Become a Follower to Get a Cool Dragon Magnet
Or...The Dragon isn't really proposing you try to attract dragons

In fact, I'm just trying to attract followers to make life easier on everyone. I mean, wouldn't you prefer to be notified when this informative little blog updates? Then you don't have to check back all the time. It alerts you every couple of days or so...you know...just when my insane schedule lets me update.

So here's the deal: you'd LOVE to have one of my spiffy magnets with the clever dragon saying on it FOR FREE. So you become a follower here and get one of your friends to do the same. You send me an e-mail at sandy_lender at yahoo dot com letting me know who the two new followers are and what snail mail addresses I send the magnets to.

Easy breezy!

Follow away! But do it soon because this is LIMITED to the first 25 folks (and their friends) to sign up. Yes, I put a low limit on it because the new supply of magnets isn't here yet. :)

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: contest, free, magnets, dragon, follower

Want to Enter a Writing Contest?
Or...The Dragon gives you a daunting one

I sent off my registration for the 3-Day Novel Contest up in Canada today. It costs $50 to enter and requires a writer to wait until midnight Friday, Sept.4 to start writing. Then the writer types like mad until midnight Monday, Sept. 7. He/she prints off whatever was produced and sends it to the judges. The registration fee guarantees the material gets read (nice). Now, there's only one winner from this international contest, and that winner gets published, but the true value of the exercise is...well...the exercise. I mean, what were you planning to do over Labor Day weekend? For the past two years, I've spent an inordinate amount of money on getting lost among the throng at DragonCon. This year, I'm going to produce a novel. Of course, this is the weekend after a weekend in Columbus for Context 22 where I'll be running myself ragged serving on panels and doing readings and promoting the new novel, Choices Meant for Kings. Oh, yes, I said the new novel. Stay tuned because I'm making an announcement on that score later this week...

If you're interested in participating in the 3-Day Novel Contest, check out the site. You need to postmark your registration form by Sept. 4. And that means getting an international stamp...which means a trip to the post office for some of us.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: 3-day novel contest, registration, Choices Meant for Kings

Are You Winning Anything?
Or...The Dragon recaps what's happenin' around here

We have two contests running concurrently.
One you can enter daily by participating in the Word of the Day activities. Just read the Word of the Day entry and make up a sentence (put those creative writing skills into motion!) with the word. Share the sentence in the comment field. Easy as pie. This automatically enters you in the Word of the Day contest, which has a fabuloso prize of two eBooks from your happy host (Fantasy Author Sandy Lender) - Choices Meant for Gods and What Choices We Made.

The other contest has fewer chances to enter, but offers more goodies. It's the Dragon Stories Contest (hey, this may be a writer-focused blog, but it's really about dragons, don't you know). So far, we've posted a poem from Romance Author Tina Murray (on Tuesday, Oct. 7) and a short story from writer Laura Crawford (on Monday, Oct. 13). We have another short story in the hopper from Young Adult Author M.B. Weston and a couple more on their way in so stay tuned. All you have to do is leave some thoughts and encouragement for these folks and their dragon tales and you're automatically entered in the contest to win the eBook version of A Chance to Say Yes from Tina Murray, the ezine Recession Rescue from Laura Crawford and the short story anthology What Choices We Made from Sandy Lender.

Good stuff!
And good luck!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: dragon, contest

There Once Was a Dragon…
For the month of July, I invited writers to submit a story, poem or other creative writing piece that contained a dragon or mention of a dragon to entertain you happy visitors. I'm proud to announce that a few of my writer friends not only accepted the challenge…they did a nice job with it. You should be entertained! But why is it now October? Well, if you were following this blog during the month of July, a few things happened to "disrupt" regular posting. Some of those things have been solved. (The divorce FINALLY ended at the end of September and I moved out of the apartment that was in legal turmoil into a place that is NOT in legal turmoil. Hooray for me!) I can post amid the other things (medical treatments) without much difficulty because marketing and writing are what keep me sane. ***insert maniacal laughter here***

Because I'd like you visitors to encourage the writers and authors participating in this month's dragon stories, and I'd like to hear what other writers and readers around the blogosphere think about dragons and dragon lore and dragon poetry, etc., we're holding a contest for commentators to win some coo-el free stuff in conjunction with the "There Once Was a Dragon" story postings. If you follow the commenting guidelines, you could win an electronic copy of the romance novel A Chance to Say Yes by participant Tina Murray, a one-year subscription to the financial e-zine from Laura Crawford of Crawford Writing and Marketing, and an electronic copy of the new short story anthology What Choices We Made by host Sandy Lender. If I can get it together, I'll write a new dragon story for you all as well.

