Cake, candles... BOOKS!

This has been the year of Being the Answer. It is, in fact, my Last Day of Being The Answer, and tomorrow I go back to just listing a boring old number for my age.

(although, if you ask me? I'm still 35. Maybe 37. I certainly don't FEEL any older than that! Except the days when I feel 78.)

Anyway, in honor of my birthday n' all that, there will be the usual bits of celebration: eating, drinking, recovery and then more drinking. But with a twist. This year, I'm giving away the presents! And all you have to do to be eligible is come to my virtual party tomorrow (here, on this LJ) and wish me a happy birthday.

From those well-wishers, I will choose one (1) lucky, totally random winner, who will get a box o' brand-new September releases, including:

A SIGNED mass market edition of FLESH AND FIRE (not in stores until 29 September) You will, in fact, be getting MY copy, as soon as it arrives from the publisher.

AND! (signed) copies of:

Kate Elliot's COLD MAGIC
Epic fantasy adventure set on an alternate earth with a steampunk edge: The life of orphan Cat Barahal changes utterly when the cold mages come for her.

C.E. Murphy's TRUTHSEEKER
With the fate of two worlds at stake and a malevolent entity wielding the darkest of magic, Lara and Dafydd will risk everything on a love that may be their salvation; or the most treacherous illusion of all

Maria Snyder's SPY GLASS
The third book in the Glass Series, SPY GLASS continues Opal's adventures. Now dealing with the loss of her special glass magic, Opal must find her place in the world.

Sherwood Smith's CORONETS AND STEEL
A modern homage to Anthony Hope's PRISONER OF ZENDA, with a magical overlay. Our heroine begins her adventure with a reckless agreement to an impersonation, but ends up having to fight for her life--and for honor.

Paul Crilley's RISE OF THE DARKLINGS
When twelve year old Emily Snow is pulled into an ancient war, protecting mankind from the creatures of Faeire in Victorian London, she must use every bit of cunning and intelligence she possesses to figure out who she can trust in an ever-shifting web of loyalties. If she decides wrong, then London, and Britain itself, will fall to the fey.

Marie Brennan's A STAR SHALL FALL
In 18th-century London, science is King, but magic is Queen. The faeries hidden beneath the city will need both if they are save themselves, and their home, from danger.

Ann Aguire's KILLBOX
Navigational grimspace "jumper" Sirantha Jax forms an army to defend colonists stationed on the outskirts of space from a legion of flesh-eating aliens.

Tanya Huff's TRUTH OF VALOR
In order to be a successful pirate, it's important to remember that there's no such thing as an ex Gunnery Sergeant. Book five in the Torin Kerr Confederation novels.

Dudes. My birthday could be very very good to you.



(all books donated by my fellow September-release authors)

to those within NYC, and those without.. our mayor has words for you.

swiped from madrobins, the text of Mayor Bloomberg's speech about Park51's proposed community center.

“Our doors are open to everyone. Everyone with a dream and a willingness to work hard and play by the rules. New York City was built by immigrants, and it's sustained by immigrants -- by people from more than 100 different countries speaking more than 200 different languages and professing every faith. And whether your parents were born here or you came here yesterday, you are a New Yorker.

“We may not always agree with every one of our neighbors. That's life. And it's part of living in such a diverse and dense city. But we also recognize that part of being a New Yorker is living with your neighbors in mutual respect and tolerance. It was exactly that spirit of openness and acceptance that was attacked on 9/11, 2001."

Yes. I'm not sorry I call him Mini-Mayor, but I promise, I'll say it with respect.

and then he nails the point home, in no uncertain terms:

“Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That may happen in other countries, but we should never allow it to happen here."