Sekrit Project, sekrit no longer - Dead But Not Forgotten.

 

Woot! Sekrit Project, sekrit no longer! *Pops Bubbly* I'm thrilled and honoured and excited to be part of this wonderful anthology. It's filled with fab stories by lots of my fav authors - just look at that stellar line-up below - and, even more exciting, the stories are all about Charlaine Harris' (one of my writerly heroes!) amazing characters from her FANG-TASTIC Sookie Stackhouse books.

My story is about Luna Garza, werebat, and I was over the moon (sorry, couldn't resist *g*) when I was asked to contribute. I adore the Sookie Stackhouse world and it was super fun* playing in one of my all time favourite author's literary sandbox. It's also been a true honour and I'm grateful to Charlaine for asking me to do so. I hope I've done both her and Luna proud. :-)


Now, if you thought it couldn't get any better, just look at that AWESOME cover by Lisa Desmini!

And here (from the press release) is that stellar line-up of fab authors and the stories they've written about Charlaine's amazing characters! This is one anthology I can't wait to hear/read! (even if I wasn't in it *g*)

Charlaine Harris' smash-hit Sookie Stackhouse series may have reached its conclusion, but the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, lives on in this all-new collection of 15 stories. Written by a killer lineup of authors, including New York Timesbest-sellers Rachel Caine, MaryJanice Davidson, Jonathan Maberry and Seanan McGuire, and with introductions read by Charlaine herself, Dead but Not Forgotten puts your favorite characters center stage.

The stories included in Dead but Not Forgotten are:
"Nobody's Business" by Rachel Caine (featuring Kevin Pryor & Kenya Jones)
"Tyger, Tyger" by Christopher Golden (featuring Quinn)
"The Real Santa Claus" by Leigh Perry (featuring Diantha)
"Taproot" by Jeffrey J. Mariotte (featuring Andy Bellefleur)
"Knit a Sweater Out of Sky" by Seanan McGuire (featuring Amelia)
"Love Story" by Jeanne C. Stein (featuring Adele Hale Stackhouse)
"The Million-Dollar Hunt" by Jonathan Maberry (featuring Mustapha Khan)
"Borderline Dead" by Nicole Peeler (featuring Desiree Dumas)
"Extreme Makeover Vamp Edition" by Leigh Evans (featuring Bev & Todd)
"Don't Be Cruel" by Bill Crider (featuring Bubba)
"What a Dream I Had" by Nancy Holder (featuring Alcide Herveaux)
"Another Dead Fairy" by Miranda James (featuring Claude & Claudia Crane)
"The Bat-Signal" by Suzanne McLeod (featuring Luna)
"The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars" by Dana Cameron (featuring Pam Ravenscroft)
"Widower's Walk" by MaryJanice Davidson (featuring Eric Northman)

Dead But Not Forgotten is narrated by Johanna Parker, the longtime voice of the Sookie Stackhouse audiobooks, with introductions read by Charlaine Harris, and was edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner.

Dead But Not Forgotten releases on May 13, 2014 through Audible - pre-order link is here. 

There's going to be a hardcover version released on Nov. 25, 2014, too. Cover right ---> :-)

Full press release in the Wall Street Journal here. (!!! *g*)


*Also, super-scary, nerve-wracking, but ultimately a fantastic challenge! I learned a lot about my craft writing Luna's story, and among other things, I now know a lot more about bats and Louisiana than I ever did before :-D

Giveaway: Late Eclipses - Seanan McGuire.

So this week (# 8) as part of my 16 weeks of giveaways to celebrate the releases of The Bitter Seed of Magic (out now UK!) and The Cold Kiss of Death(US edition out 26th April) I'm giving away Late Eclipses (#4 October Daye sereies) by Seanan McGuire! And one of the things, or I should say characters, I love most in the October Daye books is Tybalt - King of the Cats!
Giveaway now closed
 
Now, I'm not as familiar with Shakespeare as I could be (so I know I probably miss some of the wonderful references that are woven through the October books when I read), but I do know that Tybalt is a character in Romeo and Juliet, and in one of those six degree* (or less) things, I give you a gratuitous picture of Alan Rickman (not playing Tybalt) hugging a statue's head *g*.

Continuing on with the six degrees connections and gratuitous pictures, here's a gorgeous one of a Maine Coon Cat!

*What, you think I should've come up with something wittier? Yeah, me too, but sadly my brain is fried, I have a bad back, the Hound is moaning, Mr Mc is vacuuming (for which I love him, but ... noisy much!), and my deadline is near enough to block out the sun, so with all the 'O' woe is me' going on, this is what you're getting. ;p

So now we've established that October Daye, Alan Rickman, Shakespeare and Maine Coon Cats are all connected* ...