So sit back, relax, enjoy the dragon stories a few of my author and writer friends have prepared for you (starting tomorrow), and comment on them to enter the contest for the free goodies. But when you comment, you MUST include your return e-mail address. You can put it in "code" if you wish. MyName at yahoo dot com. Whatever the case may be. I can figure that out. What I can't figure out is who the devil you are if you log in anonymously and set your blogger surfing on "no reply". Then you miss out on winning the cool stuff. I have no way to contact you when I pull your strip of paper out of the Duran Duran tour cap…

Enjoy and good luck!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: A Chance to Say Yes, Tina Murray, Laura Crawford, What Choices We Made, Sandy Lender, dragon

The Dragon Announces a Word and Book Contest
Or…let's do this right

I failed to give good particulars about this when I got back from DragonCon. And then I failed to post Word of the Day on a regular basis so folks would have a fighting chance at entering the contest. Let's face it: I failed.

I'm making up for it now! Hooray!

At the end of October, I will have two (count them) two books available for your reading pleasure. One is the already available Choices Meant for Gods, which is the first fantasy novel in the Choices trilogy. The second is What Choices We Made, a short story anthology that highlights some characters and backstory from the Choices trilogy. (It also has a deleted scene from the first book and a teaser scene from the second book. Be warned: you will want to shoot me.) The good news about releasing a cliff-hanging teaser in this anthology is that the second book in the Choices trilogy, Choices Meant for Kings, is due to be released shortly. So you haven't long to find out what happens.

But I digress.

The point of this post is to get everyone excited about participating in the Word of the Day contest because, at the end of the contest, October 31, I will draw the name of a winner who will receive (drum roll please) the electronic versions of Choices Meant for Gods and What Choices We Made.

How's them apples?

Both novels will still be available in print editions at that time, but the eBook is easier to get to you. At least, it's easier if you share your e-mail address in some cryptic fashion or another in your message when you participate in the Word of the Day. See today's Word of the Day (next post) to see what I mean…

And good luck to you!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: contest, Choices Meant for Gods, What Choices We Made, short story anthology, Choices trilogy, fantasy, dragon

There Once Was a Dragon
Or...this month's theme is for fun

For the month of July, I've invited writers to submit a story, poem or other creative writing piece that contains a dragon or mention of a dragon to entertain you happy visitors. So far, there haven't been a lot of takers because…well…it's not easy to just pop off a story with a dragon. For those of us who've been writing fantasy for ever and a day, it's like talking, but for others, it takes more effort and meeting a deadline ain't happenin'. So I'm proud to announce that a few of my writer friends have not just accepted the challenge…they've done a nice job with it. You should be entertained!

Because I'd like you visitors to encourage these writers and authors, and I'd like to hear what other writers and readers around the blogosphere think about dragons and dragon lore and dragon poetry, etc., we're holding a contest for commentators to win some coo-el free stuff in conjunction with the "There Once Was a Dragon" story postings. If you follow the commenting guidelines, you could win an electronic copy of the romance novel A Chance to Say Yes by participant Tina Murray, a one-year subscription to the financial e-zine from Laura Crawford of Crawford Writing and Marketing, and an electronic copy of the epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods by host Sandy Lender. If I wasn't in the process of moving (SURPRISE) into a new, non-foreclosed apartment by the end of the month and undergoing another biopsy (SURPRISE) to figure out what kind of lymphoma I have, I'd have written a new dragon story for you all as well. As it stands, I have one in the works that I just might share when my divorce proceeding in the middle of the month is finished, but the pre-trial paperwork and prep is taking a little more time than I expected. (Yes, that would be amid the other crap. A writer's life is never dull, let me tell you. I've got enough fodder out of the past two years to write an insane memoir that NO ONE would believe.)

