Fantastically Cool Things for which I'm grateful . . .

Some very cool things happened in the last week . . .

Genre for Japan was one, or more accurately two, of the coolest. As you know (if you've been reading the blog the last week :-)), I donated two lots:

I'm utterly STUNNED to tell you that a lovely, wonderful lady bid a STAGGERING £305 for a critique of her writing! A huge, HUGE Thank You to L.L. Wynn; my Red Pen is sharpened to perfection, and at the ready!

And an obviously very brave gentleman* bid an amazing £100 to have his name as a character in my next book! Another equally HUGE Thank You to Steven Dean*.

Yay! I'm so, so grateful to both L.L. Wynn and Steven, along with everyone else that bid for my lots (sorry you couldn't all win . . .) in the auction. Thanks to the efforts of the Genre for Japan team, everyone who donated a lot, and everyone who bid on a lot, the auction raised £11,203.36 (US$18,075.77 according to the current exchange rate).

That is a fantastic sum, and all of it is to be donated to the Japan Tsunami Appeal, being run by the British Red Cross. With tax taken into account, that’s going to easily exceed the twenty thousand dollar mark.

You can see a list of everything that was donated, here.

So, kudos and thanks again to the organisers: Amanda Rutter, Ro Smith, Louise Morgan, Jenni Hill and Alasdair Stuart. This wouldn’t have happened without them. I proud and humbled to be able to be a part of such a brilliant idea. *Does the mega happy dance*

***

Now for the other cool thing . . . I have some lovely news about The Cold Kiss of Death over at SF Site, they've published their Top Ten Best SF and Fantasy Books of 2010. And in their Editors' choice . . .

*Cue Excited Drumroll*

The Cold Kiss of Death is No. 5*!

 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!

Another HUGE THANK YOU to the awesome SF Site Editors!!!

Covers: US (left) and UK (right)

Yay!! Cup Cakes for all!!!

***

And a quick reminder about this week's celebratory  'Gargoyle Loving Giveaway', which is for Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom #6) by the awesome Devon Monk, one of my all time fav authors! It's officially out in the US tomorrow 5th April, and UK peeps can buy from The Book Depository :-) You can enter the Gargoyle Loving Giveaway here by leaving your suggestions for names for my own two, sadly, nameless gargoyles!!

And if you visit Devon over at the Deadline Dames blog on the 5th, there's a chance to win your very own Stone, seen here reading Magic on the Hunt!

*He's picked the baddie character, and will have an amazing super power, which may or may not, make up for his horrific, excruciatingly painful, and no doubt extremely bloody demise! (Evil author has dastardly plans!!!) *g*

*Okay, so this is a spoiler, there's no way round it: the character called 'Steven Dean' in my next book will DIE! He'll DIE, I tell you! *takes a calming breath as everyone steps away from the scary author* But what isn't a spoiler, is . . . you won't know HOW, or WHEN he's going to die! *cackles*

*I'm so stoked about this *squeeeeeeeeee*, and yes, since you asked, I do keep clicking to check my book is still actually still there at No. 5! *pinches herself*

Tiny Spoiler/s, Hawt JRM, New Lots on Genre for Japan, and Shady Lady Winner!

Genre for Japan is still open for bids until midnight BST (GMT +1) on Sunday 3rd April.

And in addition to the 137 fantastic items listed at the start, there are now more goodies for folk to bid on! So why not check out the index of all the lots: and see if you can't find something to take your fancy *g*. And remember it's all in a great cause. Last I heard G4J has raised over £7000 GBP, which is a wonderful amount!Happy Bidding All!

And again, a HUGE THANK YOU to you awesome folk who have bid on my two lots: A character named after you in my next novel and a 25,000 word critique. I'm extremely grateful for your bids, and that, through you, I can help those in need in Japan. Thank you again for your generosity. Of course, if anyone wants to bid higher, then please do . . . though I feel sort of mean to the people that have already bid, by saying that . . .

Anyway . . .

Now on to this week's winner!

Thanks to everyone who came by and told me where their favourite place to holiday is. I had a lot of fun, and a lot of 'Wish I Was There' daydreams about all the wonderful places you mentioned. *g*. And now for the lucky winner of Shady Lady Corine Solomon #3 by Ann Aguirre

Random.org has done it's random thing

And the winner is ...

Rissatoo

Who said:

 

Does it have to be a place I've been? If so, depending on my mood/time/funds, my favorites are either a long weekend on Catalina Island or camping in southern Utah (specifically, Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon).

If it can be a dream holiday, Australia. I've a friend who lives on the Gold Coast, and for years I've been dreaming of spending some time there! ...someday. 

Congratulations, Rissatoo, an email is on its way to you!

This week's giveaway for Magic on the Huntby the awesome Devon Monk will be live later on today, so remember and check back then!

Oh, and don't forget, I'm over at the fabulous Tynga's place for her Paranormal Spring Break with another Supernatural Capital Tour! You can win your choice of one of my books if you leave a comment here  saying which Tour you want to go on. The Dryad Treetop Walk seems to be coming out tops (sooooorry!! *g*) right now, though if you're a fan of Finn, the Bacchanalian All-Night Feast might be more your entertainment of choice :-D (Int. Ends 6th April)

And there's still time for you to enter the Goodreads giveaway for 3 copies of The Cold Kiss of Death #2 - signed (US and Can) Ends 16th April.

Right, back to the Writing Cave now! For some reason this gentleman has decided to make an appearance in the current scene . . . Can't think why? *g* (Oh, and the picture contains more than one spoiler for The Shifting Price of Prey*teases*)

Capital Cocktails and Critique!

