Spellcrackers #1 Going Cheap! (UK only)

The Sweet Scent of Blood (Spellcrackers #1) is only £1.99 at Sainsbury's in their Great Autumn Reads promo!

Or if you prefer Kindle it's the same price here at Amazon UK! 

So if you've been thinking of starting the series, now's a good time to give book #1 a try!

Or if you've already read it, then remember it's October and books make for great Hallowe'en treats!

And Sainsbury's do eBooks as gifts! *winks* ;-D

Check it out here!

Sainsbury's ebooks can be read on most ebook readers, like Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Nook.

(Sorry, UK only, I think)

So I have a book coming out soon . . .

. . . and here's a chance to win a signed copy (3 available)!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Shifting Price of Prey

by Suzanne McLeod

Giveaway ends August 25, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Oh, and don't forget to add it to your 'to read' list! *bats eyelashes* :-D

Or if you're new to Spellcrackers, or know a friend who would like the books, here's another one (3 available)!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Sweet Scent of Blood

by Suzanne McLeod

Giveaway ends August 30, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

So what are you waiting for? Go enter!! :-D

Interview about Vampires* in Spellcrackers!

The fabulous Jalisa has interrogated interviewed me about all sorts from what I think makes a good story, to how I developed the Spellcrackers world’s specific vampire lore.

Why not click on over and see what I had to say? Go on, you know you want to! :-D

She's also done a lovely review of The Sweet Scent of Blood here!

*and other things! :-D

Wow! New Cover!

With thanks to the Cover Gods at Gollancz, who have been super awesome and are giving me a fabulous new cover (with Genny's magic) for The Sweet Scent of Blood! This new one (as you can see below) will match with the newer style cover* for The Cold Kiss of Death, The Bitter Seed of Magic, and the future cover for The Shifting Price of Prey*! Woot!! *Does the Mega Happy Dance* I <3 Gollancz!!

And here it is with the other two!! Don't they make a gorgeous cover trio? *g*

click to embiggen!

*The new cover will be available November 10, 2011 in the UK new size mass market edition.  This one's not quite final; there's a small strap line to go in the top right corner which can be seen on the Amazon link :-)
*I've seen the cover for The Shifting Price of Prey! Wow!! Will share when I can :-D
*See how I got ALL the titles for my books in there??? *shameless self-promo FTW!!* MWHAHAHAH

Where I'm going tomorrow . . .

. . . is the HeadRead Literary Festival in Tallinn, Estonia! I'm superexcited about this as it's my first literary festival as a Guest! Yay! Huge thanks to the HeadRead organisers for the wonderful invitation.

So, I'll be around at the Festival (I'm not sure all of what's planned) but on Saturday 28 May at 12.00 the lovely Sash Uusjärv will be grilling me mercilessly interviewing me about my books, at the Estonian Writers' Union, Harju 1, Estonia. If you're around that way, then please, feel free to come and heckle listen :-D

Another reason I'm over the moon, is I've never been to Tallinn, and it looks an awesome amazing place to visit. The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn is a UNESCO World Heritage Site*. And this year, Tallin is also the European Capital of Culture! Totally unsuprising when you look at this gorgeous aerial view of the Town Wall and St. Olav's Church. (courtesy of Tallinn City Tourist Office and Convention Bureau © Toomas Volmer)

click to embiggen

The third superexciting part of the Festival is VERE MAGUS LÕHN (a.k.a. The Sweet Scent of Blood) is being published by Varrak! *Mega Happy Dancing* And look at the fabulous cover! Huge thanks and kudos to Varrak and their fantastic Cover Gods!

Now, of course, I'm taking my laptop, after all, I'm still on the Deadline of Doom (TM) for book 4 - The Shifting Price of Prey,so I need to keep to my daily word count. And I plan* on taking lots of pictures, but I'm not sure what sort of internet availability I'll have, so if I'm even quieter than usual (re: Deadline of Doom) that's the reason!