It's on with the giveaway! Yay!

Which is Late Eclipses the 4th October Daye book by Seanan McGuire (out now US and UK!)

"October "Toby" Daye is half-human, half-fae-the only changeling who's earned knighthood. But when someone begins targeting her nearest and dearest, it becomes clear that Toby is being set up to take the fall for everything that's happening."

"These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us . . ." King Lear - Shakespeare

Yay! Can't wait to read this! Methinks that the title taken from that quote will no doubt be extremely apt for Toby :-D

So, for a chance to win your own copy of Late Eclipses* all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what type of pet you have, or which is your favourite Alan Rickman character from TV or film. Personally I can't decided whether it's Severus Snape or the Sheriff of Nottingham *g*.


How to enter:

Leave a comment with your type of pet, or your fav Alan Rickman character.
 
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 March 2011


Full General Terms and Rules at the bottom of 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, so if you have a question for me, leave it on one of those, thank you :-)


All book links lead to Amazon (UK/US) or the Book Depository, and contain affiliate links. I've decided to go affiliate as I love giving books away (and not just as a way of shameless self-promo), but boy does it get expensive.

* Or, winner can choose any of the previous books in the October Daye series, either for themselves, or to be sent to a friend :-).
x/posted to LJ. Comment here or there. One entry per person.

Spellcrackers Celebration: 16 weeks of Giveaways: Schedule

Yay! In the next couple of months I have TWO books coming out! 

*MEGA HAPPY DANCING*

The Bitter Seed of Magic - Spellcrackers # 3 is released into all good bricks and mortar book stores and online* in the UK on 17th February (first time in print)

The Cold Kiss of Death - Spellcrackers # 2 is released into all good bricks and mortar book stores and online in the US on 26th April (already avail in the UK)

To celebrate I'm holding weekly** giveaways of some of my fav authors***, and in the spirit of being organized (O_o) as per my New Year's Resolution, I'm posting the giveaway schedule below.  So, with a chance of winning any of these wonderful books in the offing, why not be organized too , and follow me****.

13th Jan – The Iron Witch – Karen Mahoney (Release date 20th Jan)
20th Jan – Unseen (Outcast #3) – Rachel Caine (1st Feb)
27th Jan – Green Eyed Demon (Sabina Kane #3) – Jaye Wells (22nd Feb)
3rd Feb – The Bitter Seed of Magic(Spellcrackers #3)– Suzanne McLeod (17th Feb UK)
11th Feb – This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress #5) – Jeaniene Frost (22nd Feb)
18th Feb – Iron Crowned (Dark Swan #3) – Richelle Mead (22nd Feb US)
25th Feb – River Marked (Mercy Thompson #6) – Patricia Briggs (1st Mar)
4th Mar – Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) – Seanan McGuire (1st Mar)
11th Mar – Vampires: The Recent Undead – Charlaine Harris, Kelly Armstrong, Holly Black, Rachel Caine & more 15th Mar)
18th Mar – Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) – Jim Butcher (5th April) (Now July 26th)
Ghost Story's release date has been changed, but I hope to have a surprise when this week's giveaway goes live *looks mysterious*
25th Mar – Shady Lady (Corine Solomon #3) – Ann Aguirre (5th April)
1st Apr – Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom #6) – Devon Monk (5th April)
8th Apr   – Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) – Charlaine Harris (3rd May)
15th Apr – The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers #2)– Suzanne McLeod (26th Apr US)
22nd Apr – Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, #4) – Jennifer Estep (26th April US)
29th Apr – Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) – Ilona Andrews (31st May)

 ETA: Starting dates for giveaways have been moved forward one day (Thursdays weren't working out as the changeover day for me :-( ).


*Giveaways will be posted at some time during the (GMT) date on the left above. 
** Please note: only the book supplied, no actual authors can be won! Giveaway books are the latest in the authors' series, but I'm happy to substitute an earlier book from the same series if the winner wants.
*** Follow at your own risk: not a condition of entry for any giveaway.

General rules:

-Giveaways open internationally where The Book Depository delivers.
-Winners will be chosen by Random.org
-See individual giveaways for specific entry conditions/rules. Heads up: There will be (stunningly easy, or maybe devilishly hard *evil cackle*) questions to answer .
-Release dates are US, unless otherwise stated: winners will be sent either US or UK version of books as delivered by The Book Depository asap after relevant release date.


So, don't forget to check back tomorrow (the 13th) for the details of how you can win
The Iron Witch the wonderful debut novel from the fabulous Karen Mahoney.

*And hopefully the Trade Paperback of The Bitter Seed of Magic should be able to be ordered from The Book Depository with free worldwide delivery. Currently it says 'out of stock'. I have asked if they will be stocking it, and am waiting for an answer. I'll keep you posted :-)

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