Hardcover giveaway

Gabriella from my wonderful author team at Lake Union recently told me she had a small carton of large print editions of The Language of Hoofbeats. She asked me if I wanted them. I said absolutely. I'll do a blog giveaway. So here goes.

These are beautiful hardcover large print books. I'll give away five.

PLEASE read the info below. (PLEASE?) A bunch of people consistently don't, and make some huge mistake like not leaving me any way to contact them, and miss their chance to get in and possibly win. So, seriously. It only takes a minute.

Leave a comment below to be entered. Please DO leave your email address in the comment form (even though it will say it's optional). I promise I won't use it for any other purpose but to notify you if you win. Please DON'T leave your email address in the body of your comment unless you want everybody to see it. Those familiar with my old website might be a little confused by the new comment system. It will seem there is no place for your name and email. But when you hit "Post Comment," you'll see those fields come up.

 And if you're reading this on Goodreads, please click through and leave your comment on my original blog. Otherwise I worry I'll forget you when the time comes to draw names.

I'll leave this open for a week to ten days. Good luck!

Deal alert for my UK readers

How many times have I apologized to you, lovely UK readers? I post a deal alert. I forget to say it's for the North American market only. You go out and check. You post a deep sigh on my blog or social media. You say, "Not here it's not that cheap."

Well, now Amazon has included the Kindle ebook edition of WORTHY in a 30-day special promotion that is specifically for my UK readers. Only £0.99 and that price is good until the 9th of November.

Just click here to go to the book on Amazon.co.uk and happy reading!

The Bet: Finally, finally, the story!

My horse Mubtahij, the bum.

So, a funny thing happened on the way to posting our stories for The Bet. We're supposed to have thirty days. You know. After the Kentucky Derby.

Right. I know.

Brian Farrey, Andrew Smith and I were the losers who had to write stories. Kimberly Pauley won. But then Andrew got super busy with his career (yeah, remember those?) and needed more time. Finally he told us to go ahead and post without him and he'd catch up.

So Brian and I made a nice, solid plan to post our stories on Monday. As in, two days ago. And I got all caught up in my nerves and practice and preparation for a dressage clinic (it's a horse thing) yesterday and today. And I completely forgot.

Moral of the story? No idea. Unless it's "Never trust a writer to get it right."

My story is HERE. It's called Good Enough to Play at Stevie's, a title given to me by Andrew Smith. Those of you who follow the bet will recognize the characters. They call me back year after year. And Brian Farrey's story is HERE. He used the title I gave him, Seize the Night. And Andrew will catch up.

Oh, and in case you want to read my previous years stories, they are: The Art of Being Stuck Here, Uncle Mo Holds a Grudge, and Even Pigeons Can Sing.

Happy reading! And next year we're going to get this right, I swear.  

A deal alert for paper lovers: two of my books!

These are two of my favorites, too.

From today through October 20th, my novels When I Found You and Take Me With You will be on sale as part of Amazon's "Up to 50% Off Select Literature and Fiction Books" promotion. These are high quality trade paperback editions, each for only $6.99.

That's a good deal.

So if you still love the feel of a physical book in your hands, this is your moment.

And maybe it's not too early to do a little holiday shopping?

As always, happy reading!

Deal alert for Walk Me Home

Just a quick note to let you know that my novel Walk Me Home is a Kindle Monthly Deal for September! That means all this month the ebook edition can be purchased for only $1.99.

Plenty of time to pass the word around! :)

Happy reading!

I think you'll like this giveaway

I have an awful lot of readers and fans who tell me they're all caught up on reading my books (quite a feat!) and that now the problem is waiting until December. That's why I think you're going to like this giveaway.

Yesterday the UPS guy brought me a big carton of these lovely advance readers' copies of Ask Him Why. Yes, that's right. You can't buy the book until December 8th. But I'm about to give some away. In fact, I think I'm going to give away ten, because I know this is going to be popular. The fewer disappointed entrants we end up with, the better.

Unless you're an old hand at this, PLEASE read the paragraph below. Someone always doesn't, and enters without an email address, and I can't put their name in the hat because I can't contact them if they win. 

