Giveaway for Dystopian Coming of Age Novel - Project Hope by Sean Joyce

This relentless monsoon summer we're having is the perfect weather to get all cosy by the fire (in July!!) with a good escapist read. And I've just heard about a great dystopian book by debut novelist Sean Joyce which could fit the bill nicely.

Sean is a 31-year-old British writer currently living in Toronto. In addition to obsessing over his next novel, he's usually hopping around the planet teaching English. His new novel Project Hope sounds like it has all the makings of a fantastic read. . .

In the Zones, a troubled society walled off from the outside world, nineteen-year-old Dylan lives in the crossfire between rampaging gangs known as hoods, and tyrannical government guards.

Trapped in a brutal reality, he confronts the helplessness of his situation the only way he can—through his art. By day, he takes on the role of protector, caring for his little sister, Lil. By night, he lives a secret life, breaking the curfew and braving the dangerous Zones to paint the perimeter wall with his subversive images. But with the eye of the warden upon him, and the hoods tightening their grip on the Zones, inaction is no longer an option. He must do the one thing no one else has dared to—unite the downtrodden residents and reawaken their hope.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Malvina!

If you'd like to get your mitts on a copy of Project Hope, all you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this blog post and one lucky winner will receive an ebook, courtesy of the author!

But if you're the impatient type like me and want to buy a copy straight away,

here are the links:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Smashwords

Sean can be found in these places:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Are Ereaders Teaching Us to Read Again?

Kaitlyn from OnlineTeachingDegree.com contacted me with some interesting statistics.  She's part of the design and research team and they created a graphic illustrating how ereaders have taught us to start reading again.

I'm a British author/reader and the following statistics relate mainly to Americans but I found it really interesting nonetheless. Maybe you will too:

Created by: www.OnlineTeachingDegree.com

The Inspiration Games - $15 Amazon Card Giveaway & Guest Post by Laxmi Hariharan

Laxmi Hariharan is on the blog today

with a fantastic guest post that I'm sure you'll love.
There's also a chance to win either a $15 Amazon Gift Card
or an Autographed Paperback of The Destiny of Shaitan!!!
So don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.

The Inspiration Games

—Laxmi Hariharan

“It was India which invented the bow & arrow” my Dad blustered over the phone from Bombay, “remember Arjuna’s skill at archery? How he could concentrate till he saw nothing else but the target and shoot it with unerring precision time after time….”  He had just returned from seeing the Hunger Games at his local multiplex, when my weekly Sunday phone call had sparked off this conversation; with him insisting that the cross-bow was an Indian invention.  “Uh! Dad,”  I protested, “not everything in science fiction comes from Indian mythology….” I was, as usual, embarrassed by his well known theme of India shining and claiming ownership of emerging trends. Yet his comment gave me pause for thought. I began to wonder if he had a point?

Laxmi with his bow from centuries ago!

Katniss in The Hunger Games

Cut to a few years back, when, on one of my annual trips to Bombay, the extended family had trooped off en masse to see Avatar in 3D at the brand new IMAX theatre in Bombay. I sat next to my father enjoying his excitement as he leaned forward to perch precariously close to the edge of the seat, fascinated by the incredible images flashing across the cinema screen.

And as the scene with the Tree of Souls which has a neural link to the Na’vi uniting them all as one, unfolded, he gasped in surprise shaking his head; explaining to me later that Ayurveda the Indian system of traditional medicine had a very similar concept of unity.  That, all living creatures are linked to this planet and are one with Earth. The concept of blue people itself was familiar as many Indian Gods are depicted in similar fashion.

Flying chariots, Gods teleporting at will across dimensions, powerful weapons of war that could destroy entire armies, revolving discs & guided swords spewing fiery sparks which would return to their owners after hitting its target, illusions which could frighten without hurting, and the massive bow which only Rama could string to win the heart of the beautiful Sita… Hmmm! I had seen these scenes countless times over the years.

Amar Chitra Katha (Indian comic books) took over where my grandmother left off, yet what chance did a teenager’s raging hormones stand against tight bodysuits, plunging necklines, fanatical crime fighting and passionate love stories. With the first Superman movie I was in love with caped crusaders – Spiderman, Legion of Superheroes (my personal favourite) Green Lantern, Wonder Woman not to mention Tarzan &Phantom and much later Conan the Barbarian – I lived happily with them for a very long time. And then I stumbled across the gaming world which is proud to borrow from Indian mythology. Take for example Asura’s Wrath an action video game released February 2012. According to the game’s producer Kazuhiro Tsuchiya, “Asura’s Wrath takes elements from Hindu mythology and blends them with science fiction. In the game, Asura is a demigod fighting to reclaim his daughter from the deities who kidnapped her and banished him from earth."

