The Lunenberg Werewolf book & T-shirt giveaway

My friends over at Nimbus Publishing were nice enough to give me one copy of Steve Vernon’s The Lunenberg Werewolf and Other Stories of the Supernatural AND a Lunenburg Werewolf T-shirt(size large) to give away to you guys. I’m about half way through the book and it’s so good! Creepy and spine-tingling in all the good ways.

As usual, I’m going to make the giveaway pretty easy. No hoops to jump through, no need to follow, retweet, reblog, etc. All you have to do is comment below and tell me of something that creeps you out. The contest is open to Canucks only and will run until 11:59 Est February 24th.

Genesis release tour

Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella

A father who reveals his truth.
Twins who take different paths—one light, one dark.
Angels who have plans for them both
And Demons who do as well.
So the Earthly battle for souls ignites…

A tale that is over 2,000 years old, this is the story of the Amadis beginnings.

I read Kristie Cooks’ first two books in the Soul Savers series,  Promise and Purpose, and even though they are way heavier on the romance than I usually read, I really, REALLY liked them. So I’m super excited to be part of the blog tour for her Soul Savers novella, Genesis. I’m also super excited to have Kristie chatting a bit about researching for Genesis, and in particular, the food that they ate way back when in Greece. It’s cool that she’s chatting about food, because as someone who tries to eat as primal and natural as possible, what they ate back then is pretty close to what I eat now!

I’ll stop rambling now and turn things over to Kristie:

Genesis is a bit different from the other Soul Savers books. Although the fantasy world I created is the same, the real world is not. After all, it takes place over 2,000 years ago, around 200 B.C. So it required a lot of research to understand life in Greece during that era. For each stop along the release tour, I’m sharing something I learned and how it ties into the story.

Ancient Greeks loved food and dining. Although even noble women made bread, women of the home did not actually do most of the cooking, except in the poorest of households. Instead, they had female slaves who prepared, cooked and served the meals. The very rich had private chefs who were specially trained.

Food played a major role in the many festivals. Meat from domesticated animals (cows, pigs, sheep and goats) was often only eaten during festivals, after being sacrificed to the gods. It was then cooked on spits over fires. Wine, fruit, cheeses and bread were also appreciated during festivals.

Everyday consumption relied on the trio of bread, wine and olives (including oil), but was accompanied by fish and seafood, wild meat, fruits and cheese. You can check out my fun with making goat cheese at my blog today (www.KristieCook.com). Although many homes included a kitchen, food was often prepared on the fire in the courtyard outside.

Unless there were male guests, the family also ate in the courtyard when weather permitted. When there were male guests, the men ate in the andron (the men’s special living room) and the women ate in the kitchen or gynaceum (the women’s quarters).

The characters in Genesis mostly live in one-room huts, caves or small homes and eat together. Food is hunted and gathered, since they primarily live as nomads, although some necessities, such as barley and olive oil, are bought during special trips to villages with angoras (marketplaces). At least – this is how the humans eat. “Food” does mean different things to different characters in the book.

Thank you, Colleen, for hosting me and being a part of the Genesis Release Tour! Readers, in addition to the other giveaway they have going on here, you have a chance to win a Soul Savers swag pack just by commenting below. Your comment also enters you for the Grand Prize drawing at the end of the tour. For more info on the tour and the Grand Prize, please visit the tour page:
http://www.kristiecook.com/2011/10/genesis-release-tour-giveaways.html

Thanks so much for stopping by, Kristie! And folks, don’t forget to comment below for a change to wins some cool swag! Draw will be made November 6th.

Now, if you’ll all excuse me, I’m kinda hungry.

About the Author

Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.

Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:

 Author’s Website & Blog:
http://www.KristieCook.com

Series Website:
http://www.SoulSaversSeries.com

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth

Tumbler:
http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/kristiecook

Google+:
https://plus.google.com/102746226001674797330/posts

Blogoversary winners!!!

Yes folks, I have FINALLY chosen my blogoversary winners!!! All winners have been notified and have gotten back to me. Here’s the list. Congrats all!

Blogoversary #1 Darlene

Blogoversary #2 Martina

Blogoversary # 3  Martina

Blogoversary # 4  Laurie Lamb

Blogoversary #5   Sheryl

Blogoversary #6  Erin

Blogoversary #7  Karen

Blogoversary #8  Jody

Blogoversary #9  Cait  and Brit

Blogoversary winners to come …..

So, folks, I’ll be away for a few days while I head to Quebec for a family funeral. I’ll be back late Tuesday and will be announcing all of the blogoversary winners in one fell swoop on Wednesday. So….. ignore all the deadlines. If you see a giveaway you want to enter but the deadline is over, well, screw it. It’s my blogoversary and I’ll change the rules if I want to. All giveaways will be open until 11:59 pm EST, Sept 7th.

And because I love you all so much, I may have another surprise giveaway up my sleeves. All those entered in the other giveaways will be entered in this one.  :)

C

Final blogoversary giveaway – Lauren Oliver swag

This giveaway starts with a wee bit of an apology. See way back in November I had the chance to read Lauren Oliver‘s Delirium. And it freaking blew me away. It was one of the best and most absorbing dystopian YA novels I have ever read. When I finished I was basically a puddle of emotional goo. While this may sound like a bad thing, it’s actually an amazing thing. Sometimes you just need to reach that level of emotional attachment with a story and its characters.  (If you haven’t read Delirium, you need to, right now. So stop reading this post and go out and buy it. I’ll still be here when you get back.)

