As some readers may know, I’m participating in Mary Robinette Kowal’s “A Month of Letters” challenge.
The gist according to Mary is:
- In the month of February, mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.
- Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.
It’s been a blast so far, and I’ll be dropping something fun in the post today on my way to work.
I’ve also been thinking, since I’m going to the post office everyday anyway, why not send out some copies of Thunder Road?
So here’s the deal:
Every Thursday (Thor’s Day!) in the month of February, I’ll be giving away a copy of Thunder Road; one here on the blog, and one each on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
To have a chance to win that first copy, drop me a comment on this post and tell me about your favourite fable, folktale, or legend. I’ll be randomly choosing a winner Thursday morning, so please spread the word.
Oh, and do feel free to send me a letter, I’ll write you back!
Chadwick Ginther 
Definitely my favourite myth, a Norse one in fact, is of Rolv Ganger. With one foot in history, the other in myth, after being exiled from Norway due to some less than laudable acts, he travelled Europe gaining a fearsome reputation until he found himself in the court of France. We’ll, long story short, he gains the province Normandy, marries a few French daughters, invades a few places, seems not to have any heirs, but then does and BAAM! We’ve got ourselves the first Normans, the ancestors of one William the Conqueror
My favourite tale is one from the past lives of the Buddha (Jataka tales). The tale tells the story of a rabbit who sacrificed himself as an offering to the Buddha. The gods were so impressed by the rabbit’s sacrifice that they held him up and installed him in the moon. (Many Asian cultures see a rabbit on the face of the moon.) I take my logo from this tale and aspire to give of myself wholly to others like the rabbit did.
This farmer had only one horse, and one day the horse ran away. The neighbors came to condole over his terrible loss. The farmer said, “What makes you think it is so terrible?”
A month later, the horse came home–this time bringing with her two beautiful wild horses. The neighbors became excited at the farmer’s good fortune. Such lovely strong horses! The farmer said, “What makes you think this is good fortune?”
The farmer’s son was thrown from one of the wild horses and broke his leg. All the neighbors were very distressed. Such bad luck! The farmer said, “What makes you think it is bad?”
A war came, and every able-bodied man was conscripted and sent into battle. Only the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg, remained. The neighbors congratulated the farmer. “What makes you think this is good?” said the farmer.
Source: http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/Taoist_Farmer.html
Congratulations! You won a copy of Thunder Road! Send your mailing address to justonewick [at] gmail.com and I’ll send it on its way!
Cool! Thank you!
Favorite myth: the Norse one where Loki and Thor dressed up as women, Thor as a bride, to get his hammer back.
Pingback: A Month Of Letters Giveaway Week Three | Chadwick Ginther