Dark Divine Fan Wrestlemania Talentmania

CALLING ALL WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS . . .

In anticipation for the upcoming release of THE SAVAGE GRACE--the third and final installment in the Dark Divine trilogy--Bree Despain and Egmont USA are excited to introduce the first ever Dark Divine Fan Fiction and Fan Art Competition:

Dark Divine Fan Wrestlemania Talentmania!

Okay, here's the thing. There's nothing that warms my heart more than fan fiction and fan art. Like seriously, it makes me giddy. The only thing I love just as much, is giving stuff away. Which means I think it is time for an awesome contest!

But not just any contest. Think of it more as an epic showdown of the best Dark Divine fan art and fan fiction out there. With two categories and two opportunities to win awesome stuff--writers, artists, fans of the Dark Divine trilogy, show me what you've got!

All entries will be posted here on my blog to be voted on by blog readers at home, and the finalists will be judged by a panel of professional artists and nationally published authors. Winners will take home a fabulous prize pack.

[Not a writer or an artist? Don't worry, you can participate in the contest by voting for your favorite entries, and spreading the word about Dark Divine Fan Talentmania!--and Egmont USA is donating door prizes (see below) that will be given out to randomly selected voters!]

Here's how it works:

Contestants have 2 weeks to create an entry. They will then need to send a copy of their work to me at readbreecontests(at)gmail(dot)com by 11:59 P.M. MST on February 17th, 2012. Edit: the deadline for Fan Art entries has been extended to February 20th. I will then post all of the Fan Fiction entries here on my blog on February 20th. All Fan Art entries will be posted on February 21st. Blog readers will then have one week (respectively) to vote for their favorite entries.

For each category (Art and Fiction) 3 entries will be picked by popular vote to advance on the the finals. 2 additional entries will be selected (by me) as "wild card" entries to advance on to the final round as well.

These five finalists in each category will then be submitted to a panel of judges (consisting of professional artists and nationally published authors) who will determine the winners of first, second, and third place. (Prizes explained in a minute.) Winners will be announced on or before March 13th, 2012. (TSG release day!)

The first category is FAN FICTION. The rules:

1. Write and submit a short story that takes place in the Dark Divine world, meaning it must follow the rules established for the DD mythology, setting, characters, etc.

2. Your story must include at least one Dark Divine character. As in, someone featured in one of the stories by Bree Despain: THE DARK DIVINE, THE LOST SAINT, or THE LOST LETTERS OF BROTHER GABRIEL.

3. If you want to create your own vision for a scene from THE SAVAGE GRACE, that's fine. But to the few who have already read TSG, please NO TSG SPOILERS!

4. Your story must be NO LONGER than 750 words. 751 words disqualifies you.

5. Please send your story in the body of your email. No attachments please.

6. Please send entries to readbreecontests(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject line: FAN FICTION ENTRY.

7. Your entry MUST be received by 11:59 p.m. MST on February 17th, 2012 in order to be considered. (Yes, you can submit something you've written previously to today, just make sure it fits the criteria.)

8. This contest is open internationally, however, your entry must be written in English. (Or sadly, I won't be able to read it.)

9. I reserve the right not to post any entry I deem inappropriate for this forum. As in, keep it rated PG-13 or lower. (My mom reads this blog, ya know.)

The second category is FAN ART. The rules:

1. Create an illustration/depiction in any medium that has something to do with the Dark Divine world as established in THE DARK DIVINE, THE LOST SAINT, or THE LOST LETTERS OF BROTHER GABRIEL. As in: a scene from one of the books, a character illustration, a scene you would like to see happen, etc.

2. If you want to create your own vision for something that might happen in THE SAVAGE GRACE, that's fine. But to the few who have already read TSG, please NO TSG SPOILERS!

3. The artwork must be sent to me in a digital format (i.e. if you didn't create it on your computer, take a picture or scan it).

4. No files larger than 1MB.

5. Please include a description of your work for use during the judging process.

6. Send entries to readbreecontests(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject line: FAN ART ENTRY

7. Your entry MUST be received by 11:59 p.m. MST on February 17th, 2012. Edit: the deadline for Fan Art entries has been extended to February 20th. (Yes, you can submit something you've created previously to today, just make sure it fits the
criteria.)

8. This contest is open internationally, however, your entry must be submitted in English. (Or sadly, I won't be able to read it.)

