Pray For Boston (Signed Books Giveaway)
Because of what happened on April 15th at the Boston Marathon, I decided to run this giveaway differently. Since it is US only, the only thing I want you to do is to keep the people and their families affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks to I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Wholly Books who are hosting the Signed Books Giveaway. I am giving away a signed copy of The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater in another giveaway right now, so don’t forget to check that one out too. For this giveaway, you have the choice of a signed copy of Poison Princess by Kelsey Cole or The Clockwork Princess (#3) by Cassandra Clare. (Links will take you to their Goodreads page for reviews and more information.) This giveaway is opened to US residents only. I’m not responsible for items lost in the mail. I will give you an estimated shipping date, but I no promises. Shipping might also be delayed until early May, since the end of this giveaway coincides with the date I’m leaving to visit family.
Check out the other blogs participating in this hop:
Read MoreFavorite Interview Q&A + Signed Raven Boys Giveaway
Happy Blogiversary!
So, I have to be completely honest. When I first decided to start blogging, I didn’t have any direction or goal. Now, I try to focus on books that test the boundaries. I love the grit of dark fiction and the imagination of fantasy. I like the moral dilemmas of dystopians and the unspeakable acts in horror.
My first reviews came as a result of winning Goodreads giveaways. Its been nearly 6 months since I last won one, but I had pretty good luck in those early days. Sometimes, I’d win 2 or 3 in a night. I can’t remember why I started posted reviews on a blog, but once I started I couldn’t stop. And once I was posting regularly, I decided that I had to include more than reviews. I joined up with blog tours, memes, and giveaway hops.
I really never imagined that I’d make it to a year, particularly in those early days. Even now, it’s sometimes hard to log in to Wordpress and type out a post. But then, I read an amazing book and I can’t wait to tell everyone I know how awesome it is. I keep this blog open because I do love books. I think that good authors should get exposure and bad authors should be exposed.
I had a lot of different ideas for what to do with my blogiversary, but in the end, I decided to keep it simple. I had the pleasure of meeting Maggie Steifvater at a signing a couple weeks ago and picked up a copy of her latest book for you guys. To thank you for checking out this post and others, I have a signed copy of the Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (with an amazing personalized doodle). Check out the bottom of this post for more information about this giveaway.
Because I wanted to highlight the ‘extras’ of Lizzy’s Dark Fiction, this giveaway/post spotlights memes. I really liked the idea of memes, but I’m not much for following the crowd with some of the more popular memes. I did do a couple Sunday Showcases and Feature & Follows, but otherwise I stuck with my own memes:
Short Story Saturday – highlights short stories and novellas that I’ve enjoyed
5 Star Reviews – discussion posts that compares what 5 star books exceed at to what 1 star books fail with
This is Your Song – book playlists
Mental Coloration – brief meme that involved me using crayons
My Favorite Meme
But my absolute favorite meme that I’ve created is 10 Things You’re Too Scared To Ask, which is my version of author interviews.
To highlight all the great interviews that I’ve had over the last couple months, I’ve picked my favorite answer from each interview. Also, I went through all the comments and picked the question that my followers loved the best too. Click on the author’s name to read the full interview.
1) If you could revive one person in history and make them your zombie slave, who would it be? - Micheal Cargill
Julius Caesar. The French military is getting a bit bossy in Africa these days and if anyone knows how to put the Gauls back in their box, it’s him. If it turns out that his military genius doesn’t survive the zombie resurrection process, I’ll just pop a centurion helmet on his head and pretend he’s a punk rocker.
2) What is the hardest scene you have ever written. – Derrolyn Anderson
Sex scenes are tough. I don’t write erotica (not yet, at any rate) and I’m all about the “fade to black” sex scene. Not because I don’t imagine my characters getting down to it, but because the language and imagery often used is so loaded. The ick factor can get really high, and one person’s sexy might make another person throw up in their mouth a little bit. For example, I cringe to read about anything moist, glistening, swollen, throbbing or spurting. Sounds like an infection. Her “nub”, his “manhood”, all that mewling, laving, spurting, seed spilling, thrusting and pumping… It’s tricky, because the more clinical terms are almost always way too sterile. Hats off to anyone who can write sexy sex without making me laugh out loud.
