Sarah Painter

Author of contemporary fiction with a touch of magic

Opportunities

In which I am published!

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Ron Swanson is excited, too.

My first book is published today!

It’s out in the world for people to read – to enjoy (or not), to buy (or not), to hate (please not).

I’ve been striving for this day for a long time and now it’s here, I feel a crazy mixture of happiness, hope, excitement, anxiety and gratitude. If my feelings at this moment were a sound, they’d be an elongated and very high-pitched ‘meep’. So, business as usual, really…

I had fizzy wine (essential to calm pre-publication nerves) last night and have started today with an avalanche of kind messages, gifts, and cards. Thank you to my lovely friends and family for being so wonderfully supportive.

I’m over on Keris Stainton’s blog today for the first stop of my blog tour. Do stop by if you have a moment!

And, don’t forget, if you leave a comment on this post (or tweet a link), you’ll be entered into a draw to win a Nook Touch e-reader.

Announcing The Language of Spells Blog Tour

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To celebrate publication (tomorrow!), I’m heading off on a blog tour.

A book tour you can do in your pajamas: Best. Invention. Ever.

Here’s the schedule. There will be guest posts, interviews and giveaways; hope you can make it!*

Thursday 30th May – Keris Stainton

Friday 31st May – Strictly Writing

Saturday 1st June – Novelicious

Monday 3rd June – Maria’s Book Blog

Tuesday 4th June – Carina UK

Wednesday 5th June – Derek Thomson

Thursday 6th June – Chick Lit Reviews

Friday 7th June – Novel Kicks

Monday 10th June – Katlyn Duncan

* If you think this post over-uses exclamation marks, just wait until tomorrow’s…

The lowdown on e-books

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I’ve had a Kindle for a couple of years, now, and love the sample feature and ability to take loads of books with me on holiday. I still buy physical books, though, which brings me to the first item on my list:

1. E-books haven’t killed paper books. Not yet, anyway… The statistics for 2012 showed that while digital sales were up by 66%, physical sales (for fiction books) also rose (by 3%). Plus, sales for both physical and digital (in fiction) was up by 21%, which is a good thing for writers. Yay! [Source: The Bookseller]

2. You can order a signed e-book (or, more accurately, a digital signature that you can file with your e-book) from Authorgraph.

3. You can give e-books as gifts. At least, you can if you’re using Kobo, or if you live in the US (the Nook US store and Amazon.com both offer this option, but the UK sites don’t as yet). Just click the ‘buy as gift’ option that comes up on the book page.

4. You don’t need a dedicated e-reader to read an e-book. Just download a free e-reader app for your PC, iPod, phone or tablet.

5. But dedicated e-readers are very nice… Many of them have lovely screens that don’t strain your eyes, they have brilliant storage space, and they’re easy to tote about. Why not enter my competition to win a Nook Simple Touch and bag yourself one for free?

Win a Nook eReader

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nook touch ereader

To celebrate the publication of my book next week, I’m giving away a Nook Simple Touch e-reader.

The Nook Simple Touch (worth £79) features E Ink display which is ‘just like reading on paper, even in bright sunlight’, and has a 6-inch intuitive touchscreen for easy navigation.

In The Language of Spells, Gwen Harper has the uncanny ability to find lost things. To be in with a chance of winning, leave me a comment on this post telling me what magical ability you’d choose to have.

For an extra entry, tweet or retweet a link to the giveaway.

Good luck!

After the closing date, I’ll pick a winner at random. Open to the UK and Ireland only, I’m afraid.*

Competition closes midnight GMT on Wednesday 5th June 2013

* Sorry about this, but I’m not sure about customs restrictions for sending a gadget across the pond…  Next giveaway will definitely be international!

Friday Five: Tears, contests, and Obama

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Friday already? Huh.

1.After Ann Coulter referred to President Obama as a ‘retard’, Special Olympics athlete and international  spokesperson John Franklin Stephens penned her this reply.*

2. In case you hadn’t heard, Obama is still president. Also, he does a mean MC Hammer impression. See Above. (Thanks, Keris!).

3. To celebrate the launch of The Days of Blood and Starlight, wonderful fantasy/YA author Laini Taylor is sponsoring a book trailer contest. It’s open worldwide and first prize is $1000. Check out full details here.

4. One of the most prestigious short story contests, The Bridport Prize, has opened for submissions. You’ve got until the end of May to enter and it costs £8 a go. I’m usually wary of paying to enter anything, but this is a respected competition and has a first prize of £5000. There are separate prizes for flash fiction and poetry, if you are that way inclined.

5. I’m not sure how long this promotion will last but Maureen Johnson’s excellent (YA) Devilish is currently FREE for Kindle.

*If you can read this without crying you probably have no soul. Sorry about that.