Aww, look at the (many more) cuteness . . .

And don't forget to scroll down for a chance to win Jenn Bennett's fab new book - Summoning The Night - and another of your choice!

Summoning the Night! (giveaway)

Happy Release Day to the lovely Jenn Bennett for

Summoning the Night


The fabulous Book 2 in the Awesome Arcadia Bell urban fantasy series!

Yay! Congratulations, Jenn!

And look! When Mr Postman brings me my copy, 'Put-Upon Hound' will pose with it just like this! *g* (Yep, the pic's 'shopped ;p)

"So, how do you know book 2 is fabulous?" I hear you ask.

"Why, because I've already read it, of course!" :-D

When Jenn's first book - Kindling the Moon - came out, I bought it, read it, LOVED it (Hound not so much, but hey, if it's not food, she's just that not into it *shrug*) then I stalked Jenn until she gave me suggested to Jenn that if she had a copy of Summoning the Night finished I'd be thrilled to read it. My nefarious plotting worked She said yes! Yay! And I can tell you, if you liked Kindling (and Cady, Lon (*fans herself*) and the adorable Jupe!), then you're gonna LOVE Summoning, which has lots more of all three, plus a super-cool story!

So in celebration of Summoning's release day and to spread the reading love I'm giving away a copy! Woot! (Full details at end of post).

But that's not all!

If the winner hasn't read Kindling (and is OCD like me likes to read a series in order) then they'll get both books. Or if the winner has read Kindling they can choose a different book from one of my fav authors (see below: includes me ... *g*).

So what do you have to do for a chance to win these two fabulous books?

Simply tell me in the comments what's been your favourite read, so far, this year!
(Full giveaway rules and details below)


So what are you waiting for? Go leave a comment and enter!

Here's a fun guest post Jenn did about authors' mothers for the blog last year (with added - unsanctioned - Buffy!) *looks innocent*

Check out Jenn Bennett's website
Jenn on twitter
Jenn's facebook page

SUMMONING THE NIGHT: Arcadia Bell Book 2 (Available now! Yay!)

MAGICAL TRICKS. DEMONIC TREATS.

After narrowly escaping her fate as a sacrificial scapegoat, Arcadia Bell is back to normal. Or at least as ordinary as life can be for a renegade magician and owner of a tiki bar that caters to Earthbound demons. She’s gearing up for the busiest day of the year—Halloween—when a vengeful kidnapper paralyzes the community. The influential head of the local Hellfire Club taps Cady to track down the fiendish bogeyman, and now that she’s dating red-hot Lon Butler, the club’s wayward son, she can hardly say no.

Cady and Lon untangle a gruesome thirty-year trail of clues that points to danger for the club members’ children. But locating the person behind the terror will require some metaphysical help from Cady’s loyal bar patrons as well as her potent new Moonchild powers—and she’d better figure it out before the final victim disappears and her own darkest secret becomes her biggest enemy.

Full giveaway details
-Tell me in the comments what's been your favourite read, so far, this year!
-Leave a way for me to contact you - email address (replace @ with at to foil the spammers), twitter name (no contact details means no entry, sorry).
-Winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email and on the blog here. If I don't hear back within 7 days from winner then a new winner will be chosen, so keep an eye out :-).
-1 entry per person (enter here or on my LJ)
-Giveaway open internationally where Book Depository deliver.
-Giveaway closes May 1, 2012, at midnight GMT time.
-1 random winner will received 2 books: a copy of Summoning the Night and Kindling the Moon, or if winner has read Kindling then they can choose 1 book from these authors:
Jaye Wells
Nicole Peeler
Ann Aguirre
Allison Pang
Chole Neil
Jennifer Estep
Suzanne McLeod :-)

Our Gorgeous New Arrivals!

This is their second outing into the world. We think they're somewhere between 3 - 4 weeks old!

Cue the Cuteness!!

Romantic Times Convention + Game of Thrones!

I will be at Romantic Times in Chicago* for the next week!Yay! Hugely looking forward to going and to seeing/meeting-in-the-flesh all my US friends.

I'll be there from the Tuesday to the Sunday - and will be appearing as below - otherwise I will be most easily found in the bar! So if you're about then do please say hello! I don't bite*, honest! *g*


The Romantic Times Booklovers Convention 2012 - Chicago.
April 11 - April 15 2012

Saturday Author Signing

Seven Minutes in Urban Fantasy Heaven
Join us for the most intense urban fantasy hour ever. Authors will find their funniest, most romantic or most action-packed scenes … and have just seven minutes to read them aloud to you! You’ll get a whirlwind trip of different creatures, styles and characters — as well as the chance to win books from all of the participating authors.

Moderator: Richelle Mead
Panelists: Lynda Hilburn, Suzanne McLeod, Kristin Painter, Nicole Peeler, Jaye Wells!

