The 1st Annual Dustlands.net Fan Fiction Contest!

Welcome Free Hawks!

Today I bring you a new contest from Dustlands.net, this time a proposed annual one. We'll see where this one goes.

Fan fiction. It's one my favorite things invented. Fans of stories, writing their own versions of their beloved books, movies, television shows, etc...

If you haven't ever read any fan fiction, head over to Fanfiction.net right now! That's your homework! Look up your favorite book/movie/TV show and see if there are any stories within that category. Click right here to head to a section of Fanfiction.net with stories dedicated completely to Blood Red Road! 

For this contest, we want you to submit your own Dustlands themed short story! Here are the rules: 

• Each story must be at least 500 words
• Each story must be related to the characters in the Dustlands series. (Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart)
• Each story doesn't have to necessarily take place IN the Dustlands. (Perhaps a story could feature Saba in a jungle? The possibilities are endless)
• Each story must be submitted by July 31st, 2013. 

Get planning and write your story soon so you don't forget! And make sure to make it the best it possibly can, you have the whole month of July!  Submit using the form below and spread the word! It's greatly appreciated.

Cheers, from the Dustlands.net family.

~Jake

Saba's Narrative - The Ins and Outs

'I’m frequently asked about the narrative voice of the Dustlands books....'

The creator of the Dust Lands trilogy, Moira Young, has answered a frequently asked question from fans below - why is the book told the way it is? And what exactly does Saba's voice consist of, and thus symbolise? Find out after the jump...

Read Along: Evaluation & Review

If you're here, reading this, then it's pretty clear that I don't need to write a review, or give a 5* rating to Blood Red Road, because clearly you feel the same. 

It has been a pleasure to re-enter the Dust Lands and really study Saba, Jack, Emmi, and all the rest in great detail. Sometimes you read for the fun of it, and sometimes you read to find some deeper meaning, either in yourself or in the story. Blood Red Road fulfills all of these aims. 

The read along posts remain available as an archive under our menu options. Hopefully they will be useful upon release of Raging Star, so that readers can enter Saba's world once again with ease. 

There are plans to commence with a read along of Rebel Heart, however, this will probably begin in September, due to the business of admins over the next few months.

Hang in there, Free Hawks!

~Ella

Poll Results Are In: Saba & Nero Crowned Best Double Act!

Seemingly a dog is not a man's best friend, but a crow is. Saba and Nero have won this week's poll as the best double act in the Dust Lands!

With many wonderful, funny, villainous and loved-up teams as possible winners, the fan-favourite is one girl and her faithful flighty companion who's always that one step ahead of everyone else! Like owner, like pet! 

Poll Results Are In: Saba Has the Most Fight In Her Heart!

Our female hero, Saba, has won this week's poll for the character with the fiercest spirit. Let's be honest - who else could it possibly be?! 

So how did everyone fare? Read more after the jump...

Fighting Spirit

Everyone knows that the Dust Lands are filled with fierce, fighting-spirited characters who aren't afraid to go to battle for the ones, or the things, they love. But who, we're asking this week, is the one with the most fire in their heart?

Sometimes we judge characters on their appearance, or who they're friends with, what side they're on, their best and worst lines. But maybe it's more important to judge their motives, and if they go after their goals with passion, determination and persistence -  instead of just sitting back and waiting for it all to fall into their lap. 

So who do you think has the most fuel for their fighting spirit? In a land of fierce warriors and harsh circumstances, it's definitely going to be a battle to the end.

Click on the link below to cast your vote and leave us a comment explaining why! Results will be revealed on Sunday!

POLL

~Ella

Poll Results Are In: JACK voted as YOUR favourite character!

It will come as no surprise to many in the fandom that Jack has won the poll for who you’d rather walk the dust lands with...by a mile!

The results are as follows:

Who would you walk the Dustlands with?

Every time you read a book, there's a certain character that just grabs your attention. You pay more attention to their dialogue; you've got a smile on your face when you read scenes they're present in. You want to pull them out of the page and have them stand next to you just so you can talk to them.

Different things make people connect with varying characters. Perhaps they are relatable or alternatively, so different from you that it's intriguing. Maybe they make you laugh or cry or swoon or so mad that you have to put the book down for a few minutes or else the pages could be showering down around you as you rip them out in rage! Whatever the reason, irrational or rational, it happens.

In the Dust Lands trilogy, there's a vast range to choose from.

And so this week's poll (the first in what we hope to be a weekly event and post) is based around characters. Quite simply - who's your favourite?

Leave comments with your reasons and maybe even your least favourite!

The poll will close on Sunday 31st March and a post will be written up on that character by a fan! If you'd like this to be you, just leave a comment or tweet us at: @DustlandsFans !

[polldaddy poll=6995943]

~Ella