Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts

Sunday, March 1, 2015

The "Immortalization In Fiction" Contest -- We Have A Result! Plus More Getting Fictional!

Victory Beach from "Bird of Passage"
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w00t! Over the past two months I've featured a short story, Bird of Passage -- together with an opportunity for commenters to see their name immortalized in fiction.

That is, the winner's name will be used for a character in a future short story to be featured here on the Supernatural Underground during 2015 --because this, as discussed on my own blog today, is my Year Of Living Fictionally!

Because we experienced technical difficulties (for a while, they're all fixed now) with comments here on the Supernatural Underground, last month I also allowed eligible comments to be left on the link post on my own blog. But now, drawing on comments left here, on my January and February posts, as well as on the link post, today we have a result (drawn randomly via Random.org).

Drum Roll! The commenter whose name will be awarded to a fictional character in a short story featured here (or on my own blog if preferred) is:

Pegasus 358 / Beth

Congratulations, Beth. I am looking forward to seeing your name in print!

(I should have your email via your comment, but if not, email me on contact[at]helenlowe[dot]info to discuss "where to from here.")

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More On Getting Fictional

Although the number of comments suggest a certain degree of shyness regarding living fictionally yourselves :-), I've  been really pleased to see how many of you have taken the time to read Bird of Passage over the past two months.

You might also enjoy:

Cold Cass (flash fiction)

The Spit (realism)

The Brother King (legendary history)

Red Earth (eco-SF/future dystopia)

And for those who're fans of the Wall Of Night series, I posted a wee snippet from the edited manuscript last Thursday:

Another Sneak Preview For “Daughter Of Blood, The Wall Of Night Book Three”

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Supernatural Underground regular, Helen Lowe, is a novelist, poet and interviewer whose work has been published, broadcast and anthologized in internationally. Her first novel, Thornspell, was published to critical praise in 2008, and her second, The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night Series, Book One) won the Gemmell Morningstar Award 2012. The sequel, The Gathering Of The Lost, was shortlisted for the Gemmell Legend Award in 2013. Helen posts regularly on her Helen Lowe on Anything, Really blog, occasionally on SF Signal, and is also active on Twitter: @helenl0we

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Monday, October 7, 2013

A Halloween-Themed Birthday Giveaway

I love October.  October brings cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, Halloween costumes, and MY BIRTHDAY.  Yep, I'm officially another year old today and I'm giving away some presents to you.  That's a pretty good deal in my opinion. 

Help me celebrate my birthday by entering my giveaway!  What's up for grabs?  I am giving away a copy of ANGEL'S INK, the first novel in my Asylum Tales series about magical tattoos, warlocks, elves, trolls, werewolves, and the grim reaper.  You can win either a Kindle or Nook copy of ANGEL'S INK or I can mail you a signed copy (US only for this contest).



BUYER BEWARE...

Looking for a tattoo -- and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of love, or even a hex on an ex?  Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town.  Using his unique potions -- a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks -- to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart's desire.  But in a place like Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires happily walk among humanity, everything has a price.

No one knows that better than Gage.  Turning his back on his own kind, he left the magical Ivory Towers where cruel witches and warlocks rule, a decision that cost him his right to practice magic.  If he disobeys, his punishment -- execution -- will be swift.
 
Though he's tried to fly under the radar, Gage can't hide from powerful warlocks who want him dead -- or the secrets of his own past.  But with the help of his friends, Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx, Gage just might make it through this enchanted world alive. 
 
 
To add to the fun, I am also giving away 3 copies of the Halloween-themed anthology BLOOD BY MOONLIGHT.  You can win a Kindle, Nook, or print copy (US only contest).
 
 
Blood by Moonlight

Just in time for the scariest season of all, three popular paranormal authors come together to tell original tales of romance where anything can happen under a Halloween moon . . .
 
Tempers flare and passions rise in Jocelynn Drake's Of Monsters and Men as the local werewolf pack clashes with the Winter Court's Wild Hunt . . .
 
In Terri Garey's The Ghoul Next Door, a witch and a warlock battle it out for possession of a haunted house, but the ghost may have her own agenda . . .
 
And, in Trick or Treathen by Caris Roane, a master vampire struggles to stay away from the mortal woman who enflames his very soul.
 
I will pick and announce the winners on Thursday, October 10.  What do you have to do to win one of these awesome books?  Leave me a comment telling me: If you could dress up as anything or anyone for Halloween, what would your costume be?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

To Hell and Back...

All right thanks for all your comments and now I have some new reads to add to my TBR pile!  The winner of her choice of either WRONG SIDE OF HELL  or TO HELL AND BACK (digital copy) is Tanya!



Happy Tuesday everyone!  The weather up here in Canuck land is cold, wet and well cold. Grrrrrrr, I'm not happy that the summer is over, we're well into fall and that winter is on the horizon. BUT, luckily for you I have something to heat things up!

On October 30th, the second novella in my LEAGUE OF GUARDIANS series, TO HELL AND BACK, releases and things are definitely hot for my hellhound, Logan Winters.  This second novella continues Logan and Kira's story, first started in WRONG SIDE OF HELL, and yes, you need to read the first one in order to know what is going on in this second one.

A quick recap:

With battle lines drawn and evil forces gathering in the shadows, the league of guardians is all that stands between chaos and the human realm...

Logan Winters, an elite hellhound shifter, wants to forget his allegiance to the League and the pain he's suffered because of it. But when he's ordered to retrieve Kira Dove from purgatory and bring her back to life, he can't refuse. Not only will her death affect the balance between the realms, she's also linked to a past he can't forget.


