Grand Prize Winner - Bram Stoker Award signature sheet:
Michael Stone
Fried! Fast Food, Slow Deaths, signed by both co-editors:
Robert Harding
The Teddy Bears of Tomorrow, signed by yours truly:
Pete Allen
Alien DVD box set:
Rob Houglan
Interview With the Vampire DVD:
Bret Jordan
M:I-2 DVD:
Robert Essig
X-Files: Fight the Future DVD:
Matt Hults
Congrats to all the winners!
And the winner is Whitt Pond, who not only bought a copy of the book, but also wrote the first review to appear on Amazon.com.
Congrats, Whitt! And many thanks to Bret for supplying two pieces of original art for the contest!
Don't forget, this weekend is your last chance to post a short review online, to tag my book on Amazon, or to do any of the other acts to gain points before the big draw next week. You don't want to miss your chance to win one of the main prizes, including the signed Stoker sheet, do ya? Alrighty, then.
Wow, it's been a while since my last post, eh? It's been a busy time, that's for sure. Back in early July I began working at the library full time, whereas I was only working there part time previous to that. I've also been racing against some tight deadlines for school to complete enough credits to travel to Wales for my third and final study school in a couple of weeks. I've been chugging along nicely on the Scholastic book that's due in November, and have been doing a lot of work to spruce up the new pad, making it feel a little less cold and a little more like home.
But the biggest news of all is that I'm going to be a proud poppa next February! Colleen and I broke the news a couple of weeks ago and although it hasn't been taking up much of my free time yet (other than having to fetch the odd pickle or two), I'm sure life is going to be a tad crazier in 2010 than it was in 2009. I can't wait.
So amidst all the hustle and bustle, I forgot about my little Frozen Blood contest. I had said that there would be a few mystery prizes awarded along the way leading up to the deadline (which happens to be tomorrow!), but I've only given out one. I've got two more, one to give out now, and one yet to come. So here's what I'm thinking: the deadline of the contest should be pushed back, but only by a week and change. That way I can do a draw for the third mystery prize in the middle of the week, and then do the final draw for all the prizes on Tuesday, September 8th (I'll be attending a friend's wedding this long weekend, so that's out). Sound good?
Good.
So, enough blabbering from me. It's time to give something away!
What is it? With the winner's permission, I will give their name to one of the major characters in my next novel. The winner will get the choice of whether or not the character is good or evil. In fact, I plan on having the winner fill out a quick survey about what they want the character to be like, and what type of fate awaits the character at the end of the book. It could be a lot of fun, and I hope the person who has been drawn is game (I have a feeling she will be, but if not, I'll draw names until someone digs this prize).
And the winner is...Thea, from one of the grooviest book blogs on the internet, The Book Smugglers! I have to admit that this makes me pretty happy, since Thea not only read an early electronic copy of Frozen Blood and wrote a great review for her website, but also later drove to Dark Delicacies bookstore in L.A. to come meet me (dragging her incredibly understanding boyfriend along) and bought a copy while she was there. A class act, all the way.
Next draw coming soon!
Well, I've finally gotten around to drawing the first name for the first mystery prize. But! Before I announce the lucky winner, let me tell you what the prize is: some original interior artwork from Fried! Fast Food, Slow Deaths, illustrated by none other than my talented friend Bret Jordan! This hand-drawn illustration is 8 1/2" x 12", black and white, and accompanied the story "Red, Yellow and Green". It's one of my favourite illustrations from the book, and I'm more than a little jealous of the winner.
"Red, Yellow and Green" by Bret Jordan
And the winner is ... (drum roll) ... Launfal! This good sir not only purchased a copy of Frozen Blood, but wrote a glowing Amazon review and added a few tags for good measure. Congratulations, Launfal. And a big thank you to Bret for supplying the artwork for this contest!
I've got more mystery prizes on the way and there's still plenty of time to enter the contest. I've heard from a few people telling me they've had fun completing the various acts, and since I devised this as a way to thank anyone who has helped me spread the word about my first novel, that makes me a happy dude.
