Apparently the first volume of the graphic novel adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight was quite a success. Kurt Hassler, Yen Press Publishing Director, said in a release, “The first volume of the Twilight graphic novel was an utter phenomenon in the category, and the reception by Stephenie’s fans was absolutely overwhelming.” Volume 2 will have a first printing of 350,000 copies.

“Knowing how beautifully Young Kim rendered the Twilight universe in the first volume, I couldn’t wait for this next one,” remarked Meyer. “Her illustrations of characters and settings gorgeously capture the world and are very close to what I saw in my mind’s eye while writing Twilight.”

The press release goes on to say:
A visually arresting retelling of the story that has captured the hearts and minds of countless fans, Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 contains selected text from Meyer’s original novel with illustrations by the talented Korean artist Young Kim. Kim’s unique artistic style which combines Asian and Western comic techniques are showcased in this black-and-white graphic novel with color interspersed throughout. Meyer consulted throughout the artistic process and had input on every panel.

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 will be released as an ebook and in hardcover on October 11, 2011.

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

The Twilight movie franchise will begin to wrap up with Breaking Dawn Part I in November, but Stephenie Meyer fans have another movie to look forward to—The Host. According to Deadline, Saoirse Ronan has been cast in the lead role in the movie based on Meyer’s bestselling novel.

The Host is a sci-fi romance about parasitic aliens who take over the earth. Ronan will play Melanie Stryder, a 20-year-old woman who is possessed by the alien called Wanderer (Wanda). Melanie fights Wanda’s attempt to control her mind, which I imagine will be more difficult to fully represent on-screen than in print.

Hopefully Saoirse Ronan is up to the task of playing a body possessed by two souls. The 17-year-old actress has an impressive resume that includes The Lovely Bones and Hanna. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Atonement.

The Host, first released in 2008, was meant to be the first book in a trilogy, but fans are still waiting for Meyer to write the next book (supposedly called The Soul). Meyer recently told USA Today, “”I have the outline written and the first two chapters. I need to get on it.” Perhaps she will time the release of the next book with the release of The Host movie.

What do you think of Saoirse Ronan as Melanie? I pictured Melanie a little older, but other than that I think she’s perfect. Now we have to wait and see who they cast as Jared and Ian. Do you have any actors in mind for Jared and Ian?

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

Midnight Sun
Fans are dying to read Midnight Sun, which is a retelling of Twilight from Edward’s point of view. But after the manuscript was leaked online, Meyer shelved the project. However, she says that she hopes to finish it eventually:

“I’m hoping to do it someday because I know that’s what people want. No matter what book I put out from here to eternity they’ll want Midnight Sun, but I’m just not writing about vampires right now.”

The Host Sequel
Regarding the sequel to her adult novel The Host, she says:

“I have the outline written and the first two chapters. I need to get on it.”

More Twilight books?
She probably won’t write another book about Edward and Bella:

“The story’s already been told, and I doubt I’ll ever write another series based on the same characters.”

However, when asked about the possibility of Jacob and Renesmee spawning their own little werewolves or vampires, she won’t answer because she hasn’t completely ruled out a spinoff book:

“That is a question I’m reserving the right not to answer, because there is a chance I’ll go back to their story.”

New Projects
Meyer also talked about two brand new projects she has in the works:

“It’s a fantasy that takes place in another world where people are using bows and arrows and swords. There’s a little bit of magic, but it’s a very limited form of magic. The characters are human, and some have the ability to use magic and some don’t. It’s pretty dark. People die. The main character is a 17-year-old girl, and she’s kind of cool.”

“When I was growing up, I was obsessed with mermaids. I do have a very elaborate outline for a book. I’m not working on it right now, but I have the feeling it’s going to be big. It’s going to be 1,000 pages.”

Wow, there’s some interesting information here. Personally, I’m most looking forward to Midnight Sun and the sequel to The Host, rather than a new book. How about you? Which book would like to read most?

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

One fan will be chosen from each of the following countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The event organizers are keeping all the details of the meeting under wraps. They say, “due to the intimate nature of this event, details regarding the location and timing are being kept confidential.”

“The one thing I miss most about my first book tour was the chance I had then to spend quality time with my readers,” said Meyer. “At an event with just ten or twenty people, I was able to get to know everyone a little bit. I could also more effectively answer each person’s questions. I’m so excited to have that opportunity again, and to get to spend time with fans from many different places and backgrounds.”

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide will be in bookstores on April 12, 2011.

So, Twilight fans, if you had a chance to meet Stephenie, what would you ask her? I’d like to know when she’s going to finish Midnight Sun What burning questions do you have for Stephenie? Please share in the comments!

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

Stephenie Meyer and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers have harnessed the popularity of the bloodsucking vampires in Meyer’s Twilight universe to raise money for the Red Cross. They pledged one dollar to the American Red Cross for each copy of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella sold in the US. Yesterday, they presented the Red Cross with a check for $1.5 million.

