Giveaway! Short Story Collection #6!

I looooove offering short story collections for giveaway. I never appreciated how much people like short stories, but I get more entries for these contests than any other. Thankfully Penguin Books has given me the chance to accumulate 4 books to offer one lucky winner so I can continue the short story giveaway tradition.

Ages of Wonder (Edited by Julie E. Czerneda)
Here are nineteen original stories of myth, magic, and the creatures of fantasy, as seen through different historical eras— from the Age of Antiquity to the Age of Sails, the Colonial Age, the Age of Pioneers, the Pre-Modern Age, and the Age to come...

Other Earths (Edited by Nick Gevers)
One world among many... eleven stories about them all.
What if Lincoln never became president, and the Civil War never took place? What if Columbus never discovered America, and the Inca developed a massive, technologicallyadvanced empire? What if magic was real and a half-faerie queen ruled England? What if an author discovered a book written by an alternate version of himself? These are just some of the possible pathways that readers can take to explore the Other Earths that may be waiting just one page away.

Terribly Twisted Tales (Edited by Martin H. Greenberg)
Eighteen stories that offer a new twist on old fairy tales.
From Hansel and Gretel and Goldilocks, to Snow White, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and more, here are eighteen stories that take familiar fairy tales and twist them around to give them an entirely new slant. Any fan of far-out fantasy is sure to be delighted.

Swordplay (Edited by Denise Little)
Seventeen rapier-sharp stories of swordplay, magic, and adventure...
From a samurai’s sword to an assassin’s blade, from Custer’s cavalry sword to D’Artagnan’s deadly weapon, from the sword of Damocles to the legendary Excalibur, these all-new spellbinding tales get straight to the point. Whether it’s a sword bespelled to crave blood, cold steel that magicks its wielder into a video game, or a dwarf-crafted blade meant to slay a dragon, these weapons each come sheathed in their own fascinating story that cuts right to the heart of fantasy adventure.

To get your hands on these, either leave a comment here or email me at sqt1969@(nospam)gmail.com (just remove the 'nospam' insert) under the header "Short 6" to enter and I will randomly pick a winner by Friday June 12th. Please be sure I can reach you easily. If I cannot reach a winner within 48 hours I will pass the books onto another entrant. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Open everywhere.

Good luck!

Winner! One Set of the "Atherton" Series by Patrick Carman

I'm way late in getting this up (sorry) but I have randomly picked a winner to receive a full set of the "Atherton" series by Patrick Carman and the winner is...

Mulluane.

Congrats!

Thanks to everyone who entered. I have lots of new giveaways coming up, including the newest book by Brandon Sanderson, a Wolverine graphic novel and the latest "Morganville Vampire" book by Rachel Caine. So keep an eye out.

Giveaway & Review: Starfinder by John Marco

Moth expected the Avatar to be crowded with crewmen, but instead found himself alone in the corridor, making his way toward the front of the ship. He'd already descended two ladders, because he knew the bridge hung low on the superstructure. The gentle thrum of the airship's engines made the metal floor and walls vibrate with a peculiar music. He wondered if the Skyhigh had gone to bed yet.

Voices echoed up ahead. Moth followed the corridor, halting when he saw the bridge. A panoramic window looked out over what seemed like the entire world. Rendor stood in front of the glass, studying the moonlit mountains. Crews manned control consoles, keeping watch over the dials and levers. A man dressed in a dark uniform paced across the bridge, his hands behind his back. He caught a glimpse of Moth from the corner of his eye.

"You?" The man cleared his throat. "Governor? Someone's here to see you."

Surprised, Rendor turned from the window. Moth stepped onto the bridge.

"I need to talk to you," said Moth. "It's important..."

A sudden crash rocked the airship, knocking Moth to the floor. Outside the window the world began to spin.

"Engine out!" someone cried. Rendor shouted. The Avatar lurched sideways, spilling Moth across the deck.
"Port engine!"
"Shut it down!"
"Leveling out..."

Moth struggled to rise. He saw Rendor holding onto a rail. The men at the consoles threw switches and cursed. Slowly, Moth felt the giant airship righting itself, but the engine noise was different now, and he had no idea what happened.

"Moth!" yelled Rendor. "Get hold of something!"

Moth scrambled for a nearby steam pipe. The floor had leveled, yet the Avatar kept spinning. Just as Moth pulled himself up, the giant window burst. Glass and metal showered the bridge. Wind howled through the gaping cavity. Moth wrapped his arms around the pipe, shocked to see something coming through the window. The screeching shadow fell on him in a frenzy of beating wings. Scaly, powerful arms swept him from the bridge.

Moth screamed. He felt the rush of wind, saw the blur of horrified faces. A second later he was weightless with the stars above his head. In disbelief he watched the Avatar drifting away.

