Upcoming Events
Inkpop!
September 8, 2010 at (5 p.m. East Coast, 2 p.m. West Coast)
Come join me for a live chat at this online community for teen writers! We'll be talking about "When History and Fantasy Collide." Come ask questions, share your thoughts.
http://inkpop.com/forums/
Wildwing Launch Party!
September 24, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Portland, OR
Come for the event and the book, stay for the party.
Looking Glass Bookstore, 7983 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202.
www.lookingglassbook.qwestoffice.net
Kidlit Salon at Book Passage Marin
September 27, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Corte Madera, CA
I'll be on a panel with N. H. Senzai and Lewis Buzbee.
www.bookpassage.com/kid-lit-salon
PNBA
October 8, 2010 at 4:45 p.m.
Portland, OR
I'll be signing books at the Pacific NW Booksellers Association Tradeshow.
www.pnba.org/show.htm
Wildwing Event at St. Helen's Book Shop.
October 21, 2010
St. Helens, OR 7:00 p.m.
www.sthelensbookshop.com
Reviews
Radiant Darkness is the #1 selection by Indie Booksellers for the Summer 2009 Kids' List! Here’s what one of them says: "Emily Whitman has written an inventive retelling of the myth of Persephone's kidnapping by Hades and her stay in the Underworld. In this version, she is a willing participant in the seduction, but then has to establish herself as an equal in her relationship with Hades. Are there modern overtones? Yes, and they help make Radiant Darkness a very good story.'"
— Nicola Rooney, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
See the IndieBound list here.
From Booklist: "In her debut offering, Whitman shapes the Greek myth of Persephone into a steamy coming-of-age novel laced with feminist sensibilities. . . . Whitman amplifies both the heady romance and Earth-goddess themes with poetic, sensual descriptions of nature’s intoxicating fertility; and she skillfully humanizes Persephone with archetypal scenes of mother-daughter tension. Many mortal teens will see themselves in the young goddess, as she realizes her own talents and strength and grows into herself.'"
Best-selling author Eloisa James writes about Radiant Darkness in the Barnes & Noble Review Spotlight: "Emily Whitman's Radiant Darkness is a fascinating, complex version of Persephone. . . . Whitman has captured the laments of a thousand (mortal) Persephones, hankering after red lipstick and the bad boy down the block. The pleasure of this book springs partly from hearing snide teen talk with a mythological bent, and partly from the way in which Persephone runs into Hades' arms -- and learns to regret it.'"
Award-winning author Susan Fletcher says: "Radiant Darkness is a delicious read: funny, sensuous, lyrical, and wise.'"
School Library Journal says: "Whitman has cleverly fit an ancient story into a trendy modern formula—a beautiful, innocent, privileged girl (Persephone) meets a powerful, wealthy bad boy (Hades). . . . Teens will likely relate to Persephone, who cannot stand the thought of spending eternity in the prison she feels her mother has constructed for her, and her transformation from girlish dreaminess to strong, thoughtful woman will resonate with them."
From Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "There's originality and flair in the picture of a world where the gods have both the familiarity and star appeal of glossy media personalities, and Whitman makes Hades and Persephone (Hadephone? Persades?) a glam celebrity couple that everyone will want to read about."
Close to 70 people packed the Looking Glass Bookstore in Portland for the Radiant Darkness launch and signing on May 1st.
Three readers preparing to descend into the underworld.
