We also have a few others. Mine for 2011 look something like this:
-- Start publishing original short fiction on this blog site. Beginning Feb. 1, I hope to post new short stories or novelettes on the first of each month as free downloads.
-- Feature more author interviews, reviews and giveaways on the blog.
-- Revamp my website.
-- Draft at least one novel, preferably two--depending on the status of the ones already in circulation.
--Work toward the April 2012 release of my debut novel ROYAL STREET. Covers! Galleys! And work with my editor on revisions for its sequel RIVER ROAD.
-- Stop being an online workshop whore. Is there a 12-step program for this available?
So, in the spirit of giving, here's my big Almost New Year's Eve Giveaway: 11 books in honor of 2011. I might throw in a couple extra, but you'll definitely get these (included links in case you want to read more about them):
1. Charlaine Harris: Dead in the Family (A Sookie Stackhouse Novel)
2. John Barnes: Directive 51 (a cool piece of apocalypic fiction)
3. Mark Hodders' The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack (really good steampunk)
4. Claudia Gabel's Romeo and Juliet and Vampires (YA mashup)
5. Mark Acevedo's Werewolf Smackdown ( hardcore urban fantasy)
6. Jonathan Barnes' The Somnambulist (urban fantasy with my favorite opening paragraph, maybe ever)
7. Caitlin Kittredge's Nightlife (urban fantasy, Nocturne City Book 1)
8. Illona Andrews' Magic Bites (urban fantasy, Kate Daniels Book 1)
9. T.A. Pratt's Blood Engines (urban fantasy, Marla Mason Book 1)
10. Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (urban fantasy, in a Gaiman kinda way)
11. Nick Valentino's Thomas Riley (YA steampunk, signed copy with swag)
There you have it! To enter, tell me your favorite book of 2010--what blew your socks off? As always, extra entry for comments, blog followers, followers on Twitter @Suzanne_Johnson, and an extra for Tweeting (or Retweeting) the contest. Drawing will take place on Saturday, New Year's Day.
Okay. Most recently I've read The Dark Divine by Bree Despain. I have to say, that was the best read I've had in a LONG TIME! I can't really say what was the best of 2010, but this one is HIGH up there.
ReplyDeleteit depends on my mood, I think...FATED, by Rebecca Zanetti (not released until FEB 2011) is WAY WAY up there, too. Gosh, that was good. I won an ARC so I got to read it early. Absolutely LOVED IT!
What a great contest. I'm anxious to read Charlaine's Dead in the Family. I wait until they're in paper back, though....I've resisted ordered it on my NOOK because i have all the other books and want to keep that trend going.
Anyway. Happy New Year. Here's lookin' to a great 2011~
Fave book of '10? I think Changes in the Dresden Files is up there. Ballsy plot moves, and an ending that'll give you fits. The Devil You Know by Mike Carey is so good, I plowed through the rest if the series. But my favorite? Don't tell anybody -- except, y'know, people who read the comments -- but Heist Society by Ally Carter. I stumbled across it by accident (I'm a huge proponent of the heist book), and it's clever and fun and probably for girls, but who cares, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm also a follower on the tweeties (BitterOldJoe).
-j-
LOL! Great post. Sounds like you've got a busy year ahead. Best of luck to you and I hope 2011 is filled with oodles and gobs of wishes come true.
ReplyDelete:-)
Great post!!! Great resolutions for next year, best of luck!!!
ReplyDeleteI do not have a favorite book of the year, however, I do have a favorite series of the year! The series I enjoyed most in 2010 was "Women of the Otherworld" series by Kelley Armstrong! Her stories are so captivating and full of romance and action. The characters jumped out right at you while reading!
I am a follower through GFC (Moonlight Gleam)
I am a follower through e-mail (moonlightgleam(at)gmail(dot)com)
I Retweeted the giveaway!: http://twitter.com/#!/MoonlightGleams/status/20522405420072960
Thank you so much for this opportunity!!!
Moonlight Gleam
Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf
moonlightgleam(at)gmail(dot)com
oh and also a follower on Twitter! (@MoonlightGleams) :)
ReplyDeleteOkay favorite books of 2010.....that is a hard one.....(thinking, thinking, thinking...)
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to go with Lover Mine by JR Ward... I just so love John Matthew and Xhex... I am so happy that they got thier HEA!!!
My new favorite author for 2010 is Laura Wright. So freakin in love with this author....
*fingers crossed*
+1 for following blog (Kelly M)
+1 for following twitter (@kelAmU)
+1 for RT http://twitter.com/kelAmU
Thank you for a chance to win.
