Making Wishes

[EDIT: Thanks for all the wonderful guesses. This was a lot of fun for me and hopefully some fun for you! Sorry it has taken me so long to post the winners but yesterday was extremely busy in New York. So, officially, I am 33 years old. The first three people to guess officially guess that age were Hannah, Cylver, and Midnight Princess. Email me your name and shipping address to Jocelynn DOT drake AT gmail DOT com to claim your prize.]


My monthly blog posting has managed to sneak up on me amid revisions to the sixth book in the Dark Days series and preparations for my trip to the New York Comic Con. I find myself struggling for a topic so I'm going to divulge a dark secret. Something that I have generally guarded closely from all but my closest of friends and family.

Today is my birthday. Yep, I unwittingly chose the seventh of every month to write my blog post for Supernatural Underground simply because it seemed rare for me to be traveling at that time. For some reason, all conferences and out-of-town appointments tended to fall in the middle or the end of the month. It honestly didn't occur to me that I had chosen the date of my birth to be one of my blog entries.

So, today I'm going to talk about birthday wishes. These are something that I take very seriously. Every year for as long as I can remember, my mother has baked me a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. My family gathers around and sings "Happy Birthday" as badly as possible. And trust me, they are getting really good at being really bad. And then I make a wish before blowing out the growing numbers of candles.

I look back and I remember that there were some years that I simply wished to be happy, but then those were some dark years. However, most the time, it was the same wish over and over again -- I wished to be published. Writing has been my heart and soul for so much of my life that I wished on candles, shooting stars, and pennies in a fountain that my words would one day be read by others. That's not to say that I didn't also work my butt off to also make it happen, but I like to think that all that hard wishing also helped to add a special magical aspect to it all.

Now that I've accomplished that mean feat, I have to come up with a new wish. I think I've got one, but I obviously can't share it or it may never happen. However, I will share with you an impossible wish that I have. I wish I could sit down and have a long dinner with my main characters Mira and Danaus. (Perferrably when they are both in a good mood and not fighting with each other.) Both creatures are not only something other than human, but also centuries old. I would love to hear from their mouths their thoughts on the world, humanity, and the struggles they've been through, including the people they have loved and lost. I want to hear about their dreams and fears. And for reason, something in me yearns to actually hear their laughter and see them in person as they gaze across the table at each other as they share a private joke. In them are deep layers of love and loss and desperation and hope. I only wish I could see it in person, because I think it would truly be a beautiful thing.

It may be my birthday, but I am happy to to give away the gifts. The first person to guess my correct age as of October 7, 2010 will receive a signed copy of Pray for Dawn and Wait for Dusk. To be fair, I have included a picture of myself that was taken within the last year with minimal photoshopping involved. Leave an guess of my age and a name for the entry. I will announce the winner in this blog entry as soon as I see the right age pop up. I AM TRUSTING YOU TO MAKE AN ACTUAL GUESS AND NOT TRY RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET (AKA CHEATING). Good luck!

Genres in the Supernatural Underground (or “get into your box, woman!”)

About twenty minutes before writing this blog, I finished copyedits on my first adult novel (Graveminder). I say "adult"because it'll be pubbed via William Morrow, not HarperTeen. The definition of “adult” novel—much like the definition of “romance” or “mystery” or “fantasy” or “urban fantasy” etc etc—always fascinates me. We here at the Supernatural Underground skipped a lot of that classification confusion by declaring our texts “supernatural.” (Yes, that title was to be about the texts, not the authors, but seeing as how many of these fabulous folks keep their blinds closed during the day or have the preternatural ability to exist on liquid diets—is it really coffee in those mugs?—I won’t swear that these authors are all strictly human.)

Anyhow . . . I am now, in theory, the writer of a strictly adult novel. Some well-meaning sole overseas even wanted to add “a fantasy for adults” on the front cover. *laughs* No, it’s that sort of adult book.

At this point, when I am talking to people their logical next question is: “What is it?”

There’s the stumper. I don’t know what it is. In truth, I don’t know what any of these folks truly write. Jeaniene Frost is my crit partner, so that means I have the distinct pleasure of reading every novel, every short story, and every proposal she writes (Note: Should I ever need a flashy car, I’ll be opening the bidding for buying Frost spoilers; for now, I’m holding on to the joy of getting to be the first to read it and not having to share. I am selfish like that. Plus, she can be frightening when it comes to spoilers.) If you’d asked me a few years ago, I’d have said, “Jeaniene’s books are fantasy.” There are vampires, a half-vampire, a demon (in a short story), a werewolf (short story). Yes, fantasy.

