Harper Voyager sent me another goodie bag. I really dig this advance reader gig, when they send me good stuff, of course. I forgot to diagram the goodie package before this one, but that's for another entry.
An awesome over sized and soon to be modded t-shirt with an astro-sloth.
And treats. Which I actually put in shoes outside for Krampus, because I'm not super keen on THAT much mint. Also I don't want my ass beaten bloody by a tall, skinny, horned god.
That's it for now (this year, I guess.) I'm going to boot up some video games and take my mind off of reading for a while.
I got my package from Harper Voyager publishing last night. And
I waited until this morning to open it.
Now, as the people reading
this should know, as they’re more than likely my friends, I have a cat. And he
likes to get into trouble and chew and do other cat like things. So when I woke up
out of my Sirlesque, karaoke, and League of Legends 'til 3:30 AM stupor to the sound of ripping and cat chirruping, I found
this: Photographic evidence of possible theft attempt.
Mugshot of perpetrator after apprehension.
Despite
my delinquent feline contaminating my loot, I was still hyped about the box and laid out my haul.
Sort of pictured, a black tote bag with assorted book titles
screened on it. To carry my books around. Because I’m twelve and like people to
know that I’m so cool I need a bag specifically to carry books.
I’m going to power through the rest of Peter V. Brett’s The Daylight War,
because I can’t read two books at once. My brain can barely take
writing four of my own plus reading another.
Onto my plan of attack!
DISCLAIMER: I was given promotional copies of these books by Harper Voyager US, for the purpose of review. This disclaimer will be on every post that relates to these books or anything else from the publishing company. We both have to cover our asses from the prying eyes of The Law.
1) DEAD SET; Richard Kadrey
They sent me a signed(!) copy,
which I’ll keep, and I’ll probably give
away/loan out the print edition I bought on release day. Because sorry, (not
sorry,) I’ll read anything that man releases until forever. Despite some of his
earlier work being less than fantastic, Sandman Slim has me so hooked I can’t
even words. (Told you you’d figure out
my favorite author if you stuck around. He’ll get his own blog entry of epic and borderline embarrassing fangirl
proportions later on.)
I guess I can review Dead Set, though
I’m three months removed from reading it. I can re-read it in four hours, though. See
if I can beat my time from the first go ‘round.
2) DREAMS AND SHADOWS; C. Robert Cargill
This one was pretty high up on my
million book To Read list. I was meaning to pick it up, so yay, definite score
getting a free copy. I’m a huge fan of twists on classic fairy tales ever since
I picked up The Child Thief by Brom, and went from thinking Peter Pan was lame
to being a super creepy older woman in love with him. I’ve got a thing for
arrogant little goth boys that bite off more than they can chew with authority
figures. I can’t want to crack into this and see what Cargill came up with.
3) THE WASTELAND SAGA; Nick Cole
Since all three books are
conveniently packaged together, I have no excuse to not read the whole series. I’ll probably do a post for each part, to keep things easy. Also to
not kill my brain trying to remember everything for a full three book review.
4) THE TAKEN; Vicki Patterson
The Taken, by Vicki
Patterson. Which, let’s be honest, I’m the least excited about. Obvious “LOOK,
I’M A STRONG BUT STILL SEXY/VULNERABLE WOMAN BEING STALKED BY A MYSTERIOUS
DOUCHEY STRANGER-TOOL” vibe, and therefore, zero fcks are given. I’ll try a
couple chapters to see how I feel, but I doubt I’ll be super into it. Doesn’t
look like it’d be my kind of book. But,
it was sent, and I will read it. Or try. I’m going in fairly neutral, taking it
as I used to take required reading for school; doesn't mean I refuse to enjoy
it, but we shall see.
5) RIDES A DEAD LEGION; Raymond E. Feist
Usually this one would be
much higher on the list, but being part of a saga, I’m putting it at the end
in hopes that I can get my hands on the rest of it because I’m slightly OCD about
starting a series. I prefer to read them in succession; it helps to keep me in
the world. And everyone’s hating on the demons, lately! It’s not their fault people
are tasty…
So that’s it! And I’ll finish off The Daylight War, maybe write a blog for that, and Dead Set, then get started on Dreams and Shadows.
Wow, it's been eight months since I did this blog thing. Well, let's get straight to the point, eh?
While I'll legitimately try to keep up with regular posting about whatever, this is going to be turning into mainly a book blog. Because apparently my snarky application to be an advance reader for a publishing company (that will eventually be getting a copy of my project every week for eternity until they accept it) was clever (or smartassy) enough to catch their attention.
I'll be getting advance copies of books from this specific publisher and they asked, (read: intended) me to review them on retail sites, Goodreads, Facebook, even here on my own blog. This inaugural run of marketing and free sht lasts for six months, and I'll have to keep applying to stay in this club of geekery and awesome. And dammit, I like books. And they'll be free. I see nothing wrong with any of that.
Unless they send me things like this.
Which, let's be real, they might. These slop troughs meant purely to sell to mass markets of preteens and cat ladies, who for some reason think being stalked, controlled, manipulated, and not murdered because someone "loves" (owns) you is romantic, are somehow ridiculously more popular than they ever should have been. My feelings on this is on reserve for a future entry...
Now I know, I know. Not everything's going to be from my favorite author, or in the same vein as my favorite series, not even my preferred genres. And just because I don't like it doesn't mean that other people can't or shouldn't. And I understand that. But reading, reviewing, and studying other writers' work, regardless of whether or not I like or respect it can only help me. Especially since they have book deals and I don't. So I'm taking it for what it is, and am very grateful for the opportunity.
I think I'll not pull a typical Steph and actually take this sht seriously. I mean, I'm certainly no real critic. I haven't even finished a first draft on anything I'd remotely consider publishing, so I'm not sure from which part of my ass I'd pull any intelligent, credible remarks or commentary. Plus I've always heard; "Those that can't write, critique/edit." And I certainly don't want to be thrown in with that lot.But I'll do my best in the reviewing department. I'll be honest, and fair, and constructive, trying to keep too much of my personal biases out of things. Because no one likes to be pitched judgmental critical bullsht, no matter how well established they are in their field. Especially not from some brown-nosing noob willing to do anything to play ball.
Neg is pretty much my spirit animal.
So, the good news is, I'm peeking through the proverbial cracked door to my career of choice. Albeit not necessarily the route I'd have chosen. I'd much more prefer to strike literary gold and get a NY Times best seller straight out the gate, but that's less likely than I'd hope. Sad, since I've always wanted to kick in the door to some ritzy building riding a white tiger on rocket skates drinking orange cream soda out of a chalice and be like "WHAT'S UP, LOSERS."
But... They at least know who I am. They apparently think I'm interesting. And garsh dangit, they picked me. I'm hoping that studying what they like to publish/hope to promote will help me finish, market, and sell my own project(s). Not too much progress on that front either, I'm afraid. Mostly outlining and juicing up of what I already have. I did manage to outline a different project, though, and that's looking quite promising as well. Now if my friends would actually read what I send them so I could get some feedback and ambition to continue, that would be fan-freaking-tastic. -_-;
Fair warning, unnamed-until-I-get-the-legal-details-of-this-deal publishing company. I'm not good with gentle. And I've been itching to use this battering ram I've got under my bed.