3) You have to fight zombies. What is in your arsenal? – Dave Ferraro
My legs. They will carry me far, far away. Actually, I think that a fireplace poker would be a good weapon. It’s pretty long, so you can get a jab in from far enough away that you don’t have to worry about a bite, and it can deliver a good blow to the head to make them stay down. Unless we’re talking fast-moving zombies, because then I’m screwed unless they’re frightened off by the sound of screaming.
4) One of your favorite authors agrees to go on a date. Who is it and how do you woe him/her? - Coral Russell
I want to go out with Emma Holly only I’m not a lesbian and neither is she but she writes really really steamy romance for all genders and was the first author blog that I’ve came across that posted helpful links and resources for aspiring writers. So I would woe her by hiring people to act out a scene from one of her books. It would be optional if she wanted to participate or just watch.
5) Write the most ‘rediculous’ death scene possible. - Benjamin Epstein
It was late one night. I was working on the sequel to my book. It is a hard task. I am not having a lot of success. I am banging my head against the wall, hoping that there was a way to get my ideas sparked.
And then I had a vision. A terrible phantasm manifested of my old High School English teacher, Mr. Bindner.
“What kind of weak writing do you contaminate the written page with?” he roared through the mists of memory. “I told you many times before not to use passive verbs!”
“Passive verbs?” I whimper. ”What on earth is a passive verb?”
“Is is!” he snarled. ”All the roots of the phrase ‘to be!’ Is, Was, Am, Are, Be, all of those passive verbs are unacceptable…. will not be accepted… you cannot use them! They suck away all life and vitality from your work, and you shall not pass my class if you continue to employ them!”
“Well, forget it buddy!” I yelled back at the emanation. ”I am a published author now! My book is sold for real money on Amazon! I was in your class, but I can no longer be bullied by you! And now you have no power over me. Ha! Let’s change that: You are powerless!”
Laughing maniacally, I resumed my work, shouting each forbidden word in defiance of the wraith of dynamic writing. “It WAS late one night! I AM banging my head against the wall!”
But little did I know the folly of mocking the wizards of lively writing and proper grammer. I should have known when this very question misspelled the word “ridiculous.” The ghost of old Bindner reached through the thin veil separating the physical world from the realm of spirits. My heart froze to ice, and I expired before I could strike the next keystroke. Alas, poor me. I knew me well.
Reader’s Choice:
(This is a question so loved that I can’t help but use it over and over again!)
Name one culturally “taboo” thing you wish would be accepted.
I’m just as brainwashed as the next person, but wouldn’t it be great if female body hair was considered attractive? No more plucking, waxing and shaving! Imagine the poolside liberation
.
Wearing women’s underwear. The ladies have bras that cater to each part of their body that hangs down, so why can’t the men? We’re lumbered with all-encompassing boxer short things where everything just gets thrown together in one untidy heap. It’s why our dingly-danglies always look like they need to be ironed.
I think that people should be allowed to die if they’re in pain and there’s no hope for them. We euthanize animals, but not humans who are in intolerable amounts of pain? It seems strange to me that this isn’t allowed.
In the US we have ‘personal space’ issues and I would like to see the taboo loosened. It should be perfectly fine to aim a flying hug at a perfect stranger anytime you want.
Not watching television. You know how many times someone describes in intimate detail their favorite scene from “Seinfeld” or some modestly famous competitor from American Idol? And when I say I don’t watch TV, they look at me like I’m an alien from another planet?
And the same goes for sports! Why should I be made to feel like an ignoramus if I don’t know who’s playing in the Superbowl, or I wonder when the New York Giants moved away from San Francisco?
Not to mention popular movies! Do I have to feel small if I was the last person to see the Blair Witch Project, or Titanic, or Kill Bill? I had things to do that weekend!
Or music! So what if I just got around to listening to 99 red balloons last week?
