OF WRITERLY THINGS: contests

Tamara Passey's newest release, Mothering Through the Whirlwind! To be entered to win, just leave a comment here on this post telling me you've visited a blog or two (or all of the blogs on the tour). I will draw a winner on June 1st.

Friday, October 5, 2012

NEW, REVISED (in 55 minutes or less): THE QUERY

IDEAL HIGH

YA Contemporary
75,000 words

Query:

A summer’s worth of mourning is not nearly enough after a suspicious fire kills several of Taryn's classmates at the end of junior year. Now her only plan is to resign as vice president-elect and get her senior year over with as quickly and privately as possible. Way too soon she’s compelled to come out from under her paisley comforter to take her late boyfriend's place as student body president. It seems the only way to fix what’s broken at Ideal High.

If in-school rivalries and an old-school principal aren't enough, she's forced to deal with former best friend, Chelsea, and all her anxiety over the fire. Throw in a hot cowboy who, unfortunately, only wants to talk about the tragedy and it’s not long before Taryn is wondering why she dragged herself from the safety of her warm bed. At least there her mascara could run in private.

When Chelsea goes from head-cheerleader-popular to the lowest ranks of the bullied, Taryn must decide whether risking her pride and hard-won status is worth facing both the truth about the tragedy and the possibility that Chelsea needs a true friend. Doing so could mean Ideal High finally lives up to its name.

First 150 Words:

Taryn forced a glance at the pull-down screen behind her and was sorry she had. Whose idea was it to broadcast the super-sized faces of the dead to the far corners of the school's auditorium? Everybody knew they were gone. Why emphasize the obvious even for the sake of a memorial? And why no rain on this joyless day? Never a good Texas thunderstorm when you needed one.

Instead, light poured through the ribbon of windows high along the back wall, criss-crossing the podium where she stood. Leaned was more like it. She squinted at the sheet of paper in front of her, trying to make out the first name. Not that it mattered. She knew the list by heart.

“Ashley Benton.” When she finally focused through the glare to speak into the microphone, the name echoed across the vast room.

All eyes riveted on the screen as Taryn pictured the name and the face heading straight to the heart of each student, parent, faculty member, and community leader standing at attention.

The news from the GUTGAA Contest is that I am IN! I am one of 25 pitches (consisting of a query and first 150 words of the manuscript as seen above) to advance to the next round, the round where small press editors read the pitches and decide if they want to ask for more pages or even full manuscripts.

I was thinking I had most of the day to rework my query after receiving some great feedback online and from my writing chapter, but that pesky time difference caught up with me. When Ms. Barnhart, the contest host, says 3:00 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME, that means if you live in Arizona you gotta get crackalackin' well before noon. My first 150 stayed as is, but the query got a quick overhaul just to clarify a few things.

Stay tuned next week to see what comes of all this mayhem...
#holdingbreathandcrossingfingers. Oh, and #prayinglotsandlotsofpraying.

http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2012/10/finalists-and-prizes.html I'm in the YA Contemporary and YA Historical category, or go straight here...http://julianalbrandt.com/2012/10/gutgaa-pitch-contest-winners-other-news/

Monday, September 3, 2012

MEET & GREET!

IDEAL HIGH

Contemporary YA--75,000 words

Complete manuscript available upon request

In another attempt to get my YA manuscript, IDEAL HIGH, "out there" I've jumped into a Blog Hop sponsored by Deana Barnhart of the self-titled blog, Deana Barnhart. Throughout the month of September, she is offering pitch-to-agents-and-small-publisher opportunities on her blog.

Today is the informal Meet & Greet, complete with get-to-know-you questions...so, welcome to visitors old and new!

Where do you write? Almost anywhere, even while driving, but the serious, save-able stuff happens at my desk in my office.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see? My orange "Page Up Original." If you don't know what that is and you are a writer, Google it. You'll wonder how you lived without it.

Favorite time to write? When everyone's gone to school & work & the house is quiet. Really though, my favorite time is whenever the creative juices are flowing and the story "works."

Drink of choice while writing? Ice water or nothing.

When writing, do you listen to music or do you need complete silence? I sometimes listen to music as I'm settling in to write. I have a playlist that gets me in the mood of my story, but while writing it can be distracting. Music leads to singing, which leads to dancing...