***
I was at Eastercon in London on Saturday and had a fabulous time*. I managed to say hello to lots of wonderful folk, though also managed not to spend as much time as I wanted to with anyone, and sadly missed some altogether - the perils of only going for one day :-(. And numpty that I am, I didn't realise my camera battery had almost discharged itself from the last time I took pics. *slaps self* But I did manage the requisite 'Game of Thrones' pictures*! *g*

The prim and proper pose!

The obligatory silly pose!

The wonderful Elspeth Cooper - writer of awesome EPIC fantasy!

The lovely @babelfishwars

* I'm in Panic Packing Mode right now!! *flails* But I will endeavour to blog* all about it when I return ...  Yep, I know, I'm a bad blogger - *hangs head in shame* I blame the bad back/copyedit/day job combo *will try harder* ;p
* cameras scare me!
*Huge thanks to the Eastercon committee, they did an absolute awesome job organising everything.

Escaping the Writing Cave for The Black Stuff and The Kraken!

Hello!

Yes, I know, I've been a bit quiet recently, but I've been deep in the Writing Cave with The Shifting Price of Prey #4 (and sometimes with #5, The Hidden Rune of Iron - but don't tell book 4 I've been cheating on it *g*). I actually think TSPOP has been the hardest book to write (but then, I think that about all of them . . . when I'm writing), but this has definitely been the loooooongest book to write, for sure. And the saddest*, in that some very cool characters got the chop from the first draft. *sob* But fear not, for they are currently Livin' La Vida Loca* on the sunloungers by the pool, knocking back the mojitos and itching for their very own story. One day. :-D

***

But I am escaping the Writing Cave this next week! Yay!

First up is DUBLIN where I'm going to the wonderful Phoenix Convention.

11.00 Saturday: I'm doing "Just A Minute" with the fabulous Sarah Pinborough, the legendary Robert Rankin and the awesome John Connolly. Yep, with those three, so we all know how that one's going to go - I am so dead - especially after listening to myself talk the other night! Hesitation, Deviation and Repetition? I'm an expert at all three! So if you're about, come see them slaughter me, err, sorry, all the FUN *g*

16.00 Sunday: I'm on the panel "Internet Piracy and the Erosion of Authors’ Rights" with George Green, Oisín McGann, and Juliet E McKenna. Probably a more serious, but definitely very interesting chat this one.

***

Then I'm escaping again next on Thrusday the 8th from 6pm - 8pm. I'm going to be in LONDON at Blackwell's, Charing Cross for the 

Superb Kitschies' Gothic Evening! 

There will be authors! There will be books! There will be readings! There will be mysterious figures from literature, art and film, all eager to deliberate the most classically terrifying works of fantasy and horror. There will be Black Kraken Rum! It will be a wonderful evening full of chat about, well, books, films, art, rum and the Gothic! Which will, of course, include Vampires! *g*

Hope to see you there if you're about!!

But before then, why not check out Blackwell's blog for lots of great 'Gothic' posts! 

***

And now I've earwormed you all with Ricky Martin . . . Sláinte!



* No other reason, so don't panic. Well, okay, maybe another reason, but hey, no spoilers here! Right?
* aka my laptop! What? I'm a writer! I'm supposed to have an imagination! *g*

Malik and Finn Avatars!

ZOMG!!

The AWESOME Che Gilson has made these FANTABULOUS Spellcrackers avatars for Finn and Malik!

SQUEEEEEE!!!

Woooooot!! Don't you just love Malik's cool eyes! And Finn's hawt horns! *g*

Only sadness (for me anyway), is choosing which one to use first . . . Malik . . . Finn . . . Malik . . . Finn . . . Damn it! How to choose? *Why, yes, I do love all my characters equally* ;P

So, there are two sizes- nice big 350 dpi jpegs you can use on the web and little avatars for places like message boards and LJ. They are the standard 100x100 72 dpi jpegs.  And Che is super generous, as the icons and avatars are free for anyone to use!


Che lives here on Live Journal and here on DeviantART! Go see, she has some fabulous art.Hey, and if you do use them, which would be really cool, let me know in the comments, so I can come and stalk my characters! *looks shifty*

HUGE THANKS to Che!! I heart you!! Wow! I am so lucky to have the most wonderfully talented friends!

Beta Readers Wanted!

ETA: Beta Reader/s Found! If you think you might be up for beta reading next time around, then either email me or leave a comment here, so I can contact you then. Thank you!

Beta Reader/s Wanted!

The Shifting Price of Prey is 'finished'*, and, as the title says, I'm looking for a beta reader or two. *looks hopeful* :-)

So, if you're happy to beta read and get an early sneek peek then please send an email* to suzannemcleod@spellcrackersdotcom - remember to replace dot with a . (gotta foil the spammers ;p), and put 'Beta Reader' in the subject line.

