Songs of Love and Death: A Giveaway

Book CoverIn the mail this week, I received a finished copy of Songs of Love and Death, an anthology of new fiction from romance, science fiction and fantasy authors you’ve probably never heard of, like Neil Gaiman, Marjorie M. Liu, Diana Gabaldon, Jim Butcher, Jo Beverly, Mary Jo Putney, Jacqueline Carey and some other people. Gosh, it’s amazing how people with no track record of really honking excellent fiction get to assemble into an anthology AND get really slurpy-good cover art, isn’t it? Outrageous when that happens.

Anyway, because (a) I have an ARC and (b) I’m not done with it yet and also (c) fantasy and science fiction are not what my brain is craving right now and (d) I certainly don’t need a hardcover copy (see [a] re: ARC) I decided to give my copy away. Right here, right now, like that 90’s pop song only with Neil Gaiman instead of Jesus Jones.

This book isn’t out until 16 November, and I’ll mail the book on Friday 5 November Priority Mail, so if you’re in the US, you’ll get it before the release date. I’ll absolutely throw in the customary Smart Bitch Swag that goes into every possible mailing (stickers, SBTB post its, random pieces of cat hair – you know, the regular swag). 

If you are the winner, and you want to let me know what you think of it, please do send up a flare, or an email, or both. I can’t require such things due to pesky laws and regulations but I am always curious what people think of the books they win here at the hot pink palace of Bitchery.

What do you have to do to win? Tell me which story or which author you want to read the most – and if you can’t pick one because you’ve never heard of any of these people (gosh who ARE these upstart nobodies anyway? Does NO ONE vet these anthologies for People Who Are Amazing Writers requirement? Sheesh) – tell me which author of romance, fantasy, or science fiction you’d like to see in an anthology next.

Leave your entry in the comments, or, if you’re Neil Gaiman or Tanith Lee and you didn’t get your own copy, you can email me your entry at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOTcom with “Anthology giveaway” in the subject line. Comments close in 24 hours, and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow afternoon. If I get the address by Friday afternoon, I’ll mail it out Saturday morning. Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway except for one less hardback and a little less cat hair in my house. I’m watching the world wake up from history. Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry. Not suitable for anyone under the age of 6. May cause extreme giddiness in your pants.

Comments are Closed

  1. robinjn says:

    Neil Gaiman. Hands down. I love a good Gabaldon and Marjorie Liu, but Gaiman is just totally amazing. And oh, he’s pretty hawt too. And reads in a lovely British accent, with all that casually touseled hair.

    I mean how can you do better than incredibly talented and brilliant writer who fires all your cams too?

  2. Phyllis says:

    JoBev! And Jacqueline Carey. And Neil Gaiman. And Mary Jo Putney. And Lieu and Gabaldon and….

    This has been sitting in my to-buy cart at B&N for a month or two at least and I’ll probably have to wait for the library to process it and get through the waiting list because hardbacks are out of my price range these days. I mean, if I get extra entries for a hard luck story.

    Very excited and yes, I’ll let you know what I think.

  3. Janet says:

    Gaiman is magic, but Gabaldon has created a universe for everyday daydreams.

  4. Jessica says:

    Pick one ?!  So many good ones.  I’ll go with Diana Gabaldon, she posted a teaser on her website last week that I can’t wait to read more about.

  5. Reneesance says:

    Okay I’m just closing my eyes and pointing to one and it’s Jacqueline Carey.  But really any author on that list would have me chomping at the bit to read this right now!

  6. Samantha says:

    You mean I have to choose?!

    Very well, I accept your challenge. Diana Gabaldon. Abso-freakin-lutely, Diana Gabaldon. Since the day I first picked up Outlander, I have had a pretty serious fangirl crush on every page of every book, every character, every blog post featuring an excerpt of whatever book she’s currently writing [Side Note: The latest, from The Scottish Prisoner? I have no words. Other than, of course, OH, YES YES YES GIVE ME MORE].

    In between 1000-page novels, Gabaldon’s “short” (HA!) stories never fail to impress me, to simultaneously quench my thirst and whet my appetite (as if it needed any help) for more.

  7. scourgeotheseas says:

    Definitely the three-way (tie, people – get your minds out of the gutter!) between Gaiman, Gabaldon, and Carey. I’d totally like to see a cage match between Phedre and Claire, set in the British Museum underground station! And because you asked, this could only have been better if it included Lois McMaster Bujold, who always kicks the sh*t out of both sci-fi and romance!