So sit back, relax, enjoy the dragon stories a few of my author and writer friends have prepared for you, and comment on them to enter the contest for the free goodies. But when you comment, you MUST include your return e-mail address. You can put it in "code" if you wish. MyName at yahoo dot com. Or MyName at netzero dot com. Whatever the case may be. I can figure that out. What I can't figure out is who the devil you are if you log in anonymously and set your blogger surfing on "no reply". Then you miss out on winning the cool stuff. I have no way to contact you when I pull your strip of paper out of the Duran Duran tour cap…

Enjoy and good luck!
Tags: dragon, Sandy Lender, Tina Murray, Laura Crawford

Win an eBook of Choices Meant for Gods in the Pseudonym Discussions This Month
Or...all you have to do is read cool stuff and comment

During the month of June, authors from around the globe will share their anecdotes of how they derived their pen names here at Today the Dragon Wins. When you share your comments about their names (and yours!) in the comment field, you'll automatically be entered in the contest to win the eBook version of Choices Meant for Gods.

The drawing will be held July 1 and Sandy Lender will contact the winner by e-mail. This means you need to include your e-mail address in your comment! To avoid some spam-bot from capturing it, be creative. (For instance, firstname last name at yahoo dot com is a great way to spell it out for me.)

Enjoy the discussions this month and good luck in the contest!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: contest, Choices Meant for Gods, eBook

Last Day to Enter Choices Meant for Gods Basket Contest

Or...send your answer to DeNita today

Do you know who Chariss has been chosen to protect in the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods? Have you been reading along at this blog? Oooooo.

You can find the answer in any number of places. On the back cover of the book...in the book itself...in the blurbs posted in Sandy Lender's pages at Author Island...in the blurbs posted in Sandy Lender's information at the publisher's site...in some of the Word of the Day posts here at The Dragon...

So here's what you need to do to get in the running for this fabulous basket o' fantasy goodies! Find the answer to "Who is Chariss chosen to protect in the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods?" and e-mail your answer WITH your name and snail mail address to AuthorIsland@yahoo.com before midnight tonight. DeNita Tuttle, the lovely hostess of the Island, will draw the winner and let Sandy know who gets the grand prize. Sandy will personalize the hardcover first edition of CMFG before sending out the basket, so get all your info in!

Good luck!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: contest, Choices Meant for Gods, Author Island

The Dragon's in a Hurry

Or...The Dragon's in a Hurry

In good news, I'm preparing for the release of Choices Meant for Kings during the minutes when I'm not buried in the day job (read: the job that pays the bills). So the negligence of this happy blog is not for naught. :)

Enjoy the inspirational quotes, though! And don't forget to skim for the answer to the contest question "In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, who is Chariss chosen to protect?" so you can win the fabulous basket that's up for grabs. You e-mail your answer, with your name and snail mail address to authorisland at yahoo dot com before the end of this month.

If you can't find the answer on this blog (I'll be stunned), you can find it at http://www.authorisland.com/, in the book blurb at http://www.amazon.com/, or at my publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm. If you need to read the story (and who doesn't!?), you can own the eBook version for only $3.99 by ordering it at my publisher's site at that same link. It takes about three minutes to process and download. (I've done it myself to check it out.)

Have fun and I'll try to become "un"overwhelmed soon.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, eBook, author island, dragon

Don't Forget to Enter the CMFG Contest

Or...Tell us who Chariss gets saddled with

In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, who is Chariss chosen to protect?

If you've found the answer at this blog, at Nigel's blog (http://sandylender.blogspot.com/), at http://www.authorisland.com/, at my publisher's site (http://www.archebooks.com/), or in the book itself, you could win the fabulous basket o' goodies pictured above this Memorial Day. Just e-mail your answer to authorisland at yahoo dot com with your name and snail mail address by May 31 when the host of Author Island, the lovely DeNita Tuttle, will draw a winner!

If you need to read the book, you can get the eBook for only $3.99 at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm.

Good luck!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, contest announcement, author island, DeNita Tuttle, Chariss

Welcome to Post #700 and Contest Announcement

Or...We're marketing with another fabulous contest

To celebrate the upcoming release of the second printing (the mulligan run) of Choices Meant for Gods and the upcoming release of Book II in the Choices trilogy, I have a basket of fabulous fantasy goodies available for folks to win! If you're an Author Island visitor, then you've already heard...

