February 2, 2007...9:04 pm
Alisa Libby, author of The Blood Confession, at the Portland Public Library
A couple of seventh grade students and I went to the Portland Public Library today to the First Friday Children’s & Young Adult Author Lunch to meet author Alisa Libby and hear her talk about her new book, The Blood Confession, a gothic young adult novel about a 16th century Hungarian noblewoman who begins a bloody quest looking for the secret to eternal youth and beauty. The novel is a fictionalized horror story inspired by the legend of Erzsebet Bathory, known as The Blood Countess.
Alisa has been writing since she was a very young child and one piece of advice to aspiring writers she offers is, “[R]ead as much as [you] can because reading is the best way to become a writer.” (Thank you for that sentiment, Alisa!)
Alisa said that the historical figure, Erzsebet Bathory, has been with her since she read a story about her in a collection of vampire stories she found in her own local public library when she was a teenager. Alisa has been using her as a character in her writing for years. (What a creepy companion to have for all those years!)
In addition to talking about herself, her writing process and getting published, Alisa read a very compelling scene from her book, where the Countess Erzebet Bizecka is bleeding one of her young servant girls.
The bleeding seemed to take longer than I had expected, and I implored Anastasia for patience as I paced the floor again agitated. Anastasia did not seem at all impatient, sitting drowsily hunched over the bowl. According to medical texts, humans were equipped with pound upon pound of blood–surely there was still enough inside of her that could be spared. I glanced again at the measly pool and sighed.
“We may have to try again,” I told her, inspecting the cut upon her arm. “Perhaps a cut upon your leg–that might yield more.” When I turned to look at the girl in the chair, I jumped back at the sight. Her head had fallen forward onto the table.
- The Blood Confession by Alisa Libby, p. 215
It was chilling. And yet, also, strangely compelling.
To add to the gruesomeness, the book itself looks like it’s been stained with blood … EEEEWW …
Check out Alisa Libby’s website http://www.alisalibby.com.
Considering our horror fans, who love
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
• In the Forests of the Night
• Demon In My View
• Shattered Mirror
• Midnight Predator
Melissa de la Cruz
• Blue Bloods
• Masquerade
Annette Curtis Klaus
• Blood and Chocolate
• The Silver Kiss
• Freaks
Scott Westerfeld
• Peeps
• The Last Days
I think that this book will be a great addition to our horror section.
So it’s fortunate, for you horror fans, that we bought three copies and had them autographed to the students at King Middle School.
Enjoy.
Ms McDaniel
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