batteries to enjoy this thing.” So I would listen to Jim Gaffigan, Dave Attell, Pablo Francisco, whoever else we could get a copy of. It was a blast to enjoy that with friends.

So basically, I’ve always had a comedic filter and have enjoyed exploring that through whatever means.

A: It definitely shows.

The two plays that you have had produced so far are about niche topics: cocaine and video games. Are you aware of any other stage productions that have centered around either one?

H: For video games, yes. When I moved to Brooklyn, I learned about the Video Game Festival at the Brick Theater. That really caught me off guard, because in Knoxville everyone said (about Online Fighting), “This is so original.” A really nice woman said, “This is the most creative play the Tennessee Stage Company has ever done.” That was very nice. But a year a half later, I move to Brooklyn and there’s an entire festival dedicated to plays about video games. And here I am thinking I’m some big guy because I had one. It was a nice way to bring me back down to earth.

As far as cocaine goes, there’s a play called This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan, one of my favorite playwrights. The play deals similarly with coming across somebody else’s cocaine that they were planning to sell. It’s been done before, but I hope to one day join their ranks because I admire the work that’s come before my own.

A: That’s totally new to me. I did not know about This Is Our Youth.

H: It’s real life, man.

A: Indeed it is. Although that is stranger than fiction.

So moving on to your first play, Online Fighting. Would you mind giving a quick blurb on what the show is all about?

H: Sure. It’s about two old friends who rekindle a feud. The play begins when a system glitch unblocks gamertags for their online console accounts, and they are forced to talk to each other. We later learn that one of them won a national video game tournament and took the loser’s girlfriend, which led to the bad blood between them.

A: That will definitely make you salty. You already got your ass whooped, and then he takes you girl too. It certainly ups the stakes a bit.

H: There is salt all over this play.

A: Maybe you should ask for a sponsorship from Morton.

H: I think we can arrange something. Salt Presents Online Fighting by Harrison Young.

A: The characters from Online Fighting, are they based on anyone you know in real life?

H: Not particularly, is going to be my answer.

There is a mom character in the play. She’s not my mom, but there are similarities and correlations because I have a mom. The mom in the play has alcoholic tendencies, but I don’t think of my mom that way. She’s seen the show and I’ve reassured her that I don’t think she’s like that.

A: That’s one of the many tensions between an artist and the art itself.

Who would you say will have the most fun watching Online Fighting?

H: Video gamers, but I feel fortunate that audiences of all kinds have enjoyed it so far. Video gamers will get the Easter eggs, like when someone says, “Objection!” or the Konami code. That’s not so important for mothers who didn’t really play games. I think the reason they enjoy it is because they hadn’t been exposed to the world of video games and the excitement that comes from it. They’re getting to see something in a different way that friends and family enjoy. Seeing it in a more linear fashion through theatre could make it easier to understand. I think everyone gets something a little different from it.

A: That makes sense.

Your second show, A Cocaine Comedy, covers the worst case scenario for someone trying cocaine for the first time. How did you come up with the idea?

H: I was offered cocaine for the first time at some point in college. I declined because I heard all my life, “Just say no,” "Crack is whack," and all of that stuff you are supposed to say. Even though I said “no” and felt good about that decision, I still wondered what it was like, who would find out about my use, stuff like that. I finally reached the question, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Instead of finding out by trying it, I decided to write a play about peer pressure which goes back to the comedy filter.

Fear is a very real emotion. Comedy sometimes benefits from that, like laughing while nervous. A Cocaine Comedy plays off that. When Richard fails to stand up to the peer pressure and tries cocaine, two police officers kick in the door and arrest him. That is the first scene of the play.

A: Spoilers!

H: Oh yeah, spoilers.

A: Well, the first scene is also the last scene of the first act. It’s a pretty neat way of doing things.

H: I think of Breaking Bad’s pilot episode in particular with the way that intro begins. I won’t spoil the first episode of Breaking Bad. But it’s fun as a viewer to see something the second time around that you didn’t notice before.

A: Yeah, let’s not do that for the two people in America who haven’t seen it yet.