* Of course, the Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site too - and coincidentally features in The Bitter Seed of Magic which is available with free worldwide delivery from The Book Depository!  #shamelessbookplug!!! *g*
* I always plan on taking lots of pictures, but it doesn't always work out that way - hopefully this time will be different! *fingers crossed*

Giveaway - Spellcrackers Books

Yay! We're now at week 4 of 16 weeks of giveaways to celebrate the release of

The Bitter Seed of Magic - Spellcrackers # 3 in the UK on 17th Feb (1st time in print)

and

The Cold Kiss of Death - Spellcrackers # 2 in the US on 26th April (out now in the UK)

And this week's giveaway is----

Okay, well the schedule says:

The Bitter Seed of Magic - Spellcrackers.com # 3
(This giveaway is now closed - check back later for the next one!)

But I've had the Migraine Monster (tm) munching on me for the last couple of days, so to cheer myself up, I'm going to give the winner not just one book, but their choice of TWO* of my books! WooT!

So if you haven't started the Spellcrackers series, or haven't got round to reading book 2 yet, here's your chance to see what hot guys, kick-ass chicks and super-cool supes you've been missing catch up! Or there's a chance to win book 3, and be on a promise for a copy of Home Improvement: Undead Edition (out Aug 2011) which contains a Spellcrackers short story (a prequel to The Sweet Scent of Blood - so no worry about spoilers), as well as lots of other wonderful stories by some fabulous authors!

How to enter:

Leave your choice of the two books you'd like if you win in the comments!

Please leave a way to contact you (email in comment: Please remember to replace @ with [at] to forestall spam - or your twitter name - no way to contact you - no entry).

Giveaway is international and closes end of day (GMT time) 10th Feb 2011

*Two books to be chosen from the following: The Sweet Scent of Blood # 1, The Cold Kiss of Death # 2, The Bitter Seed of Magic # 3, Home Improvement: Undead Edition (not available until August 2011). The two books can be sent to two different addresses, so if you've already pre-ordered The Bitter Seed of Magic (thank you!) and you win, you can spread the Spellcrackers love and give another copy to a friend :-)


See rest of General terms and rules in this post here.

And don't forget to check out the Giveaway Schedule here. And so you don't miss out on a chance of winning any of the wonderful books in the coming weeks, why not follow me? (following is not a condition of entry).

Please note: My usual blog policy is that I try to reply to all comments on the blog, but for ease of admin I won't be replying to any comments made on any of the giveaway posts during the 16 weeks. Sorry, but it makes it much harder to sort out the winner. I will still continue to reply to comments on any other post :-)

All links lead to Amazon (merely for ease). Please note: there are other online books stores available.


x/posted to my LJ: comment here or there - one entry per person.

Estonian Rights Sold

I am delighted to announce that The Sweet Scent of Blood is to be published in Estonia by Varrak. Varrak will publish in spring 2011, which is incredibly exciting as Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is to be the European Capital of Culture in 2011. A big, big thank you to Varrak, to John Jarrold, my agent, and the wonderful rights team at Orion/Gollancz for making this happen.

I tell all to Book Lovers Inc ...

... so why not head over and read all about me. Me. ME!!

Go on, you know you want to! *g* And if you need any more incentive* there's a signed copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood, or The Cold Kiss of Death up for grabs for two lucky commentators!

* Okay, so I'm not that interesting, I know this, but hey, there's *Free Books!*, that's got to be worth something, hasn't it? And you can find out about how my muse copes with my creative pants and what my crit partner, Jaye Wells has to do with it all! Plus there's the Book Lovers: they've got lots more interviews and giveaways lined up, with more exciting folk that me, so you'd be missing out if you don't go ... just sayin' :-)

Facebook Contest to win my books & yummy sweets (UK only)

Click on poster to enter!

Fang-filled Interview and giveaway at Vampire Wire

The wonderful Marta Acosta persuaded me to answer all sorts of revealing questions has interviewed me for Vampire Wire. Go here and 'read all about it', and leave a comment for me, or a comment telling us about something magical you like or liked as a kid, to win one of my books*.

Marta is the author of the fang-tastic Casa Dracula series and her fourth, and very sadly, last book in the series, Haunted Honeymoon, is out later this month! And while you're over there, don't forget to scroll down to find out how you can win an ARC of Haunted Honeymoon.

