Monday Giveaway for librarians and teachers!

Wendelin Van Draanen, Gennifer Choldenko, Ruta Sepetys, and me!

Earlier this month, I had the honor of joining the above ladies for a series of school visits, talks, and signings that benefited the school libraries affected by the tragic Moore tornado. Thank you, Perma-Bound! I had such a great time. And now I want to pay it forward by giving away a prize pack of signed perma-bound copies of each of our books.

This giveaway is for LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS in the U.S.

All you have to do is:

1) comment with your name and the school or library you are affiliated with

2) provide an email address

That's it! I will do a random drawing Sunday evening (11/3) at 10 pm Central time. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Click a cover for more information about each book offered for giveaway:

THE REVENANT paperback is almost here!

Hey guys, the paperback for THE REVENANT releases next Tuesday. This edition includes the first chapter of THE DARK BETWEEN. Yay!

Here's the official jacket blurb for the book:

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . .

I'm giving away a few copies, along with swag for THE REVENANT and THE DARK BETWEEN.



**Click here to enter the Goodreads giveaway (INTERNATIONAL)**

And/or enter below with Punchtab (US/CA only):


You can also give me your name and email address in the comments below, and I'll enter you!

Nice things

-- First, I wish to link you to Caroline Starr Rose's blog series on Navigating a Debut Year. I freely admit that I went a little wacko (okay, a lot wacko) during the debut of The Revenant, and thus her resolutions resonated quite powerfully with me. (And her gorgeous novel May B. is such a favorite of mine.)

-- Tuesday before last, I spoke at the SCBWIOK Schmooze in Tulsa. A lovely group of writers attended, and they listened patiently as I babbled on about turning points in my writing journey. Thank you for the invite Helen Newton!

-- Thursday before last, I visited the Catoosa Public Library. (Interestingly enough, Duran Duran will be performing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Catoosa later this year, but that's a story I'll be telling in August.) I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the crowd (Librarian Kathy Willis must have HUSTLED to get them there), and I had a great time answering questions and signing books.

-- On the drive back to Norman I learned from my editor that The Revenant had won a 2012 Parent's Choice Silver Award. I was over the moon! The accompanying review was particularly delightful.

-- This past Thursday I visited the John F. Henderson library in GORGEOUS Westville, Oklahoma. It was a very "intimate" gathering, as they say -- a woman, her two granddaughters and JFH librarian Sue Ann Ghormley -- but it was perfectly wonderful. They had heaps of great questions, and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them.

-- But the big event of last week was my gig in Tahlequah with the Cherokee Nation Foundation and their Cherokee Teacher Enrichment program. I've met monthly with the teachers since March, and from Sunday to Friday we worked 10 hour days as they wrote, revised, and illustrated their own books for children.

It was a life-changing experience. It's impossible to adequately describe how inspiring it was for me, but I can share a few photos:


Here is a scene from Glenda Deatherage's Spirit Defenders of Nikwasi, featuring a grandmother and grandchild contemplating a sacred mound against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. The cut paper is exquisite, isn't it? Learn more about the Nikwasi Indian Mound here.


A river scene from Terri Martindale's Galilo Gets Married (based on the traditional story The Owl Gets Married.)


A scene from Susan Cox's How the Quail Lost Its Voice, illustrated by her granddaughter.


A stunning diaorama of the stomp dance from Emily Thompson's The Daughter of the Sun. (See traditional myth here.) My inner child wanted to play with this so badly.

All the author/illustrators did a wonderful job, and it was an honor to be a part of this project.

And now, believe it or not, we're 10 days away from our departure for the UK. So much to do and no rest for the weary!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Big weekend

Exciting things happened this past Saturday night, and they did NOT involve being swept away by a tornado, thank goodness.



The Revenant won the Oklahoma Book Award for YA!

I was given a medal. (!!!) And I made a little speech. A speech in which I forgot to thank the Oklahoma Center for the Book. THANK YOU OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR THE BOOK!