A Cocaine Comedy received positive audience feedback during a table reading at the PIT Theatre in Manhattan on December 23, 2013. How do you think it will be received in Tennessee, a place with a more conservative attitude towards drug use?

H: The Tennessee Stage Company is having three readings of the play for their new play festival. The first reading was well received. I got a Facebook post—which we know is as good as a New York Times review—from an elderly lady saying very kind things, so I feel much better than I did before. But the concern is always there because the title is strong. Most people who are going to be offended by this won’t come. And the ones they do and are willing to leave in the middle of a show probably will probably do so after the first six pages.

A: Are you referring to the testicle stomping?

H: Yeah, absolutely. Tank Gates, the governor of Texas, stomps on them in the name of self defense for America. I hope this part of the interview is safe for work.

A: Unless you work for the Miami Dolphins, probably not.

Last question, and then I’m going to let you go. Officer Mondragon is a police officer in the play who takes on the role of bad cop/hype man. Please explain what that means.

H: There’s a good cop, bad cop team in the show. Officer Mondragon is a bad cop. Early on, we learn that their police techniques have not been working. Tank is framing people to give the impression that his task force is cracking down on crime, but needs the police duo to to find real results because an election is coming up. That plants the seed. The police have to try something new. The two cops decide that bad cop/hype man is the way to go.

Mondragon intimidates suspects with various hip hop references. I believe there are over 40 references in the process of doing his job. For example, a suspect might ask if Mondragon is going to hurt him. Mondragon would respond with, "My mind’s telling me, 'No,' but my body is telling me, 'Yes!'"

A: It's so unfortunate that readers can’t hear the enthusiasm you have for that R. Kelly reference.

H: You could use all caps.

A: The editors will shoot down all caps, but we’ll find a way to make it clear.

H: But yeah, it’s just a lot of fun references to relatively popular lines in rap. Not just throwing them in like Family Guy, but using them to tell a better overall story.

A: I definitely think that after reading this, people will be excited to see more from you. We will see how things go.

A recording of a stage reading for Online Fighting can be found at the end of the post for this interview, which I recommend everyone take some time to watch. We will be closing for now. Thanks to Fanboys Anonymous for the opportunity to do this, and to you for making time.

H: Handshake.

A: Handshake.

H: My pleasure.

What a guy, huh? I had a lot of fun doing the interview, and I hope you all had as much fun reading it. Please take a moment to share your thoughts with Fanboys Anonymous in the comments section, and take a look at the stage reading of Online Fighting below. Thanks for reading.

Drop your linen and stop your grinnin', fanboys, this year Marvel is bringing a summer crossover event that promises to blow your minds all over the walls!

The truth behind Captain America's history. A "forgotten" Spider-man. These are just a couple of things teased so far in the uncovering of Marvel's Original Sin. This latest storyline is being brought to us by prolific Marvel writer Jason Aaron, who begins his epic tale with the shocking murder of the Watcher—the mysterious alien being that has been monitoring activity on and around Earth for longer than I can remember.

How the story is being pitched so far: As seen above, the Watcher is found dead on Earth's moon. His eyes are gone and nobody quite knows what that means at first. But what it does mean is that whoever has his eyes holds all the secrets to everything the Watcher has ever seen. You know the drama of Marvel heroes behind their public images. This could be catastrophic to some, potentially Captain America above all.

Executive Editor Tom Brevoort cleverly added:

This guy knows where bodies are buried [that] we didn't even know were buried. Captain America will also learn that somebody close to him has tampered with his memories, with his mind. Readers will also learn that somebody else was bitten by the same radioactive spider that led to the origin of Spidey.

So, I'm massively intrigued right now. After the events of Infinity last year, we were left with a sense of foreboding dread. Discovering that the Earth's time was now extremely limited, that the universe itself was on borrowed time, all gives Original Sin the potential to be essential Marvel reading, leaving us wondering if we're headed for some serious heartbreak in the near future.
 

"Not Deadpool... anyone but Deadpool..."

Marvel's Original Sin will be released this May with a prologue in April, and more news hopefully to follow before then. So sound off, fanboys! Who's excited for this? Who do you think our Secret Spidey is? Comments below, and thanks for reading.

