I gave away a copy of Jack Glass by Adam Roberts a few weeks back and that seemed quite popular and then it went and won, oh, some award or other . . . So I’m going to do it again, and again with a really big cover picture because it’s SO pretty and ALSO won an award. So there you go, a book that won two awards on the same day and it’s Adam Roberts so it’s guaranteed to be clever.
This is the trade paperback edition again. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book.No challenges this week – just comment to enter[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well,so far. Oh, and these days for international delivery I’ll have to ask for a phone number as well as an address if you win.
[1] Exciting bonus goodies occasionally available but not guaranteed to be exciting. But I have T-shirts if you really make me laugh.
The second draft of The Black Mausoleum III: The Splintered God is done and I have written a memo to myself to write simpler plots in future. The Black Mausoleum is coming out in paperback soon and I have printed copies now, more than I know what to do with, so guess what’s up for this week’s giveaway…
The Black Mausoleum was a deliberate change of approach over the previous dragon books. Gone are the political machinations and the wheels within wheels – this is much more about survival and a rag-tag band of characters who really can’t stand each other. Probably the best cover in the series too. Signed and lined to the luck winner, of course.
You know, if you read it and like it, or read it and don’t, please put up a little something on Amazon. I try not to let the 1 & 2-star reviews that are basically a protest about not being able to get the book on Kindle in the US get to me, but actually they’re starting to. And if you know of anyone who does that, please point out that the only people who notice are the author, who has absolutely no say in what gets released in what form and what country and when, and the other potential readers. So if you like a series and you’re grumpy about it not being available, mail the publishers direct – they have the power and they don’t read amazon reviews.
Rant over…
Usual rules apply – comment here to be entered and I’ll pick a winner at random on Saturday 10th. Competition (as usual) is open worldwide. Outside Europe I ship by surface mail to keep the costs down so please be patient.
Here’s a thing not to do: Write 80% of the first draft of something, go and do a stack of other things for three months, then come back and try to write the last 20% imagining you still know everything that was going on and understand the characters. . . Anyway, the first draft of The Black Mausoleum III: The Splintered God is almost done now. The Black Mausoleum II: Dragon Queen is apparently coming out in August now (Not My Fault this time!), and it’s been a while since I put up a precious original Black Mausoleum title, so here goes. There probably won’t be another copy going up for quite some time.
The Black Mausoleum was a deliberate change of approach over the previous dragon books. Gone are the political machinations and the wheels within wheels – this is much more about survival and a rag-tag band of characters who really can’t stand each other. Probably the best cover in the series too. Signed and lined to the luck winner, of course.
Usual rules apply – comment here to be entered and I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday evening. Competition (as usual) is open worldwide. Outside Europe I ship by surface mail to keep the costs down so please be patient.
Yay! New Year! And I have to choose between Ezio and jumping out of haystacks to murder people now and then or else Dishonoured and murdering people in other ways. Last week I polished off a handful of short stories that I can’t talk about yet and started the opening chapters of an SF project that I’ll explain once there’s a signed contract. Right now I’m in the middle of an SAS-supported drug bust going down in a skating rink. Bit different to writing dragons.
This week I’m offering the Gollancz hardback Inside the HBO Game of Thrones. Usual deal – comment on this post before January 5th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Valid entries must contain a vaguely preposterous proposed New Year’s Resolution for either a well-known fantasy author or character (like for me to deliver a manuscript in which no major characters die and everyone lives happily ever after or for Cersei Lannister to retire to a nunnery and take up knitting) .
Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, so far. Previous winners – I’m afraid I’m a bit behind with the posting, but they’ll go out some time this week.
This week I’ve been playing The Witcher II, so I’m going to give away a Witcher book: The Last Wish. Big Witcher fan here.
Usual deal – comment on this post before December 1st and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. No challenge this week. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, so far.
