Back to Business: FREEBIES & GIVEAWAYS

A few months ago, I wrote a post entitled "I'm Not Gonna Give It to You," in which I reflected on the way I have begun to perceive the explosion of give-aways and contests as so much virtual white noise. As an author, the time and expense required to post, publicize, process entries, contact a winner and mail a prize (book or whatever) far outweigh any benefits gleaned from the project. Personally, I no longer enter contests. If I want a book, I support the author by buying it and if I were to win a book and then didn't read it and post about it, I'd feel terrible guilt (maybe that's another issue entirely but, whatever, we'll leave Dr. Freud out of it for now).

THAT SAID (and, boy, do I overuse this phrase in blogging)...

With apologies for the secrecy there is this a COOL ITEM that plays a role in my upcoming novel that I would like to use as a theme for a giveaway because I think it would be awesome fun.

This, of course, would make me a total hypocrite and invalidate my promise in the aforementioned "Not Gonna..." post. (Although not too badly as I'd start the giveaway in November, probably, so almost 2014.)

This thing is NOT A BOOK.
It is sorta ONE-OF-A-KIND.

So, now I am wondering, is there anything out there worth giving away anymore? Is there anything people really want to WIN? If you genuinely have something special you'd like to share, is there a way to create a giveaway that doesn't get lost in the sea of rafflecopters swirling through the web?

Questions. Not answers. I know. HAVE YOU GOT ONE (an answer, I mean)?

Bookanistas: IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters

I am buried under revisions right now so I'm going to do something I swore I'd never do...use a plot summary from Goodreads. I LOVE writing plot summaries because it helps me clarify my thoughts about other aspects of a novel--themes, imagery, structure. But I'm tight on time and wanted to sign a little Bookanista light on this terrific book and SOON because it pubs next month. So, with apologies...

Plot (from Goodreads--ack!)...In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

Of literary interest...This beautifully designed book (cover, page numbers, chapter headings, font choices) incorporates vintage photographs and other historical images. The story is also peppered with letters Mary Shelley exchanges with her soldier-love, Stephen, and her imprison father. These elements create a richly textured novel that explores on many levels the way we see, what we believe, and how this relates to the way we understand our hearts, ourselves.

Finally, just gotta say...This is one of those reads to get lost in.  With a hint of magic, a mystery, and a unique love story play out in a fascinating historical setting. Rich, romantic and impeccably researched, this is a must for your spring TBR list!

WANT MORE BOOKANISTA MAGIC? Click away...

Jessica Love covets the cover of ALIENATED

Elana Johson thinks MAGISTERIUM is magical
Tracy Banghart counts on THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Shelli Johannes-Wells  is wild for POISON
Katy Upperman  shares her passion for ELEANOR AND PARK

 

A point I often make about verse novels...

Nobody asked T.S. Eliot, “why didn’t you write THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK as a novel instead of a poem?”

Go visit Eliot's beautiful verses at POETS.ORG

Or, if you want more reasons to love verse novels, go to the wonderful website WWW.VERSENOVELS.COM where you might see, in the upper right hand corner of the wallpaper, a snippet of a certain ballet book cover...



Bookanistas: Cover Lust