SCENT contest!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear Suuuuuu-san.....

Oh, right, you want to hear about the CONTEST.

Today, other than being my birthday, is the official release date of Vicki Pettersson's THE SCENT OF SHADOWS. Y'all, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time--and I'm not saying that because she's my friend. It's absolutely-frickin-true. The pacing is impeccable; it's one of those books you can't drag your eyes up from, even when the kids are calling or someone's waving chocolate in front of you. The main character, Joanna, is flawed, but in the same way that real people are. She got into my head, and I worried about her even when I wasn't reading. The setting is kickass and original, and will totally draw you in. In short (too late, I know), you'll love it. You've GOT to read it, as soon as you possibly can.

So I'm going to help you. The contest:

SCENT should be on the shelves in at least every major bookstore, starting today. But that abstract knowledge isn't enough--I want to see it, on the shelf of your bookstore. So....

1. Go to the bookstore and find SCENT OF SHADOWS. If you can't find it, ask your local friendly bookseller. And, you know, feel free to talk up all the great things you've heard about this book. Booksellers can be some of the best advocates in the world if they like something.

2. Take a picture of SCENT on the shelf, in all its glory. I don't care if you take it with the camera on your phone or a Canon Rebel, or what. Just so we can make it out.

3. Send said picture to me at susan . adrian @ yahoo.com (run together, of course) and tell me the name of the bookstore and your town. I'll post 'em as I get 'em. (I'll only use YOUR first names or online IDs, though, I promise)

(Er...if you want to buy a copy or two in between steps 2 and 3, that wouldn't be bad either)

4. I'll give you a week to send me pictures. Next Tuesday I'll do a random drawing among those who sent me pictures, for the grand prize:



A super-cool zodiac pendant, in keeping with the Zodiac theme of Vic's series. Yep, I'll even let you choose your own sign, though Joanna's Archer glyph is pretty darn cool....

So what are you waiting for? Celebrate a fellow author, check out a cool book, AND win a prize!

(I'm really looking forward to seeing these pictures)

Edited to say two things:

1. If you're not US-based and SCENT isn't released in your area yet, let me know. We may have a non-US-people rule.
2. Sara Howe is having a parallel contest for the SCENT release, where you can win cool personal scents. Go see her too!