My First Ever Blog Contest

My brain is fried from working on revisions so much status: On Thursday I noticed that we were desperately low on diapers, so I pulled myself away from my computer for a quick dash to the grocery store. Ran through the store, grabbed diapers, a bag of gluten/dairy free chocolate, corn chips, and a roasted chicken (because for some reason my family still expects to be fed these days) and paid for the diapers and food (I have the receipt to prove it!). And then, somehow, got home without the diapers . . .A fact that was not discovered until several hours later when I got a frantic phone call from hubby (who graciously offered to watch the kids so I could go meet Laurie Halse Anderson at a book signing downtown) because KidA had developed a sudden case of diarrhea.

This week revisions. Next week potty training.

My kids are completely crazy status: KidZ is quite the little story teller. He really has a knack for it like his dear ol’ mom. KidA has also been trying his hand at it. So here’s his latest literary creation:

KidA “Hey, guys. Want to hear my dump-truck story?”

Me: “Sure.”

KidA: “Once upon time, there was a helicopter.” (KidA then picked up his Lego helicopter and rammed it into the wall, busting it into several pieces.) “The end.”

Me: “Wow, KidA. That was a nice, surprising twist there at the end!”

Hubby: “Um, I thought it was supposed to be a story about a dump-truck?”

Me: "I know. That’s why it was such a great twist.”

(Can’t you just picture the dump-truck coming along to haul away all the helicopter pieces after the story was over?)

Contest Status:

Ok—on to business. As promised, I give you my very first ever blog contest. No book lives until it is read. And so it is with a blog. No blog lives until it is read. That which drives a writer is an abundance of readers. And how do authors get readers you ask? Well, the publishing industry relies heavily on word of mouth. And this presents both of us with an opportunity. I ask you to find people who would enjoy my blog, following my tweets, or who may be interested in my forthcoming book. And, in return- you get a chance at winning some pretty cool prizes. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. Sound good? Good. Well then, let’s get on with it.

Here’s how it works—for the next five days you can do the following:

1.)Become a follower of my blog by adding me to your “blogs that I follow” in your blogger dashboard, and you get one ticket. (If you are already a follower you automatically get a ticket because you are a leader… you so heard of me first… you joined the bandwagon while it was still just a wagon… etc. etc. ). If you choose to follow (or already are following) by another means, such as Google Reader or the RRS feed, please make a note of it in the comments section so I know who you are!

2.)Add me as someone to follow on Twitter and you get another ticket (click here to make it easy @breedespain). Then leave a comment on my blog telling me that you did so.

3.)Once you are a follower, you can earn more tickets by getting others to become a follower on either my blog, or on Twitter. You get one ticket for each individual you bring into the family (and they will get their respective tickets too). Please leave a comment on my blog to let me know who you got to follow, after they become followers.

4.)Promote this contest on your own blog or on Twitter with a link and you get another ticket. (Again, you will need to leave a comment on my blog stating where you referenced it to get credit).

All these tickets are then placed in a raffle. From that raffle you have a chance to win:

1.) A signed copy of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2.)A signed copy of The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith

3.)A copy of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sidney Salter (only just released).

4.)A copy of Need by Carrie Jones

5.)Another young adult novel of your choice

6.)A copy of Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and David King (an invaluable resource for any author—aspiring or otherwise).

7.)A bag of gluten, dairy, egg free Oreo-like substance (or real Oreos if that’s not your thing).

The first winner will have their pick of the prizes. Then the second winner can take their pick of the remaining prizes, and so on until they’re all gone.

So go forth and share the love. Have fun. And feel good that you are helping to stimulate the book buying economy. The contest will end this Friday, April 3^rd at midnight. I will announce the winners the evening of April 5^th and will give further instructions on how to claim your prize. Ok… on your marks, get set, go!