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it? I started out trying to write a poem (never a good idea if you're not a poet) wherein I apologized to a girl from high school that no one ever spoke to. I don't think she was bullied, she was just "invisible." Around that time I noticed a short mention in the newspaper of an accident where high-schoolers were killed and those two elements inspired IDEAL HIGH.

What's your most valuable writing tip? When in doubt, take it out.

http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2012/08/gutgaa-meet-and-greet-sign-ups-and.html

Monday, June 11, 2012

All around the world, Latter-day Saint children go to church, sing songs, pray, read scriptures, participate in family home evening, and get baptized. We may meet in different types of buildings or speak different languages, but we have a lot in common. Why? Because no matter where we live, we all love and believe in Jesus, and He loves each one of us just the same. Are you like Pablo, Dimitri, Bayani, Junpei, and Shamara? Do you believe in Jesus too?

Just one look at the cover and I knew I would love this book.

Inside, the illustrations are even more beautiful, and the text? As beautiful as the pictures.

It's a simple read that children will love hearing over and over. My youngest is 11, so while she did read it, I see this as the kind of book I will want to give to each of my grandchildren as I get more of them. It would be a great tradition to give as a gift to celebrate a milestone--like when each child starts Primary at the age of 3.

Author Mark S. Neilsen has been teaching Seminary for the last 10 years in Mesa, AZ and has been writing children’s books on the side. This is his first to be published. Find him at marksneilsen.com. The illustrator is Craig Stapley of northern Utah.

And LUCKY YOU for visiting my blog today! Author Mark is offering a GIVEAWAY! One lucky commenter (maybe that's not a word because no matter how I spell it, it looks wrong) will receive a copy of his book. I'm pretty sure it will even be a signed copy.

RANDOM RULES:
Regular old comment = entry
Facebook mention = entry
Twitter mention = entry

Basically if you spread the word about the book and the chance to win it here on my blog and then tell me about it, you can be entered mutiple times to WIN.

I'll take comments until Father's Day this weekend (midnight Sunday), then announce the winner next Monday, the 18th--on my dad's birthday!

Easy Peasy.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Queen in Exile

*the perfect combination

of fantasy and romance*

Don't miss your chance to win a copy of this thrilling tale!

by Award-winning Romance Author Donna Hatch

I've read nearly every one of Donna's books and they're all fabulous.

Queen of Exile takes you into a magical time of queens and knights and unique, mysterious creatures. I promise you'll be intrigued from the very start by Princess Jeniah's story.

Rumors of war hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream,Jeniah forms a telpathic bond with a revered creature called a chayim,
who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people,
storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen of Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny.

BUY IT HERE!

FOLLOW QUEEN IN EXILE'S BLOG TOUR already in progress:

March 7-Peggy Urry

March 8-Janette
Rallison

March 9-Lydia
Lindsey

March 12-Anna Arnett

Barbara White Daille

March 14-Valerie Ipson

March 15-Valerie
Steimle

Want to win one of three copies of Queen in Exile? It's easy.
1. Visit the fabulous reviews and leave
a comment letting us know why you're excited to read Queen
in Exile. Remember to include your email address.

2. If you tweet about the blog tour, post about it on your blog or facebook,

or become a fan of Romance Author Donna Hatch on Facebook, leave the link in the
comments section and you'll receive an additional entry.

All entries collected at Midnight
MST, Sunday, March 18, 2012

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

IDEAL HIGH UPDATE

Taryn Young’s plans for an amazing senior year are over before they begin. Grieving the deaths of several of her classmates, she has no intention of taking her late boyfriend's place as student body president...until she finds out who is running in her place. If Chelsea Manor becomes president it means nothing changes. Ideal High remains less than ideal...and Taryn doesn’t want to let that happen. She owes that much to Blake’s memory.

As president, she butts heads with a principal who doesn’t want his school labeled, a bullied student who doesn’t want to be rescued, and a student body suspicious of her motives. Throw in a hot cowboy-type, who is totally not her type, and Chelsea with all her angst over the accident, and it’s not long before Taryn is wondering why she dragged herself from the safety of her warm bed where at least she could grieve in private.

Good news in the WIP department.

NOVEMBER: Sent manuscript to a professional editor and paid for a Content Evaluation. It was just what I needed...in black and white...the good, the bad, the ugly.