Then there’s Vicki Pettersson. She has alt world, superheroes, comic store references. Clearly, I’m going to also call her books fantasy, too.

Yes, they are both writing fantasy. This seems clear, right?

. . . except Jeaniene is an Avon author. A-ha! She is a romance author. Yes, indeed. There is some seriously sexy stuff in here. *swoons* Mencheres is clearly worth some of that other sort of “fantasy for adults.” Ooh, and Vlad. Who doesn’t want a bite of that?

That must mean that Vicki, who is an Eos author clearly withholds on the sexy. No, wait. I’ve read Vicki’s books, and there are some blush-worthy scenes there too.

Hmph. What about Sophie Jordan? Her Firelight is pubbed by HarperTeen . . . that must mean it’s easier to classify—at least there I can say it’s a Book For Teens. That must mean not sexy or actiony or . . . *reads Firelight* Nope, that classification game fails too. It’s sexy, actiony, and well, I’m a card carrying adult, but I’m still swept away by the romance.

*looks around the Supernatural Underground suspiciously*

When I taught university, genres made more sense. There we used that word to distinguish between poetry, prose, and drama. That sort of definition made a lot more sense. You people are not making this easy.

Luckily, Terri Garey is a reasonable woman. I’ve met her and found her very rational. One could expect she’d be cooperative (unlike some authors). *reads Terri’s lovely books too* (Yes, I read very quickly. Just go with it.). . . Terri? You’re shattering my illusions. There’s clearly a mystery in this book.

Picks up Cindy Pon’s book . . . and now, historical too?

I fear we are at the point when my grand thesis, the one in which I figure out how to classify the books of the Supernatural Underground, is not going to happen. These folks are not cooperating in attempts to be boxed up.

Of course, the beauty of this is that I can now answer my own question about “What is Graveminder?” I can say with certainty that it is a book by one of the chicks in the Supernatural Underground. I’m not exactly sure that’s what my publishers are looking for (especially in Germany where they are—as they have with Wicked Lovely—releasing it as an adult novel and an older teen novel), but it’s what I know. . . and if that doesn’t work, well, I think I’m within rights to blame Jeaniene, Vicki, Terri, and all the rest of these folks for refusing to be categorized. Right? If they won’t do it, why should I?

And since I’ve mercilessly used them for examples, I’m going to buy three of their books. It's safer this way. (I did mention that some of them were not-exactly-positively-human, right?)

THE SPECS:
Three winners. Three books. Winners chosen by random number generator. Winners Announced 11/6

TO ENTER:
1) In your reply to this post, tell me which Supernatural Underground author’s current book or upcoming book you want to read (or have read and loved) and why.

2) Pick Your Own Prize: List a CURRENT book by any one in the community (myself included). It can be the same book for both answers if it’s a current release OR you can list a want-to-read and a buy-this-already-released-book-for-me.

NOTE: If questions on any of the contest details, ask.

If you want to hunt me down, here are a few spots to look:

Melissa Marr
My Twitter Feed
Harper MicroSite (WARNING: Music!)
Carlsen Website (bc I sorta love my German publishers)

Inspiration

Edited: Random Number Generator has ordained that Number 9, Rachel445, is the winner of both The Exile graphic novel and Kadrey's newly released, KILL THE DEAD. Rachel445, contact me at vicki@vickipettersson.com with your snailmail addy and I'll send them to you directly. Congratulations!

I’m beginning again.

Again.

Meaning, I’m starting a new book. You might assume from the title of this post that I’m waiting for inspiration to strike so I can start churning out pages, but alas, it doesn’t work that way for me. I have to go out and seize inspiration around the neck if I want to get anything done, though that doesn’t mean I’m not inspired by a myriad of different images, ideas, headlines, conversations, faces, and dreams. I’m inspired by all those things, and collect them constantly so that I generally have a plethora of great mental toys to play with by the time I sit down to write.

But this is a blog for readers, not writers, so instead of emptying my writer’s toolbox out in front of you, I’m going to tell you about my greatest source of inspiration, and the one thing I turn to again and again when all other options fail me:

Other writers.

