West Of Mars — Win A Book!

Here’s another book title so spectacular, I didn’t forget it by the time I got a clean screen to write on!

I see a trend today — contests that end today and/or books with awesome titles. If I can only pick one trend, can we go with the contests that end not today but are for books with awesome titles?

Except… this is a non-fiction book. All about kissing. Smooching. Puckering up.

I am DEAD SERIOUS. Go see for yourself! Two copies are up for grabs in a Usual Rules give that ends February 17. There’s a mandatory entry, and a few bonus ones; read the rules and follow ‘em carefully, hear?

Kristi at Books and Needlepoint is our hostess. And I’ll tell you now, kissing her is NOT a way to enter to win. Although… she might think it’s fun. You might want to practice before you head over there.

No, do NOT practice on me. Yeesh.

Here’s another one that’s going to require you to move fast, gang. Today is, once again, the deadline.

So I’ll be brief here: at Bookish Delights, there’s a bit of a confusing give. Of course, I am desperate for a nap and am getting bleary-eyed, but it comes down to if Elise gets the most people using her as a reference to a contest over at Beth Revis’ blog or website.

Go check it out… today’s the last day, so why are you here reading me when you could be there, reading and entering???

Just when I thought Bridget at Readaholic had gotten mad at me and wasn’t sending me links anymore (sniff), she sent me some. Yay, Bridget!

Here’s what’s up at Readaholic right now.

My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel
3 winners
US/Canada
ends 2/5

How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn
3 winners
US/Canada
ends 2/7

Tick Tock by James Patterson
1 winner
US/Canada
ends 2/8

Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
3 winners
US/Canada
ends 2/9

Most days, when I click on a link to open it so I can write about, I also tell good old WordPress here to get ready to post a new link. And by the time the page refreshes so I have a blank screen for my wordy goodness, I’ve forgotten the name of the book I’m about to blurb.

Not so for this book Haley’s got, over at The Life (and times) of an Inanimate Flying Object. It’s called Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings.

Think about it.

Now, get over to Haley’s blog FAST. Today’s the last day you can enter (really, guys. Get me links when you post stuff, just in case I’ve got a backlog like my current one!). Go! Go!

oh, US and Canada only, folks.

Now, GO!!!

You need to stop in At Home with Books. You do.

That’s because Alyce, sweet Alyce, has a dirty secret. One she wants to share with you (well, if you’re in the US or Canada, she does). Yes, you. And you.

Two of you. One dirty secret.

Which is, yes you guessed it, the book of the moment. Or the day. Or any day between now and the deadline of February 14th.

so you know: Dirty Secret is a memoir. If you’re like me and you generally steer away from memoir, you’ll want to know this before you head over, looking for the goods. If you’re NOT like me and you love memoirs, this Dirty Secret might be for you.

Over at Reading Extravaganza, Lilly has a VERY GENTLY used audio copy (as in: Only one disc came out before she decided this book would be better appreciated by someone else) of Dan Simmons’ Black Hills.

Now, I’ve got to admit. I’ve read some Dan Simmons in my lifetime. I can see how he’d be hit or miss.

So check it out. Some lucky audio book lover in the US or Canada (’cause of postage costs, of course) is going to be very happy (or not, if you’re one of those who fall into the MISS category. Although YOU can then give the book away, drawing in more traffic to your site, which is a HIT, so…).

Enter by February 11.

It’s Monday. That means I’ve got a LOT of catching up to do after a weekend away, sledding with the Cub Scouts (and do I have the bruises to prove it! I’m waiting for someone to tell me to leave the lout who beat my legs so severely. I suppose I already have; I wasn’t using my own sled.).

We’ll start to ease the Win a Book backlog (keep those links coming, gang! I’d rather have a backlog than nothing to do!) with news of today’s Craig Lancaster sighting. He’s at The Write Question today, talking about being a Montana writer. I’ll let you see how Craig interprets that…

This is a really nice guest post. Be sure to stop in and check it out.

From our friend Rebecca Chastain at Number One Novels:

This week, Number One Novels interviews Kevin James Breaux about his debut epic fantasy, Soul Born. Mage Opal wavers between choices of good and evil, seeking to follow her own selfish path; Tala, a banished elf in human society, joins forces with an elemental power that can stop Opal; but both women don’t realize that the weapon they both seek to wield is the same man.

One autographed copy of Soul Born is available. The contest runs through February 6.

Before I begin the huge task of getting caught up from a weekend of sledding, let me invite you over to Thea’s Writing Page — the fan page of author Thea Atkinson. I’m there today talking about her new interactive book promotion, Rate Me Some. Go see what it’s all about — and then chime in. Tell us what you think. Go over to the Rate Me Some page and vote (today’s the last day for this month’s selections!).

Or just say hi to me. You guys know I like to chat with you.

Tony and Linda Cole received the telephone call every parent fears the most: Their bright, athletic, 12-year-old son, Anthony, had taken ill at school and was being rushed to the hospital. Just before losing consciousness on the basketball court, Anthony told one of his teammates, “I don’t have a pulse.” An anoxic brain injury (brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen) left Anthony in a coma and his future uncertain.

His parents tell the story of how they naively sat by Anthony’s bedside, thinking that any moment he would wake up and resume a normal life as a seventh-grader. But over time, they learned that the Anthony who existed on the day of his injury was gone forever, and could never be resurrected. Instead, a new Anthony had been born. A different Anthony, to be sure, but still their beloved son.

Resurrecting Anthony is an inspiring true story about unconditional love and triumph over adversity.

To win a copy, visit Colloquium and comment on the guest post contributed by author Linda Cole. DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time). There are also opportunities for bonus entries by following, Tweeting, etc.

You don’t want to miss your chance to read the Coles’ amazing story!