As exciting as that was, the true highlight of the evening was seeing Anna Myers accept her Lifetime Achievement Award. Anna has written nearly a million* books, most of which have won awards and made important lists. Her stories have thrilled children and adults alike. Anna is one of the wisest and most supportive people I've ever met. She's also HILARIOUS and great fun to be around. Read more about her accomplishments here. After being introduced so poignantly by her son Ben Myers (a 2011 OBA winner in Poetry) Anna spoke of life, art, and inspiration. She made me giggle (as she often does), but mostly she made me think. I'm so grateful to her and the Oklahoma kidlit writing community for all they've taught me.

*slight exaggeration

Please join me in a happy dance for all the finalists and the friends who cheered them on. Hooray for the bookish people of Oklahoma!



[cross-posted from Livejournal]

Boston

First thing -- I've heard from a couple of people that they've had trouble posting comments on this blog. And the other day I received an email notification of a comment that never actually appeared on the blog. (Maybe it was deleted?) So . . . if you have any suggestions on how to fix this, please let me know!

We had a great time in Boston, once Steve got his presentation out of the way. Met up with my friend Ellen Thursday morning and she kindly showed me around. I was jabbering so much that I didn't take many photos, and those I did take weren't that great, but it was SUCH a nice time.

Steve and I walked until we dropped Thursday afternoon. I offer you a random selection of photos:


I have to ask -- what's up with the obese squirrels in Boston Common?


The Revenant is shelved in YA Mystery at the Boston Public Library. So cool! Steve faced it out, probably to the great annoyance of the librarian who checked the shelves before closing.


Quincy Market was very festive! (We walked through after dinner in the North End)


I couldn't resist getting a photo in front of the tree. :)

Revenant art!

A while back, I featured Audrey Eclectic as a Friday Favorite. I loved her Jane Eyre mug, and found inspiration for my writing in her painting, "An Old-Fashioned Romance." I nurtured a little fantasy that Heather, the artist behind Audrey Eclectic, might paint something for The Revenant. When I approached her with the idea, she was very enthusiastic. Hooray!

I was overjoyed by the results:


I love Willie's wispy hair and light smattering of freckles. You can see Seminary Hall and various students in the background (including a certain forbidden boy). Heather featured the painting on her blog, and you'll find a much better photo there.

Heather also created a postcard for me:


Here's the front with the lovely Victorian border.


And the back, featuring one of my photos of Seminary Hall.

*happy sigh*

To see more of Heather's work, including holiday-themed art and greeting cards, please visit the Audrey Eclectic page at Etsy. To learn more about her inspirations and latest projects, follow her blog. I'm so delighted that this talented Oklahoma artist enjoyed my book and was willing to create such a beautifully folksy piece for me!

Haunted Seminary Tour

This past Friday I met up with pals Brandi, Martha and Karen for the Haunted Seminary Tours in Tahlequah. I was scheduled to do a reading, accompany the first tour and sign books, but it felt more like a visit to an old friend than an "author appearance." Now that it's behind me, I can tell you that returning to the setting of The Revenant on a dark and chilly October night was the perfect way to celebrate Halloween!


How can you not love Seminary Hall in all her spooktacular evening glory? To those familiar with the book -- Willie's room is in the right turret, second floor. We had to laugh because the lights were on, but on the wrong side. And yet, do you notice a funky light in Willie's window? Or is that just me? (Click to embiggen) I know the right turret was completely dark when I took this picture.


Karen, Brandi and Martha admire Seminary Hall at night. So atmospheric! (Notice statue of Sequoyah behind them.)


Posing with Martha and Karen (& the book!).


Marie Madison, graduate student in English at Northeastern State University, was my contact for this event. Proceeds from the Haunted Seminary Tours enable NSU grad students to attend professional conferences and present papers. As a former starving grad student, I'm all for that!


You guys, I PHOTOGRAPHED AN ORB! A GHOSTLY ORB!

Okay, maybe it was just a flash effect, but Brandi (& others) heard ghostly typewriter sounds on the third floor. Apparently, many of the hauntings at Seminary Hall are auditory.


