Promotion Tip!
Or...The Dragon suggests innovative places to sell books

Back when I first signed on with ArcheBooks Publishing, Bob Gelinas suggested authors should find innovative places to sell books. Of course you want your titles to be in book stores because book browers and buyers go into book stores to buy them there. But you're competing against a lot of other titles there.

So today I dropped off a few copies of Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings at a defensive weapons shop that sells fantasy swords and medieval weapons. Great placement. And guess what? My book is the only one in that shop so there's no book competition.

What genre do you write in? Science Fiction? How about approaching a shop that sells rocket kits? I bet they don't have too many sci fi novels on the shelf. Try a consignment deal with the owner. Do you write naughty romance? Try an adult toy shop. Do you write sweet romance? Maybe approach an employee-owned card shop. The possibilities are endless when you start thinking about innovative places to approach.

If you're in South Florida and you find yourself traveling along I-75, I invite you to take the Bonita Beach Rd. exit to the Flamingo Island Fleamarket where Mr. Tony's defensive weapons shop is located at R-76. He has cool knives and daggers and is ordering in a few more fantasy swords now that season is coming in. (It's a South Florida thing.) And! Now he has copies of Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings by Fantasy Author Sandy Lender at prices below Amazon.

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: fantasy swords, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Kings, defensive weapons

How to Buy a Sword
Or...The Dragon offers some pointy advice

Let's say your interest in sword-buying is literary in nature. Your WIP includes a character who needs to get a good, dependable weapon and there aren't any lakes nearby where watery tarts can spring up and fling one at him. (My deepest apologies to Arthurian fans who haven't seen The Quest for the Holy Grail.) Unless you understand exactly how a blacksmith forges steel into a blade, get thy character to a blacksmith to purchase his sword of choice. Or have some elves forge and deliver it in grand fashion before a significant battle.

But let's say your interest in swords is here in the real world. If you like the look of swords and enjoy intimidating your houseguests (especially those of the uninvited variety), you can pick one up in this day and age. How authentic you want to be dictates the amount of money you'll spend.

For the swords I give away at my book signings and other appearances, I don't go all out and pay for tempered swords that re-enactors would use in battle scenes, etc. I am on a budget here. If you want a real sword worthy of use in jousting and impressing the folks "in the know", you'll spend $200 or $300 at an artisan's shop. And it may or may not be sharp when you walk out with it. Oftentimes that's extra.

The best place to get such a sword, in my humble opinion, is the aforementioned artisan's shop. I find those at renaissance festivals. They're speckled all over the United States all over the calendar. A quick google search for Renaissance Faire and the name of your state will provide you with a list. Even the retirement village of Florida has a ton of them. Once you find a festival near you, look up the vendors attending. Check them out. A wholesaler of blades purchased out of various catalogs is not what you're after. You want someone who stands in his or her booth with fire and hammer pounding out a blade in front of you while he or she explains the craft. That, my friends, is the artisan you're looking for. He or she knows how to create a sword and will either have some on the wall for purchase and/or can craft one for you (for a price). I've even heard of vendors who work with you to let you pound on the steel to create your own blade, assisting you to make sure you do it right, of course. This will take up your day, but will provide a very real experience that will enhance your writing more than you know.

So if you're in the market for a sword, go ahead and peruse the catalogs and online shops, but beware of claims you read there. When you're sitting at the computer a couple hundred miles from the warehouse, you can't lean on the sword to feel the give of the blade (indicating whether or not it's been tempered). You can't look down the blade for imperfections and warping. My advice, as a chick who cares, is to research your purchase and go to an artisan at a festival. You'll get an authentic piece far more intimidating to those uninvited houseguests than the "Shards of Narsil" out of a glossy catalog.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: how to buy a sword, blade, artisan, Shards of Narsil

Congratulations to Harold Sander

Or...The Dragon wonders if he's slain any intruders yet

At the recent DragonCon, Harold Sander entered and won the free drawing for the replica of Jorin Taiman's sword. Join me in congratulating him on the fabulous win. (Jorin Taiman is Nigel's younger brother in the Choices trilogy.)

This was Harold's first DragonCon and he went away with great art and a great win! He was even so kind as to pose for a picture for the blog, without ever asking if my hair was real or not. Bwuahahaha. (Truth be told, no one seemed to notice it was fake! So I'll be using that little mop for the duration of my treatments! Woo-hoo!)

If you'd like to win one of these fabulous swords, you have to attend an event where I'm signing. The next one of those is in November, in sunny Naples, Florida. The Barnes & Noble at the Waterside Shops is hosting a local authors event Saturday, Nov. 15. My time slot is from 10 a.m. to noon. I hope to see you there! I know I'll have my first novel, Choices Meant for Gods, and my short story anthology, What Choices We Made, available for purchase and personalization. And if you'd like to see the second novel, Choices Meant for Kings, make its debut at this event, please help me lobby my publisher to wave the magic wand of production over the production schedule...

