Suzanne McLeod

Awesome Book News and Paperback Proust (+ giveaway)

I've been Paperback Prousted (hopefully not verbing up too many nouns! *g*) at the lovely Paperback Dolls! Why not hop on over and find out why I'm sensitive like a princess and how I'd like to die! Plus there's a giveaway too - winner's choice of one of my books! (Int ends Aug 18) Anyone would think I've got a new book coming out soon--- Oh, wait! I have! ;p

And now for the Awesome Book News!!

*DRUMROLL*

I have a deal for two new books . . .

*Does the mega (and scary to small children and neighbours) HAPPY DANCE*

Here's the press release from my fab agent's (John Jarrold) website

PRESS RELEASE – NEW WORLD RIGHTS DEAL FOR URBAN FANTASY WRITER SUZANNE MCLEOD

Gillian Redfearn, Gollancz Editorial Director, has acquired World Rights to two supernatural thrillers by Suzanne McLeod. The agent was John Jarrold. The titles offer an exciting new twist to the Spellcrackers.com series, set in London, but the details are currently being kept under wraps for now and will remain so until closer to publication. Speaking about the deal, Gillian said ‘We’re really thrilled with this new proposal from Suzanne McLeod. Her characters are warm and engaging, their relationships zing, her magic is clever and her London is beautifully evoked. The Spellcrackers novels are perfect for fans of Kim Harrison and Karen Marie Moning, and I think (when we share it!) readers will share our excitement about these novels.’

And that is all I can tell you! Like it says - sort of - the rest is secret! Sorrrrry! *apologetic smile while zipping lips* :-)

Huge, HUGE thanks to Gillian (I HEART my editor! BIG TIME! *g*), John and all at Gollancz!!

*celebratory cupcakes and bubbly for all*

And don't forget to there are more chances to win one of my Spellcrackers books (click on the links below - go on, you know you want to *bats eyelashes*) including The Shifting Price of Prey which is out in 14 - count 'em - FOURTEEN - days time on Aug 30 (UK) *draws curtains so as not to terrify neighbours with all the Excited Happy Dancing*

Giveaway and interview at Between Dreams and Reality

Goodreads giveaways for The Sweet Scent of Blood and The Shifting Price of Prey.

Sometimes a bit of magical help might cost more than you bargained for . . .

London is hosting the Carnival Fantastique, and Genny's job has never been busier or more fulfilling. Only not everyone is so happy. Genny believed she’d cracked the fae’s infertility curse . . . but the fae are still barren. It’s a devastating plight to which the mysterious Emperor may have the solution – if Genny can find him.

She needs help.

She turns to the vampire Malik al-Khan, only to find he’s wrestling with his own demons and, when the police request Genny’s assistance with a magical kidnap, her own problems multiply too. Is it all unconnected, or can the Emperor help her solve more than the fae’s infertility? Soon Genny is hard on his trail, so it seems she’ll have a chance to ask . . . but will the answer cost more than she’s willing to pay?

Read Chapter one here

Read a short excerpt from chapter two here

Interview: Would I choose Malik or Finn? (+ giveaway)

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and emails about Sophie. Mr Mc and I very much appreciate them.

And on to happier things, and some shameless self-promo! (You have been warned :-D)

The Shifting Price of Prey is out soon (Aug 30 if you're in the UK, and if you're not* then the Book Depository do free worldwide delivery :-))

(If you are in the UK and want to buy the print copy it looks like Book Depository.co.uk have it at a better price than Amazon.co.uk though the Kindle version is even lower! Prices are from today so they may change :-))

Here's a sneak peek at chapter one.

And there's a short extract (featuring a certain tricky kelpie *g*) from chapter two over at Rabid Reader's place.

Interview
The lovely Melliane over at Between Dreams and Reality has grilled me about lots including my inspiration for my characters, my favourite book in the series and whether I'd choose Malik or Finn! *g*. And there's a giveaway for winner's choice of one of my books (International where Book Depository deliver. Ends Aug 30). Go here!