This is my favorite part -- I remembered it well from the first tour I attended over 2 years ago. Our guide shared the story of a professor who was alone on the third floor and heard someone running up and down the hall, but she could never catch the offender. Apparently, this is one of the most common auditory hauntings. Years ago, when the wiring above the drop ceiling was getting an upgrade, these footprints were discovered on the original plaster ceiling. Aren't they creepy? Is this a ghostly residue of the primaries who once ran up and down the halls?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

(I will announce the winner of the signed copies of BLOOD MAGIC, HEREAFTER, and THE REVENANT later today!)

Three things on a Thursday

1. Apologies to those who already saw it on my Facebook or Twitter feed, but I have to share this review of The Revenant at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy*.

(*Best. Blog title. EVER.)

I try not to post about reviews too often, but this one made me weepy because she really seemed to get what my editor and I worked so hard to convey about the protagonist. She also articulated something that made me see the story in a new way, which is very cool. I am soooo grateful to Liz Burns for featuring the book on her blog! (BTW, the review does contain spoilers, but she gives plenty of warning.)

2. The second part of this post was bascially going to be me navel-gazing about whether I suffer the right way for my art, but . . . GAH that's ridiculous! Who cares? I think the bottom line is that I need to: a) take more risks and b) practice learned optimism (as explained by my dear friend Lisa Marotta). What's really got to stop is the constant flailing over all my inadequacies. That is NOT the productive way to suffer for your art!

3. Looking forward to a fun weekend with friends. It was especially exciting to load Lola and the Boy Next Door and The Name of the Star on my kindle. Yay! Trying to decide whether or not to take my computer. We could probably use a break from each other . . .

Friday Favorite -- speaking engagements

Last week I had the honor of presenting at the State of Sequoyah Conference in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, during the Cherokee National Holiday. I was on a panel with distinguished scholars -- all PhDs or ABD -- which was more than a little intimidating. Still, I always have fun talking about the history behind The Revenant.

Here's a newspaper article about my talk. Thank you, Betty Ridge!

I also have to thank Brandi Barnett for inviting me over for breakfast the morning of my presentation. It was very soothing to spend time with you, my friend!


Thursday night the presenters and attendees were invited to a hog fry at the Cherokee Heritage Center. It was sooo hot, but the food and company were great. Got to spend some time with Karen Cooper (one of my Tahlequah-based critique buddies) and her husband. And I finally got to try frybread!


Here are members of the Cherokee National Youth Choir. You can see a short video I made of the young ladies singing here.


During Friday's banquet I sat with Richard Allen, policy analyst for the Cherokee Nation, and his lovely wife Shelly and daughter Emma. Richard read an early draft of The Revenant and was generous with suggestions. Emma is a graduate student at Northeastern State University, and she told me that Seminary Hall gave her some creeps after she read my book. As you might imagine, that MADE MY DAY.


This lovely lady is Dr. Lynda Dixon, professor at Bowling Green State University and member of the State of Sequoyah commission. She is gifted with a warm personality that instantly puts one at ease.


And this is Dr. Ellen Cushman, professor at Michigan State University and another State of Sequoyah commissioner. She introduced our panel on Thursday and went out of her way to make me feel welcome.


It was a privilege to sign books with Jim Northrup on Friday. He shared thoughts and several moving poems about Vietnam during that morning's session on "Warriors and War."

Overall, the State of Sequoyah conference was quite an illuminating experience!

Tomorrow I will be speaking at SCBWI OK's fall conference in Chandler. Hope to see you there!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Some updates

It's been rainy and cool (verging on cold) in Oxford lately. This is the sort of July weather I love! But I feel bad for the folks at home who are withering away in the 100+ temperatures. I sincerely hope it cools down for you soon.

And now for a mishmash of updates . . .


First thing I have to mention (as I already have done on Twitter and Facebook) that Novel Novice has put together some stunning wallpapers for THE REVENANT. I've chosen the above for my own computer, but which one is your favorite? It would mean the world to me if you gave them a look and commented on Sara's blog post.

At Novel Novice you'll also find Sara's extended interview with me (starts here) and a guest blog post from yours truly that lists ghostly film/book recs.


Last Thursday Steve and I went to London to see Betrayal, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles. This darkly funny but also painful play about infidelity featured amazing performances, especially from Ben Miles, whom I've only seen doing comedy (he's hysterical in Coupling) and gentle historicals (Lark Rise to Candleford).