No matter how that goes, I'm pleased that folks like Harold stop by my table at these events and share a bit of their time talking about books (and cutlery). Congrats again to the latest winner!

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

Tags: Choices trilogy, Harold Sander, DragonCon

Congratulations to Sword Winner Duane Kessler
Or...The Dragon gave away another Choices Meant for Gods sword at DragonCon

The fabulous mage in the photo with Fantasy Author Sandy Lender is none other than the latest in the string of sword winners, Mister Duane Kessler. While attending DragonCon in Atlanta last weekend, Duane put his name in the drawing for a replica of Jorin Taiman's training sword, and, lucky him, he won! His friend snapped this shot before they trotted off to enjoy the rest of the convention with "live steel" in hand.

Congratulations to Duane and thank you to everyone who entered the contest. I swear I'm not going to spam you. If there's anyone else out there who'd like to win one of these fabulous swords, you just have to watch for a book signing or event where I'll be live and in person (right now I know I'm doing the Renaissance Art Festival in Naples Nov. 24-25) and come out to see me and the epic fantasy novel I'm so proud to be autographing at those events. And if you'd like to get your copy of Choices Meant for Gods beforehand, you can grab it at Amazon (where they've had to order more copies again...) or 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: Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, DragonCon, Duane Kessler

Congratulations to Faith Sorenson

Or...The Dragon wants to show off this cool gal

I posted on Sunday evening that Faith Sorenson of Southwest Florida had won the replica of Jorin Taiman's training sword at the charity event for autism research, but I didn't have this fancy dancy picture ready to go with the message. Now here she is (center) with her friend Lou Sand (left), who will be using the sword (for real!) in her martial arts training classes.

Now, if you don't know who Jorin Taiman is, get thee to a book store and get your copy of Choices Meant for Gods and start reading! Or you can grab a copy with free shipping at http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9883296-3024969?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182722132&sr=8-1.

Thank you for entering the contest for Jorin's sword, Faith, and congratulations, again!

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

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Faith Sorenson, sword, Jorin Taiman

And the Winner Is!
Or...another fabulous new fan gets a replica of Jorin's training sword

The lucky and lovely Faith Sorenson did something very cool today. She attended the fundraiser for the Adonis Society up in Cape Coral, Fla. Now, this means Faith contributed to raising money for autism research in Southwest Florida. It means she cares about the families who are struggling with medical costs and everyday living expenses caring for loved ones with autism. She and about 99 other Southwest Florida citizens came out not just to show support for this cause, but to put their money where their mouths are. They purchased books from ArcheBooks authors knowing the proceeds would go to this good cause. They purchased raffle tickets to win a basket of books from the authors and a basket of Choices Meant for Gods goodies (plus wine) from moi. And Faith entered a contest to win a replica of Jorin Taiman's training sword! And she won!

I'll have her happy mug shot up here later this week because, well, let's face it, The Dragon is too poor right now to afford a digital camera and the ol' trusty Olympus that my mom gave me when I graduated from high school (yes, you read that right) did the honors this afternoon. :) So we'll have the picture of Faith holding her prize later on. But for now, a big shout of CONGRATULATIONS! goes out to our winner. And I'd like to tack on a big "thank-you" as well.

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

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Jorin Taiman, sword, autism research

Swear, Swear, Swear, I Didn't Stab Anyone...

Or...Blood-Free Day at Barnes and Noble

Saturday, June 9th, found Fantasy Author Sandy Lender standing at the entryway to Barnes & Noble at the Waterside Shops in Naples, Florida, with a weapon. Oh, well, she also had some copies of Choices Meant for Gods to sign. First! Big thank-yous go out to Michelle Weston, author of A Prophecy Forgotten, for bringing the camera and getting shots of the coo-el event. I also want to thank the folks who stopped by to get copies of the new fantasy novel that's got everyone so excited about Nigel and Chariss. And I would be remiss if I didn't thank the wonderful folks at Barnes & Noble who brought the table out for me and brought me water and stopped by to chat before traffic picked up. It was a wonderful experience to meet so many wonderful new faces Saturday, and I feel empowered by your energy!

And now, for the moment all you contest entry folks have been waiting for...where is Eric Becker? Eric, are you stopping by The Dragon today? I need to reach you, my dear, to let you know that fabulous training sword in the picture above is now YOURS! (I'm sending him an e-mail to let him know.) Yes, Eric is the winner of the replica of Jorin Taiman's training sword. Woo-hoo! And congratulations to you! Lucky dog.

All you other folks who entered the contest need not fear. I've got a couple speaking engagements planned and more book signings to do...there'll be more chances to win more swords. Jorin's sword was easy to replicate, doncha know...

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

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, sword, fantasy author, fantasy novel, dragon