Win a Signed Copy of Frostborn

I'm hosting a Giveaway for a signed copy of Frostborn. To enter follow the link and sign up to follow my Twitter account there and you're automatically entered to win. The contest is hosted via Amazon Giveaways (so I don't see your information). You only need to authorize the "Amazon" application on Twitter to follow or confirm you follow @LouAnders. Contest ends the either Apr 1, 2015 11:59 PM PDT or when the prize has been awarded.

"This is the most fun I’ve had since Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Word Bookstores, Staff Pick

Frostborn has been named a Staff Pick by Book Shop Santa Cruz, Books Inc., Eagle Harbor Book Co., Hoover Public Library, King's English Bookshop, Mockingbird Books, Politics and Prose, Powell's, Queen's Library, North Shelby Library, The Waucoma Bookstore and Word Bookstores. It received a starred review in Publishers Weekly, who also selected it for the "PW Picks: Books of the Week" selection for the week of August 4th. It was the Editor's Choice of Amazon for the month of August and made io9's list of "Must-Read Science Fiction And Fantasy Books For August." Frostborn was chosen by the Bank Street College of Education as one of the Best Children's Books of the Year and was nominated for the 2015-16 Beehive Book Awards. It has been praised for its portrayal of equally strong male and female characters, for its lessons on friendship, inner strength, and teamwork, for its inclusion of Norse mythology, and for its portrayal of a biracial character dealing with bullying.

Frostborn: Beehive Book Award Nominee

I have just learned that Frostbornis one of ten nominees for the 2015-16 Beehive Book Awards in the category of Children's Fiction! The award is sponsored by the Children's Literature Association of Utah. The full list of nominees in the category are: 

Children’s Fiction:

1. The Blood Guard by Carter Roy
2. EL Deafo by Cece Bell
3. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
4. Frostborn by Lou Anders
5. The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson
6. Loot by Jude Watson
7. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
8. Spell Robbers by Mathew J. Kirby
9. Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
10. The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Frostborn: Bank Street College of Education: Best Children's Books of the Year

The Bank Street College of Eduction has included Frostborn (Thrones and Bones)in its publication The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2015 Edition, in the fantasy category. I am utterly thrilled. Here is what Bank Street College of Education says about the award process and criteria.

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COMMITTEE at Bank Street College of Education strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year. The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2015 Edition includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2014. In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes. Nonfiction titles are further evaluated for accuracy and clarity. Each book accepted for the list is read and reviewed by at least two committee members and then discussed by the committee as a whole.

Crash Landing with Comic Book Outsiders

I am a guest today on the new podcast Crash Landing, spinoff of Comic Book Outsiders. 

The premise of this show, "Each episode we trap a guest on our crashing spaceship. They have one hour to salvage humanity's most important cultural artefacts before we maroon them on the planet of their choice. Crashing his landing craft this week is author, Lou Anders."

I had a wonderful time talking with host Scott Grandison and plugged many wonderful artifacts of earth culture in the process. Please check it out.

Frostborn: North Shelby Library Recommended Reading

My novel, Frostborn, has received another recommendation. This one from the North Shelby Library. They write:

"Frostborn is Lou Anders' debut novel, a fantasy for middle graders and young adults. Advantageously placed in a trend of interest in Norse mythology and ice -- Thor, the Loki craze, and Frozen, to name a few -- Frostborn is similar enough to those things to make a good recommendation, but it's not a knockoff. As with all the best books for kids, it’s full of substance. It’s well-written and well-plotted. It’s clear what’s happening and accessible for those who are just getting into longer books, but complex enough for teens to enjoy. It’s light and fun, but contains serious themes about acceptance, family, and loyalty (both when you should have it and when you shouldn’t). Written with both of Anders' children in mind, the book is explicitly for both boys and girls -- Karn and Thianna always get equal billing, and they’re always equally important!"

So, to date...Frostbornhas been named a Staff Pick by Book Shop Santa Cruz, Books Inc., Eagle Harbor Book Co., Hoover Public Library, King's English Bookshop, Mockingbird Books, Politics and Prose, Powell's, Queen's Library, North Shelby Library, The Waucoma Bookstore and Word Bookstores. It received a starred review in Publishers Weekly, who also selected it for the "PW Picks: Books of the Week" selection for the week of August 4th. It was the Editor's Choice of Amazon for the month of August, and made io9's list of "Must-Read Science Fiction And Fantasy Books For August."

Thrones & Bones Fan Art

The fan art page of my personal website has photos of Thrones & Bones sets, Frostborninspired artwork, and even costumes from readers across America and the UK. I'm always happy to add to this wonderful repository!

Check out these super cool fan-made Thrones & Bones sets!

Here is a fan in the UK showing of his Karn Korlundsson costume, complete with Thrones & Bones board!




And here Karn and Thianna confront the dragon Orm in this fan art from a nine year old reader!

This awesome two-headed troll painting was a gift from a fan in Athens, GA!

Thank you notes are better with dragons!