Various Updatery . . . and Free Books!

[jpskewedthrone]

Some interesting updatery things.





First, want a free book? Sean Williams' (ladnews') publisher PYR has decided to release the PDF of his book The Crooked Letter, the first book of The Cataclysm, free online. Check out the link to download!

And now, some personal promotion. This coming Saturday, March 7th, I'll be signing books along with Barbara Campbell, S.C. Butler (scbutler), and Patricia Bray (pbray)--now officially called the Gang of Four--at Between Books at 2703 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware 19703 from 2-4pm. Stop on by if you're even remotely in the area. I've heard there may be cake involved, along with (of course) lots of really good books.

As you all know, sometimes us authors are asked to read an upcoming book and, if we like the book, provide a blurb for it. I was honored to be asked to read S.C. Butler's (scbutler') new novel, The Magicians' Daughter, and provide a blurb, which I did. I've provided blurbs for a few people, and mostly the blurbs vanish into the ether and are never seen again. But not so for this blurb! In fact, Sam has told me the blurb has appeared on the MacMillan webpage for the book. He also told me that it MAY appear on the hardcover when it comes out in April. I am inordinately excited about this.

So, to celebrate, I'm going to offer up the ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) I received of the book to someone chosen at random who comments to this post. The catch? You have to post a review (your own blurb, so to speak) of the book once you've finished it, preferrably before or near its release date of April 28th. So for your chance to win, leave a comment.





And lastly, during the weekly Sunday run to antique shows and flea markets and such, I ran across a boardgame from the 60s (or so it appears) called Chase Back. I was just wondering if anyone here had heard of it? The object appears to be to beat your opponent. *grin* OK, there's more to it than that. Basically, there are two sides of the board (two opponents) and five pieces placed on five tracks from one side of the board to the other. Each player gets 3 moves per turn and you can move 3 of the 5 pieces either towards you and the edge of the board, or back toward your opponent's side. Your goal is to get the pieces onto your end of the board with an exact move (each move is determined by the number on the space on the track where the previous piece landed). Once there, you earn a point and the piece goes back to the center of the board to start again. The winner is the one who earns 15 points first. Does that sound familiar to anyone? I'm sort of collecting board games and I've discovered there's quite a few out there. I don't pick up just any board game, mostly those that appear strategic in nature (I am a mathematician remember) and/or look interesting.

Anyway, those are the few things I know of in the updatery department right now. I just got an email from Lunacon, so I might have my Lunacon schedule soon. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Comments

[zen-kitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link.

I would be glad to write a review for a free book and the end of April would give me enough time to read the prequels to it. *grins*

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Ooo, scbutler would love it if you read all three. *grin*

[kerinda.livejournal.com]

I will definitely post a review of it if I were to be so lucky to get it. It looks intriguing, both in terms of artwork and the author.


I'm throwing a review around in my head for my journal right now, I don't generally post my reviews in my journal because I'm not sure how ethical that is (as the magazine owns my reviews), but I think this one has my brain so frustrated that I might need to do it just to vent it out.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Reviews are tricky things, because you have to keep in mind that just because you liked it, that doesn't mean everyone else will, and same for if you didn't like it. (There are plenty of books out there that I read and didn't like, but are selling much better than mine, for example.)

Not sure how it works with the magazine "owning" the review though. Perhaps you should just ask them? Maybe if you post them on your journal but with a mention of the magazine as a form of advertising they'd be all for it.

[coolmajaka.livejournal.com]

I like free books.
I like blurbing.
Sign me up if it isn't perturbing.

(Yeah, there's a reason I write prose instead of poetry.)

[lotuseyes.livejournal.com]

in all fairness, I think the fact you wrote the poem deserves a copy of the book XD plus you used the word 'perturbing' such an underloved word..

[eldestmuse.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to write up a review.

[patesden.livejournal.com]

I'd love to read the ARC of the MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER. I've heard about it, but had forgotten when it was coming out.

My husband actually is an antique dealer. We find old games now and again, but I'm not familar with the one you bought--and I don't remember it from when I was a kid either. Cool find.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

It's interesting what you run across at the antique shows. Someone actually came up while I was looking at the games and obviously wanted this one, which made it all the better when I took it. *grin*

[bunyip.livejournal.com]

I'd love the chance to review the book. :)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Ooo! Love the icon. *grin*

[bunyip.livejournal.com]

Thank you *grin*

[misunderstruck.livejournal.com]

I was sort of in the area of Claymont, DE today, but will sadly be nowhere near there next weekend. Alas.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Well, it looks like a cool book! I'll play...

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Congrats! You're the winner of the ARC of "The Magicians' Daughter"!!! Just send me your snail mail address (through the message system on here, or at jpalmatier@sff.net) and I'll get that mailed out to you sometime this week.

[wyvernfriend.livejournal.com]

Always willing to review books, I review stuff all the time on librarything where I have the same username. However I am in Ireland so I'm not sure if you're willing to ship that far.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Ireland, eh. Hmm . . . well, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it. *grin*

[macbeaner.livejournal.com]

I'd love to read and review this book! :)

[djkc.livejournal.com]

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/218138 has a decent review of it. The quick ratings seemed to like it a lot less than that review though: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/collection/items/boardgame/2445?rated=1

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Interesting. That's the game all right. Haven't played it so don't know if it's will be a lasting game (like Ticket to Ride, for example), but we'll see.

[shogunhb.livejournal.com]

I am a huge fan of Advance copies. I would be happy to read and review it should I win. I may read and review it anyway.

[bearmountain.livejournal.com]

I'd probably be interested in a free book--did you review it somewhere? What is the book about????

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I think I posted a review of it over at GoodReads, but not here yet. (I was waiting until it came out.) Here's the link to it. (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6037741.The_Magicians_Daughter_Book_Three_of_the_Stoneways_Trilogy)

[lotuseyes.livejournal.com]

I would love a chance to read The Magician's Daughter early and post a review on my blog!!

[oakwind.livejournal.com]

I would love to read Magician's Daughter and happy to review it :)

[wbm.livejournal.com]

If selected, this would make a nice addition to my Reviews (http://wbmaclean.com/myass/reviews.html) webpage.

strategy games?

[hamsterbook.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Pentago?
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19841
(no reviews yet)
Lots of strategy but a quick game.

Re: strategy games?

[hamsterbook.livejournal.com]

err...make that 11 reviews.

Re: strategy games?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I have not tried Pentago. I'll have to check it out (and keep my eye out for it as well).