I read widely and voraciously, so when people ask me what my favorite books are, I generally shoot them a faux-shocked expression and explain, “Why on earth would I play favorites with *books*?” Ditto, when they ask me who are my favorite authors. I need a bit more help than that, like … can you narrow it down to just one genre?

So I figured that with a like-minded group reading here at SU, I’d clue you all in to two of my favorites* - who, not coincidentally, both have releases this month - and you guys could go out and buy their work in droves and they would find out that I am the reason for their spike in sales and I’d get to be the heroine to both writer and readers and everyone gets their HEA, amen.

Or, you know, you do your thing. I do mine. They do theirs. And the world-at-large is better for it.

The first author has been a favorite for years. A favorite *and* a mentor. Diana Gabaldon is the esteemed author of the OUTLANDER series, and I can honestly say I learned more from her about writing than from anyone else (via the Compuserve Writer’s Forum, which I frequented for about eight years prior to being published). Mostly I learned that I can’t *be* Diana Gabaldon … but she seems to have that role perfected so we can all rest easy there.

If you haven’t read OUTLANDER, if you’ve shied away from its sheer size or because it’s basically (but not all) historical fiction, you’re really missing out. Not only is it an epic adventure, but it’s an epic love story, and a tremendous account of what it means to be human in any era. If you could stick a fork in this work, it would stand up straight. It is dense with gorgeous prose, historical detail, multi-dimensional characters, and *heart.* I especially adore the subtext surrounding the ongoing love story of Jamie and Claire - not only what it means to be and fall in love, but about what it takes to sustain an adult love across years … across centuries.

I’m not alone. Sales of the OUTLANDER series are as strong as ever, and Gabaldon’s first graphic novel, THE EXILE, just debuted at #1. It’s a retelling of the first book in the series from a character those familiar with the series know and love, yet whose pov we’ve not yet been privy to. It expands Gabaldon’s already deep and rich universe in a delightful direction and it can be found here.

Okay, I mentioned that I’m an eclectic reader, right? Hold on tight as I take a hard left into dark fantasy…

The next man is a writer’s writer. In other words, I’ve not met a writer who has read his first book, SANDMAN SLIM, and walked away with anything but praise for Richard Kadrey. That book blew me away. I felt sucker punched by his prose - which can be both beautiful and violent in the same breath - and quickly began anticipating the surprises awaiting me on each successive page. (Only HARRY POTTER has every delighted me so much with its inventiveness.) Talk about fresh. Talk about raw. Talk about *truth.* It ain’t pretty, but he tells it, and he does so through a pure anti-hero, James Stark.

The thing is, as dark as his world is and as broken as Stark is, there’s something quietly hopeful about SANDMAN SLIM. Almost hopeful despite lack of hope, if that makes sense. You’ve got a man who can’t stop living and loving in spite of everything he’s been through, despite being a “monster.” (Even the angels call him an ‘abomination’ and though you can’t disagree … you can’t quite agree, either.) In any case, I’d want Stark on my side in any World War, which is essentially what you get in SANDMAN SLIM and today's release - which I’m reading now - KILL THE DEAD.

So just to put a pretty bow on this post, both of these writers inspire the hell out of me - inspire me again when I pick up their works and re-enter their worlds, even though I’ve read these books time and again. A book that delivers new depth on a re-read? That’s inspiring to me, and that’s what I strive for every time I sit down and start again. *Again.*

Commenters … let me know which writers or books you love - do they speak to you truthfully about life? Deliver a message you can take back with you into your world? Make you feel hopeful or less alone?

One winner will receive a copy each of THE EXILE and KILL THE DEAD. Contest opens now and ends at 12 pm EST tomorrow, October 6!

And for those who don’t win … well, you’re still winners. If you haven’t yet read OUTLANDER, Gabaldon’s publisher is giving it away for free on Kindle for a limited time. So hurry up, get your copy, and get inspired!

*Note: I did not write about the amazing authors on this blog, though there’s plenty here I find inspiring, because it would put me in the terrible position of having to pick just one. Not fun! So thank you for not making me do so!

Tricks, Treats, and Travel

ETA: Randomizer has spoken and the winner of an Arc of HAUNTED BY YOUR TOUCH is Melissa from Books & Things! Melissa's comment was: "Pathetically not doing too much. :P Hopefully reading an ARC. ;) (hey, it was worth a try lol). ~Melissa (Books and Things)"

Yes it was worth a try, because Randomizer chose you. Congrats! Please email me at frostlight1 AT yahoo DOT com with your full name and shipping address. To everyone else, thanks for playing, and hope all of you have a wonderful Halloween, whatever you're doing :).