Firstly, the giveaway for Shady Lady: Corine Solomon # 3 (US) (UK) by SuperWriter(tm) Ann Aguirre is now closed! Winner to be announced today. So there's still time to leave a comment here, telling me your fav holiday destination for a chance to win!

Secondly, I'm over at the fabulous Tynga's place for her Paranormal Spring Break with another Supernatural Capital Tour! You can win your choice of one of my books if you leave a comment here  saying which Tour you'd want to go on. The Dryad Treetop Walk seems to be coming out tops (sooooorry!! *g*) right now, though if you're a fan of Finn, the Bacchanalian All-Night Feast might be more your entertainment of choice :-D (ends 6th April)

And thirdly . . .


Genre for Japan is still open for bids until midnight BST (GMT +1) on 3rd April. And there's still lots to bid on, even if you haven't got the deep pockets you might wish for. So why not check out the  index of all the lots and see if anything takes your fancy!

A huge, HUGE THANK YOU to you awesome folk who have bid on my two lots: A character named after you in my next novel and a 25,000 word critique. I'm stunned and humbled, and extremely grateful for the help you're pledging to the people of Japan. Thank you so much again for your generosity.

Genre for Japan - Bidding Open!

Genre for Japan is now open for bids. Bidding closes at midnight BST (GMT +1) on Sunday 3rd April.

There are 137 fantastic items listed for you to browse through. How to Bid details here.

To help, Genre for Japan have published an index of all the lots: you can click the link, or access it from anywhere on the site using the “Item Index” tab beneath the header.

There's everything from a Signed hardback copy of ANANSI BOYS by Neil Gaiman, Two days of Stephen Deas’s time (apparently he cooks green or brown glop!), to a Black canvas ACE / ROC logo bag and giant Jim Butcher poster.

Then of course, you can always bid on my lots, if you're so inclined :-):


For anyone! ~A character named after you in my next novel: The Shifting Price of Prey: Full details, and where to bid here. The bid doesn't say, but winning bidder will also be thanked in the acknowledgements, and receive a personalised, signed hardback copy of the book when released.

For writers! ~A 25,000 word critique of either a short story or the start of a manuscript: Full details, and where to bid here.

Thank you to everyone in advance for your generosity, should you decide you are able to bid, on whatever lots you choose. And please, if you can, help by passing the word around, and help Genre for Japan raise a lot of money to help those in need.

Announcing Genre for Japan - Press Release

I doubt anyone isn't aware of the terrible situation in Japan. I wanted to do something to help, and was disappointed when I discovered Authors for Japan too late to help through them. But now Genre for Japan is up and running, and I have donated two items for when their auction goes live on the 28th March:

~A character named after you in my next novel: The Shifting Price of Prey.ETA: Full details, and where to bid on/after 28th March here

~A 5,000  now it will be a 25,000 word critique of either a short story or the start of a manuscript. ETA: Full details, and where to bid on/after 28th March here

Here's the press release, which says it so much better than I can. Genre for Japan are still open for donations, so if you're able to donate something that would be very helpful, or if you're able to bid in the auction when it goes live, then thank you in advance. Full details are below:

Genre for Japan

Press Release: Time to Donate Prizes!

We’ve all heard the news and seen the horrific pictures coming from Japan in the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami – and no doubt we’ve all wondered how to help.

Following the example of Authors for Japan, where bids are now closed, we’d like to introduce Genre for Japan, a chance for the comics, science fiction, fantasy and horror communities to unite and show our generosity to those who need it right now.

We are planning to run auctions for genre-themed prizes and we need YOU to donate. We are looking for really fantastic prizes: examples might include signed first editions, coaching sessions with agents for that perfect submission letter or original artwork!

Some of the prizes already donated include a year's supply of books from Tor, signed artwork from Solaris Books and editing/critiques from professional authors and editors.

The prizes will be auctioned on our website, through JustGiving, in aid of the British Red Cross Tsunami Appeal.

If you have something really special to donate, please drop us a line at genreforjapan@gmail.com including information such as a starting bid amount, a sentence or two about the item, and whether you wish to send the prize to a central collecting point or would be willing to post it to the winning bidder. Photos would also help us to list the item, if relevant.

The deadline to receive offers of prizes is 25th March, with the auction set to begin on 28th March.

Find out more information on our website: http://genreforjapan.wordpress.com/

Follow us on twitter: @genreforjapan

E-mail us: genreforjapan@gmail.com

Genre for Japan is organised by:

Amanda Rutter: reviewer and webmistress at Floor to Ceiling Books

Jenni Hill: editor for science fiction, fantasy and horror publishers Solaris Books

Louise Morgan: author and interviewer for the British Fantasy Society

Ro Smith: writer and reviewer; blogger at In Search of the Happiness Max

Alasdair Stuart is the editor of Hub magazine.

***
Also, a quick reminder about this week's giveaway which is a guest post by Kevin Hearne where he talks about The Alpha Reader, and where you can win a copy of Kevin's first book in The Iron Druid Chronicles Hounded (US)(UK) and a copy of  Ghost Story (Dresden Files, No. 13)by Jim Butcher!

Please help spread the word about Genre for Japan, and also the giveaway. For every commentator in the giveaway I'll donate a £1, up to a limit of 100 commentators. (Currently: 30 commentators approx, so there's plenty room for more comments). So go enter, if you haven't already, and your comment will mean another £1 for Japan, and don't forget to help spread the word. Thank you!