Today, I’m bringing you some news plus a few giveaways and offers, courtesy of the Fantasy and Science Fiction Network (#FSFNet) and author Ryan Schneider.

Facebook Hosting: The Drop Everything And Read Sale

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 12th, I’ll be the (very) early bird on the #FSFNet DEAR sale page, hosting the DEAR event from 6 am to 6.30 am on Facebook (Central Time). Yes, that’s am, so no hard feelings if you can’t make it.

FSFNet DEAR sale | From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books

The Fantasy Sci-Fi Network will be celebrating “Drop Everything and Read Day.” It is designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. Because, what’s more fun(damental) than reading, really? Much has been written in recent years about declining literacy, so let us do our bit to promote reading.D.E.A.R. programs are held on April 12th in honor of Beverly Cleary’s birthday, since she first wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (pages 40-41).

Inspired by letters from readers sharing their enthusiasm for the D.E.A.R. activities implemented in their schools, Mrs. Cleary decided to give the same experience to Ramona and her classmates. As D.E.A.R. has grown in popularity and scope, the program has expanded to span the entire month of April, offering classrooms and communities additional time to celebrate.

We encourage you to “Drop Everything and Read” every day throughout the year. The goal of the program is to prompt people to make reading a regular part of their routine… whether they’re reading solo or together with their classmates, parents, or friends. So, go ahead and join the millions of families, schools, bookstores, and communities who have participated throughout the years and pledge to “drop” what you’re doing in order to read a good book.

As an organization, library, school, or bookstore, you can participate by hosting a “Drop Everything and Read” event at your location (or elsewhere) during the month of April.

As an individual, you can participate by attending an event in your community or by reading at home with your children, siblings, or friends. You can find loads of great D.E.A.R. resources on the D.E.A.R. website.

You can support the DEAR sale on Thunderclap.

The #FSFnet Sale

header image - short stories | From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books

Click to buy on Amazon

The #FSFNet has organized both a sale and a giveaway to coincide with the event. Prizes include Amazon gift vouchers to buy some great tomes. Also, there are fantastic paperbacks and spell-binding e-books. For the sale, I’m lowering the price of The Ultimate Collection of Science & Speculative Fiction Short Stories to just 99c. Get it now from Amazon!

See all the books on sale by the amazing authors of the #FSFNet!

The #FSFnet Giveaway

Except for the sale, you can take part on Raffecopter and win one copy  You’ve gotta be in it to win it!

The AI Bundle

The A.I. Bundle – Curated by Lisa Mason

The AI bundle | From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's booksArtificial Intelligence—A.I. When computer technology becomes conscious. Self-aware. Genuinely as intelligent as human beings. Will A.I. benefit us? Or become our greatest enemy? Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking told the BBC, “Full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”

Futurist Ray Kerzweil, Bill Gates, and others have concluded that the Singularity—that moment when A.I. truly exists—has not yet arrived. Or has it?

From the early 1980s to this day, science fiction writers have tackled difficult questions about A.I., speculating about the future and asking what if? You must check out these thought-provoking books from authors—bestselling, award-winning, as well as popular indies—in the A.I. StoryBundle.

As always at StoryBundle, you, the reader, name your price—whatever you feel the books are worth. You may designate a portion of the proceeds to go to a charity. For the A.I. StoryBundle, that’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (“SFWA”). SFWA champions writers’ rights, sponsors the Nebula Award for excellence in science fiction and promotes numerous literacy groups.

Get the AI Bundle at storybundle.com!