So, in order to get myself into the festive spirit, I'm opening up this year's festive giveaway now... and it's our biggest, most diverse giveaway yet!!!
What I've done is ordered up a selection of books from various genres, you've got fantasy, cookery, business, politics, thrillers, literary fiction, biography and so much more. I've squeezed them all onto my bookshelf and snapped some piccies of them. So my lovely, lovely LJ friends, take a look at the photos under the cut (you can click on them to enlarge so that you can read all the spines) and let me know what you would like!
PLEASE READ THE RULES AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, THIS GIVEAWAY IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TO PAST ONES.
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All of the books are available and in print, so if you need further help deciding they all have description on Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones.com, etc.
Rules!!
Not a lot here, but a couple of things to keep in mind…
1. Please comment this entry with your book and genre choice. Please do not post your personal details in this journal. Email proofs@simonandschuster.co.uk with your LJ USER name, name, address and put LJ BOOK GIVEAWAY in the subject line. PLEASE STATE WHICH BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE AS A FIRST CHOICE, AND THEN STATE A GENRE YOU ENJOY. This is so if that book has already gone, I can find something suitable for you :)
2. ONE BOOK per user please, let's share the love!
3. This giveaway is first come, first served. Apologies if you do not get a book this time, but there is always next round.
4. I will post the books anywhere in the world :-)
5. I will send the books to you absolutely free of charge - all I ask in return is that you read it and let me know what you think of the book, preferably in the form of a review in your journal. This is the same whether you liked the book or not - all and any feedback is welcome, both good and bad.
Books will be sent out as and when I receive requests so if you get your requests in early you might get lucky and receive them before christmas (I can not guarantee this though!), and will cost you nothing! woot!
This giveaway is open to all so please tell your friends to come and add us!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!
- Location:london
- Mood:
bouncy
If you were to write a letter to your 16-year-old self, what would it say? In DEAR ME, some of the world's best loved personalities have written just such a letter. They range from the compassionate to the shocking via hilarity and heartbreak, but the letters all have one thing in common: they offer a unique insight into the teenager who would grow up to be....
Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Annie Lennox, Paul O'Grady, Jackie Collins, Fay Weldon, Peter Kay, Debbie Harry, Brenda Blethyn, Jonathan Ross, Liz Smith, Will Young, Alison Moyet, Rosanne Cash, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Yoko Ono and Emma Thompson... to name but a few!
_____________________________________
To celebrate the release of DEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF, we want you to send us a letter from you to your sixteen year old self.
The letters can be anonymous or named, humourous or serious, and you can add doodles, photographs, or anything else you want. After we receive them, we'll post them up on our blog. Send your email to dearme@simonandschuster.co.uk - please also feel free to pop the letter up in your own blog or livejournal page to share with your friends!
The blog has already received some fantastic letters (including one from myself!) so please do visit www.dearmebooks.com and have a read of them. We hope to see your letter there soon!
- We're doing a book similar to this in November called DEAR ME, which is a collection of letters to the celebrity writer's sixteen year old self. It's looking really good and once I have a final jacket and excerpts, etc. I'll post them up for you to check out :)
Philippa Gregory's new book THE WHITE QUEEN is published next week on Tuesday 18th August. This is the first of a brand new trilogy called THE COUSIN'S WAR, and everyone at the S&S offices is gearing up for next week's global launch of the title!
Today, we launch @elizwoodville, a twitter account where over the next 7 days will post a 'tweeted' version of the new book, from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville, the main character in THE WHITE QUEEN. This is the first time that a major best selling author has used Twitter in such a way, and we're all extremely excited to see how it goes. The 'tweets' begin at 5pm GMT today - If you are on Twitter and see these tweets, please let us know what you think of them!
Also on Twitter we have, @whitequeen_book where you can get news about the international launch straight into your twitter feed!
If you would like to wet your tastebuds before the tweets begin tonight then check out our website for an excerpt of the White Queen HERE.
We've had some fantastic reviews for THE WHITE QUEEN over the last month, check out the S&S book review community
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booky_talk to see them.The giveaway entries are FRIENDS ONLY, but I'm around today accepting friend requests so please pimp us out :-)
Things have been crazy this month - and it's only the 10th!!
A couple of bits of news for you all...
