For Whom the Wand Waves

Yet again the Publishing Fairy crashed my morning work session to complain about how long it's been since she's appeared on the blog. Since I have to get ready for MegaCon, and she's in the mood to grant a BookWish* for one of you, I'm letting her take over today.

If you'd like to be the one upon whom she sprinkles her magic reading sparkles, in comments to this post name a book you've just read that you really enjoyed (or if you haven't read anything enjoyable recently, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST tonight, March 12th, 2014. I'll choose one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a BookWish. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of the winner's choice available for order online and that costs up to a maximum of $30.00 U.S. dollars (I'll cover any additional shipping costs involved.)

Appease the Fairy, Please

Last night the Publishing Fairy dropped by to whine about how I've been ignoring her lately. To keep the peace (and prevent her from cursing my next release) I'm giving her today's post and the chance to grant a BookWish* for one of my readers.

If you'd like to be the one for whom the wand waves, in comments to this post name a book you've just read that you really enjoyed (or if you haven't read anything enjoyable recently, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST tonight, July 17th, 2013. I'll choose one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a BookWish. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of the winner's choice available for order online and that costs up to a maximum of $30.00 U.S. dollars (I'll cover any additional shipping costs involved.)

The Publishing Fairy Strikes Again

I'm in the midst of finishing up some work, so I've invited the Publishing Fairy to stop in and wave her wand over one of you. No, you won't turn into an author. Unless you're a frog. I can't do anything about any accidental amphibian anthropomorphisms.

If you've got a book to wish for, in comments to this post tell us the title of the last book you read (or if you can't remember, just toss your name in the magic hat) by midnight EST on Friday, February 1st, 2013. I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates, and PF will grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of the winner's choice available for order online and that costs up to a maximum of $30.00 U.S. dollars (I'll cover any additional shipping costs involved.)

The Sock of Christmas Past

I'm sure my regulars recognize this guy, the ornament formerly known as the Sock Ornament of Doom, which was renamed the Sock of Christmas Past by Claire Cherven last year (and I think it looks much happier now that it has a merrier moniker.)

Sock, who has figured prominently in our holiday celebrations ever since my daughter made it in preschool, wanted to get on the blog again this year. I had a giveaway in mind, but no exact theme for it, so I decided to let Sock do the honors.

In comments to this post, name the title of a book you're giving as a gift during the holidays by midnight EST on Friday, December 21st, 2012. I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates, and Sock will grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice that is available for order from an online bookseller, up to maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. I will throw in any applicable shipping charges involved.

In Lieu of a Post

I had a lousy day yesterday, and I'm not happy with the post I had written to appear today, so to bail me out (again) I've summoned the Publishing Fairy, who has taken pity on me and agreed to give someone who stops in here today a book that they want (she's such a pushover.)

If you'd like to be that someone, in comments to this post name a book or author that makes you happy (or if you can't think of one, just toss your name in the magic hat) by midnight EST tonight, September 12, 2012. I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Also, a note on that last bit -- I am blessed with an amazingly supportive readership, not only here in the U.S. but around the globe.  Keeping my giveaways open to everyone no matter what country they reside is my own little Books Without Borders project -- and a chance to say thanks for that support.  So if you do live outside the U.S. and worry about this, please don't hesitate -- enter the giveaway, and if you win, I will get it to you, no problem whatsoever.

*A BookWish is any book of the winner's choice available for order online and that costs up to a maximum of $30.00 U.S. dollars (I'll cover any additional shipping costs involved.)

Practical Guides

Writing Fiction by the Faculty of Gotham Writers' Workshop and edited by Alexander Steele, is what I consider the most complete writing how-to I've found out there, and it's the guide I've most often recommended or handed out to writers at all stages of the game who want to better understand the major elements of story. It's not Novel Writing 101 in a book, and like most scholarly books on writing written by teachers it suffers from a literary skew, but it does a very decent job of explaining theory and the big basics, and it offers some interesting exercises to apply what you've read about in each section.