All you have to do is e-mail authorisland at yahoo dot com with the answer to a Choices Meant for Gods trivia question to be entered in the contest for the basket pictured above. Make sure you put your name and snail mail address in the body of the e-mail, and Choices Meant for Gods Contest in the subject line so the administrator knows how to direct your entry. Here's your question:

Who is Chariss chosen to protect in the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods?

Now the answer is all over the web. It's at this blog, at http://www.authorisland.com/, at my publisher's site, at Nigel's blog http://sandylender.blogspot.com/, etc. Or you can read the book. The deadline is Memorial Day. That's when DeNita draws the winner from all entries received. GOOD LUCK!

If you need a copy of the book, you can pick it up anywhere, including Amazon. Or the eBook version (read: inexpensive) is available at my publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: contest announcement, Choices Meant for Gods, Chariss, author island

Win Another Spa Package From Arcana's Bathing Rooms

Or...this is the scene to read for the Author Island online chat contest Fantasy Author Sandy Lender is holding today

Excerpt from Chapter Two of Sandy Lender's Choices Meant for Gods
Available from ArcheBooks Publishing
For the chat taking place today at: www.authorisland.com
Send your answer to: NigelTaiman at yahoo dot com

(In this scene, Chariss and her wizard guardian, Hrazon, have arrived around midnight at the Taiman estate for protection. Godric and Kora Taiman are helping them up to a room where they can tend to Chariss, who is currently unconscious. Hrazon and Godric—who's putting on airs because he thinks he's oh-so-important—are discussing what's led up to this situation. If you'd like to read the whole chapter, including chapters 1 and 3, they're available as a Free Sample at my publisher's Web site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm.)

"We didn't realize he'd amassed so much power so fast," Hrazon said.

"I find it unbelievable Drake could do anything such as this without help. He's only been in Kida a few years. How could he convince his people to go along with this?"

"He's been there two years this spring, and I believe the Joveran people helped build the army."

"Hmpf. It seems longer than that since court was held. And do you still believe he attacked today? Do you mean that you were in Treown this morning?"

Hrazon nodded. "She [Chariss] brought us here. I don't know how. Somehow, she must've picked the estate from my mind, and when our horses gave out, she grabbed my hand and we moved through time. We moved like spirits, it seemed." He looked at Kora as if he expected her to understand. She looked like a sensible Geasa'n. Her mannerisms and demeanor spoke to Hrazon, telling him she understood completely, before he gave voice to his concerns.

"I've only performed that feat once in my life," he said. "And then it was a short distance, across a city. I fear what it's done to her, what you're not telling me."

With a motherly smile Kora looked down at her patient. Her fingers stroked Chariss's hand like a lover, and there was a supreme sadness in the gesture. "You already know she has a terrible fever." Kora's features betrayed how worried she was despite the kind expression she offered in her smile, her full, pale lips forming the curve with a practiced smoothness that spoke volumes. If she had intended to imply joy with that smile, her fairy green eyes would have twinkled with light; tonight there was a lackluster shine about them.

"She overexerted herself today," she said.

Even without Chariss's final wish, Kora couldn't have told him that the child he loved like a daughter had telabyrinth poisoning. The hormones and energies secreted during the act of teleporting made a dangerous combination. Typically, members of the Geasa'n never learned the skill. Yet, Kora sat staring at a young lady, barely twenty years of age, who had poured every ounce of strength she had into teleporting two people nearly two-thousand leagues in a day. Kora feared they might never solve the mystery of how Chariss had accomplished the feat. Her patient fell deeper into coma with each passing moment, and she found she couldn't bring herself to tell Hrazon that, indeed, Chariss was dying.

# # #

You can also pick up the eBook version of CMFG at the publisher's link given above for $3.99, or get the hard cover edition anywhere you normally order books--Amazon, Barnes&Noble, etc.

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, author island, fantasy author, Sandy Lender

We Have a Winner!
Or...The Dragon says congrats to Laura J. from Author Island chat contest

Did everyone participate in the Author Island chat yesterday? I was back to work so I only got to check in on it a few times, but the hostess, the spectacular DeNita Tuttle, posted a contest question for me so I could give away a Choices Meant for Gods goodie bag. Yay! And the winner of the contest is the fabulous Laura J. from Indiana.