Kira Dove, a young woman murdered before her time, wanders the gray realm, alone and vulnerable. The one bright spot in her life is the memory of a mysterious protector who saved her once before. As she makes her way through this terrifying place, she can't help but wonder...will he come for her again?


As Logan races to save her, he knows he faces a nearly impossible task: How can a hellhound survive in the one place he shouldn't ever be? The wrong side of hell...


And now it continues... 

 Logan and Kira’s epic love story, first seen in Wrong Side of Hell, continues…

All Logan Winters wants is to be left alone with the woman he loves. But fate isn’t on his side and the demon Lilith isn’t to be trifled with. She wants to know the secrets he will never give up and he’ll do anything to make sure they stay hidden.


On the run, with a secret of her own to keep and protect, Kira Dove must do whatever it takes to survive. But Kira and Logan soon discover that the path to salvation is littered with treachery, and they’ll each have to journey to hell and back to make sure their love survives the oncoming storm…

To celebrate my upcoming release, I'll award one winner you choice of either WRONG SIDE OF HELL or TO HELL AND BACK, (digital copy)

In order to win you must leave a comment below and tell me what book is your most anticipated read in the next few months!  I need some new recommends, so have at it!
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Please note you can read an exclusive excerpt of TO HELL AND BACK by clicking on the title!  As well, I've been posting a free online read at my website.  THREE YEARS DEAD is a superhero, urban fantasy and you can catch up HERE.

And, if any of you readers enjoy contemporary romance as well, I've a new release, a hockey romance with a heroine who is the hot shot hockey player!  OFFSIDE is a total blast and you can read an excerpt by clicking on the title!

Also, tomorrow, stay tuned as we've got a massive contest running here at the Supernatural Underground.  Over 22 books will be awarded featuring all of your favorite authors including, Pamela Palmer, myself, Jeaniene Frost, Terri Garey, Merrie Destefano, Joss Ware, Sable Grace and so many more!  Make sure to check back! 

All right, a bit of a long winded post, but there is a lot of good stuff here and remember to check back tomorrow for the big contest here!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble

Can the right tattoo help you get your dream job?  Can the right tattoo bring you love?  Can the right tattoo bring you good luck, fame, or revenge?

In Low Town, it can.  Stop by Asylum Tattoo and Potion Parlor and schedule an appointment with Gage, Trixie, or Bronx.  A quick potion and a little ink, and you can be one step closer to your dreams.

**DISCLAIMER: Asylum does not guarantee the results of any potion placed in a tattoo.  The tattoo artist cannot be held responsible for any negative or unexpected potion reactions if the client fails to inform the artist of any prior potions that may have been used.  Humans under the age of 18 and elves under the age of 50 cannot be tattooed without the presence and signed approval of a legal guardian.  All tattoo artists have been tested and licensed through the Tattoo Artists and Potion Stirrers Society (TAPSS).  Management retains the right to deny any customer service and can throw your ass out the door if you're a crybaby in the chair**

Asylum is owned and operated by Gage Powell.  While Gage has established himself as one of the top tattoo artists in Low Town and in the industry, he's got a secret that he's struggling to keep a lid on.  You see, Gage is a former warlock-in-training.  And while it might sound like fun having magic at your fingertips, Gage is praying the people of Low Town don't find out.  Witches and warlocks are widely hated among the people of the world and Gage is hoping not to be hunted down for something that is little more than an accident of birth.

With help from his friends and coworkers Bronx and Trixie, Gage reveals his highly developed skill at getting into trouble.  Want proof?

The Asylum Interviews: Bronx -- Tattooing an incubus has unexpected consequences that could spell disaster for the inhabitants of Low Town.  Now available as an e-book for only $1.99.
Kindle  Nook  Kobo  iBookstore

The Asylum Interviews: Trixie -- Gage takes on a master vampire when he tries to help his ex-girlfried, but things don't work out quite how he hoped.  Now available as an e-book for only $1.99.
Kindle  Nook  Kobo  iBookstore

Angel's Ink -- Fulfilling a dying girl's wish leads to bigger problems as Gage tries to dodge a pissed off warlock, the Low Town mafia, and elves trying to kidnap Trixie.  Available October 16 as a trade paperback, e-book, and audiobook..
Amazon  Barnes & Noble  iBookstore  Book Depository

Blood by Moonlight (anthology) -- Gage and Trixie try to protect the local werewolf pack when the Winter Court roll into town for All Hallows Eve.  Available on October 23 as an e-book for $1.99.
Kindle  Nook  iBookstore

Well, I've done my part in giving you enough to read to last for a week or two, right?  Let me add one last thing.  A contest.  Please use the button below to enter my giveaway on Goodreads.  I will be giving away 5 signed copies of Angel's Ink at the end of the month.  The contest is open to U.S., Canada, and U.K.



 
 


    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 



   

        Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
   


   

     


          Angel's Ink
     


     


          by Jocelynn Drake
     



     

         
            Giveaway ends October 26, 2012.
         

         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         

     

   

   


      Enter to win


Happy Reading!

Bio:
Love comes in many varied forms.  There is the love of family, love of country, and love of chocolate.  But for Jocelynn Drake, one truly treasured love is the love of a good story.  This Midwestern native spends the majority of her time lost in the strong embrace of a good book.  When she’s not hammering away at her keyboard, frowning at her monitor, or curled up with a book, she can usually be found cuddling with her cat Demona, walking her dog Max, or flinging curses at the TV while playing a video game.  Outside of books, cats, and video games, she is completely enamored of Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, fast cars, and Anthony Bourdain (but only when he’s feeling really cranky).  Jocelynn created the Dark Days series and is now hard at work on the Asylum Tales series.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

League of Guardians Giveaway--FIND THE BEAVER

All right, thanks to everyone who entered and emailed your findings to my website.  The cute lil beaver was hiding on the extras page. He was busy reading my free online urban fantasy, Three Years Dead!  Victoria Sloboda is the lucky winner--her choice of one of my League books! I've emailed her and thanks for playing along everybody!