Other writers swear by Robert McKee's Story, which I've read, but it's a book of story theory for screenwriters, and you have to adapt everything in it to apply it to novels (which isn't a bad thing; you could do a lot worse than learning about story from a screenwriter.)

While I've been scouring the how-to aisles for years in search of better, I haven't yet found it. Most of the authors who write how-tos are either not working novelists, or have very limited practical experience. The few that I've read authored by veteran working writers (Stephen King would be a shining example of this) were mainly memoirs dressed up as how-tos. Interesting as they can be, they're more about the author's particular journey to superstardom, which I don't think is practical or especially applicable to the average novelist.

I can't read everything, so I know I've probably missed some good soup-to-nuts how-tos out there, and I wanted to ask you guys for some recommendations. If you could have only one book about novel writing in your reference collection, what would it be? Let me know in comments by midnight EST on Monday, May 7, 2012. I will draw one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice that is available for order from an online bookseller, up to maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. I will throw in any applicable shipping charges involved.

Zen Revenge

I've summoned the Publishing Fairy and bullied her into agreeing to give someone a book they want today. It's mostly a selfish thing; an act of Zen revenge to nullify something that I was stuck with that I don't want (long, ugly story.)

I can't go into details without my head exploding. You'll get writer brains all over your browser. You don't mind, do you?

If you don't, in comments to this post name a book or author that makes you happy (or if you're in my boat at the moment, just toss your name in the magic hat) by midnight EST tonight, November 16, 2011. I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of the winner's choice available for order online and that costs up to a maximum of $30.00 U.S. dollars (I'll cover any additional shipping costs involved.)

One Book

Author Shiloh Walker asked me some interesting questions the other day (and my answers will be appearing on her blog tomorrow.) Among them was one I didn't want to answer because I thought it couldn't be answered: What's the one book you think everybody, writer or not, should read?

Like saying you want world peace at a beauty pageant, the Holy Bible seems to be the default answer. But the Bible and I have our issues, and I feel it's simply not appropriate for everyone. So back to the drawing board. Shakespeare was next on my list, but he wrote plays, not books, and he can be difficult to understand. I came close to saying Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer because I do think that illustrates the human character from soup to nuts, plus it's funny -- but also, not an easy read.

I finally turned around the question and thought what is it that I wish everyone would get from reading one book? And then I knew.

I read this book when I was quite young, probably too young to be exposed to the content, which is brutal. It's not a pleasant read, especially for writers. Even after you learn that the author actually lived it, you don't want to believe it. Thinking about it afterward made me cry a couple times and I even had some nightmares about it.

So why would I want everyone to read a horrible book like that? Honestly, it made me grateful. Grateful for everything I had: the tiny room I shared with two sisters, the squashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my lunchbag, the hand-me-down clothes that were too big or too small, the cheap shoes that pinched my toes, even the dismal prospects waiting in my future. I didn't believe that I had anything of value in my life until I read this book, and then for the first time clearly saw and understood exactly how fortunate I was. That the few things I had, the things that had never before been good enough, were blessings that could so easily be taken away from me, along with my family, my home, and even my future.

In answering Shiloh's question I also realized I've never given anyone a copy of this book, which I intend to remedy right now. In comments to this post, name a book that changed how you think about yourself or anything (or if you've not yet read that one book, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Thursday, June 23, 2011. I will draw one name at random from everyone who participates and send the winner a copy of the book that I think everyone should read, and I will also grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice available to order from an online bookseller, up to a maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. (I'll throw in whatever shipping is involved.)