Looking for the Contest Guidelines? Click here!
To celebrate the Bram Stoker Award nomination for FROZEN BLOOD, I’ve decided to run a contest to say thank you to everyone who has helped to spread the word about my first novel.
QUICK OVERVIEW:
Buy FROZEN BLOOD, write a review and/or do any number of other small “acts”, and win cool, rare and valuable stuff!
PRIZES:
-Grand Prize: A one-of-a-kind signature sheet (with the cover images of every nominated work) I had made for this year’s Stoker Weekend, signed in silver marker by all of the attending nominees (Gary Braunbeck, Nate Kenyon, Gregory Lamberson (twice), Lisa Mannetti, Michael McCarty (twice), David Oppegaard, Joel A. Sutherland, John R. Little, Weston Ochse, Gene O’Neill, Scott Edelman, Bill Breedlove, R. J. Cavender, Vince A. Liaguno, Chad Helder, Jeff Strand, Lisa Morton, Del Howison and Corrine De Winter). Here’s a low-res scanned image of the sig sheet so you can see what it looks like:
It’s sure to become a valuable collector’s item -- plus, it’s really damn cool!
-A copy of FRIED! FAST FOOD, SLOW DEATHS, signed by the co-editor, Colleen Morris, and myself.
-A rare signed copy of my illustrated storybook, THE TEDDY BEARS OF TOMORROW.
-ALIEN LEGACY DVD box set (the first four films) - brand new
-INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE DVD - brand new
-M:I-2 DVD - brand new
-X-FILES: FIGHT THE FUTURE DVD (the good one) - brand new
-Bonus: Every so often throughout July and August, a mystery prize will be randomly drawn for anyone who has a minimum of 5 POINTS at that time. This will not affect the final draw - you can still win one of the main prizes if you win one or more of the bonus prizes.
HOW IT WORKS:
It’s quite simple, but if anything is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.
Points will be awarded for various acts, such as purchasing a copy of the book and writing an Amazon review. Once the contest has closed, points will be tallied and tickets awarded accordingly. If twenty people enter the contest, the person with the most amount of points will be awarded twenty tickets, the person with the second most will be awarded nineteen, etc. Tickets will then be randomly drawn to determine the winners. Everyone has a chance of winning a prize, but the more tickets you receive, the better your odds.
Although some acts will be verifiable (reviews), others will be on the honour system (purchases). However, if in doubt, I may ask for some sort of proof before awarding the points.
Please email me with a list of all the acts you have completed. You may email me multiple times (don’t wait until you have a final tally at the end of the contest, or you will miss out on the chance to win the bonus prizes). Send all emails to sutherlandjoel [at] yahoo [dot] ca, with “FROZEN BLOOD CONTEST” in the Subject line.
ACTS/POINTS:
-Purchase a copy of FROZEN BLOOD. If you purchased a copy before the contest, don’t worry, it still counts (but email me just to make sure I count it). 50 POINTS
-Post a review of the novel on any Amazon site (.com, .ca, .co.uk, etc.), or on any other applicable website (the options are endless -- if in doubt, ask me!). 25 POINTS PER REVIEW (feel free to post the same review on multiple sites for extra points)
-Add a tag on any Amazon site. 1 POINT PER TAG (no limit)
-Add it to a Listmania! list on Amazon.com. 10 POINTS PER LIST (click on this link for more information)
-Write an Amapedia entry on Amazon.com. 15 POINTS (click on this link for more information)
-Write a post about this contest and link to it on your blog (Myspace, LiveJournal, personal website, etc.), or on your Facebook page. 5 POINTS PER POST (but only one post per blog/site)
-Go to a public library and suggest that they purchase a copy of FROZEN BLOOD (give them a printout from the book’s Amazon.com page with the ISBN). It doesn’t matter whether or not the library decides to purchase it. Feel free to make the same suggestion at different libraries. 25 POINTS PER SUGGESTION
CONTEST OPENING DATE:
Immediately
CONTEST CLOSING DATE:
August 31, 2009
Thanks so much for participating in this contest, but most of all, thanks so much for reading FROZEN BLOOD!