Then there's Marta's GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY featuring my favs Gerard Butler and Alexander Skarsgård *fans herself*, with the fun bonus of Alan Rickman as Snape! Yay! Thank you, Marta!

Vampire Book Club have a poll up for their September group read, and yep, you've guessed it (as if the clue below wasn't big enough *g*!) The Sweet Scent of Blood is one of the possible reads ... Now its got some stiff competition, but hey, if you all go over and vote for me, it could be in with a chance *Bats eyelashes and says, pretty please* :-)

:: Please vote for me! :: Please vote for me! :: Please vote for me! ::

*Winner's choice (includes an ARC of The Bitter Seed of Magic when available). Giveaway is open until September 11, 2010, and is international. See Marta's post for full details.

Russian Cover - The Sweet Scent of Blood

With grateful thanks to Елена,(who was kind enough to send me this), here is the very cool, very atmospheric, and very wonderful Russian cover for The Sweet Scent of Blood. Thank you Azbooka.

Virtual Book Tour Contest!

Want to win

The Sweet Scent of Blood – Spellcrackers.com #1?

Or if you’ve already read it, then want to win either The Cold Kiss of Death – Spellcrackers.com #2 or your choice of book from one of my favourite autobuy authors*?

Then take me and my book on a Virtual Book Tour!

How to enter:

Take a picture* of The Sweet Scent of Blood in the book store (either on the shelf, or with you holding it – up to you whether you want to be in the pic or not *g*) and send me the photo telling me where the store is (e.g. San Francisco), to spellcrackerscontest@gmail.com with Sweet Scent Virtual Tour in the subject line, along with your choice of book, and the snail mail address you want the book to be sent to if you’re drawn the winner.

Things you need to know

Contest runs until 31st July 2010

Winners will be chosen by a random.org.

There will be up to three chances to win.

Draw 1 will be on 31st May 2010
Draw 2 will be on 30th June 2010
Draw 3 will be on 31st July 2010

All pictures received will be entered for each draw, so the earlier you send, the more chances you will have.

Contest is international and open to all (whereever The Book Depository delivers).

All entries received by end of day anywhere on closing date for each draw will be entered into that draw. Winners will be notified by email. Winners of Draw 1 and 2 will not be entered into subsequent draws.

* I think it would be fun to post some of the Virtual Book Tour pics on my website, so please let me know in the email if you are happy to have your pic posted. Also, please remember to tell me what name you want me to use, if you don’t want your real name/email name to be posted with the pic. Thanks.


Bonus entry!

Help me do some promo for the book, and get the word out, please!

Do a post* about the contest on your blog/LJ/website (and if poss, p*mp your post on twitter/facebook/or any other social media *winks*) then send me the link to your post in an email to spellcrackerscontest@gmail.com with the subject line Sweet Scent Virtual Tour link. Counts as one bonus entry however many different places you post.

*A post = a separate entry on your blog/LJ/website with: the pic you’ve taken of the book in the bookstore; and a link to the contest on my website, please.

My autobuy authors (in no particular order :-) ). Book chosen must be available for delivery from The Book Depository.

Charlaine Harris
Jaye Wells
Ilona Andrews
Devon Monk
Richelle Mead
Jim Butcher
Rachel Caine
Kelley Armstrong
Faith Hunter
Lilith St Crow
Kim Harrison
Patricia Briggs
Tanya Huff
Mike Carey

Don't forget to check out my other contests here!

Happy Book Birthday!

Yay! My first book

The Sweet Scent of Blood: Spellcrackers.com #1

is released today in the US!

And it shares its book birthday with some fab books that I'm so looking forward to reading, some of which are below*.
I couldn't be happier for my book to be in such great company.
Happy Book Birthday to all!

I hope you all like my book over on your side of the pond, and don't forget to check out my current contests for a chance to win one of my books!

1. Thinking of buying The Sweet Scent of Blood, or have you recently bought it? Then enter my Thank You for Buying My Book Contest. (photo of purchase receipt required - date of purchase to be between 31st March 2010 - 31st July 2010)

2. The Sweet Scent of Blood - Spellcrackers.com #1 releases in the US on 27th April 2010. Join in the Virtual Book Tour and enter the contest to win a copy of my books. (no purchase required)

3. Already a Spellcrackers.com Fan? Then enter my I *LOVE* My Readers! contest. (no proof of purchase required)

Full details on how to enter here.