Kelly M
crazyforbooks@comcast.net
Some great books there... Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of good books in 2010, but I really enjoyed Soulless by Gail Carriger. Kinda funny, in retrospect, 'cuz I kept putting it off (Steampunk w/ werewolves & vampires? Whatever.), but when I finally read it, I immediately had to grab & devour the next two. And now I'm waiting (not-so-patiently) for Heartless to come out. (Not 'till summer - waaah!) :)
Let's see... +4: comment, blog & twitter follower, and retweeted.
Good luck with 2011 goals, luck forward to reading your short stories.
ReplyDeleteretweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/KristinaD77
GFC follower, email follower, also on twitter.
NewBorrowedUsed(at)gmail(dot)com
It was hard to narrow it down to just one (I did a Top 10 on my own wee blog), but this time I'll go with James Enge's This Crooked Way, which is ostensibly sword-and-sorcery but is really a phantasmagoria of delights. Great fun to read, wonderfully written, and full of great details and a wide, classically-inflected sweep.
ReplyDeleteOk, this one is actually easy for me. My fave of the year is "Danann Frost Falls From Grace" by Joanne Valiukas. LOVE that book! Thanks for another great giveaway, suzanne!
ReplyDelete+1 comment
+1 GFC follower
+1 twitter follower
the_happy_soul @ yahoo.com
I'd have to go with book 2 of The Strain Trilogy, The Fall, by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Realistic and creepy enough to give me the heebie jeebies.
ReplyDelete+Blog Follower
+Twitter Follower
+Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/booksake/status/20529167720259585
Peter Hamilton has been blowing my mind off in the past few years, first with the Night Dawn's trilogy, and more recently, the Void trilogy. In 2010, my pick goes to the Evolutionary Void!
ReplyDeleteStill haven't had the time to post a review of it on my sci-fi book review blog, but will eventually :)
Cheers!
PS: retweeted and following (feel free to reciprocate)
Look forward to reading your short stories.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book from 2010 is
Kim Harrison's "Black Magic Sanction".
Her first book in the Hollows series "Dead Witch Walking", was my first read in the Urban Fantasy field.
A Devil in the Details by K. A. Stewart gets my vote this year. I am enchanted by her hero Jesse James Dawson. He's a lanky blond modern samurai fighting demons and being super sarcastic. What's not to love?
ReplyDeleteTwitter follower @Tina_Moss
And retweet! :)
Hi Suzanne :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to say FEED by Mira/Seanan McGuire. I couldn't put it down & read it through the night & it has lingered in my mind.
Happy New Year!
Rob
I loved Stephen Kings Full Dark, No Stars.
ReplyDeletecloud10277@hotmail.com
I follow with GFC
ReplyDeleteTracy P
cloud10277@hotmail.com
I would say I've got two faves this year, Fated by SG Browne and Spellwright by Blake Charlton. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
ReplyDelete+1 tweet (http://twitter.com/#!/NooblingsNest)
+1 comment
+1 twitter follow
+1 blog follow
gmail: nooblingsnest
Thanks again!
I finally read the Hunger Games trilogy and really liked it.
ReplyDeleteActually this is the first time I've started the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and those are the books that blew me away! I love the witty writing, the sword scenes are amazing and mostly I love how Kate is so kick-a**, y'know? She's a fantastic heroin and I've never regretted reading the books, but I am anxious about the waiting time for the next Magic Slays :)
ReplyDelete+1 GFC follower
+1 following you on twitter (@VamPoet)
+1 tweeted: http://twitter.com/VamPoet/status/20542328120807424
+1 comment?
Thank you so much for this chance!!!
legally_write[at]hotmail[dot]com
Actually this is the first time I've started the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and those are the books that blew me away! I love the witty writing, the sword scenes are amazing and mostly I love how Kate is so kick-a**, y'know? She's a fantastic heroin and I've never regretted reading the books, but I am anxious about the waiting time for the next Magic Slays :)
ReplyDelete+1 GFC follower
+1 following you on twitter (@VamPoet)
+1 tweeted: http://twitter.com/VamPoet/status/20542328120807424
+1 comment?
Thank you so much for this chance!!!
legally_write[at]hotmail[dot]com
Evermore by Alyson Noel was my faovrite I also read Blue Moon and I'm really enjoying this series! tWarner419@aol.com
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read the short stories. My favorite book of the year has to be Kim Harrison's Black Magic Sanction.
ReplyDeleteI can't really say what my favorite of 2010 was because I read over 100 books this year, and most of these books were all really good. One of the most waited was the conclusion to the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead, and I started reading the Sookie Stackhouse Series and it soon became a favorite of mine.So, I can't really say which book was my favorite because there were so many good ones out there this year, but if I had to choose, I would pick Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris because of Eric Northman and her great writing.
