Shameless Self-Promotion!

I saw a sign today: "Only 3 weeks left until Christmas!"

My first thought was: panic!

My second was: I wonder how many people out there are in exactly the same boat as me, i.e. no prep, no presents bought and wrapped, going down to the wire on Christmas as on everything else. Sigh.

And then I thought—hey, here's an opportunity for some shameless self-promotion (by and for me!) which may even help others who are in the same pre-Christmas boat. So here goes—cool publications either written by me exclusively, or which include my work, that you could consider giving as gifts for Christmas: (I did mention the whole "shameless" bit, right?)

USA Cover

AU/NZ Cover

The Heir of Night— for adults and or teens who like classic epic fantasy, adventurous tales, and character-driven storytelling where there's complexity to the plot. Available from all mainstream book retailers in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and internationally via Amazon (et al).

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Thornspell—for tweens and young teens (and readers of all other ages) who like fantasy generally and fairytale retellings in particular, especially where they come with sword fights and hunts, mysterious magic and a dash of romance. Available from booksellers in the USA, Canada and New Zealand, although you may have to "order" in Australia; otherwise internationally via Amazon et al again.

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JAAM 28: Dance Dance Dance (ed. Clare Needham; Helen Rickerby)—The recently released 2010 edition of NZ literary journal JAAM (Just Another Art Movement) contains two of my poems, Giacometti and Oral History as a (very small!) part of  a wonderful selection of both poetry, short fiction, photo essays and non-fiction prose by contemporary NZ writers. JAAM is available from a range of book retailers throughout New Zealand or direct from the magazine: click here for details. Another great gift idea for the person in your life who loves NZ short fiction and poetry, or literature in general, would be to give a subscription.

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across the fingerboards: the 2010 NZ Poetry Society Anthology (ed. Barbara Strang)—the perfect gift for the poetry lover in your life. The NZ Poetry Society anthology contains both the winners and placegetters in this year's international poetry and haiku competitons (both adult and junior sections.) A further selection of both haiku and poems drawn from entries into the competition—including my haiku winter buddha—have been selected by editor Barbara Strang for the anthology.

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But Wait—There's More!

(Even more shameless? I hope, not quite …)  Seriously, if you do wish to give a copy of either The Heir of Night or Thornspell as a gift for Christmas and would like to include a personal dedication for the recipient, if you email me your postal details through my website, plus the details you want included in the dedication, I will send you a signed bookplate by the next day's post. These plates have been personally designed for me by Peter Fitzpatrick, the artist who designed The Heir of Night map so they are quite special.

But you will have to let me know whether you are giving the "blue" US edition or "red" AUS/NZ edition as the bookplates—like the books!—come in a different size.