Once upon a time there were four authors on book tour who were hanging out in a hotel room sipping champagne and coming up with ideas that got sillier with each glass. They were cracking up about something—I think it had to do with “burning loins”—and one of them said, “We all have to use the phrase ‘burning loins’ in our next book.” And once that was agreed upon, someone came up with an even better phrase that would prove even more difficult to use.
And guess what? They all put it in their next book.
There is a phrase—2 words, to be exact—that exists in DREAMLESS (Josephine Angelini), ARISE (Tara Hudson), DESTINED (Aprilynne Pike), and IF I SHOULD DIE (me).
I’m not talking random 2-word groupings like “he said” which you can find a bazillion times in any book. I’m talking about a really obscure exclamation. And we were all able to get it into our final drafts without someone editing it out. (Unlike the word “wereboar” which 5 author-friends and I had agreed to use and which got edited out of JUNEAU.)
I was talking to someone about what our little stunt should be called, and they brought up the term “Easter egg.” Wikipedia defines Easter egg as “an intentional hidden message, inside joke, or feature in a work such as a computer program, movie, book, or crossword.”
So voilà—Josie, Tara, Aprilynne and I have an Easter egg hidden in our four books. If you think you know what it is, write me on amy at amy plum books dott com, and if you are right I will officially proclaim you a HAPP Superfan.
And if you ever see the word “wereboar” in a YA book, just know that it was part of a scheme cooked up in the French countryside by 6 authors plotting paranormal world domination. (This is where you scream and run for your lives.)
CURRENT HAPP SUPERFANS:
Amy Ong (who was the first to guess the Easter egg!)
Tiffany Bernardo
Elizabeth Grimes
Akesha Leigh Turner
Tasha Priddy
Jennifer Flores
Em Pegley
Mary Hinson
Lili Wang
Genevieve McDaniel
Christine Meyers
29 Comments to 4-Author Easter Egg
by jabelfield - On June 11, 2013
This is hilarious. I sent an author friend of mine daily word/phrase challenges that she then had to incorporate into her then-current WIP. She did them all, and some of them are so bizarre, they border on the ridiculous, but thankfully, she had a seriously zany character who could pull them all off. They’re still in there now in the published versions, LOL.
by Jenny N - On June 12, 2013
Oh,Amy. My young in home authoress-to-be will be over the moon that two of her favorite authors are in cahoots (you and Aprilyne.) Guess we better get to reading. thanks for the Easter Egg.
by Sierra Sandusky - On June 13, 2013
Well is it when ever Brian squints at Kate because she is the “chosen one” ?
by amy - On June 13, 2013
Jabelfield – isn’t that the coolest?
Jenny N. – woo hoo! (Aprilynne is great – she deserves superfans.)
Sierra – nope. In my book it comes near the end. 😉
by Sierra Sandusky - On June 13, 2013
Is it when Kate and Violette fight? Kate: “Maybe. But you don’t have a heart.” Violette: “A heart makes one feeble. In order to wield true strength, one must be merciless.” Kate: “I disagree. Mercy is the key. You can force people to follow you but you will never have their respect or love.” Violette: Love is for the weak.” And then they start to fight.
by amy - On June 13, 2013
Before that. And remember – it’s a phrase that appears in ALL 4 BOOKS! Not just mine.
by Sierra Sandusky - On June 13, 2013
Oh no!
by Sierra Sandusky - On June 13, 2013
It looks like I have some reading to do!I hope if ind the easter egg!:]
by Grace Louise - On June 18, 2013
Can you give us a hint something like 20 pages its in between or something please I’m looking and have no idea where to start.
by Heather-Marie - On June 21, 2013
This is a lot harder than I thought. I went through Arise and If I Should Die chapter by chapter and got nothing. the only thing I found was in If I Should Die the words “Golden Red” and in Arise “Golden-Red” but not in Dreamless!
Well at least now I have something to do over summer break! 🙂
by amy - On June 21, 2013
Grace Louise – your hint is: in my book it’s Georgia who says it, and it’s in the 2nd half.
by Hanna von Borg - On June 21, 2013
Is it Sex Pistols?
by amy - On June 22, 2013
No, Hanna. But good guess. 🙂
by Vivianna & Hanna - On June 22, 2013
Is is “Wonder Woman”?
by Vivianna & Hanna - On June 22, 2013
*It
by Jennifer - On June 23, 2013
I thing I found it
by Jennifer Flores - On June 23, 2013
Is is when Georgina says I’m per at “La Morgue” meaning she was at La Maison
by Jennifer Flores - On June 23, 2013
Never mind. Does it have a similar meaning to burning ioins??
by amy - On June 24, 2013
Akesha, I just deleted your comment because you were RIGHT! Please write me on my email address (on the CONTACT page) and give me your postal address!
And Jennifer, nope. It has nothing to do with burning loins. 🙂
by Akesha - On June 24, 2013
Hi Amy I don’t know wich email address is the right one to use
by Akesha - On June 24, 2013
Hi Amy I don’t know wich email address is the right one please post it. Thank you
by Jennifer Flores - On June 25, 2013
I know!! i though it was going to be more dirty!! I look “burning ioins” up and is a very interesting thing.” Anyway I already know what it is and you confirm it already so, (screaming inside xD )I’m very happy to be a super fan!! Good luck to all!!! May the odds be ever in your favor!( saying it very hunger games in my head)
by Wilhelmina Von Drake - On July 1, 2013
Is it “Wonder Woman”?
by Sarah Webb - On July 22, 2013
OMG! I love this series and i coulnot put down my e-reader! i knew ever since kate found out what revenants are that she would be one! Oh and when they found out that vincent wasnt the champion that Kate was! this book didnt fully turn out to what i expected it to be… it turned out WAY BETTER! i just got the first fook “Die for me” because i had like $100 for my kobo books and the cover was cool. i didnt think that i could not focus on my school work very well and have my mind wraped up in the book 24/7! when every one came to help the bardia of paris because of kates billion watt aura i was extatic and then charles! omg! i think the look suites him too! i am signing off to read the series like a billion times! Au revoir!
by Rosario - On July 24, 2013
Is it “the party”?
by Amy Plum - On July 25, 2013
Wilhelmina and Rosario – nope, sorry! 🙂
Sarah – I am SO glad you loved the series. Thanks so much for writing to let me know!
by Rosario - On July 25, 2013
OMG! this is so hard! I have read If I should die like 4 times now! I know all Georgia says in the book, by heart!!!
But I’ll keep trying!
maybe, “the moment”?
by Christine - On August 21, 2013
Hi Amy! I emailed you my guess. I hope it’s right!!!
Trackbacks