I love the non-leap years when February starts on a Sunday. It’s a guaranteed two Friday the 13ths in a row. In honor of the scary, ominous Friday approaching, we over here at The Spectacle want to hear from you guys. So much in fact, we’re giving away two books to one person who comments on this post.
Here’s what we want to know:
What would you like to see here at The Spectacle? Topics, discussions, whatever. Just lay your thoughts on the line, and consider yourself entered to win.
The books this time:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Yes, it won a Newbery. Have you been hoping to read this? (BTW, I think this is the only Newbery book I’ve read BEFORE it won the award.)
The Farwalker’s Quest (ARC) by our very own Joni Sensel. And here’s the secret about the ARC. It has an epilogue which never made it to the hardcover. Seeing as how I just bought the hardcover this past weekend, I’m going to have to convince Joni to email me this epilogue. But the lucky winner of this contest will actually get this epilogue in print. (This is like getting the Director’s cut DVD for LOTR.)
So comment away! You have until midnight on Friday the 13th (OK, 11:59 PM to be truly technical.) We’ll then use our Tarot cards to select a lucky winner (no idea how, but it sounds pretty cool).
And a huge thank you from all of us!
Parker Peevyhouse
lindajoysingleton
Joni Sensel
Chris Eboch
Nick
Greg R. Fishbone
YES PLEASE! =D
I’d love to see a discussion of superhero books, and where they fall on the sci-fi/fantasy/spec-fic continuum. Oh, and yes, I’d love to win the books too.
This is so cool! Am I the first to comment? How exciting! Ok so I love author interviews about how the publishing process went for them! But I would also love to know how speculative fiction in science fiction and fantasy is different from straight sc and fantasy? What makes an author a speculative fiction author as opposed to an Sf or fantasy author? Or is this a dumb question? I’ve been known to ask many a dumb question!
And by the way I already own the Graveyard Book which I love but am entering to get Joni’s book which I am absolutely excited about!
Darn! Cindy and Mike beat me to it! That’s what happens when I take too long typing my post!
All really great thoughts! Thanks so much! I love superhero conversations. Because, you know, superheroes are awesome!
Hey, great idea for a contest!
As for the question…I’d love to hear about the revision process that took place with your editor once the novel was accepted. What areas did you need to revise/tweak? And how did this process strengthen your writing of future works?
Thanks!
Hey, I have some cool Tarot cards; I bet I can figure out a way to use them to select the winner!
I’m just discovering this blog and so far I like it just the way it is! But my “real life” is so devoid of talking about books and writing that I have to get my fix on blogs.
I know how you feel!
I would love a discussion on what has been done to death in those genres and what readers would love to see more of.
um, heh heh … forgot to tag on as to what ‘those genres’ meant in my post. I was referring to sci-fi and fantasy
Thanks.
I would love to see more cool giveaways like these!!!
I’d love to learn about your influences in writing and storytelling–perhaps a retrospective of a beloved author in a panel discussion format.
Oh, and please keep these contests coming!
Hey, your Sleeping Giant book looks cool! I saw the “giant” when I went to Kauai a couple of years ago.
This blog fills the need for YA and children’s SFF/speculative fiction like SF Signal and Tor and some of the other big blogs do for adult work in this genre. You’re definitely needed! I hope you continue to highlight work from small presses and debut authors as well as some of the familiar names in the business. You could tell us when you’ve been to a Con, and what that’s like, talk about the whys of speculative fiction and how it impacts readers now, and basically just give us a place to revel in the genre so those of us who are hopeful writers can watch and learn and see how it’s done.
What a bunch of great ideas! Please keep them coming!
Thanks
I’d love either one of these. I need your site to keep me up to date!
What a great contest! I happen to have both of these already (I just finished TFQ and LOVED it! Thanks, Joni!), but I’d love to see posts/reflections on the books that influenced each of you in developing your interest in this genre!
Andy
hmm this is my first time here and I think the blogs fine the way it is, but I guess you could add more info about upcoming movies and books.
I myself am a YA book blogger so I never tire of hearing news on the YA genre, especially when it’s news that’s not all over the place.
Can you do a Sci fi/fantasy post for dummies? And suggest some books for reluctant readers of the genre. Thanks
All great ideas! Thanks, everyone!
…and there’s a lot of SFF from other countries that doesn’t get covered — surely there must be some? It would be cool to not only get manga/anime stuff, but to find out what speculative fiction looks like in other countries, and to see YA and children’s SF from non-dominant culture perspectives.
AH! I want the Graveyard Book SO MUCH!
Topics…well, I love anything about the writing process.
Also: I like retellings. I.e. comparisons between old stories and newer versions of the same story.
And I, personally, would like some more discussion of soft sci fi (is that what you call the opposite of hard sci fi?)
I’m always up for tips and advice. I love contests and interviews too.
I’m on a wait list for The Grave Yard book at my local library. When I signed up I was something like 122nd in line. When I checked last week I was #106 At this rate I won’t get to read it until next year! Unless I win this contest. :0)
Christy
You guys are giving some fantastic input! Thank you so much!
Joni’s book lured me to this cool blog. I am curious and a total sci-fi/fantasy neophyte so please excuse this question if it’s ridiculous, but would you ever consider discussing recommended children’s picture books with fantasy and sci-fi elements? My child is 4 and I love introducing genres to see what sparks his interest.
Hi, Samantha! I’ve thought about this before. None of our bloggers currently write picture books, but we might throw out a few mentions here and there. I guess we’ll have to think about that–thanks for the suggestion.
The giveaway is nice. Personally, I’d like to see more tap-dancing chickens. You rarely see them nowadays. In other words, humor–what works, what doesn’t.
Why is that tap-dancing animals are so funny, anyway?
I love finding humor in horror novels. There’s something about the balance of funny and scary that really works.
Like a pp suggested, I too would love some recommendations on sci-fi/fantasy books for readers who are usually reluctant to the genre. Oh, especially those appropriate for middle grades.
I’m a middle school librarian and life-long sf fan. My challenge next year is to provide good science fiction for a 5-6 school in addition to my 7-8 school. I would appreciate some good suggestions – the students with a 3rd through 4th grade reading level don’t have too many options when the classroom teacher requires them to read sf as genre. Ideas?