Graphic credit: © Yellowj | Dreamstime.com

Elsewhere X 2

Our blogpals Cid, Suzan, Alice and Linda over at Book Addicts kindly invited me to participate in their Redeeming Romance series. Thanks to Shakespeare and one of his beautiful sonnets, I've never been ashamed of reading or writing romance, and I explain why in my guest post. If you have a chance head over, check it out and leave a comment by Friday, May 13th, and you'll have a chance at winning a romance BookWish from me (or any romance novel that’s available from B&N online, paperback or hardcover up to $30.00 U.S.; I'll cover whatever shipping is involved.)

Adventures in Children's Publishing also asked me to do a mini-interview with them, which can be found here (scroll down and look for the writer who gave the shortest answers; that's me.) Unfortunately the novel synopsis they posted for After Midnight contains just about every spoiler possible in it, so if you haven't read the book and don't want the surprises ruined you might want to skip that. I've donated a signed copy of AM for their giveaway, too.

Books for the Holidays

I've been catching up on my TBR this past week, and have a stack of books I wanted to rec as great reads for the holidays:

Mary Balogh headlines The Heart of Christmas anthology, which has three very decent stories (and you don't see that too often in an antho.) I especially enjoyed the common-man story by Courtney Milan, an author I haven't read before, and I'll now be looking for her single titles. This would also make a great gift for someone who enjoys holiday historical romance.

If you can spring for the hardcover, Ice by Linda Howard is a one-night, curl-up-with-hot-chocolate-by-the-fire read that will leave you shivering in more than one spot (I just wish it had been longer.) I bought some extra copies to hand out to friends because during winter people in the south love to read about how you people in the north get buried in all that ice and snow. Yes, we're mean that way. And it's Linda Howard. If romance were chocolate, she'd be Godiva.

Marjorie M. Liu returns to the shelves and sparkles in the Never After anthology with a fairytale romance that is a lovely fusion of dreamy, dark and delightful. Usually writers are either great novelists or gifted short story tellers; Marjorie is one of those rare authors who is both. This or any of her stories would be terrific to drop in the stocking of a writer or a reader.

For those of you who want something new and different, Jessa Slade's debut Seduced by Shadows offers a cool series premise, a great assortment of unusual, well-developed characters and some pretty sophisticated world-building. Though not something I'd recommend for people who want a simple, mindless read, this is probably the most interesting debut novel I've read in a long time. Definitely an author and a series to watch, and a great starter novel for your series-loving pals.

Also writing on the dark side, Linda Winstead Jones headlines Nocturne's Holiday with a Vampire III anthology with her story Sundown, her very first vampire story (hopefully it's not her last; I thought it rocked.) Your category-reading friends who like paranormals will enjoy this one.

Last but not least, I have a real gem for you, a novel that actually made me burn dinner. Now I've been known to char a chicken now and then while I'm writing, but I know I haven't incinerated a meal while reading since I got a galley copy of Moon Called to read for a quote (and Patricia Briggs, you still owe me a pot roast.)

But now it seems I must invest in more smoke detectors, thanks to Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler. This novel is one of those dangerous stories, the kind that is so thrilling, romantic, edgy and absorbing that once you start it you may find it very tough to put down. I know I did because I began it after I put on a pot of our favorite pasta sauce to simmer.

Of course I know better, but this is Jake's book. Those of us who have been blogging since the good old days have also been waiting to read Jake's book for a long time -- five, maybe six years now? And it was worth the wait; I got so lost in the story that I didn't resurface until my guy arrived home -- three hours later -- and asked me what was for dinner. As it turned out that night, not pasta. I did take a shot of the scorched pot for posterity, though, because this book is just the first in what promises to be an amazing trilogy. I'm completely hooked, so I should probably save the fire department a trip and get another extinguisher for the kitchen. Maybe two.

Hard to Hold would be a great gift for any contemporary/military romance reading fan. Just warn them not to cook. And if you read this, Stephanie Tyler, you owe me an Italian dinner. Or at least a pot of pasta sauce.