*I have massive cover envy for Lori Devoti's Amazon Queen *sighs*

Gollancz Newsletter aka shameless [blood-splattered] self-promotion

This is the latest Gollancz [my publishers] Newsletter! Not only does it feature the wonderful Charlaine Harris and True Blood and this video snippet [can't wait to see this!], but my books are in there too*! Yay! I *heart* Gollancz



And if you haven't already, don't forget to enter this week's celebratory giveaway to win your choice of Mike Carey's Felix Castor books, including his new one The Naming of the Beasts, plus a signed copy of The Cold Kiss of Death or The Sweet Scent of Blood.

* As if you needed reminding! LOL!

Dead and Gone :: Charlaine Harris :: Giveaway

Many Congratulations to Charlaine Harris!!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Best Sellers

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. DEAD AND GONE, by Charlaine Harris



I absolutely love the Sookie Stackhouse books, and I credit Charlaine Harris with part of my love of all things vampire [especially Eric *g*] and to celebrate her being No. 1 on the New York Times ~ squeeeeee! ~ I'm starting my next weekly giveaway early.

So to win a copy of Dead and Gone :: Book 9 in The Southern Vampire series along with a signed copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood please leave your congratulations for Charlaine in the comments before end of day [anywhere] Thursday, 28th May. See it's that easy. And don't forget to check back to see if you've won, and to enter next week's giveaway.

ETA: I haven't read Dead and Gone yet, [it doesn't come out in the UK until the middle of June, so not fair *pout* ] so please, no spoilers in the comments, not even little hints . . . *claps hands over ears* :-)

US and UK covers

Read the article about Charlaine Harris in the New York Times

1 comment = 1 entry

Please help me spread the good news, both about Charlaine Harris being No. 1 and about my upcoming release on the 16th July, 09 of The Cold Kiss of Death :: Spellcrackers.com Book 2, by mentioning the giveaway on your blog/live journal/myspace/facebook/twitter/etc

[post the link to the mention into the comments again**] = 1 entry per link

Which all means you could end up with moreentries into the metaphorical hat, so what are you waiting for? Get posting and linking!! Good Luck!!

*The winner's name will be posted and will have 7 days to claim. If not claimed in this time, then I'll redraw.

x/posted to my lj, comment either here or there.

** To make it easier to link, please copy and paste the following under the cut:

Twitter

RT@Suzanne_McLeod Win a copy of Dead and Gone: Charlaine Harris plus The Sweet Scent of Blood at http://bit.ly/NbPGd

Blogger/or other

Win a copy of Dead and Gone: Charlaine Harris plus a signed copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood: Spellcrackers.com, Book 1, here at Suzanne McLeod's blog to celebrate Dead and Gone being No. 1 on the New York Times list and Suzanne's book 2's upcoming release on 16th July 2009.

Facebook

Win a copy of Dead and Gone: Charlaine Harris and a signed copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood: Suzanne McLeod. Enter at http://suzannemcleod.blogspot.com/2009/05/dead-and-gone-charlaine-harris-giveaway.html

Excerpt Monday :: The Sweet Scent of Blood

It's Excerpt Monday organized by the lovely Bria Quinlan and Mel Berthier from Romance Divas. For my excerpt I'm posting a piece from The Sweet Scent of Blood :: Chapter 4.

Check out the Excerpt Monday,May blog for links to all the authors participating as there are plenty of fantastic excerpts to get your reading teeth into [full list under the cut]

My fang-filled excerpt :-) ...

‘Your website picture does you an injustice,’ the vampire said. ‘You are so much more in the flesh and . . . blood.’

‘Sorry I can’t return the sentiment,’ I said.

He gently shook his head. ‘Tut tut, Genevieve.’ He took a step towards me. ‘You really don’t mean that. Not when I have been waiting especially for you.’

I hardened my voice. ‘Then you’ve wasted your time. My visit’s with the police, not you.’

