And the winners are...

The opportunity to win a signed copy of Ellen Renner’s wonderful children’s novel, City of Thieves has now passed.

And there are two winners.

Yes, it was all done properly. To the chagrin of my tree-hugging friends, I printed out all the entries, cut up the paper and folded it neatly. Then I put the names into a mixing bowl – sorry, no hat available – and tossed them together like a good salad, and got Lovely Husband to close his eyes and draw two names from the bowl.

So, I’m happy to announce that the winners are…

Michele Fabio of the blog Bleeding Espresso,

and

Alice – for whom I have no contact details.

So, Alice, would you please contact me by Monday 20th December - you will find an email address on the blog’s profile page - and let me have your postal details so Ellen can send you your copy.

Congratulations to both of you, and I hope you both enjoy reading Ellen’s wonderful story!

To the rest of you, I’m sorry you couldn’t all get a copy of City of Thieves, but thanks for entering!

UPDATE - 21 December 2010:

I've not heard from Alice and have no way of contacting her, so I've drawn another name from the mixing bowl - and this time the winner is BlueIceGal from the Fantasy4Eva blog. BlueIceGal, I'll be contacting you via your blog to get your postal details. Congratulations on the win!

Bernita's Weirdly Contest - A Short Story

I discovered yesterday - nothing like leaving things to the last minute - that Bernita, over at An Innocent A-Blog, was hosting a short story competition which closes at midnight EST tonight and is entitled the Weirdly Contest. The rules can be found here, should you wish to create a piece in haste.

I have to confess that the muse has been scarce of late and while the image posted on Bernita's blog inspired what follows, the scribbling had plenty to do with participation and pretty much nothing to do with winning. Like those good people always say, it's the taking part that counts and it really is pretty cool being part of such a wide and various group of writers.

So, let us start with the image upon which the competition has been based...

(Photo from the Fortean Photo Library)

And herewith the story... Those who recall my involvement in trying to save the local plantations and forests may perhaps get where this story springs from...

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum* aka The Dryad's Revenge

The far lookout beckoned. Commander Jisprit moved towards him.
"What is it?"
"Men - advancing upon the kingdom."
"Many?"
"Yes, in armoured horses."
Jisprit turned to gaze first at the palace, towering high into the sky, sunlight filtering through its windows. Then he cast his eyes upon the forest and the other cities in the Realm.
"Ready the warriors," he ordered.
"Yes, my lord."
Jisprit watched as messengers sped along the branching pathways of the Imperial City. Flight heralds soared above him to pass on the alert.
A glint of light caught his eye and turning, he saw his queen observing him from the tall turret.
He flexed his wings and rose up.
"My Lady," he said, bowing low.
"Trouble, Jisprit?"
"Men, My Lady, in armoured horses."
"They will sport with us or…?"
"Who knows, My Lady, but we cannot take chances. They have decimated the kingdom too often before."
The queen nodded, her face thoughtful. "They think not, these giant brutes. They see not. What is ours they believe to be theirs. You are right, we must be on our guard. Too often do they despoil and destroy the Realm." She paused a moment. "No, wait… let us be pre-emptive, Jisprit. For a change we will strike first."
"My Lady?"
"They destroy us and we let them. It is time to stop their constant advance. Call upon the Elementals, let their lightning strike the men as those plunderers have always struck us. It is time for change."


* In case you're wondering what Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum means, it is "If you wish for peace, prepare for war".

Clarity of the Night contest - "Just Words"

Scrabbling, with just over 24 hours to spare, I realised that Jason Evans' new Clarity of the Night contest, Halo finishes at 23h00 EST today... Argh! And there I thought I had until 11 August... Time to get stronger glasses, methinks. Anyway, using the picture above (provided by Jason) as inspiration, I managed to get something scribbled and sent off to Jason. If you want, you can read my entry - No 50 - entitled Just Words.

And if you want to join in, best you get scribbling fast yourself!