Celebrating with a Kindle Give-away

In celebration of the upcoming release of FATAL ERROR (sequel to The Traz), I will be making a draw for a Kindle. I already have it in my possession as you can see from these pictures.

Everybody who posts an Amazon review of either THE TRAZ or SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT between now and when Fatal Error is released next month will get their name put into that glittery gold draw box.

I have been running various contests and eligible events since THE TRAZ debuted last fall. I made a draw this spring to celebrate the release of THE TRAZ 2nd edition and THE TRAZ School Editions, but my daughter won. I gave her the prize but bought another Kindle and kept everyone else's name in the box. (I banned all my children from entering this time.)

So if you entered at one of my signings or presentations or participated in one of my contests or answered one of my eligible questions...yes, your name is still in there and you can enter again.

If you review both books, I'll put your name in twice.

Reviews posted elsewhere online, such as on Goodreads, Smashwords, or your blog are also eligible, but you must let me know where and when they are posted so I can enter your name.

If you don't live in the U.S. or Canada, you will receive the optional $100 US gift card because I've been told this Kindle may not work outside North America. $100 should be enough to buy yourself a basic Kindle from your local Amazon site...or lots of eBooks if you already own one.

A Canadian or U.S.winner may opt for a gift card as well.

Good luck!

Here are the purchase links for my books. Just click on the titles.

THE TRAZ (only 99¢ until the end of August)

SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT (only $2.99)


Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer
www.eileenschuh.com

Free Draw for a Kindle

In celebration of the release

of the new e-editions of

THE TRAZ.

Purchase/Sample links:
2nd Edition
School Edition

I'm about to make the draw for a free Kindle--a contest I've been running for almost a year.  Originally, I intended to make the draw to celebrate the Spring release of the sequel to THE TRAZ.  However, when Imajin Books bought the publishing rights to the sequel, my plans changed.  I decided to instead use the draw to celebrate the release of the new Imajin Books e-editions of THE TRAZ. That happened last Thursday so I'm drawing today.

As I write out the names of all the latest entrants, I'm thinking about how excited I was when I unwrapped my own Kindle two Christmases ago. Even though I had been sure I was getting one, to actually hold one in my hand...and to discover how user-friendly it was and how the novels I wrote looked so beautiful on it.  I took my Kindle with me to the Panama beach and was surprised how easy it was on the eyes under the bright, high, equatorial sun.

I quickly discovered how much cheaper ebooks were than paperbacks and I soon found I could get many free books, too.  I learned that I could email my draft manuscript from my computer to my Kindle and hand it off to my friend to proof as she stood in line at the Blues Fest. She highlighted, questioned, commented and compared with the push of a few buttons--then handed it back to me. 

There were many hours in the waiting rooms of specialists and surgeons during that first winter--how nice it was to slip my Kindle out of my purse and immerse myself in a fantasy instead of waiting nervously for medical results and decisions.I was delighted to find out my Kindle would read aloud to me during those long, long treks all alone from home to the city and back.

I was so happy to give my brother-in-law a Kindle. He must undergo dialysis several times a week and when they moved the shunt from his neck to his arm, he could no longer turn the pages of a book or magazine.   A Kindle would give him something to do during the hours he has to spend in treatment. I loaded Malcolm's Kindle with Amazon's free classics and my books (of course) before wrapping it for him.

So, as I gather the names of those who recently entered my free Kindle draw, and bring out the bright gold box that holds the names of those who've entered over the past 12 months,  I ponder who it is that I hope will win.

How about one of the children at the Side Door Youth Centre in Yellowknife? That was the first presentation I did to youngsters, using The Traz to talk about decision-making and the dangers of gangs. I was surprised to discover that when I passed out the entry forms for the kids to write their names,I was giving many of them a difficult task. Several refused the paper and pen and only later did I realize that they could not write. I helped several youngsters enter. If one of them were to win--would it encourage them to learn to read and write?  That would be nice...

Or maybe one of the students from the Alternate Education Centre here in my home town will win.  That group of kids was so attentive while I read and talked. The students and teachers made me feel very welcome and bought several books, some for the Centre's libraries.  One of those at-risk children, maybe one who is hurting and alone like the young protagonist in THE TRAZ, would feel special to be the owner of a Kindle...

Or how about one of those lovely ladies who braved the dark -40C/F winter to attend my book signing at the Yellowknife Public library? A Kindle would warm their hearts, I'm sure.

