Saturday, May 14, 2011

Chronology of Water Giveaway

The getting people to follow your blog via giveaway is a trend right now. Particularly amongst the YA set. And, I have to say, I've found it to be distracting, annoying, and ickily self-referrential. And now, I find myself doing it too!

Okay, remember that Sunday night movie years and years ago, that was followed up by the regular movie that I think Sandra Bullock was in (amy g, help me out you cinemaphile, you). The conceit was a reporter doing an exposé on the inner workings of a Miss America contest, or some such. And in the midst of the participant observation, the reporter becomes "one of them." Remember? From the inside, she gets caught up, and finds that she's not as cynical as she thought? Maybe I'm misremembering. But I think she wins and she's really happy and all that.

You follow?

So, a couple of weeks ago I entered two author blog "win a book" contests. Social Media giveaways. And guess what? I won them both! Back-to-back priority mail envelopes in my mailbox replete with ... books! I was giddy. I was like a kid at a carnival who got the ping pong ball in the fishbowl. Like Sandra Bullock (or whoever) with the tiara. Damn, I loved seeing my name and the word "winner" next to it on those blog posts.

So I'm having my own giveaway. And, because my book is still a manuscript, it's not for my arc or reviewer's copy or anything, but I do want to generate some more followers for this and my Empress Chronicles blog, plus crow about a book affectionately called COW. So, I'm giving away a signed copy of the best book I've read this year. Which (full disclosure) happens to be written my good friend and workshop mate, Lidia Yuknavitch.

Here's a little bit about this fabulous book:

Chuck Palahniuk writes,
I've read this book cover to cover a dozen times. I am still reading it. And will, most likely, return to it for inspiration and ideas, and out of sheer admiration for the rest of my life.
Jeremy Russell says,

Reading Lidia Yuknavitch is like watching someone marking a map of America with black dots on all the toxic waste dump sites. You aren't quite sure how she knew to mark those particular spots, but know only that her aim is unerring.
So, here's what you need to do, to win a COW:
A. Tweet about this blog post
B. Facebook about this blog post
C. Become a "follower" of this or my Empress Blog or both
D. Add this blog, or my Empress blog to your blog sidebar
E. Comment below (which you HAVE to do to be eligible). Before you comment, add up your "entry points" based on how many of the things above you did.

1. Add up your entries and list them in the comments section (along with email address):
-> comment only = 1 entry point
-> follower = 1 extra entry point per blog follow
-> tweet or facebook = 2 extra entry points
-> blog or sidebar = 3 extra entry points

2. The contest will last until 9pm PST on Wednesday, May 18th. At that point, I'm going to assign all entry points a number, then spin the "random number generator" wheel. Winner of the COW will be announced on Thursday. I'll also be drawing runners up who will get swag gift packs! (I'm not sure yet what they'll be, but they'll be cool!)

Good luck!

9 comments:

  1. You had me at "free books." 7 points. I'm such an over-achiever.

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  2. I like your blog and your Empress Chronicles. I wanted to tell you that, since I won't win the book. I stopped tweeting - doing FB is enough; I can share your FB post; not sure if I'm an official 'follower' of yours; not sure what a blog sidebar even is! Technology overload!!! But I do love to read, and I intend to read Lidia's book. But, don't go by me, this giveaway is a good idea, and I've no doubt you'll get a good response.

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  3. I'm at 4 points. I can't in good conscience add you to my blog since I haven't posted there myself since 2010! YIKE.

    I love reading you and keeping up with you; and as always, love your reading suggestions.

    I have also discovered that I am somewhat competative and LIKE winning. That said, the only online giveaways I've participated in have been to win Le Cruset stuff. . . .hasn't happened.

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  4. 1 Point. I don't tweet, I refuse to have anything to do with my Facebook ever since I reluctantly set it up a few years ago, and I only let people I like read my blog.

    Let's talk about that book cover: whose idea WAS that????I am currently making myself very unpopular with my publisher because I insist on being frank about my opinions of their lame book cover ideas -- did Ms. Yuknavitch sign off on THAT COVER????

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  5. Hi Vivian--

    Actually, there's a story behind the cover! More to it (plus, there's a belly band that hides the nip), but give this a read:
    http://therumpus.net/2011/02/about-a-boob-or-the-hermeneutics-of-a-womans-body/

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  6. 4 points. HOM confirmed the decision to write for me, that such sharp-edged truths were being inscribed out there, so I would be delighted to receive a copy of COW.

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  7. Anonymous7:02 AM

    i just bought lidia's book this morning. my bookstore people said they had received a packet from chuck p. explaining why they should sell it; they also said one of the employees had already read it and loved it.

    (the movie you're looking for is miss congeniality, i think.)the cover is gorgeous w/out the belly band, but the band does add an air of class. props to the designer.

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  8. Thanks Amy! Yes, Miss Congeniality! And Chuck has been a major and generous force in getting the book to the indies. Now, how many "points" can I give you?

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  9. Hi Suzy!

    I don't have a Twitter account, but I did everything else. 7 points :-) That looks like an awesome book. Kudos to you both!

    Kayla

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