The Vampire took another step, fast, calculated to spook me. I swallowed hard, but held my ground. He stopped within touching distance. Long slim fingers brushed a lock of hair from his forehead while he studied me. ‘Intriguing.’ Half-closed eyes gave him a sleepy, enigmatic look. ‘Why would you involve yourself in something not your affair?’

cont ...
‘It’s really none of your business.’

‘But that’s where you’re wrong, Genevieve.’ The words drifted lazy and sweet through the air. ‘You see, this really is my business. I am tasked with bringing this little episode to a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned. I will do better without your . . . help.’

When what he had said sank in, rather than the dream of his voice, surprise tumbled through me, banishing the feeling of languor that had seeped into my bones. ‘Who says your conclusion would be satisfactory for everyone?’

He grinned, letting me glimpse fang, a push of mesma inviting me to go along with the joke. ‘Why, I do, of course.’

‘Uh-huh.’ I nodded slowly. ‘Sounds good.’ I gave him a smile. A wide happy beam of a smile.

Satisfaction lit his face, but before he could speak, I dropped the smile. ‘Only it doesn’t sound quite good enough.’ I winked. ‘But hey. Nice try.’

He laughed, and the sound bubbled through me like champagne. I shivered even as sweat trickled down my spine. I gripped the strap of my bag with both hands, holding it like a life-line, concentrating on keeping him out of my mind. The longer he talked, the more the back of my neck throbbed, reminding me I was more vulnerable than usual.

‘Genevieve.’ He shrugged an elegant shoulder. ‘What are we to do now?’

I stared at him, surprised. ‘You’re asking me?’

He indicated the police station. ‘Once you walk through that door, you make yourself defenceless.’

For a moment part of me actually felt he cared. I bit the inside of my mouth, hard, to banish the feeling.

‘You dispense with all that wonderful witch protection you have carefully cultivated.’ He spread his hands wide. ‘You are fair game.’

‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

‘Are you so eager to offer your blood?’

‘What do you think?’

‘Such bravado.’ He glanced at the door again, a vague anxiety in the action. ‘But even your sidhe magic will not shield you from some amongst us.’

‘Are you done yet? Because so far I’m not hearing anything new.’

He sighed, the sound coating me with remorse. ‘Go home, Genevieve, while you still can.’

‘What? Just leave?’ I stopped strangling the strap of my bag and clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, determined to resist the impulse he’d given me to go home. ‘When you haven’t even threatened me yet?’

Something dark and sad appeared in his eyes, then it was gone, hidden by the same enigmatic look as before.

‘Threats . . . Coercion . . . Violence.’ The words hung like blades in the still air. ‘Is that what you would want?’

I froze, pulse speeding up, unable to move or speak, gazing into his eyes. A voice screamed in my mind, yelling at me to break his mesma, but another part of me wanted, desperately needed, whatever he was offering.

Cool fingers circled my left wrist and lifted my still clenched fist between us. My hand moved, seemingly of its own violation, opening like a flower before the sun. Blood welled in the half-moon marks across my palm, bright against my skin.

‘May I?’ His eyes echoed the silken seduction in his voice.

My lips parted in a sigh as my head bowed in submission.

Anger flashed across his face and his fingers squeezed, the bones in my wrist grating with the pain. ‘Say. It.’

‘Yes,’ I breathed.

For an instant his pupils glowed red and my heart fluttered with sudden terror, then he dipped his head. I gazed at the line of his jaw, the long dark lashes, the sleek silk of his hair where it curled round the intricate whorl of his ear, its lobe pierced through, a single gem black against his pale skin. His lips caressed my palm, a shudder rippled through his body and I felt an answering shimmer resonate through my own. My eyes closed as he licked hot lines along my hand. Sharp fangs scraped my wrist and chill air kissed my bare skin.

Leaves rustled in the stillness and a horse whinnied from the nearby stables, startling me out of my reverie.

I opened my eyes to an empty street.

The vampire was gone.

I stared down at my palm. The cuts from my nails had disappeared, healed over as though they’d never been. A bracelet of bruises around my wrist was the only evidence of his presence.

‘Genevieve.’ My name whispered through the breeze.