Does the name Tara Cardinal sound familiar? If not, you may as well familiarize yourself with it. Her rise is inevitable. What does she do? Oh, just film, books, comics, everything we love. This fangirl is an indie everything, and she's quite good at it. Tara Cardinal is an actress, director, martial artist, sword master, and humanitarian. A saddening but also triumphant fact is that her work is based on her own childhood struggles, and her story delivers a strong message about female empowerment. She became one of the first women to write, produce, direct, and star in a fantasy action franchise—and she performs her own stunts. She's an actress actively seeking empowering roles in movies of all genres.


This young lady's first film, The Legend of the Red Reaper, written, directed and played by her, begins with our heroine, the daughter of a demon and a human witch. She's traded to the demon father for nothing more than a bottle of his evil enchanted blood, probably to be used as an aging deterrent. In this demon's care, she is beaten, used, and torn down every day for years until her rescue. Beyond her torment, she is groomed to become the female, medieval, demon version of Blade, the vampire slayer. The prophesying of her witch mother, a family talent, has foretold her future as Red Reaper, deliverer of the humans from the terrible demons. The question is, will she be able to live up to that fantasy? I'd love to divulge the answer, but will do my best not to.



In my opinion, it was mad fun—diabolically fantastic. Whenever I review an indie fantasy/dark fantasy film, I always like to compare it, quality wise, to Earth Sea, a small-budget favorite of mine, because I love the Earth Sea story and the filmmakers did quite well with what they had. My favorite thing about Tara Cardinal's film is that the music never stops, the action rarely stops, and the story never gets boring. If that isn't enough, Tara Cardinal seems like she's pretty skilled with the sword, and the film has, possibly, my favorite ending quote of all time.

That's not the end of it, though. Tara Cardinal is everywhere. Her debut novel, Sword Sisters: A Red Reaper Novel, is a fantastic read, packed with action. The book is set before the film and fills in all the details you might have felt like you were missing. My biggest question was, "What was Aella doing before she set herself on a warpath with the demons who were supposed to be dead?" The book answers that question, and it does it with an impossibly better story than the film offers.

Sword Sisters smacks our heroine between a rock and a hard place, fighting for room to breathe from her klan elders and her foretold responsibility as the last reaper—The Red Reaper—but longing for the freedom to choose. Retaliating against all the pressure and running from her responsibility, the young woman treks into the wilderness in hopes of finding a caring soul who once helped her out, perhaps someone she can trust and someone she might even love.

Instead of the man from her dreams, Aella runs into a young woman with a knack for insulting others and, soon enough you find, a knack for getting into trouble. Set in such an old time, these qualities in young independent women are not something of which local men are fond. However, Aella, being a strong feminist warrior, takes to the young woman, and they kindle a friendship bound in battle. They meet not a moment too soon, because Amelia, the young woman, is to be the village's next virgin sacrifice to the god who supposedly lives in a cavern nearby.

Upon further inspection, they find that someone or something is definitely living in the cave and definitely is not an average human; whether it is a god or not remains to be seen. This read is epic! The book is loaded with beasts and packed with action, and the heroine's inner dialogue is pretty funny and seemingly realistic as far as thoughts go. I give it an instant 5/5 stars.

Generally, at this point, I like to explain my grading and offer my two cents, if it's even worth that to anyone. As a matter of opinion, Tara Cardinal and her cowriter, Alex Bledsoe, should change nothing. I'm told it's difficult to improve upon perfection, and it's few and far between that I find books I wouldn't change for the world. So you must know I'm ecstatic to report that I think Sword Sisters is perfect, and I wouldn't change it for the world. The entire Red Reaper series will be gold, I'm sure, and I can't wait to read the next. Until then, it's on to the comic series. Let me know what you think downstairs!

Indy ComicCreators/Authors/Filmmakers get reviewed HERE.

Make sure you join the Legend of the Red Reaper team for a high-tech streaming event. Anyone that has an internet connection and a computer can watch the movie while it's screening at the Florida Renaissance Festival, join the Q&A via webchat, and participate in the tweetathon on Twitter. This is the last screening before the big DVD release. If you can't wait until April 15th to pick up the DVD and don't want to pay the $15 per movie theater ticket, you can join the screening for only $8 per household and find out what the critics have been raving about—before the movie is released.

