Today Amazon offers Blackberry Winter: A Novel by Sarah Jio for $2.99.
From acclaimed novelist Sarah Jio, a new “mystery-slash-love story [that] will have you racing to the end”
Seattle, 1933. Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, goodnight and reluctantly leaves for work. She hates the nightshift, but it’s the only way she can earn enough to keep destitution at bay. In the morning—even though it’s the second of May—a heavy snow is falling. Vera rushes to wake Daniel, but his bed is empty. His teddy bear lies outside in the snow.
Seattle, present day. On the second of May, Seattle Times reporter, Claire Hanson, awakens to another late-season snowstorm. Assigned to cover this “blackberry winter” and its predecessor decades earlier, Claire learns of Daniel’s unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth—only to discover that she and Vera are linked in unexpected ways.
Some words about the Author
Sarah Jio lives with her husband and three children in Seattle, Washington.
Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition by Neil Gaiman costs just $1.99 today only.
Coraline lives with her preoccupied parents in part of a huge old house–a house so huge that other people live in it, too… round, old former actresses Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and their aging Highland terriers (“We trod the boards, luvvy”) and the mustachioed old man under the roof (“‘The reason you cannot see the mouse circus,’ said the man upstairs, ‘is that the mice are not yet ready and rehearsed.'”) Coraline contents herself for weeks with exploring the vast garden and grounds. But with a little rain she becomes bored–so bored that she begins to count everything blue (153), the windows (21), and the doors (14). And it is the 14th door that–sometimes blocked with a wall of bricks–opens up for Coraline into an entirely alternate universe. Now, if you’re thinking fondly of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you’re on the wrong track. Neil Gaiman’s Coraline is far darker, far stranger, playing on our deepest fears. And, like Roald Dahl’s work, it is delicious.
What’s on the other side of the door? A distorted-mirror world, containing presumably everything Coraline has ever dreamed of… people who pronounce her name correctly (not “Caroline”), delicious meals (not like her father’s overblown “recipes”), an unusually pink and green bedroom (not like her dull one), and plenty of horrible (very un-boring) marvels, like a man made out of live rats. The creepiest part, however, is her mirrored parents, her “other mother” and her “other father”–people who look just like her own parents, but with big, shiny, black button eyes, paper-white skin… and a keen desire to keep her on their side of the door. To make creepy creepier, Coraline has been illustrated masterfully in scritchy, terrifying ink drawings by British mixed-media artist and Sandman cover illustrator Dave McKean. This delightful, funny, haunting, scary as heck, fairy-tale novel is about as fine as they come. Highly recommended. (Ages 11 and older) –Karin Snelson
Some words about the Author
Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett); the Sandman series of graphic novels; and the story collections Smoke and Mirrors andFragile Things. He is the winner of numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy Awards, and the Newbery Medal. Originally from England, he now lives in America.
Face Frenzy: Monster Edition is a game which you can download free of charge.
Use your creative makeover skills to pretty up gory ghouls in Face Frenzy: Monster Edition. If you thought getting ready for a night out on the town was tough, imagine how hard it must be for Frankenstein. These faces don’t just stich themselves! Help a monster out.
All of these monsters are in a frenzy to get their faces ready for a night out on the town. Stitches need sewing and fangs need sharpening. Use a variety of tools to remedy everything from unique monster ailments to typical annoyances, like pimples and runny noses.
While you work your magic, do your best to keep them in a good mood before it’s time to go. Nobody wants to leave grumpy; it will ruin the night. Keep track of your high scores, which depend on how quickly you work–so work fast. These are three monsters you definitely don’t want to disappoint.
Use a variety of tools and vibrant colors to fix these scary monster faces. Get creative and have fun. Choose from three classic characters and move through various difficulty levels.