Monday 30 June 2008

BAD ICE Electronic Release Today

Happy Canada Day!

What better occasion (Hey, Jessica, I spelled it right!) to celebrate our country's birthday than to release a romantic suspense about Hockey?

Just for fun, I thought I'd give away pdf copy of my book with a trivia contest. Not just any contest, but a Canadian trivia contest. You don't have to have all the answers right, but please try - I'll either draw the winner from all entries received, or simply pick the person who amuses me and is mostly right.

But first, a word from our sponsor. A brief blurb about Bad Ice:

When hockey fan Christina Mackey prevents a murder attempt aimed at her idol Jason Petersen, the hockey scene she'd always worshiped from the outside suddenly surrounds her.

Jason had entertained a succession of beautiful women since his rookie year, but none were a substitute for his first relationship, which had ended in tragedy. When he meets his saviour, Christina's gentle spirit reawakens him, and her daughter Mishayla reminds him of the child he could have had.


Jason discovers his girlfriend Sheila is behind the attempt on his life. He breaks off their relationship but Sheila won't let go. Her devotion to drugs and alcohol are second only to her obsession with Jason and his lifestyle. She uses lies, threats and manipulation in trying to get him back.


As Jason's feelings grow toward the widow who saved him, his past threatens not only their happiness, but Christina's innocent daughter as well.


Here is an excerpt:

Jason glanced at the nurse and shifted from one foot to the other. He mumbled something Christina couldn’t quite catch.

She raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”


He tried again. “Could I take you out for coffee or lunch or something after you get out of here?” His stage whisper was clearly intended to escape Phil's attention, but the nurse only chuckled and hummed louder.


Christina thought about the phone call. She silently argued with herself, but eventually, curiosity overcame caution. She leaned back on her pillow and said, “Hmmm.”
What the hell, I’m all grown up. I can take whatever comes my way. It’s only coffee...or lunch...or something. "Of course, I'd be delighted."

Jason’s blue eyes lit up. “Great! I’ll give you my number. Or you give me yours. No, you won’t be home yet. I’ll give...” He patted his pockets, searching for something to write on.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere for a while.” His flustered behavior amused and surprised her. Not your typical super jock. “Just drop by again in a few days. We’ll probably have something written down by then.”

He sketched a brief salute and pushed at the door. It didn’t move.

“I think you’re supposed to pull it,” she said, hiding her smile behind her hand. He glanced at her with a shy, embarrassed grin and violently yanked the door open to rejoin his friend.

She glanced across the room at Phil. He raised his eyes innocently to the ceiling and sauntered from the room. Off-key strains of “Love is In the Air” drifted from the hallway before the door closed with a soft clunk.


If you don't win, you'll have another chance at the end of the month on Book Roast.

Okay, let's drop the puck:

1. Give me a unique Canadian word. Example: Toboggan.

2. Who wore No. 99 in the National Hockey League?

3. Give me an alternate name for the Canadian Niagara Falls.

4. What Canadian was known as 'America's Sweetheart?"

5. What famous Canadian actor was born in Newmarket and recently became an American citizen?

6. What is the Canadian term for a sweetened carbonated beverage?

7. Name a Canadian invention.

8. Officially, how old is Canada today? (My son will argue this one.)

9. What is the Canadian word for sofa?

10. What is the alcohol content of typical Canadian beer?

I'll take answers until 9 p.m. Eastern tonight. Come on in, have a beer and a laugh. I'll drop in often. Good luck! For those who don't win, please buy an e-copy of my book. It's easy and inexpensive. If you really like it, you can buy a print version when the real hockey season starts, or at least recommend it to a friend.

27 comments:

Travis Erwin said...

#1 is hard for a lifelong Texas boy, but I'll go with ... Burrrrr.

#2 is easy. It's noen other than the skinny nosed superstar and Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky.

#3 if there is an actual one I don't know it so I'm making one up. The Barrel Launcher.

#4 These really are hard for me. I don't know about sweet heart but I'll say Pamela Anderson since I'm a sucker for blonds with big ... hearts.

#5 Michael J Fox ???? Or can I say Pamela Anderson again?

#6 That crap American's drink so much

#7 I'm going with Ice Hockey here.

#8 They didn't teach me much Canadian history in school but I guess 278

#9 Divan

#10 6%

Okay I'm guessing I only got one right, but as a hockey fan I would love to read your book.

BernardL said...

