Bookish Links Galore!

 

Links, Links, Links and more Links!

Happy second day of summer!  Its heating up here nicely in “hotsdale” in the valley of the sun. With the temps reaching around 106 degrees, its really not too hot by desert standards.

Here is yet another literary linkup post so that you will never get any work done, and never be bored – well at least not today.

Up Coming Events:

• Book Blogger Appreciation Week is coming up fast. To sign up,  go to the information page via the badge above, but be prepared to take some time with the process, if you want to be part of this event. I would say a good 45 minutes or more, so check it out and plan ahead. I didn’t!
• Looking for some in-depth discussions on thinking and expanding awareness through Literature? The Hay Festival has a number of festivals occurring all over the world. Although the UK tours have ended there are still a number which are about to happen, as well as numerous links for information on expanding your bookish consciousness beyond the mainstream presses.
• Readercon 21 is happening July 8-11th in MA, if you would like a little of the speculative in a book conference.
• Bouchercon by the Bay is happening in San Francisco October 11-14th. It is a book oriented event, and you can check it out at the Bouchercon Blog and the event site.

• War Through the Generations: Vietnam, is having a read a long for the novel – Paco’s Story by Larry Heinemann. It starts in July.
• Do you like France, love the authors, the food… anything French? Well here is an challenge for July based on the theme. Its called Paris In July, and is linked at the blog Book Bath. Thanks to Mel u from The Reading Life for forwarding this fun challenge to me! If you love classics he is one to follow.

Misc Bookish Stuffs:

• Here is the cutest little library in England - it is inside a telephone booth. Check out the world’s smallest library.
• Its happening; the bookless digital age. Stanford’s Library is preparing to be bookless. Here is the article from the Silicon Valley Mercury News.

Recent Award Nominations within the Speculative and more:

• The Shirley Jackson Awards Nominees for 2009 -  courtesy of Dave H. Thanks Dave!
• The Mythopoeic Award Finalists are listed for 2010. The winners will be announced in Dallas, Texas at Mythcon 41, July 9-10.
• Here are The 2010 Children’s Choice Award winners.
• The British Fantasy Award Nominees for 2010 have been announced, and will be chosen at FantasyCon 2010.

Submissions and Stuffs for Writers:

• There is a  Fan Fiction Contest at John Scalzi’s Blog – it’s fantasy, for charity, and the deadline is June 30. So hurry!
• Afterburn is accepting submissions for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror short stories. 
• Here is the link for horror submissions at Chimera Scope Publishing.
• A book on how to promote your book or movie at Aid and Abet. Its called How to Get Noticed. You can also try the author’s blog. It looks like she has some very good info.
• As westerners most us enjoy much freedom. Including freedom of speech. Here is some information on a blogger who has been incarcerated for his opinions, who is based in China. Link to learn more and how to help.
• An interesting article from The Nation called death and the life of a book review.
• Barnes and Nobles is starting a self publishing business for writers who would like to do so.
• Authors need to prepare for the ebook future – This Australian Newspaper tells us why.
• Terry Pratchett Anywhere but Here, Anywhen but Now First Novel Prize. The winning author will be offered a Transworld Publishing contract with a £20,000 advance. You must be a UK resident to enter this contest, and enter by December of this year.

Book Giveaways and Freebees:

• Libby’s Library News is giving away several books. One is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I loved this book. It ends June 27th and is available in the US and Canada.  She is also having a 1 year blogoversary combo birthday celebration and giving away a ton of books. It ends June 30th and is for the US only.
• Free down load for the e novella Winter’s Passage by Julie Kagawa. The third in the series for The Iron King. Its young adult fantasy and ends July 31.
• Here are several links for free ebooks - novels, novellas, and shorts at Barnes & Nobles. His Majesty’s Dragons by Naomi Novic; “A Memory or Wind” and “Eros, Philia, Agape” both by Rachel Swirsky; and “First Flight” by Mary Robinette Kowal. All are speculative.

Beyond Books:

• As an Aesthetician I am almost always thinking about skin. Here the Environmental Working Group - EWG gives us a few pointers on sunscreens which work, and where a few products fall short of their goals. Be safe and sane in the sun folks, since little old me has found quite a few cancerous spots on clients, just in time.
• Ever ask who is the biggest liar men or women? – a British study answers the question and the results do not surprise me. Read it at CNN.
• Like space stuff… here is a link about some nifty space suits through the decades
• Like Apocalyptic events… here is an article about doomsday. Those of the real sort.
• Social media is always changing, so be safe and sane. To help, Mashable has a list of the 90+ Essential Social Media Resources.

Personal and more Updates:

• John and I welcomed our number 4 grand baby into the world early this morning. Little JD (like his grand dad) and mom are doing well. We are so excited and will get to see them all at the end of July since we will be heading over the pond - to England.
• Charlie at Professor B. Worm is very ill and in for an extended stay at the hospital. We love him, his comic and cranky spirit, and his darkly funny yet down to earth blog. He lives for comments so if you could stop by and say hello it would boost his spirits.

I apologize if I missed anyone so please feel free to add any links of interest or giveaways in the comments. Life has been a bit crazy, the true question is when is it not?

Cheers my dears, have a wonderful day!