In Appreciation of *Maria V. Snyder* and a Book Giveaway!

So the other week I received a fantastic surprise in the mail from Maria V. Snyder. Her first series of books, The Study Series starting with Poison Study, is very well loved in blogger land. I had been hearing about the trilogy before the new(ish) teen alternate covers were released. Bookshelves of Doom put me on to the title way back.

Now, while I wait for Inside Out to be released, which makes me super psyched (April pub date), I want to read through Maria's other titles. Especially Storm Glass! This is the first of a second trilogy, followed by Sea Glass and a third book which Maria is working on right now. I think it's called Spy Glass.

Anyway, what I received in the package was a collection of exquisitely inscribed book plates, unique to each of her books. Yeah, she didn't just sign her name. On the book plate for Storm Glass Maria has written: "Put on your rain gear, this storm is going to be wild"! And on the book plate for Poison Study she's inscribed: "Swirl the liquid around your tongue before swallowing"! My total favourite is for Sea Glass, though: "The sea is full of treasure"! And then she signs her name of course. These book plates are amazing. There area also little images in the bottom right hand corner of sea stars, a bottle of perfume, a goblet with a butterfly on it. Can you imagine picking up a book and opening it up to find these wonderful things inside? She also sent bookmarks. When I can I will post pictures of the book plates and of my book display in the store.

AND, Maria has also generously offered a signed copy of Storm Glass to a very lucky winner! So leave your name and e-mail address in the comments and blog, facebook, or twitter about the contest to gain a second entry. Two times the chance to win! Just let me know how you've passed on the word or just type x2 beside your entry.

I'll leave you with a teaser. I love this from Storm Glass:

All thoughts fled when Aydan placed the pipe in front of me. Glass cooled quickly and I had no time to dwell on anything but shaping the molten ball. Using metal tweezers, I pulled and plucked. When the slug transformed into a recognizable image, I blew through the end of the pipe. The piece's core glowed as if lit by an inner fire.
My one magical trick--the ability to insert a thread of magic inside the glass statue. Only magicians could see the captured light.

Read the first chapter of Storm Glass here.




Oh, and a very well done book trailer!

Good luck to everyone who enters this giveaway!

Mandy