Hello all my lovelies!  It's Sunday and I don't know about you all but I've not had enough coffee yet.  I've been a busy little beaver lately,(teehee) working on several different projects, but I am uber excited about a few things.

First off, next month the second novella in my League of Guardians series, TO HELL AND BACK, releases  on October 30th. It continues the story of Logan and Kira, which began in the first novella, WRONG SIDE OF HELL.

If you've not read Wrong Side as of yet, here is the blurb! (by clicking on the title above, you can read an excerpt!)



With battle lines drawn and evil forces gathering in the shadows, the League of Guardians is all that stands between chaos and the human realm…
Logan Winters, an elite hellhound shifter, wants to forget his allegiance to the League and the pain he’s suffered because of it. But when he’s ordered to retrieve Kira Dove from purgatory and bring her back to life, he can’t refuse. Not only will her death affect the balance between the realms, she’s also linked to a past he can’t forget.

Kira Dove, a young woman murdered before her time, wanders the gray realm, alone and vulnerable. The one bright spot in her life is the memory of a mysterious protector who saved her once before. As she makes her way through this terrifying place, she can’t help but wonder…will he come for her again?

As Logan races to save her, he knows he faces a nearly impossible task: How can a hellhound survive in the one place he shouldn’t ever be? The wrong side of hell…



Damn, I loved writing this couple and couldn't wait to continue their story!

(again, by clicking the title at the beginning of the post you can read an excerpt!)



Logan and Kira’s epic love story, first seen in Wrong Side of Hell, continues…

All Logan Winters wants is to be left alone with the woman he loves. But fate isn’t on his side and the demon Lilith isn’t to be trifled with. She wants to know the secrets he will never give up and he’ll do anything to make sure they stay hidden.

 On the run, with a secret of her own to keep and protect, Kira Dove must do whatever it takes to survive. But Kira and Logan soon discover that the path to salvation is littered with treachery, and they’ll each have to journey to hell and back to make sure their love survives the oncoming storm…



To celebrate the upcoming release of not only To Hell and Back, but also the next full length novel in this series, KING OF THE DAMNED,  I will award one lucky winner an ebook in your choice of either, WRONG SIDE OF HELL, WICKED ROAD TO HELL, TO HELL AND BACK, or, KING OF THE DAMNED.



All you have to do to win is find the BEAVER (those who know me well know how much I love chatting about BEAVERS) on my website www.julianastone.com and email me the location at my website!  juliana@julianastone.com

I'll let this contest run for a week and announce a winner next Sunday!

EASY!  Have fun and spread the word!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Beginnings & Ends

I admit it. I'm one of those people who couldn't wait for the last Harry Potter movie, and yet, the second it was over, I was sobbing, wishing I'd waited a little while longer to see it so that I still had that "final" experience to look forward to. I was thrilled to read the final book and devoured every word of it, but the movie. . .well it was the last Harry Potter related thing to look forward to, and my daughter and I grieved together. Lord of the Rings didn't make me cry (much) but I had the same feeling of glee, then regret, after it watching. The finale of Friends? Yep.

This month I'm facing a similar finale as Kyana and Ryker's story comes to an end with the release of Chosen. It was pretty cool, closing their story after three books, but watching them hit stores for their finale on the 28th is going be a little sad, too! Even though it's fulfilling to watch their story complete, and it's exciting to be back into a new world, pounding away at the keys, there's a part of me that doesn't want to let them go.

So to make me feel better, I'm going to give away a signed copy! Post a comment and let me know what, if any, series, book, television show, movies, whatever, that you've loved and were saddened to see go. I'll pick a winner tomorrow (16th) and you can choose which book in Kyana's series you'd like sent to you. It's that easy.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Sable

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The "I'm Moving" Contest

Summer is slowly wasting away.  The days aren't quite as long as they used to be and the worst of the blistering heat has faded.  I've handed in the revised version of the second book in the Asylum Tales and I've started to turn my attention toward other projects.

But before I can settled behind my desk again, I've got to pack it all up.  Yes, I am moving from my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.  My darling Other Half and I are headed north to Wisconsin.  We will be headed up there at the end of the month (assuming that I can find a place to live).

The moving process means that I will be packing up the contents of my house.  While I was sorting through my boxes in the library/armory, I discovered that I have THREE boxes of my books for the Dark Days series.  Most are either book five (WAIT FOR DUSK) and book six (BURN THE NIGHT), but I have a handful of books 2-4.

The fact is, I don't want to want to move all those boxes of books.  I've already got lots of books that are written by other amazing authors that I want to take north.  Should I take my own?  Nah.  I think I should give them to you.  Would you like a signed book?  Cool!  I can help with that.

Here's what I need you to do.  Leave me a comment on this blog with your name and which book you would like.

You can choose from:

Dayhunter (book 2)
Dawnbreaker (book 3)
Pray for Dawn (book 4)
Wait for Dusk (book 5)
Burn the Night (book 6)

(sorry, I am all out of copies of Nightwalker -- book1)

Rules:
Leave a comment before midnight on Friday, August  10.
Please, U.S. residents only.  (I will have an international contest later this month)
I will choose 10 winners using a random number generator.
Come back on Saturday to find out if you won.

Also, you want to help me out some more.  I will happily accept any moving advice that you can give.  I've moved across town, but never a long distance with a dog and two cats.  Have you moved a far distance?  Have you moved with animals?  Got any advice for me?  Leave me a little advice.  Thanks for your help.       