Plus don't forget there are Goodreads giveaways for The Sweet Scent of Blood and The Shifting Price of Prey.

Reviews
And here's some snippets from early reviews (I think they like it! Yay! :-))

'I was very impatient to read this book, I really love the Spellcrackers.com series and it’s always a real pleasure to get into a new adventure. [M]any things always happen in the Genny’s life, and this book is the perfect example. It’s a series that is in constant evolution and I think that each book is better than the last one . . . a quest combining intriguing plots, betrayal, love and hope . . . if you want a good Urban Fantasy series, I can recommend this one that will allow you to discover a world full of magic.'

Between Dreams and Reality

'Reading The Shifting Price of Prey, like other books by Suzanne McLeod, reminds me of the many layers of petals on a rose . . . each [peeled petal] revealing another twist or turn in the plot - just enough information to drive Genny forward, until the center of that rose is completely opened and the final event is brought to a close....and then there is this chilling set up for the next book. [A]s fresh and exciting novel as the first, second and third in [the] series. Love it. Can't wait to get to the next one.'

Rabid Reader

‘[F]ast paced action, great prose and of course characters that you love to spend time around . . . Throw into the mix a whole new host of villains backed up with foes of old and all in its been a triumph to sit back and devour. Great stuff.’

Falcata Times

*US Release Date
I've had a reader question - "I am wondering why there isn't a release date set for the US for the 4th Spellcrackers book" - which I'm going to answer here:

Unfortunately, there isn't a US release date for The Shifting Price of Prey because Ace, who publish books 1 - 3 haven't yet decided whether they will publish any more Spellcrackers books. I am hoping they will as they're a great publisher, and if the 'lady says YES!' then I will ~~run around doing the excited, and somewhat scary to small children and unwary neighbours, author dance~~ update my website and the blog here with the news :-D

But remember if you're jonesing for your next Genny fix then there is always Book Depository.com *g*

Oh, and talking about a certain kelpie I was up in London the other day and got some fab pics of his home, or rather the RAF monument on the Victoria Embankment.

This one is a close up of the entrance which Genny uses to visit Tavish in The Cold Kiss of Death. :-).

This one is a taken showing the whole monument. :-)

The rest are here on Flickr.

Sophie a.k.a. Hound 1995 - 2012

Last Day to enter!

A quick reminder that today's the last day for a chance to win your choice of one of my books - including The Shifting Price of Prey (when it's released August 30).

Giveaway now closed. The winner - Caroline T - has been notified by email. Thanks all for entering.

How to enter:

Send an email completing the saying * "Once is a fluke, twice is a trend, three times is a . . ." to: contest [@] spellcrackers [dot] com with the subject line 'Duck Giveaway' to go into a draw for your choice of one of my (print) books (remember The Shifting Price of Prey is out August 30 (UK) and is available from all good book stores/online shops (UK), and from Book Depository with free worldwide delivery for non UK peeps :-))

Sadly, no news of a US release date yet, sorry :-(

Back cover blurb:

Sometimes a bit of magical help might cost more than you bargained for . . .

She needs help.

Giveaway rules:
All emails with the correct answer received before the closing date/time will be entered into the giveaway
Giveaway ends July 31 2012, midnight GMT
Giveaway is international (i.e. worldwide where Book Depository delivers)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org
Winner will be notified by email.
If winner does not reply in 7 days with book choice and snail mail address then the giveaway will be redrawn and a new winner chosen
If winner chooses The Shifting Price of Prey they will receive it after its release date of Aug 30
All email addresses will be deleted after giveaway and not used for anything else

And don't forget there're more chances to win The Shifting Price of Prey and The Sweet Scent of Blood on Goodreads!

*Hint: Google search engine is your friend! *g*

Iron Man, The Urban Fantastic Four, and a Duck Giveaway.

