Our Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt begins!

/
This August, the fun continues with our exciting Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt.

This event runs Aug 1 - August 31. Participants have a chance to win some fabulous prizes, including a Kindle ereader with wi-fi.

To enter:
1. Check out our Scavenger host list BELOW and click on each blog link.
2. Scavenge through these blogs until you find our Scavenger Hunt badge/graphic. You're looking for a badge that is similar to the one to the left but has a different message on it.
3. Email us at imajinbooks@shaw.ca with "Scavenger Hunt" in subject line and the website link to the page with the badge you found, your name, mailing address and phone number, plus the title of the ebook you would like to receive if your name is drawn.
4. Each correct entry counts as an extra entry into our prize draws, so the more you find the badge and send us those links, the more chances you have of winning the Kindle and other prizes.

Prizes:
·       31 winners will receive one ebook of their choice from our published titles.
·       4 winners will received a signed novel (trade paperback) by authors Alison Bruce, Melodie Campbell, Cherish D'Angelo and Cheryl Kaye Tardif.
·       Grand Prize: Kindle with Wi-Fi ($140 value): One grand prize winner (Kindle) to be selected from all eligible entries. Additional prizes may be added later.


Hosts:
Chris Redding Author  (link fixed)

If we contacted you to participate as a host and your URL/site name is not listed above, please email imajinbooks@shaw.ca and we can add you. Or if you'd like to host but we didn't contact you, email us. We welcome new hosts until August 7th.


Official rules:
Entrant must be 18 to enter and be a Canadian or USA citizen for paperback and Kindle prizes, but can be international for ebook prizes. 
No purchase necessary. 
No substitution, no refunds, no cash value. 
The grand prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. 
Winners CAN win more than one prize if they have more than one entry.
Void where prohibited by law.

Imajin Books authors, their families and any subcontracted associates of Imajin Books are excluded from this contest.


We do not rent, sell or giveaway your personal contact information. It is used for this contest and you may receive an invite to I.B.I.C., our members-only club.

Imajin Books is an innovative, unique Canadian publisher with an eye on exciting, ever-changing trends and opportunities in publishing that opened its 'doors' to authors worldwide in late February 2011. We promise great reads by wonderful authors, with ebooks priced under $5 and trade paperbacks under $18.

The future of reading is ebooks, and the future is NOW!

Summer eBook Sale - Kindle & Smashwords Quick Links - July 1-31

/
ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT of our SUMMER eBOOK SALE!

We know you're busy this summer and you don't want to spend hours searching for ebooks, so we've made it easy for you. Below is a list of our books, their covers, brief descriptions and some quick links. Happy reading! And don't forget, the Smashwords edition comes in multiple file formats for most ereaders.

And now, our books...

ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL

a novel by Melodie Campbell

Fiction: Romance, Fantasy, Historical
Ebook - First edition

When Rowena falls through her classroom wall and lands in an alternate world, she doesn’t count on being kidnapped―not once, but twice―and the stakes get higher as the men get hotter.

List Price: $3.99 US  SALE PRICE: $2.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: QX53C)


THE RIVER

a novel by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Thriller, Suspense, Technothriller
Ebook - Second edition, updated cover

The South Nahanni River has a history of mysterious deaths, disappearances and headless corpses, but it may also hold the key to humanity’s survival―or its destruction.

List Price: $2.99 US  SALE PRICE: $1.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: CS52Q)


UNDER A TEXAS STAR

a novel by Alison Bruce

Fiction: Romance, Western, Historical
Ebook - First Edition

Disguised as a boy, Marly joins a handsome Texas Ranger in the hunt for a con man and they must bring the fugitive to justice before giving up the masquerade and giving in to their passion.

List Price: $3.99 US  SALE PRICE: $2.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: UT34B)


DIVINE JUSTICE (book 2 in the Divine series)

a novel by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Paranormal, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Ebook - First Edition

CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan battles a serious infection that threatens to claim her life. Slipping in and out of consciousness, she remembers the Parliament Murders...

List Price: $3.99 US  SALE PRICE: $2.99

Available at Amazon  and Smashwords (use coupon code: XB64K)


CHILDREN OF THE FOG

a novel by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Paranormal, Ghost Story
Ebook - First Edition with Bonus Content

YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION:
Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die.
Choose!

List Price: $3.99 US  SALE PRICE: $2.99

Available at Amazon  and Smashwords (use coupon code: WE65U)


DIVINE INTERVENTION

a novel by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Paranormal, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Ebook - Second Edition with Bonus Content & New Cover

CFBI Agent Jasmine McLellan leads a psychically gifted team in the hunt for a serial arsonist―a murderer who has already taken the lives of three innocent people.

