February gets short shrift in most people’s books – and in everyone’s calendars, even in Leap Years. But it’s always been one of my favourite months – okay, possibly because it contains my birthday, but also because of snowdrops, the subtle phonics of an ‘f’ and semi-silent ‘r’, and the way the lengthening grey days begrudgingly promise spring but still insist we stay curled up at home with a good book. This year, February’s even more auspicious for me: I don’t change decades, but the last day of the month marks the publication of my first novel, cyberthriller Seoul Survivors. To celebrate, courtesy of my fabulous publisher, Jo Fletcher Books, I’m running a weekly book-giveaway competition up until the 28th. (Yes, I know, four Fridays and a Thursday – February can never be a just plain regular month, can it!).
Each week I’ll be giving away a different JFB book, culminating in a copy of Seoul Survivors. As her loyal fans well know, Jo Fletcher has built an international reputation by publishing the finest in Horror, SF and Fantasy. If you’ve lost touch with these imaginative genres, winning a free book wouldn’t be a bad way to get reacquainted. So please, folks of all literary persuasions, pile in.
To enter, just leave a comment on the post, answering that week’s question. On the following Thursday, I will choose a winner at random. (Rules Freaks, rest assured the process will be entirely anonymous: I will give each entry a number, carve the numbers into standing stones and then drink a vat of mead and race around the circle until I fall down. Wherever my left big toe is pointing will ascertain the lucky winner.) Citizens of all nations are welcome. You may enter each comp once and only once, and nothing but the alchemical laws of Foylean mead-guzzling will prevent you from winning all five books.
This week’s prize is Tom Fletcher‘s thoughtful horror offering, The Ravenglass Eye, in which a series of sinister events around a small West Cumbrian pub presages the release of a malevolent supernatural force. Having read the book myself, I should warn you that the animal sacrifice scene makes the horsemeat scandal look like a wilted cucumber sarnie fight . . .
To be in with a chance to win, just let me know your favorite bird, or if you’re a birdophobe, your least fave feathered friend . . .
[To post a comment click on the link below – it is tiny, but it is there!]
PS: And yes, there will be a launch of Seoul Survivors: dates and venues TBA, and invites forthcoming. In the meantime, Brighton folk, please pencil in Feb 28th.
Chris T: My favourite bird is a peacock, so colourful and proud of himself 🙂
[via private email]
From Chris S: My favourite bird is the Golden Oriole. I saw one on Old Winchester Hill near West Meon with my Mum when I was ten.
[via private email]
My favorite Bird is the Song Thrush – converter of Slugs into music.
It’s gotta be the pied crow. Like a clever little corvid in a tux.
http://danielwalthers.com/crows_desc.html
I love merlins, they’re small but feisty – like me!
Thank you everyone for entering and giving me so much pleasure with your characterful contestants. I want to put all of them in a play together! Sadly there can only be one winner, who – very happily for him! – is Glen Mehn, with the pied crow. Congratulations, Glen! I’ll be in touch regarding the prize. Everyone, please enter again if you like during Februrary. This week’s competition will be up soon!