PLUS—you'll be sent a special link where you can JOIN the Q&A and ask your own questions of actress/writer/director/sword guru TARA CARDINAL, legendary comic book artist GEORGE PEREZ, actress/singer/best selling author SHAYNE LEIGHTON, martial artist/exec producer SEAN WYN, and composer/disc jockey JOSHUA PARISH GOMEZ (son of Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas).

PLUS—you can tweet with the cast, crew, and Renaissance Festival audience! #RedReaper #Girlpower or tweet @theredreaper. Send your comments, questions, and opinions!

Over the past few years, sales in "teen fiction" have gone through the roof because, let's face it, it's not only teenagers reading it anymore. In fact, children's and young adult books are the fastest-growing publishing categories, with fantasy/science fiction reigning in as the readers' favorite genre.

Check out my list of my favorite young adult/teen novels below (ranked in no particular order):

15) Unearthly, Cynthia Hand

Published: January 4, 2011
Series: Unearthly

"In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees…

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?"
- Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. Beautifully written, moving, and romantic. Cynthia Hand delves into the world of angels in such vivid detail it genuinely feels like you're there.


14) Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver

Published: February 14, 2010

"What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's hottest boyfriend, a group of amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High from the best table in the cafeteria to the most wanted parking spot. Friday, February 12th should just be another perfect day, but it turns out to be her last. However, she gets a second chance—well, seven actually—to relive her last day. During one life-changing week, she will learn the secrets behind her death and discover what she is truly losing." -Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. Sad and beautiful, but above all, honest. Lauren Oliver has an incredible gift with words and imagery that is guaranteed to take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.


13) Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead

Published: August 16, 2007
Series: Vampire Academy

"St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger…. Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. I know the name may make it sound like just another book about a school of supernatural students, but it genuinely is a good read packed full of strong, engaging characters who are bound to leave an impression; danger; and even a hint of romance. You'll struggle to put this book down.


12) The Maze Runner, James Dashner

Published: October 6, 2009
Series: The Maze Runner

"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. The Maze Runner is sure to have you on the edge of your seat. The plot is fast paced, full of suspense, and absolutely rammed with twists and turns to keep you guessing.


11) Divergent, Veronica Roth

Published: April 25th 2011
Series: Divergent

"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves…or it might destroy her." - Goodreads


10) The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Cassandra Clare

Published: March 27th 2007
Series: The Mortal Instruments

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…" - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. This book completely draws you in right from the very first page. You get sucked into Clary's mysterious world of monsters, and it genuinely makes you feel like you're in an entirely different world.


9) Looking for Alaska, John Green

Published: 2005

"Before. Before. Miles 'Pudge' Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

 After. Nothing is ever the same." - Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. I absolutely adored this book. It was funny, thought provoking, emotional, and overall wonderfully written. John Green has a unique ability to make you care about his characters, which makes his plot twists even more devastating.


8) Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James Patterson

Published: April 11, 2005
Series: Maximum Ride

"Six unforgettable kids—with no families, no homes—are running for their lives. Max Ride and her best friends have the ability to fly. And that's just the beginning of their amazing powers. But they don't know where they come from, who's hunting them, why they are different from all other humans…and if they're meant to save mankind—or destroy it." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. I found the Maximum Ride series extremely thrilling. Max is a strong character who grows up far too quickly due to having to look after everyone. Her and her friends' story is heartbreaking, and you find yourself on the edge of your seat willing for them to succeed. Once you start reading this book, you just can't stop!



7) Blue Bloods, Melissa de la Cruz

Published: March 27, 2007
Series: Blue Bloods

"When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner…and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead…drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?" - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. You're probably thinking that this is just another book about some vampire love triangle, but I genuinely enjoyed the spin Melissa de la Cruz puts on vampires. She packs in many twists and turns that keep you turning the pages and wanting more. Luckily, there are four books in this series!


