Space, Time and The Competition

Competition time.

My contributor copies of Space and Time arrived today. That's right--copies--which means I have a spare magazine to pass onto someone awesome (and it'll be signed by me) and I thought I'd throw in a $10 or £10 (depending which side of the Atlantic you're on) Amazon gift card so you can buy more books.

So what do you have to do to win...

Well, I figured since it's ebook week, you could maybe buy an ebook and then comment below saying you'd like to be entered in the competition. I'm not looking for proof you bought an ebook (I trust y'all). Just do it. Or perhaps you've already bought an ebook this week and in which case, consider yourself entered (but you still have to tell me in the comments so I know you're playing).

Here are some ebook buyage suggestions:

Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits - UK or USA
(Yes, that's my sly way of telling you my book is now available to read on the Kindle - I am made of evil things)

Some more ebook suggestions: (I LOVE these books)
The House Eaters by Aaron Polson - UK or USA
House of Fallen Trees by Gina Ranalli - UK or USA
Morning is Dead by Andersen Prunty - UK or USA

Or try something I have on my to read shelf (and to read file):
Amity by Jeremy D Brooks - UK or USA
The Masks of Our Fathers by Barry Napier - UK or USA
The Black Act by Louise Bohmer - UK or USA

Try a famous author:
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro  - UK or USA

...or a small press author:
Empire by David Dunwoody - UK or USA

...or an independent author:
Zombie Punter by Zoe E. Whitten - UK or USA

...or pre-order a book by a first time author:
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris - UK or USA

...or buy what I'm currently reading:
Tide of Souls by Simon Bestwick - UK or USA

Heck, just buy a book. Anybody's book because we're all in this together.


Competition closes midnight (your time), Friday 18th March 2011.

PS Forgot to say - even if I've mentioned your book, you can enter and if I haven't mentioned your book, please feel free to link to your book in the comment section (one time only offer).

Space, Time and Open Mouthed

The planned writing break ended before it began. I have no problem with that. In fact, I think I'll threaten the muse every week and get it to kick its ass in gear. Worked on a short story this morning that has so much running under the surface, I think I may have to dredge a canal.

Spent this afternoon in the company of esteemed writers (Simon Beswick, Ally Bird and Joel Lane). I think I looked like a mannequin set to 'awe' and maybe a nodding dog. I felt like a pretend writer. Heck, with the time I spend on twitter even my laptop thinks I'm a pretend writer. Oops! I have to say Allyson Bird is one of the loveliest people ever. Not that Simon and Joel aren't of course.

Then, I arrive home and yay, the new issue of Space and Time is out in the world (and should be in bookstores in Canada) and my name is on the cover. Or rather my old name. I think this is the last story out in the wild that will appear under the name Catherine J Gardner. I should mark the name's passing with a moments silence or a biscuit.

Space, Time and Missing Things

A few weeks ago I won a copy of Space and Time when Robert Swartwood ran a competition on his blog, and it arrived this weekend. I, of course, had to place it on top of my 'to read' pile, and in fact shoved Cherie Priest's Boneshaker aside to read it.

What a fantastic magazine... And I'm left feeling guilty as I've had a copy of issue #106 (this is #109), unread, on my shelf since earlier this year, despite it containing stories by Camille Alexa and Kurt Newton. Wrists duly slapped.

My favourite stories were 'End of Our World As We Know It' by Robert Swartwood (and for those thinking well she would say that, I challenge you to pick up issue #109 and prove me wrong) and 'Small Motel' by Dennis Danvers.

Small Motel is a slice of small town science fiction with delicious characters and a sprinkling of green tea. There is an ease to Danvers tale about alien abduction, and I'll be searching out more of his stories next year. End of Our World is beautiful, brilliant, and an excellent example of how to write in second person narrative. Oh, and Robert... You might notice something missing from this post.*

*For those wishing to understand that final, cryptic note - you'll have to read End of Our World.

Turning Folk Green

The post to make you all feel very, very jealous. Look at the goodies that I received in the post over the course of a week.

I shall list them all and then sit back and watch your green-o-meter increase with each line.

From left to right (top row):

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley (MG)

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston (YA, First Novel)

Talebones issue 37

Sand issue 3

Space And Time issue 106

From left to right (bottom row):

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson (YA)

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Gail Giles (YA)

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (YA, First Novel)

Unwind by Neal Shusterman (YA - reading, fricking brilliant)

Actually Unwind is leaving me with a slight dilemma. It's one of those books that is so wonderful (I am sure the other books are too, but I haven't got to them yet) that you want to pass it onto someone else. Half my family don't read books (the shame) and as for the ones who do... It's not my mother and cousin's type of book, the little ones are too little and the not so little one is still too young at only 9 years old. As for my friend, she has had a book for the last eight or so years in her desk drawer and she's still only on about page nine. Why am I surrounded by these people? Anyhow, as such it will join the other goodies in the competition due some time this month.

A YESSSSS and a NOOOOOO!

First off the noooooo – where Cate waves her fists and wails because David Tennant last night announced that he is quitting Doctor Who.

Rumours abound as to his replacement (as always) with David Morrisey in the frame – yep, I can deal with him as he’s cute, a Liverpool boy (from my neighbourhood) and a fabulous actor; then we have James Nesbitt – oh God, please no, no, a world of no. For my money Philip Glenister (Life on Mars) would be the perfect replacement.

And as to the YESSSSSS – Gerard Houarner of Space and Time Magazine sent me an email this morning accepting my Liverpool based sci-fi story ‘Flying Dutchmen’. A world of happy.