It's Contest Time!

I've run this contest a couple of times before, but its a popular one, so here we go again!

As you readers know, reviews are crucial to a writer's work getting noticed. Many of the best indie books out there struggle because there just aren't enough reviews of them to convince other readers to give it a try.

So, as we move towards Christmas, I ask you to give an indie writer the gift of your praise! Go to Amazon or Goodreads, review any self-published or small press book that you have loved lately, and then come back here and share a link.

Every person who comments gets one entry towards the prize drawing-- a $20 Amazon gift certificate. One runner up will receive a free e-copy of Don't Wake Up. I will draw a name and post the winner on Sunday, December 9.

Let's go readers! Make some writer's day today and tell us about the books you've loved!

Let's hear it for the testy and dejected!

Or, OK, truth be told, its the REjected and not DEjected I am rooting for today.

See, you work hard, you write a book. You send it to publishers for months or years asking them to like it. You get so many demoralizing rejection letters, while your very-patient friends reassure you that even J.K. Rowling got rejected dozens of times.

Finally one amazing, wonderful publisher does like your book, and even publishes it! And the elation fills you with a fever pitch to keep writing, and keep going, and you write another book and then...

... start another round of rejection letters. I got my latest this yesterday, on a day I was already home sick with a cold.

And I am a "professional" writer. I KNOW form letters saying "thank you for sharing... not for us" are not a reflection of my talent or lackthereof. Furthermore, I work in marketing! I 100% know that there is a vast difference between "good" and "marketable" in the type of fiction I write.

But it still makes me sad.

So, I think we should all do something nice for the writers out there, just in case anyone is having a day like me and is feeling a little dejected.

What's that you say? A contest?

Yes! Of my normal ilk! Go to Amazon, find a book you like that was self-published, or written by a first time writer, or published by a small press, and leave a review about how much you liked it. You will make some author's day, for sure....

... and then come back here, leave a link to the book, and you're in the contest. One winner will get a $20 Amazon giftcard. I'll announce a winner by 1/31.

If you would like some independant or small press publications to consider, think about maybe:

• Twisted Velvet Chains by Jessica Bell, amazing poetry by an up and coming star. Its available for Kindle for only .99, or paperback as well.
• The War Master's Daughter by Elly Zupko, strong and engrossing historical fiction. On Kindle for only $2.99, or available on Paperback as well.
• String Bridge by Jessica Bell, which also just rocked my world
• of (of course) Max and Menna or Listening In, bother available on Kindle for $3.99 and $1.99 respectively. Max and Menna is also in paperback and hardcover, and Listening In will be available in paperback soon.

Come on, make someone's day... and maybe win a prize as well :)

Book Giveaway Contest Extended

I am not just a lazy blogger, I swear! Last week was a mid-terms for grad school, and so I was overlooking my blog life in favor of forecasting, linear regression equations and some hot productivity anaylsis. I promise you, I'd rather have been here.

So two things:

1. The holiday gave us a slow start on our "Who Would You Cast" contest-- many thanks to our two entrants, but I think we can do  better. So the contest from my last blog has been extended, and you have until July 13. I will announce a winner on the 14th. Come on.. it's fun, and all the cool kids are doing it. Here is the link: http://mmshaunakelley.blogspot.com/2011/07/who-would-you-cast-giveaway.html

2. I try really hard not to get political or controversial here, so I won't share any of my thoughts or opinions on Casey Anthony's aquittal last week (if you don't know what I am referring to, you must not live in the U.S.). I will say this, though-- I think it is criminal to not report that your child has been missing for over a month. And, more than a million people agree with me. Change.org has a peition in place to encourage states to make it a felony to not report that your child is missing or dead in a timely manner. If you agree with us, I encourage you to add your name to the petition. http://www.change.org/petitions/create-caylees-law

And I will be back around more this week, now that I have proven my Operational Management prowess.