Leave a comment below to be entered. Please DO leave your email address in the comment form (even though it will say it's optional). I promise I won't use it for any other purpose but to notify you if you win. Please DON'T leave your email address in the body of your comment unless you want everybody to see it. Those familiar with my old website might be a little confused by the new comment system. It will seem there is no place for your name and email. But when you hit "Post Comment," you'll see those fields come up.

 I'll leave this open for about ten days to two weeks. Good luck!

A deal alert for writers

Starting today, and continuing for a full seven days, the (normally $3.99) Kindle edition of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: A Self-Help Guide is on sale for only $0.99.

It was written as a collaboration with my old and good friend Anne R. Allen, a respected publishing industry blogger and successful author. Together we covered all the angles of a changing industry, filling in any gaps in the other's experience (for example, I've had an agent so long that I wasn't very familiar with the cutting edge modern submission process) and bouncing our often-humorous styles off each other to create what we feel is a pretty complete walk through our industry.

The book has gotten great reviews from both new and experienced writers. It's jam-packed with information, and just about everyone who's read it says they come out with something useful.

And at $0.99, how can you miss? (UK readers, I'm happy to say it's only 0.99 for you, too, you just need a different link. THIS ONE.) If you take me up on the offer and try it, please let me know what you think. And if you're not a writer, you can always pass the news along to someone who is.

Usually I say, "Happy reading!" Maybe in this case I should say, "Happy submitting!" If there is such a thing. Try the book. It might help. 

More about Ask Him Why

For those of you who want to know what's coming next, I present my forthcoming novel Ask Him Why.

This blog post is something of a cover reveal, among other things. And I hope you like it as much as I do.

Yes, the torn fence has an important meaning in the story. You'll see.

I've set up a book page for Ask Him Why so you can read more about it.

And it can be preordered right now in Kindle ebook, paperback, and audio. And here's where it gets interesting. You will have the option to buy a hardcover edition of Ask Him Why if you choose!

It's coming on December 8th. Yes, it seems long to me, too, but it's already August. It'll be here before you know it.

Happy reading! 

Deal Alert for Where We Belong

Just a quick post to let you know that the US Kindle ebook edition of Where We Belong just began a price promotion this morning. It's on sale for only $0.99, and that price will be good until the end of July.

Please tell your friends who like to read (and who don't like to pay a fortune for books).

Happy reading!

Deal alert on paper books

I know there are many of you out there who still enjoy holding a paper book and turning the pages.

A lot of my readers even tell me that they buy books inexpensively in Kindle and then buy the paperback to add to their library if it's a favorite.

So for those of you who like to add books to your library, Walk Me Home and The Language of Hoofbeats are both on sale in the US marketplace for only $7.48 in this special Amazon promotion: Up to 50% Off Select Popular Fiction Books

These prices are good for a full month (until August 12th)!

Happy reading!

Deal alert for UK readers

So often I have to leave my poor UK readers out of the price promotions. Now here's one just for you.

The Language of Hoofbeats is on a special summer sale at Amazon.uk. The Kindle ebook is only 0.99p (sorry, don't know how to do the GB Pound sign on my keyboard) and that price is in place through the 31st of August!

If you're in the UK, please help me spread the word.

Hope you enjoy the read!

Hey readers, how about a sneak peek at what's next?

I still don't have a cover to show you for my next release, Ask Him Why. Soon. I will soon.

But the book description just went up on its Amazon page. So take a look and tell me what you think.

The book is already available for preorder HERE.

View fullsize

New swag!

New bookmark, front

Okay, so I've always offered hand-signed bookmarks. They just didn't look as good as this.

New bookmark, back

This is my brand new bookmark, designed just for me and my readers by Laron Glover of Ninth Moon. They are beautiful and shiny and glossy-coated on the front, uncoated on the back for signing and personalizing.

As always, they are absolutely free.