Who/what I'm looking for:

Someone who has read the first three books
Someone who hasn't read any of the books*
What you think and feel as you read the book, and whether the overall plot hangs together for you as a reader
And some other minor points: I'll give more specific details in my reply

What I'm NOT looking for:

Someone to critique every line.
Someone to fix typos*

Timescale: Can you read it overnight? . . . Okay, just kidding there . . . Maybe. *g* Can you have it read and comments back by March 7? Then that works for me :-).
Note: manuscript will be sent in Word. And book is long - The Bitter Seed of Magic is 120,000 words. The Shifting Price of Prey is 157,000 words, so yep, looooong. But full of awesome :-D

If you've beta read for me before, either this book or one of the others, and you're willing to read again (and if you are, then you're an absolute saint! I <3 you!), then let me know. [Book now has NEW scenes with a certain vampire! *hints* *g*)

Examples of previous beta comment:

"Dread filled my heart as I realised what she was going to tell me; Marc, the boy, no, not boy, man since he was at least my age, who’d been hitting on her for the last few weeks had finally asked the ‘date’ question." Heh! How did she know? Well ok maybe it was bound to happen, but when I read this I read it as if she already KNEW, not guessed. Like someone had told her or something.

[section]This section feels choppy. It’s hard to follow what’s going on in it.

" . . .something that lit a fuzzy idea in the back of my mind, but before it could fully form . . ." Hmm, what was the fuzzy idea? I don’t remember if we ever found out what it was that considering [redacted for spoiler] triggered in her mind.

"I slowly peeled away the sludgy poultice. Katie watched out of worried eyes" Bit awkward thing to do in front of an audience, no?

"‘It is a tempting offer, Genevieve. Thank you. But no.’"I don’t understand his refusal. Wouldn’t she be curious why he won’t?

***
These are all great comments, as they show me where I haven't been clear enough in the writing to convey whatever it is I wanted to convey, or the characters aren't acting/reacting as the reader expects them to.

So, interested? Then go email me! :-D

A HUGE thank you to anyone who does offer to beta read. And if you do beta, then I'd be delighted to include your name in the acknowledgements (if you're happy for me to), and send you a signed copy of the finished book and a small something as a thank you. :-)  

*Hah! Finished here is relative - the story is done, as it is now is pretty much how it will be when published, so there will be no big changes. But there will be lots of smaller changes to things like dialogue, minor clues etc. And the book is still to go through editorial line comments and copy edits. This means there will be clunky sentences/paragraphs, typos and other weird stuff. If that bothers you, then beta reading is probably not for you :-)

*I'm only looking for a couple of beta readers, so please don't be offended if I don't choose you this time round. :-)

*Obviously, this is book 4, reading it will spoil the first three books, as they are a series. However, the books all have a self-contained story - i.e. the murderer is unmasked, so can be read as stand alones, to a degree. But they also have an overarching plot, and continuous character/relationship story archs, so, again obviously, a new reader will have to take some story points on faith, and might find some things confusing.

Songs of Dreamtime - Archetypes and Ancient Themes

The lovely and very talented Sunila Sen Gupta (aka DragonLadych) is creating her first artbook

SONGS OF DREAMTIME.

In Sunila's own words: "It's a collection of recent art based on the theme of archetypes. My own personal vision of very ancient themes."

I've been super lucky to see it as it has come together, and believe me, this book is a truly gorgeous treat. In fact, here's what I sent Sunila about it . . .

"Sunila Sen-Gupta gives us a stunning collection of her unique paintings, many of which offer homage to those artistes who speak to her soul, and unites her art with evocative prose as she reflects on how archetypes and myths inform and inspire our creativity. A book to treasure."

And I'm also super honoured to be Sunila's model for The Whispering Voice ~ "The little (or not so little voice) that always tells you you won't succeed and keeps you from following your dreams. Never listen to her!"

Sunila has a page over here at IndieGoGo to help fund Songs of Dreamtime with perks for contributors, so why not head over and have a look? :-)


Find Sunila on DeviantART

Between Dreams and Reality + Fox Pic Spam!

Hello!

I'm guest blogging over at the wonderful Between Dreams and Reality, in English and French*, no less! I'm chatting about Genny and what happens in the first three Spellcrackers books, so why not head over there and have a look! :-D

And if you missed my last post, I'm at the SFX Weekender in Prestatyn this weekend, where the fantastic Brian Blessed (OMG! Prince Vultan in FLASH GORDON*!!!) is a guest! And if you're going to be there, then I'd love it if you say Hi! I don't bite - truly - and I'm happy to sign anything (within reason - cheques, excepted, of course *g*). 




*The lovely Melliane is super awesome and has translated the post! Huge thanks and kudos to you, Melliane!

