20 days, 2 hours 46 mins and 23 seconds - tick, tock - [as I write this] until
The Cold Kiss of Death :: Spellcrackers.com book 2 :: is published, and Woot! am I getting excited? You bet I am *g*. And nervous too, as I hope everyone will love it as much as I do*. This week to continue my celebratory giveaways to help get the word out, I'm going with anthologies - Mean Kiss.
I have a strange ambivalent relationship with anthologies of short stories. On the one hand I never feel quite as enthusiastic when starting to read a short story as I do a book, because just as I end up getting to know the characters and enjoying spending time with them- bam! - the story's finished. I call it the Cinderella syndrome. Give me a nice fat book anytime :-).
But on the other hand, reading anthologies is a really great way of experiencing that first-date excitement when I discover a new author and think 'Wow! I've got to read more like this!'. Then there's the third hand [hey, I write fantasy, I can have as many hands as I want *g*] which is when I get to read short stories about characters I already love such as Harry Dresden in Mean Streets. Yay!
So onto this week's giveaway ...
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XsUdRUNDqK0/SkTm8mrfJII/AAAAAAAAAY4/HrYAkxy08JA/s200/51+aa+small.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XsUdRUNDqK0/SkTm8gg7NzI/AAAAAAAAAYw/e6jUjzZ_5uA/s200/1+a+small.jpg)
Here's what and how you can win: leave a comment telling me if you've ever found a new author through a short story or not, and the first commentator drawn by Random.org will win their choice out of
The Eternal Kiss : Twelve Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire** or
Mean Streets plus a signed copy of either
The Cold Kiss of Death, or
The Sweet Scent of Blood. Second commentator drawn will win the other book. Contest open to all, and finishes end of day [anywhere] Wednesday 1st July 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
ETA: 29th June 22.27 - there are now 67 commentators!! if commentators hit 70; then I'll give away 3 copies of The Eternal Kiss ... If commentators hit 90 then I'll give away 4 copies and if we pass the magical 100 mark then I'll be giving away 5 copies! Yay! so more links mean more comments and more chances to win :-)
ETA: 30th June 15.05 - there are now 103 commentators in all, we've passed the magical 100!!! So I will now be giving away 5 copies of The Eternal Kiss to 5 lucky commentators instead of 1. Thanks so much to everyone who's entered so far.
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 blog: leave a comment here or
there.
*
Lovevampires.com has a special advance review up of The Cold Kiss of Death. Here's part of what it says . . .
"The Cold Kiss of Death [is] an exciting and satisfyingly complex read. The book's cover promises magic, mayhem and murder and there is no shortage of any of these things. Genny makes a realistically likable yet suitably kick-ass heroine who keeps fighting to the end. Throw in an imaginatively realised fantasy London . . . and it's clear that this book is a sure-fire winner for fantasy fans."
Read the full review here ** Look at the fab list of authors - including one fantastic new author you should all look out for
kazdreamer Karen Mahoney who has her first short story published in The Eternal Kiss, which is published on the 7th July! Congratulations Karen!
Kelley Armstrong
Holly Black
Libba Bray
Sarah Rees Brennan
Rachel Caine
Cecil Castellucci
Cassandra Clare
Melissa De La Cruz
Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Dina James
Karen Mahoney
Maria V. Snyder
Lili St. Crow