Dragon Queen editing is done and the MS is back with Marcus at Gollancz to check on some revisions to the last couple of chapters before it goes to the copyeditor. Then back to the ghostwriting project I can’t talk about an then, if there’s time before the copy-edits come back, some work on some the Very Sekkrit Sodium Hydride project – some website freebies for the summer.
[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. Actually it’s often a postcard. Which is pretty lame.
This week I’m giving away a copy of The Alloy of Law
Usual deal – comment on this post before November 17th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. No challenge this week. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, so far.
Dragon Queen editing this week. Should be done by the time the next post goes up. There’s a cover published somewhere on the internet, but it’s not the one that book will have when it comes out, so best ignore it.
[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. Actually it’s often a postcard. Which is pretty lame.
The King’s Assassin is officially out and that’s a trilogy officially done, a series officially finished, and if any of you were hoping for some more of Berren then. . . then read the book. All of it. Right to the end. There’s still a freebie novella up on the Gollancz blog – a prelude to The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice. I’ll put a PDF up here shortly.
This week I’m giving away a copy of Robert Redick’s Red Wolf Conspiracy. This is the first volume in the Chathrand Voyage quartet, the last of which (Night of the Swarm) has just come out, so no irritating waiting for the series to finish if you get hooked. This is a truly magical series (as far as I’ve read) full of hope and wonder and magic, and I heartily recommend it for adults and almost-adults alike. Robert has a lovely website for the series here.
Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. In order to enter, comment on this post before the 10th November. Your challenge this week is to recommend a book to anyone else who comes to visit the giveaway page. If you make me laugh I might send an exciting bonus goody your way[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, so far.
[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. Actually it’s often a postcard. Which is pretty lame.
This week I’m giving away a hardback copy of Dr Whom by the notorious A R R R Roberts, author of The Soddit, The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo and I, Scrooge among other things.Oddly, as I can rarely enter my editor’s offices without being bombarded by these masterworks, I haven’t seen this one before. Maybe it it’s a bit of a rarity? I have no idea, but here it is going begging.
Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. In order to enter, comment on this post before the 3rd November. Your challenge this week is to either make a Dr Who joke or offer a little-known fact about Daleks.
Or just comment anything you like, really. The gods of random don’t care as long as you’re not libellous. If you make me laugh I might send an exciting bonus goody your way[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, so far.
[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. Actually it’s often a postcard. Which is pretty lame, but not as lame as used chewing gum.
The King’s Assassin is officially out and that’s a trilogy officially done, a series officially finished, and if any of you were hoping for some more of Berren then. . . then read the book. All of it. Right to the end. There’s still a freebie novella up on the Gollancz blog – a prelude to The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice. I’ll put a PDF up here shortly.
This week I’m giving away a Gollancz Masterworks copy of Olaf Stapledon’s Last and First men. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. In order to enter, comment on this post before the 28th October. Your challenge this week is to tell me why, in my rapidly advancing years, I should either take up or not take up playing Ice Hockey
(or just comment anything you like, really).
You can be as rude as you like. The gods of random don’t care. If you make me laugh I might send an exciting bonus goody your way[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, so far.
[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. Actually it’s often a postcard. Which is pretty lame, but not as lame as used chewing gum. So it could be worse, right…?
I have a bit of a problem. I’m looking at my shelf of books to give away and there’s Altered Carbon up there, which I haven’t read, and Sharps, which I haven’t read, and I’m NOT giving either of those away, and then there’s a couple more but my editor is holiday and so is the other Gollancz editor and I CAN’T RESUPPLY!
So you get one of mind again. A choice this time: The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice or, if you’ve already read that, The Warlock’s Shadow.
It’ll probably be a trade paperback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. The thing with the Hyperion giveaway made me laugh and was far too much fun not to do again. So, inspired by a truly god-awful carnal scene from a best-selling author that I recent had to listen to being read allowed (if you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know what I’m talking about), only comments will be accepted beginning:
“The absolute worst euphemism for sex/something related to sex that I ever came across was…”
You can be as rude as you like as long as you’re not libelous. The gods of random don’t care. But if you make me laugh I might send an exciting bonus goody your way[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well,so far.