We've really been enjoying our evening walks in the University Parks. I thought the light was particularly nice for this photo. On our first night we encountered the loveliest fragrance, but it took a few days to identify the source. After much research, I'm pretty sure it's the linden blossoms that smell so good. As a side note, I came across a hilarious Mitchell and Webb video during my Internet searches. It's slightly R-rated, so I won't link directly here, but those of you who enjoy spoofs on Victorian culture should google Mitchell and Webb + linden tree. (Those who got a giggle out of Darcy's "posh dancing" video really should check this one out!)


Yesterday afternoon we walked to Port Meadow and then on to Binsey (which was hosting a village Fête straight out of Midsomer Murders). Here you see our cream tea at The Perch. The setting was breathtaking, but unfortunately the tea was way oversteeped. Still, I'd like to go back and try a meal there.

This week it's work, work, work and then we're on a train to the Peak District to celebrate our 20th Anniversary! Can we possibly be that OLD? Hmmm.

Have a great week, everyone!

Last minute things . . .

First off, I wanted to remind you to watch Zen on Masterpiece Mystery starting July 17. Entertainment Weekly calls it "PBS' best mystery import in years."


It figures that Rufus Sewell, one of my favorite imaginary boyfriends, would make a critically acclaimed appearance on American TV the week after I leave for the UK. Oh well, that's what DVRs are for.

And now, a few photos from my signing at the Clarksville, TN Borders this past Sunday:


Me and my 94-year-old grandmother, Ruby. Like I said on Facebook, she was a writer long before I was born! It was so lovely to have her there.


My dad's family -- my brother Ernest, husband Steve, me, Dad, his wife Jing, and my stepsister Dionne (a.k.a. "Dr. Peacher" - yay!).


My mom's family -- my brother Jason, Ernest, Mom, me, sister Heather, and the little ones are my darling nieces Samantha and Shelby.


My ex-stepmother Rosemary and her charming friend, Kim.


Childhood friends! Glenda, me, Leigh and DeAnne. Michelle arrived later, and we all had a chance to sit and chat. Perfect ending to a really nice event.

I was so pleased to see so many friends and family members (as well as family members of friends) at the signing. Fellow Elevensie Victoria Schwab made an appearance, bearing a gift of the most delicious cake pops I've ever eaten. Thanks, V! Also met book blogger Shannon. Hooray!

Thanks to everyone for making it a very special day for me.

Finally, I wanted to remind the writers out there that Novel Novice is hosting a fabulous ghost story writing contest (sort of like ghostly "flash fiction"), in which copies of The Revenant are being offered as prizes. Check it out here.

Okay . . . next time I'll be writing from Oxford!

July already?

Today we hit the road for a quickie trip to Tennessee -- if you're anywhere near Clarksville, I hope you'll stop by my signing at Borders on Sunday, July 3, 2-4. I'd LOVE to see you!

As soon as we return it's time to pack up and ship out to Oxford, England. I am terribly excited to return to one of my favorite cities, but as always, there's way too much to do before we leave and so little time to get it all done. Wah.

In other news, THE REVENANT is novel of the month at Novel Novice -- such an honor! The first post, in which Sara explains how Lisa Madigan recommended the book long ago, is beautifully poignant. Today you'll find a desktop wallpaper calendar for July (grab it at the blog, or see below). Please stay tuned for more REVENANT-themed wallpapers, interviews, a guest blog, reading recs, and more, including information geared toward teachers. Hooray! I'm forever grateful to Sara and the lovely folks at Novel Novice for embracing THE REVENANT so enthusiastically.



Happy Friday, everyone!

One day more . . .

You guys! My book comes out . . . TOMORROW. Apparently there were some sightings in the wild over the weekend.

FREAKY.

Still doesn't seem real.

Today I am happy to announce that Random.org selected the following lovely person as the winner of a signed copy of HEREAFTER plus swag, etc.:

Kit!!!