Or for that matter Xena the Warrior Princess’ trademark chakram which looks and acts very similar to the famed sudarshan chakra (Lord Vishnu’s deadly weapon of choice – a golden discus which cuts through the target and returns to owner.)

Xena's Chakra VS Lord Vishnu's Chakra

  Over the years I realised that Hollywood and the West have looked to Indian mythology for inspiration. But time has come full circle, with a brave new breed of Indian fantasy writers seeking to carry on the tradition of the ancient epics. Check out the brilliant Ramayana 3392 AD from New York based Liquid comics and the seductive Devi.

Do you have more examples of western science fiction drawing from Indian mythology? Do let me know.

You can leave a comment below, or contact Laxmi at the following places:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Website

Laxmi Hariharan was born in India. She lived in Singapore and Hong Kong and is now based in London. She is inspired by Indian mythology.

When not writing, this chai-swigging, technophile enjoys long walks in the woods and growing eye-catching flowers.

Her debut novel The Destiny of Shaitan is available on Amazon

Partially set in a dystopian Bombay of the future, The Destiny of Shaitan is a coming of age story, painted against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world.

Yudi, Tiina & Rai embark on a mission to save the universe. Sent to retrieve the Isthmus from the ruthless Shaitan, Tiina seeks more than the end of the tyrant; she seeks herself. Shaitan is determined to stop them at any cost. The three friends must learn to trust each other and overcome their fears as they fight towards the ultimate showdown. The universe is at stake and the combatants determined. Will Shaitan's ultimate destiny be fulfilled?

 Now here's your chance to win that $15 Amazon gift card or a signed copy of The Destiny of Shaitan:

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find HIDDEN in Venice

B. Lloyd of Authors Anon added my novel to Book Crossing!

If you've never heard of the site before, it's a fantastic way of connecting people through their love of books, by releasing your favourite novels into the wild.

How it works:

You add a  Book Crossing label to a book you love and then you leave that book in a prominent place, such as a restaurant or a park bench, where someone can pick it up. The label has a unique ID so the recipient can go online and let you know they have the book. It can be passed on forever like this.

B. left my novel HIDDEN in a beautiful Venetian hotel called the Ai Mori - How completely glamorous and wonderful! I'm just hoping whoever picks it up can read English!

I think I might have to do a few of these book drops myself. It's such a romantic idea.

*huge swooning sigh*

What do you think of this idea? If you found a Book Crossing book, would you keep it? Or pass it on? Would you take the time to go onto the site and record it? I know I would.

Absolution Giveaway Winner

I'm pleased to announce the winner of 

the ebook copy of Absolution is...

RON A SEWELL

Hey Ron, please can you use the 'Contact Me' page to send me your email address.

Congratulations!

Last Family on Earth - Now Casting...

Bill over at Megaton sent me a press release from

Pilgrim Studios who are creating a rather unusual reality TV show:

SPIKE TV IS GIVING YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN

AN UNDERGROUND SHELTER FOR YOUR FAMILY

Are you a survivor? Are you prepared?

Nuclear war, terrorism, pole shifting, killer comets and tsunamis all have the potential to cause national or worldwide disaster. Some people think the Mayan Calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012.

If you've always wanted to secure lifetime access to a well-protected, underground shelter for you and your immediate family in case of a global emergency, then this is your chance.

SPIKE TV and Vivos Shelters (www.terravivos.com) are seeking a handful of lucky people to compete on a new TV show for the chance to own shares in a state-of-the-art, community underground shelter for up to 6 family members.

Producers are looking for outgoing, competitive PAIRS of immediate family members (husband and wife, father and son, siblings...) to represent their family household on national television in a series of fun and exciting challenges. This is your opportunity to PROVE that you have what it takes to join a community of people who can survive global disaster!

APPLY TODAY!
Send an email to LastFamilyCasting@gmail.com with the following:
1. Your name and the name of at least one family member who could be your teammate
2. Your phone numbers
3. Your city/state (same household or neighborhood preferred)
4. Recent photos of each of you
5. A brief explanation of why you want to win this show AND what skills you and your family can offer a community of survivors.

Deadline to apply is JUNE 20, 2012! Producers are waiting to hear from you!

Jacqueline Topacio
Casting Producer
Pilgrim Studios
12020 Chandler Blvd., Ste. 200
North Hollywood, CA 91607
PH: 818-478-4713
FAX: 818-847-7938
jtopacio@pilgrimstudios.com

www.pilgrimstudios.com/casting/lastfamilyonearth

* To compete on the show, you must be a legal U.S. resident and at least 18 years of age. (Note: Family members of any age are eligible for a place in the shelter. Conditions and restrictions for shelter co-ownership apply.) For more information, visit www.pilgrimstudios.com/casting/LastFamilyOnEarth