~Excerpt from Starfinder by John Marco

Years ago I picked up a book called The Jackal of Nar, the first book of the Tyrants and Kings Trilogy, by a talented new author named John Marco, and I loved it. To this day it remains one of my favorite books. So when I was asked if I would review John's new YA book, "Starfinder", naturally I said yes...

What if angels jealously guarded the skies against all who would dare to fly? The Skylords, the angelic-looking beings in John Marco’s new book "Starfinder" do just that. Moth, a young boy who lives in the city of Calio, has always dreamed of being a Skyknight and piloting the flying crafts created by Rendor, the Governor of the city and grandfather to his best friend Fiona. But after making a promise to his dying mentor Leroux, Moth crosses the mysterious, fog-laden Reach to save a friend and prevent a powerful device, the Starfinder, from getting into the hands of the Skylords.
"Starfinder" is an interesting blend of steampunk and fantasy. The city of Calio is home to all the technological advances created by Rendor, mostly in the form of airships and the smaller ingenious flying craft-- known as the dragonfly-- that patrol the skies against the mostly forgotten threat of the Skylords. Across the Reach magic reigns and Moth and Fiona not only find familiar mythical creatures such as dragons, mermaids and centaurs, but also discover horrible sub-human creatures known as Redeemers and the Skylords themselves. Venturing through the Reach to find a sorcerer and save the long-time love of Leroux, Moth and Fiona prove to themselves, and the adults who doubt their abilities, that sometimes the faith of a child is the most powerful weapon of all.

"Starfinder" is a straight-forward coming-of-age tale in many ways. Moth and Fiona both deal with feelings of inadequacy and abandonment and their adventure helps resolve the insecurities as well as show them that not all adults act without reason. "Starfinder's" point-of-view is definitely geared to adolescent kids who are feeling the desire to be independent while still seeking parental approval, and the novel's resolution will definitely appeal to kids who dream of proving themselves to the adults in their lives.

I didn't fully appreciate YA fiction until I had my own kids. It has it's own rhythm and it's different from adult fiction because the transitions tend to be shorter-- in keeping with the attention span of the audience. I've read many books to my kids and have learned that drawn-out sequences and explanations will bore a younger audience. But don't let the YA style deter you from picking up good fantasy like "Starfinder" if the story sounds interesting to you. It finds a nice balance between a fast pace and imaginative world-building. It won't be for readers who prefer epic fantasy but it is wonderfully inventive and makes for a excellent bedtime book for fantasy-lovin' kids-- or adults who like a break from the profanity and sex so prevalent in adult fiction.

~As and added bonus, I have a copy of "Starfinder" to giveaway to one lucky winner, courtesy of Penguin Books. Either leave a comment here or email me at sqt1969@(nospam)gmail.com (just remove the "nospam" insert) under the header "Starfinder" to enter and I will randomly pick a winner by Wednesday June 3rd. Please be sure I can reach you easily. If I cannot reach a winner within 48 hours I will pass the book onto another entrant. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Open everywhere.

Good luck!

Winners! Biggest Giveaway Yet!

I have randomly picked the winners of my "38 Books" giveaway and they are:

1st Place: Daelith- "Dancing on the Head of a Pin" by Thomas Sneigoski

2nd Place: Renee G.- "The Chosen Sin" by Anya Bast

3rd Place: Tim Poirier- "Mars Life" by Ben Bova

4th Place: Christina Gregory- "Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang" by Katie MacAlister

and

5th Place: SESinNJ- "The Magic of Nightfall" by S.L. Farrell


Congratulations everyone! If you haven't already sent me your addresses, make sure you get them to me soon so I can mail these off to you.

I hope everyone enjoys their books!

Giveaway! Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamiltion

I have another great giveaway courtesy of Penguin Books. This time it's Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton

Product Description
A proven series with a hot new look. The #1 bestselling author returns with her most anticipated novel yet.

When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin City’s local authorities what they’re dealing with. Only it’s worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slain—paranormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, where’s she’s joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. It’s a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses “tiger” too strongly to ignore it. The weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.

Either leave a comment here or email me at sqt1969@(nosmam)gmail.com (just remove the 'nospam' insert) under the header "Skin Trade" to enter and I will randomly pick a winner by Friday June 5th. Please make sure I can reach you easily. If I cannot reach a winner within 48 hours I will pass the book onto another entrant. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Open EVERYWHERE!

Good luck!

Giveaway! TWO Copies of Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson TIMES UP!