There were so many highlights that I'm having a hard time processing them all, but the best part of the convention was meeting many friends, both old and new. I was also pretty happy to learn that Nate Kenyon isn't a serial killer, since we split a room one night and I hadn't met him in person before. Big relief.
After the convention we took a driving/walking tour, seeing all the major L.A. sights, and went to Warner Bros. Studios, where we got to sit on the Central Perk couch from Friends and walk around the Gilmore Girls town. I'd like to pretend that it was only Colleen that was excited about that, but that would be an unfair representation. We also drove past Merlotte's Bar from True Blood, saw a bunch of Harry Potter props, and walked along Manhattan streets (in Burbank!). I was the only person on the tour who had heard of (and seen) Monster Squad. Make of that what you will.
Vegas was a weird, weird place. I'm happy to have seen it, but have little desire to go back. I have to admit that walking around the casinos, hotels and shopping areas was really cool, and Paris was our favourite. I'm just not a gambler (I fed $2 into a slot machine, which lasted for about five minutes). One night we walked into a casino that had an open mic session for Rock Band, so I quickly signed up only to choke while playing Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper. I blame the desert heat.
It was a great trip, and the contest I'm about to announce is an ideal way to conclude it. I hope some of you enter -- the grand prize in particular is pretty sweet!
It's hard to believe, but I'm flying out of Toronto bright and early tomorrow morning to head to L.A. for the Stoker weekend. It came up really fast! But I'm all set: bags are packed, tickets and passport is ready, and I've got a briefcase filled with books -- hopefully it will be considerably lighter when I return.
No need to wish me luck -- it's going to be an amazing time, and as cheesy as it sounds, I couldn't care less right now whether I win or lose on Saturday night. Making it this far has been reward enough.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on the Stokers website beginning around 8 p.m. (PST) on June 13. If you're free and interested in watching it, go to www.stokers2009.com and click on LIVE VIDEO.
CONTEST
As a way of thanking all of the people who have taken the time to read FROZEN BLOOD, I've decided to hold a contest. I'll post the complete guidelines later this month after I've returned from the West Coast, but for now I wanted to give you all a heads-up. There will be a bunch of simple acts one can complete, with a different amount of points awarded to each act. The more points you accrue, the more tickets you get in the draw. Buying the book will award the most points (even if you bought it before the contest officially begins) and writing an Amazon review (or writing a review elsewhere) awards the second most. I know I'm biased, but I think the prizes are pretty sweet, too (more info on those to come). If anyone is interested in entering the contest, it would be cool to see a few reviews posted by the time I get back!
Leaving, on a jet plane...
Back in March, an old university friend of mine made the trek out to Ajax for my Frozen Blood book launch and signing. Turns out he's been writing content for a cool website by the name of hardcorenerdity for the past while, and he asked if I'd be interested in conducting a short interview for the site. With the move and a million other things going on at once, it took a while to get it completed, but it's now live, so if you're interested you can check it out HERE.
Due to a layout error, a few lines of my story in Shroud's Northern Haunts anthology were left out. When I first received a copy of the book and read my story, I actually thought quite a bit more was missing (my computer still hadn't been hooked up, so I couldn't compare the printed story to the original file). It goes to show how every word counts in flash fiction.
Fortunately, Tim Deal has gone above and beyond in remedying the situation, having recently updated the book's file and offering to send me a replacement copy once it's ready. He also posted the story, in its entirety, on the Shroud blog. If you've read the book and wondered about my story, you can now read the full version, and everyone else can enjoy the story gratis. It'll only take a couple of minutes to read. You can check it out HERE.
And I have another short story appearing in Issue 7 of Shroud Magazine. They're a great company to work with.
Meanwhile, I've had the computer hooked up for a while now, but have been crazy busy with the new house and am way behind on emails. Hopefully I can get caught up soon -- apologies to anyone who hasn't heard from me in a while.
