Book Club Girl is giving away ten copies of Piccoult’s latest, Handle With Care. The contest ends midnight on March 5th. Check it out!!
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Book Giveaway Carnival Begins!
Book Giveaway Carnivial, hosted by Book Room Reviews has officially begun! In addition to the DROOD GIVEAWAY I’m also hosting a MEGA ARC (Advance Reader Copy) Giveaway!
The winner will receive the following ARCs:
Blue Genes by Christopher Lukas
Peaceful Endings by Michael K. Tucker
An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor
Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley
The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley
Acedia & Me by Katheleen Norris
Shining City by Seth Greenwald
I, Robot by Howard S. Smith
The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis
Plus, any other ARCs I come across by the end of the Carnival!
To enter, comment on this post.
To be entered twice, blog about it.
US and Canadian residents only, please. Contest will end on Saturday, March 7.
Good Luck!!
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Review, Giveaway & Blog Tour-Drood, by Dan Simmons
Book Descripton:
Full Description
On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens–at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world–hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever. Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens’s life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens’s friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author’s last years and may provide the key to Dickens’s final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.
On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens–at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world–hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever. Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens’s life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens’s friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author’s last years and may provide the key to Dickens’s final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.
My review:
DROOD is an amazing piece of literary fiction. Fans of classic fiction, including the work of Dickens and Collins, will be absorbed by the flavorful language. Fans of thriller and horror will be drawn in by the dark, dangerous and deadly DROOD character. Simmons is spot on with the historical details, the images of London, the characters of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. I can’t say enough about this amazing piece of writing. Don’t let the length of this book stop you from picking it up. I guarantee that DROOD is a piece of work that you won’t forget for some time!
Read an excerpt:
CONTEST:
To be entered into this contest, please comment about this post.
To be entered twice, blog about it.
To be entered three times, list your favorite piece of classical fiction.
US and Canadian residents only. Please, no P.O. Boxes. Winner will be announced Friday, March 6th.
Check out the other Blogs participating in this tour!
http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com
http://book-thirty.blogspot.com/
http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com
http://thebookczar.blogspot.com
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com
http://www.thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com
http://AllisonsAtticBlog.blogspot.com
http://linussblanket.com
http://www.chikune.com/blog
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://readingtoolate.net
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
http://ABlogofBooks.blogspot.com
http://Cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com
http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
http://www.savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com
http://bestbookihavenotread.wordpress.com
http://www.bookishruth.com/
http://www.bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
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Author Spotlight: Jason Pratt, author of Cry of Justice
An ambitious young woman, leading a small ragged brigade in a world still suffering aftershocks from a vicious international war, plots and battles against a series of increasingly ruthless adversaries, with help from her colorful subcommanders; while finding herself irreconcilably drawn to a charismatic, kind and hopeful stranger.
Come back next week and check out my review of CRY OF JUSTICE!
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Winner of KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, by Carrie Vaughn
Is…MARY!
Mary, congratulations! I’ll send you an email requesting your mailing address.
Tune back in later this week for a chance to win another “Kitty” book!
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Book Giveaway Carnival March 2-8
Tracy over at Book Room Reviews is once again hosting the Book Giveaway Carnival! Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to participate last year but I’m really looking forward to participating this year!
Check back here and Book Room Reviews March 2-8 for some great giveaways!
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Author Guest Post: Bruce Skye, author of GRAYRIDER
Getting In the Door
by Bruce Skye
I use the phrase “getting in the door” to refer to becoming published. The process now is both easier and harder than in years past. If you have the money, you can easily get into print with a self-publisher or a print on demand (POD) firm. And, I’ve discovered some POD companies actually have literary agents on their payroll. So, you need to be extremely careful in seeking an agent, much less a publisher.
Having a literary agent represent you is perhaps the smartest thing to do. They know the people you want your work to be examined by. And they can get to them, you can’t. But, again, finding one willing to represent you can be extremely difficult. And with POD firms having agents in their employ, you may do yourself more harm than good.
Is it still possible to have a conventional publisher print your work? It is. But they tend to stay away from fiction and focus instead on self-help works and biographies. It does seem as if all they want are bestsellers and ignore anything that isn’t guaranteed to sell at least a million copies. And, granted, they don’t seem interested in taking the risk of promoting excellent unknown writers.
