This odd idea came to me, I thought I'd run it by everybody and see what y'all think.

But first, ARC news:

You know that next Friday or so I'm going to draw a name from the roster of people who've signed up over at the forum (and who have posted, at least once). That person will get the Queen of Swords ARC. Toward the end of August I'll give away one more -- same deal, drawing a name from the roster of people who have registered on the forum. Except for the August drawing, you'll have one entry for every time you've posted. And by posted, I mean more than one word or a smiley. Some kind of substantive response, more than great forum! thanks! or I love these books or Go away or I shall taunt you again.

So by the end of the summer, I'll have given away two Queen of Swords ARCs.

But wait! There's more! If you act now... okay. Not right now. I'll be doing a signing/reading from Tied to the Tracks at Village Books on Thursday (July 13), 7:30 pm -- so if you're in striking distance of Bellingham, Washington, you might want to stop by. The first person to come up to me and say: I'm registered on your forum, and please could I have that Queen of Swords ARC? -- that person (if such a person comes forward) will get it.

So that's it, three copies and then no more ARCs to give away.

However (and here comes the odd idea): anybody like a page from the second pass proofs? Just one page per person, and I'll pull them at random. You may get an exciting page that gives a lot of the plot away, or a confusing page because it comes in the middle of a complicated twist, or a page from a sex scene. I'll sign and date it, too. Would y'all be interested in something like this? the idea came to me because I hate having to disappoint so many hopeful people over on the forum who won't get the ARC -- a little bit of a consolation prize. If enough people seem interested, this is what you'd have to do:

1. Send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Rosina Lippi/Sara Donati
PO Box 4114
Bellingham WA 98227

EDITED TO ADD: Jacqui raised the question of people outside the US who can't send a SASE. So a change:

I'm hoping I don't get 500 requests from down under, but I'll take the chance.

2. Agree not to post or otherwise make public the content of the page you get. The exception: I could set up a spoiler discussion on the forum.

3. Agree not to send a second SASE; one per reader.

I'll pull a page from the typeset manuscript, sign it, and send it back to you. I can't imagine I'd get more requests than I have pages, but if so, I'll post here to say the well has run dry.

So lemme know what you think. If it's too lame, speak up, please, so I can duck my head in embarrassment.