GIVEAWAY: Favorite UF Authors
THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! FOR A FULL LIST OF WINNERS, PLEASE CLICK HERE!!!
Well, after requesting ideas for my next giveaway and getting some feedback on the types of book reviews you look forward to the most, I wracked my brain over and over for an idea for a giveaway that would be simple but in keeping to my own personal standards, the latter being a giveaway that didn't require me to read a new set of books. :)
Finally, I came up with something that might work for a couple of reasons. 1) Some of you suggested beach reads. 2) Some of you suggested favorites. 3) I've noticed this genre gets neglected in my Top Ten Lists at the end of the year, which means those of you interested in it don't get a fair shot.
Here's the thing. I read a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal romance, but over time, I've created a kind of hierarchy for my favorites. Basically, I have three categories: 1) urban fantasy, which may or may not include a romantic plot and is often shelved in the SF/F section of the store. 2) paranormal romance, which damn well BETTER have a romantic plot and is often but not always shelved in the Romance section of the store. 3) Young Adult UF/PR, which can be either urban fantasy or paranormal romance in nature, may or may not have any romance, but is obviously shelved in the YA section of the store.
Of these three categories, I have my absolute FAVORITE series, the books I'll stop everything for and read in one sitting if at all possible. These are series that I'm up-to-date with, and series that even when I enjoy something else in the genre, said books don't compare to them. Does that make sense? In other words, if author X is my favorite author in urban fantasy, while I might enjoy authors A, B, and C, for some reason, those authors' series don't make me feel the same way that author X's series do, and/or I've yet to finish reading A, B, and C's series.
And since there is SO MUCH to choose from in the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genres, including the YA markets, I thought sharing my #1 favorites in each genre would give you something to focus on, if you haven't focused already.
So here are the favorites:
Urban Fantasy: Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series
1) Kitty and the Midnight Hour
2) Kitty Goes to Washington
3) Kitty Takes a Holiday
4) Kitty and the Silver Bullet
5) Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
6) Kitty Raises Hell
Paranormal Romance: Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series
1) Halfway to the Grave
2) One Foot in the Grave
3) At Grave's End
Young Adult UF/PR: Melissa Marr's Wickedly Lovely series
1) Wicked Lovely
2) Ink Exchange
3) Fragile Eternity
What's the giveaway?
You may enter to request ONE of the above-listed books. My only request to you is that you read the books in chronological order. So, if you've never read a Carrie Vaughn book, don't ask for book five, but rather book one. If you have started a series, ask for the book that comes after the last book you read. Simple, right? Essentially, I'm attempting to inflict my need for chronological order upon you, and also, you're going to appreciate the books (and in some cases, understand them) more if you read them in order. My request is doing you a favor. Really.
But what if you're like me and have read EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE, or you at least own all of them?
Enter anyway and let me know. If I draw your name, we'll work something out. I have a couple of options for you, but I don't want to list those options here out of fear people will gravitate towards those instead of trying out my three favorite authors in each genre. Fair? Good.
Email me at calico.reaction[AT]gmail.com with the following:
1) Your real name and LJ name (if you have one, if not, your web address or blog site)
2) Your working email address
3) Choice of book (or let me know you've got them all, if that's the case)
4) Where you heard about this giveaway
5) Place of residence. You don't have to give me your complete snail mail, but I'd like to know city and state, or where in Canada.
That's right, North American entries only (I'm working on a giveaway that'll be for people outside the US/Canada, so bear with me). Anyone who qualifies may enter, whether you're on LJ or not, provided you FOLLOW THE RULES. If you do NOT follow the rules, you will not be entered in the giveaway.
As always, 1 entry per person.
DEADLINE: all entries must be received by Sunday, July 5th. I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 6th.
A few things to note about this particular giveaway:
1) There will be THREE WINNERS. One per category. However, your entry may only request one book, so bear that in mind. There's the potential for FOUR winners if you don't fit any of the categories above, depending on how many people fit that particular bill. I'm guessing there won't be THAT many, and if there are, I will become VERY SUSPICIOUS and may ask for photographic evidence PROVING you own, or have at least read, ALL of these books. Seriously. Don't put it past me. :)
2) The Melissa Marr books were originally released in hardcover, which means you can request a hardcover copy of the title you want. If you don't specify, I will automatically send you the trade paperback. Fragile Eternity is only available in hardcover, so you don't have a choice there.
You're also more than welcome to pimp the giveaway in your blogs, on your websites, wherever. The more the merrier.
All comments WILL BE SCREENED because past giveaways have required a comment here, and if anyone forgets, well, I've got you covered. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Have fun, and GOOD LUCK!!