“I’m so grateful that Little, Brown, the American Red Cross, and my fans made this generous gift possible,” said Stephenie Meyer. “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to help those so greatly in need.”

“We’ve had the incredible great fortune to have one of the biggest publishing phenomenons in recent years along with The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner becoming one of the top selling titles of 2010,” said Hachette Book Group CEO David Young. “Giving back is extremely important to the company, so it is particularly gratifying to be able to share our success with an organization as worthy as The American Red Cross.”

The donation will go to the Red Cross’ International Response Fund, which is instrumental in their ability to respond to humanitarian missions, like the relief effort after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Visit www.redcross.org for more information.

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

Breaking Dawn fell from the top 50 to number 54, Twilight is at 172, New Moon is number 238, and Eclipse is 198.

Meyer’s publicist tells USA Today that they expect to see a spike in book sales when the Eclipse DVD is released in December. Plus, Meyer is releasing The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide in April, and that is sure to put her back on the bestseller list.

Here’s a look at the top ten books on USA Today’s Best-Selling Books list:
1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
2. The Reversal by Michael Connelly
3. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
4. Divine Transformation: The Divine Way to Self-clear Karma to Transform Your Health,
Relationships, Finances, and More by Zhi Gang Sha
5. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
6. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
7. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
8. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
9. Don’t Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
10. Cross Roads by Fern Michaels

Stieg Larsson and James Patterson always seem to dominate every bestseller list I read, and this one is no different. While not in the top ten, I noticed all three books in The Hunger Games trilogy are in the top 50. I think The Hunger Games is definitely the most popular YA series right now, and with the movie in the works, the buzz surrounding these books is only going to grow.

So does this mean that Twilight‘s popularity has finally peaked? I think this was bound to happen sooner or later. At this point, it seems like practically everyone has read these books and they are ready to move on to the next big thing. So what do you think? Is the Twilight craze about over? Or is this just a brief lull in sales?

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

Stephenie Meyer is publishing a new Twilight book in April but, unfortunately, it’s not Midnight Sun. The new book is called The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, and it’s a full-color, illustrated encyclopedia to the world of Twilight. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will release the guide on April 12, 2011 in hardcover and ebook.

The Guide also includes character profiles, outtakes, a conversation with Meyer, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more. Originally announced as “The Official Guide,” The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide includes illustrations from several artists, including Young Kim, the illustrator behind the #1 New York Times bestselling Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1.

“I’m always amazed at how many in-depth questions my readers have about my characters and the world within the Twilight Saga,” said Stephenie Meyer. “With The Official Illustrated Guide, I hoped we could incorporate as many details as possible, including character histories, like Alice’s back story. I’m thrilled with the different artistic interpretations done by Young Kim and the other talented illustrators, including Bella’s wedding dress. I hope the fans feel it was worth the wait!”

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide will retail for $24.99 (although it’s currently $14.29 on Amazon).

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

Forbes magazine has compiled a top ten list of the highest paid authors in 2010 and the two names at the top of the list come as no surprise. Prolific author James Patterson is the top earner at $70 million. Stephenie Meyer is in second place with $40 million.

The list was compiled using data from the past 12 months ending June 1st. Stephenie Meyer’s latest book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, was released on June 5th, so its sales wouldn’t be included in that $40 million sum. Although, I’d wager she would still be in second even if Bree Tanner was factored in.

Here’s Forbes top ten list of highest paid authors in full:
1. James Patterson ($70 million)
2. Stephenie Meyer ($40 million)
3. Stephen King ($34 million)
4. Danielle Steel ($32 million)
5. Ken Follet ($20 million)
6. Dean Kootz ($18 million)
7. Janet Evanovich ($16 million)
8. John Grisham ($15 million)
9. Nicholas Sparks ($14 million)
10. J. K. Rowling ($10 million)

Did any of your favorite authors make the list? Is there an author you wish was on the list?

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

The four limited-edition titles: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, will be published by Atom on 14th October as £7.99 paperbacks, available only in the UK and Ireland, and Little, Brown’s territories including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. The white editions will not be available in the US.

The white titles will only be published between October and Christmas 2010, replacing the usual black jackets. The titles will have crimson-edged pages and crimson back covers, with text confined to the spines.

It’s too bad we won’t be getting these in the US. What do you think of the new white Twilight covers?

Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

Tom Barrack, real-state mogul and owner of Colony Capital, recently sent out a memo to his employees where he talks about his discovery of the Twilight saga. While on a yacht, with nothing else to do, he reluctantly picked up Twilight and was surprised to find himself hooked on the series. He says,

Here is my point. The idea of devoting half a day to reading these books was something that never, NEVER, entered my mind as something I would ever, EVER do. I hated them. I mocked them. It made no difference to me that over 20 million books were sold, movies made, and Team Edward and Team Jacob pandemonium had engulfed the world. I was simply stuck in my point of view.