DECEMBER: Mulled over the evaluation while I shopped, wrapped, entertained, cooked, fed, played games, became a grandma, enjoyed...you get the idea.

JANUARY: Revised and set goal to be finished (and I mean in capital letters FINISHED, so, for reals FINISHED) by January 23rd.

JANUARY 22 at midnight Eastern (so 10 PM Arizona): Submitted manuscript to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest (ABNA).

So here's to IDEAL HIGH, all 75,984 words of it. We've spent a lot of time together over the years and, hopefully, this is only the beginning. I have no expectations for the contest, passing even the first round would be great, but it gave me a deadline and I MADE IT!

What goal have you accomplished?

Thursday, January 5, 2012

2 WIDGET WINNERS!

Joyce DiPastena and Stacy Johnson are the winners of $20 worth of Vinyl Expressions Vinyl Lettering!!! I will be contacting you personally to get your order!

And while I have everyone's attention...please click on the sidebar widget to get all the information about the upcoming ANWA Writers Conference. It is open to the general public so please tell everyone you know that is interested in writing at all. We have something for everyone--fiction writers, copy writers, poets, magazine writers, blogging, news writing...the list goes on...

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

HOW TO RE-POST THE WIDGET ON YOUR OWN BLOG (if you're on Blogger)

1. Click "Get Widget"--found under the countdown widget.

2. "widgetbox" appears, click on "Copy," then X out of the box.

3. Go to "Design" in Blogger.

4. Click on "Add a Gadget."

5. Select "HTML/Java Script" and click on the +.

6. Paste the copied code in the box, add a title if you'd like and "Save."

7. Drag the widget to wherever you want on the sidebar before saving changes.

Don't forget to leave a comment, so you will be entered in the contest when you are through posting the widget!!!

$20 worth of Vinyl Lettering could be yours!!!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Will You Widget?

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

Help us share the ANWA Writers Conference Love by posting this countdown widget on your blog sidebar!

Just click on "Get Widget" to get the code, then leave a comment giving your blog name and you'll be entered to win $20 worth of Vinyl Expressions Vinyl Lettering!

Vinyl Lettering makes a wonderful Christmas gift! (Visit my other blog for sample ideas: vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)

The contest will be open till midnight December 31st!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"Fall" by Jennifer Hurst and a chance to win, win, win

Julia, aka JD--to lend herself credibility as a construction manager--leaves the city to head to small-town Torrey, Utah. She's determined to prove to her grandfather, and everyone else, that she can handle the renovation of an old school house into a bed and breakfast. When mysterious occurrences threaten the project, Julia turns to the closest good looking, strong man around, the demolition contractor on the project. Matthew seems to be an answer to her prayers, till the nightmare begins.

If you're looking for a little paranormal romance action, Fall is for you.

Here's the back cover blurb...
Women and construction shouldn’t mix. At least, that is what the client, Mr. Blackwell, thinks when twenty-one year old Julia D. Halstead is promoted to project manager and tasked with remodeling a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast in the tourist town of Torrey, Utah. However, the schoolhouse contains a dark secret that has been hidden for over a hundred years. A secret that will unleash the furies of Hell and cause the Angels in Heaven to weep as ethereal brothers, Matthew and Nathan battle over Julia’s very soul.

Purchase the book here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71705
Visit Author Jeniffer Hurst’s Blog at http://jenniferhurst.wordpress.com/

NOW THE CHANCE TO WIN!
In conjunction with this blog tour, Jennifer is holding a contest. It will involve any of the blogs that Jennifer visits or where her book is featured and will close on December 31st, 2011. The entrants have to answer three questions about the book they’ve read (bought, borrowed, or stolen - shame on you) and post a link to Jennifer's website on their Twitter, Facebook, or blog (need link for verification).

Then the names will be entered in a random name picker generator (http://textmechanic.com/Random-Line-Picker.html) and announced on Jennifer's website (www.jenniferhurst.com) on January 31st, 2012. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a night’s stay at the actual bed and breakfast where the story takes place.

Other prizes include an autographed copy of FALL, and she will randomly select 3 contestants’ names to use in the sequel to FALL. Plus, they will receive a free copy of that book when it is published.