I'm heading out this week to do more holiday shopping at the brick & mortar stores, and I'd like to know what you guys recommend as stocking-stuffers. In comments to this post, name a book or author you think would make a great holiday read or gift (or if you're coming up empty, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, December 4, 2009. I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates and send the winner an early holiday gift: unsigned copies of Mary Balogh's The Heart of Christmas anthology, Ice by Linda Howard, Marjorie M. Liu's Never After anthology, Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade, Linda Winstead Jones's Holiday with a Vampire III anthology, and Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler. I will also grant the winner a BookWish* so you can have something you've been waiting to read. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice that is available to order from an online bookseller, with a maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. (I'll throw in whatever shipping costs are involved.)

Winners

The winners of PBW Holiday Giveaway #10 -- Making Wishes are:

Robin Connelly

Kait Nolan

Jess

Winners, when you have a chance please send your BookWish along with your full name and ship-to info to LynnViehl@aol.com, and I'll put the Publishing Fairy to work. Thanks to everyone for sharing your holiday wishes with us.

(The final PBW holiday giveaway will be posted as soon as we sort out one final technical blip.)

Getting in the Spirit

Today is December 1st, and the holidays are just over there on the horizon. I know it's tough to get into the spirit of things, especially if you're surrounded by Scrooges and Grinches. I've run into more than my share lately, and if you don't do something about it they infect you with their bad moods and you end up turning into one.

I think we need to summon the Publishing Fairy, sprinkle some magic blog dust around and see if we can't get three wishes granted -- that should spread a little goodwill (and if that doesn't work, we can always summon the Publishing Ogres, Remainder and Oop, to go after the grumblers and complainers.)

So: in comments to this post, tell us something that you're doing to get into the holiday spirit (or if the spirit is eluding you so far, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Wednesday, December 3, 2008. I'll pick three names at random from everyone who participates and grant each of the winners a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice that is available to order from an online bookseller, with a maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. (I'll throw in whatever shipping costs are involved.)

Mystery Art

I need to experiment on you guys, so in comments, please describe what you see in the above image. There are no right answers; this is a creative challenge (but I will tell you what the image actually is once all the comments are in.) Also, if you're not able to view the image due to work screening or some other glitch, just throw your name in the hat.

Leave your description or name in comments to this post by midnight EST tonight (that's Thursday, June 5, 2008). I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a BookWish.* This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice, up to a maximum cost of $30.00 US dollars, that is available for order from an online bookseller. I will cover any shipping that is involved.

BookWish Winner

The winner of the BookWish giveaway is:

Cheryl S. (aka cas2ajs)

Cheryl, when you get a chance please e-mail your BookWish, full name and ship-to address to LynnViehl@aol.com. Thanks to everyone for joining in and making so many interesting book recs.

BookWish

I need to do something positive today, how about you? I tried calling the Publishing Fairy to see if she'd sprinkle some gilt dust on us, but it went right to voice mail. There's a rumor going around that she's absconded with a cover model from RT. I hope she got one who's interested in more than her magic wand.

The heck with her, let's have a giveaway. In comments to this post, tell us what you're currently reading (or if your TBR stack has vanished, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on April 21, 2008. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates, and grant the winner a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice that is available for order from an online bookseller, up to maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. I will throw in any applicable shipping charges involved.

Three Wishes

On the third day before Christmas, PBW gave away:

Three BookWishes

In comments to this post, tell us what you think is a good, last-minute holiday gift (or, if you can't think of one, just drop your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Monday, December 24, 2007. I will draw three names at random from everyone who participates and grant the winners a BookWish*. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A BookWish is any book of your choice that is available for order from an online bookseller, up to maximum cost of $30.00 U.S. I will throw in any applicable shipping charges involved.

PBWisms

One of my favorite writing exercises is to mimic other authors. There is no better way to get a handle on what voice is than to try writing in another author's style.

