Featured New Release: The Last River Child

Okay, so Lori and I have been chatting for a bit now about doing something to feature her book, The Last River Child. She even had two copies sent to me so I could read one — and I did! A bit ago.

It seems this summer slowdown of mine hit well before the summer started.

Still, author Lori Bloomfield hasn’t released a new book, so we’ll call The Last River Child a Featured New Release. Which means that in addition to giving away both copies of this book (I dare you to tell me which I read. ’cause… I can’t tell. Yep, I’m THIS gentle on my books.), I asked Lori THE question:

What song makes you think of your book?

Her answer?

After much thought about what song reminds me of my book I am going to go with “Stolen Child” by Loreena McKennitt. Wow, I feel like I’m on a game show, or something. It was a fun question to roll around my mind. Really, I was searching for a song that created a certain mood and I think this fits the bill.

Know what? This song is THE BEST representation of the book. If this book were a song, it’d be this one. Nicely done, Lori!

Here’s the book’s blurb:

In the summer of 1900, a meteorite lands on the day of Peg Staynor’s baptism, barely missing the small church in rural Ontario. This, along with Peg’s almost colorless eyes, is enough to resurrect a local superstition that will haunt Peg and her family for years. Many believe Peg to be a river child, taken over by an evil spirit from the Magurvey River that winds its way through the town. Feared and shunned throughout her childhood, Peg is blamed for every misfortune, from drought to ailing livestock. When her mother, her fiercest protector, dies suddenly on the same day WWI is declared, young Peg must face not only the mistrust of the villagers, but of her father. His grief has driven him to take solace in drink and old superstition, leaving Peg with only her head-strong older sister, Sarah, for support. It will take the terrible reality of World War I to shake off the grip of old world beliefs. As the town’s young men begin to return mentally and physically damaged, or not return at all, the sheltered atmosphere of the town is broken. A bright flame of change will sweep through everyone’s lives, leading Peg into the future.

So. To win one of the two copies… just leave me a comment, telling me WHY you want to read it. What strikes your fancy? Being sincere when you say you want to read it ’cause you trust my taste and judgment won’t get you bonus points but WILL make my day.

I’ll send at least one copy around the world, and keep the other one for you US or Canadian friends. But if I pick two North Americans, so be it. I’ll pick the winners in the usual way — random kid power! And… I’ll give you ten days to enter. That makes July 16.

Oh, yeah. If you don’t leave me a way to contact you, your entry doesn’t count.

And for the disclaimer garbage: Lori had her publisher send me both copies. Actually, she asked that one be sent, and so one was. Twice. In two envelopes, even. So that’s why I decided to give this charming book away — be warned; it lingers. That’s all I got out of it, really. Nothing financial. Just a good read, and darn it, but that’s good enough for me.