Friday, March 07, 2008

 

Giving You ... St. Barts Breakdown

***Sticky Post! Scroll down for this week's good stuff!***


Barb, the lovely editor at Front Street Reviews, was surprised at how harsh I was about Don Bruns' St. Barts Breakdown, given how much I liked it.

I don't think I was harsh. I was trying to be balanced and fair.

What do you think? And, maybe more importantly, do you want a chance to see for yourself? I've got TWO copies of St. Barts Breakdown here -- but one is about to find a place on my shelf.

That means I've got a spare. And it can be yours, so you can read it and tell me if you think I was being too harsh on Michelle and Jordan (and maybe even leading man Mick Sever, even though I basically liked him).

You know the rules...
1. Head on over to Front Street Reviews and check out what I had to say about the rest of St. Barts Breakdown. (This part isn't mandatory, but it'd sure be nice. I spent a good week working on that review! That's six days longer than the average outtake!)

2. Leave me a comment here on this very post, telling me you want to read it.

3. BE SURE TO LEAVE CONTACT INFORMATION. A link to your blog, your e-mail, whatever. But I've got to have a way to tell you that you've won. Please, don't leave your phone number. I hate the phone and won't call.

4. On Saturday, March 8, I'll have The Opening Act (that'd be my kids, for you who don't hang around here -- and why not?) pick a number based on the number of entries.

5. This contest is open to everyone on Planet Earth. Yup, I'll ship around the world. If you've won in the past, so what? Enter again. You might win again, but I make no promises.

6. I will register this book at BookCrossing.com. I love watching my books travel the world. I love seeing what others think of them. That doesn't mean you're obligated to do a darn thing with BookCrossing, although if you're going to remove the lovely book plate I'll be putting inside, don't tell me. That denies me the chance to know what happens to a book that passed through my hands -- and anyone who comes after you to experience the fun of BookCrossing.

7. You've got until Friday night, March 7 to enter.

Good luck! And really, get your hands on this book. Danny Murtz is a trainwreck you don't want to miss out on.


As always, thanks to my promo crew for helping spread the word: Breeni, Laura Williams, Prizey, and a Book Blogger's Diary. Am I missing anyone? Please let me know!

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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

 

Susan's Book Talk: Surprises

I was feeling bad over the weekend for not doing a BAFAB contest this quarter. I didn't hear a lot of hype and hoopla about the event from its founder, so I'd figured it would be a quiet thing.

But then I started, as I said, to feel bad. I like giving away books, especially books that I really loved.

So I went to a BookCrossing companion site, Cliff's wishlist, and found people who were wishing for some of the books sitting here, waiting for a new home (or three). I double-checked them against another companion site (for security reasons, I'm not going to name it, as it's a place where you can list your address), and then I sent out three books. One went to a friend and the other two went to random BookCrossers.

Sadly, these weren't books I loved. In fact, one was a book I'd loathed. That takes some of the fun out of sharing a book you love, but maybe their opinion will differ and they'll love it and I'll at least be responsible for having someone fall in love with a book.

As if to tell me that my karma was already on the upswing for my generosity, I had a prize from J. Kaye Oldner waiting for me at the post office. J. Kaye's got a cool thing going at her place(s), so stop by and check 'em out. You, too, can win a book!

Oh, yeah. The prize was a doozy: a copy of Harlan Coben's The Woods. Large print, even, which is always nice on eyes fatigued from blog surfing, writing, and editing.

One last bit of book news before I sign off and turn my attention to this week's Thursday Thirteen (I'm open to topic ideas, folks!): Lucy, at a new site called BooksPrice.com contacted me and asked me to spread the word about what she's up to. I've been playing with it a little bit and it looks like it can be a valuable tool -- if you're interested in shopping the big chains. Granted, once you start adding indies, you're going to have thousands upon thousands of listings. But you guys know me. I like supporting the little guy.

That's why Lucy at BooksPrice deserves a bit of your time. She seems to be a little guy, although I didn't dig too much into who she is and where she's from (yeah, I'm doing that Pittsburgh "I'll take you at face value" thing again). I really like how the site shows you not only what the book will cost, but how much shipping will be. And you can customize whose results you see, too.

It's a nice idea. I hope it's valuable to you guys -- 'cause admit it. I'm not the only one who tries to save some money and buy used (or remaindered).

Speaking of books, before I go, if you've read anything you think I need to know about, leave me a comment. I only have a few hundred books sitting around the house. What's a few hundred more?