  8. Val says:

    I’ve got to go with Jim Butcher. Heard so much about him and am really curious to try him out. The others are just a bonus. 😉

  9. Kristi says:

    Jo Bev or Gabaldon!! Pretty fantastic book, thanks for the giveaway 🙂

  10. Charity H says:

    Jacqueline Carey, hands-down, is the author I want to read the most. I adore all her books, although Kushiel’s Legacy is my favorite of her series. I don’t buy very many books because I am a librarian and get most of my reading materials at the library, but I own all of her books. I re-read them pretty frequently and especially lately I have been going through some tough times and re-reading her stories has been a huge comfort to me – it is so relaxing to get sucked into her worlds and forget about mine for a while.

  11. kathybaug says:

    Ohhh, so many authors….I have read some, like Butcher, Vaughn, Liu, others I haven’t, like Gaiman and Gabaldon.  I have this book on my B&N wish list, but it would really make a great birthday present (Saturday) if I could win this 🙂

  12. Amber says:

    Jim Butcher.  Not only are the Harry Dresden novels AWESOME, I also loved the Fury series.  In fact, the Dresden novels are so fantastic that they are the only way I can get my husband to read a book.  Which I naturally think is the highest of praise indeed.

  13. Rachel Aaron says:

    I actually almost never go for short fiction (reading or writing it), but I am all over this anthology! I think I will skip forward to the Tanith Lee story (since you mentioned her name, though I don’t see her listed on the cover – SACRILEGE!) because she is one of the short fiction authors I follow, and I think she writes some of the most amazing, bizarre, and moving short work on the planet, especially about love.

    Must read! Must own!

  14. Inda Lauryn says:

    Okay, I don’t know any of these authors, but that has never stopped me from reading and enjoying an anthology before.  I would be happy to discover something new.

  15. Donna says:

    Oh, yes Jim Butcher. I’m a recent Dresden-phile & can’t get enough!

  16. Jan says:

    Mmmm. Neil Gaiman would normally be my nr 1 here, but I’m currently reading the first Kushiel trilogy by Carey, and I’m digging the story but disliking the writing style. I get the feeling the style is fitted to Phedre though, so I’m very curious to read something non-related by her.

    Though if I could really pick, I’d go for George RR Martin, but alas, he’s only the editor here.

  17. JF says:

    Ohmyword, I choose NEIL GAIMAN but happily, if I win, I can READ THEM ALL!

    Ooooo, I’m all swoony just thinking about it!

  18. Leslie H. says:

    Know them all, love them all!

    Fave: Jim Butcher- His short stories sometimes contain key information that his novel readers will wish they knew!

    Neil Gaiman is always awesome as well.

    I totally covet this book!

  19. Lynz says:

    Jacqueline Carey! She is epic! Want. Book. Now!!!

  20. Tien says:

    Who are these random authors?  Never heard of ‘em.  They must be awfully terrible if they have to put them all together to make a book worth reading…

    Seriously though, i’m the little pig in the beginning of the Shrek dvd (that is on heavy (read daily) rotation with the little mermaid) who jumps up and down yelling – “pick me, pick me” .  why?  mayhap i am watching too much shrek (never….) or simply because I squealed like a piggy when I saw this post. 

    “pick me! pick me!”

  21. Bonnie Dee says:

    Jim Butcher because I haven’t read the Dresden Files yet and want to see if I like his style as much as everyone else seems to.

  22. Ashley says:

    Neil Gaiman.  Because I love everything of his I read.  Also it’s been a long time since I’ve read something by Diana Gabaldon, and Mary Jo Putney so I’d love to read those too.

  23. AmberG says:

    Oh, I love Neil Gaiman so VERY much. He was part of the writing for one of my favourite movies that no one has ever heard of (Mirrormask, anyone? Anyone?), and that’s in addition to all the novels he’s written that I have devoured, and of course, the Sandman comics. He’s just an all around amazing writer.

  24. Sarah says:

    For sure, Jim Butcher. And than the rest I think I would wait and save for a time when I’m up late at night and just finished a book but don’t want to start a new full book yet and than pick an author that I have never ever heard of and start there. But.. I must say sometimes I hate anthologies. Only because I’m ocd about reading my books in order and I WISH that they would let us know if the story is a stand alone, a short in a series (and if so.. where?? like 2.5 or something easily wonderful to do like that) or if it’s the start of a series.

