As I promised in the comments last week, I’m going to give away three copies of Return to Labyrinth volume 3 as soon as I can get them — hopefully before they hit stores! Worst case scenario, you’ll get one around the same time others do, only you’re edition will come signed and include a bonus Jareth Crotch sketch.

So how do you win your copy? In the spirit of April Fools Day, here’s the deal. Pretend you’ve already picked up and read a copy of Return to Labyrinth Volume 3, and now you want to spoil the biggest twist to the world! I’m talking, crazy twists that nobody saw coming. Maybe it’s revealed that Sarah isn’t Toby’s brother after all… she’s his mother! Or maybe the big reveal involves a cameo with a famous pop star.

In 50 words or less, what is that spoiler?!

e-mail your entry to gobblincontest@gmail.com

One entry per person.

Contest Ends 4/5/09.

Just to be clear, this contest isn’t a place to speculate  on what you really think is going to happen — the crazier the spoiler, the better. I’ll pick my favorite three spoilers and post them next week.

For inspiration, here’s my April Fool’s post from last year.

Happy Spoiling!

UPDATE: The contest is officially closed. Hope all of you got your entries in on time! I’ll review the “spoilers”, pick my favorites and post them all tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll get those copies of the printed books soon to send as prizes.

Yes, the contest above is real, not an April Fools’ joke. Please do e-mail your “spoilers” to: gobblincontest@gmail.com

In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments related to the contest, post ‘em here!

UPDATE: Due to mail server troubles, I changed the e-mail to a gmail address. If you sent before, please send again! Sorry about the confusion.

Today I received a PDF version of Return to Labyrinth 3 – it’s exactly the pages that you’ll be seeing in a few weeks—and I’m so happy with how it turned out! Chris has really taken the art to the next level, with more detail and greater drama than we’ve seen thus far. In my biased opinion, the writing is tighter too (but you’ll still have to put up with some bad punning. ). And in the back of the volume, as a special treat for Henson fans, is a preview of the long-delayed Legends of the Dark Crystal volume 2.

So what to do while you wait for Labby 3 to hit shelves? Here’s what I’ve been enjoying lately:

• Fantasies, the upcoming album by Metric. The album’s not out yet, but the web-savvy band has had the whole album up on myspace for some time now, and I’ve been listening the hell out of it. Also enjoying new albums from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Royksopp and eagerly awaiting the new Silversun Pickups.
• Rediscovering Sci-Fi on the Kindle. I’ve got a few novels downloaded to my Kindle already, but one of my best purchases was a subscription to Asimov’s magazine. Seeing as one of my outed goals is to publish an original story, I figured it would behoove me to actually catch up with current genre short story writing. I particularly enjoyed the new story by Kate Wilhelm.
• Blowing up “zombies” in Resident Evil 5. Resident Evil 4 on the Gamecube is one of my desert island favorite games — a defining gaming experience. The latest entry isn’t as mind-blowingly awesome,  more a bullet-heavy remake with a co-op mechanic, but it’s still loads of fun. I think I’m on the last boss battle now. I’ve also been playing a lot of Puzzle Quest Gallactix, but this one does not come warmly recommended. It’s still an addicting formula, but the game is buggy and laden with frustration-inducing quirks.
• Watching Kings on NBC. Who would have guessed that a bible-inspired melodrama on one of the big 3 networks would be the coolest thing on television? I don’t know why the series isn’t getting more props, with most big media reviewers dumping on it and fansboys apparently too scared by the biblical association or theatrical staging to give it cult buzz. The heavily Shakespearean dialog is quite witty, the cast uniformly appealing and the premise (the story of David updated to an alterate reality monarchal America) is epic and prescient. Elsewhere on primetime, I’m loving the adventures of LeFleur and the Dahrma bums.
• Tasting things that are tart. My new favorite breakfast food is grapefruit! Am I getting old? Maybe I just overindulged on sweet almond croissants for so long, but going tart in the morning has proven to be quite the way to start the day! Come to think of it, grapefruits aren’t the only tart things I’ve been enjoying lately. Vinegared greens have become frequent guests on my dinner plate, and finally–and this is recommended only for the 21 and up crowd! — The super sour Flemish ale Duchesse de Bourgogne is my most favorite drink right now. But at $6 for a tiny bottle, I really ought to kick that habit, seing as I’m not brining in a regular paycheck.

I’ll be back on Wednesday with details on the Return to Labyrinth 3 contest — no foolin’!

Spike Jonze’s long-in-development and hush-hush cinematic adaptation Where the Wild Things is finally teasing itself to the world, and WOW, it looks amazing. What do you guys think it’ll be — heady cult film, kids-only, new fantasy movie classic or travesty?

Follow the link to the HD trailer.

So what if we’re nearing the end of March? I’m gonna make my resolutions now! With salaried employment in a creative position shaky, but my head bursting with ideas, this is no time for despair or desperation. Starting tomorrow, I will attack the writer’s life with new-found conviction and discipline.
In 2009, I resolve to:

• Finish Return to Labyrinth with a bang!
• Publish one short story with a reputable fiction outlet
• Complete at least two book length projects for pay
• Publish an original or for-hire comics story
• Post at least THRICE weekly on a secret blogging project
• Complete an original novel and find an agent and/or publisher
• Visit THREE countries
• Do all of the above while adding to my savings, not depleting them!

Is that too much to ask?

I’ve slipped back into my rare posting mode, and worse, have left you with naught but back-to-back rants for those who check in. I’ll get back to some regular posting soon, including (I hope, if I can get the extra books in time) a contest to celebrate the release of Return to Labyrinth 3.

I have no excuse not to post more often since as of this week, I am amongst the ever-growing throngs of the unemployed. Yup. Hopefully I’ll find myself back in salaried work or round up a liveable amount of freelance work soon, but for now I’m in a good spot and not too worried. In any case, this is the perfect time to finish the fourth and final Labby volume!

Be back soon, okay?

Frequent commenter and talented artist Aiijuin has had her work featured here before, but this time she’s really outdone herself with a new video that picks up the story of Return to Labyrinth right where volume 2 leaves off. How closely does her take adhere to the actual volume 3? Well, you’ll have to wait a month or two more for that, but regardless, her story stands on its own very well, with great bits of humor and most significantly, a reunion of Sarah and Jareth that I’m sure many of you will enjoy. Thanks, Aiijuin!