***

Authors participating in Excerpt Monday are ...
The hosts:[and apologies for weird formatting, the html has got the better of me ...

Mel Berthier, Urban Fantasy (PG-13)

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG)

Participating:

Melissa Aires, Paranormal Erotic Romance (PG)

Gina Ardito, Historical Paranormal (PG)

Evie Byrne, Paranormal (R)

Jax Cassidy, Erotic Contemporary (R)

Lynne Chandler, Romantic Suspense (PG 13)

Ella Drake, Erotic Paranormal Romance (NC-17)

Cate Hart, YA (R)

Kinsey W. Holley, Paranormal (PG)

Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG-13)

Cynthia Justlin, Romantic Suspense (PG)

Kaige, Historical Romance (PG-13)

Inez Kelley, Rom Com (R)

Ainslinn Kerry, Paramornal Romance (R)

Ansha Kotyk, Middle Grade Adventure (PG 13)

Adelle Laudan, Romantic Suspense (PG 13)

Jeannie Lin, Historical (PG)

Elise Logan, Paranormal/contemporary (R

RF Long, Fantasy (PG)

Crista McHugh, Historical Paranormal Romance (PG-13)

Suzanne McLeod, Urban Fantasy (R)

Alina Morgan, Urban Fantasy (PG 13)

Annie Nicholas, Paranormal Romantic Suspense (R)

Kirsten Saell, Erotic Romance/Fantasy (NC-17)

Vivienne Westlake, Historical Erotica (R)

Kate Willoughby, Fantasy/Parnormal Erotic Romance (NC-17)

Demons, Sweets and Win a Free Book!

I'm guest blogging over at Maria Zannini's today about Making Characters Real to celebrate the upcoming release of her book Touch of Fire - find out why I wouldn't let the demon possessing me kill you on the spot! and what liquorice torpedoes have to do with it all . . . and leave a comment [over there] telling us what your favourite sweet is, to be in with a chance to win a copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood - so go now and visit Maria [who's blog is always full of awesome :-)] you know you want to *g*

SF Site Best SF and Fantasy Books of 2008

SF Site Best SF and Fantasy Books of 2008

Not only are there some wonderful books that have been chosen, such as

No. 7

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

No. 5

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman [a fab, fab book and one which I'm lucky enough to have a signed copy of with both Neil Gaiman's and Dave McKean's signatures! Yay!

No. 1

Anathem by Neal Stephenson [The Winner!!]






but I'm overwhelmed and delighted that The Sweet Scent of Blood [SF Site's review here] has received a mention in the honourable and near misses!! A big thank you to SF Site and all those that voted.

Phil the Shelf - BBC Radio Wales

Phil Rickman explores the attraction of horror and nouveau-gothic fiction with authors Suzanne McLeod (The Sweet Scent of Blood) and Peter Luther (The Mourning Vessels). Listen here until the 20.12.08.

*

Phil Rickman [a best-selling crime writer] does a radio show where he interviews published authors about their books. [A very nervous me in this particular one!] Not only does he talk to Peter and myself, but also to Anne Rice!

At the same time he also invites aspiring authors to send in the start of their novel, along with a synopsis, which he then forwards to a relevant publisher for their comments. In this episode two aspiring horror authors have sent in their novels and Jo Fletcher* [my editor at Gollancz] gives advice to them about their submissions. John Jarrold [my agent]also talks about the current market for fantasy and horror.

*


Ever wondered what a radio studio looks like?

Via the wonders of technology, I was able to sit in my local radio studio for the show, which despite the fact I was on my own [and did I mention nervous!] and not much larger than a broom cupboard [the show's producer's description, not mine] was really pretty cool.






* no prizes for guessing that it was thanks to my editor that I was interviewed for the show *g*

Win a copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood!!

I'm guest blogging over at Karen Mahoney's today about 'Friends as Characters - Will they still love you when the book comes out!'

And there's another chance to win a copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood to celebrate this my book's release day . *runs off to do the excited happy dance again*

The draw is open until the 7th Sept, but why wait until then, go now and read how my best writing buddy made me put her offered to be a character in my book *g*