I’ve just run a whole lot of contests, giving away ARCs, signed copies of books, and a gift certificate to a bookstore, so I’ve got prizes on the brain. 
And now I’m going to pick your brains’ on the topic.
My question is: as a reader, what do you most like to win? Do books top the list? ARCs? Gift certs? Promo items?
No, I’m not talking about food, but about reading styles. The idea came up in comments on another blog, and I thought it’d be fun to discuss it here today.
I’m one of those people who always has a book in their handbag – so I can nibble away at it whenever there’s a bit of spare time. But, at heart, and if I have the time, I’m a all-in-one-go reader. If a book catches my attention, I’ll hunker down and likely not move until it’s finished. I’ve learned not to start books at 11pm…because I’m never going to read just a chapter!
What about you? Can you nibble? Or do you gulp read? I know some people have several different books – one for the purse, one in the car… Do any of you do that? Tell us all your reading secrets! 
…here are eleven books I’m looking forward to ~ in no particular order
1. Bone Crossed & Hunting Ground – Patricia Briggs (Okay, I know that’s two books, but shhhh)
2. Pro
mises In Death & Kindred in Death – JD Robb (Um…see above *grin*)
3. Demon Dawn – Meljean Brook
4. Duplicate Effort – Kristine Kathryn Rusch
5. The Shadow Queen – Anne Bishop
6. The Vampire’s Bride – Gena Showalter
7. Magic Strikes – Ilona Andrews
8. Blood Sins – Kay Hooper
9. Bengal’s Heart – Lora Leigh
10.T
ucker’s Claim – Sarah McCarty
11. Running Hot – Jayne Ann Krentz
You know what I’ve just realized? Every single book on that list is part of a series. I do however, quite often pick up debut authors or authors I haven’t yet read if the blurb/concept catches my interest. Judith James debut Broken Wing and Victoria Dahl’s contemporary debut Talk Me Down are both on my tbr list because of that very reason.
Now it’s your turn – what books are you looking forward to? You can list one, two or even eleven!
Contest now closed. Winner: Ada Lato-Esposito
Everyone who comments goes into a draw to win a very special prize. The fabulous and talented Gena Showalter, NYT Bestselling author of the Lords of the Underworld series has offered to give away an ARC (advanced reading/review copy) of THE VAMPIRE’S BRIDE, releasing March 2009!
Contest closes midnight Friday Dec 19th, 2008, NZ time.
…Nalini thinks we need to look at some hunks we’d like under the Christmas tree!
So, do you want someone dark and brooding?
Long, lean and gorgeous?
Or warm and sleep-tumbled?
Decisions, decisions! Tell me, who would you love to find under your Christmas tree – one of the above, or someone else?
I’ll pick a random winner from the comments to win a copy of a book from my backlist (winner’s choice). If you’ve already got all my books, I’ll let you choose something from my secret giveaway stash *grin* (Giveaway closes midnight 12 December 2008, NZ time.)
I have a novella (Stroke of Enticement) coming out this Tuesday in The Magical Christmas Cat anthology. I had so much fun writing about Zach – talk about a sexy, playful changeling – and his heroine, Annie. (If you want to check out an excerpt, follow the link above!)
I enjoy writing novellas for a number of reasons – but today, I thought we’d chat about why we love reading novellas.
For me, novellas are perfect reading material for when I don’t have a ton of time, but I’m still craving a good read. I can get that satisfying full-story feeling in a bite-sized amount of time.
Some novellas have even become keepers for me, like The Prince of Ebon Rih in Anne Bishop’s Dreams Made Flesh. I adore this novella – I’ve read it over and over. (And incidentally, if you haven’t read Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels trilogy, run and grab it now! It’s completely amazing).
So, how about you all? Do you enjoy novellas? What are some of your favorites?
It’s been an amazing week for me with Hostage to Pleasure hitting both the USA Today Bestseller list and the New York Times Bestseller list.
I thought today, I’d invite you all to share something joyful that’s happened to you recently. It doesn’t have to be huge – just something that put a smile on your face. Looking forward to hearing all your good news
more animals
We’ve had three recent giveaways on the blog. I thought I’d do a bit of a roundup so we can congratulate all three winners. And look what an international group we’ve got!