I'm in SFX magazine again* with Iron Man (see him on the gorgeous cover) as a member of "The Urban Fantastic Four" (that's me* looking short in the pic below with Super Writers Ben Aaronovitch, Kate Griffin and China Miéville). We talk about urban fantasy (strangely, enough!) and London!

* "Once is a fluke, twice is a trend, three times is a . . ."
see Duck Giveaway below for what three times is. :-)
* Just in case you don't know what I look like . . . ;p

From L to R: China Miéville, Kate Griffin, Ben Aaronovitch and me :-)

Here's another pic of us looking more lively! :-D

And here's the 'Duck Giveaway'. . . Giveaway now closed. The winner - Caroline T - has been notified by email. Thanks all for entering.

Lol! Only kidding! *g*

This 'present' was left outside our back door yesterday morning by our resident pack of fox cubs (videos here), we presume as some sort of thank you for feeding them! We've no idea where they found it but they've since retrieved it and are having great fun burying it so they can dig it up again! (Why yes, our lawn does now resemble the surface of the moon).

So, if I'm not giving away the duck, and as I have a new book out soon, then I must be giving away one of my books, right?

Right! *g* - How to enter:

Back cover blurb:

Sometimes a bit of magical help might cost more than you bargained for . . .

She needs help.

So I have a book coming out soon . . .

. . . and here's a chance to win a signed copy (3 available)!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Shifting Price of Prey

by Suzanne McLeod

Giveaway ends August 25, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Oh, and don't forget to add it to your 'to read' list! *bats eyelashes* :-D

Or if you're new to Spellcrackers, or know a friend who would like the books, here's another one (3 available)!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Sweet Scent of Blood

by Suzanne McLeod

Giveaway ends August 30, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

So what are you waiting for? Go enter!! :-D

What I've been up to . . .

What I've been up to lately . . . well, obviously not blogging . . . *hangs head in shame*)

But one thing was yesterday's trip to London to Covent Garden Waterstones where awesome urban fantasy author pal Ben Aaronovitch was signing stacks of his fab new book - Whispers Under Ground - the third in his brilliant Rivers of London series. (And there was taste-tastic 'Book Cake' to munch on too! (made by the lovely Jackie of Fabulous Cakes! :-))

Here's Ben with Cake!

Ben and fellow author James Swallow with JK Rowling sneakily getting in on the action behind!

Me and the man himself!

Oh, and of course, since I was in a bookshop I had to buy books! *g*

The Impossible Dead - Ian Rankin, The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead, Hexed and Hammered - Kevin Hearne.

Then I popped into Gollancz Towers to meet up with my fabulous editor, Gillian (and say hello to the rest of the Gollancz team *waves* :-)) and, since you can never have enough books, liberated a few more from Gillian's well-stocked editorial bookshelves*. *g*

The Armageddon Rag - GRRM, Tangle of Need - Nalini Singh, The Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin, Fenrir & Lord of Slaughter - M.D. Lachlan

And while I was there I bumped into lovely YA author Bethany Griffin (at Gollancz Towers to do a video Q and A which will probably be on the Gollancz/Indigo FB page soon'ish). Bethany was lovingly holding two proof copies of her new book - The Masque of the Red Death - a book I've had my beady reader's eye on for a while - so ~~I fixed her with my 'manic must have that book' stare and she thrust a copy at me while backing away fast~~ I asked her if I could have a copy and she was kind enough to give me one. Even got her to sign it too! :-)

Doesn't she have gorgeous penmanship! My own is more like chicken scratchings *sigh*

And as you can see by its slightly battered appearance I started The Masque of the Red Death on the train home - and I'm LOVING it!

As for what I've been doing when not visiting London, authors, publishers and liberating books . . . I've been busy checking the page proofs* for The Shifting Price of Prey. *inserts obligatory self-promo* Out in paperback and ebook at the end of August (UK)!