Well, after requesting ideas for my next giveaway and getting some feedback on the types of book reviews you look forward to the most, I wracked my brain over and over for an idea for a giveaway that would be simple but in keeping to my own personal standards, the latter being a giveaway that didn't require me to read a new set of books. :)
Finally, I came up with something that might work for a couple of reasons. 1) Some of you suggested beach reads. 2) Some of you suggested favorites. 3) I've noticed this genre gets neglected in my Top Ten Lists at the end of the year, which means those of you interested in it don't get a fair shot.
Here's the thing. I read a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal romance, but over time, I've created a kind of hierarchy for my favorites. Basically, I have three categories: 1) urban fantasy, which may or may not include a romantic plot and is often shelved in the SF/F section of the store. 2) paranormal romance, which damn well BETTER have a romantic plot and is often but not always shelved in the Romance section of the store. 3) Young Adult UF/PR, which can be either urban fantasy or paranormal romance in nature, may or may not have any romance, but is obviously shelved in the YA section of the store.
Of these three categories, I have my absolute FAVORITE series, the books I'll stop everything for and read in one sitting if at all possible. These are series that I'm up-to-date with, and series that even when I enjoy something else in the genre, said books don't compare to them. Does that make sense? In other words, if author X is my favorite author in urban fantasy, while I might enjoy authors A, B, and C, for some reason, those authors' series don't make me feel the same way that author X's series do, and/or I've yet to finish reading A, B, and C's series.
And since there is SO MUCH to choose from in the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genres, including the YA markets, I thought sharing my #1 favorites in each genre would give you something to focus on, if you haven't focused already.
So here are the favorites:
Urban Fantasy: Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series
1) Kitty and the Midnight Hour
2) Kitty Goes to Washington
3) Kitty Takes a Holiday
4) Kitty and the Silver Bullet
5) Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
6) Kitty Raises Hell
Paranormal Romance: Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series
1) Halfway to the Grave
2) One Foot in the Grave
3) At Grave's End
Young Adult UF/PR: Melissa Marr's Wickedly Lovely series
1) Wicked Lovely
2) Ink Exchange
3) Fragile Eternity
What's the giveaway?
You may enter to request ONE of the above-listed books. My only request to you is that you read the books in chronological order. So, if you've never read a Carrie Vaughn book, don't ask for book five, but rather book one. If you have started a series, ask for the book that comes after the last book you read. Simple, right? Essentially, I'm attempting to inflict my need for chronological order upon you, and also, you're going to appreciate the books (and in some cases, understand them) more if you read them in order. My request is doing you a favor. Really.
But what if you're like me and have read EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE, or you at least own all of them?
Enter anyway and let me know. If I draw your name, we'll work something out. I have a couple of options for you, but I don't want to list those options here out of fear people will gravitate towards those instead of trying out my three favorite authors in each genre. Fair? Good.
Email me at calico.reaction[AT]gmail.com with the following:
1) Your real name and LJ name (if you have one, if not, your web address or blog site)
2) Your working email address
3) Choice of book (or let me know you've got them all, if that's the case)
4) Where you heard about this giveaway
5) Place of residence. You don't have to give me your complete snail mail, but I'd like to know city and state, or where in Canada.
That's right, North American entries only (I'm working on a giveaway that'll be for people outside the US/Canada, so bear with me). Anyone who qualifies may enter, whether you're on LJ or not, provided you FOLLOW THE RULES. If you do NOT follow the rules, you will not be entered in the giveaway.
As always, 1 entry per person.
DEADLINE: all entries must be received by Sunday, July 5th. I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 6th.
A few things to note about this particular giveaway:
1) There will be THREE WINNERS. One per category. However, your entry may only request one book, so bear that in mind. There's the potential for FOUR winners if you don't fit any of the categories above, depending on how many people fit that particular bill. I'm guessing there won't be THAT many, and if there are, I will become VERY SUSPICIOUS and may ask for photographic evidence PROVING you own, or have at least read, ALL of these books. Seriously. Don't put it past me. :)
2) The Melissa Marr books were originally released in hardcover, which means you can request a hardcover copy of the title you want. If you don't specify, I will automatically send you the trade paperback. Fragile Eternity is only available in hardcover, so you don't have a choice there.
You're also more than welcome to pimp the giveaway in your blogs, on your websites, wherever. The more the merrier.
All comments WILL BE SCREENED because past giveaways have required a comment here, and if anyone forgets, well, I've got you covered. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Have fun, and GOOD LUCK!!