Beautiful Dead
59 
- Profile views: 2,955
- Profile created: February 2009
- www.bebo.com/Beautiful-Dead
- Category:
- Fiction
- Publisher:
- Hodder Children's Books
- Me, Myself, and I
- Something strange is happening at Ellerton High. Jonas, Arizona, Summer, Phoenix…
All dead within a year.
Darina, Phoenix’s grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can’t escape her intense heartache, or the impossible apparitions of those who are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echo inside her head…
When Phoenix suddenly appears before her, her tells her that he is one of the Beautiful Dead – souls in limbo returning to earth to right the wrongs of their deaths. Beautiful and sub-human, they all bear a “death mark” – a tattoo of angel’s wings on the place they were mortally wounded.
Darina is determined to release their souls from limbo, starting with Jonas.
Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?
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Beautiful Dead Book 1: Jonas OUT APR 09
Beautiful Dead Book 2: Arizona OUT OCT 09
Coming 2010:
Beautiful Dead Book 3: Summer
Beautiful Dead Book 4: Phoenix
Available in all good bookshops, priced £5.99
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catch up
You wouldn't think that a writer's life is so caught up with meetings, e mails and phone calls, but it is. People imagine a writer sitting alone at a desk just being creative - if only!
Last week I met with my agent and my publisher. I had to go through contracts line by line with my agent - I tried hard to look as if I understood everything that was going on. Film deals are incredibly complicated. Then I met with my publisher to talk about future projects. We're pretty convinced that the topics of vampires and werewolves have been done to death ( uh-oh -there;'s a terrible pun in there somewhere!), so we're looking at other fantasy areas. Three of us sit in a room throwing ideas around until we settle on something that looks promising. Of course I can't say what exactly - it all stays under wraps until we're ready to publish, which will be at least eighteen months down the line.
Meanwhile, I'm about to start work on Beautiful Dead Book 4.
Book 3 - Summer - is with the printers. The design work for the jacket is done, and it looks beautiful - a really amazing image for the front cover.
We're happy with the way Book 2 - Arizona - is selling in the major bookstores and supermarkets.
So Book 4 - this is Phoenix's story, and it's what everything has been building up to. His twelve months is almost up - Darina knows she has to solve the mystery surrounding his death, but she also knows it's almost time to say goodbye forever...
2 Comments 8 days
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Thinking ahead
Jonas and now Arizona are out in the shops, and unbelievably, I'm putting finishing touches to the manuscript for Book 3!
The more I write about these characters, the more they mean to me - it's almost like they live alongside me, even when I'm not working on the books. I think Darina means most to me. She getting more complex and interesting with each story - or at least, I hope she is.
In Book 3 someone important dies! No way can I reveal who it is, but I'll admit it was very tough to write about it. I didn't want to lose this character, but I had to for the sake of the plot.
All I will say is that it's not Phoenix!
Work on the novels aside, I've been trying to get my feet back on the ground after my trip to America. Harder to do than usual, for some reason. I feel restless, except when I'm working, then I get my focus back and enjoy what I'm doing.
I'm looking for good movies to go and see. Any suggestions? And I read that vampires are about to be replaced by werewolfs as the fave paranormal creature. Watch out for characters sprouting facial hair and claws.5 Comments 33 days
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Arizona
Yes, I've seen Arizona (Beautiful Dead Book 2) in bookshops too, even though it's not officially out! Hmmm.
Anyway, I'm excited to see it on the shelves - the two covers of Jonas and Arizona look great alongside each other, and will look even better when Summer and Phoenix eventually join them to make a whole set.
In Book 2, Darina is still completely in love with Phoenix, can't bear to be apart from him and is fighting hard to keep the secret of the Beautiful Dead. This time she has to help Arizona clear up the confusion surrounding her death - Arizona drowned in a lake and at first it looks like suicide. It's not, though. It's much more complicated. Darina has her work cut out. And she's been torn apart by her separation from the boy she loves. She lives two lives - the grey, everyday world of family, friends and school, and the unreal world of the undead where Phoenix exists.
Lately I've been out to see the original setting for the books and to refresh my memory of details about the place - I've walked again into the derelict barn where it all happens in Book 1 - Darina's first sight of the Beautiful Dead, with Phoenix standing in the middle of their circle, being welcomed back from beyond the grave. It is totally isolated - ten miles down a dirt track and 8,000 feet up in the mountains. They had snow there last week. Everything was so beautiful.
Meanwhile, my publisher is setting up a system for paying tracks from albums which were suggested by fans as possible soundtracks for the proposed film version of Jonas. I'll work out exactly how to do this and let you know soon.
Hope you enjoy reading Arizona!4 Comments 42 days
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Do you think Darina should finish with Phoenix and find a living boyfriend?
- No – they are soul mates
- Yes – she needs to get on with her life
- Only when Phoenix’s soul is released and can rest
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If Beautiful Dead was made into a film, who would play Darina?
- Miley Cyrus
- Kristen Stewart
- One of the Olsen twins
- Other
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Did you have sympathy for Arizona even though she was keeping secrets from Darina?