Friday, June 15, 2012

TGIF!

Contest closed. Congrats SandyG265! Email us at sablegrace@ymail.com with shipping info and the title of the book you want sent!

I guess today that could mean the usual Thank God it's Friday! or maybe we can change it up a little and make it TGFF! Thank God for Fathers!

How is everyone celebrating Father's Day this year? As for me, I'll be making some JD cupcakes for my dad. Look yummy don't they?
Of course, I'll be celebrating it for the father of my own kids too, but that goes without saying. And if I knew what the heck I was doing for him, I'd post that here, too. But, alas, I don't. So I'm coming to you for ideas. How do you make your significant other feel special on Father's Day?? Ideas please! Comment below and I'll pick a winner tomorrow for a signed copy of your choice, Ascension (book 1 of the Dark Breed series) or Bedeviled (book 2). I'll even throw in a signed cover flat of book 3, Chosen!
Happy Father's Day!
Heather/Sable

Thursday, February 9, 2012

WRONG SIDE OF HELL CONTEST

Well, it's that time folks!  Time to celebrate my shiny, brand new up coming series, LEAGUE OF GUARDIANS and the release of the prequel novella, WRONG SIDE OF HELL!!! (click on the title to read the entire first chapter!)

I've been anticipating this for weeks and weeks now, LOL and in 3 1/2 weeks, on March 6th you guys can read Logan and Kira's book!



With battle lines drawn and evil forces gathering in the shadows, the League of Guardians is all that stands between chaos and the human realm…
Logan Winters, an elite hellhound shifter, wants to forget his allegiance to the League and the pain he’s suffered because of it. But when he’s ordered to retrieve Kira Dove from purgatory and bring her back to life, he can’t refuse. Not only will her death affect the balance between the realms, she’s also linked to a past he can’t forget.

Kira Dove, a young woman murdered before her time, wanders the gray realm, alone and vulnerable. The one bright spot in her life is the memory of a mysterious protector who saved her once before. As she makes her way through this terrifying place, she can’t help but wonder…will he come for her again?

As Logan races to save her, he knows he faces a nearly impossible task: How can a hellhound survive in the one place he shouldn’t ever be? The wrong side of hell…

And read on for a small bonus excerpt!

   Her hair was a mess of tangles, her eyes large, luminous balls of black oil. Her mouth parted and he saw the tip of her tongue. She took a step toward him, unsure, her tongue now moistening her lips as she bit down.
For a second he imagined that tongue wet and glistening, gliding across something else. Logan exhaled harshly, banishing the image from his mind just as quick. What the hell was wrong with him?
“That was . . .” She ran shaking hands through the tangles at her neck. “That was incredible. You’re incredible. I’ve never . . .”
“Christ. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that line, I’d be a fucking millionaire.” The result was worth it.
Her lips pinched briefly, and the fire he needed to see in her eyes returned. Considering what lay ahead, she sure as hell was going to need it.
Kira rested her hands on her hips and the tongue that had been teasing him disappeared, which, if he was to be honest, was disappointing.
“You may be an incredible . . . dog or whatever the hell you--”
“Wrong.”
“What?”
“A dog is a pet.”
“And?” Her brow was arched as she took a step closer.
“I’m no pet.”
“So what are you, then? A big-ass fur ball with fangs?” She was pissed now.
Logan’s eyes glowed red as he leaned down until only a whisper separated his mouth from hers. “I’m like nothing you’ve ever met before, lady.”

All right!  So I've been running this contest over at my blog and it will end midnight, MARCH 5th!  Here are the details and they are EASY!

1st Prize 25$ Gift card from Amazon
2nd Prize, A signed copy of Wicked Road to Hell, the first full length book in this series which releases April 24th!

Here's how to enter!

1. Sign up for my newsletter if you haven't already and email me at my website so that I know you did and can get you entered.  You can find my email address HERE

2. Double your chances by following me on Twitter and/or Facebook. Again, email me at my website so I can make sure you're entered.  

3. TRIPLE your chances by pre-ordering WRONG SIDE OF HELL and sending your proof of preorder to me at my website. (the link is above).

Bonus, points for posting my cover and blurb all over the place and linking it back to this blog post!

Wrong Side of Hell is only 1.99 at the following sites!

Please note, that the pre-order is for ebook only, as this is an ebook original with print coming several weeks later!

All right! Spread the word lovlies and good luck!



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Books for Christmas: A Celebration of Story

Giveaway Winners!

And  the draw winners are:

  •  SandyG265 ~ 'The Heir of Night'
  • Llehn ~ 'Thornspell'
  • JacquiR ~ JAAM 26
Congratulations to the winners and my thanks to everyone who commented---remember to stay posted for the 'Grand Supernatural Underground Draw' on the 30th. And of course I'll be back on the 1st for my regular slot and with something I hope you'll agree is special ...

Book recipients---please contact me on contact[at]helenlowe[dot]info so I can arrange to send you your 'loot'. :)
.
 ---
As a writer, it’s perhaps not surprising that books form one of the major landmarks of my Christmases past—not least, I suspect, because the gift of a book was always ‘sure to please’ me on the gift front. So I thought I’d share some of the brightest of those Christmas book memories today.

One of the earliest and most enduringly successful of those book gifts—possibly because it has always spoken to both the poet and prose writer in me, as well as to the lover of gorgeous illustrations—was Twas the Night Before Christmas (believed to be the work of Clement Clarke Moore, 1779-1863):

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse …”


I have always loved the story this book tells, and the way it captures the anticipation and enchantment of Christmas Eve, a time when the young child feels as though the whole world is poised and waiting … for something magical to happen. And in Twas the Night Before Christmas it does!