9. I reserve the right not to post any entry I deem inappropriate for this forum. As in, keep it rated PG-13 or lower. (My mom reads this blog, ya know.)

PRIZES: Okay, on to the goods. As stated above, there will be two grand prize winners, two second place winners, and two third place winners (one for each category).


GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE:

1. A $100 gift-card to your choice of one of these retailers: Amazon, Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, or Infinite Jewelry Company.

2. Signed hardback editions of THE DARK DIVINE, THE LOST SAINT, and THE SAVAGE GRACE.

3. Either a 45 minute Skype visit with Bree Despain to discuss writing, publishing, the Dark Divine trilogy, Daniel's hotness, chocolate, kittens . . . or whatever you want to talk about. This can be used for yourself, a friend, a book club, classroom, blog interview, etc.

OR . . .

Receive a 15 page manuscript critique from Bree Despain for a Young Adult or Middle Grade novel/story. (As in, Bree will read the first 15 pages of your manuscript and give you useful feedback.)

4. The complete Dark Divine nail polish set, including: THE DARK DIVINE violet, THE LOST SAINT blue, and THE SAVAGE GRACE coral pink. (Note: Nail polish cannot be shipped outside the US, so international winners will receive stickers and bookmarks instead.)

5. Winner's entry will be published on Bree Despain's official website for all to enjoy.

SECOND PLACE PRIZE PACKAGE:

1. A $30 gift-card to your choice of one of these retailers: Amazon, Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, or Infinite Jewelry Company.

2. Signed paperback copies of THE DARK DIVINE and THE LOST SAINT (which includes THE LOST LETTERS OF BROTHER GABRIEL.)

3. A bottle of THS SAVAGE GRACE nail polish. (Note: Nail polish cannot be shipped outside the US, so international winners will receive stickers and bookmarks instead.)

4. Winner's entry will be published on Bree Despain's official website for all to enjoy.

THIRD PLACE PRIZE PACKAGE:

1. A $20 gift-card to your choice of one of these retailers: Amazon, Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, or Infinite Jewelry Company.

2. A bottle of THS SAVAGE GRACE nail polish. (Note: Nail polish cannot be shipped outside the US, so international winners will receive stickers and bookmarks instead.)

3. Winner's entry will be published on Bree Despain's official website for all to enjoy.

DOOR PRIZES:

Don't forget, everyone can participate in the contest by voting and by spreading the word about Dark Divine Fan Talentmania--and you will be entered to win some fabulous door prizes by doing so, including:

Signed books:
HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire
TRIS & IZZIE by Mette Ivie Harrison
THE MEPHISTO COVENANT by Trinity Faegen
EVERY OTHER DAY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
THE BUTTERFLY CLUES by Kate Ellison
THE SAVAGE GRACE by Bree Despain
EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton
TIGER'S VOYAGE by Colleen Houck

Dark Divine Jewelry from Infinite Jewelry Company

TSG nail polish

{EDIT FOR CLARITY: if you submit fan art of fan fan fiction entry, you still enter to win door prizes by voting and spreading the word.}

Ready to start earning entries in the door prize contest right away? You can do so by spreading the word on twitter, Facebook, or your favorite social media site about the contest, directing people to this post. Then just leave a comment on this post telling me what you did (with linkage) to get your first entry!

Artist and Writers, get those entries ready and be sure to email them to readbreecontests(at)gmail(dot)com before 11:59 p.m. MST on February 17th, 2012!

Need to brush up on the Dark Divine novels before getting started? Click HERE.

Looking for a little inspiration to get your creative juices flowing? Check out this totally neat fan-made trailer for THE SAVAGE GRACE.

Disclaimer: (Legalese)Entering the above contest constitutes the entrant's agreement to the posting and publication of his or her work on any website owned or operated by Bree Despain. In accordance with copyright laws, any original content will be credited as appropriate. Entrant is also attesting that their entry is their own original work and not plagiarized. No purchase necessary to enter this contest. (Plain English)In other words, if you enter the contest, you are agreeing that I can post your work on my sites without further release from you, but I promise I'll give you credit. Also, you are promising me that you didn't steal your entry from someone else. Got it? Good.

Got further questions? Ask me in the comments, or send an email to the addy listed above.

{Edit: to answer one question, yes you can submit more than one entry in the Fiction or Art contest (or both) but only only entry per person is allowed to advance on to the finals.}