Another rule to remember: don’t go with a publisher who effusively promises to promote your work. Always keep in mind you’re on your own in this area. It’s your book, not theirs. Whether they even care if you succeed or not is extremely debatable in my experience. There are excellent book promotion firms available which do not charge the heinous $47/hour rates I’ve seen advertised on the Net.
So, it is easy to see your name on a book cover. However, it is not easy to get that volume on a New York Times bestseller’s list. So, in the end, if you’re not making money by what you’re doing, why bother? I write because I love it. And sometimes, someone writes a wonderful review which makes all the frustration and effort worth it. Let me share a portion of one such review of my recently published novel Grayrider:
Fans of sword-and-sorcery adventures and fantasy novels will enjoy this book. It is fast-paced with intricate story lines, and a depth familiar to students of Celtic lore and history. Written in a style reminiscent of Tolkien’s “The Two Towers,” the reader is swept into the story from the first page.
So I’ll keep at it. The question is, will you?
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Review and Blog Tour: Grayrider, by Bruce Skye
Pump Up Your Book Promotion
“We take books to the virtual level!”
www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. “If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that’s what I strive for Grayrider’s world to be. I’ve built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.
“When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself.”
You can visit his website at www.bruceskye.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Gabriel, the exiled king of Rivalin, comes before King Airell to warn him the Ansgarian army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. Airell tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the murder of his family by the Ansgarians. He decides to fight the incursion without help.
As this takes place, Deirdre (Airell’s daughter), flees the kingdom of Cynyr north of Boadhagh. She knows now her mentor, Morrigan, created the Ansgarian army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.
Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and Grayrider about Morrigan. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to Cynyr to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by Morrigan to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.
Grayrider fights Morrigan and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to Rivalin brokenhearted. The ending is a complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.
My review:
Skye has written an action-packed fantasy, the first in the Deathsong Chronicles trilogy. From page one, the reader is drawn into the battle between Gabriel Grayrider and the evil sorceress Morrigan. GRAYRIDER is very reminiscent of Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings. The action scenes are vivid, the descriptions are so spot on you feel you are part of the scene. Highly recommended to any fantasy fiction fan!
Check back tomorrow for a guest post by Bruce Skye, author of GRAYRIDER!
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We Have Winners!
Following are the winners of “The Italian Lover” and “Things I Want My Daughters to Know.”
Winners – please send your mailing address to me at jenlaw77ATearthlink.net. The books will be sent directly from the publisher.
Italian Lover
· AmandaSue
· Ruth
· Jo-Jo
· valerie2350
· The Giveaway Diva
Thinks I Want My Daughters to Know
· Francine
· Amy
· Becky Workman
· valerie2350
· Valorie
Congratulations to all the winners!
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Review & Giveaway: Kitty and the Midnight Hour, by Carrie Vaughn
Kitty Norville is a DJ for a Denver radio station. She’s also a werewolf, a secret that she’s been able to keep from her audience. One night, however, things change. She brings up the topic of “Bat Boy”, a local phenomena that frequently appears in the news. Hundreds of calls start pouring in, comments ranging from “My girlfriend, a werewolf, won’t bite me” to recommendations on exorcisms. And thus, “The Midnight Hour”, a supernatural advice show, is born! Kitty is overjoyed at the success of her new show. But her pack leader, Carl, is not. He’s afraid the show is casting too much attention on their pack. Nevertheless, Kitty continues to broadcast, and a rift forms between her and her pack. Her desire for independence is misunderstood as an attempt to gain power within the pack. When Kitty accidentally reveals herself as a werewolf on one airing of a show, her life is in danger. When Cormac, a werewolf hunter, threatens her life, Kitty, and her show, are brought to the attention of the local police. Hardin, a local detective, asks for Kitty’s advice on a batch of unsolved murders. Murders originally thought were the work of wolves. Kitty visits the crime scene and it’s instantly obvious—a rogue werewolf is killing people.
The first in a series, KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR is a very addictive read. I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series!
To enter to win a copy of KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, comment on this post. To be entered twice, blog about it. To be entered three times, become a follower of this blog. Drawing will take place Friday, February 20th. US and Canada only, no P.O. Boxes.
Check out my blog each week as I review (and give away!) all six books in the “Kitty Norville” series, leading up to a blog tour on March 25!
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