So what have you all been up to?

*page proofs are physical copies of how the book will be printed and have to be checked for errors, like typos and weird authorial blips, that have somehow survived the previous million times the book has been read up to this point, in the hope that they can be eliminated from the final copy.

If you only do one thing today . . .

Originally posted* by Kari Sperring. Originally posted by

seph_hazard at If you only do one thing today...Originally posted by

ozisim at If you only do one thing today......make sure that ALL Geeks can get married if they want to!

*copied and pasted from Kari's LJ as she says it way better than me.

Dear UK Folk,

I know I'm preaching to the choir with you guys when it comes to LGBT equality, but believing something is fair and actually getting off your bum and doing something about it doesn't always follow like it should. So here's a little (and slightly preachy) reminder!!

Three things I'd like you all to do before you go to bed tonight (if you haven't already)

1/ Go here and sign the C4EM's petition for marriage equality. This is the simplest and probably most visible way to show your support. It currently has 60,000 signatures -- the petition against (by C4M) has over 500,000!!!

2/ Go here and fill out the government's consultation. It might take a little bit longer, but you can bet that for every pro-person who doesn't find the time, there will be dozens of 'anti' people who will.

3/ Email your MP. There's a handy template there for you to use so you don't even have to think of what to say. Also, you can go here to see where your MP stands on the issue. A hugely important thing to do because the majority of MPs will be voting with their conscience rather than following the party line, so make sure you let yours know your feelings.

4/ Okay, so I lied. There's actually a fourth thing. And that is simply spread the word. The consultation ends in two day - it's our last chance to get as many people mobilised as possible. So tweet it, Facebook, blog it, beat your friends and family around the head with it until they give in!!! And if you want to repost to your own blog/journal feel free to copy and paste. (And please feel free to edit).

Fox Cub Bookplates*!

I've been procrastinating ... er, updating my website! *g*

Signed Spellcrackers bookplates - personalised if you so wish - for all 4 books*, now available for free download here!

The bookplate for The Shifting Price of Prey has a tiny cryptic story clue . . . just sayin' :-D

*cue shameless self-promotion*

The Shifting Price of Prey is out 30th August in the UK*, and is available for pre-order here in print and here in Kindle! *looks hopeful*

Or, y'know, you could just pop over and click the like buttons on their Amazon pages, which works too!

(other book buying options than Amazon are, of course, available :))

***
And now I killz you with the fox cub cuteness! *g*

And if you want to see what that poor, put-upon clump of grass looked like 2 weeks ago, check out this video!

And for a longer look at our own Foxwatch, here's 'Feeding Time' where we find out who's the boss!

*Sadly, no news on a US publication date as yet. Soon as there is - *fingers crossed* - you can bet you'll hear the ecstatic screams, for sure!!

*Yep, missing conjunctions make for more catchy blog titles. Right? *g*

The Rack!

I have been interrogated, err, interviewed on the Rack over at On Fiction Writing here! Where I talk about to agent or not, ebooks and Elmore Leonard's writing rules!

In other (belated) blogging the SuperMoon viewing was a wash out thanks to heavy cloud cover. :-( But I did get a pic the next night (still rather blurry since there was only slightly less heavy cloud cover). What the pic doesn't show, was that the moon was super huge and much closer than usual (obviously, it lived up to its SuperMoon name *g*)

And, just for fun, here's some fox cub cuteness!

Supermoon Tonight!

Tonight it's the Supermoon - the biggest full moon of the year!

"The moon will be up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the other full moons of 2012, according to NASA.

That's because it will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, at 11:34 p.m. ET and become full just a minute later" - more here on the CBS News site.

I'm hoping to get a couple of pictures if the cloud cover isn't too heavy! (our Hound is usually restless around the full moon and gets up half-a-dozen times a night - I swear she has a touch of shifter in her - *g* - which is how I have these pics* of a full moon from Nov 2011).