Congratulations Laura J.!!!!!

She read the excerpt from CMFG here at Today the Dragon Wins yesterday and answered the question posted during the Author Island chat to get in the drawing for the oh-so-chocolate-loaded goodie bag. That goes out in the mail later today! Yay, Laura!

Now! If anyone else is interested in winning something cool from Today the Dragon Wins, just pay attention to the contest page at http://www.authorisland.com/ because you can enter EVERY DAY here to get the Spa Package from Arcana's Bathing Rooms. Fabulous stuff... That drawing is April 15...a day everyone needs a little relaxation...

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, contest winner, author island

Win a Spa Package From Arcana's Bathing Rooms

Or…The Dragon is promoting Choices Meant for Gods at Author Island

Are you a fan of www.authorisland.com? Have you signed up to receive DeNita's newsletter? Look, if you like to read, DeNita's got the scoop on new books, new authors, established authors with new books…you name it. How do I know? Because I've been "on the island" for several months now and my epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods is listed there. And right now, if you go check out the contest page at http://www.authorisland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=6&Itemid=510, you'll learn how you can win a spa package of fabulous relaxing goodies from Arcana's bathing rooms.

I'll let Nigel explain the significance of Arcana in the following post. He seems eager to do so.

In the meantime, if you're interested in scooping up a copy of Choices Meant for Gods to see what all THAT hubbub is about (and read about Arcana), you can get the eBook for $3.99 at my publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm. (You can also order the hard cover edition there with a 20% discount. Or you can order it at http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1 and get free shipping. The choice is yours!)

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, contest announcement, spa package, fantasy novel, author island

Arcana is My Home
A Guest Post by Nigel Taiman

Good afternoon and welcome to Today the Dragon Wins. My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, has given me permission to write about Arcana, the estate where I live. In case you're not already familiar with the novel Choices Meant for Gods, I'm one of the main characters (oh, for pity's sake, I'm not calling myself that…no, it's your blog, you can edit it later). Fine. Sandy says I'm the hero in the story. And the lovely Amanda Chariss is the heroine.

Chariss seeks refuge at Arcana when an evil sorcerer (I'd like to run a sword through him, by the way) tries to kill her one morning. It turns out she's been running from this madman since she was a small child. When she and her guardian wizard arrive at my family's estate, we take her in as an adult and find that we have to literally nurse her back to life. (You'll have to read the book to get all that; there's not room for it here.) One evening at the estate, she takes a break from all the recovery and therapy and training and worry and plotting and planning to just relax in the bathing rooms the estate can boast.

And that's where the current contest (and prize) at http://www.authorisland.com/ comes into play. The picture above is of the prize Sandy has assembled from the bathing rooms. (And notice all that lovely lavender to match Chariss's eyes…isn't it breathtaking?)

If you'd like to win this prize, all you have to do is let us know that you're an Author Island fan. And if you'd like to hear more about the story of Amanda Chariss, I'll have information about Choices Meant for Gods here at Today the Dragon Wins throughout the contest (which you can enter every day if you feel like it; you can "favorite" this site and make your life easier by clicking the Technorati widget at the bottom of the page).

For those of you familiar with this site, the Inspirational Quote of the Day, Writers' Guide and Word of the Day follow just below.

Enjoy and good luck with the contest!
All my best,
Nigel Taiman
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, contest, spa package, fantasy novel, author island

We're Excited About Book of the Day at Author Island
Or...The Dragon gives up the answer you need to win the contest

This Friday, if you visit http://www.authorisland.com/, you'll see that the epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods is the featured Book of the Day. And that's tres cool. Now, you can enter to win an autographed, first-edition, hard-cover copy of Choices Meant for Gods if you answer the question o' the day correctly. To answer it correctly, you have to know why Chariss ends up at the Taiman estate (Arcana) one night, half dead and exhausted from teleporting away from the battle with Jamieson Drake where she was in danger of being killed.

(For those of you who aren't familiar with Today the Dragon Wins, or who haven't read the free chapters at my publisher's site, or who haven't read any of the teasers at Author Island, here or at my publisher's site, Jamieson Drake is the evil sorcerer who's been chasing Chariss all of her life.)

