Monday, August 8, 2011

CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS!

I'm going to take a break from the usual blogging schedule this month. It's summer, my kids need attention, my WiP needs attention, and I figured we'd all benefit from switching things up a bit. Besides, half of you are going to be on vacation some time this month anyway, right?

SO - contests today!

First up is Gabriella Lessa's contest, in which entrants post their 30-word pitch and first paragraph in order to win critiques from one of four editors at Sourcebooks, who will also be judging the contest. Yeah, that's right - your pitch and first paragraph read and judged by an editor at a closed house. This is a golden opportunity, guys, so go HERE to enter.

And now, I'm hosting a giveaway of my own, for a very special book.



A while back, I won a copy of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, by Jay Asher, from Shannon Whitney Mesenger. It took me a while to get down to it, because I'd heard that it was pretty much a read-it-in-one-sitting thing, and I wanted to make sure I had enough time to at least get thoroughly into it, rather than sneak a page in here and there.

I had heard right.

Even though I ended up not being able to read this in one sitting because of demands from my kids and needing to sleep and write and things like that, I read it pretty much constantly until I had finished it - I snuck in pages while I was cooking, I read it curled up on the sofa when I should have been critiquing or revising, I read it on the bus... I could not put this book down, and when I absolutely had to put it down, I could not stop thinking about it.

And when I finished reading it, I could not stop thinking about its implications for me and my own life.

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY goes beyond the descriptions of it as original and fresh. This is an incredible, moving, thought-provoking, life-changing book. It will make you re-evaluate how you behave, how you speak to and about others, and how you go about living your life. And it might even change the way you think. This is a really, really important book.

So, I'm going to give away an unopened, unread, hardcover copy to one lucky blog reader.

THE RULES:

  • Follow this blog. Not my Twitter account, not my Google+ account (although those are good, too). This blog. All followers get +1 for this.
  • Comment on this post. Another +1.
That's it! Simple giveaway, simple rules. If you spread the word this time, there won't be any extra entries, but there will be virtual pie and hearts forever from me. :-) And since it's only the one book, this one is OPEN INTERNATIONALLY! Woo-hoo!

The giveaway closes NEXT FRIDAY, AUGUST 19th, at MIDNIGHT WEST-COAST (that's PST) TIME, to give my followers over there a chance to get their last-minute comments in.

And... Begin.

10 comments:

  1. The very first review I posted was about this book. I handsell it to everyone I can think of, always with a warning not to start if they've got anything to do the next day. It's amazing.

    I got my copy autographed at a SCBWI conference a couple years back. I had no idea that in person, Jay Asher was not only humble but completely hilarious.

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  2. I read Thirteen Reasons Why when it came out, and it remains one of the most powerful books I've ever experienced.

    P.S. I'm a new follower. And I've left a reply to your comment on Bird's-eye View, http://michellefayard.blogspot.com/2011/08/get-your-foot-in-door-contest.html.

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  3. You've got my interest piqued!

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  4. That sounds awesome Ishta!

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  5. This book sounds super cool! I've only read a few books that have had that life-changing effect on me--which I love! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  6. Ishta, I already own this book, and yes it's very good! I just wanted to let you know that I read your entry for the contest and I just love your book. I can't wait to see it on a shelf and read it to my girls. xx

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  7. I haven't read it yet, but I'm intrigued. So after I've worked through my book piles next to my bed and next to my couch and next to my desk, I'm right there! May be I'm lucky enough to win it?!

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  8. Sounds like a book I should have on my shelf *regardless* of whether or not I win this contest!

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  9. Thanks for thinking of us West Coasters. ;)

    I just got back from a blogcation, so I'm lucky I caught this. I've been meaning to pick up 13 Reasons for a while because I've heard so many good things. Glad to hear your thoughts on it. Will definitely move it up on my TBR list.

    Thanks for the giveaway! +2 points! :)

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