*This lucky girl got a DVD of Flash in her Xmas stocking! Yay!  And now you've all got the theme tune earworming it's way into your brains! *g*
Flash a-ah
Saviour of the Universe . . .

 ***

And here's some Fox Pic Spam! We think this pair are either siblings from last year, or a new pairing this year! They came in to nab some bread put out for the birds :-) (Sorry, the pics are a bit murky; I took them with my phone through the upstairs window.)

Where I'll be - Anthony Head - Giveaway!

A quick post to say I've happened across a giveaway for The Bitter Seed of Magic and Under Attack by Hannah Jayne on Paranormal Haven Blog (Int. Ends Jan 31.)


And I will at the SFX Weekender next weekend! Yay! I'm going as a punter, not a guest, but I'm happy to sign books, or anything else (within reason!). If you're going to be there, then do say hello! I don't bite. Much! *g*

The programme's just gone live and it looks like a whole lot of fantastic FUN! Plus, ANTHONY HEAD! *nuff said* *g*

Scottish Recipe - Clootie Dumpling!

It was Mr Mc's birthday last week, and I made him one* of these! I am now the BEST WIFE EVAH! *g*

Clootie Dumpling Recipe - Traditional Scottish Suet Fruit Pudding

This recipe is Mr Mc's gran's, so it makes a GIANT clootie, since his gran always made it for family get togethers and birthdays. It's easy to make, but you do have to keep an eye on it when it's boiling to make sure it doesn't boil dry. So it's not something you can ignore while it's cooking.

Clootie refers to the cloth/tea towel that the dumpling is made in.

Ingredients:
24 oz self-raising flour
8 oz sugar (caster/soft brown/granulated all work)
4 oz suet
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
12 oz mixed fruit (or the whole packet if it's 14 oz like the one I used :-D)
1 grated apple
1 tbsp treacle
1 tbsp syrup
1 pint milk (makes a sticky wet dough/moist dumpling)

1 large cotton tea towel/cloth to wrap the dumpling in
String
Huge saucepan, with lid, for boiling
Ovenproof plate to go in bottom of pan
Baking tray lined with greaseproof paper

Put the cloth in a bowl and pour boiling water over it. Leave to cool.

Put all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Add apple, treacle and syrup and mix.
Add milk and mix.

Put upturned plate in bottom of pan to stop the dumpling burning. Use an old one that will survive a heavy dumpling sitting on it for a couple of hours (mine broke this time :-( )
Fill pan with water and bring to boil

Wring out cloth* and spread flat.
Cover cloth with a thick layer of flour; this stops dumpling sticking to cloth and helps to form the dumpling's skin.

Put mixture in cloth, leave room for expansion and tie up ends with the string.

Place in boiling water.
Boil for 2 1/2 - 3 hours, taking care to keep water boiling on a constant fast simmer, topping up as necessary with hot water from the kettle.

Remove from pan, and peel away cloth, careful not to break the dumpling's skin which is very soft just now.

Put dumpling on greaseproof paper lined baking tray, in a warm oven (100 degrees C or equivalent) to dry out for approx half an hour/hour. This forms a nice firm skin.

Clootie is now ready to eat! And it's DELISH!
Slice and eat hot or cold with cream, custard, or butter and jam.

Allow to cool thoroughly then store in an airtight container. Eat within 2 days.

Or, as this is a HUGE clootie, I usually slice and freeze. That way individual slices can be defrosted as needed, and can be reheated in oven, or fried in a little butter, or toasted.

So there you have it, how to make a clootie dumpling. Let me if you've got any questions about making it, or if you try it! And if you do - Enjoy! 



* Last time I made one was 2 years ago. I was the BEST WIFE EVAH! then too. *g*
* make sure cloth is cool enough to touch so you don't burn yourself.

Rabid Reader Double Giveaway!

Hello 2012!  I hope you all had a wonderful time ushering the New Year in? Mr Mc and I greeted  it quietly with the requisite malt and shortbread while watching the spectacular fireworks at the London Eye on the TV :-D. Sadly, the excitement and late night (I'm such a lightweight :-D) must have been too much for me as the Migraine Monster attacked yesterday (not hangover related, more's the pity), but after crawling under the covers early afternoon and hiding until this morning, the MM is now only a tiny niggle and victory should be mine very soon. *relieved sigh* :-)

And so onto my first post this new year! Which is to give you the heads up that the fabulous Mardel at Rabid Reader has a giveaway for 'The Bitter Seed of Magic' (Out Now US *happy dance*, and UK!) and the amazing 'Doc Vampire Hunting Dog' by J.A. Campbell. So head over to there now and enter! (there's not a lot of entries, so the odds are good for winning :-)) Open to US only, I think, and ends Jan 15. So, go on, go enter! You know you want to *g*

Yay! Don't the black and red covers look purty together? Though I'm not sure my vamps would be too chuffed to bump into Doc, not with that stake of his! *G*