Blog Without A Name

The Expanding Universe contest is now closed to entries — and the waiting begins!

Later today, Steve and I will take the Big Treasure Chest full of contestants down to Deepest Waterville Maine, where Ellen Richmond, the proprietor of our local indie bookstore, Children’s Book Cellar will exhaust herself by pulling 36 separate entries.

Watch this space for the winners list.

In the meantime, we’d like to thank Toni Weisskopf of Baen Books for making this contest possible; Mike Barker for suggesting it; Heather Massey of The Galaxy Express for showing us how it could be done; all the bloggers, news sites, individual readers, and friends of the Liaden Universe® who boosted the signal and every single one of the more than three hundred folks who entered the contest.  May the luck be with you all!

So, I haven’t been around the blogs much, a trend that will probably continue,what with one thing and a lagging book.  Still behind on the email.  I love y’all, though.

Steve has been doing the work of four good men; meaning there are many autographed Saltations in the sky, on  the road, and, reportedly, in the hands of the folks who supported the writing of the project. Signing the books reminded us of how much we owe you guys, and we thank you again, deeply.

I still do worry about the folks on the Lost List.  Take a second to look at the list, especially if you’re in the US and haven’t received your book.  If you see your name, please don’t assume that I’ll cross-check you against the SRM database and thus discover your whereabouts.   Be proactive!  If you see a friend’s name on the list, give ’em a nudge, why not?  My goal is to get a book into the hands of everyone who was kind enough to subscribe.

The last week included an emergency run for Argent the Forester to the Subaru Repair Shop, where he emerged willing, and now able, to drive Steve to NASFiC in a couple weeks.

The day-job continues to be Entirely Too Stressful.  I blame the heat.  And administrative boneheadedness.

This evening, Steve and I are scheduled to read, and he, as a Trustee, to act as host, at the Winslow Public Library’s 100th Year Anniversary Party, which will be lots of fun.

The Expanding Universe contest has 326 entries so far.  Have you entered?  Have you blogged?  Have you pointed a friend to the contest?  Time’s running out for all of those things; the contest deadline is midnight EDT today, Friday, July 16.

Today, late as it starts will be an on-the-sofa-with-the Leewit-day.  Hope everyone has a stress-free Friday!

Remember!  The Liaden Universe® celebratory Expanding Universe Contest for a chance to win one of thirty-six electronic copies of The Dragon Variation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, or (if you’re a blogger who has boosted the signal and posted here) to be entered into a drawing for a BN gift card is in its last hours.

The contest goes over at midnight, Eastern Daylight Time (4:00 GMT) today, Friday, July 16.

Read the rules and enter the contest here

Mozart takes a well-deserved break at the word factory.

In celebration of the publication of Mouse and Dragon, the thirteenth novel set in their Liaden Universe®, authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are holding an Expanding Universe Contest!  Yes! No less than thirty-six electronic copies of The Dragon Variation will be given away.

The Dragon Variation is an omnibus edition of three Liaden Universe® novels — Conflict of Honors, one of the first modern SFRomances; Local Custom, second place winner of the Prism Award for best Futuristic of 2002; and Scout’s Progress, the first place winner of the Prism Award for best Futuristic of 2002, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice for Best SF Novel of its year, and the prequel to Mouse and Dragon.

That’s three complete novels under one cover.  No prior knowledge of the Liaden Universe® required. Electronic! In Baen Books’ DRM-free, multiplatform style.  This omnibus can be read on your Kindle, your phone, your iPad, your desktop, or other ereader.

Still need some convincing?

The first nine chapters of each of these novels may be read for free at the Baen website.
Conflict of Honors
Local Custom
Scout’s Progress

How The Contest Works:

*The Expanding Universe Contest is open to anyone — and everyone! — who has never, ever, cross-your-heart-&c read a Liaden Universe® novel.

*Reply to this blog entry with your name, and where you heard about the contest.  From those who respond, 36 lucky winners will be chosen by drawing.  If 36 or less people enter the contest, then everyone’s a winner!

*Each winner will be asked to provide their email address for purposes of receiving the code that will allow them to download their prize.