1. Give me a unique Canadian word. Pogey

2. Who wore No. 99 in the National Hockey League? Wayne Gretzky

3. Give me an alternate name for the Canadian Niagara Falls. Onguiaahra

4. What Canadian was known as 'America's Sweetheart?" Mary Pickford

5. What famous Canadian actor was born in Newmarket and recently became an American citizen? "Jim" Carrey

6. What is the Canadian term for a sweetened carbonated beverage? Pop

7. Name a Canadian invention. Henry Woodward invented the electric light bulb

8. Officially, how old is Canada today? (My son will argue this one.) Age of the Confederation is 141

9. What is the Canadian word for sofa? Chesterfield

10. What is the alcohol content of typical Canadian beer? 5%

Sandra Cormier said...

They're outta the gate! It's Bernard a length in front with accuracy, and Travis coming up fast with humour!

Oh, wait... that's horseracing, not hockey.

Bernita said...

Great contest, Sandra!
I know the answers so it wouldn't be fair, but this should be a hoot and a giggle!

Michelle H. said...

I have know idea what I'm doing here, but I'll take a stab at the hockey puck.

1:Cold. Real cold.

2: Bobby Orr. I'm only saying this because it's the answer in my crossword puzzle. Probably not the right one...but still...

3: Frozen water

4:Why, none other than Sandra Cormier! She is intelligent, witty, likes people to kiss her butt with praise...um, what were we talking about? Oh, right! The contest.

5: I'll just say Christopher Plummer since I know he is Canadian.

6: Molson Beer

7: Air Hockey Table

8: Canada will never be old. The country will remain young for as long as you keep writing books.

9: Toboggan

10: 8%, and their allowable drinking age is lower there than in the USA

Barbara Martin said...

#1-toque.
#3 - Horseshoe.
#4 - Ann of Green Gables
#6 - cola
#7 - Basketball.
#8 - 141 years from Confederation in 1867.
#9 - couch
#10 - 6%.

Probably terrible answers coming from a Canuk, but there you go.

Barbara Martin said...

#1-toque.
#3 - Horseshoe.
#4 - Ann of Green Gables
#6 - cola
#7 - Basketball.
#8 - 141 years from Confederation in 1867.
#9 - couch
#10 - 6%.

Probably terrible answers coming from a Canuk, but there you go.

Sandra Cormier said...

Not bad, Barbara, considering I had to look up a lot of this stuff myself.

Liane Spicer said...

Chumplet, congrats on the release of Bad Ice!

No fair! I have no chance of winning this contest! Well, here goes anyway...

1. snow
2. Toto?
3. You mean it has another name?
4. Jeez, I'm worse off than I thought.
5. Elton John. (Jus kiddin')
6. Soda
7. toboggan
8. Well, geologically speaking, quite a few eons.
9. Couch? Settee?
10. I don't drink beer so I can't even give a ballpark.

I told you I was hopeless! Have to brush up on my Canadian trivia...

Looking forward to reading Bad Ice!

Stephen Parrish said...

1. Give me a unique Canadian word. Example: Toboggan.

Toboggan. Trick question, ha, didn't fool me.

2. Who wore No. 99 in the National Hockey League?

Everyone else is saying Wayne Gretzky, so I'll say Wayne Gretzky too. I just hope it's not Tiger Woods.

3. Give me an alternate name for the Canadian Niagara Falls.

I was there, and they called it "the Canadian Niagara Falls." This must be another trick question. I'll say the answer is "les Canadian Niagara Falls." See how I slipped some French in there?

4. What Canadian was known as 'America's Sweetheart?"

IS known, not WAS known: Anne Murray, of course. She's not dead yet.

5. What famous Canadian actor was born in Newmarket and recently became an American citizen?

I'm sure Bernard googled this one, otherwise how would he know? But I'm betting this is YET ANOTHER trick question. You meant Newmarket England, didn't you? Ha! Jimmy Gardner, who played in the Harry Potter films, is the answer. Nice try, Bernard.

6. What is the Canadian term for a sweetened carbonated beverage?

Whatever Bernard said. Here's one: I once ordered a hamburger in Canada and asked for it with "the works." The waitress looked at me strangely and said, "You mean loaded, right?"

7. Name a Canadian invention.

Macaroni. And I can prove it.

8. Officially, how old is Canada today? (My son will argue this one.)

Another trick question: Canada is, like the rest of the Earth, 4.5 billion years old. Take that, Bernard The Googler!