6) Evermore, Alyson Noel

Published: February 2009
Series: The Immortals

"After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him."
- Goodreads

Rating: 4.5/5. In this book we follow the life of Ever Bloom, a heartbreaking tale full of loss and pain. Her character and story are both so beautifully written that you soon become sucked into her world, which is full of excitement and adventure. A definite must read for lovers of this genre.

5) Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia

Published: December 1, 2009
Series: Caster Chronicles

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. So we all know that the film version of this book was a complete and utter fail. It was boring, lacked interesting characters, and was just generally dull. The book, however, is anything but; the versions of Lena and Ethan are funny and romantic, and their story is full of hope and terror. It seriously draws you in.

4) The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Published: January 10, 2012

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."
- Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. I dare you not to cry at this book, I honestly do. This book broke my heart into so many pieces I don't think I'll ever recover. There's not a single part of this book that I did not completely love, I fell in love with Hazel-Grace and Augustus Waters and their hopeful relationship, which made the ending of the book even more soul crushing. If you haven't already read this book, get to it—that's if you don't mind soaking the pages in tears.


3) Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick

Published: October 13, 2009
Series: Hush, Hush

"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgement. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen—and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life."
- Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. Hush, Hush is dark, moving, and deeply romantic. Yes, you've probably read a million books that sound like this one before: brown-haired, brown-eyed nerdy girl meets and falls in love with a beautiful supernatural stranger. Yet this book has many twists and turns that keep you guessing, and I really loved Patch's back story and found it genuinely interesting.

2) The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Published: September 14, 2008
Series: The Hunger Games

"In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature." - Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. If you haven't heard about The Hunger Games yet, then you've probably been living in a cave. It stormed into the cinemas last year and captured everyone's attention instantly. If you loved the film, I can guarantee that you'll love the books ten times more. As you will all know, films tend to skip massive parts of plot to try and cram it into a two-hour cinema slot, and The Hunger Games is no exception. Katniss' story is even more gripping and hopeful on paper. Once I started reading this book I just wanted more and more and more!

1) Shiver, Maggie Striefvater

Published: August 1, 2009
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human…until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever." - Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. Everything about this book was beautiful, from the way their world was described to every single character in the book. Sam and Grace's relationship draws you in, and you find yourself rooting for them to be together by any means possible. Even the secondary characters grip you. Many people have slated this book and said it bared a huge similarity to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, but I genuinely failed to see any similarities. Yes there's the obvious girl with the ordinary life meets an attractive, exciting stranger plot, but that's it. If you love this book, don't forget to look out for the standalone follow-up novel Sinner following Cole and Isabel's story.

Is one of your favorite books on this list? Is there a book that you think I should have included? Let me know below!

The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world-renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2014 Internet Goddess. This time around we take a look at round one of the tournament and highlight the contestants. In bracket 5, we see Ivy Doom Kitty go up against Christina Victoria Grimmie and Taylor Davis battle Lauren Francesca. You have until February 28th to vote for Round 1!

Ivy Doom Kitty (Cosplayer)



Christina Victoria Grimmie (YouTube Personality, Singer)

Fellow New Jerseyan, Christina Victoria Grimmie is known for awesome vocal talents and her covers of famous songs that she posts on YouTube.  At the young age of 19, she has rocked our world as she has sung through several covers and released her own EP. Currently she is garnering the attention of all four judges on NBC's The Voice and has yet to select a team to join. With amazing vocal talent and at such a young age, Christina is on the road to becoming a music icon! Way to represent New Jersey and earn yourself a spot on the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament!!

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Taylor Davis (Musician)
YouTube is a forum to showcase the world's true talents. That is definitely the case when it comes to Taylor Davis. The beautiful American composer has shown the world just how talented she is on the violin, not to mention show her geekier side by playing our favorite video game and nerdy music. Releasing several albums, including one with fellow tournament mate Lara De Wit, Taylor has shown that her skills and music to soothe the soul are enjoyed by all. With a well-balanced love for geek culture, as well as cosplay from time to time, she has stolen the hearts of many a geek. Taylor's spot on the Internet Goddess Tournament is well deserved!