I'm going to be meeting with my assigned editor at Scholastic next week to get me started on the book I announced earlier. With life slowly returning to normal, I'm looking forward to diving head first into this project.
We've moved into our new house and other than a hiccup or two, all went well. Beautiful weather, plenty of help, and no injuries. Colleen and I are real happy with the house, and although it feels a little odd to have so much space to ourselves, it's already beginning to feel like home.
Except for the lack of internet.
You see, we're redoing the flooring in the upper level (decided to get it over with right away), and since that's where the office is going to be set up, my computer is in parts in the linen closet. It shouldn't be much longer before it's good to go, but for now I've been checking my emails during breaks here at work.
Which has been driving me absolutely bonkers, because shortly after the final ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards was announced (i.e. the next day), I received some even bigger news. Hard to imagine, I know, and I'm still marveling at the timing, but when it rains it pours, I guess.
I've been given the go-ahead from Scholastic to share some great news: a book proposal I submitted to them well over a year ago has been accepted for publication, with an anticipated 2010 release date. Now I've got to get to work on writing the sucker -- they want it completed by November.
In a bit of a switch from Frozen Blood, it will be a non-fiction book aimed at middle grade and YA. It's purpose is to encourage the love of reading and writing, and will have a focus on the so-called speculative genres. I'll be drawing on my experiences running creative writing courses for kids at the library. Also included in the book will be a sampling of the short and silly interviews I conducted with popular authors and illustrators, some of which are still on my website (but I doubt they'll be there for long).
Needless to say, the last couple of weeks have been ridiculously good. If I had a moment I'd go out and celebrate, but there's hardwood to be installed, IKEA stuff to be assembled, floors to be swept, dishes to be cleaned, boxes to be moved...
Thanks to everyone who has sent congratulatory emails, blog comments and Facebook messages. I'll be responding to you all as soon as my new house madness calms down. For now, here's the final ballot:
Superior Achievement in a Novel
COFFIN COUNTY by Gary Braunbeck (Leisure Books)
THE REACH by Nate Kenyon (Leisure Books)
DUMA KEY by Stephen King (Scribner)
JOHNNY GRUESOME by Gregory Lamberson (Bad Moon Books/Medallion Press)
Superior Achievement in a First Novel
MIDNIGHT ON MOURN STREET by Christopher Conlon (Earthling Publications)
THE GENTLING BOX by Lisa Mannetti (Dark Hart Press)
MONSTER BEHIND THE WHEEL by Michael McCarty and Mark McLaughlin (Delirium Books)
THE SUICIDE COLLECTORS by David Oppegaard (St. Martin's Press)
FROZEN BLOOD by Joel A. Sutherland (Lachesis Publishing)
Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
THE SHALLOW END OF THE POOL by Adam-Troy Castro (Creeping Hemlock Press)
MIRANDA by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
REDEMPTION ROADSHOW by Weston Ochse (Burning Effigy Press)
THE CONFESSIONS OF ST. ZACH by Gene O'Neill (Bad Moon Books)
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction
PETRIFIED by Scott Edelman (Desolate Souls)
THE LOST by Sarah Langan (Cemetery Dance Publications)
THE DUDE WHO COLLECTED LOVECRAFT by Nick Mamatas, and Tim Pratt (Chizine)
EVIDENCE OF LOVE IN A CASE OF ABANDONMENT by M. Rickert (Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction)
TURTLE by Lee Thomas (Doorways)
Superior Achievement in an Anthology
LIKE A CHINESE TATTOO edited by Bill Breedlove (Dark Arts Books)
HORROR LIBRARY, VOL. 3 edited by R. J. Cavender (Cutting Block Press)
BENEATH THE SURFACE edited by Tim Deal (Shroud Publishing)
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder (Dark Scribe Press)
Superior Achievement in a Collection
THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA by Kealan Patrick Burke (Cemetery Dance Publications)
MAMA’S BOY and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel (Apex Publications)
JUST AFTER SUNSET by Stephen King (Scribner)
MR. GAUNT AND OTHER UNEASY ENCOUNTERS by John Langan (Prime Books)
GLEEFULLY MACABRE TALES by Jeff Strand (Delirium Books)
Superior Achievement in Nonfiction
CHEAP SCARES by Gregory Lamberson (McFarland)
ZOMBIE CSU by Jonathan Maberry (Citadel Press)
A HALLOWE'EN ANTHOLOGY by Lisa Morton (McFarland)
THE BOOK OF LISTS: HORROR by Amy Wallace, Del Howison, and Scott Bradley (HarperCollins)
Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection
THE NIGHTMARE COLLECTION by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions Press)
THE PHANTOM WORLD by Gary William Crawford (Sam's Dot Publishing)
VIRGIN OF THE APOCALYPSE by Corrine De Winter (Sam's Dot Publishing)
ATTACK OF THE TWO-HEADED POETRY MONSTER by Mark McLaughlin and Michael McCarty (Skullvines Press)
Congratulations to all the nominees!