I was 10 when I received the second of those very influential Christmas books—Roger Lancelyn Green’s Tales of Troy and Greece. (I suspect my book is a compilation from two publications: The Tales of Troy and Tales of the Greek Heroes, both first published in 1958.) I was already an enthusiast for both Greek and Norse myths and legends, but there was something particularly real and compelling in Green’s retelling, and all his characters came alive for me on the page. I have read many versions of those same stories, and many other classical works and reworkings since then. But I still feel that Tales of Troy and Greece was the signpost that set me firmly on the path to short stories such as The Brother King and Ithaca, and to poems like my Ithaca Conversations sequence, as well as establishing the strong mytho-heroic influences on my novels, Thornspell and The Heir of Night.

My father died when I was twenty two, and money and good cheer were both in short supply on the Christmas following his death. But we still came together as a family and my mother gave each of us a book, a trade paperback from the stationers near her work. My gift was Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon—and I loved it. Although I was subsequently to read a huge number of retellings of the Arthurian legends (too many in fact!) The Mists of Avalon was the very first such retelling I encountered and I was enthralled by its interweaving of Celtic myth and real history, and the combination of politics and battles and magic, romantic and sexual relationships—but most of all that the entire story was told from the perspective of the women in the Arthurian cycle. That was definitely a first for me in my Fantasy reading and one I liked, opening up the notion that women’s history and women’s voices in and through storytelling had something to say: something that mattered.

My mother, like my father, passed away too young. But they left me a legacy beyond price, one bound inextricably into my Christmas memories—the gift of books, and through the books, of the magic that is both story and storytelling. So it is no accident, or mere observance of convention, that The Heir of Night, the first book in my Wall of Night series, is dedicated to my parents. 

Giveaways Galore:

As part of this countdown to Christmas, each Supernatural Underground author who posts in the "Christmas Memories" series is doing a giveaway—and there’s also a Grand Supernatural Underground Giveaway at the end of the series, I believe to be drawn on 30 December. There’ll be a copy of The Heir of Night in that Grand Giveaway—plus in the soldiers' gift package—but I am also giving away a copy of both Thornspell and The Heir of Night today, the recipients to be drawn from commenters on this post.

Plus for those who already have both Thornspell and Heir (yes, Sharon, I’m looking at you! :) ) I’m adding in a copy of JAAM 26, which contains my short story Ithaca and two poems from the Ithaca Conversations sequence—amongst very many other fine stories and poems from other writers.

Just post a comment here, telling me about a “landmark” gift you've received (it doesn't have to be for Christmas), and be in to win.

Eligibility will close at midnight, US Eastern Standard Time, December 26th—I will then post the result here on the 27th so don’t forget to check back.

---

Supernatural Underground author Helen Lowe is a novelist, poet and interviewer. Her latest novel, The Heir of Night, the first of THE WALL OF NIGHT quartet, is published in the USA, UK, and internationally and won the Sir Julius Vogel Award 2011 for Best Novel. Her first novel, Thornspell, is published in the US by Knopf. Helen blogs every day on her Helen Lowe on Anything, Really site and on the first day of every month right here on the Supernatural Underground.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The 12 Days of Christmas: Retro Christmas

By Merrie Destefano

CONTEST WINNER INFO:
Thank you all for sharing your Christmas memories. I really enjoyed reading them all!
I used Ranom.org to select a winner and she is: CrystalGB.
Congratulations, Crystal! I'll be contacting you by e-mail to get your mailing address.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, Chanuka and New Year!!



I have to confess I love old things. It doesn’t matter whether they’re broken, battered or bruised, whether they’re from the 40s, 50s or 60s. Old is good. A piece of tattered lace, a vintage lamp, a sepia-toned photo—almost anything old-fashioned can capture my heart. Especially at Christmas time.

To most people an old-fashioned Christmas means hot cocoa and sugar cookies, Bing Crosby carols and a crackling fire. Nearly everyone has a Christmas memory of opening presents beneath a 7-foot evergreen tree that smells like heaven, while the landscape outside disappears beneath a blanket of fresh snow.

Not me.

The funny thing is I didn’t realize how different my Christmas memories were until I ran into them, head on. I was in a contemporary urban store—one of those trendy California shops that caters to a young, hip crowd—hunting for just the right gift for my twenty-something son, when I saw “it.”

Christmas personified: a spiky silver tree, as fake as they come, with maybe 12 branches total, all made of glittering tinsel. On the floor spun the magic color wheel, a spotlight that shined on the little tree, changing it from yellow to red to blue. And in between the primary colors flickered a million prismatic shades, melting into one another, tumbling over each other, each eager for a split-second moment to transform the world. Saffron changed to scarlet, vermilion to indigo, lavender to tangerine.

Like a deer in headlights, I froze. Lump in my throat. My eyes misting. Suddenly I was ten years old again, sitting on the floor of the apartment I shared with my mom and my sister, staring at our Christmas tree, mesmerized. Watching as the tree changed from emerald to aquamarine while all the other lights were turned down to a mere whisper. Outside an Illinois winter wind howled and icicles dripped from the eaves. Glassy stairways were treacherous and snow flurries spiraled through busy streets—an ever-changing paisley pattern of white on white.


But inside my living room was a drowsy, comforting heat, while in one corner stood all of the magic of Christmas: a tree that was never the same color longer than a heartbeat, surrounded by glittering packages filled with untold promise. Anything could be inside those boxes. A doll, a book, a sweater. A record, a hat, a necklace. The tree was a portal to another world, a land where colors danced and chased one another, where all the hopes and dreams of a year could be answered in an evening. In a moment.

In a fraction of a second, somewhere between amber and honey.