List Price: $2.99 US  SALE PRICE: $0.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: KL89F)


LANCELOT'S LADY

a novel by Cherish D'Angelo

Fiction: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary
Ebook - First edition

A Bahamas holiday from dying billionaire JT Lance, a man with a dark secret, leads palliative nurse Rhianna McLeod to Jonathan, a man with his own troubled past, and Rhianna finds herself drawn to the handsome recluse, while unbeknownst to her, someone with a horrific plan is hunting her down.

List Price: $3.99 US  SALE PRICE: $1.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: NY68Q)


SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET & OTHER CREEPY STORIES

a collection of short stories by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense, Collection, Anthology
Ebook

Thirteen stories take you from one hold-your-breath chapter to the next.
Enter the closet…

List Price: $1.99 US  SALE PRICE: $0.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: ZT62S)


REMOTE CONTROL

a novelette by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense
Ebook

In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif delivers a strong message: Be careful what you wish for!

List Price: $0.99 US  SAME on Amazon; FREE on Smashwords

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: HP96H)


WHALE SONG (ebook)

a novel by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Fiction: Drama, General, Young Adult
Ebook

Set on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Whale Song is a "perennially crowd-pleasing combination of sweet and sad", an inspiring, multicultrual family drama that will change the way you view life...and death.

List Price: $3.99 US  SALE PRICE: $1.99

Available at Amazon and Smashwords (use coupon code: SP97D)

Summer Reviewer Giveaway - July 1-August 31

/
This July & August, we hope you'll join us for our Summer Reviewer Giveaway. No, we aren't giving away reviewers (though I'm sure some authors would LOVE to have their very own). We're rewarding reviewers!

We think reviewers are special. They take the time to read our books and then post their thoughts about our titles on blogs, websites, Facebook pages, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari etc. And it's time they get some real appreciation. So we're giving away ebooks to reviewers.

And our reviewers will be entered in a draw for a Mystery Prize worth at least $120.

Here's how it works:
  • Borrow an Imajin Books title (ebook or paperback) from a friend or lending site, or buy from your favourite retailer. 
  • Then post a review on Amazon, B&N or Goodreads. Only reviews posted between July 1, 2011 and August 31, 2011 qualify.
  • Email us with the links to your reviews.
  • You'll receive 1 free ebook of your choice (from our titles). No obligation to review your ebook prize.
  • 1 Mystery Prize valued at $120 (minimum) will be given away to one lucky winner.
  • Anyone, anywhere, 18+, can enter this giveaway. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. No cash value.
  • Imajin Books authors, their families and any subcontracted associates of Imajin Books are excluded from this contest.
  • All prizes will be awarded after September 1st and before September 3rd. The Mystery Prize may take up to 4 weeks to be received.

Contact

/
Imajin Books:

imajinbooks@shaw.ca

3715-14 Street NW,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6T 0H9


Booksellers:

Our books are distributed by Ingram and Lightning Source. Please contact them directly for all book orders. Thank you for supporting our authors.


Authors:

To contact our authors, please click on their names in the Books section and visit their websites. Or you can visit their blogs via the Author Blogs in the left navigation area.

Our 'Summer Sizzles with Imajin Books' event begins July 1st

/
The countdown is on. In 4 days, our huge summer event will begin and we'll be rewarding readers and book reviewers. This is our way to say "Thank you" for reading our books.

Great things come in threes! So we have 3 ways you can help us celebrate:

1. July 1-31 -  Summer eBook Sale: our books (via Amazon and Smashwords) will all be priced between $0.99 and $2.99US.
2. July 1-August 31 - Summer Reviewer Giveaway: reviewers can receive free ebooks.
3. August 1-31 - Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt - win free ebooks and a chance to win a KINDLE ereader with wi-fi. (Other prizes may be added. We're hoping to also give away a Kobo Touch ereader.)


We hope you join us because 'Summer Sizzles with Imajin Books'.

5 Dos and 5 Don'ts when querying Imajin Books

/
Hopefully, if you're a writer thinking of querying us, you've read Jeff Rivera's query posts here. If not, I recommend you read them before submitting a query letter to us. It'll save us both time and energy.

And here are a few more Dos and Don'ts you should apply.

DOs:

1. Do query us in a personal, friendly tone. We aren't stuffy, starched-shirt executives working from a corner office on the 12th floor with a river view. We're people who love a good story.
2. Do address me, the acquisition editor, by name. CHERYL. Not Ma'am or Miss or Publisher. And yes, your email may get deleted if you can't be bothered to spell my name correctly. Sorry, but if you can't spell CHERYL, then there are probably a ton of typos in your manuscript.
3. Do HOOK me with your first sentence and paragraph of your query letter. Follow this advice for your novel too. I look for a strong first sentence, paragraph, page and chapter. If you don't have this, edit. Your query too.
4. Do email me your query. Don't send it by mail. Ever. Especially now. Canada Post is on strike.
5. Do feel free to blog about Imajin Books (in glowing terms, of course) and promote any of our fabulous authors. Feel free to contact them for interviews and guest blogs. Ask them to donate a free ebook to a contest/draw on your site/blog.