This blog is going up late because I've had one of those days where every time I try to sit down and write, something comes up that needs my immediate attention. In my last post, I talked about how one of the things I love about October is the continual presence of horror movies on TV. Another thing I love is, of course, Halloween. Normally my husband and I spend All Hallow's Eve handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and watching - you guessed it! :) - horror movies. This year, we're doing something very different by celebrating Halloween weekend in New Orleans. I've got my gothic vampire costume all ready for the Memnoch Ressurection Ball hosted by the Vampire Lestat Fan Club, plus I intend to go on some haunted tours of the French Quarter, tour some of the famous cemeteries, and of course, eat beignets (it should be a crime to go to New Orleans without eating beignets, if you ask me). I can't wait. New Orleans has long been one of my favorite cities, and getting to visit there during one of my favorite holidays is a huge Travel Treat for me.

Things can't be all smiles all the time, sadly. Hearing case after case of censorship involving reading material in high schools has been pretty upsetting. I think most people agree that parents have the right to decide what their own children should or should not read. Parents who want to decide what everyone else's kids should or shouldn't read based on - often - no firsthand knowledge of the book itself (because they've never read it, or in some cases, the book hasn't even been written yet) however, is depressing. Making only strictly sanitized books available to teens under the pretext of "see no evil = speak no evil = no evil will ever happen to these kids!" just doesn't seem like a logical formula. I know evil happens even in "nice" areas, and even if it is never spoken of. Another author blogged about how her children attend a school where school shootings are purported to be nothing more than media-led myth. Columbine? Didn't happen according to many of these students. But sadly, pretending unpleasant things don't exist doesn't form a protective shield over anyone (if only it did). Censorship is a Trick, all right, and it's a nasty one played on students, teachers, and parents in areas where access to books or knowledge is restricted based on the uninformed opinions of a few instead of the knowledgeable consensus of many.

Back to more pleasant subjects. New Orleans isn't the only place I'll be traveling to this month. On Wednesday I leave for New York, where I'll be attending ComiCon. If you're in the New York city area and you're interested in meeting me, please check out my schedule . In addition to the panels and the signing, you'll also find me trying to score an autograph from Bruce give-me-some-sugar-baby! Campbell, and Diana Gabaldon, just to name a few. Lots of awesome people will be at ComiCon, so hope to see some of you there!

And I'll close this blog with a treat. Leave a comment telling me what you're planning to do this Halloween, and I'll enter you in a drawing for an Arc (advance reading copy) of the HAUNTED BY YOUR TOUCH anthology, releasing October 26th. My story in this anthology is set in a new world of demons, partial demons, and fallen angels. Shayla Black and Sharie Koehler also have wonderful paranormal stories in HAUNTED BY YOUR TOUCH. Winner will be chosen by Randomizer, and international entries are welcome. Be sure to leave your name, because it's hard to pick "anonymous" as a winner. Contest opens now and closes at 9:00am tomorrow EST. Hey, I'll be leaving soon, that's why the short deadline for entries. I'll edit this post to announce the winner tomorrow, so check back here. Good luck, everyone!

-Jeaniene

New Releases, New Covers, New Videos and Big Screen News from the Supernatural Underground!

***WINNER UPDATE*** Thanks so much for sharing in all our good news!  The winner of Juliana Stone's HIS DARKEST HUNGER is SPAV, and the winner of Kathryn Smith's LET THE NIGHT BEGIN is PATRICIA LYNNE!  You guys please send your mailing address to booksthatgobump@gmail.com, and your prizes will be in the mail!***

September just whooshed by and so much is happening with the authors here in the Underground that we decided to take a moment, take a deep breath, and relive the highlights of the last month or so.  (Not only will we relive them, we'll celebrate them by giving away some autographed books, so read on!)

First, September was a big month for new releases -- all new work by Kerrelyn Sparks, Helen Lowe, Janet Mullany, Merrie Destefano and Colleen Gleason:

We got to see some GORGEOUS new covers for upcoming releases from Tracey O'hara, Kimberly Derting, Melissa Marr, Tera Lyn Childs, Pamela Palmer, C.L. Wilson and Juliana Stone:

And we also found out that some of the authors in the Underground have received some FABULOUS news regarding film and TV!  Melissa Marr's WICKED LOVELY is being adapted for film by Universal Pictures (you can read all about it here, in the Hollywood Insider!).  She's also recently announced a new deal with HarperCollins for a brand new YA trilogy, coming in 2013.

