Ann Somerville's Journal

I’m moving this blog to http://annsomerville.logophilos.net/

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But it’s true – Paul Bens is giving away copies of his wonderful debut novel, Kelland, to readers with an Australian address. Go here for more details

As the annual totems are set up to the Santa god, I am reminded that a confluence of various celebrations are about to descend on us, and atheist or not, it’s impossible to ignore the entire proceedings, however hard I try. (I don’t try very hard because I love carols and decorations…just not too damn early in the year.)

So. Not to encourage the rampant commercialism of this time of year or anything, but I will just offer these PSAs:

1. My competition for Aussie-based readers to win FREE (yes completely free) copies of my utterly gorgeous print books, is still going (and being ignored – I tell you, I couldn’t give away water in a desert.)
2. You can buy Encounters through the Book Depository in the UK and USA free of delivery charges, and with a healthy discount
3. You can buy Remastering Jerna in the UK and USA, ditto

My favourite kind of gift is a donation to charity, though, and my preferred charity is Médicins sans Frontières. When we have so much, does it hurt too much to give a little to those who have nothing?

I was hoping to deliver the final story in the Different Senses series before the end of the year. Sadly, it won’t happen. But, I hope to post the prologue to the novel in the next week or so, so watch this space.

My mate Sparky: Musings on the m/m genre

Go read, comment!

Okay, fellow Down Underers! I know you’re sick of giveaways that are only for readers on the other side of the Pacific, so this one is just for you! (i.e. anyone with an Aussie postcode)

This is your chance to win a free copy of one of my new print books!

Just answer these three questions (all about GLBT people and rights) and choose which book you want to win:

1. Name three countries which recognise full same sex marriage.
2. Who is the world’s first openly gay prime minister?
3. Name two living, prominent GLBT  Australians (who are famous for something other than their sexuality)

To enter for Remastering Jerna, click here to send your entry (make sure you mention it in your email too)

To enter for Encounters, click here to send your entry (make sure you mention it in your email too)

One entry per person, please.

Entries close on Sunday at 12 midnight, 13 December.

So enter now, and you’ll be reading by Xmas! (Australia Post willing, of course )

Encounters

Read An Excerpt Online

ISBN: 978-1-60504-338-8
Length: 256 Pages
Price: $15.00
Publication Date: November 1, 2009
Cover art by Anne Cain

Second chances come once in a lifetime. And sometimes they come on Angel wings…

On Wings, Rising
Dinun is used to living alone in the great, empty lands of Quarn, looking for treasure. He never dreamed it would come in the form of an injured Angel.

One of a race of telepathic winged humanoids, Moon is searching desperately for the child stolen from him to be used in barbaric experiments. In Dinun he finds an unexpected ally—and a desire that takes flight. Dinun offers his bravery in the battle to recover the lost Angel infants. Will his heart be strong enough to win Moon’s love?

Reaching Higher
Captured and condemned to death for trying to save his home planet, Kine Raelne is offered a chance to redeem himself—and to go home, if he’s lucky. But it means working with a bunch of Quarnians who have every reason to distrust him.

Suaj qel Gwan’s telepathic ability might mean he has to cooperate with the hated offworlder, but it doesn’t mean he has to like it. Yet somehow, through their enforced proximity, Raelne and Suaj find within each other a reason to reach beyond their ingrained prejudice.

But there are others who would use their fragile trust to achieve their own ends…

Book 3 of this series, Bound to fall, is available through Lulu in eformat.

My spouse’s boss came around to collect an old window we wanted to dispose of, and while we were talking, he peeked into the leaves of our crinum lily. He asked us if we knew someone was living there:

Have a read of this:

Derailing for Dummies

Then read the comments on this post:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/10/13/a-boys-own-genre-or-not/

I’ve seen this stuff in action before, but never been the direct victim of it in such a sustained fashion, in an allegedly liberal forum. On rereading the D4D link, I was astonished to find that the male commentators on that post, especially but not exclusively by any means, those responding to me, hit every single one of those points except for the last one about it being a social experiment.