So Lauren was nice enough to send me some swag to giveaway. A gorgeous Delirium tote, some signed bookplates and signed Before I Fall bookmarks. (If you haven’t read Before I Fall, you need to read it, too.) It arrived, I squeed over it, and then promptly forgot about it. I know, I know, bad blogger, bad fan, bad Colleen. I discovered it in my no longer used office last week and nearly had a coronary. Since I requested it and never gave it away, it kinda seemed like I was hoarding swag. Which is so NOT the case. I’m just absent minded.

So, Lauren, if you are reading this, you did not get swindled by a swag-hungry, half-assed blogger. I heart you and your books. I don’t heart my lack of memory and organizational skills.

Okay, the giveaway. This will be a multiple winner one and will be international. One winner will win the tote and some signed stuff. The second winner will win some signed stuff. I’d have pictures, but my laptop is a bit wonky right now. But trust me, this is killer stuff.  To enter just comment below and um, well, just say hi. Or tell me something funny. Whatevs. Open until Sept 5th, 11:59 EST.

Blogoversary giveaway # 8 – Sinking Deeper

This giveaway is for a signed copy of the hilarious Sinking Deeper by Steve Vernon. I seriously LOVED this book.

When I read the blurb on the back of the book, I thought “OK, this is probably going to make me chuckle a time or two.” But it had me guffawing all the way through. It was seriously THAT funny. Roland was a great character and I loved his voice. But for me, it was all about his grandfather, Angus. This was one cool, weird, freaky dude. I just instantly fell in love with him.

While the plot was far-fetched, it was oh-so believable at the same time. Maybe it’s because I’m a Maritimer myself, but if I saw this book as a news story I’d be like, “Uh-huh. Fake sea monster. Wonder what they were into when they thought that up?”

There were also some sentimental (not sappy. NEVER sappy) moments in the story that added a nice balance to the funny. So while I did laugh my ass off, there were parts of Sinking Deeper that may have brought a tear to my eye.

This was just a really great, unbelievably entertaining book.  And now one of you lucky Canadians gets your own signed copy thanks to the fine folks at Nimbus. Just comment below and let me know of a mythical creature that you’re either fascinated with or scared witless by. Contest closes Sept. 4th, 11:59 EST.

Blogoversary # 7 – When the Hero Comes Home anthology

This giveaway is international folks! Whoot!!!!!!! Up for grabs is a copy of When the Hero Comes Home, a wicked cool anthology of sci-fi/fantasy awesomeness. It’s being donated by JM Frey, one of my favorite people on line EVER. She’s also on my “authors I HAVE to meet or I’ll die” list.

To enter, just comment below and tell me about a hero in your life. Or how you’d welcome a hero home. Contest opened until Sept 3rd, 11:59 EST.

Blogoversary giveaway #6 – YA pack from Simon and Schuster Canada

So this awesome giveaway is courtesy of the lovely folks at Simon and Schuster Canada. What’s up for grabs, you ask? Well the following three wonderful YA books!

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Possession by Elana Johnson
Thirst No.4 by CHristopher Pike

This contest is opened to Canada and the US. Just leave a comment telling me what YA book you are dying to get your hands on (besides these three, of course!). Contest ends Sept. 2nd, 11:59pm EST.

Blogoversary giveaway #5 – Lost on Brier Island – Jo Ann Yhard

So, I have a signed copy of Lost on Brier Island up for grabs! But first, my review. You know, so you can see the awesomeness that you could win.

I hate when my brain refuses to come up with a description for a book besides “sweet” or “cute”. I always feel that it comes off as a cop-out and that I’m not doing the book – or the author – justice. But Jo Ann Yhard’s Lost on Brier Island is a sweet book. And it was cute, too. And I absolutely, positively loved it.

I really, really loved everything about this book. The writing, the premise, the setting, the characters. It was a great mix of mystery, sadness, lightness and character development.

I loved seeing the growth in Alex as she moves from a sullen, sad girl who really didn’t want to be on Brier Island to opening up to what life and the island have to offer her. And as an animal lover her relationship with Daredevil and how he helped her heal, really struck a chord with me. And I think it will with everyone who reads it.

Lost on Brier Island is the perfect summertime read regardless of your age.

Thanks so much to Nimbus Publishing for not only sending me a review copy, but for sending a SECOND one when the first one got lost.

GIVEAWAY time!!!!

So excited to me able to give one you you lucky Canadian readers a signed copy of Lost on Brier Island. Jo Ann is one of my fave authors and fave peeps in general.

To enter tell me of a close encounter of the animal kind that you’ve had. Contest closes Sept 1st 11:59 EST.

Blogoversary giveaway #3 & # 4

So, in the excitement of my brother in law’s wedding yesterday (congrats James and Nicole!) I totally forgot to post a giveaway. It was written and EVERYTHING. So today shall be a double giveaway day. Yay!!!

My third blogoversary giveaway is courtesy of the wonderful folks at HarperCollins Canada. It’s a trade paperback of The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holy C. Corbett and Amanda Pressner. While I haven’t read it (yet) I’ve been hearing a lot of positive buzz about it.

Giveaway number four is an ARC of Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters. If you love horror, then this is right up your alley. The description had me cringing and itching. I shall be buying it when it comes out. Thanks to Random House for offering up the ARC.

To enter to win The Lost Girls just leave a comment and let me know where you would take off to for a little soul searching. If you want to win Bedbugs just tell me something that totally freaks you out. Feel free to enter to win both in one comment. Oh, and you have to be Canadian. Contest closes 11:59 pm EST on August 31th.