Lauren Francesca (YouTube Personality, Actress)

The Mother Monster herself Lady Gaga has been parodied by several actresses and, hell, even by Weird Al Yankovic. The ones that stick out on the Internet, however, have to be the several reoccurring parodies involving the lovely Lauren Francesca. Starring in several Key of Awesome videos, Lauren has won the hearts of many nerds and geeks and branched off into her own channel as well as Hollywood. Landing a role in the upcoming movie Muck and still producing several YouTube videos, Lauren is one Internet beauty to keep an eye on going forward. Lauren has secured a place in the heart of nerds as well as a spot on the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament!

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Check back for more brackets and, as always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case an Internet browser—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world-renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2014 Internet Goddess. This time around we take a look at round one of the tournament and highlight the contestants. In bracket 6, we see Lisa Donovan go face to face with Jenna Mourey and Colleen Ballinger tie up with Sarah Fullen Gregory. You have until February 28th to vote for round 1!

Lisa Donovan (YouTube Personality, Actress)

June 7, 2006, the Internet was introduced to Lisa Donovan when she debuted on YouTube with her first video Introducing Lisa Nova. Known for her many parodies and impersonations, Lisa Donovan was an Internet hit but was probably best known for her Sarah Palin impersonations. Donovan was also one of the first successful transitions from YouTube to Hollywood when she signed a four-episode deal with MadTV. She made her MadTV debut in a parody sketch of the The Ellen DeGeneres Show portraying Salma Hayek. Although her YouTube days may be behind her, she is one of the original pioneers and powerful women of the web, and there is no doubt she has earned her spot on the inaugural Internet Goddess Tournament.

Jenna Mourey (YouTube Personality)

With 12.5 million subscribers and over one billion total video views, Jenna Mourey, better known as Jenna Marbles, has the right to call herself the "Queen of YouTube." Posting a video every week, Jenna has not disappointed her fans as she gives her perspective on everyday life. Her first video, "How To Trick People Into Thinking You're Good Looking," had over 5.3 million views in the first week. With the number of subscribers she has, she ranks eighth on the list of top YouTube channels and number one when it comes to channels operated by women. She has made many guest appearances across other famed YouTube channels and is still a juggernaut on the Internet! Jenna Mourey not only earned her spot on the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament and but is also a front runner to win.

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Colleen Ballinger (YouTube Personality, Singer)

Created solely in jest with the rest of the world of YouTube, Miranda Sings was given birth by the beautiful Colleen Ballinger. Pumping out videos every Tuesday and Friday since 2008, Colleen still goes hard when it comes to the YouTube world. She was even able to take the act on the road; Miranda Sings has performed her cabaret acts at sold-out cabaret spaces and theaters in major U.S. cities as well as London, Dublin, and many major cities across the globe. Cashing in on the satire of the everyday singer Colleen still goes strong. Colleen has sung her way right into the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.

Sarah Fullen Gregory (YouTube Personality)

Auto Tune has been a huge thing in our generation, and no YouTube comedy group took greater advantage of that than The Gregory Brothers. Bringing the estrogen to this group, Sarah Fullen Gregory has autotuned the news with the her hubby and his brothers since 2007. Their most infamous Songify the News segment was with involved the unique "Bed Intruder" video that broadcast across the nation. Once they got hold of that video, the comedy group took off and has auto tuned several other news stories and viral videos on the web. They went on to release an album as well as tour with other famous YouTube groups. Sarah brings the t-pain as she lands on the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.

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Check back for more brackets and, as always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case an Internet browser—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Saturday, February 22, in Liverpool, England, local fans of AMC's The Walking Dead were in for a real treat as The Governor himself, actor David Morrisey, dropped into Forbidden Planet to sign books for a charity fundraising event!

"Well, that went swimmingly..."

Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Morrissey is a native of our northwestern city, born, raised and finding his dramatic roots in Liverpool. To be a Walking Dead fan from Liverpool is a huge reason to be proud of Morrissey, so fans were keen to make the Guv feel at home.

One such fellow Scouser was local doorman Delroy Naif, who had to attend Forbidden Planet alone, although his girlfriend had been looking forward to meeting her idol. So Del paid to meet Woodbury's finest one-eyed psycho in honor of his lady and found Morrissey to be what we call an absolute legend.

