Book Giveaway – Jack Glass (again) (15/4/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Book Giveaway – Rats and the Ruling Sea (ARC) (2/4/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

This week I’m giving away a signed ARC of Robert Reddick’s Rats and the Ruling Sea. This is the second volume in the Chathrand Voyage quartet, the last of which (Night of the Swarm) came out last year, so no irritating waiting for the series to finish if you get hooked. And don’t complain – I already did give away a copy of the first book. 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 6th April. 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. But I did give away an Angry Dragons T-Shirt last week.

Book Giveaway – Jack Glass (26/3/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

The Black Mausoleum came out in paperback last week.

Kataros has been sentenced to death for being what she is. Siff’s in the next cell. His death sentence is for killing four soldiers with his bare hands but he has no memory of how he did it. Then there’s Skjorl, the Adamantine Man whose job it is to watch over them. In his delirium Siff tells Kataros a secret, so Kataros has to get him out and never mind that he’s likely going to stab her in the back the first chance he gets. To get him out, she needs Skjorl, even if the Adamantine Man would rather stab himself than help someone like Siff, and that’s only the start of what he’d do to her.

And then there’s the dragon.The Black Mausoleum. Someone’s going to die.

The Black Mausoleum is a standalone novel set in the same world as The Order of the Scales. Chapters 1 and 2 are available here.

Anyway, this week’s giveaway offering is Jack Glass by Adam Roberts with a really big cover picture because it’s SO pretty. It’s Adam Roberts so it’s guaranteed to be clever.

This is the trade paperback edition. 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.

Book Giveaway – War in Heaven (11/3/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

This week’s offering is War In Heaven by Gavin Smith. Gavin bears a particular contempt for The Smiths and it’s best not to get into a conversation about them anywhere within about five miles; despite this, hasn’t yet seen fit to change his name. I haven’t read War in Heaven but its predecessor was fast and furious and very messy. Rarely have so few been shot by so many and the bit where someone gets clubbed to death with their own cybernetic arm is… well, OK, I made that up, they only get clubbed unconscious. I have to be nice to Gavin since we’re writing an SF collaboration together (about which, yes, yes, I’ll say more if no one winds me up on Twitter this week…)

It’ll be a paperback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. It’s about time we had another challenge this week – suggest another fictional character who ought to be clubbed to death by one of their own body-parts and why.

You can be as rude as you like as long as you’re not libelous. The gods of random don’t care. But as before, 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. 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 goody not guaranteed to be exciting. But I have T-shirts if you really make me laugh.

Giveaway – The Black Mausoleum (4/3/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

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…

image0

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.

Book Giveaway – Crysis: Escalation (19/2/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

About three weeks ago I mentioned that I’d signed a contract to write some SF with Gollancz. What makes this a little different is that it’s a co-operative project with two books by two authors telling one inter-twined story. It’s a bit of an experiment but so far rather fun. This week’s giveaway is for the latest release by my co-author (or collaborating author or whatever the right term is): Gavin Smith’s set of short stories to tie in with Crysis 3, a game which I’m rather drooling to play.

Yes, it’s Psycho with an assault weapon and a weird bow. Never mind. It’ll be great. Usual deal – comment on this post before February 23rd and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. There’s no challenge this week, but I do recommend a quick visit to Gavin’s site.

If you come up with something good, I’ll 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

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting, but I do have an Angry Dragons mug to give away.

Giveaway – I Am Legend (12/2/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized
I Am Legend. Not the book of the movie which happened to share the same title but the original, which my former editor will be happy to tell you is TOTALLY DIFFERENT (at least in the way it ends). Usual deal – comment on this post before February 16th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book.If you really make me laugh I’ll 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.
News… I could ramble at length about rewrites but maybe I’ll save that for later. In next year’s dragon book, I can’t help noticing, the three most significant protagonists are all women, two are black and the third is, arguably, an abuse victim. It wasn’t really planned that way but hey, look, accidental political correctness. Yay.