Each blog that Jennifer Hurst visits will have a different set of questions people can answer, and they may enter as many times as they want - but they can enter once per blog site that they visit. So the more sites you visit, the more you can enter your name, thus increasing your chances of winning the gift certificate, a copy of the book FALL, and your name in the sequel.

Get the book, read the book, and then read over the questions below. Once you have your answers, e-mail them to Jennifer at fall.jenniferhurst@gmail.com

Your privacy is respected and your email address will NOT be used for anything but the contest. Once the contest is over your email address will be deleted from the database.

Here are the questions for you to answer:
1) What is Nathan's weapon of choice?
2) What did Gramps think JD's biggest weakness was?
3) In which city does Liu's nieces attend school?

If you would like to visit the other sites, go here for the master list of all participating sites: http://fallbyjenniferhurst.wordpress.com/

Best of luck, and thanks for participating!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

PITCH CONTEST, BUT IT ENDS TODAY AT MIDNIGHT

I'm here busily writing at my writer's retreat (in an actual cabin where there's pine trees and cool weather and writer friends and chocolate), but stopped to enter these two pitch contests. The first one ends tonight.

Chance to pitch to Bree Ogden from Martin Literary Management http://yatopia.blogspot.com/2011/07/elevator-pitch-competition-with-agent.html

Opportunity to pitch to Vickie Motter of Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Management
http://yatopia.blogspot.com/2011/07/agent-contest-with-vickie-motter.html

Monday, June 6, 2011

Playing Catch-up

I've been camping with 200 teenage girls and their leaders, but I'm back now and with my sanity intact...or at least as much as it ever was.

Here's the status of the treasure hunt so far:

June 1 WINNER: Melissa Brockett of Utah
ANSWER: "With You" by Chris Brown

June 2 WINNER: Crystal Dotson of West Virginia
ANSWER: peanut brittle bar, a box of Good 'n Plenty, some Hot Tamales, a handful of mini-Mr. Goodbars, a few Hershey's Kisses, Starlight Mints, some Dr. Pepper (accidentally), and a bunch of mint flavored Three Musketeers

June 3 WINNER: Judy Cox of Louisiana
ANSWER: Bound

June 4 WINNER: Rachel Rossano of Connecticut

ANSWER: The Sea Turtle Conservancy

June 5 WINNER: Taffy Lovell of Utah
ANSWER: Encoded Secrets and Black Orchids

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Summer Treasure Hunt Blog Contest!!!

Welcome to the 3rd Annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win Contest!

This is the third time my awesome writerly friend Joyce Dipastena (author of Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart) has corralled 29 of her writer friends to present a month-long contest where we give away a prize a day in June.

That’s right! 30 awesome prizes, running the gamut from books books books (romances, fantasies, mystery/thrillers, inspirationals, children’s books, and various non-fiction), as well as Amazon gift cards, a Mary Kay gift set, a vinyl lettering gift certificate (Yes, that's me!), a hand-sewn weekly planner with ribbon bookmark, a crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case, and again for you aspiring authors, TWO free edit/critiques of a partial manuscript. Many of the giveaways are open to International entries, though always check to be sure before you enter for a particular prize.

This is my second time to participate. Unfortunately, I still have no published book to offer, so my prize again is $15-worth of vinyl lettering.

And how exactly do you enter for these amazing prizes? By following these rules:

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:
You can send in one entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:
(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com <mailto:jdipastena@yahoo.com> . I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.
(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).
(3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST
(4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.
All winners will be drawn by www.random.org <http://www.random.org> .

You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2nd – July 1st to read the names of the winners.
If you have any questions, please email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com <mailto:jdipastena@yahoo.com> .

And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

June 1
SPONSOR: Canda Mortensen

PRIZE: A $25 Amazon gift certificate

QUESTION: What is the title and artist of the Princess song on Newbie's playlist? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and read “Newbie Teaser.” Match the number of “Princess” with the same number on the Playlist box (you may have to scroll down the playlist to find this, too). It will give you the title and artist.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:candamortensen.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

June 2
SPONSOR: Jennifer Griffith

PRIZE: Delicious Conversation (LDS romance, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in a chocolate shop in Salt Lake City), by Jennifer Griffith

QUESTION: Name at least 5 kinds of candy I ate at the last writers conference I attended AND share YOUR favorite candy. (HINT: Read the April 20, 2011 post. Click on April under the Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

June 3
SPONSOR: Peggy Urry

PRIZE: Choice of book: Villette by Charlotte Bronte (romance, paperback); Airframe by Michael Crichton (thriller, paperback); The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell (contemporary crime, paperback); OR The Mist of Quarry Harbor by Liz Adair (LDS romantic fiction, paperback); AND choice of Jelly Belly Gel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS or Jelly Belly Strawberry Cheesecake Gel Case for iPod Touch.