Here's how you get one (or more): 

Please address an envelope to yourself and put a stamp on it. Then fold it up and mail it to me at:

P.O. Box 552, Cambria, CA 93428

As always, for book groups:  If your group is going to be reading and discussing one of my books, I'm happy to send one for each member, and the postage is always on me. Just go to the contact page, tell me how many people are in your group and send one address for a group representative. I'll send enough for each of you. It's my way of saying thanks for choosing my book.

And check out my Swag page (it's under "Extras") if you haven't seen the hand-signed custom bookplates yet.

As always, working to bring swaggier swag to my faithful readers.

Don't be shy about taking me up on it!

Our foundation's book program

For those who don't yet know it, following the release of PayIt Forward: Young Readers' Edition (Simon & Schuster, 2014) the Pay It Forward Foundation has made our book program its main focus.

We have arranged a special discount with Simon & Schuster so we can buy these books inexpensively. We then provide class sets to teachers at no cost. We even cover the shipping to schools within the US.

Please check out the new video introducing our book program, You can help us by sharing it widely.

I also want to stress that we can only keep this program going as long as we have the funds to do so. All donations--no matter how small-- are much appreciated and will spread the work of the Pay It Forward Foundation in a meaningful way, reaching kids in their formative years and teaching kindness.

Thanks for your help!  

Worthy audiobook giveaway

I just wrapped up my giveaway of the three Worthy paperbacks. The winners were Sean, NAVZ, and Jeanie Wright.

Now we are moving on. Among the other lovely goodies sent to me by my publisher, Lake Union, are five Worthy audiobooks. Three are MP3 audio, two are CD sets. I figure just about everybody can play an MP3 these days (even those who tend to think they can't), on their computers if no place else. So hopefully we won't have to do much of that complicated thing where people specify which they want and I have to redraw names because I don't have enough of their requested edition.

As always, please read the following. I'm guessing most people don't, based on the fact that I always have at least half a dozen entries with no email address. I can't put those names into the hat because I would have no way to reach the person if they won. So for your own sake it might not hurt to brush up on how to enter.

Leave a comment below to be entered. Please DO leave your email address in the comment form (even though it will say it's optional). I promise I won't use it for any other purpose but to notify you if you win. Please DON'T leave your email address in the body of your comment unless you want everybody to see it. (It will seem there is no place for your name and email. But when you hit "Post Comment," you'll see those fields come up.)

If you have trouble, email me and let me know (my address is on the Contact page) but it seems commenting is fixed for most of you.

And last, if you're reading this on GoodReads, please click through and leave your comment on the original blog on my site. Otherwise I worry I'll forget the GoodReads folks when the time comes to draw names.

I'll collect names for a few days and then draw five winners at random.

Good luck! 

UPDATE: Aaaaannnnndddd, we have our five winners. They are: Judy Goodman, Betsy Gingerich, Lois Carl, bn100, and Penny Evans. Check your mail inbox, folks!

Deal alert on two paper books

I know some of you still like to read paper (now known as physical) books. And even those of you who read on Kindle sometimes like to give paper books as gifts or add them to your library.

So I'm letting you know about a deal that just began today. Amazon has put two of my paperbacks--When I Found You and Take Me With You--in its "20 Popular Fiction Books Under $10" promotion. Both paperbacks are marked down from just under $15 to $8.99.

This deal runs through the end of May.

Happy reading!

My "looking forward to Worthy" giveaway

Hopefully most of you know that my newest novel, Worthy, is available for preorder and scheduled to be released on June 2nd. At the end of last week, the UPS guy brought me lots of nice treats, including the ones pictured here. I got copies of the finished book, MP3 audiobooks, and CD set audiobooks.

I'm going to start today by giving away three copies of the paperback, which can't be bought in stores. (Yet.)

Here's how to enter. Please take a minute to read this if you're new here.

Leave a comment below to be entered. Please DO leave your email address in the comment form (even though it will say it's optional). I promise I won't use it for any other purpose but to notify you if you win. Please DON'T leave your email address in the body of your comment unless you want everybody to see it. (It will seem there is no place for your name and email. But when you hit "Post Comment," you'll see those fields come up.)

