Paying It Forward Oct 14th

Pay It Forward is the master idea of Matt, better known as MacNash- QQQE, and linked with his good buddy and fellow blogger/writer Alex Cavanaugh! Here are the deets:

• Spotlight three bloggers I follow
• Make'em shine & tell you why I enjoy said blogger's company
• Visit others' recommendations

Easy as pie!!

For my first spotlight, I have to bow, curtsy, and smile. Sharon Mayhew of Random Thoughts is one of the nicest bloggers I know.

All writers are aware of the method of voice while writing:

• Put voice into that paragraph. 
• That character needs more voice.

Sharon puts the softest, kindest voice into the messages on her blog. She's a marvelous children's book writer. I admire her a ton. :)

Next would have to be Christina Lee @ Write-Brained. Christina is a freelance and young adult writer with the amazing ability to get her message across in the most concise manner. Within the first few moments of visiting her site, I learn something new or am made to feel good about myself. Now mind you, she never knows who will read her post. But each person feels like she's speaking solely to them. (*waves, Christina*)

For my last highlight, I decided to go all tech on you. K.M.Weiland's Wordplay: Helping writers become authors is a fabulous resource for writers of any genres. Her posts are concise and pinpoint skills each writer needs. The site is a must for every writer, IMHO! You can find her on Facebook, too.

Happy Weekend, Alleywalkers!!

Hearts,

S~

Kick A** 2011 Debut Author Spotlight

When Christina Lee first mentioned her idea to spotlight this year's debut authors, I knew I had to participate. Author Promotion was the main reason I created the Alleyway. 

YAY!! 2011 DEBUT AUTHORS!

So I've chosen THE IRON WITCH, by Karen Mahoney--a fellow YAlitchat member.

Book Blurb: Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Order your copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or directly from Flux. And visit Karen on her WEBSITE & BLOG.

Here's a list of other bloggers who are also participating:

Rachele raves about IMAGINARY GIRLS
Susan is featuring RIP TIDE
Robyn spotlights ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
Matt  loves SOLSTICE
Nicole wants to tell you about POSSESSION
Janet tells why she loves LIAR SOCIETY
Kate talks about MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Jen would like to tell you about WITHER
Shannon celebrates DARK PARTIES
Jon loves MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Michelle tells you about SHIFTING
Susan admires WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
Natalie gives a shout out to AUDITION, THE FAERIE RING, and MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Katie  loves THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER
Stina gives you a taste of BAD TASTE IN BOYS
Jessie  spotlights SPELLBOUND and BIRTHRIGHT
Willow admires DESTINED
Christine raves about POSSESS
Kristin really really likes CLARITY
Anne features READY PLAYER ONE
Meredith wants to shout about DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE

Amy Rose loves THE NEAR WITCH
Theresa talks about DIVERGENT
Kelly focuses in on EARTHLING HERO and A SCARY GOOD BOOK
Christine gears you up for THE LIPSTICK LAWS
Laura is wild about GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
Patti  tells you about HEREAFTER
Portia admires THE SECRET OF SPRUCE KNOLL
Ali  has plenty to say about POSSESSION

What a fabulous list of bloggers!!

**Personal SPLATTER: I might be late blogging, today. Went to the Patriots/Jets game last night and we're traveling back home today!! <3

Shout-outs 4 great Writing!

It seems being absent over the summer has left me with some serious catching up to do.

First thing I'd like to mention is the same pluggy I left you with before the summer--Writers Support 4U! Yes, I created it. But that's not why I'm mentioning it again. It's not really for me. It's for all of you, although I do utilize it.

We went from 1 member, Moi, on July 1st to 96 as of yesterday!! Many of the writers who joined over the summer used the space to share their current struggles or successes, and almost instantly got some sort of response from one of the other members. It's been a great way to connect and expand the skills of our writing community.

We'd love to have you. You can JOIN HERE!

My next item for the Writers' Ally plug is Rach Writes Third Writers' Crusade.

Now, I did not participate in the first crusade; I hadn't heard about it. But I did participate in the second crusade. It was a great experience, and I'm already signed up for this crusade. Rach breaks us up into genres and groups. We meet writers with similar tastes and challenges. And she offers awesome writing challenges, contest, and of course--prizes!!

If you haven't checked it out, please do. You can JOIN HERE!! But you only have until tomorrow. Rach is closing the list so she can get organized.  

So, tell me what I missed. Do you have a specific link or contest, or maybe information you gathered that you'd like to share?? Please do and I'll collect them and write up a post for you!!