I was startled back to reality when I saw two teenagers staring at my tree, oohing and aaahing and giggling because it was so different. It was retro-chic. I think they liked it because it represented everything that Christmas wasn’t—this tree didn’t have prickly needles or sticky sap, it didn’t embody the fragrance of an evergreen forest at dusk.

What they didn’t realize—what very few people could realize—was what this “Charlie Brown” silver tinsel tree really did represent.

All the hopes and dreams of a ten-year-old girl’s Christmas.

Mine.

—————————————————


Do you have any Christmas memories that you’d like to share? Comment on mine, or share one of yours, and be entered to win signed copies of both AFTERLIFE and FEAST. Be sure to include your e-mail address in your comment. Giveaway ends midnight Dec. 22.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Halloween Cometh


CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED:
Congratulations to Jennifer Mathis!! You won a $25 Amazon gift certificate, plus a copy of FEAST. Yay and have a Happy Halloween!!

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ORIGINAL POST:
When I was a kid, Halloween was always my favorite holiday. Autumn came with brisk winds and falling leaves and carved pumpkins that lined everyone’s porches. Days grew shorter and shorter, as if soon it would be one continuous night. My neighborhood was filled with old, Victorian homes, tall houses with wrap-around porches and too many windows. It always seemed like some creepy person was watching me from behind the curtains, so that made trick-or-treating seem all the more dangerous.


For years, all of these elements stayed with me, through my teenage years and adulthood. Whenever Halloween approaches, my skin shivers and I expect something—insert sound of creaky old door opening here—unexpected, but slightly magical, to happen.


That was why I wrote FEAST: HARVEST OF DREAMS, and why I set it in a quiet mountain village, during Halloween. I wanted to share those emotions and expectations I had as a child. My main character, Ash—who is more than a little bit magical and possibly quite dangerous—even lives in a creepy, old Victorian house.

So, to celebrate the approach of one of my favorite holidays, I’m having a giveaway.

I’m going to give away a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of FEAST to one individual, hoping to make his or her Halloween really special this year.

Here are the rules and the points you can earn toward the prizes:

1. Comment below. Tell me what your favorite Halloween candy is. (Yum!) Also, include your e-mail address in your comment (so I can contact the winner.) Doing this will earn you five points and enter you in the contest.

2. To earn another five points, post a link and a comment about this giveaway on Twitter.

3. To earn yet another five points, post a link and a comment about this giveaway on Facebook.

4. And if you want to earn another five points, post a link and a comment about this giveaway on your blog.

The winner will be chosen and announced here on this blog next Thursday, October 20. (Yay!) That should give me time to get the winner his/her prizes in time for Halloween.

And thanks for entering!!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

let's talk about sex... and giveaway! =)

*a portrait of Silver Phoenix and Zhong Ye
from Fury of the Phoenix.

yes.

i've had sex on my mind a lot
lately, as i'm rough drafting my third
novel. it wasn't until i actually finished
writing Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix
that i realized how much sex played as a theme
in my series. in the Kingdom of Xia that i created,
girls, once they were of age (when their monthly
letting began), were immediately shown The Book
of Making
by their mothers, an illustrated tome
educating the girls on how to pleasure their future
husbands, and how best to get with child.

because this was their place in the world, to stay
within the inner quarters and make babies.

it's not much of a leap. this type of thinking
is part of many cultural histories, part of, perhaps
some cultures and thinking to this day.

so much of my stories are about how the girls
navigate this culture and these expectations of
them:

ai ling, my heroine, who runs away from home to
avoid a betrothal to a vile merchant in his fifties
looking for a third wife. she's terrified by the very
idea of being sequestered in the inner quarters for
the rest of her life, embroidering and minding children.
and throughout the two novels, sex is expected of
her, forced upon her, and used by her as a weapon.

silver phoenix, a handmaid to mei gui in the imperial
palace, given away at twelve years as a song girl
(prostitute) because she was a third daughter. she
yearns for children, and a family of her own.

mei gui, an imperial concubine, one of thousands
in the imperial palace. most never cross paths with
the emperor their entire lives, much less make it to
his bedchamber. her best hope of rising in status is
to bed the emperor, and bear a son for him.

each of them feel very differently about sex,
and each are strong and heroic in her own
ways in dealing with sexual expectations.

sex as a theme rose subconsciously for me in
these two novels. but i shouldn't be surprised,
as i've always been intrigued by the notion of
sex as something a woman can give or withhold.
be forced upon as a duty. to use (or not use)
to her advantage.

which is also why strong female leaders in history
fascinate me, such as Elizabeth I and Cleopatra,
how these women were portrayed and how they
portrayed themselves. and how sex always tied in.
Elizabeth I, refusing to take a husband to become
The Virgin Queen. Cleopatra, famous for her affairs
with both Julius Caesar then Mark Antony.

now, as i'm drafting my third novel, the theme of
sex crops up again in a very different way. my
heroine is a shape shifting serpent demon,
very well known in chinese folklore, similar to a
succubus. and i'm faced with an entirely new
set of rules and issues here. haha!

it's going to be interesting. 8)

giveaway:

if you want to read about the serpent demon
who makes an appearance in my debut, Silver
Phoenix, simply comment to enter. i'll give away
a paperback copy for every 38 individual entries.
contest is open to US mailing addresses only. i'll
announce winners in my september post. good luck!

cindypon.com
follow me on twitter!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Salute to True Blood

All right everyone! Sorry this is a day late. So without further ado, the winner of their choice of either Hunger, Embrace or the newest release, His Darkest Salvation, is Katie! Please email me at my website!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I am deep in deadline hell and coupled with the business that is summer I'm finding my time is getting more than a little stretched! As I'm sure most of you are!

