Tales and Treats for the Darktide Giveaway - Haunting BIPOC Fiction

Thank you to everyone who came around to join in the fun and tossed their name in the hat here and via the contact button - the names drawn were:

Mexican Gothic - Rebecca P.

Hoodoo - petoskystone

Empire of Wild - Emily

Lovecraft Country - Duffi

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The wind is moaning outside my window, greedily tearing leaves from their high perch and tumbling them into amorphous, lurching things that skitter down the road until they are caught up in alleyways or up against fences. I can hear the neighbour's windchimes. They are no longer the melodious soundtrack to a languid summer day. Now they screech in a high-pitched banshee's wail, crashing together in the bitter November gusts. If there was an ambiance to the darktide - this would be it. Biting, howling winds. Moody, dusky days. The full moons, mad colour, and revelry of October, now fading into weeks of damp cold, gloomy afternoons, and endless nights. Could there be a more perfect time to light the fires? And once the bonfire has raged, the offerings tossed onto the flames, and the frenzied dancing concluded, is it not the moment to curl up with a blanket and a book and ignore the wolf prowling outside the door? I think it is.

If you've been around this neck of the woods during previous autumns, you will have surely stumbled across The Great October Book Giveaway. Originally meant as a way to thank readers of the blog and the lovely folks who have followed and/or befriended me on social media by passing out a few magical tomes during my favourite month of the year, it grew into a meandering game of trick-or-treat through tarot and cartomancy, art, herbalism, talismans, and more. Whenever something caught my attention in a big way, I picked up a second copy for you. Sometimes authors, publishers, and artists were incredibly generous and offered to share their creations with you too. It's become something I really look forward to each year and I love seeing so many familiar faces come back around to take part.

This year has been unlike anything most of us have experienced. I'm tired in ways I can barely articulate, and I know that many of you feel the same way. I had anticipated, when I bumped this giveaway back a month to give myself some breathing room, that there would be a collective sigh of relief and a new hope dawning as we began our celebration of the darktide. Instead, as I write this, ballots are still being counted in the US election and democracy is being challenged by the people who should be upholding it. But no matter the outcome, we will prevail. That's the thing about witches and wildlings - we are resilient and clever, and even if it seems we've been thwarted, well...you might want to salt your windows and sleep with the lights on. Because we always rise up, one way or another.

"A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest, Granny Weatherwax had once told her, because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her." - Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith

Onward, then, into the darkest weeks of the year. We will wear the fallen leaves and marauding mists as our cloak, and the scent of woodsmoke and the sweet rot of dying gardens as our perfume. What better time to begin this bacchanal than Bonfire Night! Two quarreling and discontent parties, each clamoring for more power and recognition, and one failed attempt at blowing up parliament. Sounds about right...

The first collection of books I have for you is a selection of haunting stories to give your goosebumps a workout. All but one of these novels is written by a BIPOC author, and all feature rich stories of suspense with BIPOC characters at the forefront of the action. This year was a time when many of us took a hard look at how we have participated in a world that placed People of Colour at a tremendous disadvantage as opposed to their white counterparts. We give top billing to white performers, artists, and authors. We offer financing and grants to white farmers. We patronize white-owned businesses. We read and watch white stories. All while Black and Indigenous peoples get ignored (or murdered). There are now multitudes of tips on how to support BIPOC businesses and individuals across various industries. There are fundraisers and ways to volunteer or support community organizations. There's really no reason to not have a more multi-cultural bookshelf, closet, medicine-cabinet, or donation receipts to hand to your tax accountant.

Only one of these books is a 2020 release, but all have captured my attention and made me shiver this autumn. I know you will enjoy them too. Here's what I have for you:

Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - If having a cup of (possibly poisoned) tea in a creepy manor, while exchanging tales with Charlotte Bronte and Shirley Jackson sounds fun to you, this is your book.

Hoodoo, by Ronald L. Smith - This Young Adult book gave me some serious jitters at times, so don't let the fact that a twelve year old boy is the narrator make you think that this is a light read. Hoodoo Hatcher is from a folk magic practicing family and he has a mysterious stranger stalking him that he is going to have to deal with, one way or another. Chock full of magic, divination, dream walking, spirits, and symbolism, this book is a treasure, and the perfect read for a stormy night.

Empire of Wild, by Cherie Dimaline - A tale of a Métis woman who discovers her long lost husband is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Wild, yes. Supernatural. Poetic and base and beautiful. You'll want a good drink with this one.

Lovecraft Country, by Matt Ruff - A close and terrifying look at Jim Crow America from the point of view of its Black citizens who aren't just navigating a world rife with white supremacists, but one dotted with other monsters as well.

I will draw four names on November 12th, one for each book. You are welcome to let me know what book you'd like to receive if your name is drawn. I cannot promise you'll get your wish but I always do my best to match up folks with the items they prefer, if possible. 

Thank you so much for joining me again for the festivities. I think these darker, drearier days of November are going to be perfect for passing out gifts. I can't wait to get started!

For those of you that are new here, this is how these giveaways work:

We are running a simple game again this year - your comment counts as your entry. However, if you feel moved to share this around (either a specific giveaway or if you just send folks my way) you can leave another comment letting me know you spread the cheer, and I'll toss your name in the hat a second time.

On the evening of the draw, the winners will be notified via email and their names placed at the top of this post and the next handful of goodies will go up for grabs. Please, please, leave an email for me in your comment (in a safe format) if your name does not directly link to you/your website. I can't tell you how many names I've drawn only to find that I couldn't contact the winners. I simply draw again, but it is rather heartbreaking to see the first name get tossed.

There are occasionally some goblins that stop by in October, just for kicks. I am taking down the comment moderation security and we will hope that we skate under the spam radar again this year. Also, Blogger doesn't always play nice with every app, so there are times when you may have to come to the giveaway page directly (not via the FB app, for example) and leave a comment that way.

As always, if your privacy is of concern or if you simply cannot get your comment in on the current giveaway post for some reason, you can send an entry in using the "Make Contact" form in the sidebar.

All mail will go out within five business days of receiving the winner's address and will be sent via the most reasonable shipping rate. Please note that your parcel could take anywhere from 5 business days to reach you (in Canada) to five weeks (if you are in the EU or even the USA at this point - the USPS is a hot mess right now).

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.