- Yes
- No
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Amanda Project2 days agoWIN A NINTENDO DS & A COPY OF THE AMANDA PROJECT: INVISIBLE I
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1 week ago
Catriona W
I feel in love with the first book, screw that i feel in love with Phoenix!I just got the second book to day and can't wait to read it.
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Emily2 weeks agoJonas was an amazing book! i counted down the days til Arizona came out.
i didn't think Arizona could top Jonas.
She totally did!!!!
I could not believe that that person killed her (i am not going to ruin it.)!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to pre-order Summer and Phoenix.
i wish they were all real.
I don't want the books to end. EVER!!!!
I LOVE BEAUTIFUL DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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3 weeks ago
AshMashstashcash
Jonas was amazing and i didnt think Arizona could top it and it did it was better than amazing.
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Katieseco3 weeks ago
omg ur books are amazing
ur one of ma fav writers!!!!
id love to be able to rite great stories lol!!!!
i can wait to read Summer Book 3!!!!
i read Arizona in less than 7 hrs lol (on and off)
cnt wait!!
keep up the great writing
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3 weeks ago
Riddle Of A Girl
Book 2 was incredible, loved every page. The characters were amazing and the story line was unbelievable. I couldn't put the book down and the character Arizona was shown to be who she really loves which made the book even better
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7 weeks ago
Chloee Luffss' Yaah
Love. It. ♥
Im just started reading the Arizona one.
Its really good so far.
I think I might go back to it ..
I love these books sooo much.
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7 weeks ago
Emmalouise
I love this novel so much! and ... for the person who said its like 'Twilight' I dont think it is at all. 'Beautiful Dead' would be amazing as a novel. I actually think that 'Beautiful Dead' could manage to be better than the 'Twilight' movie. Even though I love the 'Twilight' movie so much. The 'Beautiful Dead' novel is amazing!
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.Nessie.Coullin.7 weeks agoOMG im loveing Book 2 Arizona. I got my copy like a couple of days ago in the post and have almost finished it loveing it ciant waite till the Next one. x loveing the series like so much.
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7 weeks ago
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7 weeks ago
Beccah
waterstones website is already selling it
but i cant wait its lik meh fav book ever so so good im coutin teh days
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7 weeks ago
Jenny
the second book is already out in the uk!! just look in waterstones. i went in there yeaterday and i saw it and was like 'gotta get it'! lol
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8 weeks ago
DecemberLightsx
omgg i love this book! i cant wait till it comes out in october so i can snag a copy for myself <3 tho ill have to hide it to make sure my siblings dont steal it =D
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Read 1st 2 books I've read Jonas and Arizona i SOOOOOOO want the others soon! *-*
by Emma K 4 days agobeautiful dead i picked up book 1 in the libary
by Ellen Shepherd 1 week agoread it within a day
after i took it back i bumped into book 2 and now i'm obsessed with these brilliently written books!
a modern day love story with a twist!:)) I really liked these books cos they are different and havent been done b4!
by Rhian Foley 2 weeks agoIts a really cool love story but with lots of action and both of the books so far have different stories and characters and are exciting and interesting!
Totally worth a read,u really get hooked with the stories and they bring different emotions out in you!
Cant wait to see how they end and what happeneds with darina!!
x x x
Beautifaul Dead! Jonas and Arizona OMG!! I love this book so much! i randomly picked it up in WHSmiths coz i was bored.
by Emily 2 weeks agoSOOOO glad I did!!
I told my friend to read it, then she lent it to her mate from another school and then me and her told one of our best mates to read it and on the 9th, we all went out to buy Arizona!!
SUMMER IS OUT ON MAY 6TH 2010!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait!!!
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Book 2: Arizona I loved Beautiful Dead Book 1: Jonas, and so I read Book 2: Arizona. It was amazing, the pages almost turned themselves! It made me smile and cry, and I felt as if I was right there in the story.
by Hannah W 3 weeks agohi well just finished the second book it was great i really cant wait 4 the next 2 why do we have 2 wait so long.??????
by Sinead M 3 weeks agoJust starting #2 Well, im just starting number 2 - i love them already, i can't express how much i love these books, i have to read them loads ! ♥♥♥♥♥♥
by Tiffani. 3 weeks agoand well done melanie? just tell everyone the ending that hasn't read it yet. thats just sad.
i luv the beautiful dead so i really injoyed reading this book because it is very interesting and my friends think its scary but not me i like it.and im pretty young
by Hine I Love You 4 weeks agoamazing im juist getting the second book today they r the best books in the univers
by Lynnz 5 weeks agoBeautiful Dead Omg these books leave me in suspence, i cannot wait ofr the next two.
by Keely Sullivan 5 weeks agoJonas was sweet how it showed Darina's love for pheonix and how she helped jonas and zoe remember what happened that day he died, Arizona on the other hand just left me hanging every time i put the book down to do something else.
both totally amazing
5 stars [cause im so nice lol]
Beautiful Dead Omg,this book is sooo amazing
by Leaah XD 7 weeks agoI couldnt sleep cos i wanted to carry on reading it
Theen when i fininshed it,i was sooo gutted,i need the new one,lol x