For my post today I thought we'd have a little fun. If you're like moi, than you're happily settling in each Sunday night to watch True Blood. You've got your wine ready, your snacks and your girlfriends. The lights are lowered, the surround sound is on and the children have learned that mommy is not a nice person if A) they've hidden the remote and it's 8:59 and B)do not under any circumstance save for bodily harm, interrupt True Blood.

I love this show. I love everything about it. The characters. The setting. The writing. I've not read the books (I know....wtf?) and maybe that's why I'm loving it so much. It's all fresh and wonderful. From the simple yet sexy Jason, to Lafayette to Eric...to Alcide. I love them all.

But let's be honest here. True Blood has the sexiest men on television. Hands down. And amongst my girlfriends we have a healthy debate over who is the sexiest. so I thought we'd have a little pole here on the Underground. Shifter VS Vampire VS adorable human with hawt body.

Who do you think is the sexiest man on True Blood?

Eric?




Jason? (who let's face it, gets a lot of good lines)





Or Alcide?





I know who my fave is, so who's yours and why? I think I'll let a random commentator choose one of my Jaguar Warrior Books! sound cool? comment and you can win either, His Darkest Hunger, His Darkest Embrace or my latest release, His Darkest Salvation!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

HIs Darkest Salvation, the journey to get here.

Next Tuesday, His Darkest Salvation, the last book in my Jaguar Warriors trilogy releases and I have to be honest, this morning as I sat to compose this post I had a moment. A wow, I can't believe it moment! You see a few years ago if you'd have told me I'd be writing a series for a major New York publisher I would have thought you crazy.

Don't get me wrong. Storytelling has always been a part of my life whether in words or music, but to actually do it? Nah, I'd never thought I'd pursue it seriously. I mean, what was the point? Thousands of people submit written work every day and thousands get rejected. Did I actually think I'd be one of the ones that wasn't? I think that's the point really. How would I know if I didn't try.

So, when the time was right--the kids were in school full time and my life had settled somewhat--I decided to go for it. I'd been reading a lot of paranormal books, something that was new to me but that I'd really enjoyed. Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lynsay Sands...they'd all created worlds and characters that left me wanting more. That's when I decided if I was going to write a book, it needed to be paranormal romance.

I'd been lurking about online and knew that I'd need to come up with something fresh and I decided shifters were the way to go. Werewolves were already out there but I came across pictures and lore about Jaguars. Aztecs and Mayans oh my! I fell in love instantly.

His Darkest Hunger came to me with an opening scene. My hero--an assasin--about to take out his former lover and the woman he beleived betrayed him. That was it. One opening scene but it started the ball rolling and my Jaguar Warriors were born!

It's been a crazy ride. I've met so many awesome people and am eternally grateful that an agent and editor saw promise in my work.

And now His Darkest Salvtion is releasing, I have a new series starting next year. LIfe is Good!

In honour of my latest release I've got all sorts of good things happening, but first some info about the book!

You can read the first several chapters on line HERE before the book hits the shelves!

In a world on the brink of chaos, passion and vengeance collide …

After six months in hell, Julian Castille has returned to the world a changed man. No longer the calm, powerful CEO, but a shifter fully embraced by the blood of his clan. Julian has one goal: find the key to the portal that stands between the human realm and unprecedented darkness—and win back the pieces of his soul. The last thing he needs is a distraction like the beautiful, enigmatic Jaden DaCosta.

Three years ago, a forbidden night of passion left Jaden forever altered: mated to Julian Castille–bound to a man who despises her. But the temptation to trust this darker, more savage—and more captivating—Julian is overwhelming. And as they fight for their immortal souls, their insatiable desire for each other may prove their fatal undoing…





I've got an amazing contest that is running until next Monday, July 25th. A lot of great prizes each day! Click Here and enter to win!

I'm also doing a blog tour and prizes will be awarded, the deets are HERE

So, long winded post but I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who's helped me get to where I am! You all rock!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

New Release Round-Up and Giveaway

CONTEST WINNERS:
Thanks to everyone who participated in our New Release Round-Up and Giveaway! Here are the winners (drum roll, please...)

Tiffany Drew won Prize Package 1.

Paris won Prize Package 2.

Thanks again and I will be contacting the winners today.

Please note: If we are unable to contact either of these people, different winners will be selected at the end of three days.

ORIGINAL POST:
Summer is in full swing and it’s the perfect time to curl up in a lounge chair with a great book. So, we wanted to let you know about some of our new releases—fun stuff from authors Amanda Arista, Karina Cooper, Leah Cypess, Merrie Destefano, Jocelynn Drake and Nicole Murphy. Covers and descriptions of their newest books are below.

However, on top of that, all of us here at the Supernatural Underground wanted to say thank you for being such loyal blog followers. We really appreciate you! So, after you read through some of the amazing new books that HarperCollins published in the last month or so, check out our amazing SUPERNATURAL GIVEAWAY at the end of this blog post.

NEW RELEASES:


DIARIES OF AN URBAN PANTHER by Amanda Arista
Violet Jordan thought the fairy tales her mother wove were just a way to get Violet to sleep, not a way to prepare her for the apocalypse she is the key to preventing. When she becomes a midnight snack for werepanther Spencer Haverty, his infectious bite invokes the first element of her destiny. When Violet’s budding instincts allow her to save a boy’s life, she realizes this new gig may come with perks: a slimmer figure, the attention of a handsome Guardian, and insights into her future embedded in her mother’s stories. But as push comes to claws, can Violet make the fatal strike against the men threatening her new family, her new home and her first boyfriend in ages?