Sophie Jordan is also thrilled to announce that the film rights for her debut YA novel, FIRELIGHT, have been purchased by Mandalay Pictures! 

The 9/16 episode of JEOPARDY! featured a question about Kerrelyn Sparks! The category was Bestsellers for $1200, and the Question: A vampire series by Kerrelyn Sparks is punningly titled "Love at" this. You can see it happen around the 5:42 marker at on this YouTube video!

And speaking of videos, we have three new, and very different ones for you this month! Nicole Murphy's SECRET ONES:



Janet Mullany's JANE AND THE DAMNED:



And Juliana Stone's HIS DARKEST EMBRACE:



(Don't forget, there are lots more book videos on our VIDEOS page!)

Going to be in NYC the first weekend in October? Then you might want to attend New York ComicCon on October 8th, 2010 where you can sit in on a panel discussion with Jeaniene Frost, Juliana Stone, Marjorie Liu, Pamela Palmer, Jocelynn Drake and Margaret Ronald, as they fight like cats and dogs over the appeal of feline vs. canine shapeshifters:

Panel Description: In the furball battle for supremacy, what shapeshifter is going to claw, bite, gnaw and scratch its way to the top of the pack? In recent novels by novelists such as Pamela Palmer and Juliana Stone, paranormal romance fans have gone absolutely feral over the emergence of cat shapeshifters…they purr, what’s sexier than a werepuma or wereleopard? Loping through the howling legions of the other side of the debate comes authors such as Jocelynn Drake, Marjorie M. Liu, and Margaret Ronald – who might argue that woman’s best friend is going to hound all the competition until they emerge triumphant. The argument may get catty; and the arguments over which breed of shapeshifter is sexier are going to be doggone good – so come and join the melee!

Panel Room 7 (1A22)
2-3 pm, followed by booksigning 4-6pm

WHEW! Did I forget anything? Oh, yeah... the book giveaways!! :-)

Leave us a comment and you'll be entered to win one of the following SIGNED BOOKS:

HIS DARKEST HUNGER by Juliana Stone (signed!), and

A signed copy of LET THE NIGHT BEGIN by Kathryn Smith.  Both winners will get a cool "I Read Books That Go Bump In the Night" button, and various assorted bookmarks from the authors here in the Supernatural Underground.

Got any good news to share?  Feel free to share it, or just leave a comment anyway.  :-)  Good luck!

"The Heir of Night" Giveaway Winners

The give set giveaway to celebrate publication of The Heir of Night has closed and the winners are:

1. For the 3 sets of The Heir of Night plus Robin Hobb’s Dragon Keeper and Dragon Haven duology (US and Canada posters only):

Melissa; Rachel 445; Moonsanity

2. For the 1 x set of The Heir of Night plus Thornspell: Teril
(Teril, you will have to email me as below, becasue yahoo has returned my email to you.)

3. For everyone (because you're special!) - 1 x signed "Helen Lowe" bookplate, designed by Peter Fitzpatrick, the artist who created The Wall of Night world map

If I do not already have your email, please get in touch with me through contact@helenlowe.info with your postal address. And thank you all for helping me celebrate—

But Wait There's More: the party doesn't end here! :-)

The Heir of Night is also being launched in Australia and New Zealand this Thursday 7 (that's Wednesday 6 USA & much of northern hemisphere time) under this awesome red cover and I will be partying on my Helen Lowe on Anything, Really blog, with even more celebratory giveaways:

— an extra special gift set of The Heir of Night (AU/NZ cover) plus:
Death Most Definite - Trent Jamieson; Feed - Mira Grant; Soulless - Gail Carriger; and Surface Detail - Iain M. Banks

— 3 x helen Lowe gift sets of The Heir of Night (AU/NZ cover) plus Thornspell;

— posters of the red and black AU/NZ Heir cover; AND

— go in the draw to give your name to a character in The Wall of Night, Book Two

Just comment on Helen Lowe on Anything, Really on Thursday 7 (or Wednesday 6) to join the fun & enter the draw!

Publication Day for "The Heir of Night"—And What A Month It’s Been!