Lynda La Plante's Deadly Intent got to no.9 in the paperback charts this week!!
Philippa Gregory's THE WHITE QUEEN is published on August 18th 2009! This is the first in a new trilogy set during The War of the Roses. For more information click HERE.
David Grann's LOST CITY OF Z has been shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction!
Sophie McKenzie has been winning prizes for her books left, right and centre - the latest being the overall award at the Red House Children's Book Awards - Her new book, THE MEDUSA PROJECT: THE SET UP is out next month.
Our new website is getting more and more glitch-free day by day. It was also given a five-starred review from WEB USER magazine, who picked it as website of the fortnight! If you haven't checked out the site yet, then here's the LINK.
I hope you are all well, and have no fear an LJ giveaway will be posted before the end of the week!!!
Take Care,
Ally
I've been dreading this moment (as excel and me are not the best friends), but I want to create a spreadsheet of all of my current/potential bloggers and reviewers! A mammoth task indeed as over the last few months Simon and Schuster UK has gained some fantastic reviewers!
I'll still continue to do monthly giveaways in this journal, but I will use the Blogger/Reviewer Master of all spreadsheets for when an uncorrected proof or manuscript finds its way onto my desk. As I may only have one copy, I'd also like to know your favourite genres so I know who best to send it on to.
If you'd like to participate and be a reviewer for Simon and Schuster UK, then please email me at proofs@simonandschuster.co.uk
with the following details -
Name -
Address -
Email -
Blog/Livejournal etc. URL (i.e. where you post your reviews) -
Your preferred genre (maximum of three please - sci-fi,history,teen, etc.)
PLEASE DO NOT POST THESE DETAILS AS A REPLY TO THIS ENTRY. This entry is public so I do want you to be giving me your personal details here. You do not have to be a UK resident to be a reviewer for us.
Thanks for participating!
Ally x
Daniel Depp answers your questions!Dear Readers:
Sorry about the delay in answering these questions, but I’ve been on the road for a couple of months, and wanted time to answer them properly. I’ve just now come to rest at home for a week or so, and then I’m off again! Thanks for your patience!
Anyway, here goes…
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snorkackcatcher wrote:Daniel: is -- well, to avoid spoilers, let's just say a character who went on the run for very good reason near the end of Loser's Town -- due to play a part in sequels? After a lot of buildup throughout the book his story seemed to be left hanging somewhat.
I’m asked this question a lot – readers have developed an odd affection for the guy, who was meant to be a minor character but ended up collecting his own fan base! And the answer is… yes. He’ll be back at some point, most likely Spandau 3 or 4. I’m developing a story for him now. My editor once said he’s the nicest multiple-murderer she’s ever read. I’m not quite sure how to take this. Who knew?
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Daniel Depp is a former journalist, bookseller, photographer and teacher, and most recently a screenwriter and Hollywood producer. In 1997, he and his brother, Johnny Depp (no questions on Johhny please), produced the film The Brave, with Johnny directing and starring alongside Marlon Brando. Daniel now divides his time between California and France. LOSER'S TOWN is his first novel.
LOSER'S TOWN is available on AMAZON and other retailers.
- 13:21 ' Trigiani is as charming as ever and this hymn to Italian New York is a treat' ELLE - Preorder VERY VALENTINE - tinyurl.com/cwpnq8 #
- 15:52 A big welcome to our US counterpart! Howdy! @simonschuster #
- 18:08 Michael Dobbs is on The Daily Politics Show on BBC 2 tomorrow from 12noon #
- 18:14 @BethFishReads Have you seen the videos of Adriana talking about Very Valentine? they are here on youtube tinyurl.com/dbdqs3 #
- 18:58 Listen to Daniel Depp on Radio 2 via the BBC iplayer - tinyurl.com/dduaxc
His interview is at around 33 min & 30 secs into the show. #
- 18:30 ‘Duncan writes…with power and assurance’ - Scotsman reviews A DAY AND A NIGHT AND A DAY by Glen Duncan tinyurl.com/d4r67t #
Jennifer Weiner - Revealed. Last week, Jennifer was in the UK to launch her book, CERTAIN GIRLS, in paperback, and popped into our offices in London to answer your questions!
Here are her answers...