Well, friends, I'm about to become quieter than I usually am, as this is the week that Colleen and I move into our first house. We close on Thursday, and we have a moving truck rented for Friday and Saturday. There are a bajillion little things to do and loose ends to tie before we move. And wouldn't you know it? I've been scheduled to work far more shifts at the library than usual this week, so free time is slim to none, and slim left town.
I'll do my best to pop in every now and again, but I can't guarantee I'll be as quick to reply to stuff as I'd like. As soon as the computer and internet is connected in the new pad, I'll make sure to send out a quick update.
Wish us luck!
But before I sign off, don't forget that I've got a FROZEN BLOOD Book Launch & Signing tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 23) at the Main Branch of the Ajax Public Library from 6:30 - 9:00. If you're in the GTA, this is the event of the year (there are free squares, among other refreshments). Come see how stressed I look with everything that's on my mind!
And finally, a good friend of mine recently said that I've been everywhere lately. Not one to want to prove him wrong, a new interview with yours truly has been posted on Associated Content, by none other than Jodi Lee. Thanks for the interview, Jodi! You can check it out HERE.
Adios!
No, that's not my dog, Murphy (although it looks a lot like him), but now that I've posted this picture, I'm sure my wife will be finding/ordering a similar costume for next year. Sigh...
The good people at my work had a cake made for me in the shape of a book, proving that I work with some of the nicest people imaginable. Under all that icing, the cake itself was a nice, deep shade of red, and it didn't take long to disappear. People were hesitant to eat my name, however, which was oddly flattering, but even it eventually got gobbled up.
Speaking of my work, I'll be having a Book Launch for Frozen Blood at the Main Branch of the Ajax Library on March 24, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. I'll do a little reading, I'll answer any questions, I'll have copies on hand to sign, and I might even dance a little jig. Coffee, tea, cookies and squares will be served. Come for the jig, stay for the free food! Here's the library info.
Finally, I returned from a weekend away from home yesterday to find another positive review for Frozen Blood, courtesy of J.L. Comeau. It was really cool to see the review appear in the same update as one for my buddy Michael Stone's Fourtold. Serendipity.
"Written with great style with emphasis on suspense, FROZEN BLOOD proves that Joel Sutherland is a thoroughbred horror writer whose track record I'll be putting my money on. "
The full interview can be read HERE.
Two more of 'em have been reeled in over the past couple of days, and I won't be throwing either of them back.
First up,
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
angelmcc (a very talented writer, the brains behind Wily Writers, and an all-around good person) kicks off her review with this catchy opening:"Ghosts, guilt and gore! How can you go wrong with that combination? Add in an apocalyptic storm and some dysfunctional family members, and you've got a story that won't let you leave until it's had its say."
I told her that I wished "Ghosts, guilt and gore!" had been on my cover -- it sums up the book quite nicely. Read the rest of the review HERE.
