Some of Algy’s kind Tumblr friends have expressed concern for his welfare in the horrible January weather experienced in the West Highlands of Scotland, and his friend @skyoverhamburg suggested a fluffy scarf, so Algy wanted to reassure his friends that he does indeed have a fine wee bonnet and shawl to wear when necessary, as modelled here by Algy himself for an illustration in his latest book The Magical Midwinter Star. And when the weather gets really nasty, Algy sneaks into his assistant’s house and snuggles up on the sofa with his fluffy friends 🙂

Algy hopes that all his friends will keep warm and well in the northern winter, and sends you all extra fluffy hugs to help warm you up xoxo

[Signed copies of the hardback editions of all Algy’s books are on offer at reduced prices from Algy’s own web shop during January 2017.]

In the dark, dismal depths of a West Highland January, Algy perched on the dripping branch of a young ash tree. The dense Scotch mist had not budged for three days, even though the wind was blowing vigorously, driving the tiny droplets of water into Algy’s eyes and deep among his feathers. It was only just around midday, but it looked like dusk, and the small part of the world that was visible at all looked dim and blurry in the low light. Tucking his wings more closely around him, Algy dozed limply in the damp, dreaming hopefully of sunnier climes where the world was full of colour and light and warmth…

The next day there was not the slightest change in the weather, and the Scotch mist continued to smother the land with a drenching grey blanket; the lost world seemed to do nothing but drip, drip, drip, drip, drip…

Algy lay back in the branches of a fir tree and watched the droplets of water falling all around him. One slim, bare branch above his head was curved in such a way that droplets formed only at the lowest point of the curve, each one growing until it could hold on to the branch no longer, and then dropped, to let the next drop of water follow its example. The process was fascinating and apparently endless, and Algy rested there for some time, just watching the droplets form and fall, form and fall, form and fall…

He was reminded of a haiku by Kobayashi Issa, although his own drops were rather more leisurely than frenzied:

in morning mist
a frenzy of drops
from the tree

.朝霧にあはただし木の雫哉

Algy hopes that you will all enjoy a leisurely, happy and peaceful weekend, whatever the weather in your part of the world 🙂

[Algy is quoting an early haiku by the 18th century Japanese master Kobayashi Issa, translated by David G. Lanoue.]

Algy slept for a long, long time after the excitement of his Magical Midwinter Star party, and when he awoke, it was January. Rubbing his eyes sleepily he flew up to a perch in a pine tree, to inspect the brave new world, but the world had gone. He rubbed his eyes again, but still there was nothing there… nothing but dense, dark Scotch mist… It was January indeed…

LAST CHANCE TO GET THE KINDLE EDITION FREE !

Today, MONDAY 2ND JANUARY 2017, is the LAST DAY OF THIS OFFER. The Kindle edition of Algy’s new book, The Magical Midwinter Star, is FREE to download from any Amazon site all day today until midnight PST.

To get the complete book free, use the “Buy” button at Amazon (you will be charged zero), not the “Free Sample” button which only downloads the opening…

This is the FINAL DAY of this offer and it cannot be repeated. Don’t miss it!

And for those who would like a signed hardback copy, the hardback edition is on offer at a special reduced price throughout January at Algy’s web shop:

http://adventuresofalgy.com/shop/books

Signed paperbacks are also available at the standard price.

Please share with all your friends 🙂

Here are the direct links to the Kindle book:

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Amazon in Japan

Amazon in Germany

Amazon in France

Amazon in Spain

Amazon in Italy

Amazon in the Netherlands

Amazon in Canada

Amazon in Australia

Amazon in Brazil

Amazon in Mexico

Amazon in India

lovefromalgy:

Algy’s fluffy friends gathered together to enjoy the party-popping finale of his Magical Midwinter Star Tumblr party…

Algy sends all his wonderful Tumblr friends his fluffiest thanks and hugs for joining his party, and he hopes that you enjoyed it as much as he did 🙂

Algy is going to sleep for a wee while now, but the competitions are still open, there are still some paperback books to be won, and any further submissions will be posted tomorrow, Scottish time 🙂

Happy New Year everybody!

lovefromalgy:

One of the guests at Algy’s Magical Midwinter Star party decided to try a special dance which is described in Algy’s book The Magical Midwinter Star 🙂

The first person who REBLOGS this GIF together with A CAPTION INCLUDING THE NAME OF THAT DANCE from Algy’s book will win a signed paperback copy of The Magical Midwinter Star.