*A list of winners — with links to their websites, should they wish, and links to the website where they heard about the contest — will be published in this blog.

Small Print: The contest begins RIGHT NOW and will end at midnight Eastern Daylight Time (4:00 a.m. GMT) Friday, July 16.  A list of winners will be posted on this blog on Saturday, July 17.  It is the responsibility of the winners to contact Sharon Lee according to the instructions given with the winner’s list.  Prizes will be held for 12 days.

It’s that simple.  So!  Those friends you wanted to get hooked on the Liaden Universe®? Point ‘em this way.  Been meaning to try this Liaden thing, but never got around to it?  We’re making it as easy for you as we can.

Let’s do this thing.

* * *

Bloggers take note!

If you’d like to share the news about the Expanding Universe Contest, there’s a little something in it for you, too.  Hit “reply” and post a link to your  blog entry mentioning the contest, and be entered in a drawing for a $36 gift card from Barnes and Noble. Yes, you may also enter the drawing for a copy of The Dragon Variation, as long as you meet the contest criterion.

Steve and I spent all day, from early to late Saturday and from early until now Sunday signing, packing and labeling subscriber copies of Saltation.  I can report with confidence at this moment that hundreds and hundreds of books will go into the mail on Tuesday.  That only leaves hundreds and hundreds left to process, but, hey, progress — and a huge shout-out and Thank you! to Amy Cryway, who packed books like a mad, packing thing.

In other news, The Leewit has a new skin:

…which looks Much Classier in person than it does in the photo.  Man, that is a cool cover!

Also!  Watch this space for Teh Shiney, promised earlier in the week, and brought to you with the connivance and assistance of long-time Friend of Liad Mike Barker, Heather Massey of The Galaxy Express, and Toni Weisskiopf of Baen Books.  Details follow this evening.  This has been your Distant Early Warning.

And now, Steve is making burgers, and there’s a class of sangria with my name on it by a comfy chair under a tree.

For those who celebrate the Fourth of July, have a comfortable and safe holiday!  For those who don’t celebrate, well — you be safe and comfortable, too; that’s not just for holidays you know.

I’ll be back later.

Remember!  You can (and, dare I say, should?) read Liaden Universe® novels and stories, as well as other works by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, and by Sharon Lee on your ereader.  These electric books are available directly from Baen Webscriptions.

Yes, you can read Webscriptions ebooks on your Kindle, and on your Ipad.

Saltation subscribers, take note! There is a list of people who are in danger of not receiving their books here.  Please take a moment to check this list for your name, or the name of a friend or loved one.  If your name does appear on the list, instructions for mending that problem are at the top of the entry.

Steve and I are still signing books.  Once again — this is a lengthy process.  Please don’t write to me and ask if your book has been mailed — at this point, the answer is “no.”  Also, I don’t know when your book will be mailed.

If you wrote to Mr. Raun to ask if your name was in the database and received a negative answer from him, writing to me will not produce a positive answer.  We are using the same database.

Yesterday, Steve and I signed several hundred Saltations, then took advantage of a free movie pass to see Ondine at Railroad Square Cinema (home of the Maine International Film Festival!)  If you have a chance to see Ondine, do that.  I’m kind of a sucker for selkies, myself, but you don’t have to be a selkie freak to enjoy the movie.  Also — how refreshing to have a disabled child as a central character who’s a know-it-all and a bit of a bitch.  Anyhow, see this movie, even if you don’t have a free pass.

Today, I have a rather long to-do list, mixing up mundane items like clearing out the cabinet under the kitchen sink so Steve can replace the washer in the hot water faucet (at least, let’s hope it’s as simple as that),  doing the laundry and the dishes, mounting a compare-and-contrast with the Saltation databases, bringing together something Very Exciting that I’ll tell you about later.  Oh, and writing.

It’s raining here; Mozart has already read the morning comics and is having an early morning nap on the papers next to my keyboard.

See y’all later.

For those following along at home, Chapter three of Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee (out from Baen in November!) is now live (the link goes to the main page, in order to prevent any inadvertant, “Oh, no, I clicked the link by accident and now I’m spoiled!” moments.

Enjoy.