Governor David Morrissey with fan Delroy Naif.

Morrissey was more than obliging to engage in conversation with Del, just as he did with the excited little boy before him, and not because Del's a doorman and knows how to manhandle people. He also took a photo with Del to take home to his lady and engaged in conversation about what exactly brought him back home.

Proving that the man behind the now-deceased Governor, the best thing to happen to The Walking Dead since sliced walkers (nudge-nudge wink-wink), is as far removed from the tyrant as you could imagine, Morrissey is back home on a fundraising mission to provide a minibus for the Friends of the Observatory School, a project dedicated to raising funds for activities to broaden the horizons of children with special needs such as disabilities, social adversities, and emotional and behavioral problems.


Meanwhile (previously on AMC's The Walking Dead), the rest of Woodbury dies on a schoolbus…uncanny! Cue us a song!


Sound off, Fanboys and Fangirls! How awesome was this? Check the link on Friends of the Observatory School. It's a huge deal. What's easier and more fun than meeting your heroes for a small charitable fee? Comments below and thanks for reading.

Hey guys, whatcha doin' today? Nice Saturday so far, right? I don't suppose you heard that Ragnarok is coming? In Nordic, that's also known as the "Twilight of the Gods," aka the end of everything. Yep, that's today, Saturday 22nd of February!

The Allfather only knows why we haven't heard anything up until now. Maybe because we're too busy here in the United Kingdom stirring up a frenzy of news about the weather, the Olympics in Sochi, and football's latest, but according to some, the Viking calendar warns us that today is when the world shall end. Ye Gods!

Legend has it that when there are three freezing winters, with no summers in between, the world will turn its toes up. Down in York, England, the annual Viking Festival has just reached its finale at the Jorvik Viking Centre, where director Danielle Daglan claims that the god Heimdallr (yes, that particular guardian of the Bifrost), blew the Gjallerhorn last year, signalling the onset of Ragnarok.


All gods, including the Allfather Odin, Thor, Loki and Freja, the goddess of love, will go to war. After the battle, the world will "sink beneath the waves," and none shall survive but for two humans. Those two, Liv and Livtrasir (Life and Lust) will come up from the underworld to repopulate Earth. Sounds exhausting.

So, fans of Marvel's Thor, and the rest of those familiar with such world-ending tales as Fear Itself, what do you make of this surprise party? I mean, if this was signaled last year, that actually means that the Viking calendar wasn't so different from the Mayan calendar. Two "end of the world" predictions from two entirely different races is a little disconcerting.

Also, take a look at the events of the past few years: summers full of terrible freak weather, flooding worldwide, civil war, mass protesting. Right now, a great deal of England's countryside and many towns are submerged in freezing cold waters after being battered by a solid month of heavily destructive storms.


At least it's not all bad…

"I get around-round-get-around-I-get-around..."

Don't forget that the United States is riding the icy tail of a polar vortex. Even if you don't believe in all this, the timing is still good enough to send a chill down your spine. It would be cool to see the residents of Asgard burning down the house, though, right?

Dat ass!

Sound off, Fanboys and Fangirls! What say ye? Comments below and thanks for reading.

Hey, Hey, Hey Dacetacular Nation, it's the one and only Chris "The Dace Man" Dace bringing you the rundown on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon! How did the former host of Late Night hold up moving to the historic Tonight Show? Does he have the chops to carry on the legacy and steal the ratings back from Mr. Letterman? Lastly, is there the possibility that Leno will Conan O'Brien Fallon's ass to TBS? All that and more as we break down Fallon's first week as the sixth host of the 60-year old show.