  25. JaneDrew says:

    Hmm… I honestly can’t decide. If only I had a copy of my own so that I could figure this out….. *g*

  26. Jenny says:

    Looks like a great anthology! I don’t know if I’m looking forward to reading Neil Gaiman’s or Diana Gabaldon’s contribution more.

  27. cories5 says:

    A new Harry Dresden short story?  I’m so there!

    (I even tweeted a pic of my Dresden costume for Halloween to SB Sarah on Monday)

  28. Sarah says:

    Oh and I just saw that it was edited by George RR Martin.. Dude stop doing stuff like this and write the last book in your ice and fire series!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

    soon85- soon before i’m 85, please.

  29. Sarah W says:

    Jim Butcher’s story is the one I want to read first. 

    I’m hoping it’s a Dresden Files story—-I’m already a little ticked at him for the end of Changes in which he ruined THE ENCOUNTER that I’ve been waiting for books and books to finally happen.  I’m hoping the story in this anthology will do something to fix it.

    Or, you know, a story about Harry’s equally love-doomed vampire brother will be fine.

  30. Victoria S. says:

    The Diana Gabaldon story without a doubt. I LOVE her Outlander series, and while my taste in books usually run a little more racy than strictly scifi or historical fiction, her ability to craft believable and heart wrenching romance is AMAZING. So please please pick me!

  31. AndieG says:

    I’ve loved so many of Neil Gaiman’s books and graphic novels that I would *love, love, LOVE* to see what he has in store for readers this time. Plus, Christmas is coming and mama needs a free book since all my money will be going to buy presents for small people.  Please help a broke mommy in need!

  32. Katie says:

    Neil Gaiman most definitely.

  33. Ash says:

    I love Neil Gaiman.  But the Gabaldon is a big bonus – just read Outlander as a free Kindle book, and now I’m jonesing for some sequels.

  34. LauraP says:

    I can’t which one I want to read most—I love Jo Beverly’s work . . . and Mary Jo Putney . . . Carrie Vaughn . . . Jim Butcher . . . Lui . . . and . . . and . . . oh, sheesh, I want this book.

  35. Karina C. says:

    If I had to choose some authors to write an antology, Gaiman and Gabaldon would be top on my list, so this is like a dream come true! I wish I was lucky just this one time.

  36. Terhi says:

    Very difficult to pick just one (which admittedly is kind of the point of anthologies, right?). Gabaldon is a favourite of mine, but so are Beverley, Gaiman and Putney. So, maybe the pick should be Marjorie M. Liu, whom I’ve never read before, but meant to get to at some point? 🙂

    spamword together45 – 45 great stories to get to?

  37. Lynnd says:

    I’m looking forward to all of these, but if I have to pick just one, then Jacqueline Carey.

  38. Laura (in PA) says:

    Jim Butcher!

  39. Charlotte says:

    I’ve just had to delete a whole bit of squee that exploded all over this text box. Like, that kid in the front of the class who’s emitting a high pitched squeal of eager delight while their hand is raised so high it seems to be pulling the rest of their body up and off the seat so that said kid is hovering a few inches off the floor – that kid is me. Er, metaphorically speaking. So. Simplified…

    JIM BUTCHER. OH GOD YES. Each new release of the Dresden Files is a happy spot of magically delicious glory in what would otherwise be a dim, dreary early spring in Chi-town (where the books are set!). 

    And Neil Gaiman. He’s brilliant and is delightful to listen to. Seriously, that accent plus his stories is divine.

    @Sarah W – Oh, I feel your pain about The Encounter. The anthology of Dresden Short Stories (called Side Jobs) was just released and I think it’s got a kinda-almost follow up to Changes from Murphy’s POV. The fact that I haven’t been able to get my hands on it is killing me right now.

  40. Carrie says:

    ME!  ME!  PICK ME!  ME ME ME!  Pick me, because I’ll write a review! And dance with joy, and because I was so excited that I checked out the description at Amazon and can therefore say that I am most excited about PETER S.  BEAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!  Followed closely by Neil Gaiman, my big old geek crush.  i love you, Neil.  Call me.  And he’s followed closely by Gabaldon.  SQUEE!!  PICK ME!

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