9. What is the Canadian word for sofa?

Sofa. Nobody says Chesterfield anymore. Anyone who did would get a wedgie.

10. What is the alcohol content of typical Canadian beer?

Canadian beer has alcohol?

Sandra Cormier said...

Oh, Stephen, your spirit of competition is showing through. I just might pit you and Bernard in a wrestling match in maple syrup.

Josephine Damian said...

Chumplet: Congrats on the Canada Day book release!

Question #11:

Which (dead) Canadian is among Josephine's top favorite authors?

See the comments on my hiatus post for the answer!

Christopher Plummer is Canadian?

Sandra Cormier said...

Josephine, I commented that I thought you'd say Lorne Greene, but there's also Mordecai Richler and Pierre Berton.

My particular favourite was Stephen Leacock.

Julie Weathers said...

Oh, Sandra, congratulations.

I won't even attempt to answer. The extent of my Canadian knowledge boils down to some insane Canadian chariot racers.

Love your paintings and the premise of the book. Good job!

Sandra Cormier said...

Thanks, Julie! I hope your summer goes well.

BernardL said...

I read Barbara Martin's blog this morning, so many of my answers not involving a Chesterfield and Stephen's boyfriend Jim Carrey came from her blog. I thought Anne Murray had passed away. :) I did Google Pop as the favorite Canadian word for a sweetened carbonated beverage though.

Sandra Cormier said...

Did I go there? I think I just googled Canadian Trivia and took some from our local newspaper.

Sandra Cormier said...

Barbara Martin, the real estate agent from Orangeville (Bernita's home residence)?

Sandra Cormier said...

Okay, I guess that's it. I'll go through your comments and announce a winner shortly. Thanks for visiting!

Sandra Cormier said...

Of course I was just kidding about Barbara's identity. I visited her blog today. :)

writtenwyrdd said...

Sadly, I am an ignorant American and do not know the simplest of answers, even though I live on the Canadian border and am over there all the time. I commute through Canada to get to work, even!

evertheless, here is my attempt:
1. Give me a unique Canadian word. Answer: Hoser. Just ask Doug & Bob McKenzie, eh?

2. Who wore No. 99 in the National Hockey League? Barbara Feldon. A hottie in the 60s. Most people aren't aware that Control was a Canadian operation with hockey as the training ground for its agents.

3. Give me an alternate name for the Canadian Niagara Falls. The big sucking bucket. Seriously.

4. What Canadian was known as 'America's Sweetheart?" Oh, seriously, don't you watch South Park? Brian Boitano! Or is it the other Brian who is Canadian???

5. What famous Canadian actor was born in Newmarket and recently became an American citizen? The taco bell chihuahua. May lightning strike me if I lie!

6. What is the Canadian term for a sweetened carbonated beverage? Sohdah. Spelled soda, eh.

7. Name a Canadian invention. I'm not sure on this one. It's either ice or cold.

8. Officially, how old is Canada today? (My son will argue this one.) I don't know this one, but Canada is younger than I am, if you are talking becoming an independent nation.

9. What is the Canadian word for sofa? Lounger or lounge, I think.

10. What is the alcohol content of typical Canadian beer? More than that pisswater 3.2 stuff we Americans brew.

Sandra Cormier said...

You're right about the pisswater, Written! And Hoser is an excellent Canadian word. I heart Bob and Doug.

laughingwolf said...

dang, missed it! :(

but then, what this canuck does best :P lol

and yes, GRATS on the release of your ebook! :)

Sarf's Travels. said...

Hi, just a quick note to say I picked up a e-copy of your book, Not really my kind of book, but I am enjoying the read so far...

You can thank JJDeben... for one sale :)

Sandra Cormier said...

Oh, my goodness! My first customer! I'm so glad you bought it and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you!

Sarf's Travels. said...

Finished it last night, It was good. It is nice how a bit of a sappy romance makes you feel a little less alone. I just wish there was more e-books put out sooner. Books here in Iceland are about $20+- Canadian for a paperback book. Where I can buy a e-book for about $5 can +-.

So more E-Books sooner please :)

Thanks for a comment on my photos, there are more on my Flickr page, linked from the banner of my blog.

Sandra Cormier said...

I'm glad you liked it, Sarf, even if it's not your genre.

There are lots of e-books out there in many forms, from great to bad. I guess Fictionwise is a good place to start.