Suburban Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor is back and thanks to Penguin Books I have TWO copies of the newest book in the series to offer for giveaway (U.S. Entries Only)

Davidson brings back her sharp heroine, Betsy Taylor, who continues to rule the nights as reigning Vampire Queen while making it through the days as a suburban housewife. When Antonia, a Wyndham werewolf, dies in Betsy’s service, she courageously attempts to return the dead body to Antonia’s family in Cape Cod. While Betsy is busy trying to make amends with fifty thousand angry werewolves, the local vampires are begging for her help. But that’s not all—Betsy finds out that back at home her evil half-sister is stirring up trouble and quickly becoming Betsy’s worst nightmare.

“This is a payoff book…I’ve been promising certain things will happen from the very beginning of the series (Undead and Unwed), and I’m keeping my word,” says Davidson. “Not only does Betsy’s sister, the devil’s daughter, succumb to a long-foretold destructive warpath, we also find out just exactly what the deal is with the vampire queen’s half-brother, BabyJon. Because, let’s face it, the kid had zero chance of being normal. I promised answers, and you’re gonna get them—and more—in this book.”

The rules are the same as always. Either leave a comment here or email me at sqt1969@(nospam)gmail.com (just remove the "nospam" insert in the address) under the header "Unwelcome" to enter and I will randomly pick a winner by Wednesday June 3rd. Please make sure I can reach you easily. If I cannot reach a winner within 48 hours I will pass the prize onto another entrant. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Open in the U.S. only (I'm not doing shipping on this one).

Good luck!

Winner! "Dead and Gone" by Charlaine Harris

I have randomly picked a entrant to win a copy of "Dead and Gone" by Charlaine Harris and the winner is:

Hoopo from Finland!

Congrats Hoopo!

Thanks to everyone who entered.

Giveaway! One Set of the Atherton Series by Patrick Carman

For those of you who love to get your hands on some great YA fiction (and I know you're out there) Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has offered ONE set of the Atherton series by Patrick Carman to me to feature on this site for giveaway. (U.S. and Canada only)

Atherton: House of Power
From the creator of the Land of Elyon comes a riveting adventure set in an extraordinary satellite world'created as a refuge from a dying Earth'that begins to collapse and forever change the lives of its inhabitants. Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of Atherton: a humble fig grove; a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets; and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book which contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world 'quite literally' begins to turn inside out.


Atherton: Rivers of Fire
The Highlands, the center of Atherton, is sinking; Samuel and Isabel are trying to sneak into The House of Power to restore water to the world of Atherton; and Dr. Kincaid, Vincent and Edgar make their way towards the edge of the Highlands, intent on entering the secret underground refuge of Mead's Hollow and finding the key to unlocking Dr. Harding's brain. They must discover the solution to overcoming the threat of the deadly Cleaners, creatures now unleashed on the flattened land, before it's too late. But Mead's Hollow holds more secrets than any of them had ever imagined.
In this tremendously satisfying continuation of the story of Atherton, readers will experience a world turned inside out; a spectacular flood; former enemies forced to work together in the name of survival; surprising histories concerning the creator of Atherton, Dr. Harding, and his partner Dr. Kincaid, and a shocking revelation about Edgar's own past. Best of all, the trip to Mead's Hollow leads to a dangerous-and extraordinary-expedition through the interior of Atherton that will titillate imaginations for a long time to come. With themes evocative of Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno, expect Rivers of Fire to give readers plenty to sink their teeth into.


Atherton: The Dark Planet
After journeying to an unfamiliar land where air is nearly unbreathable and light stings like shards of glass, Edgar must navigate the deadly forests--full of creatures far more frightening than anything he has seen on Atherton--and join the child workforce of Silo #7, the site where Dr. Harding (the mad maker of Atherton) was raised. In the final thrilling chapter of this epic triology, we meet an engaging new cast of characters and Dr. Harding's ultimate plan comes together in an incredibly satisfying conclusion.

If you'd like to get your hands on all three of these beautiful books, then either leave a comment here or email me at sqt1969(at)gmail(dot)com under the header "Atherton" to enter and I will randomly pick a winner by Thursday May 21st. Please make sure I can reach you easily. If I do not hear back from a winner within 48 hours I will pass the books onto another entrant. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Open in the U.S. and Canada only.

Good luck!

Winners! World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King

I have randomly picked 5 winners to receive a copy of "World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King" and they are:

Anna, from Too Many Annas
Paul W. King (via email)
Tesh from Tish, Tosh, Tesh
Debs Desk

and

Richard Iger (via email)

Congrats everyone! Be sure to send me your snail mail addresses so I can forward them to the publisher.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

Winner! AUDIO Book "Turn Coat" by Jim Butcher (read by James Marsters)

I have randomly picked a winner to receive a copy of the AUDIO book "Turn Coat" by Jim Butcher (read by James Marsters) and the winner is--

Cynthia Carter (via email)

Congrats Cynthia!

Thanks to everyone who entered.