I don’t do enough contests here, I know, so I figured it was high time to rectify the situation. I get so hopped up on social media that I often forget to blog about other things that make me happy. Like music and cupcakes and books.
Enter Camille DeAngelis.
Camille is one of my authors, but that doesn’t make me love her latest book any less. The woman writes stories I want to crawl up and live in – think Neil Gaiman but slightly more ladylike and lots more outspoken. Basically, Camille is the kind of author that reminds me why I’m in publishing.
I’ve already given away my copy of her latest, Petty Magic, because it’s so good I needed a friend to read it, so Camille has graciously agreed to give away a copy and one of the fabulous t-shirts she’s created at CafePress. Big prizes!
About Petty Magic
I suck at book reviews and, since I’m not in high school, I’m allowed to steal the synopsis from elsewhere. So thanks Booklist, for this great explanation of my new favorite story:
Evelyn Harbinger is a witch, but not one of those sinister ones with gnarled fingers and warts on her nose. She uses her powers for good, healing the injured and helping people fall in love. At age 149, she has enjoyed a life span nearly twice that of mere mortals. Though her typical appearance is grandmotherly and sweet, if Evelyn is attracted to a man, she can transform herself, albeit temporarily, into a voluptuous, thirtysomething siren. That’s just what she does when she meets Justin, who works at an antique shop near her sister’s bed-and-breakfast in [New Jersey]. Bright, handsome Justin bears an eerie resemblance to Jonah, Evelyn’s partner in espionage (and romance) when the two served the Allies during WWII. Evelyn begins to wonder whether Justin may be an incarnation of her late beau, who was killed during a raid. Critics have compared novelist DeAngelis (whose works include the acclaimed Mary Modern) to a modern-day Mary Shelley…
My (Glowing) Review
I adored everything about this book and read it lightning fast because not only was it compelling, but I’m a sucker for witches. Petty Magic is beautifully written and had this bewitching, old-fashioned feel, reminding me of fairy tales I read as a child. Except this time there is a slightly darker, more adult edge, which suited me perfectly. There’s a World War II back story, marionettes that come to life, a secret city and the most incredible antiques store ever. “Enchanting” is probably the best word to describe it.
So let’s go about giving it away. One lucky reader will receive a copy of Petty Magic and a t-shirt from Camille’s Cafepress store with the “slogan” of your choice. The main character, Eve, has some fabulous lines. My favorite: “I may not be all that picky, but I draw the line at the clap.”
How to Enter
Just leave a comment with your favorite childhood fairytale. Easy peasy. If you want an extra entry just his retweet this post and be on your merry way. A name will be randomly chosen this Friday, October 15th, so make sure to get your entries in before then! You can also just buy a copy of Petty Magic here.
I’ll start us off: My favorite childhood fairytale is/was The Lady of the Linden Tree. Given to me by my mother and still one of my all-time favorite books, Linden Tree is filled with obscure fairy tales and is, sadly, out of print.
So what’s yours?
UPDATE: Entries are now closed! And the winner is… Alison!! Thanks so much y’all for entering. Who knows, might do another contest soon ;-)
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