Sunday, March 29, 2009

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 3rd at midnight. I will announce the winners the evening of April 5th and will give further instructions on how to claim your prize. Ok… on your marks, get set, go!



47 comments:

Brodi Ashton said...

I am so ready to share the love!

Kathy D said...

Count me in!

Unknown said...

I'm now a follower, and I blogged about this contest here:

http://ravelda.livejournal.com/331381.html

Anonymous said...

Hi! I read about your book on the Tenners, and it sounds fab! I am now following you on Google Reader AND Twitter.

Irene Latham said...

"No book lives until it is read." Amen, sister! Following you on my blog.

Kim Woodruff said...

Hey Bree, I've been trying to become a follower of your blog for months now, but I always got an error message. Today it worked. Go figure. Oh, and I noticed your name in the comments on a blog of an old professor of mine. Have you seen it?
http://gideonburton.typepad.com/gideon_burtons_blog/2009/01/mormon-young-adult-fiction-before-twilight.html.
I thought it was a nice shout out, and I was excited to see your name there.
I always make my family read your blog. Now I'll just have to get them to follow you.

Erika Powell said...

I am now a blogger follower and a twitter follower (my name on twitter is kissmybook) and i blogged about it here
http://kissmybook.blogspot.com/2009/03/bree-despain-contest.html

Jess (The Cozy Reader) said...

Erika Lynn brought me here!
I'm following you on Twitter.
I'm following you on Blogger/Google Reader.
And I'm going to put this on my blog!
http://bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com/

In a few minutes so don't rush there right now! :)

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

If you are following my blog through the RSS feed, or plan to do so, please make a note of it here in the comments so I know who you are. Don't miss your chance to get your ticket!

Thanks for joining the party!

Unknown said...

Following you on twitter - bridget3420

Unknown said...

bookreviewsbyjess referred me.

Anonymous said...

I'm now following your blog. :)

Anonymous said...

And now following you on twitter, too! (Do I sound like a stalker?)

Anonymous said...

Hey!
I am now following you on twitter (@ladyleonore) and on your blog (londonland).
Thanks for the contest!

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

Thanks for following, everyone! You can get more tickets if you refer friends. So keep on sharing the love! You guys rock.

Jenna said...

Wow! Awesome contest! I see a lot of books I've been wanting to read for a while up there.

I follow your blog.
and
I follow you on Twitter

Contact: jennapomme@yahoo.com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

SOOO not cool. Twitter won't open up for me, AND i can't find the "follow this blog" thing on here, but I'll keep trying.

Fun contest. And if this counts for the moment, Book reviews by Jess sent me!

Oh, and check out this site if you like entering contests:

www.gettingtoknowwillow.blogspot.com

-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

donnas said...

Im following you in Google Reader.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Michelle said...

Well, I tried to officially follow you and today it worked. So now you can feel of our true friendship. I am scared of twitter, so one ticket for me will have to be enough! Love ya!

Michelle said...

By the way, I just googled you...how does that feel?

D said...

I am now a follower in Netvibes- for the record I tried to do it before and it wouldn't work. I'm glad it did now.

I posted on my blog- http://wheelersturning.blogspot.com

And I added you in my sidebar of Blogs I follow- same blog as above.

Awesome giveaway!

Nicole said...

Let it be forever recorded that some time ago I believe I was your very FIRST follower. It Must be said now, so that when your book hits the shelves and you are suddenly everyone's favorite writer they will believe me when I say "Yeah I liked her before she was cool."

This is a fun idea for a contest.

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

Hee hee, Nicole. Yes you were the very first. You get two tickets for your awesomeness!

Michelle Kuo said...

Jessica Kennedy brought me here! :)
I am now a follower!
I also linked you on my blog:
http://flyingsolooooo.blogspot.com/2009/03/contest-alert.html

michelle.kuool(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

I've added an easy one click button for becoming a follower (if you already have a blogger account). It's located under the Twitter updates in the side bar.

Most people are opting for the rrs feed, which is totally okay. But it's easier to just click and follow through blogger. Plus I get to see a cute little thumbnail pic of you.

Brooke Reviews said...

I'm now a follower! On here and twitter.

Michelle Kuo sent me :)

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I follow you on Twitter (cfulcher) and I tweeted about the contest:
http://twitter.com/cfulcher

Cackleberry Homestead said...

Oh and I was sent by Erika Lynn so give her a ticket :)

Kim Reid said...

What's Twitter? What's an RSS feed? ;) I'm afraid of the bandwagon. But I check your blog pretty much every day and have you in my blog roll if that counts.... Good idea for your contest!

Mrs. O said...

Tweeted, follow and subscribe to you in my reader.

Silvia said...

I'm following you^^


silvia_pi@hotmail.es

Elena Jarvis Jube said...

Hi, Bree, I mentioned your contest and your book on my blog, and I already follow yours, but don't enter me :) Save the books for new followers. I wanted to go to that Laurie Halse Anderson book-signing, but I was sick. Bummer.

Sara J Low said...

Count me in. I found you from KimWebbReid.
I'm on iGoggle. Saralow@gmail.com

Mandy said...

Kim Webb Reid sent me here thru Facebook. :) And I shall now follow. :)

Alicia said...

My 4yo wants me to win just so she can get her hands on those gluten and dairy free cookies....

Ginna said...

K, so I'm a follower (or so I believe!) and I follow your twitters too! Count me in the fun.

Sarah Steele said...

Just added you to my Google Reader! And I was referred to your blog by the wonderful and amazing Danielle Wheeler. So she should probably win something :-)

Llehn said...

Wow, Bree. There is never a dull moment in your life! I just added you to my Google reader!

Lesley

Charlotte said...

Hi Bree,

I just became a follower via gmail!

thanks for the great contest.

Kathy D said...

Sorry to comment again, but I had to share: I read your blog last night and totally knew I was out of diapers. So, kept reminding myself to go to the store for diapers...and what did I forget to do today? Oh, get diapers. I'll stop by your house to pick some up ;)

Violet Vixen said...

I'm a new follower (via RSS). I came here from The Not So Closet Geeks.

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

Ha ha. We have plenty of diapers now! And I will start potty training any day now . . .when I stop think of excuses for why NOT to do it.

sharon54220 said...

Wow!! Congrats on your first giveaway. Great prizes.
Please enter me.

sharon54220@gmail.com

sharon54220 said...

I am also a follower.

sharon54220@gmail.com

Paradox said...

I followed you on Blogger and Twitter!

My Twitter name is ParadoxRevealed.

paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com

Angela said...

Hi Bree! I am excited to have stumbled upon your blog! You are now officially added to my Google Reader. Good luck with the revisions ... I can't wait to read your book!

Brooke said...

Ok, so I totally missed this contest!!! I am so bummed. You are going to create a blog stalker out of me if you are going to be doing contests like this. And I always said if I was going to blog, I would NOT become a BLOG STALKER!!! I don't have time for this.:)

And what is up with 47 COMMENTS!!?? Mrs. Popular here. I don't think I have had 47 people hit my blog in the last 9 months total.

Ok, so I don't think I have read any of those books either, I am in desperate need of another good read, thanks for the list.