The winner of Bronwyn Jameson’s RWAmerica giveaway was Maered from Scotland.
Bron also did a giveaway with her RWAustralia conference post, and Dina from Barbados was the lucky winner of that one.
Both won three-book packs.
And the final giveaway this week was the one connected to my post about Series Love. The winner, Teresa W. from the States, won her choice of a book from my backlist.
Congratulations everyone!!
P.S. If you haven’t read them yet, I just put up two new excerpts on my website – from BRANDED BY FIRE and ANGELS’ BLOOD. Enjoy!
Edited to Add: Thanks for the great discussion everyone! I’ve drawn the random winner (thanks to random.org) and it’s TERESA W. Congratulations. Can you email me at nalinisinghwrites at gmail.com with your details?
I’m currently anticipating the September 2nd release of the 5th full-length book in the Psy/Changeling series, Hostage to Pleasure. Though I’ve participated in one continuity (the Ashtons), and written two loosely connected books (Desert Warrior and Craving Beauty), this is my first continuing series. And I love it! Love, love, love it!
If had to enumerate the reasons why, I think I’d say that one of the most wonderful aspects of these books is that I get to see my characters develop and change. For example Sascha and Lucas from Slave to Sensation, continue to be integral parts of the stories—we get to see them after their happy ever after, get to see them growing into their love, into becoming ever stronger as a couple.
As a reader, this journey of a developing love is something I’ve always wanted to see. If a book ends with declarations of love (come on, give me an epilogue at least!), you can be sure that in my head, I’m imagining a future for the couple – I want to know that they really did make it, that their happy ever after is solid and true.
With my Psy/Changeling couples, I not only get to fulfil this desire, I also get to develop the world book by book, story by story. And I also get to populate my world with secondary characters who are as important to the fabric of the stories as the protagonists.
For example, my series wouldn’t be the same without Julian and Roman, the twin leopard cubs who pretty much stole my heart the instant they jumped onto the page and opened their mouths in baby growls. I’ve even gotten reader mail asking if I’ll ever write their stories. They’re only little, so I don’t know about that, but I do know that this is a world I’ll continue to play in as long as they let me (and probably after, too!).
So now, my question to you. As a reader, what is it about connected books, or books in a series, that you love? What are your favorite series? Do you have a favorite book that you wish the author would write a sequel to?
Giveaway: And because my release is coming up, and I want to share the joy, everyone who leaves a comment goes into a draw to win a book from my backlist (not including HtP). Contest ends Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008, midnight, New Zealand time.
Also, a quick note. If you blog, keep a livejournal, myspace page etc, don’t forget to enter my Hostage to Pleasure Release Contest and go into the draw for a US$75 gift certificate.
Most of the other Desirabelles are off to the Romance Writers of Australia conference this week, so we’ll be getting some reports from them when they return. Until then, I thought I’d swing by and let you all know I’m giving away a copy of Susan Napier’s Accidental Mistress on my blog. Drop your name into the hat by Sunday to go into the draw.
And here’s a photo of me with Susan herself at the recent Romance Writers of New Zealand conference (yep, it’s conference season).
Thanks to Christina Phillips for the photo (Christina just got her first ever cover, so drop by and congratulate her)
Hope you’re all having a great week!
What a conference!! It was absolutely amazing – I’m still revved up from it. Here are some photos I thought you guys might enjoy. (I had a great one of Sandra at the Harlequin party, but it didn’t come out very well so I’ll have to finagle one from elsewhere. )
This one was taken at an informal get-together with some of the other Desire authors.
This next one was taken at the fabulous Harlequin party!
Sheree Whitefeather and Chris Marie Green
Kira Sinclair, whose first book Whispers in the Dark is an August release, was sitting next to me at the Literacy Signing. And who should come by to congratulate Kira than Linda Howard herself! I had to grab this photo!
Linda Howard & Kira Sinclair
I’ve got more photos over at my personal blog (I was very snap-happy *grin*), so swing by if you’d like to see more conference pics!
And last but not least – a great big welcome to the Down Under Desirabelles blog!!
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