The Foreign Edition Contest! Octoberfest!

So my dear Gentle Reader, I am off to Germany soon and in honor of my little jaunt abroad I will be running a contest while I am away. It's the Frankfurt Boo Expo which means . . . your chance to win foreign editions!

This is the opportunity for those of you who would like to own some of the Parasol Protectorate books in translation to win them. As always, Gentle Reader, I like to offer up bribes for actions (it's the teacher in me). So, to tempt you, this is what you could win:

Prizes

The German editions of Soulless and Changeless

or The Polish editions of Soulless and Changeless

or The Japaneses editions of Soulless and Changeless (NOT the manga)

or The US edition of Heartless (mass market size)

or The UK edition of Heartless (larger, almost trade size)

How to Win

• Post a 60 word (or more) review of Blameless and/or Heartless in a public book-orientated forum.
• Yes, it MUST be Blameless and/or Heartless.
• No, your personal blog does not count.
• Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, etc.. are the allowable venues.
• Why 60 words? Because when I reviewed professionally that was our standard.

How to Enter

1. Write and post your review.
2. Leave a comment bellow with the link in it.
3. If you like, you can include the translation(s) you are interested in. (I'm just curious.)
4. If you comment here anonymously, also include a name/way to contact you.
5. You have the whole month of October to do this.
6. Yes, you can enter multiple reviews.
7. Yes, you can repost the same review to different venues and each time counts.
8. Yes, you can write reviews for both Blameless and Heartless.
9. But you need to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT HERE FOR EACH REVIEW.

What Happens

• 7 winners will be random number generated and ranked. (Thus, the more you enter the better chance you have.)
• I will announce the 7 winners by name/handle on November 1.
• FYI I have 4 Polish, 2 Japanese, 1 German, 7 UK.
• The first winner will get to pick which translation she/he likes best, and then the second picks out of the remaining options, and so forth.
• You will have 7 days to get back to me with your choice or choices (ranked), whether you want the books signed or dedicated and signed or blank, and a snail mail address.
• I will pop them in the mail to you. Ta da!

Inevitable questions

• This contest is open to anyone, anywhere, any language.
• You will not be judged on the quality or strength of your review(s). Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
• I am out of Spanish and French editions.
• If this works, I will probably run future similar contests for other languages (this will depend on how many copies I am given of each). This may include Hungarian, Italian, Thai, Russian, Swedish, and Turkish.

GAIL'S DAILY DOSE

Your Moment of Parasol . . .


Your Infusion of Cute . . .


Your Tisane of Smart . . .
Cleaner> Fireman> Engine Driver - Positions, Promotion and Pay at Faversham in the 1870s

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .

Timeless: Galleys done, Timeless now in production. The release date on Amazon has been corrected.

Etiquette & Espionage: Handed in second pass edits. Release date Fall 2012.

Secret Project PPA: Announced at WorldCon & FenCon . . . coming soon.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

Book News:
New interview up.

Quote of the Day:
"My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter."
~ Thomas Helm

Dear Lord Akeldama: The 2011 Edition, Part Twelve

Did you, good sir, attend the first World's Fair? If so, how did you find the architecture and ambiance of The Crystal Palace? And which was your favorite pavilion?
My dearest darling sugarplum, Chicago is a tad far for one such as myself. But I did attend The Great Exhibition. I am, it might be said, still in ecstasies over the experiences there. Such wonders, such frivolity, such industrial sparkle ~ it quite took my breath away. What little I have left. But in actual fact, to my limited capacities, it was the Crystal Palace itself that was the true marvel. I am enamored of ridiculous architecture.

Anita asks:
I have noticed a resurgence in a 1970s fashion staple - the jumpsuit. Possibly even worse - the romper. As a gentleman of fashion what is your take on the jumpsuit?
Ah, Nitakins, what a very seious question you ask me! As a general rule my feeling is that the romper and the jumpsuit are best left to those who romp and jump about. Which is to say if you wish to dress as a child you should not be surprised if others treat you as such.

Mayor of "There" asks:
Having circulated among Ms. Carriger social milieu I notice that the verbal mannerisms of both yourself and the former Miss Hisselpenny are ever so slightly reminiscent of two of her circle. Is Ms. Carriger altering your bantering style in homage to her acquaintances or is what I am observing mere coincidence?
I assure you, good sir, that I am An Original! Shocking! The very idea! Any similarities between myself and any person living or dead are purely the consequence of my extensive influence and the result of the admiring masses. How do you know, dear sir, that these Algonquin artistic types are not modeling themselves upon me?

Mayor of "There" also asks:
What is the worst item of clothing inflicted upon a gentleman of style in terms of either comfort or appearance?
In order of discomfort my dear Mayoral Locality ~ the corset, the high healed shoe, and the pointed collar. Fortunately, all but one have been assumed by the fairer sex, who appear, on the whole, to be far more tolerant of such things. Is suspect this my be because they are, by nature's gift, a tab more squishy, on the whole.

nm_samantha asks:
What decade of the 20th century are you most fond of in terms of fashion?
Oh my dear, the 1930s. The zoot suit (it never officially came over here but that didn't stop me from wearing it!), the pin stripe, the new possibilities in men's hats that suddenly opened up and ~ that joy of joys, that beauty of beauties ~ the wingtip spectator.