DON'Ts:
1. Don't query us with NON-fiction. Unless you see our tagline under our company name change, we only publish FICTION. For those of you who are still confused over the difference, NON-fiction means the story is based on truth, on someone's life, is factual. This includes memoirs, historical accounts etc. FICTION is a made up story, a fantasy not based on truth, though it may be inspired by a true story.
2. Don't ever call us in place of an emailed query. We do not want to be pitched to by phone. We have a business to run.
3. Don't leave us voice messages asking us to call you so you can pitch a book to us.
4. Don't tell us your manuscript has been professionally edited because when we find typos--and we always do--we're going to wonder who you hired and why you bothered. Or we'll think your mother's sister's best friend who cleans the coffee room at a newspaper edited it for you for free.
5. Don't send us a five page query. Keep it short and sweet. If we want to know more, we'll ask. If we ask, that's a good sign we're interested. If we're interested, we may just publish your book. If we publish your book, you'll have a publisher and your book will be read by readers.

~ Cheryl Tardif

Giveaway: Rowena Through the Wall by Melodie Campbell

/
We're giving away 10 free ebook copies of Melodie Campbell's debut romantic fantasy, ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL.

The first 10 people to leave a comment here, including their email address, will receive a coupon code to be used on various file formats suitable for most major ereaders and reading via a computer.

All we ask in return is that you post a short review of ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL on Amazon.com, and anywhere else you'd like.

Remember, the first 10 people to comment with their email address will receive this sizzling romantic fantasy.

"A hot, hilarious, romantic fantasy that enthralls you from the first line. If you enjoy Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, you'll adore Rowena and her riotous romps in an alternate world…" ―Midwest Book Review


If you'd like to purchase a copy of Rowena Through the Wall or give it as a gift, please visit Smashwords and Amazon Kindle Store

YOU KNOW YOUR QUERY LETTER SUCKS WHEN ... You Haven't Grabbed Them Emotionally

/
When reading this series of articles from my good friend Jeff Rivera, please substitute "agent" for "publisher" and follow his advice to send us a query letter we'll be excited to read. ~Cheryl Tardif, publisher

YOU KNOW YOUR QUERY LETTER SUCKS WHEN ... You Haven't Grabbed Them Emotionally

by Jeff Rivera, founder of http://www.HowtoWriteaQueryLetter.com

I love going to the movies. Chomping on the popcorn, being so engaged with the film that for two hours (and sometimes dreadfully much longer) you forget about your worries and strife and if you're lucky, you're swept away on an emotional journey that takes your breath away.

People want to feel the same way when they read your memoir or your novel and believe it or not, agents would love to feel the same way when they read your query letter.

Your query letter is supposed to be an example of your storytelling skills. But let's be honest, what if your story is just another Da Vinci Code knock off? What can you do to really grab the agent in that very first sentence?

I've ghost written over 100 query letters for clients and all of them, 100%, have gotten at least 10 top agents to request to read their manuscripts.

When I run across a client who's weak on spaghetti sauce but heavy on spaghetti, then I know that I need to dig a little deeper. Sometimes the selling point is the author themselves. Their backstory is much more interesting than the actual story they're telling.

I once had a client who had written a book of poetry, which anyone will tell you is the hardest thing to sell for an agent right next to a collection of short stories, yet his backstory of success from the tough streets of South Chicago to being an incredibly successful broadcast executive was so powerful, I just had to include that in the query letter.

The result? Over 30 clients requested to read his manuscript. In fact, you can read his query letter here: http://tinyurl.com/25t2mkj

Use this technique and you'll be one step closer to landing an agent.
______________________________________

If you would like to see an example of query letters that worked, visit: http://www.HowtoWriteaQueryLetter.com

Jeff Rivera is the founder of http://www.HowtoWriteaQueryLetter.com. He and his works have been featured or mentioned in Publishers Weekly, GalleyCat, Mediabistro, Los Angeles Times, New York Observer, NPR and many other media outlets.

Summer Sizzles with Imajin Books

/
This summer, from July 1st to August 31st, celebrate the opening of the innovative Canadian publishing company, IMAJIN BOOKS. 

Great things come in threes! 

1) Check out our Summer eBook Sale.
2) Check out Summer Reviewer Giveaway to receive free ebooks.
3) Follow our Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt and enter to win a Kindle ereader. 


More details coming soon! Stay tuned and check back here.