Yes, another one. So, for all of you who missed out on the Martha’s Bookshelf giveaway, and anyone else who fancies a free copy of this fast-paced time travel thriller, hurry over to the Nerfreader blog where three more copies of the TimeSplash audiobook PLUS a short story (the prequel to the novel) read by yours truly, can be had.

And there’s more! Chris, who runs the fabulous Nerfreader blog, interviewed me about the recording of the short story and about TimeSplash. I’ve been interviewed a few times now about TimeSplash now but I found Chris’s questions particularly interesting and engaging. I had a great time answering them (which, of course, says something about me, doesn’t it?) So check out my Nerfreader interview and find out what was the hardest part of recording the short story, and why people should stop trying to invent time travel.

As with the previous three-audiobook-plus-bonus-short-story giveaway, this one has been organised by (and the audiobooks kindly donated by) the brilliant Iambic Audiobooks – a publisher I am really enjoying working with. If you want low-cost, excellent audiobooks, you should definitely take a look at the Iambik Audiobooks website.And what better way to relax with a bellyful of Christmas pud and sherry, than to let someone read you a great book?

And that’s my last post until the New Year, so Merry Christmas everybody and I hope you all have a happy and successful New Year.

Congratulations to A.M. Harte, the winner of a free copy of TimeSplash for her outrageous suggestion that my fictional villain Sniper got his name from the Sonic the Hedgehog character Fang the Sniper. I don’t quite know why, but this really tickled me. (I think A.M. also deserves the prize for being the only entrant bold enough to put her entry in the comments section rather than use the secret form.) A.M. your prize is in the mail.

The most popular suggestion by far was that Sniper took his name in some way from the assassination of President Kennedy. It’s sort of compelling but not correct and nowhere near as cute as the Fang idea. Sorry guys. The most bizarre suggestion was that my villain is named after a piece of software that helps you place bids on eBay – I still can’t be sure if that one was a joke… or an ad. I also learned that there have been many books with Sniper in the title and at least one film.

Anyway, thank you to all those who entered. I wish I could send a free copy to each of you.

So, what was the real answer? Well, it was so obscure I was completely confident no-one would guess it. Anyone who knows what a David Bowie fan I am might have realised and made the connection to the track “Time” from his 1973 album Aladdin Sane. In the (somewhat silly) lyric you will find these lines:

The sniper in the brain, regurgitating drain
Incestuous and vain,
and many other last names

Hey! Don’t look at me. It was Sniper who chose the name. And, frankly, I can see why it appealed to his very warped mind (you’d need to read the book.) Meanwhile, as a sop to the gallant losers, I offer this link to the fabulous Mr. Bowie.

David Bowie – Time (Live Hammersmith 1973)

In the late 2040s, timesplashing has become a huge, global youth culture. The heroes of the scene are the ‘bricks’ who travel back in time to create paradoxes that flow through to the present as cool, trippy causality dysfunctions. Great if you’re out of your head on party drugs and dancing to deafening splashmusik.

Everyone in the scene has a tag – a nickname derived from late 20th Century pop culture. The two main characters in the book are Luke (after Luke Skywalker) and Patty (after Patty Hearst). Some of the bricks have names like T-800, Hal and Flash. The names come from all over – comic books, films, media and political personalities, novels, pop songs, you name it.

But where did my uber-baddie, Sniper, get his name?

You’ve got two weeks to work it out, take a guess, or make it up. Put your answer in the comments below, or, if you’re shy, send it to me through the contact form, also below (you need to enter your name and email address, then type into the comments box). If no-one gets the right answer, the prize goes to the funniest or most original. If no-one is the least bit funny or original, I suppose I’ll just pick someone at random – but I’ll be very disappointed in you all.

The deadline is 30th June 2010 at 5pm my time (and remember, I’m in Australia, on the Eastern seaboard.) I’ll announce the winner on 1st July.

The prize is a copy of my novel TimeSplash in a pack of 7, DRM-free ebook formats. including EPUB, MOBI (Kindle) and PDF. If you already have a copy, why not win one for a friend – what’s to lose? If no-one enters, I will just keep it for myself. So tell all your friends, relatives, enemies, and business associates. This is the first ever competition to offer a free copy of TimeSplash, so you might become the first person ever to win one. The winner also gets a signed personal message from the author – that’s me – to print frame and mount. It just doesn’t get better than that! (Alright, you don’t have to have the personal message if you don’t want it. I’m just throwing out ideas here.)

I’m looking forward to your suggestions – however far-fetched.

Good luck!