We’ve officially launched the new, streamlined Book View Café bookstore, and we’re giving away books there and on many of our members’ own sites elsewhere to celebrate.

It’s been quite a process getting to this milestone, as vividly described a couple of weeks ago by Linda Nagata, whose WordPress-fu was indispensable to the effort. We’ve been running the bookstore in “stealth” mode since then, and aside from a few mysterious rumblings and hissings from the basement (which could as easily be a dragon or  old Dr. Ovamilla’s steam-powered nostriscope acting up again), nothing has blown up. So it’s entirely safe for you, dear reader, to drop in and browse. No hard hats required.

To make you welcome, we’re giving you a chance—no, multiple chances—to win the book of your choice. Just drop in any time between June 1 and June 7, browse through the bookstore, and choose the book you want. Eligible books are marked with a gold star–that’s just about everything except omnibus editions and the Breaking Waves anthology.

Then go to the Grand Opening Celebration post at the top of the bookstore and leave a comment with the name and author of the book and why you want it. (Only one, please: multiple entries will be disqualified.) We may use that comment for publicity purposes. Please don’t leave book requests here, they won’t qualify you to win. 

When the promotion ends, we’ll send the winner a coupon for the book of his or her choice at the email entered in the comment. (It won’t be displayed.) You can also enter to win at on the other member sites listed in the Grand Opening Celebration post to boost your chances of getting the book you want, and get better acquainted with some good writers and great people.