If you have trouble, email me and let me know (my address is on the Contact page) but it seems commenting is fixed for most of you.

And last, if you're reading this on GoodReads, please click through and leave your comment on the original blog on my site. Otherwise I worry I'll forget the GoodReads folks when the time comes to draw names.

I'll collect entries for a week or ten days and then choose three winners at random.

Good luck!

UPDATE, MAY 22ND: I have the names of our three winners. They are Sean, NAVZ, and Jeanie Wright. Stay tuned, because I'll be giving away audiobooks next.

Deal alert for fellow writers

You know I always tip you when a book is on price promotion, because I think my readers deserve to save money on books. But this is not a novel. This is a rare example of a nonfiction title in my body of work. Not all of my readers will be interested, but those who are also writers might want to take a closer look.

Starting this morning, and continuing for a full seven days, the (normally $3.99) Kindle edition of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: A Self-Help Guide is on sale for only $0.99. It was written as a collaboration with my old and good friend Anne R. Allen, a respected publishing industry blogger and successful author. Together we covered all the angles of a changing industry, filling in any gaps in the other's experience (for example, I've had an agent so long that I wasn't very familiar with the cutting edge submission process) and bouncing our often-humorous styles off each other to create what we feel is a pretty complete walk through our industry.

The book has gotten great reviews from both new and experienced writers. It's jam-packed with information, and just about everyone who's read it says they come out with something useful.

And at $0.99, how can you miss? If you take me up on the offer and try it, please let me know what you think. And I'm always open to questions from writers. It's a tough business, folks. We need each other.

Will "The Bet" never end?

Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Apparently not.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of The Bet, it goes a little something like this. Well, actually, it goes a lot like this. Several years ago, Author Brian Farrey read an article somewhere about Steven King making a bet that involved, rather than money, the writing of a short story. The "winner" got to dictate the title to the "loser." (Now I ask you, how can you be a winner if you don't get to write a story and a loser if you do?) He proposed the idea on Twitter to see if any authors were crazy enough to take him up on it. Fortunately for Brian, authors are nothing if not a crazy bunch.

The call was answered by authors Andrew Smith, Kimberly Pauley, and yours truly. As of this upcoming Kentucky Derby, we've answered it five times. Five. Times.

For the purpose of the bet, there might as well be only those four horses running. The winner doesn't need to come in first in the race.He just needs to beat the other players' horses. The person whose horse does best hands a story title (usually torturous) to the person whose horse comes in next, and so on. Winner does not write a story. Big loser does not get to torture anybody with a title. 

This year I have Mubtaahij. Brian has Carpe Diem. Kimberly has Rock Shandy. Andrew has Keen Ice.

If it seems like I've told you too soon, and now you're just waiting too long for stories, you can read my three stories from years past while you're waiting. Last year I chose the winning California Chrome, and so did not write a story. The story links are:  The Art of Being Stuck Here, Uncle Mo Hold a Grudge, and Even Pigeons Can Sing.

Wish me luck. Then again, the stories are fun to write, so it hard to say what luck would look like in a case like this.

A month of price deals like never before!

You know I often have promotional pricing on some of the books. And you know I always tell you about the deals. Because, even though a lot of the goal is to interest new readers, I firmly believe that my faithful current readers deserve to save some money on books.

Boy, is this ever your month!

First, my most recent release, The Language of Hoofbeats, is a Kindle monthly deal on Amazon. It's normally $4.99, but all this month the ebook edition is $1.99. So if you haven't tried this one yet, this would be the time.

Then there's the ebook of Walk Me Home. It's on sale for the whole month of April in 50 Kindle Books for $2 Each. So, right. From the normal $3.99 to $2, all month.

Then there's the paperback edition of Walk Me Home. It's marked down from $14.95 to only $7.54 in the Amazon promotion Up to 50% Off Select Books. This is also for the whole month of April.

I know that sounds like a lot--but it's actually not all. Funerals for Horses will be featured for one day in April as part of Amazon's Daily Deal cycle. But I'll let you know separately when that happens.

What can I say but... happy reading!