Today, 1 October, is official publication day for The Heir of Night in the USA and Canada—WOOT!—but what a wild month it’s been to get here!

Worldcon-in-Black
On September 1, I was Helen-in-Black (plus 1 shirt in electric blue!) at Worldcon—and thank you all for posting with your support for the all-black wardrobe choice. You gave me confidence as I sallied forth amongst the litterati-glitterati of the F-SF (Fantasy-Scifi) world. And some extra confidence was needed because I had just read Gail Carriger’s admonition not to “be a slob” and been overcome by WAS: Wardrobe Anxiety Syndrome. I got through it though, with your awesome Supe support: and here’s a snap of me doing my “in-black” thing—with Thornspell at my Worldcon reading.

Speaking of awesome Supes—and they are!—I also met up with fellow Supernatural Underground authors Tracey O’Hara, Nicole Murphy and Carrie Vaughn during Worldcon. It was just fantastic to meet in person at last, when interaction had all been email and internet up until then. I’m all for internet and email, they’re a marvelous way of bridging the world, but there is nothing quite like sitting down with a friend and having a cup of coffee (or something stronger: ok, we’ve been rumbled!) in realtime space.

Earthquake Aftermath
Then it was back home to Christchurch New Zealand to the aftermath of the 7.1 earthquake that shook the city at 4.35 a.m. in the early morning of September 4. Firstly, I should say right up front that no one died; no one was even seriously injured, so a great deal to be thankful for, most particularly having earthquake building codes and applying ’em. But still, a crazy three weeks with over 1275 recorded afterquakes since the original—and in answer to the question: “did the earth move for you, baby?”, I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say, “14 times yesterday!” And averaging around 12-14 still, every day: Wild!

The Race to Publication
The earth may shake, but the race to publication day for The Heir of Night in the USA and Canada has been wilder still. So much has been happening: blog interviews, and guest blog posts, and those nail-chewin’ moments when you know the first reviews are in but you haven’t read them yet—a bit like getting exam results: you know the vital answer’s “there”, but can’t quite open the envelope! Well the envelope’s been opened now and—again with the Woot!--the result looks good! Library Journal has even been kind enough to say that The Heir of Night: “… reinvigorates the epic fantasy with appealing characters and a richly detailed world." (Thank you, Library Journal!)

One of the very best moments, though, was when I received my first author copies of Heir—and not only held it in my hands, but could really see how wonderful the blue Greg Bridges cover looks up close, smell the new paper scent of the pages, and run a fingertip over the beautifully embossed text of my title: The Heir of Night …

And Party Like There’s No Tomorrow—
… And then I had the best blog party ever to celebrate the book actually being On Sale on 9/28, with official Publication Day TODAY! Over 440 people came—I know some of you did, too and it was awesome to see you there! You can still check out the party here and read my summary of some of the comments guests left here.

With Giveaways: Ta da-dum!
To keep The Heir of Night party spirit going, my editor, the mighty Kate Nintzel of Eos, has 3 sets of giveaway books for you: 1 x The Heir of Night (of course!) plus 1 each of Robin Hobb’s dragon duology: Dragon Keeper and Dragon Haven (because Robin did such a wonderful cover quote for Heir!):

"A richly told tale of strange magic, dark treachery, and conflicting loyalties, set in a well-realized world"— Robin Hobb

Because these giveways can only be for USA/Canada posters, I personally have an additional gift set of The Heir of Night plus my YA novel, Thornspell, for international posters, plus

For everyone, up to 20 of my personal bookplates (1 each per person), designed by Peter Fitzpatrick, the artist who created The Heir of Night map, and signed by me. Just because today is a really special day for me and I really do want to share the happiness!

To join in the fun and be eligible for the giveaways just add a comment to this post. But if you like—and I would love it if you did—tell us about a day or event that was really special for you, and/or how you celebrate when something fantastic happens in your life.

As always, you can earn points (i.e. the number of times your name goes into the draw) by:

+1 Posting in the comments section
+1 Linking to this post on Twitter
+1 Linking to this post on Facebook
+1 Linking to the Supernatural Underground blog or my Helen Lowe on Anything Really on your own blog/website
+ 1 for commenting on Helen Lowe on Anything, Really while this giveaway competition is running.

Just post the total number of points that you’ve earned in your comment.

Eligibility will close at midnight, US EST today, 1 October. (Do remember to check back after, or to post your email with your comment so that I can get in touch.)