Once I ventured into the books I learned something. I now understand why some women are emotionally altered from merely reading a book. I have also gained a deeper realization that understanding the circumstances and points of views of those with whom we are negotiating, working, living, loving or fighting is the key determinant factor in an enduring relationship.

In every day business, we think we know it all. We are the captains of our industry and we possess all the global knowledge. That which we don’t understand we push a button and it appears before us. We are lacking creativity…. it is hard for us to dream… harder for us to change our lives… hard to live in a situation that other people view as unconventional. And for sure, we all have no idea on how to be satisfied with the status quo.

How cool is that? Yes, he’s just now figuring out what millions of us Twihards have known for years now, but I think it’s great that he had what Oprah calls an “Aha! Moment” while reading Twilight and then used that to teach his employees about expanding their horizons. I think he also very accurately summarizes the appeal of Twilight:

Here is my macho take – Stephanie Meyer is a total genius. As I flipped through the pages I was startled by the lack of detailed description of Bella and the surgical and illuminating development of Edward. As hard as I tried I could not really picture Bella, but I was grabbed by Edward’s character – gorgeous, super human, super strong, super fast and most importantly encompassing the wisdom of a 109-year-old man in the guise of a 17-year-old boy.

The description of Bella on the other hand, was not moving, or compelling. What I realized is the genius of Stephanie was that she knew that by keeping the character generic, any and every woman could climb inside and picture herself in Bella’s shoes. Thus the fascination and deep emotional reactions to what many (including myself) thought was a foolish teenage trashy novel.

I definitely got that the “anticipation” was much more romantic and sexy than the “consummation” to the woman. Slow, patient, caring, tender…. (guys have you heard those words before?)…

Twilight’s become so overexposed in the past few years that it has become an easy target for critics, so I’m happy to see someone defend it. The truth is that Twilight resonated with a lot of people, both men and women, and I think Tom Barrack accurately deconstructs all the reasons why in this memo. It’s long, but I think it’s worth a read if you have the time.

The memo in full:

Bella and Edward Who????
July 02, 2010
Gang,
The last few weeks have been an incredible adventure. Thanks to you, Colony is on fire across the globe and we are conquering new frontiers and new themes on a daily basis in almost every venue in which we conduct our business. You are the A Team and I am deeply grateful and proud of what all of you have “teamed” to our reality.

As you know, I have been caught in a vortex of meteoric movement in every aspect of life and that has intensified on a cosmic scale the last few weeks. My personal goal has always been to feel the wind blow through my hair when standing on the ledge. Well, I certainly found the ledge, if not the hair. It is where I thankfully and excitedly anticipate the scent of excitement and fulfillment the most. I seem to love the edge.

My real job is to act as the Senior Information Officer for all of you and share my points of view, newfound information, instincts, and reactions so that you can incorporate them into a plan of action, which, through sweat and alchemy, becomes profit for our investors as well as ourselves. Today the volatility and uncertainty in the world is at epic proportions and perhaps the most valuable tool that I can share with you is the ability to adapt to, and analyze other points of views. Especially, to understand those points of view which you find truly frightening, disturbing, or life threatening. We all find comfort in crawling into our own “content” of life and with death defying stubbornness refuse to look outside to the “context” in which other people view our “content”. The wars of the world since the beginning of time have been fought over diverging points of view. There is no price too great to defend it. Unfortunately, that inflexibility does not work well for global traders or businessmen. Adaptability and understanding of strange bedfellows becomes a competitive edge.

I am going to share with you a personal breakthrough, which does not relate directly to our business but does reflect upon how we all look at all the “stuff” that drives us on a daily basis. Many of you will think that I have lost my mind or have finally experienced a mystical intervention of “my feminine side”. I promise you, it is neither.

I have had an agonizingly tough couple of weeks and have survived on pure adrenaline in the midst of tumult, controversy, tough negotiations with business counterparts, and a grueling travel itinerary that was challenging even for me. One of the recent meetings was in Turkey with our Mars partners. I made arrangements to have a bit of yacht time with them. When the meeting got cancelled I did the unthinkable for me, have a little down time all to myself. I boarded the gorgeous but stark Turkish Gulet right as the sun was setting. As I made my way into the main cabin I saw something so frightening it left me speechless. There, staring up at me from the ebony coffee table was a book. On the cover was a gorgeous red apple nestled between two soft and caring hands. Between the hands were written the words that strike terror in the hearts of every macho, red-blooded male…TWILIGHT. AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!! Alone, on a boat, with no wifi, no satellite, no magazines, no newspapers, just me and this book. This piece of chick lit, teeny bopper heartthrob stuff. Terror on the high seas! I wanted nothing to do with any of it. Not relevant, not interesting.