Yesterday, Vince A. Liaguno posted his review on Dark Scribe Magazine. I sat quietly staring at my monitor, in a mild state of shock, for a long while after reading it. Intelligently written and full of incredibly kind praise, it's easily the book's best review yet:
"With shades of the 1987 film Dead of Winter, hints of Agatha Christie, and just a drop of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Sutherland’s Frozen Blood successfully melds elements of the supernatural with the psychological to create an impressive hybrid with a distinctive old school literary vibe. That the author can take these diverse elements and make them work so well against the strangely incongruent end-of-days backdrop is the mark of a genuine craftsman, making Sutherland a talent to watch."
I'm a happy dude. Read the rest of the review HERE.
All in all, the live interview went very well. I had one brief moment of panic before I went on as I sat off camera watching the taping, but luckily it quickly disappeared. The interview lasted six minutes, which I felt was a good length, and I even sold a copy of my book afterward. Turns out one of the crew members is a horror fan, so we chatted for a while after my taping and I signed a copy for him (Jeff, if you're out there reading this, your change is in the mail. Canada Post employees, if you're out there reading this, please don't pocket Jeff's change.)
I didn't stutter, I didn't freeze and I didn't misunderstand any questions. It was actually quite a rush. I'll make sure to post a link to the footage once it appears online.
Oh, but there was one small thing. For those who have met me, you'll know that I blush very easily, and not only when I'm embarrassed. When I talk for more than, say, a minute, my face goes a nice shade of Heinz. And yes, I was quite red during the interview. I look like I have a minor sunburn. Again, for those who know me, you'll know I could have been much, much redder. But what can I do about that? It's just the way I am.
This all came about remarkably fast. I'm scheduled to appear on live television in a little less than two hours. I only found out about it late yesterday afternoon.
For anyone who is in the Durham Region, I'll be appearing on First Local Midday, which airs at 12:00, 3:00 and 4:30. For everyone else, I'll do my best to get a clip up on YouTube in the coming weeks. And I'll make sure to check back in later today or tomorrow to let you all know how well/terribly it goes.
Oh dear.
What a cool name for a blog.
And they're even cooler (ha ha) now that they've posted a stellar review of FROZEN BLOOD. The review was written by none other than Ian Rogers, aka
onemoreshadow."Sutherland writes with a confident voice, and unlike many first novels, he doesn't lend himself to flowery, overwrought prose. He had me from the first chapter — which reads a bit like a Disney movie from hell. His writing is sharp and concise and coolly effective (pun intended). Frozen Blood provides genuine chills that you'll be feeling long after you put down the book."
My favourite line from the entire review is the "Disney movie from hell" bit. Awesome. Many thanks, Ian! And it's nice to see you -- like I -- enjoy a good pun from time to time.
The rest of the review can be read HERE.
I proudly present to you Food For a Rambling Fancy, Gudfiyya's first studio album:
If you're terribly bored and want something to do, here are the steps:
1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random... Read More” or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Ran
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php
The last 4 or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interestin
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
4 - Use photoshop, the gimp or similar to put it all together.
angelmcchas started up a great new website of fiction and audio recordings, called Wily Writers. Angel wrote to me early in the year to ask if I'd like to submit a story for the website, and I jumped at the opportunity. I had just the story in mind -- one that I felt would be fun to record, and that was previously published in a little-read and quickly forgotten anthology. Oh, also, the editor of said anthology butchered my story without running the changes past me (and I'm not talking about a few little tweaks -- he cut out an entire subplot and changed one character's name ... he also added some typos and grammatical mistakes in the process). Apparently, he liked sharks too much and couldn't stand to see any fantastical liberties taken with their nature (never mind the story centres around an undead pirate), and the name he changed would have bugged him, since he used to know a guy with the same name, and that guy was a jerk, or something. I don't really remember, and it's no big thang.So I couldn't be happier with Angel's kind invitation, and it's also the first time I've had the pleasure of listening to one of my stories read to me.
I'm sure a few of you remember when I went slightly delusional a couple of years back and blogged like a pirate for a week to promote "The Death of Captain Eugene Bloodcake and the Fall of The Horrid Whore", but I think only one person I know actually read the story. So, now is your chance to have a read and/or take a listen, and to find out exactly how horrid the whore really is! Here's the link.
Enjoy!
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