Sorry – but the three people who have already won copies of the book by entering the Photo Challenge may not win another copy. Just one book per person 🙂

There are still 2 prizes left in the Photo Challenge at the time of posting this GIF…

And if you have not yet joined Algy’s Magical Midwinter Star party over on @lovefromalgy, hurry on over… 🙂

Algy knows that some of his wonderful Tumblr friends like to collect signed hardback copies of his books :))))

So Algy has a SPECIAL OFFER for you, to celebrate the launch of his new book The Magical Midwinter Star.

Starting today, ALL hardback editions of Algy’s books are offered at a reduced price at Algy’s own web shop – until the end of January 2017. You can add a custom dedication in your own words 🙂

The hardback edition of The Magical Midwinter Star is available at £9.99 (plus postage at cost) reduced from £12.99, and Algy’s other hardback titles are also reduced by more than 25%.

Don’t forget that the Kindle ebook edition is FREE to download today 1st January 2017 and tomorrow 2nd January, so you can check the book out 🙂 This will be the final free download offer for The Magical Midwinter Star. Links to all the relevant Amazon pages can be found in Algy’s previous post.

The hardback editions of Algy’s books are bound in dark blue cloth, with title and author stamped in gold on the spine, and a matte full colour dust jacket as shown in the photo. The interior has a full colour illustration at the head of each chapter. Paperback editions are also available at the normal prices, and books can be shipped to almost any country in the world 🙂

Algy’s Magical Midwinter Star Party PHOTO CHALLENGE!

Please read the rules below carefully.

PRIZES:

1. Paperback copies of Algy’s new book The Magical Midwinter Star signed by Algy and Jenny for the first 5 (FIVE) photos received which satisfy the rules below (only 1 prize per person!)
2. Signed greetings cards showing the stag illustration from The Magical Midwinter Star for everyone else who participates in this challenge 🙂

FREE Kindle ebook download for everyone, all day today 1st January 2017 and tomorrow 2nd January.

CHALLENGE:

Download the FREE Kindle edition of Algy’s new book “The Magical Midwinter Star” and SUBMIT A PHOTO OF SOMEONE READING IT to the party at @lovefromalgy TODAY!

You do not need a Kindle device to read the Kindle book – there are free Kindle apps for almost every computer and mobile device 🙂

Here’s the submit link:

http://lovefromalgy.tumblr.com/submit

RULES:

The first 5 (FIVE) photographers to submit a photo of someone – human or fluffy – reading the Kindle version of Algy’s new book The Magical Midwinter Star will receive a free paperback copy of the book, signed by Algy and Jenny 🙂

Only one prize per person! You are welcome to submit more than one photo – and all submissions will be included in Algy’s party – but only the FIRST photo you submit will be eligible for the challenge.

It MUST be possible to see in the photo which book is being read on the device displaying the Kindle book.

Still photos or GIFs are accepted 🙂

Photos MUST BE SUBMITTED using the Submit form:

http://lovefromalgy.tumblr.com/submit 

Do NOT post on your own blog and send a link for this challenge.

This challenge remains open until the party closes 🙂

Runners-up will receive a signed card from Algy in the post 🙂

Please share with all your friends 🙂

Here are the direct links to the Kindle book:

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Amazon in Japan

Amazon in Germany

Amazon in France

Amazon in Spain

Amazon in Italy

Amazon in the Netherlands

Amazon in Canada

Amazon in Australia

Amazon in Brazil

Amazon in Mexico

Amazon in India

IT’S PARTY TIME!

Welcome to Algy’s Magical Midwinter Star Party, which is starting now on his sideblog @lovefromalgy

But what’s this? Algy doesn’t seem to be quite ready… a wee bit of bother with the party decorations…

But never mind 🙂 There will be lots of fluffy surprises, a special photo challenge, free gifts (giveaways) and prizes, and all kinds of fun.

Use the Submit form on lovefromalgy to join the party with your images of the magical midwinter – and send all your fluffy friends to have fun with Algy 🙂