Turnabout is fair play, though, so I thought we'd have some fun with this and hold a PBWisms contest. If you'd like to enter, in comments to this post write something in 25 words or less** that you think I might say here on the blog by midnight EST on Thursday, August 2, 2007.

Da rules: To keep it fair, please only post one PBWism and only one entry. You may cancel an earlier entry if you come up with a better idea, but if you post more than one PBWism and/or entry, you will be disqualified from the contest. Your entry should be something original, not a quote of something I've already said. If you're not sure about my writing voice, you've got three years of archive links to study over there on the right side bar.

I will pick three winners, one in each of these categories: Best in Contest, Funniest, and Most Unlikely. The winners will each receive a Bookwish* and a surprise. This contest is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A Bookwish is any book by any author of your choice, provided that 1) the book is currently available for order from an online bookseller and 2) the book is priced up to a maximum of $30.00 US dollars. I will throw in whatever shipping costs are involved for free.

**In response to many anxious requests, I'm removing the contest's 25 word or less limit, so your entry length is now open (Shiloh, yours is fine.)

Over There Winner

The ideas you all posted for my nephew's book box were great; I have a nice list now for when I hit the bookstore today. We also put the magic hat through its paces, and the winner of the Over There giveaway is:

JulieB (whose entry started with I really had a hard time thinking of anything you might not have already thought of/read...)

Julie, when you have a chance, e-mail your bookwish and ship-to address to LynnViehl@aol.com, and thanks to everyone who joined in.

Reader Wednesday: Over There

Today I heard for the first time from my nephew, who is in the reserves and is presently stationed in Iraq. He reports that during the day where he works it can be as hot as 120 degrees, and he works twelve hour shifts, six days on, one day off. He also misses his girlfriend. I've been writing to him since he left the States in hopes that my letters would catch up to him. We're all counting the days until he comes home.

My nephew is a doll. He's tall, blond, built, and extremely charming. He has his mother's wicked green eyes, which routinely cause palpitations in the hearts of many young co-eds. When he's not serving in the reserves or going to school, he works as a waiter, and makes a small fortune in tips. He loves all things Superman, and has watched every episode of Smallville at least a dozen times. His brother is taping the show for him while he's over there so he won't miss any of the season.

Like so many American families, we would very much like to have him come home in one piece. So we pray a lot, too.

Every month I pack up a box of books to send to troops. In the grand scheme of things it's not much, but it gives me a chance to express my appreciation to the men and women who serve our country, and hopefully give them a couple hours of entertainment. This month, the box will be for my nephew and the soldiers who serve with him.

I want to get this box out of here, so I'm going to hit the bookstores this weekend to finish filling it up. I would love to get some suggestions from you readers out there on some titles you think would appeal to my nephew. Think superheroes, humor, restaurant- or food-related fiction or nonfiction, or anything that might entertain a smart guy in his early twenties. Share your recommendations in comments to this post by midnight EST on Friday, June 1, 2007. I will draw one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a Bookwish.* This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A Bookwish is any book by any author of your choice, provided that 1) the book is currently available for order from an online bookseller and 2) the book is priced up to a maximum of $25.00 US dollars. I will throw in whatever shipping costs are involved for free.

Reader Poll

As Reader Wednesday is still under construction, I've got some questions for you guys this week:

1. If I started posting free stories online regularly again, would you rather read a new short story every month, or a chapter of a new novel every week?

2. Of the following genres, which is your favorite: alternate history, biblical fiction, christian fiction, dark fantasy, historical fiction, nonfiction, romantic suspense, or science fiction?

3. Other than books, what sort of giveaway/contest prizes do you most enjoy winning?

Share your answers to any or all of these questions in comments to this post by midnight EST on Thursday, April 12, 2007. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and grant the winner a Bookwish* as well as a surprise. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A Bookwish is any book by any author of your choice, provided that 1) the book is currently available for order from an online bookseller and 2) the book is priced up to a maximum of $25.00 US dollars. I will throw in whatever shipping costs are involved for free.