QUESTION: What is the name of my Work In Progress (WIP)? (Hint: It's the title of my March 12, 2011 post. Click on “March” under Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://peggyurry.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA/CANADA ONLY

June 4
SPONSOR: Danielle Thorne

PRIZE: Josette (sweet Regency romance, E-book) AND Southern Girl, Yankee Roots (poetry), both by Danielle Thorne

QUESTION: Danielle supports what wildlife conservancy organization? (HINT: See right hand column of website)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.daniellethorne.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 5
SPONSOR: Bonnie Harris

PRIZE: Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set

QUESTION: What are the names of my two WIPs? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and click on “Work in Progress” under Labels)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com <http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com>
<http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com>
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 6
SPONSOR: Susan Kaye Quinn

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (YA love story), by Susan Kaye Quinn

QUESTION: How many days do David and Eliza have on the cruise together, before they’re forced to go their separate ways? (HINT: Click on the “About Me and My Books” tab and read the blurb for Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://ink-spells.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

June 7:
SPONSOR: Anne Bradshaw

PRIZE: True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil (non-fiction), by Anne Bradshaw – 1 print and 1 eBook – Print copy can be autographed. (Yes, there will be TWO winners drawn for this prize)

QUESTION: Which TV station interviewed Anne? (HINT: Answer is a short way down the middle column.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://truemiracleswithgenealogy.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES; PLEASE NOTE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR PRINT OR EBOOK, ALTHOUGH I CAN’T GUARANTEE YOU WILL WIN YOUR PREFERENCE.

June 8
SPONSOR: Cheri Schmidit

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Fateful (YA paranormal romance), by Cheri Schmidt

QUESTION: Who is the prince of darkness? (HINT: Click on “April” under Blog Archive in the left hand sidebar and read the April 12, 2011 post)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cherischmidt.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA ONLY

June 9
SPONSOR: Mary Fremont Schoenecker

PRIZE: Moonglade (a sweet cozy mystery, Book Two in the Maine Shore Chronicles series), by Mary Fremont Schoenecker The prize is an autographed First Edition hard cover print book.

QUESTION: What special skill does character Tante Margaret use that puts her in danger during Remi's murder investigation? (HINT: Click on the “About Her Books” tab and read the Publisher’s Weekly Review.

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.maryschoenecker.com <http://www.maryschoenecker.com/>
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 10
SPONSOR: Shaunna Gonzales

PRIZE: FREE edit and/or critique of first 50 pages

QUESTION: What do his lips taste like? (Hint: click on “Sizzling Kiss” under Post Subjects in the left hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 11
SPONSOR: Donna Hatch

PRIZE: The Stranger She Married (Regency romance), by Donna Hatch

QUESTION: What poses the greatest danger to Alicia’s heart? (HINT: Scroll down underneath the book cover of The Stranger She Married, and read the paragraph directly below.

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm <http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm>
<http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm>Open to international entries for E-book version; US/Canada for print book or paperback

June 12
SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams & Planet Play Productions, LLC.

PRIZE: Award winning glossy cover children’s snuggle, giggle picture book, Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today, signed by the author and the real Chase McKay.