If you haven't caught the answer yet, you're welcome to visit my publisher's site to read the teaser and first three chapters for free! Click here: http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm and check out the "free sample" button to get more info about Chariss's story.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, author island, dragon

Win a Spa Kit from Arcana's Bathing Rooms

Or...The Dragon just can't give enough stuff away

I just got back from running errands, one of which was shipping Ann's copy of Choices Meant for Gods to her because she was the winner of the Win a Fantasy for Valentine's Day contest. Now DeNita at http://www.authorisland.com/ is gearing up to announce the next contest where you can win the "Spa Kit from Arcana's Bathing Rooms."

If you don't know what Arcana's Bathing Rooms are, you've got to read more of this blog, my friends. In fact, I'll have Nigel guest post or something next week as we announce my exciting day as the featured Book of the Day at Author Island next Friday. How does that sound?

If you want to get a head start and read about Arcana yourself, you can pick up the electronic version of Choices Meant for Gods at my publisher's site very cheaply. Scoot over to http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm and click on the button to purchase the eBook/download. It's a whopping $3.99. Enjoy!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Author Island, contest announcement, Arcana

Valentine's Day Contest Ends This Week
Post from Nigel Taiman

I can't believe how my fantasy author is letting everything else in life get in the way of regular posting on her blog, but there you have it. Sandy Lender is letting everything else in life get in the way of proper marketing. I guess it's up to me to remind everyone that the Valentine's Day contest will end at midnight Wednesday, the 13th, so she can pull a name on Valentine's Day. All you folks visiting from Author Island need to get your comments posted before that deadline so you have a shot at getting your personalized copy of Choices Meant for Gods. I happen to think it's a fabulous story, you know. And that's because it's a story about the most incredible woman to walk the earth. I'm talking about the heroine, Amanda Chariss, and, because Sandy's too busy with everything else in life to pay attention to what I'm posting, I believe I'll just go on a bit about Chariss while I have the chance.

First of all, if you were at the Author Island chat today, you could read the excerpt from Choices Meant for Gods in which Chariss and I have our little fencing exercise in the training arena. I nearly died, you know. But that Chariss...she's amazing...

And now the fantasy author shows up. It appears I need to just state facts and give the computer back to her. There's an excerpt from the fantasy novel posted at the Author Island all-day chat today, three chapters available for download at www.archebooks.com, and a deleted scene that I posted here a couple weeks ago that you can read to tease you into wanting your own copy of Choices Meant for Gods. You can order it and get free shipping at www.amazon.com if you don't like your odds with the contest...But I wish you all good luck in the Valentine's Day contest. You can enter every day...

All my best to you.
Nigel
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Valentine's Day

Tuesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day for Writers
"Each player must accept the cards that life deals him or her. But once in hand one must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."
—Voltaire

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a fabulous day! Keep reading for today's Word of the Day at The Dragon, and to find Nigel's latest post for the Valentine's Day contest to win a copy of Choices Meant for Gods (he posted on Friday).
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, Voltaire, Valentine's Day

Nigel Taiman Speaks about Chariss
Or…Nigel's first guest post in the Valentine's Day CMFG Contest

Welcome to those of you visiting The Dragon for the first time or checking in from Author Island. It's a pleasure to have this opportunity to tell you a bit about the leading lady in the epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods. Sandy (my fantasy author) assures me I can get away with all the "sappy nonsense" I wish because this is a Valentine's Day contest that I'm here to promote with my panegyric.

So let me start by saying that the lovely Amanda Chariss is a fantasy heroine beyond compare. I've never seen a young lady live through so much turmoil and adversity and turn out to be such a strong yet admirable warrior. And before any gentlemen who might be visiting The Dragon get any ideas, let me just state here and now that she's mine. That might not be entirely official just yet, but I'm sure it will be soon.

If you'd like to read an interview with Sandy and me in which we discuss Amanda, you can visit http://www.mindunbound.com/blog/2007/08/interview_with_sandy_lender_an.html. And there are some fantastic reviews that talk about Amanda Chariss at http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200155650&sr=1-1. In the meantime, thank you for visiting The Dragon and entering the contest to win your own hard-cover, first-edition, autographed copy of Choices Meant for Gods. You can enter daily until the 13th of February, and I'll be guest blogging again soon.

All my best,
Nigel Taiman

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, fantasy heroine, dragon, Valentine's Day