Hello! Today, we're really excited to bring you a guest post from M.G. Buehrlen, author of The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, out earlier this month from Strange Chemistry! Before we get to her Top Ten Time Travel Films though, here's a little bit about The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare and M.G.! You can also check out Ashley's review by clicking here.
About the Book:
Title: The 57 Lives of Alex WayfareAuthor: M.G. Buehrlen
Release Dates:
March 4, 2014 (US)
6 March 2014 (UK)
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Amazon | Indiebound | The Book Depository | Waterstones
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
ISBN: 9781908844934
Synopsis: One girl. Fifty-seven lives. Endless ways to die.
For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair.
But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.
It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.
Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever.
And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.
About the Author:
When she’s not writing, M.G. moonlights as a web designer and social media/creative director.
She’s the current web ninja lurking behind the hugely popular website YABooksCentral.com,
a social network for YA (and kids!) book lovers. The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare is her debut novel. M.G. lives nestled away in Michigan pines, surrounded by good coffee and good books, with her husband and son and three furbabies. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.
Top Ten Time Travel Films
guest post by M.G. Buehrlen
In my debut novel, The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, my main character Alex can travel back in time to her reincarnated past lives. The inspiration for this *may* have come from my obsession with time travel films in all shapes and sizes. (Also time travel TV shows, but that’s another list for another day.)
Here are a few of my favorite time travel films in no particular order. If you haven’t seen any of these, make haste and get them lined up in your Netflix queue. You won’t be disappointed.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure / Bogus Journey
What I loved: Smart humor, tons of quotable lines, and the ability to watch over and over without ever getting old. I don’t think I’m too far off if I say this is possibly Keanu’s finest role to date. ;)
12 Monkeys
What I loved: Brad Pitt is a perfect psycho, and he delivers the performance of a lifetime in this mind-bending futuristic thriller. His performance outweighs everything else in the film. Everything. Else.
Midnight in Paris
What I loved: I’ve always had a soft spot for simple time travel, where someone slips seamlessly into another time. They aren’t quite sure how they got there, but they’re going to enjoy the ride while it lasts. Plus, 1920s Paris? Yes, please.
Time Traveler’s Wife
What I loved: The unique and interesting side effects of time traveling, such as always ending up naked every time Henry travels. So many great ideas are touched on here, like being able to make out with a younger version of your spouse. (It wouldn’t be cheating, would it?) Mind twisty stuff!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
What I loved: It’s my favorite of the Harry Potter series. It’s darker, twistier, brilliantly executed, and Ron and Hermione’s budding romance is Super Sweet. Harry knowing he could defeat the Dementors because he’d already seen himself do it was a twist I hadn’t yet seen in the time travel genre.
Back to the Future
What I loved: The idea that Marty McFly might inadvertently erase his own existence by tampering with time is the age-old time travel question. Back to the Future approaches it best. Plus, young Michael J. Fox? Yes, please, and thank you.
Groundhog Day
Time travel method: Uncertain (trapped in time)
What I loved: Bill Murray gets the Ebenezer Scrooge test in this film about reliving the same day over and over again. Selfish jerkwad learns a lesson about having a heart and becomes a better man. Who wouldn’t love that?
Meet the Robinsons
What I loved: This is one of my favorite Disney films, one that is often overlooked. It shouldn’t be! Not only is it a great time travel film with great twists, it’s a heart-warming story about family and finding where you belong. Also, I’m an adoption advocate, and the adoption themes are beautifully done here. *wipes a tear*
Star Trek
What I loved: Besides the fact that JJ Abrams can deliver a kick ass adventure film? I actually enjoyed the implications of the new timeline Nero created by killing Kirk’s father. I liked that the heroes didn’t scramble to reverse the damage done, and that this new timeline sticks in the end and the characters must play it out. I love when time travel endings are messy and flawed, rather than tied up nicely with a bow (put back to normal).
Kate and Leopold
What I loved: I’m not sure why this film has such low ratings. It’s utterly delightful and unconventional. The quirky, brilliant ex-boyfriend having to help his equally quirky and brilliant ex-girlfriend find love? Delightful. The juxtaposition of gentleman-era New York to hardcore present day NYC? Delightful. The idea that you might have to change history in order to NOT change history? You guessed it. Delightful. Also mind-bendy. I love it.
A huge thanks again to MG for taking the time to stop by our blog and talk about some of her favorite time travel films. We'll definitely be checking out the ones we haven't seen yet! Don't forget to pick up your copy of The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare from your favorite online or local bookseller! You definitely won't regret it.
--Ashley & Paul
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