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting, but I do have an Angry Dragons mug to give away. Mostly it’s postcards.

Giveaway – The Lies of Locke Lamora (again) (28/1/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

Yesterday I signed a contract to write some SF with Gollancz. With spaceship and everything. More shortly…

Anyhow, this week I’m going to mention the old news of the freebie novella up on the Gollancz blog – a prelude to The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice. PDF here later this week. Or maybe next. But the reason for going a bit retro is that I’m giving away a book I’ve already given – away once before – a copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora, the first volume in the Gentlemen Bastard septet, the second of which is also out, the third of which still  appears to have vanished into a time loop. It remains, however, a damn fine read. Several attempts to contact the previous winner have failed and so it’s back. If you are the previous winner, and you’re just wondering why all those replies to all those mails I sent to that never got picked up, er… that’s a mystery to me too. But comment here and I’ll see if I can get a second copy and have two winners.

Usual deal – comment on this post before November 17th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. There’s no challenge again this week, although I’m quite curious to know what sort of things people would actually pay extra money (in a Kickster-esque tiered rewards sort of structure) for in a book – named characters, obviously, but what else…?

If you come up with something good, I’ll 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, but I do have an Angry Dragons mug to give away.

Book Giveaway – The Black Mausoleum (21/1/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

image0

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.

Giveaway – Poison ARC (15/1/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

This week, thanks to the kind ediors at Gollancz, I have an ARC of Poison by Sarah Pinborough to give away.

“…a beautifully illustrated retelling of the Snow White story which takes all the elements of the classic fairytale that we love (the handsome prince, the jealous queen, the beautiful girl and, of course, the poisoning) and puts a modern spin on the characters, their motives and their desires. It’s fun, contemporary, sexy, and perfect for fans of ONCE UPON A TIME, GRIMM, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN and more.”

I haven’t read it yet, but knowing Sarah, expect something sharp, sexy and deeper than it look.

Poison cover

Usual deal – comment on this post before January 19th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. No special requests this week, just any old comment will do.

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.

Giveaway – The Warlock’s Shadow (7/1/2013)

Posted in Uncategorized

Yay! New Year! It’s been an interesting few days. Two proposals sent to agent last Friday (proper news if they ever come to anything), my publisher is doing three tie-in novels for Elite: Dangerous and Ezio is now about a quarter of the way through kicking the Borgias out of Rome. Yesterday I was writing about turning Europa into a single vast detector for tau-neutrinos, today some dodgy ex-soldiers are about to raid a Brixton nightclub and tomorrow someone gets blown up by a bomb meant for someone else. Back to dragons next week though. Speaking of dragons. . .

warlocks shadow cover - shrunk

I have another copy going begging. And it doesn’t have any dragons in it but it does mention something about that that might just come back again in Dragon Queen. Usual deal – comment on this post before January 12th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. I liked the new year resolutions suggestions from last week so feel free to make some more, though I’ll not make it a pre-requisite this week. Since it’s one of mine, I’ll sign and line it of you like.

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.

Giveaway – Inside Game of Thrones (31/12/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Giveaway – 20th Century Ghosts (24/12/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

Yay! Christmas! And an Assassin’s Creed game I haven’t played yet. Back to Ezio and jumping out of haystacks to murder people now and then and all is right with the world. ‘Tis otherwise the season for putting together proposals for new projects for the new year, which is also kinda fun until the real work comes sliding back through the door.

Another something a bit different this week. An audio-book of Joe Hill’s 20th Century Ghosts. This is volume one, suggesting that there’s a volume two, at least, that I don’t have to offer. Stories on the CDs are: 20th Century Ghost, Pop Art, You Will Hear the Locust Sing, Abraham’s Boy and Better Than Home. The stories are unabridged.

Usual deal – comment on this post before December 29th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. No challenge this week – it’s Christmas – though I did enjoy some of last week’s whacky cover poses. 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.