ReplyDelete+1 blog follower (dimitri belikov)
+1 twitter follower (@dimitribelikov)
+1 tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/dimitribelikov/status/20572538467786752
+1 comment
Email- bookgeek87@gmail.com
I've read a lot of really good books that I enjoyed, but not one single book stands out as a "knock my socks off" kind of story. I got caught up on the Sookie Stackhouse books and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. My favorite series had a couple of new books this year - Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark. I also enjoyed Kiersten White's Paranormalcy and Tessa Dare's Stud Club books (mixing in a bit of historical romance with the PR and UF :) ).
ReplyDeleteI'm a blog follower, twitter follower, and I RT'ed. :) Thanks!
Currently my favorite book of 2010 is Ancestor by Scott Sigler but The Buntline Special: A Weird West Tale by Mike Resnick is up there too so far.
ReplyDeleteI loved Sin Undone by Larissa Ione. All of her books are super-hot, fun reads. I'm looking forward to the start of her new series next year.
ReplyDeleteCount me in if this is international. Thanks. This year, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins was one of my favourites.
ReplyDeletek_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
+1 comment
+1 blog follower
Favorite book of 2010 is so hard.
ReplyDeleteTyger Tyger was a biggie for me by Kersten Hamilton.
Thanks for the groovy contest:
Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
twitter: @fangswandsfairy
Oooh, this is tough. I've read a lot over the year. It's great reading through the comments, though, b/c I'm picking up some authors I've never heard of and will definitely be checking them out.
ReplyDeleteI just finished Christine Feehan's Ruthless Game, which I loved, but I'm into that series. Kresley Cole's Demon from the Dark also rocked and I can't wait for the next entry in this series.
I ordered a Kindle a couple of days ago and I am so looking forward to reading loads more on the go after it arrives.
Happy New Year, everyone!
PS. Will post on the blog and try on twitter. ( :
I've been out of pocket today but you guys rock--thanks for the comments. I'm making lists of new things to read!
ReplyDeleteFor me this year wasn't stellar for reading but there was one definite favourite - Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.
ReplyDeleteI also finally got round to reading Dead Until Dark which I really enjoyed.
I follow the blog
I follow on Twitter @EVA_n_essence
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/EVA_n_essence/status/20714094000603136
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
Favorite book of 2010: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
ReplyDeleteIt blew my socks off because I really like the romance in a book :)
AHH i so want Charlaine Harris: Dead in the Family (A Sookie Stackhouse Novel) I love the series of books
GFC follower: Khyla
Twitter: @khyla_rahchelle
Tweeted:http://twitter.com/khyla_rahchelle/status/20713785752821760
khyla_808ATyahooDOTcom
I suppose it is to much to hope the giveaway is open worldwide but I found a great new author this year and I'd like to share.
ReplyDeleteCarlos Ruiz Zafon is a Spanish writer who has only recently been translated into English and following a recommendation I read his first novel The Shadow of the Wind. It really gripped me and his second was almost as good.
I know he has written a number of YA books which are being translated at the moment.
Gibe him a try if you haven't already !
Carol T
buddytho {at}G mail DOT com
I follow via GFC.
My favorite : Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison.
ReplyDelete+1 comment
+1 blog follower
+1 Twitter follower
+1 tweeted : http://twitter.com/#!/becunique/status/20754655487197184
uniquas at ymail dot com
My favourite book this year was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, I have to admit I love all of his books :) I find them easy to read, fun and full of action, perfect holiday reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm following via GFC as Jasmine1485 +1
I'm following you on Twitter (@NTFancy) +1
I tweeted about it: http://twitter.com/NTFancy/status/20826763542138882 +1
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
My favorite book of 2010 is Bitter in the Mouth!
ReplyDeleteskkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
My favourite book of the year is Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews, I love Kate & Curran! Also loved Chimera by Rob Thurman & Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.
ReplyDelete- Blog follower
- Twitter follower: (@Sparima)
spav05(at)gmail(dot)com
My current favorite is a toss-up between Alan Bradley's The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Charming, deviously mischievous heroine, brilliant narration, engaging plots...both great reads! I can't wait for #3 to come out!
ReplyDeleteInfinite Days. I just thought it was so well done and a unique story line and characters.
ReplyDeleteblog follower
twitter follower
tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/21098307979841536
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I hope I'm not too late. But a book I loved this year? Oh gosh, I feel like I mix years umm...John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles. amazing!
ReplyDeletelauren51990 at aol dot com