[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting
Yes, yes, there’s been a gap in the usual service and it’s not like I was really trying to get the bidding going on The Twelve (sorry to all those who weren’t the lucky winner).
Today’s offering is Hyperion by Dan Simmons, hard SF meets the Canterbury Tales. I’ve read and rate very highly both this and it’s sequel (quite a different book). Didn’t get on with the third one in the series so much.
This is the hardback Gollancz 50th anniversary edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Slight difference this week is that only comments that complete one of the following sentences will be accepted:
“I ran out and bought The Black Mausoleum when it came out last week because…” OR
“I totally didn’t run out and buy The Black Mausoleum AT ALL when it came out last week because…” OR
“What is this Black Mausoleum of which you speak? Do I look like I care? Just shut up about it and gimme…”
You can be as rude as you like. The gods of random don’t care. But if you make me laugh I might send a bonus goody your way. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well,so far.
Continuing the theme of the undead, I have an ARC of Justin Cronin’s The Twelve to give away. Given the trumpets and fanfares that heralded its predecessor, The Passage, I’m guessing this is going to be a major release when it comes out in October, with possibly even slightly more attention, shelf-space, bloggage and window displays than my own The King’s Assassin that comes out at much the same time [1]
This is an ARC – that’s an advance uncorrected review copy for anyone who didn’t know that, so it hasn’t been proofread. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Surprisingly no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, but it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. The record stands t two and a half months…
[1] I’m tempted to offer a sweetie to anyone who actually manages to find a physical copy of it for sale in an actual bookshop, but never mind…[2]
[2] The King’s Assassin, that is. Not The Twelve. I haven’t got that many sweeties.
Adam Roberts. Dickens. Zombies. What’s not to like?
This is the hardback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Surprisingly no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, but it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, mostly.
Next up will be an ARC for The Twelve by Justin Cronin. I’ll put that up some time on Wednesday.
Officially The Black Mausoleum comes out in the UK on the 16th August. However I have one copy to give away and this time I’m going to let the competition run for a whole week on account of being on holiday for the week. Usual rules apply – comment here to be entered and I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday evening. Signed and lined and dedicated as per the winner’s request. If demand is particularly high then I might run another competition later in the year but I don’t have too many of these to give away at the moment.
Competition (as usual) is open worldwide. Outside Europe I ship by surface mail to keep the costs down so please be patient.
In other news, lots of stuff is happening and I can’t talk about any of it. More books have been delivered. The fourth manuscript of 2012 is almost finished. Various ghostwriting projects are under discussion and also a rather interesting proposal for an SF series. But I have been missing my dragons, and the planning work for Prince of the Storm-Dark starts next week, with the writing in anger due to start as soon as the school holidays end. At which point I might have something interesting to say again…
Next week I have an ARC of Justin Cronin’s Twelve to give away. You have been warned.
Nomnomnom, look what came through the post yesterday…
I’ll put one copy up for grabs next week. Meanwhile two other dragon books to give away again: another pair of The King of the Crags and The Order of the Scales as one lot. That’s the UK editions and I will sign and line them if you want. Perfect for anyone who got The Adamantine Palace[1] but never got around to the others, and yes, I still have several more to give away because I need to clear space for when the new covers come out. You haven’t seen the new covers? Go see the new covers.
Usual rules – comment here and I’ll randomly select someone to get the books.
If anyone was following my MOPNOWRIMO projects earlier in the year, the one I did in February has been delivered and the one I did in May, which I still distinctly remember sucking like a Dyson[2], is well into its second re-drafting and still turns out not to be so bad at all. Although I say that having not actually written the ending yet. You know that thing where you should always push on to the very end before you rewrite? <hangs head in shame>. I will do it tonight. I will try.
[1] To be clear: The books I’m giving away this time are parts two and three of a trilogy. The Adamantine Palace is part one.
[2] Previous attempts at eliciting Dyson spam yielded nothing AT ALL. Still getting tutus.