How to Build Your TBR Stack

Returning guest blogger Sunny Frazier, whose first novel in the Christy Bristol Astrology Mysteries, Fools Rush In, received the Best Novel Award from Public Safety Writers Association, is here today to remind avid readers of all the book giveaways out there for those trying to build their TBR stacks.

sunny69@comcast.net   //  http://www.sunnyfrazier.com

Once upon a time, I did not read mysteries. It was the “Cat Who” books that got me started as I was a feline fanatic. I found myself scouring used book stores and grabbing books by their titles because I didn’t know anything about the authors. This was well before the Internet.

Fast forward 35 years. My house is now crowded with mysteries and thrillers. I know authors personally and am a mystery author myself. My shelves runneth over.

There must be beginners out there trying to navigate their way through the vast number of mystery genres and authors. Books can be costly and you may have to sample a lot of reads to find what appeals to you. If you’re one of those people I want to show you a way to build your “To Be Read” pile that won’t cost money or much effort.

Book give-aways abound throughout the Internet. Authors are generous and they want to attract new fans. It takes very little time to enter and often the competition is scarce. What have you got to lose?

You’re at one such site right now. Scroll back a few posts and you’ll see Lelia is offering a copy of DEAD BROKE IN JARRETT CREEK by Terry Shames—
https://cncbooksblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/book-review-dead-broke-in-jarrett-creek-by-terry-shames-and-a-giveaway

There are many other sites out there and they take just a little bit of monitoring. I will give you the sites and give-aways I uncovered this week with just a little sleuthing.

Lesa is giving away Wouldn’t It Be Deadly by D.E. Ireland. Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins are sleuths! Also, Blood of an Englishman by M.C. Beaton. The contest ends Oct. 29.
http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2014/10/winners-and-humorous-british-giveaway.html

Closing on Wednesday the 29th is Debbi Mack’s contest. She’s giving away a boxed set of her books if you can answer this question: who was the famous author who’s credited with writing the screenplay for the original movie, “The Big Sleep”? Hint: it’s not Raymond Chandler.
https://www.facebook.com/debbimackwriter?hc_location=timeline
Email your answer to:   debbimack9@gmail.com

Elaine Viets has a contest site on her website. She just finished a contest offering her mystery Doc In the Box and will be having other offers.
www.elaineviets.com

Lorie Ham offers extensive give-aways over at Kings River Life Magazine. Here’s what’s up until November 1.
CATastrophic Connections by Joyce Ann Brown & Brooklyn Graves by Triss Stein
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/coming-attractions-countdown-to-bouchercon-continues/
One Potion in the Grave by Heather Blake
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/one-potion-in-the-grave-a-magic-potion-mystery-by-heather-blake/
Midwinter’s Tail, a Magical Cats mystery, by Sofie Kelly
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/a-midwinters-tail-by-sofie-kelly
Stages of Grey by Clea Simon
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/stages-of-grey-a-dulcie-schwartz-feline-mystery-by-clea-simon
A Spirit of Fraud by Barry Wiley.
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/a-spirit-of-fraud-by-barry-h-wiley-reviewguest-post/
For fantasy readers a giveaway of The Getaway God by Richard Kadrey
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/the-getaway-god-by-richard-kadrey/
The Corpse With the Platinum Hair by Cathy Ace
http://kingsriverlife.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-corpse-with-platinum-hair-cait.html
Plus three books by Kensington authors:
Murder at Marble House by Alyssa Maxwell; To Fudge or Not To Fudge by Nancy Coco, and French Pastry Murder by Leslie Meier
http://kingsriverlife.com/10/25/three-mysteries-from-kensington

Good Reads divides into two groups: Cozies and Thrillers. At the Cozy Mystery Corner scroll down to Free/Cheap Reads. At The Mystery Crime and Thriller Group look under Press, Blog Sites.

Are you a member of Murder Must Advertise or DorothyL? Many authors announce give-aways on those sites.

Even if your taste does not run to cozies, cats and craft mysteries, I’ll bet you have friends on your Christmas list who would love a book in their stocking! What a great way to get presents without dipping into your holiday budget!

What sites do you have info on where we can get more freebies? Come on, spill!