Giveaway – Elves: Rise of the TaiGethen (17/12/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

Well I’ve finished The Witcher II and I’ve delivered my ghostwriting project and now the world seems empty and lonely as I come to the crushing realisation that I haven’t got any un-played games on my shelf. Fortunately it’s coming up to Christmas, so anyone who wants to send a copy of Assassin’s Creed III wandering by, you could make an author very happy…

Something a bit different this week. Inspired by the general sentiments derived from going out and doing any sort of Christmas Shopping, I was going to give away a copy of The Killer, but recent news has persuaded me otherwise. So instead I have a nice first edition hardcover of Elves: Rise of the TaiGethen by the extremely talented James Barclay.

Usual deal – comment on this post before December 22th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. However, it occurs to me, looking at the cover, that I’ve seen this pose before…

Pretty similar, right? Now, for your own amusement (or more mine, vicariously), try and emulate one of these poses and see what happens. At least the elf has (I think) his sword the right way round. Anyway, it’s clear that fantasy swordsmen are extremely limber and well-balanced folk, and your challenge, if you choose to accept it and for an exciting bonus goody[1], is to point out any other fantasy covers in which swordsmen adopt somewhat unlikely postures. Or swordswomen, for that matter, but let’s not get into the whole  inappropriate-clothes-for-fighting otherwise we’ll be here all day.

Or alternatively wave and say hi.

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.

Other news is taking a long time to be releasable. These week I shall be working on some freebie short stories for something about which I cannot speak and a proposal for something else about which I cannot speak. There might be some news about some SciFi soon though.

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting.

Giveaway – I Am Scrooge

Posted in Uncategorized

*Still* playing The Witcher II, so I *still* might see if I can’t get another copy of the game to give away, and I have my eye on another rather nice goody too, but more on that if I manage to get hold of it. In the meantime, an acknowledgement that there are only something like 27346724 shopping days left until Christmas 2156, here’s a bit of Christmas silliness from the ridiculously talented Adam Roberts.

Usual deal – comment on this post before December 15th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. The right bard name was Dandelion and that would have earned you an Angry Dragons mug, that would [1]. Yeah, but you’re all crying now… Anyway, no challenge this week, just wave and say hi.

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.

Other news is taking a long time to be releasable. Grrr.

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting.

Giveaway – The Name of the Wind (3/12/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

Still playing The Witcher II, so I might see if I can’t get another copy of the game to give away. However, this week’s offer is the Name of the Wind by New York Times Bestseller Pat Rothfuss. This is the Gollancz-50 yellow hardback edition with an introduction by yours truly. If you haven’t read it, you should know that the writing is simply gorgeous.

Usual deal – comment on this post before December 8th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book.Now I always figured that The Name of the Wind (and probably the rest of the series) was secretly the back-story for a high-level AD&D bard character that Pat has stashed away somewhere, so the challenge this week (as I am a fan of the Bard class) is to present the character name for an AD&D Bard. You can either tell me the name of a character you’ve actually played, or just make one up. First person clever enough to link this with the previous giveaway will definitely get a bonus goody (if they win)[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.

News~ No. I have lazed about playing The Witcher for the last few days. There is vaguely significant news for US Thief-Taker fans, but I’ll give that a post of its own once I’m entirely sure of what’s available and what’s not.

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. Actually it’s often a postcard. Which is pretty lame, but I’ll make it a pen this time.

Giveaway – The Last Wish (27/11/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Giveaway – The Alloy of Law (20/11/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Book Giveaway – The Lies of Locke Lamora (12/11/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

The first review of The King’s Assassin is out from Fantasy Book Critic and is pleasantly flattering: “…arguably the author’s best at least since his still awesome debut The Adamantine Palace…”

It’s odd  how tastes differ. I’d have rated The Warlock’s Shadow as the best of this trilogy by some way, but that’s the joy of any sort of art, I suppose – it’s all in the eye of the beholder. Anyway – done. Berren (or some bits of him anyway) will return in Dragon Queen. And in case I haven’t mentioned it, there’s still  a freebie novella up on the Gollancz blog – a prelude to The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice.PDF here. One day. Probably. Yes, I am rubbish.

