Signing Notes, Cupcakes and Winner: Magic Slays

So the signing on Sunday with Ben Aaronovitch! I had a fantastic time, the staff at Waterstone's Covent Garden were extremely well organised and corralled us in the window display so we couldn't escape had everything all set up for us: Sharpies, tea (me), diet coke (Ben), table, chairs, and of course, the most important, plenty of wonderful books* ready to sign for willing victims bribed with sweeties happy readers!

Here's Ben and I showing off our books! Please note I have one more than Ben . . . *gets competitive*, though Ben's photographic stance is much more practiced than mine; you can see both his books in full, and read the titles! (I was going for the artistic effect! Note to self: stick with plain and simple in future! *g*)

Thanks to Neil C Ford for the picture

Ben is a pleasure to sign with, and a very witty guy (though, if you've read his books, you'll already know that :-D) - and despite my rabid jealousy over him being a Sunday Times Bestselling Author, signing more books than me, and my frequent threats to summarily despatch him to the fiery pits of author hell with one of my Spellcrackers pencils much chat and fun was had by all. It was brilliant to see some familiar faces - *waves* at Neil, Michelle, Liz, Mark, Marc, and others (you know who you are :-)), and exciting to meet lovely new readers! Thanks so much to all of you for coming, and thanks to Waterstone's for being wonderful bookshop hosts!

And a huge thank you to the awesome Jackie, (visit her website to see more Fabulous Cakes she's made!) who is an absolute star and made us these super scrumptious cupcakes for us! With miniature copies of our actual books as decorations! Wow!!! Jackie, You Rock, Lady!!

Click to embiggen and see the cupcake fabulousness in all its glorious detail.

A close up!

*I know I'm being shameless here, calling my own books wonderful, though Ben had books there too, and his really are wonderful :-D

Giveaway!

Awesome Author Carolyn Crane has a giveaway where you can win your choice of some fabulous books (inc.The Sweet Scent of Blood or The Cold Kiss of Death! Yay!) so why not hop on over and enter! (Int. Ends May 14th)

Winner of Magic Slays

Thanks to everyone who left comments about their favourite part of a wedding - some of you even shared my enjoyment of the cake, toast and bubbly bit *g*

And now for the winner of  Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, Book 5) UK by Ilona Andrews!

Random.org has spoken . . .

and the winner is

Deb

Who said...

When my aunt got married, an orange tabby cat jumped on the train of her dress and played with the flowers that the flower-girl dropped. We always joke around that the cat was trying to steal the bride because she was so pretty. :D

I think my favorite part of weddings (at least in this case) is the infectious laughter. Everyone is happy and smiling. The little things that make a wedding unique really bring out the joy of the occasion. 

Congratulations Deb! An email is on its way to you!

What's Happening Next!

Thanks again to everyone for entering this giveaway, and all the other celebratory giveaways! (And especially for buying my new books!) I hope you all had fun, and look out for more some time in the future! Until then, normal blogging will be resumed, which translates as - The Deadline of Doom is Looming, so I'm chained to my laptop in the Writing Cave, so posting will hopefully be weekly, but is likely to be a bit more intermittent than that, while I spend time torturing my characters in order to fully live up to my Evil Author persona. *g*

Signing + Puppets + New Russian Cover

This Sunday, 8th May, Ben Aaronovitch and I will be signing at Waterstone's, Covent Garden between 2 pm and 4 pm. So if you're out and about in the vicinity, then please, do come and say hello! We won't bite, honest :-D.

I'm happy to sign any of my books, or anything else (within reason *g*), so no need to buy new, unless of course, you've got friends you think might enjoy either of our books *hints* :-D. But feel free to buy other authors' books if you see anything you like (hey, it's a bookshop, there's always going to be lots that look great!) and help keep our bookshops thriving :-).

Ben is the author of the fabulous Rivers of London(Midnight Riot in the US) and Moon Over Soho(both out now in the UK and US), featuring Detective Constable Peter Grant. Ben did a mouth watering guest post here on the blog not so long ago where he talks about The Gumbo School of Writing!

Facebook event page here.

And if you needed any more incentive to come, the wonderful Puppet Fayre is on in Covent Garden :-).

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COVER NEWS!

Here's the awesome Russian cover for The Cold Kiss of Death a.k.a. Холодный поцелуй смерти.  Isn't it gorgeous? *Bounces* I'm not entirely sure what date the book actually releases, but hopefully soon!

With grateful thanks to the cover gods at Azbooka. I absolutely love the cool blue colour, and the background, and the bats*! Yay! I've been so lucky with new covers recently, and this one is going to look freaking fabulous next to The Sweet Scent of Blood, as you can see . . . *g*

WIN BOOKS HERE!

And just a quick reminder that this week's celebratory giveaway is for A story about Magical Apples and how they bring two lovers together: Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, Book 5) by Ilona Andrews! Giveaway is international and ends 9th May, so there's plenty of time still to enter!

Plus the marvellous Mardel over at Rabid Reader has a giveaway for The Cold Kiss of Death until the 6th May! (Int) So why not head on over and enter; even if you've read, it'll make a great gift for a friend, if you win *g*

*Yes, I know there are no bats in my books  . . . yet! *teases*

Hallowe'en Shenanigans

I ♥ Gollancz!

Yay! It's Spellcrackers.com week over at the Gollancz Dark Fantasy page on Facebook.

There is a good chance of contests and giveaways, so why not head over there and 'like' it :-)

And while you're over there check out the pictures from the Gollancz Hallowe'en party for more snaps like these ... much fun was had by all!

Here I am witching it up at the Gollancz Hallowe'en party

Bubble, bubble, toil  and trouble with my fabulous editor Jo (centre), and another lovely witchy lady from Gollancz - notice the tray of Bloody Marys* I was studiously ignoring *g*

It's a Steampunk Stickup with Bella Pagan, editor at Orbit

***

I will also be at the Bridport Literary Festival in Bridport, West Dorset, this Saturday at 11.00. I am being interviewed about vampires, witches, faeries, and other scary things that go bump in the night - particularly around this time of year *g*

If you're around that way, I'd love you to come and see me!

So

After the interview I'll be signing books, or anything else (within reason :-)).

*or should that be Bloody Maries? Except that doesn't look right ...