QUESTION: What is the name of the dragon in the upcoming fantasy, Thundertail’s Tale: The Legend? (HINT: click on the Blog tab)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.cindyRwilliams.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 13
SPONSOR: Larry Hammersley

PRIZE: Motorcycle Woman (sweet contemporary romance, E-book), by Larry Hammersley

QUESTION: What kind of motorcycle does Tess, the motorcycle woman, ride? (HINT: Read the blog post “Motorcycle Woman from Red Rose Publishing”, May 5, 2011)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 14
SPONSOR: Cheryl Cory

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Must've Done Something Good (romantic comedy), by Cheryl Cory

QUESTION: What is Sylvie's all-time favorite movie? (HINT: Click on the "Info" link in the left-hand column)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.facebook.com/MustveDoneSomethingGood
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 15
SPONSOR: Valerie Ipson

PRIZE: $15 Gift Certificate for Vinyl Lettering (http://vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)

QUESTION: What is Valerie's writing goal for 2011? (HINT: Look in the right hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// valerieipson.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA

June 16
SPONSOR: Rachel Rager

PRIZE: Wednesday Romances - romance (obviously), ebook, by Rachel Rager. This is a compaliation of three different love stories, A Season for Love, The Tiger Unleashed, and The Feather Kiss. (All sweet romances)

QUESTION: Every week I have post a new chapter of a book on my blog. What are these posts called? (Hint: These posts are featured every Wednesday.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://rachelrager.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 17
SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson

PRIZE: Autograhed copy of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ (non-fiction/self-help) by Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons, M.S.)
non-fiction/self-help, autographed book

QUESTION: What is the name of the non-profit Danyelle co-founded? (HINT: Check out Danyelle's author bio)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.danyelleferguson.com/
OPEN TO US ENTRIES ONLY

June 18
SPONSOR: Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PRIZE: A Very Merry Chase (Regency Romance novel), by Teresa Thomas Bohannon. AND a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Winner's Choice: PDF with personalized dedication, or Ebook format for Kindle or Epub format for Nook.

QUESTION: What did Lady Bethany do and why? (HINT: Read “A Very Merry Chase Excerpt” under “A Very Merry Chase” in the right hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.ladysilk.net
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 19
SPONSOR: Diane Daniels

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Over the Moon (YA fantasy romance, print copy), by Diane Daniels

QUESTION: Who is Andrew's evil x-girlfriend, Sonya, named after? (HINT: Read the May 14, 2011 blog entry)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.overthemoonseries.com/
OPEN TO USA

June 20
SPONSOR: Margaret Larsen Turley

PRIZE: critique for up to 5000 words

QUESTION: Margaret Larsen Turley is administrator for ______________________________ group. They hold fund-raising events for Cancer Research. (HINT: You’ll find the answer in one of her website tabs)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://margaretlarsen.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES/ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY

June 21
SPONSOR: Anna Arnett

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Lolly's Yarn: a memoir (older YA to adult), by Anna Arnett, with a hand-crocheted bookmark

QUESTION: What was the verdict regarding Anna's radar photo speeding ticket? (HINT: Click on the Blogs tab and read “I Fought the Law and Guess Who Won?”

WEBSITE/BLOG: htt:www.annaarnett.com <http://www.annaarnett.com>
<http://www.annaarnett.com>
OPEN TO USA

June 22
SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Loyalty’s Web (sweet medieval romance), by Joyce DiPastena

QUESTION: How do people win Joyce’s “Light Bulb Award”? (HINT: Answer is found in the right hand column of the blog)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA

June 23
SPONSOR: C. Michelle Jefferies

PRIZE: 52 page hand-sewn weekly planner, with ribbon bookmark.

QUESTION: What rank is Michelle in martial arts? (HINT: Look in right hand sidebar under “MY TANG SOO DO PROGRESS”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: HTTP://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 24
SPONSOR: Valerie J. Steimle

PRIZE: Choice of two books: Home Is Where The Learning Is (homeschool how-to book, non-fiction; autographed print copy) OR Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widows Perspective ---(non-fiction articles about everything from being single and single moms to inspirational stories; autographed print copy), both by Valerie J. Steimle

QUESTION: How many children does Valerie have? (HINT: Look in the right hand column in "About Me")

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valeriesteimle.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 25

SPONSOR: Karen Adair

PRIZE: Crocheted Book Tote with matching cell phone case.