As a budding author I am currently trying to get my first novel looked at by publishers, never mind published. Do you have any tips on how to make the breakthrough?
On my website, www.jenniferweiner.com, I've got about ten pages of advice for writers. Another website I like for new writer is Kristen Nelson's Pubrants: www.pubrants.blogspot.com.
How much of yourself goes into your leading ladies?
I'd say there's some of me in my leading ladies...and the supporting characters...and, sorry to say, in the villains, too!
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Feel free to ask them anything! Whether it's about their books, the daily life or if they have any tips for up and coming writers, they are happy to answer them as best they can.
All you need to do is post your question as a comment to this entry, or leave your question as an @reply on Twitter and I'll pass them onto the authors. Remember to state in your question whether the question is for Daniel, Jennifer or both!
Questions need to be in by Wednesday Evening (7pm GMT)
( Click here for some more information on the authors' background and some piccies :-) )
Well, it's taken me until the 16th March to write my monthly update *facepalm*, but luckily I've got some exciting news and updates to update you with!
CHILD 44 made it to no.2 in the UK paperback charts!! Hurrah!! We're really pleased in the S&S offices as it's very rare for a debut author to get that high in the charts. CHILD 44 has also been nominated for Crime Thriller of the Year at the British Book Awards, and its author Tom Rob Smith has been nominated for New Writer of the Year. You can vote for who you would like to win at the British Book Awards HERE. DINOSAURS LOVE UNDERPANTS is also nominated for Best Children's Book so we've got a really strong representation in this year's award :-)
Online-wise, the website launch date is fast approaching, so I'm busy uploading new content and playing with HTML coding - fun times! :-) We have a tentative launch date of sometime in April, but once it's up, I'll be racing on here to show it off to all of you!
booky_talkis going strong so thank you all for posting your reviews there! It's lovely to have them all in one place. THIRTEEN TREASURES seems to have been a huge hit in the last book giveaway as we already have a couple of reviews up in the community. Daniel Depp, author of LOSER'S TOWN, will be in the office later this week and I've arranged for him and another fantabulous author, Jennifer Weiner (author of IN HER SHOES and GOOD IN BED) to sit down with me for a bit, and answer any questions that you may have. These questions can be on ANYTHING, from where they write, to how they develop their characters, to what they like for breakfast! If you would like to submit a question or a dozen :-) then just post a comment in the Q&A entry that I will post shortly :-)
Books to watch this month are; BLACKMOOR by Edward Hogan (A Shakespearian tragedy in the heart of the Derbyshire moors), PEAK AND VALLEYS by Spencer Johnson (the author who bought you who moved my cheese?) and the paperback of Tom Cox's UNDER THE PAW, the diary of a male cat-lover.
That's it for this month! I'll be hosting another giveaway in a week or so, so keep your eyes peeled!!
Enjoy the rest of the Week!
Ally @ S&S UK
Peter Manseau, author of SONGS FOR THE BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER, was in the S&S UK offices today and kindly answered some questions from our followers on Twitter. Here are the questions and answers;
What kind of research did you do for the book?
I read widely about Yiddish literature, modern Jewish history, translation theory, the development of 20th century typesetting... and pretty much any other subject I thought a nonagenerian poet born in the Russian Empire would have thought about. Because the book is mostly written in a voice very different from my own, I thought it would be important to fill my head with all the facts -- important and not -- that might have concerned him.
( A couple more questions under the cut... )
- 17:02 Facebookers! this month's giveaway on our group is about to start! (uk only) www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gi
d=8469703766 # - 17:22 Facebookers! this month's giveaway on our group is up! (uk residents only) tinyurl.com/bvaxkc #
- 15:30 Fantastic review for Songs for the Butcher's Daughter at www.thebookbag.co.uk - direct link to the review = tinyurl.com/ap3ewx #
- 09:57 @pastorbear I'm half way through Very Valentine and I love it! I'm posting some Adriana videos on youtube later - I'll be sure to link you! #
- 18:09 Watch Adriana Trigiani talk about VERY VALENTINE on the TODAY show tinyurl.com/amcceu Published in the UK in May. #
- 14:48 Esquire says BURIAL is... ‘a pacy, gripping thriller’ tinyurl.com/a6t52k #
Click on the image to take a looksie...