LURE OF THE WICKED by Karina Cooper
Naomi West was plucked from one prison and placed undercover in another: the gilded cage that is Timeless, New Seattle's premier spa and resort, where owner Phinneas Clarke—the most seductive man Naomi has ever met—may be hiding a killer. She's an agent of the Holy Order, trained to hunt the guilty and render justice. But while she's tracking down a rogue agent on a killing spree, Phin is determined to uncover her most damning—and dangerous—secrets. Whatever the cost.


NIGHTSPELL by Leah Cypess
DESCRIPTION: In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours.

Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone
else.

In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?


FEAST: HARVEST OF DREAMS by Merrie Destefano
Halloween is a bad time to return to the woods . . .

Madeline MacFaddin ("Mad Mac" to fans of her bestselling magical stories) spent blissful childhood summers in Ticonderoga Falls. And this is where she wants to be now that her adult life is falling apart. The dense surrounding forest holds many memories, some joyous, some tantalizingly only half-remembered. And she's always believed there was something living in these wooded hills.

But Maddie doesn't remember the dark parts—and knows nothing of the mountain legend that holds the area's terrified residents captive. She has no recollection of Ash, the strange and magnificent creature who once saved her life as a child, even though it is the destiny of his kind to prey upon humanity. And soon it will be the harvest . . . the time to feast.

Once again Maddie's dreams—and her soul—are in grave danger. But magic runs deep during harvest. Even a spinner of enchanted tales has wondrous powers of her own . . .


BURN THE NIGHT by Jocelynn Drake
DESCRIPTION: The Great Awakening approaches . . .
After eons in exile, the naturi have broken their chains and now roam the Earth bent on revenge. It is the sworn duty of Mira, the Fire Starter, to protect the nightwalker race—though even she may be powerless to withstand the horrific onslaught. As Mira and her brave lover, the vampire slayer Danaus, stand ready to do battle, thousands of winged shapeshifters darken the skies. The war of ultimate extermination has begun, and the battleground is Mira's home turf.

The humans don't yet recognize the doom descending upon them. And the nightwalkers will surely perish unless they unite with outcast naturi who claim to want peace. But these unexpected "allies" are the same demons who have long worked for Mira's destruction—and in these darkest of days the lines between friend and foe will blur treacherously before the bloody end of all things.


ROGUE GADDA by Nicole Murphy
Hampton Rourke has always lived under his father's shadow, and he's not convinced he's the right man to be leading the search for Asarlai and the Forbidden Texts. When the clues lead to Boston and he stumbles upon one of the fabled lost families, Hampton faces challenges that will test his faith in himself. Charlotte Haraldson has been taught to hate the bardria, so it stinks that the man of her dreams isn't just from Sclossin but is the most powerful of them all. Then she learns that everything she's been taught is lies and she has to find new meaning for her and the gadda. With Asarlai setting loose one of the most dangerous gadda who had ever lived and then gaining a powerful ally, the pressure builds to stop her and retrieve the texts before she can finalize her terrible plan and change the world forever.

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Remember when I said we had an amazing SUPERNATURAL CONTEST here today? Well, here it is. We’re giving away two prize packages, each containing at least 12 NEW BOOKS written by Supernatural Underground authors. (Is that fab, or what?) These are all the newest releases by the authors listed below. Take a look at the prize packages…

PRIZE PACKAGE ONE:

1. ASCENSION by Sable Grace
2. HUNGER UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer
3. HIS DARKEST HUNGER and HIS DARKEST EMBRACE: by Juliana Stone
4. FEAST by Merrie Destefano
5. BURN THE NIGHT by Jocelynn Drake
6. ARC of ENTHRALLED edited by Melissa Marr and Kelly Armstrong
7. SECRET ONES by Nicole Murphy
8. DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE and bookmarks by Terri Garey
9. VAMPIRE MINE by Kerrelyn Sparks
10. NIGHTSPELL by Leah Cypess
11. DIAMOND EYES by A.A. Bell
12. DEATH'S SWEET EMBRACE by Tracey O'Hara


PRIZE PACKAGE TWO:

1. HUNGER UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer
2. EMBRACE THE NIGHT ETERNAL and ABANDON THE NIGHT by Joss Ware
3. BLOOD OF THE WICKED by Karina Cooper
4. FEAST by Merrie Destefano
5. DIARIES OF AN URBAN PANTHER by Amanda Arista
6. GRAVEMINDER toe-tag from Melissa Marr
7. SECRET ONES by Nicole Murphy
8. NEON GRAVEYARD by Vicki Pettersson
9. VAMPIRE MINE by Kerrelyn Sparks
10. DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE and bookmarks by Terri Garey
11. ASCENSION by Sable Grace
12. DIAMOND EYES by A.A. Bell

I don’t know about you, but I would LOVE to have either one of those prize packages. The contest rules for these prizes is below and HAPPY READING to all of you!!

CONTEST RULES:

So here’s our question for you: How do you usually hear about the books you want to read? Do you read about them online or do you stumble upon them in the bookstore or does your best friend tell you about them? We’d love to hear what you have to say!

We’re going to give away Prize Package One to one reader and Prize Package Two to another reader, both of whom will be chosen through Random.org.

To enter to win, please post a comment below.

You can earn points by:

+1 Posting in the comments section
+1 Linking to this post on Twitter
+1 Linking to this post on Facebook
+1 Linking to this post on your own blog/website

NOTE: YOU MUST POST YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS CONTEST.

Post the total number of points that you’ve earned in your comment. Contest runs through midnight Friday, July 15. Winners will be announced in this post next Saturday, July 16. Please note that if we don’t hear from the winners within 3 days after the contest closes, we will select new winners.

And thank you all for following and reading our blog!!