QUESTION: What commenter recently called me (Karen) "The Queen of Sugar Land?" (HINT: Select “January 2011” under Archives and read the COMMENTS on Karen’s January 6, 2011 post on “The 20 Minute Sprint”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kbadair.com
OPEN TO USA

June 26

SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant (www.jaimeygrant.com <http://www.jaimeygrant.com> ) and/or TreasureLine Books & Publishing (www.treasurelinebooks.com <http://www.treasurelinebooks.com> )

PRIZE: Winner's choice of 1 of 5 Regency romance eBooks by Jaimey Grant (Honor, Betrayal, Deception, Spellbound, or Redemption. Please note: Honor contains some marital "heat".)
QUESTION: Which of Jaimey's previously self-published titles has recently been picked up by a publisher? (HINT: Click the "Purchasing Options" tab)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.jaimeygrant.com <http://www.jaimeygrant.com>
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 27
SPONSOR: Heidi Murphy

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Small Deceptions (sweet Regency/Georgian romance), by H. Linn Murphy

QUESTION: In what country is the bridge found over which 'we' were fighting? (HINT: Find “Blog Archive” in the right hand sidebar, click on April and read the post titled: “The Far Bridge”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: www.murph4slaw.blogspot.com <http://www.murph4slaw.blogspot.com>
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 28
SPONSOR: Kenneth Rosenberg

PRIZE: One e-book copy of my new romantic comedy, Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues, any format

QUESTION: What instrument does the character Warren August play? (HINT: Click on the cover image for Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues. Read the first few paragraphs of the excerpt.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.kennethrosenberg.com <http://www.kennethrosenberg.com>
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 29

SPONSOR: Michael Young

PRIZE: Autographed copy of The Last Archangel (YA Urban Fantasy, print copy - Release date July 14th)

QUESTION: What is the name of the fallen angel who is the main character in "The Last Archangel"? (HINT: Click on the Reviews tab. Frank Cole thinks this character “rocks!”

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 30

SPONSOR: Joan Sowards

PRIZE: The Star Prophecy: a Book of Mormon Adventure (LDS novel), by Joan Sowards

QUESTION: Why do Enoch and his friends sail to Jerusalem? (HINT: Read the blurb under The Star Prophecy book cover in the right hand column of the blog)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://joansowards.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA

Monday, May 23, 2011

River Whispers by Kathi Oram Peterson

There are cool prizes to be won at the end of this post!!!

Regi Bernard's small hometown on the Snake River is good for some things (like fishing) but bad for others (like avoiding old flames). On one unlucky day, Regi runs into the two men she least wants to see.... But the next day, Regi's luck is even worse... She discovers a dead body in the willows. And when Regi reports the murder, she becomes the prime suspect.

Unraveling a murder case in a small town where everyone and everything are interconnected is a tangled task at best...

This is part of the back cover blurb for River Whispers. I think that's all you need to know to be hooked by this Romantic Suspense novel...or is it Suspenseful Romance? Either way you have all the elements of a very "tangled" mess (like the blurb says). Small town. Old flames. Murder.

Of course, all leads point to Regi and she must take matters into her own hands, no matter where the evidence takes her. Even if it might lead to her own sister.

The moral of the story is be careful of dead bodies when you head out to go fishing or to commune with nature and ponder the loss of a loved one...but then again, maybe ultimately you'll find love again.

I just loved the title of this book right off. It hints of secrets and intrique, but also truth and first loves. You'll find all of that between the covers of this book!

Here's the prize pack for today's stop on the River Whispers tour...

Head over to Kathi Oram Peterson's blog HERE to read more about the blog tour and prizes. To win this daily prize you must comment on my blog and Kathi's blog, plus follow her blog. At the end of the week (if you comment on each blog of the tour) you can be entered to win a $50 gift card to Amazon!!!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

N is for NEVER...

...as in never miss out on a great opportunity.

YAtopia has a pitch contest going on right now where you can win the chance to have your pitch read by agent Natalie Fischer of Bradford Literary Agency!

I entered last time and while I didn't win top two for my pitch, the agent (a different one) did email me and say she was "intrigued" by my "outstanding" entry. Yes, those two words are exact quotes!! And she asked me to send her a query letter and my first five pages!!!

Now here's another chance at the YAtopia blog for an agent to get a look at your very own pitch.

GO HERE. (BTW, it must be YA.)

I tweaked mine a little and now it looks like this...
Ideal High is anything but. After the tragic deaths of the student body president and most of the A-listers, Taryn, the one left behind, sets aside her own pain to lift an entire school out of theirs.

Try to condense a 75,000 word novel down to 2 sentences and see what you come up with. 'Taint easy.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A WRITER'S FAVORITE KIND OF CONTEST!