(yeah, uhh, don't tell the Tour Manager I said that, okay?)

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Friday, August 10, 2007

 

Susan's Book Talk: Multiples and other things

First off: this week's Booking Through Thursday:

Do you have multiple copies of any of your books?
If so, why? Absent-mindedness? You love them that much? First Editions for the shelf, but paperbacks to read?
If not, why not? Not enough space? Not enough money? Too sensible to do something so foolish?


I have a lot of multiples that have come to me through BookCrossing -- I'll forget to take something off my wishlist (with 1200+ books on there, can you blame me?) or someone will think I'll like a book, so they send it to me, not knowing I've got a copy here that I haven't registered at BookCrossing yet.

And I buy multiples, too -- to share via BookCrossing or the book trading sites ('cause whenever I offer you guys my books, you don't take me up on it. What's up with THAT?). Those multiples are books I loved and want to help spread the word about. You know, sort of like my own way of helping people find a Hidden Treasures book.

Speaking of Hidden Treasures, there's only five days left in the contest. Get your last reviews up! If you're web wandering and you find a review posted, why not encourage the writer to submit it to the contest?? They've already done the hard work; invite them to come get rewards and some extra linkie love for it.

I hear that Jennifer Estep, one of our Hidden Treasures authors, has a few ARCs for the second in her Big Time series, Hot Mama. I'll let you know when the review's up at Front Street Reviews.

And lastly (I think), I'd love to thank Robin L. Rotham for pulling my very own name out of a hat and declaring me the winner of a copy of her new short, Seniorella. This is going to be my very first foray into e-books, so if you prefer Microsoft Reader to PDF format, or the other way, you'd better weigh in on that subject now...

Happy reading, everyone! Let's get some last reviews in for the Summer's Hidden Treasures contest, okay?

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Saturday, March 31, 2007

 

Buy A Friend a Book Week April 2007

A quick Spring Reading Thing Update before I get to Buy a Friend a Book Week fun...

I gave up reading Dead Man's Island (Carolyn G. Hart) and it's already been mooched from me. A Darker Place (Laurie R. King) was also abandoned partway through, and is available either from PaperBackSwap, BookMooch, or ... (what a segueway, Susan!)

... this quarter's Buy a Friend a Book Week contest.

There are two ways to win:

The first three people who e-mail me a scan of their receipt for Steven Lee Beeber's The Heebie Jeebies at CBGB's will get my last three copies of Lyrical Life. So make sure you include an address with your e-mail. Buy it for you, for a friend, for the rocker-type down the street. Steven and I don't care. Just buy it and read it. It's a really cool book, and Steven's a truly cool dude.

The other way to win a book between now and the 7th, with the winner announced shortly thereafter, is to visit my bookshelf at BookCrossing. Look under the available titles -- but be careful, because if there's anything in parentheses after the word available, that means I don't have the book anymore. Leave a comment here on this post (because there will be quite a few posts this week, I suspect, so let's keep things where they belong) and tell me what book you want, and WHY. Whoever has the best reason will win the book and I'll happily send it to you.

Be warned: I like multiple winners. And I've got enough books here to sink a rowboat, I suspect. Have at it.

Now, I know that in my Thursday Thirteen this week, I promised you more fiction about Mitchell's desk. It's coming. But you guys helped me have one of my busiest Thursdays yet, and I'm still digging out from it. Keep it coming and I'll reward you with, as always, more and better.

Happy Buy a Friend a Book Week! (and yes, if you run out today and buy Heebies for a friend's Easter basket, I'll count it as a purchase)

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

 

Susan's Book Talk: mysteries, Buy a Friend a Book Week, and more on punks

First off, let me tell you that I've finished my first book for the Spring Reading Thing challenge: Linda Fairstein's The Kills. I really liked it, so if you'd like to read it, you can get it one of three ways: by requesting it at PaperBackSwap, by mooching it from me at BookMooch, or by leaving me a comment here and asking for it. Be sure to leave me an e-mail address, if I don't have an address on file for you.

My copy's a hardback and yes, it's registered at BookCrossing. I'd love it if you'd leave some thoughts about what you think of it.

Other stuff...

Barb at Front Street Reviews has asked me to tell you guys to check out a cool profile she's done of Capital Crime Press. Two of their more prominent authors are the extremely funny Robert Fate (author of Baby Shark) and Troy Cook (author of 47 Rules of a Highly Effective Bank Robber). This feature is in conjunction with Small Press Month; don't forget to finish off the month with some small presses!

