First Look at The Gypsy Morph!
Aidan over at A Dribble of Ink has flagged the first chapter of Terry Brooks’ The Gypsy Morph, available this September from Orbit. You can see the full post here or head straight over to Terry’s site here.
Archive for Contents
Calling all Facebookers: Win a copy of Brian Ruckley’s new novel ‘Bloodheir’
Want to win a signed, personalised, hardback copy of Bloodheir [UK/US], Brian Ruckley‘s brand new novel of The Godless World? Of course you do. Here’s how:
Every Friday lunchtime between now and the end of June (so that’s the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th) we’ll be randomly selecting one fully signed-up Fan of Brian’s ‘Winterbirth’ Facebook page to receive a hardback copy of Bloodheir. What’s more, Brian has very kindly agreed to sign and personalise the book as per the wishes of the lucky winners.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is head over to the Winterbirth page on Facebook and click the ‘Become a Fan’ link, (as well as performing all the necessary confirmations etc.), which means that the sooner you sign up as a Fan, the more chances you have of winning a copy of the book. And if you’re signed up as a Fan already then you’ll automatically be entered into the draws throughout June, which gives you four chances of winning…
The only exceptions to the general rule-of-thumb detailed above are employees of Orbit (or its parent companies, Little, Brown and the Hachette Book Group) who can darn well buy their own copy, or anyone who wins a copy of the book during the competition; they won’t then be eligible for future rounds, which we think is fair enough and gives everyone else a better chance of winning. And yes, you do have to be a Facebook member to participate in this one, otherwise you won’t be able to sign up as a Fan.
So, what are you waiting for? Head on over and declare your Winterbirth / Bloodheir / Brian Ruckley Fan-hood! The first draw takes place on Friday…
BEA Schwag!
If you’re going to BEA in Los Angeles, stop by the Orbit booth (number 1720) to pick up advance reading copies of Orcs by Stan Nicholls, and The Company, by K.J. Parker. And be sure to drop off a business card to sign up for our new bookseller enewsletter.
Jennifer Rardin Interview at Fantasy Debut
Jennifer Rardin, author of the Jaz Parks series, is over at Fantasy Debut talking about life, writing and camel tipping (seriously). You can read the whole interview here and check out Jennifer’s latest Jaz Parks novel, Biting the Bullet (UK/US), in stores now.
Bloodheir: News and Reviews!
Over at Grasping for Wind, there’s a great review of Brian Ruckley’s Bloodheir (UK/US), including this fantastic bit on how Brian avoids ‘Middle Book Syndrome’:
Often, the second book in a trilogy is accused of something called “Middle Book Syndrome”. The idea is that the second book in most trilogies is mostly filler and very little plot movement really happens. And often it is true. But if anyone accuses Brian Ruckley’s second book in The Godless World trilogy, Bloodheir of suffering from middle book syndrome, I’m afraid I will have to scoff in his face. Read the rest
You can find Bloodheir in all good bookstores this June or win a copy over at Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review now. You can also listen to Brian read from Bloodheir here.
Update: The Book Swede is running a contest for his ARC of Bloodheir. You can enter here.
Lilith Saintcrow chats with Jennifer Rardin
Lilith Saintcrow visits Jennifer Rardin’s blog to talk about her upcoming urban fantasy series, Night Shift.
To be honest I never knew I was writing urban fantasy until my agent told me so. I was just writing this thing I liked–ordinary fantasy didn’t have enough guns OR fast cars, and I’m a big fan of morally and ethically ambiguous heroes and characters. (It’s the noir I read/watched at a very tender age. Scarred me for life.)
Visit jenniferrardin.com for more.
If You’re Going to Wiscon…
If you’re going to Wiscon, look out for Orbit author Pamela Freeman. She’ll be there talking about her new book, Blood Ties, and reading from her academic work (If you get a chance to chat, be sure to ask her about her thoughts on science in fantasy fiction.)
Pamela’s Wiscon Schedule (check the site for up-to-date details.)
Saturday, 10:00-11:15 A.M: Reading from Blood Ties.
Sunday, 11:30 P.M. to 12:45 A.M. Imagination as Resistance, panel.
Monday, 10:00-11:15 A.M: Kings. What a Good Idea: Monarchy in Epic Fantasy Fiction.
Competition: win a copy of Lilith Saintcrow’s ‘Night Shift’
Another online competition for you folks to enter – we know you love your competitions – this time with a rather interesting twist; one that Lilith Saintcrow fans will love, and that might just require the use of your best thinking caps…
Over at My Favourite Books, blogger Liz has set a Dante Valentine-themed crossword puzzle. Five successful puzzle solvers will win a copy of Lilith Saintcrow‘s new novel, Night Shift [UK / US], the first in a new series starring demon slayer Jill Kismet, which we’ll be publishing in the US and UK in July.
Hmmm. Eight letters, “devilishly tricky”? That would make it ‘fiendish’, then…
YouTube Action: Orbit authors reading at Alt.Fiction
A number of Orbit’s UK-based authors put in an appearance at Derby’s 2008 Alt.Fiction day back in April (see our earlier report) and we promised you some video coverage from the day.
Here then, for your amusement, edification and general entertainment, are a selection of book readings by Orbit authors Philip Palmer, Brian Ruckley, Charles Stross and Mike Carey. Admittedly, the sound quality isn’t always the best – the rooms were a bit echoey and the microphone a little small – so you may have to turn the volume up a tad. And Sam requests that you don’t say anything mean about her camera-work; tables weren’t always available and knees don’t always make the best camera-mounts…
Pamela Freeman visits the UK!
Pamela Freeman, the bestselling Australian author, was in the UK office on Friday and was kind enough to sign some copies of her latest book, Blood Ties.
We’re giving away 5 (yes, 5!) signed copies of Blood Ties. To enter, send your name with the subject line ‘Blood Ties’ to orbit@littlebrown.co.uk. The winners will be chosen at random on June 5th, which is when everyone else can find it in booksellers nation-wide!