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!

Zombie Fest :: Giveaway

So there's only 5 weeks until The Cold Kiss of Death :: Spellcrackers.com book 2 :: is released! Yay! And to continue my celebratory giveaways to help get the word out, this week's contest is about zombies!! [Cos y'know, we've done vampires and werewolves, so it's really time that some of the other undead got to have a look in *g*]

Shaun of the Dead

I have to admit that I'm not much for horror movies [I'm more the wussy type that hides behind cushions] so I haven't seen many zombie flicks. But I recently read this ...

. . . and while I wasn't so much scared [it's much easier to turn your imagination off when reading the gory bits, than when watching LOL!] this book really got to me; at one point the tears were streaming down my face [I can't tell you where cos that would be spoilerish]. Darn that Carrie Ryan for writing such a brilliant book *has jealous moment now the tears have gone*.

Now I don't have zombies in the Spellcrackers.com books [or at least none have shown up yet!] but in The Cold Kiss of Death, Genny is being haunted by a ghost, which is definitely a spine-crawling problem for her since she suffers from Phasmophobia [Fear of Ghosts].

But back to the zombies and this week's contest.

I bribed*asked my fantastic publisher, Gollancz to give me two copies of The Forest of Hands and Teeth :: Carrie Ryan for my zombie fest giveaway. [Thank you Gollancz] So the first commentator drawn by Random.org will win a copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth plus a signed copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood and because we all need practice for when the zombie apocalypse arrives, I'm also including a Whack-A-Zombie kit [pic below]! Second commentator drawn will win the other copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

All you have to do to win one of these two giveaways is leave me a comment telling me what your favourite zombie fiction, TV or film. Contest ends end of day [anywhere] Thursday 18th June 2009.

I comment = 1 entry

Please help me spread the word about the release of The Cold Kiss of Death and the giveaways with a mention of the giveaway on your blog/live journal/myspace/facebook/twitter/etc [post the link to the mention into the comments again] and win yourself more entries into this week's giveaway :-) 1 link = 1 entry

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

x/posted to my LJ: leave a comment here or there.

Watch the creepy book trailer for the book ...




* with promises of large amounts of brains ... err chocolate!

Happy Book Birthday ... Need - Carrie Jones! [and giveaway]

Tomorrow is the release day for Need - Carrie Jones!

I was extremely lucky to win an ARC of Need; it’s a book I'd long been wanting to read [seriously, the cover alone sold it to me *goes green with cover envy* never mind the Amazon blurb …]

“Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.”

I’m not going to review the book, [reviews are something I’ve decided not to do] but just to say I thoroughly enjoyed the read; it more than held my attention

Sophie here – yes, walkies were *late* that day!!!

And I could feel the book calling out to me to come back and finish it – always a sign of absorbing characters and a great story when you *have* to find out what’s going to happen next ;)

This is a young adult book [and if you want to read all the latest on YA books check out Carrie Ryan’s blog] The back of the book states – ‘Now fans of Stephenie Meyer and Melissa Marr have a new author to devour…’ I’ve read both authors and agree wholeheartedly with this. I also think that Zara’s interest in Amnesty International [an interest which is shown as part of her character, and the story, but in no way is it *preached*] is an aspect of this book that leaves you with thoughts and questions long after the book is finished.

Happy book birthday, Carrie ;)

ETA:

Interview (and giveaway!) with Carrie Jones, author of NEED over at Jeri Smith-Ready's blog.

From Carrie...

You could win:

1. Signed copy of NEED (Officially out tomorrow!!)*

2. A $15 gift-certicate

3. A surprise gift. Hint: It's cuddly and blue! So what are you waiting for? Head on over there now!!

* yes, I know, I was early in my book birthday wishes, but hey this book is well worth being early for.