GAIL'S DAILY DOSE

Your Moment of Parasol . . .
DIY Parasols

Your Infusion of Cute . . .



Your Tisane of Smart . . .
The Lives of Female waiting Room Attendants at London Bridge Station in the 1860s and 70s

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
Some good advice.
Timeless: Galleys done, Timeless now in production. The release date on Amazon has been corrected.

Etiquette & Espionage: Handed in second pass edits. Release date Fall 2012.

Secret Project PPA: Announced at WorldCon & FenCon . . . coming soon.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

Book News:
Babbling about Books reviews Heartless. "Heartless is a humdinger of a book and a very satisfying continuation to the Alexia Tarabotti series. Every character Gail Carriger has created is refreshing and so very amusing. I found myself chuckling more than a few times and I just adore Alexia’s reactions to events."

Quote of the Day:
"I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book."
~ Groucho Marx

FenCon Recap

I had a wonderful time at FenCon, Gentle Readers. It has renewed my faith in conventions. Let me explain . . .

I tend to think of conventions as coming in categories:

• SF/F local cons (anywhere from 200 to 2000, but usually around 800)
• steampunk cons (you never know they seem to be growing exponentially)
• WorldCon & World Fantasy (800 - 2000 these days)
• Industry events (library association gatherings, literary events, book expos anything from 100 to 20,000)
• The big beasts (DragonCon and ComicCons - huge)

Each different kind of gathering has qualities that make it wonderful and flaws that make it difficult. I've been getting a bit jaded over the past few years and seeing only flaws. FenCon has given me renewed pep.

Partly because I started out attending small local conventions, I tend to feel if you are going to start anywhere, start with them. FenCon has everything that makes a local convention wonderful without any of the drawbacks. It's well organized, well run, and (apparently) lacking in any of the drama I have come to expect in a fan run convention of any size. The hotel was ideally laid out with everything you need in a convenient loop on one floor. For the first time in my life, I did not get lost once! Anytime I was late it was because I was having a wonderful conversation with someone and couldn't get away, not because I was lost.

Taken by in ineffable Mr. Tee Morris

Yes, I know, being GoH makes a difference. But I've dabbled in organizing a convention myself so I know how unbelievably hard it is. I was looking for the cracks in the woodwork and for the fires being put out. Not to criticize such issues but so I could help if needed. The one thing the GoH can do is step in to be the "oh, shiny!" and distract in a crisis. Well, from my vantage point, it was seamless. I know there were fires, there always are, but they were so well dealt with I didn't even smell the metaphorical smoke.

If you want to try a convention for the first time, try FenCon. Is not only the behind-the-scenes organization either, the attendees are also so friendly. Could be Southern Hospitality, could be Texas, could be FenCon fandom, but I had many fun chats, surprise breakfast companions, and great times with fellow authors. I went in knowing only three other guests. Usually, that makes me nervous. I've said it before, one of the deciding factors these days in whether I go to a con is if friends will be there too. You don't need a safety net at FenCon because friends you didn't know you had are already there.

I know I promised you no more convention write-ups but I simply had to give FenCon a shout out. Go Dallas! Or more precisely, Go To Dallas! Next year, for FenCon!

In addition to all the other fun, there was an Ivy Hat Contest. I've posted about it on Retro Rack.

I enjoyed every panel I was on and they made the mistake of having me moderate one of them ~ Gail turns into Moderation Natzi under such circumstances. "Say on Topic! Stay on Topic!"

My FenCon schedule it still up on my website so if you'd like to get some notes and thoughts from any of my panels let me know which ones and I'll formulate a blog post for ya'all.

Convention Round Up

• Outfits worn: 3.5 + Travel
• Meals eaten out of Consuite: 7 (if you count tea, which I do)
• Loot: So much I had to ask the staff to mail me a box back
• Dallicks: 1
• Ice cream consumed: 3 (I'm a bad girl)
• Hot tubs taken: 4
• Pairs of shoes: 4
• Purses: 2
• Luggage: only carry on (praise me!)
• Bottles of water: 8
• Cups of tea: 21
• Business cards collected: 6
• Strange Foods Tried: 3

I also got a flyer for something called AggieCon LINK. I visited their room party and learned all about the phenomenon. AggieCon is university convention. Isn't that nifty? Get'em while they're young! Makes me think they are training fans up right in Texas and that's why the FenCon peeps are so cool.

GAIL'S DAILY DOSE

Your Moment of Parasol . . .

Your Infusion of Cute . . .

Your Tisane of Smart . . .

From the London Party at FenCon. Three of my favorites!
Your Writerly Tinctures . . .

Timeless: Galleys done, Timeless now in production. The release date on Amazon has been corrected.

Etiquette & Espionage: Handed in second pass edits. Release date Fall 2012.

Secret Project PPA: Announced at WorldCon . . . coming soon.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

Book News:
Devourer of Books reviews Soulless. "All in all it makes for a very enjoyable romp of a read. I definitely plan on continuing in this series."

Quote of the Day:
"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
~ P.J. O'Rourke