Maybe someone I know personally will win, a friend or relative, who has been supportive of my writing career for years.  Maybe someone who encouraged me when I was discouraged. Maybe someone who tells others about my books, who buys my books, who reviews my books, who talks about my books.  That would be nice--to give a Kindle to someone I know.

Maybe I'll draw the name of someone I don't know--one of those lovely strangers who posted a review for me, or who participated in one of my silly contests--like the my "Many Worlds" Contest" where readers suggested a way people can tell if they're in an alternate universe.  These strangers made an effort to interact with me, though they don't know me.  Giving one of them a Kindle would be grand.

I wonder who will win my Kindle?

This afternoon, I draw.  Tomorrow I announce. You'll find the winner's name on my facebook author page tomorrow morning, MDT
_______________________________________




Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer www.eileenschuh.com

Addition of new editions....

I'm ecstatic to announce that Imajin Books will be releasing two new ebook editions of THE TRAZ on Thursday, 15 March 2012.

One is the new School Edition and the other is a revamped original.  Both books will sport a brand new, intriguing cover.

Also, it is with extreme pleasure that I announce I have signed with Imajin Books to release THE TRAZ School Edition in paperback later this spring.

You can get a sneak peek at the newly-designed cover on my Facebook Author Page  Please visit me there, 'like' the page (I can't have friends on this page, only 'likes'), and leave a comment on the new cover because I will automatically enter your name to win a Kindle.

The old cover will still grace the 1st Edition paperback

In celebration of the new releases, I will make the draw for the Kindle on Monday 19 March 2012.

Entered in the draw (along with those who comment on the cover), are those who posted a review of my books this past year, the children at the SideDoor Youth Center, the young adults from the St. Paul Alternate Education Centre, all those who visited me during my author signings, and those who participated in my other silly little contests over the past year.

For those patiently waiting for the sequel to THE TRAZ, I'm doing one final author edit before submitting the manuscript to the Imajin editors.  You can expect this book, the second in the my BackTracker series, to be released in late summer/early fall 2012.


Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer www.eileenschuh.com

Time does not stop

Although our autumn has blessed us with a hot mellow sun, long past the time when it usually submits to the cold north wind, it's obvious from the much shorter daylight hours that time has not stood still to grieve.  And neither has life.

As much as I wished it would, sometimes. 

The sun keeps rising and setting and the earth keeps orbiting and the geese gather to fly south--seemingly irrespective of those who have passed from our lives.  Time goes on.  Life goes on.

Earlier this summer I was asked by a fellow author and friend to review the short story she wrote for young teens.  IN MEMORY OF MY DAD by Maranda Russell. (Purchase In Memory of my Dad) It now comes back to me.  Maranda lost her father as a young teen and had a message for youngsters--or all of us for that matter--on how to survive the grieving process. Her story reminds us that we have not only a duty to the deceased, but a duty to life.  To our world.  To those around us.

Maranda is not the only one kind enough to gently prod me back to the land of the living.  "You must blog about Imajin Books' involvement in Alberta Arts Days from September 30 to October 3.  Our ebooks are on for $1 off.  If you could mention that on your blog that would be awesome," my good friend Cheryl Kaye Tardif emailed.  I think she noticed Magic of the Muses was stuck in time--immobile, untouched, not moving. Not living

"I'll personally donate a copy of my book CHILDREN OF THE FOG to the winner of your Kindle contest," she bribed. 

Thank you, Cheryl.  You can read more about Imajin Book's sale here Imajin Book's Alberta Arts Days eBook sale  And I'll soon be posting information on how you can enter my raffle to win that Kindle and Cheryl's scary novel.

Cheryl wasn't the only one to notice my withdrawal from things cyberspace.  "Eileen, where have you been?" tweeted my UK author/friend Pauline Barclay.  "Check my blog for a gift to you."

Thank you, Pauline, for giving me a Friendly Blogger Award.  Pauline has revamped her novel MAGNOLIA HOUSE, even giving it an intriguing new cover.  see my award on Pauline's blog

You may remember Pauline as the UK author of SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS... Pauline Barclay on Amazon  We guested on each others' blogs a while back, promoting our new releases.  This enabled me to reach the European readership with THE TRAZ and Schrödinger's Cat, and Pauline got to introduce herself and work to a Canadian audience.  Pauline's Guest Blog on Magic of the Muses My guest spot on Pauline's blog

My friends, both real-life and virtual, both home and abroad, are absolutely awesome.  A big thanks to all of you for not only supporting and encouraging my writing career, but being there for me as I stumble through life.

With your help, I'll soon be back on track with racing shoes on my feet.


Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer www.eileenschuh.com