Fallon assumed hosting duties 11 days after an emotional farewell from Mr. Jay Leno and brought the show back to New York. The debut of Fallon at The Tonight Show saw him starting at midnight due to the Olympic Games, but he has now joined the upper elite of late-night talk show hosts. Going toe-to-toe with the likes of David Letterman, Fallon has some tough shoes to fill. I for one have always been a fan of Fallon, stemming from his Saturday Night Live days. He brings a younger and fresher talk show to an hour that was dominated by older gentlemen such as Leno and Letterman. Now with the 11:30 block dominated by the likes of Kimmel (ABC), Fallon (NBC), Colbert (Comedy Central), and Conan (TBS), it's only a matter of time before we see CBS contemplating the renewal of Mr. Letterman's contract. Despite the group he is now competing against for ratings, however, Fallon still had to make an impact for his first week as host. The question is, did he hold up his end?

Debuting with a heartfelt and emotional monologue of being awestruck that he had made it to The Tonight Show, he followed that with an awesome gag of winning the bet for $100 that he'd one day be the host. Out walked Robert De niro, Lady Gaga, Seth Rogen, Mariah Carey, and many other stars who each paid the $100 to Jimmy for making it. This was all rounded off by Colbert dumping a bucket of pennies on him and screaming, "Welcome to 11:30 bitch!" The beginning gave me chills and definitely set the tone for how the show was going to run from here on out. Jimmy, still bringing the sketch humor that worked so well for him on Late Night, rolled into a skit with himself and first guest of the show Will Smith dancing to "The Evolution of Hip Hop." Following that hilarious parody he took the audience and musical guests U2 to the roof and had them perform their latest hit as the sun set. All in all, I'd say Fallon struck gold with his first show. I was not personally a fan of Leno, so it was refreshing to see Fallon take the reigns and score such a big win.

He went on to fill the week with celebrity guests such as Jerry Seinfeld, Kristen Wiig, Bradley Cooper, Will Ferrell, Michelle Obama, and good friend Justin Timberlake. He played some games, performed some skits, and even revived some of his older material from Late Night such as "Hashtag" with Jonah Hill replacing Justin Timberlake. He also had musical guests Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Arcade Fire, and double-duty-pulling Justin Timberlake. All in all I would say Fallon had a pretty awesome week, taking the hosting duty from former late-night talk show giant Leno and knocking it out of the park with a week full of surprises and statement making. Personally, Fallon has hooked me, and I look forward to future episodes. With the show now filming in New York, who knows—perhaps The Dace Man may make an appearance! Only thing left to ask is, how will Late Night do under the guidance of Seth Myers? We'll certainly find out next week.


As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until then, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and, in this case, a late night talk show—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Probably because it was a slow week for news other than the weather, Sir Patrick Stewart was incorrectly outed as gay by British newspaper The Guardian after he congratulated Ellen Page on her speech at the LGBT human rights convention last weekend!

Sir Patrick Stewart comes out... of the bath!

The legendary actor of theater, television, and film, who became a domestic name in the late '80s with Star Trek: The Next Generation, was glad to take to Twitter to explain himself:

.@Poynter But @guardian I have, like, five or even SEVEN hetero friends and we totally drink beer and eat lots of chicken wings!
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) February 18, 2014

And they prove their masculinity with drunken one-armed pushups.

Sir Patrick Stewart's fantastic reaction toward The Guardian's random assumption continued with him stating that it was a nice change from people assuming he was dead, AGAIN! After all, I suppose it's an easy mistake to make when investigative journalism comes down to pulling an educated guess out of your arse.

Stewart is a strong advocate for human rights, aside from being the coolest knight in the kingdom. The fact that he's been outed as gay because he hangs out with fellow actors—such as his best friend, the sometimes Liberace-level gay Sir Ian McKellen (the coolest knight in gaydom?)—and believes in equality for LGBT people doesn't mean that he married his wife last September for shits and giggles.

His final tweet on the matter put the icing on the cake...

MT "@Gruaig_Rua: @Poynter Silly @guardian. You can't catch gay by hanging out with #LGBT people."
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) February 18, 2014

The Guardian later corrected their mistake but did not confirm whether they were indeed mistaking Stewart with McKellen, who is openly gay, or just blindly fumbling for skeletons around their own closet.

Muppet sandwich action with Stewart & McKellen (sounds like a TV special).

Sound off, Fanboys! Not that we needed to clarify Sir Patrick Stewart's awesomeness anymore, but what do you make of this "mistake?" Comments below and thanks again for reading.