YAtopia is sponsoring an awesome contest on their blog.

You can actually win the chance to submit

your manuscript to an agent.

It's definitely the opportunity to get an agent to read your hook.

Seriously.

Click here...

YATOPIA

But hurry. They are only taking 150 entries.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Help me spread the conference love...

How about one more contest before the big fat ANWA WRITERS CONFERENCE next week?

In my previous post (2/13) I listed class details of the conference schedule. Here's what you do..

1. Copy the info and paste it into a blog post of your own.

2. In your post ask others to do the same.

3. Everyone report back on my blog saying that you did it.

4. You will be entered to win VINYL LETTERING of your choice. (One quote, within reasonable size)

+Contest closes Saturday, February 19th at midnight, so HURRY!+

As always, go to anwa-lds.com for conference information and registration.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Finding Rose by Stephanie Humphreys

It's blog tour time for Whitney Nominee Finding Rose by Stephanie Humphreys

Three copies of the book will be given away...maybe to YOU!

Want to win? It's easy. Check out the fabulous reviews and leave a comment telling why you're excited to read Finding Rose. Remember to include your email address. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about it on your blog or facebook, leave the link in the comments section and you'll receive an additional entry.

Here's a snippet from the back cover all rosy-colored:

"You're tired, Papa." Rose pulled the quilt over his thin shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.

"Think about what I said." He gently squeezed her hand. "I wish you would consider giving Miles a chance."

"Miles! I wish Sean had never brought him here. He's so serious. In all the time he's been here, he's hardly ever smiled. . . . He annoys me and I wish he would go home." Still, Rose couldn't help but think of his gentleness when he cared for her father.

On his deathbed, Rose Sterling's father asks her to consider Miles Crandall as a suitor. Then Rose is sent to live with an uncle in Spring Creek, Montana, far from her carefree life with her family in Utah. Miles is returning to his hometown of Spring Creek to set up a medical practice, so Rose is certain her being sent there is a setup. Yet Miles doesn't seem interested in her, and after Rose falls ill in Montana, he seems content to act as her physician and friend. When Rose captures the attention of Miles's younger, flamboyant brother as well as the town sheriff, Miles retreats even further from any attempt at courtship.

How can Rose honor her father's last wish if Miles doesn't even try to court her? Will she have the courage to put her heart on the line and fight for the one she really loves?

So the question of the hour is...Will Rose honor her father's last wish? Read the book to find out the answer to this and other burning questions. And beware the deathbed requests of all dying parents. Just saying.

+++++

Here's the blog tour dates. Get crack-a-lackin on those comments, folks!

November 22
Tristi Pinkston--Tristi Pinkston
November 23
Alison Palmer--Tangled Words and Dreams
November 24
Taffy Lovell--Taffy's Writing
November 29
Jenn Wilks--Jenn Wilks Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen--The Write Blocks
November 30
Amanda Thomson--Maybe Mandi
December 1
Sheila Staley--Why Not?
Because I Said So
December 2
Valerie Ipson--Valerie Ipson
December 3
Christine Bryant--Day Dreamer

Find purchase information here.
　

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

WIN A KINDLE!

I'm part of the Perilous blog tour that is already underway. I'll be blogging about Tamara Hart Heiner's novel on Thursday, but till then you can start racking up points to win a KINDLE! Go to the author's blog HERE to find all the spots along the blog tour. It's basically a Perilous Kindle Giveaway!

Kindle giveaway (sponsored by Tamara Hart Heiner): The contest is point-based and begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 15. Whoever has the most points wins the Kindle. There will only be one Kindle given away.

Here are the points:
1 point: blog comment (can comment on all the blogs, multiple times on the tour)
1 point: follow THH's blog (http://tamarahartheiner.blogspot.com)
1 point: retweet
2 points: blog about the blog tour
5 points: purchase the book (ebook or paperback, must email Tamara, the author, the confirmation email)

Add up all your points as well as your proof (links, etc) and email it to Tamara at the end of the blog tour (tamara at tamarahartheiner dot
com)

You can earn an infinite number of points!

Way exciting!

OF WRITERLY THINGS

Friday, September 18, 2015

Monday, May 25, 2015

IDEAL HIGH BOOK BLITZ by YAREADS