Congratulations! And a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who participated in my countdown to the release of THE REVENANT. I've so enjoyed your comments and book suggestions along the way, and I was highly intrigued by the ghost stories shared this past week. (A handless girl walking through a cemetery -- that's so Titus Andronicus! And the spirit who jumped into someone's bed? Eeeek!)

It's been a lot of fun!

Tomorrow I will announce the two winners of finished copies of the THE REVENANT.

And there might be another special surprise or two.

:D

P.S. I sent an email newsletter to lots of folks today. If you received it but wish you hadn't, feel free to click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email -- I won't be offended. I won't even know you did it! If you didn't get a newsletter but would like one in the future (I doubt there'd be more than four a year), please go here, scroll down, and enter your email addy.

Review squee

I'm sure you must be getting sick of me talking about The Revenant all the time, but I had to share this review blurb from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books:

"Stunningly taut and entirely compelling, this blend of historical fiction, supernatural mystery, and romance will please fans of Jennifer Donnelly and Saundra Mitchell."

Hee! Two of my very favorite writers!

P.S. There's still time to enter my giveaway of WARPED and HAVEN. Go here for the details.

Thank you to my crit group

Last Friday, my crit group threw a little shindig to celebrate the upcoming release of The Revenant.

[click photos for a larger view]


There was a pretty centerpiece featuring a photo of the Cherokee Female Seminary and other shiny things.


Revenant cookies!


And here's the entire gang -- standing are Kelly, Karen (who, despite appearances, is NOT wearing a basket on her head), Dee Dee, Brandi and Martha. Sitting are Shel, me and Lisa!

Thank you, my dear friends! I can't wait to do the same for you.

P.S. Go here to see Brandi Barnett's "party planner" perspective on the event. Could provide inspiration for your own "Novel Idea" parties!

Two weeks to THE REVENANT -- Hapless Hearts Giveaway [NOW CLOSED]

First . . . on this Memorial Day my heartfelt thanks go out to all the men and women of the military who have sacrificed so much in their service to our country.

The second order of business is to announce the winner of last week's giveaway. The person who will receive copies of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and VILLETTE, plus swag, is . . .

April X!!!

And now on to the next giveaway . . . this week's theme is thwarted love, or what my husband alliteratively termed "hapless hearts"!

*Mini etymology lesson: hapless meaning "unfortunate," from Middle English "hap" > Old Norse "happ" luck, chance; akin to Old English "gehæp" fit, convenient. Hee!

What do I love about them?

I love stories in which the impediment to true love is something bigger and darker than a mere misunderstanding. Stories where, in an ideal world, the relationship would be strong, passionate and long-lasting . . . but in reality it just can't be. Perhaps it is a social or cultural taboo that gets in the way. Or maybe these two lovers can't be together without one of them losing something essential to them or compromising him or herself in a way that is unendurable. Take Jane and Rochester from Jane Eyre (seen above in the 2011 film) -- SPOILER ALERT (???) -- they can't be married. Rochester offers an alternative, but Jane refuses to compromise herself. She would rather give him up than lose herself entirely. Thus, NEITHER can be happy. Bless their poor, hapless hearts!

What does it have to do with The Revenant?

There are several characters in The Revenant who fall for the wrong person; in some cases, these "hapless hearts" find themselves in danger. Our protagonist, Willie Hammond, is drawn almost against her will to Eli, a student at the Male Seminary. The attraction is doomed, however, because she is posing as a teacher and desperately needs the job in order to maintain her independence. Complicating matters is this -- the stronger her attraction grows, the less certain she is that Eli can be trusted. What is he hiding? Will learning his secrets lead her into danger?

What am I giving away?

VOYA called Maurissa Guibord's Warped "an entertaining and thought-provoking tale" and in a starred review School Library Journal raved that Guibord's "absorbing and mesmerizing read has it all—fantasy, romance, witchcraft, life-threatening situations, detective work, chase scenes, and a smattering of violence. Imaginative and compelling, it's impossible to put down." This story of two young lovers from very different places and times reminded me, in the best way, of Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor, only with a stronger fantasy spin (& for those of you who've read the book, WARPED offers all the romance without the nekkid bits). The chemistry between Tessa and Will is palpable -- they need to be together -- but how can they bridge their temporal divide? The super cool thing about the copy I'm offering is that Maurissa Guibord signed it specifically for this giveaway when we were together in Salem, MA. Yay!

