The Big Fat Apocalyptic “White Horse” Typo Contest

So, let's hop in a time machine and go back to April 19.

*Makes funny whooshing noises*

It was about ten minutes before my first signing/reading and I was standing in the coffee shop at Powell's while my honey was ordering himself something heavy on the caffeine. In my hands was a shiny copy of White Horse, with pages carefully marked with blue Post-Its (I am addicted to Post-Its. If not for them I probably wouldn't remember my own name). Then I lost my mind and decided that the final passage marked wasn't the one I really wanted to read, so I began hunting for the scene I had in mind, flipping pages like a semi-mad woman.

That's when I spotted it: the typo. It changed a perfectly functional sentence into something that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Because my brain is dangerous like that.

And I started laughing--hard. Because what else can you do, really?

So instead of letting readers come to me and say, "Hey, did you know there's a typo here, loser author who clearly can't proofread?" I figured I'd have fun with it.

This is what I'm going to do: Let you find the typo and let me know in comments what it is and where. Yes, I know you'll probably all just copy each other, but I'm cool with that. The more the merrier. Because I'm giving stuff away.

Yes, stuff. You'll want it, I promise.

First, the amazing Carol Warwick at Simon & Schuster Australia sent me a handful of White Horse promo posters, double-sided, completely awesome in every way, featuring the AU/UK cover. I'm giving away one of those to two of you eagle-eyed readers, plus a signed copy each of the UK trade paperback.

Also, did you see my list of favorite Post-Apocalyptic adult novels over at Goodreads?

The Stand, by Stephen King The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham World War Z, by Max Brooks Robopocalypse, by Daniel Wilson Prince of Thorns, by Mark Lawrence

Because one commenter will get a White Horse poster, those five books, and a signed copy of White Horse (US or UK edition - winner's choice).

Entrants can be from...anywhere! Winners will be drawn randomly and announced next Thursday, May 24.

Happy Typo hunting!

A seriously cool White Horse mention…

...in Grazia (UK) magazine! I may be a little biased, but I think my book is VERY photogenic.

Survive White Horse

Carol Warwick and the amazing team at Simon & Schuster Australia have put together a fantastic site for White Horse. I'm blown away, because it's just so damn great. I can't thank them all enough.

The site features a message from Zoe to readers, with a few hints about what's coming in books two and three, video entries (I love these so much!) and an interactive map of Zoe's journey that's not too heavy on the spoilers, if you haven't read the book. There's also a sample chapter and a reading group guide, with some questions that even twist my brain--they're so well done.

So mosey on over and take a look. It's right here, at Survive White Horse

My comments, they are broken!

So it's just been brought to my attention that no one can leave comments. I'm really, really, really sorry about that. The level of spam the blog gets is insane, so my sweetheart installed some stuff and tweaked some other stuff and...apparently even real people, who don't want me to buy their drugs/watches/property or claim my lottery winnings can't comment now.

This will be fixed shortly, I promise. But not until after blueberry pancakes.

In the meantime, jot down whatever lovely/horrible thing you were going to say so you don't forget it for later.

More release days!

If you're in the UK or Australia, White Horse is in bookstores NOW. And it looks like this, minus the dog: That's Millie. She doesn't care about my book. She would if she knew it's responsible for the bones in the pantry.

Release Days!

White Horse is officially on the shelves in the US, as you can see right here:

And this week it hits bookstores in the UK!

If you run on over to My Bookish Ways, there's an interview with me, and a giveaway going on (thank you, Kristen!) It's always exciting to participate in one of my favorite blogs.

Another of my favorite blogs, The Qwillery, also has an interview up.

And I'm part of Three Authors, Three Questions, over at Chiseled in Rock.

In other news, I'm going to be running a contest right here on the blog very soon. I'd been trying to think of something a little off the beaten path, and then last Thursday night I was about to start my first signing at Powell's when I spotted a typo in White Horse. It's a good one. It turns a perfectly functional sentence into something that makes no sense at all, in any known universe. Go, me! All I have to say in my defense is that I suck, and I'm very sorry, but when you spot it feel free to laugh at me. I did--and hard.

Anyway, It'll be a "spot the typo" contest, and I'll be giving away some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G promo posters from the fabulous folks at Simon & Schuster Australia. They're big, they're glossy, they're two-sided and they feature the UK/AU/NZ cover of White Horse. So watch this space. Well, the one above this, actually.

Also, professor Benjamin Reynolds is putting the Apocalypse in context, by cutting through the Bible's symbolism. Interesting....

Signing news

If you're in the Portland, Oregon area, I'll be signing books at Powell's Books on Hawthorne on April 19 at 7:30 P.M.. If you don't know the area that well, be warned: there are two stores on the same stretch of road, about three doors apart. One of them is the home and garden book store. The other is the regular store (where I'll be!)

Do not ask me how I know this. Let's just say I might have accidentally wandered into the wrong store and had a minor heart attack (while laughing) when I saw they didn't sell fiction. Then I might have wailed, "I have to email my publicist!" at my equally bewildered and amused guy, before the store's staff pointed us in the right direction.

Also, the CDC is finally getting down with the whole potential apocalypse thing. You can order their novella, Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic right here.

And from Cracked.com: 5 Scientific Reasons a Zombie Apocalypse Could Actually Happen. It's science, people.

There’s a giveaway going on…

If you're looking to win a free copy of White Horse, head on over to CultureMob, leave a comment, and you'll be entered to win one of three copies.

Also check out this picture from Simon & Schuster UK. Miss Bergstrom is so adorable that I barely noticed my book with its pretty UK/AU cover! Love it!

And I love this, too: Harrisburg student creates 'Outbreak: Zombie Apocalypse' board game. It reminds me of the old days when kids made their own fun. I can't tell you how many times I wrapped my favorite stick in fall leaves and played On The Beach.*

Are you ready for The End? You can be!

So The End is coming, be it by meteor or zombie or killer viruses ala White Horse. Never fear, they've got real estate for that. Apocalypse Dream Homes.

Want something that gives you more of a sense of community? Buy a floor in a silo shelter. It's only two million bucks. Because you're worth it.

Can't afford any of the above? Then you'd better run. Here, you'll need this: Map of the Dead: an interactive map of resources. Enter your address to find out where you can get that last slurpie, stock up on ammo, steal a tent.

On a related note, those wily Mayans are having a conference to deny the 2012 apocalypse--a rumor their ancestors started! Nice try, Mayans. Nice try.

Everyone has a different theory about how the world will end. Here's how the world's major religions think things will play out.

Stuff that’s new

So we've got a little housecleaning and redesign going on around here ("here" being my website). If you take a look up the top there's now a Reviews page, with some of White Horse's lovely reviews.

If you're a blogger who has reviewed White Horse I'd love to include your link. So shoot me a link via the Contact page. I promise to use it only for good.

Over at Goodreads you can read my top five picks for adult apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction, as part of their Good Minds Suggest series.

Authorlink also interviewed me right here.

White Horse was a contender for April's RT Seal of Excellence.

And...it's exactly two weeks until White Horse hits US and Canadian shelves. Yikes!