Buy a Friend a Book Week is fast approaching. I'm going to do a small contest for it, so watch the blog for more details. But here's a hint: anyone who e-mails me a scanned receipt for the purchase of Steven Lee Beeber's The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's will win a cool book from me. I'll have other books to give away during BAFAB week, if only because I have too many here again and would like to get them moving through the world.

And while I'm talking about Beeber and punk rock, I'd like to once again put forth my willingness to review Clinton Heylin's new book on punk. Babylon's Burning. Not only am I curious to read it, I want to see how it stacks up against Beeber's book. Now pushed back to a July release, I'd love to be part of some pre-publication reviews -- and I'll offer up Barb's Front Street Reviews as a spot for which to post that review. Ain't it great to have friends?

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Tuesday, January 09, 2007

 

Contest time!

My friend, the sophisticated writer, tagged me. But since this isn't a blog about me, I'm going to let you guys guess the answers -- for Trevor, Mitchell, and Kerri, since you should know those three the best. I'll fill in some and give away books on my Available Shelf over at BookCrossing to whoever gives me the best answers for the rest. Beware: these books aren't among the best I've ever read. Heck, I haven't read most of them, if you want to know the truth.

Leave your answers in the comment trail; it'll help (but isn't required unless I get cranky, which is always liable to happen) if you include the question, too, when we all read over the rest of the answers.

And no, you don't have to answer all of them. Even one will qualify you for a book. If I'm on a roll, you might wind up with more than one. Book that is. *wink*

You have until 20 January, and then I'll announce the winners. Have at it, and have FUN!

1. How tall are you barefoot?

Mitchell -- 6'1"

Kerri, 5'10"

Trevor, 5'10" (uh-huh. Sure, Trev)

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?

3. Do you own a gun?

4. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents"?

Trevor doesn't bother with such things.

Mitchell usually never remembered names, let alone saw them a second time,

and Kerri ... well, Kerri's meeting the Vosses should be an outtake.

5. What do you think of hot dogs?

6. What's your favorite Christmas song?


7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?


Mitchell: orange juice.

Kerri: coffee

8. Can you do push ups?

9. Is your bathroom clean?

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?

11. Do you like painkillers?

12. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?

13. Do you hate any of your exes?

Trevor: No, and I'd still be loving them if I didn't need to come up for air.

Mitchell: What exes?

Kerri: No.

14. Do you have a dog? (answered by Susan) Nope, no dogs in Riverview. Yet.

15. Middle Name?

Mitchell: Gregory

Kerri: Elizabeth

16. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?

17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:

Mitchell: Orange juice, Gatorade, beer

18. What time did you wake up today?

Mitchell: noon

19. Current worry?

20. Current hate?

21. Favorite place to be?

Mitchell: onstage

Trevor: in a girl

Kerri: wherever Mitchell is.

22. Least favorite place to be?

23. Do you own slippers?

24. What shirt are you wearing be specific?

25. Do you burn or tan?

Mitchell: I am tan.

Kerri: He's got the lines to prove it.

26. Favorite color(s)?

27. Would you be a pirate?

Trevor: Baby, I can be whatever you want. But I'm best as Trevor Fucking Wolff.

28. What songs do you sing in the shower?

Mitchell: Mine.


29. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?



30. What's in your pockets right now?



31. Last thing/person that made you laugh?


32. Best bed sheets you had as a child?

Trevor: Clean ones.

33. Worst injury you've ever had?

34. Are your parents still together?

Trevor and Kerri: Who cares?

Mitchell: Fuck yeah!

35. Who is your loudest friend?

Trevor, Mitchell, and Kerri: Charlie the tour manager. (does he count as a friend?)

36. Who is your most silent friend?

Trevor, Mitchell, and Kerri: Eric

37. Does someone hate you?

Mitchell: Who cares?

Trevor: Probably.

Kerri: Yes.

38. Do you wish on shooting stars?

39. What is your favorite book?

40. What song did you play at your wedding?

Mitchell: I was too drunk to remember. Ker, do you?

Kerri: No, but I do remember you with a guitar, so you must have played something.

Trevor: We played a fucking lot, you losers. No Skynyrd, though.


41. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?

Mitchell: Kerri.

Kerri: Mitchell

Trevor: Getting laid.

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