New (Really Odd) Contest!

One of the things that a publishing company does for an author--or at least, that my lovely editor does for me--in the process of making a book is to send said author some sample covers once the design has been agreed upon and the book is in the process of being printed. It's a nice way to get something in your hand, as an author, to look at and say, "This will be my book."

But let's be real: This is not the most useful item on the planet. It's a cover. It's flat (both front and back covers are included, but it's not folded). There's no book inside. It's nice to look at, but that's about it.

So when I got the three copies of the OLD HAUNTS cover, for the book due in February, one thought leapt immediately to mind: "I only need one of these."

That's where you come in.

If you'd like to get a first look at the cover of OLD HAUNTS, and have it in your hand, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, here's your chance. I'm announcing the first (as far as I know) EMPTY COVER CONTEST in publishing history.

Here's how it works: You quote your FAVORITE LINE from the Haunted Guesthouse series. Either published book. If it's from OLD HAUNTS, I'm going to want to know who your mole inside Berkley Publishing might be. Otherwise, I'll assume the line is from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED or AN UNINVITED GHOST. 

Send that quote in an email to ejcopperman [at] gmail [dot] com. Send it before midnight, Monday October 17. (That's the night of October 17, not the first moment in the morning. You have all day Monday, I'm saying.) 

All entries received on time will be ceremoniously dumped into the nearest hat and two (because I have two extra covers) will be pulled out at random. They'll be signed by the author (that's me) and sent to the winner (hopefully, that's YOU!). Winners will be announced Tuesday, October 18.

For more information (or the same information in different words), go to my website and look under "CONTEST."

Good luck!

Woo-Woo Indeed

People tell me their ghost stories.

It's not like I ask--I figure the ghost stories I make up should be just that (made up), so I'm not looking for extra "research" in the way of people telling me how their Cousin Bob, gone these 14 years, still pulls the cereal box out of the cupboard in the morning or how the house they bought during the real estate boom (remember THAT?) is inhabited by the spirit of a Revolutionary War draft dodger named Ezekial.

I don't mind hearing the stories; far from it, since most of them are really entertaining. But it's funny that 1. everyone I meet seems to have a supernatural tale or two from their "real" life, while I'm trying to make a living writing ones that I guarantee you never happened and 2. they launch into these stories unprompted, assuming that if I write ghost stories, I must want to hear as many as possible.

A few (not many, but a few) readers have complained--alas, out loud on Amazon and elsewhere--that my ghost stories aren't accurate, that ghosts don't act that way, and that I am, therefore, a fraud. Hardly. I've never made an claim to knowledge of an afterlife, and hope not to have any such knowledge for a very long time. I make stuff up. I hope it will entertain those who choose to read it, and if it does, I've done my job adequately. If not, no amount of "accuracy" is going to make much difference.

What strikes me more than anything else is the certainty with which the people I meet lay out these fantastical tales. I am something of a skeptic--no, I am EVERYTHING of a skeptic--but the sincerity with which the stories are told is striking. I'm not sure which one of us they're trying to convince, but it's taking a lot of effort either way.

When I meet you, if you feel like telling me your ghost story, please do. I love to hear a good tale, supernatural or just natural, and I'm always happy to be enthralled with a person's passion. But if you're expecting me to smite myself in the forehead and shout, "Finally! The proof I've been seeking!", well, I'm afraid you might be a tad disappointed.

And I hate to disappoint. So be prepared.

No really--New Interview with LINK!

Try this out, instead: New Interview!

New Interview!

Check out this lovely interview (I can't BELIEVE she found a picture of "The Little Fish That Got Away!"): http://www.kittlingbooks.com/2011/07/scene-of-crime-with-author-ej-copperman.html

Sneak Peek: OLD HAUNTS cover!

What do you think? (Be honest!)

All Suggestions Gratefully Accepted

I'm thinking about touring, if not with the current AN UNINVITED GHOST, then probably with OLD HAUNTS, which debuts next February. But the travel budget is, let's say, limited, so the "tour" would have to be carefully planned and kept to a small number of stores which are especially open to mystery authors and excellent at planning events.

So I'm asking you--yes, you--for suggestions. I have a few ideas of stores I've always wanted to visit (and I haven't contacted them yet, so I'm not mentioning any names), but maybe I don't know about all the best ones around the country (international travel is absolutely outside the budgetary limits).

Tell me--what are the great mystery bookstores in your area? Have you been to any memorable author events there? What stores an I not thinking of that I should be? You can list suggestions below or get in touch at ejcopperman [at] gmail [dot] com.

Thanks!

Wow!

A MAJOR blast from my past showed up out of the blue at my local supermarket!