As I sat there with nothing to do the book kept taunting me. I began to think that there must be something I don’t understand. What could it be? What is it all about? Women don’t just read these books, they live them. They become each paragraph. I picked it up, but then immediately dropped it like a hot coal. What if someone saw me reading this? My macho reputation would be finished! I would be kicked out of the bench press section of the gym. My polo compadres would send me packing to the pony rides and my surfing buddies would exile me to the kiddie pool.

But it was a long night and there was absolutely nothing, and I mean NOTHING else to do. Long story short – not only did I read Twilight, I read the other two as well!! I was fascinated, captivated even. However, what intrigued me was not the same thing that hooked the millions of women whose lives and had been changed by this series, but something else entirely.

For you male Colonists, here is a brief synopsis. Stubborn teenage girl meets a handsome but moody vampire and against all odds they fall in love.

Here is my macho take – Stephanie Meyer is a total genius. As I flipped through the pages I was startled by the lack of detailed description of Bella and the surgical and illuminating development of Edward. As hard as I tried I could not really picture Bella, but I was grabbed by Edward’s character – gorgeous, super human, super strong, super fast and most importantly encompassing the wisdom of a 109-year-old man in the guise of a 17-year-old boy.

The description of Bella on the other hand, was not moving, or compelling. What I realized is the genius of Stephanie was that she knew that by keeping the character generic, any and every woman could climb inside and picture herself in Bella’s shoes. Thus the fascination and deep emotional reactions to what many (including myself) thought was a foolish teenage trashy novel.

I definitely got that the “anticipation” was much more romantic and sexy than the “consummation” to the woman. Slow, patient, caring, tender…. (guys have you heard those words before?) I found him incredibly appealing as he was taking care of Bella, putting her first, distancing himself from her to protect her and yet never being able to get her out of his mind. The relationship stood the test of time through many years, other men, family challenges and misconceptions of valiant and loving acts. A human relationship with a vampire is challenging on many levels, the least of which being you get older as your partner remain timeless. It was enticing, captivating, alluring…and dangerous. Through it all she believed that she could do it…. change her life… change his life…make it different…in spite of what conventional wisdom dictated.

Every woman longs for the anticipation, the romance, the journey, the taboo, the patience, and the attentiveness. Men, however, are all about the destination, the result, the speed and the outcome. The journey is merely penance to get to the destination. Which is why despite the vampires and werewolves, this book is kryptonite to most men.

In a world of technology these books are unique. There is so little imagination left in most of forms of entertainment today. See it, Google it, play it, do it…there is very little old fashioned make believe anymore. I could go on and on, but I know by now many of you are saying, “what happened to our leader?”… “Maybe Lebanese really is a sexual preference rather than a nationality”. I promise none of the above. [Mr. Barrack is of Lebanese descent.]

Here is my point. The idea of devoting half a day to reading these books was something that never, NEVER, entered my mind as something I would ever, EVER do. I hated them. I mocked them. It made no difference to me that over 20 million books were sold, movies made, and Team Edward and Team Jacob pandemonium had engulfed the world. I was simply stuck in my point of view.

Once I ventured into the books I learned something. I now understand why some women are emotionally altered from merely reading a book. I have also gained a deeper realization that understanding the circumstances and points of views of those with whom we are negotiating, working, living, loving or fighting is the key determinant factor in an enduring relationship.

In every day business, we think we know it all. We are the captains of our industry and we possess all the global knowledge. That which we don’t understand we push a button and it appears before us. We are lacking creativity…. it is hard for us to dream… harder for us to change our lives… hard to live in a situation that other people view as unconventional. And for sure, we all have no idea on how to be satisfied with the status quo.

It is time for all of us to become more creative, spend more time outside of the strict arithmetic cadence of our business, and understand foreign points of view. Most importantly we must really find the “moment”. Anticipation is everything. The process of getting to a destination is the objective and the more illumination, color, and vitality we give to the “road” the less important the final destination becomes. It will be what it will be!!!

On this 4th of July, slow down, take a breath, rediscover your imagination and create some excitement in your life. Take a few days to expand on the qualities of the character you would really like to become. Then live it, do it, become it! The better you are as an individual, the better we will be as a team.

I feel renewed and refreshed, having gotten out of my comfort zone and experiencing something so totally out of my normal realm. I don’t get it…. but I feel it. Taking the agenda-less time to absorb a point of view that I had ignored while loved ones around me relished in it, was an oasis for my soul. Having been unwilling to investigate the cause of such a startling movement until now was ignorant. Move your cheese!!!! Break through the comfort barriers, you can handle it whatever it is. The earth is turning on its axis. Planets and moons and suns are in orbit. Gravity is pulling and tugging, and molecules and quarks are warring inside of us. We need movement to live…

Do it Now!

Tom