Anyway, now for the bit that you want: This week I’m giving away a copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora, the first volume in the Gentlemen Bastard septet, the second of which is also out, the third of which appears to have vanished into a time loop. It remains, however, a damn fine read.

Usual deal – comment on this post before November 17th and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Your challenge this week is to tell me your Mitt Romney name. In order to work out your Mitt Romney name, strictly you have to do is make a name out of an item of clothing and a town in Kent, England – but this being an international giveaway, I’ll accept towns in your local county or state or province, provided you tell me where it is.You may find this list of place names handy… For my Mitt Romney name, I’m going with Kilt Edenbridge. 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.

Giveaway – The Red Wolf Conspiracy (5/11/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Giveaway – Dr Whom (30/10/12)

Posted in Uncategorized
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.

Giveaway – The Last And First Men (22/10/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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…?

The King’s Assassin Giveaway (15/10/12)

Posted in Uncategorized

A few days from now The King’s Assassin officially comes out, so this week I’m going to give a copy away. It’ll be a trade paperback edition.I’m sorry to say that there WON’T be a hardback edition from Gollancz. For anyone who’s been collecting the hardbacks (and even if none of the rest of you haven’t, *I* have), this is a bit of a pisser. I know other authors affected by this trend, and it particularly sucks when it’s the last in a series. Still, it is what it is and there’s nothing I can do about it except go and buy a couple of hundred copies of my own books. Which I won’t.

There’s also a freebie novella up on the Gollancz blog – a prelude to The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice. I’ll put a PDF up here shortly.

kings assassin new

Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of he book. In order to enter, comment on this post before 21st October. No challenge this week because I’m sulking. Amuse me.

You can be as rude as you like as long as you’re not libellous. 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.

Dragon Queen rewrite is about half done. It’s getting bigger. There are some nice reviews starting to show up for The Black Mausoleum. More on both soon. Other projects I can’t talk about are now up to four and involve four works in progress about which I cannot speak, so that’s why not much seems to be happening (although most of my time is on the rewrite right now).

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting

Book Giveaway: War In Heaven (28/8/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

Having to let go the good stuff now… This week’s offering is War In Heaven by the uniquely… unique Gavin Smith. Gavin bears a particular contempt for The Smiths and it’s best not to get into a conversation about them anywhere within about five miles; despite this, hasn’t yet seen fit to change his name. I haven’t read War in Heaven but its predecessor was fast and furious and very messy. Rarely have so few been shot by so many and the bit where someone gets clubbed to death with their own cybernetic arm is… well, OK, I made that up, they only get clubbed unconscious.

It’ll be a paperback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book.After last week’s sordid giveaway action, this week only comments will be accepted beginning with the following will be accepted:

“If I absolutely had to be clubbed into unconsciousness by my own cybernetic arm, it would be worth it if…”

You can be as rude as you like as long as you’re not libelous. The gods of random don’t care. But as before, 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. But I have T-shirts if you really make me laugh.

Book Giveaway: The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice (22/8/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

warlocks shadow cover - shrunkthieftakers apprentice cover

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

Book Giveaway: Hyperion (20/8/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Book Giveaway: The Twelve (ARC) (9/8/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Book Giveaway: I Am Scrooge (6/8/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

Book giveaway: The Black Mausoleum (29/7/2012)

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

image0

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.

Book Giveaway: Sick of Dragons yet?

Posted in Uncategorized

Nomnomnom, look what came through the post yesterday…

image0

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.

ORDER OF THE SCALES draft coverKing of the Crags - Draft cover

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.

« Previous PageNext Page »