In addition to Warped, I am offering Kristi Cook's Haven, a novel that would have worked perfectly for my boarding school giveaway (if not for a monstrous lapse on the part of my brain), but also fits the Hapless Hearts theme quite nicely. Booklist said this story of a girl who has visions in which she's fated to kill the boy she loves, "reads like a blend of the Gemma Doyle trilogy, the Twilight saga, and Lois Duncan’s thrillers, and it will find a wide audience among female fans of gothic novels." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books called it "seriously sexy." With its appealing heroine, gothic setting, romantic tension and paranormal mystery, this novel is sure to please!

The weekly giveaways are open to residents of North America only. International readers may still comment to enter the drawing for a finished copy of The Revenant.

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. This isn't required, but I'd love for you to share in the comment your favorite "hapless hearts" (doomed or thwarted lovers -- and it's totally okay if they eventually overcome their obstacles and get together because that's the way I like it!).

2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet a link to this contest. Something like: Win copies of WARPED and HAVEN at @soniagensler's Two Weeks to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/3k4goxb (Please let me know in the comments that you've tweeted -- a link would be fabulous!)

You have until 11:59 pm Saturday the 4th (CDT) to enter -- good luck!

Six weeks to THE REVENANT -- Gothic giveaway [NOW CLOSED]

The Revenant officially releases six weeks from tomorrow, and by golly, I feel like celebrating!

Gentle reader, I invite you to join me today and the next five Mondays as I share many of the inspirations behind the story. Each week I'll be giving away a recent YA novel that relates to that week's theme. Simply comment below to enter the drawing for that book.

**All those who comment over the next several weeks will also be entered to win one of two finished copies of The Revenant!

This week's theme: GOTHIC!

What do I love about it?

I adore the iconography and themes of Gothic -- the dreary, crumbling castles or mansions, the dark forests and desolate landscapes, the atmosphere of gloom and confusion, the very real threat of supernatural forces, and the general sense of foreboding and mystery. Why is this so cool to me? I think it boils down to how Gothic landscapes are often a projection of unresolved internal conflicts. Gothic showed us "the return of the repressed" long before Freud came along (just read any Poe story for an illustration of this). As my dear husband put it, "the surroundings give form to the monster within." So compelling! (Here is a really fun Glossary of Literary Gothic Terms, if you'd like to know more.)

What does it have to do with The Revenant?

The easy answer is that The Revenant is Gothic because it's a ghost story. But for me, the setting screamed "Gothic" before I even decided to write about a ghost.


In most Gothic novels the setting itself is a major character. This 1888 photo of students standing in front of the Cherokee Female Seminary gave me a jolt of inspiration with its aura of gloom. I realize that the B&W photography lends strongly to this atmosphere, but still . . . the leafless trees, the wrought-iron fence, the clock tower and turrets, not to mention the dark clothing and grim faces of the students -- all these strongly communicated "secrets" and "mystery" to me. I wanted to place an outsider -- a girl with dark secrets of her own -- within this context and see what sort of trouble I could brew!

What am I giving away?

A shiny hardcover of Tessa Gratton's Blood Magic, which will come to you as soon as it releases (May 24). I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book, which I devoured in about two days. With its atmosphere of danger, dark secrets and barely repressed (& often wildly out-of-control) passions, I'm delighted to say that it fits the Gothic bill perfectly. However, it is not for the faint of heart -- consider the title, folks!

In addition, you will receive an assortment of Elevensies swag, including bookmarks and goodies for The Revenant. This giveaway is open to residents of North America only. (Don't worry -- there will be another international giveaway in the future!)

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. (Of course, I'd love for you to expound on your personal Gothic favorites in your comment, but this is not required.)
2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet or facebook a link to this contest. Something along the lines of: Win a copy of BLOOD MAGIC at @soniagensler's Six Weeks to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/5wbhkra

I wanted to make it simple, so that's it! Good luck and thanks for helping me celebrate!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]