Sometimes it feels like the only people who don’t make fun of my cultural ignorance is the Amish. Until they told me that my horse and buggy was just so last century.
Giveaway
There is only one entry to this giveaway. Comment with your answer to the question. Be creative. My favorite answer will win a signed copy of the Raven Boys (US only).
Another person, this one randomly selected, will win a $10 Amazon.com giftcard (INT). Please put in your comment if you’re US/Canada or INT. Also, please include some way for me to contact you. Giveaway ends 5/12/13.
1) Answer the question: Name one culturally “taboo” thing you wish would be accepted.
2) Put your nationality (US or INT)
3) Some way to contact. Email preferred.
(I’m not responsible for items lost in the mail. Winners will have 72 hours to respond. Winner of the signed copy of Raven Boys must have a US shipping address or another person will be selected.)
Read MoreFool For Books Giveaway Hop
It’s April Fools Day somewhere in the world, but this is no joke. You can win a $10 Amazon giftcard as part of the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop. This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Giveaway is opened INT and winner has 48 hours to verify email address before another one is chosen.
Check out other giveaways going on at Lizzy’s Dark Fiction:
Author Interview – Coral Russell
Hop to the next blog
Read MoreFairy Tale Giveaway Hop
Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop
This Hop is hosted by I am a reader, not a writer, The Book Rat, and A Backwards Story.
You may have a copy of any book on my fantasy review list. This is an ebook giveaway for INT, but if you live in the US you may choose a paperback instead. Urban fantasy and paranormal romance books from my review list can be chosen too. You can find the full list HERE. Any book that I review that’s fantasy related between now and the end of the contest can also be selected. And you may pick any book in the series as long as I’ve reviewed as least one of the series books.
US residents win a print copy!
Here’s a sample of what you can pick!
You may follow me any way you choose. Twitter, Facebook, Network Blogs, Linky, or email/RSS. All I care is that you come back. :)
Read More
Leaping Leprechauns – Giveaway and the House of Cards
Leaping Leprechauns!
We have a bookmark and a giftcard for you to win!
It’s your lucky, lucky day. For the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop, we have two prizes. First, you can win a bookmark featuring the epic short story, House of Cards by Juli D. Revezzo. Secondly, you can win a $10 giftcard to Amazon.com. This contest is opened to US residents only due to shipping costs. SORRY! Winner has 48 hours to respond by email or another one will be chosen.
Since, Juli D. Revezzo is awesome enough to supply a bookmark for this giveaway and wrote one of the best story stories I’ve read in quite a few months, I want to spotlight her book, House of Cards. I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review. Giveaway is on bottom!
House of Cards by Juli D. Revezzo
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Raven Queen Publications
Released October 3rd, 2012
Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords |
You can’t escape Fate….
A young nobleman escapes the Reign of Terror in 18th century France to find himself dragged into an even worse fate–a hellish underworld wherein he is cajoled and put on trial by a demon tribunal for crimes he never committed. Can he answer thwart his fate, one worse than the guillotine?
My Thoughts – It’s amazing how rare it is to find a short story with a rich atmosphere, three dimensional characters, and a proper ending. House of Cards exceeded my expectations for what a short story should offer. Sinjor is fleeing Paris in a stagecoach (I think that’s the right name for the vehicle) but not fast enough. He is caught in route by something and he must tread carefully to figure out how to survive this encounter. Sinjon’s indecision and often inaptitude in figuring out the quests is a refreshing take on the typical fantasy hero, who always figures out the task. It’s good to see the hero fail, although Sinjon might not have liked the consequences. House of Cards is borderline horror. It’s dark fantasy that never quite crosses into scary, although there are several gruesome descriptions and a steady, suspenseful pace.
As far as short stories goes, this one has it all. (A)
Enter the giveaway (opened to US only!) In the comments, let me know your favorite all time short story/anthology/or picture book!
Read More
Stalk me…
Tattoo Your Love for Me
Follow Another Way
What’s on my mind
Rating System
Hauntingly Beautiful
Near Perfection
Couch Companion
Red Pen Alert
Better Left Buried