~Hearts~ 
Sheri

WRITER Down & Shout-outs

I had a post prepared for you with awesome links and all!! But with the Blogger mishap, this morning, somehow my post vanished. *sheds a tear or two*

Human Links of Help

I'm down for the count. Think I've been hit by a bus. Maybe it was an elephant. Or a herd of dinosaurs. Anyhoot, I won't be blogging today. So sorry. I have sever  bronchitis and the medication my doctor put me on yesterday will hopefully prevent it from morphing into pneumonia. REST is what I've been forced into. The laptop is under lock and key, so shhhh.... don't tell I stole it. :)

Blogger might have lost my original links, but I've found a few others I've hoarded that are great.

The World According to Maggie - where Maggie Shiefvater talks about REVISIONS.

Peace Corps Writers - How to write a novel in 100 days!!

Margo writes about Love Story Plots.

This is just a fun one: Shape Collage for your most precious photos!!

Have a fantastic weekend!! Don't forget to ENTER to WIN Kari's Signed copy of her MG smash - The Samantha Granger Experiement: FUSED.

MOTHER'S DAY Awarded

This weekend welcomes a special holiday, Mother's Day. I don't know about you, but my norm MD Day consists of rushing to ready the kids for Church (with my older ones, now it's bellowing "GET UP!"), make a big meal, clean up, do the whole dessert thing with the parents x2, and maybe sit for five minutes. Oh, and can't forget some sports on TV. :)

That's what mothers do ~ We do whatever is needed. 

If you've been a mother for any length of time then you know it's like being compelled ~ there are few self thoughts.


*Haha...and the vamps think they're all that.*

All is focused on those placed in our care. We can't help it.

And if you're a writing mother, you put the same coddling, care, and caress into each story you write and each character you create. You are a mover. A motivator. Whether a sweet picture book story or a lengthy novel, you inspire and teach.

You are a true hero to your families and the publishing world.

To our agent, editor, or publisher moms, the influence and dedication you have for your writers/clients and love of the written word is also appreciated. This is for you, too.

I give each of you this AWARD. You deserve it on so many levels. Thank you for being my writing/blogging friend and sharing in my journey towards publication. Take this award and place it proudly on your blog. If you don't have a blog just yet, save it for your website that will promote your inevitable book sales!!

Just smile.

Here's a few motherly memories from my seventeen + years as a mother.

~ 3yr old son drops his draws in the middle of the parking lot. My face pales. I yell, "Jake!" He says, "I'm peeing, hold on."

~ While making a craft using beads with my 4yr old daughter, she decides to sniff a bead to see if it smells. Yup, we're off to the emergency room with a bead stuck up her nose. (REALLY!)

~ 12yr old son (1st week of junior high) walks up our front porch with the innards of his knee literally dangling  down to his calf and says, "Um...something's wrong." Then looks down at his knee and completely freaks out. Yes, another emergency room visit.

~ 2 1/2yr old son, ATTEMPTS to go to the bathroom by himself. Well, his little arms aren't quite long enough to properly reach all the way around his skinny body. He wipes once. And yes, gets it all over that hand. Instead of asking for help, he uses the other hand which becomes covered, too. So he decides to wipe it on his chest to clean his hands.

Logical, right?? *to a 2yr old*

Needless to say, his finale is to paint the entire white, porcelian toilet in what looks like brown mud (ooh, it was so not mud!) as well as the walls, door--knob and all--and his whole body. When I found him, this writer-mother SERIOUSLY had no words.

Won't you share one memory of being a mom with me?? If you're a father, lets here one about your mom or wife.

Character Faces on Eggs

Check out this picture. How funny (or tedious depending on how you look at it) would it be to draw the faces of your characters on eggs? Seriously. I know it sounds silly, but could you do it? How would you do it? What makes your characters, YOUR characters yet THEIR own person?

This week on Oasis for YA, I discussed Voice: how it defines a character, how to use it, and ways to improve voice in your writing. The piece revolved around characters. 


Character as Setting ~ This is a fantastic post by Literary Agent Vickie Motter. She gives concrete examples of when setting, used as a character itself, can positively fuel a story. My thought was, "How do you know when you've accomplished this?" She mentions taking your story out of the current setting and plugging it into another setting. If the story doesn't work in the new setting, then you've accomplished 'setting as a character' in your story.


PK Hrezo of My Fiction Addiction posted some interesting questions every writer can ask themselves about their character(s) to get to know them better. In order to write about them and speak for them, you MUST know them. They come from the writing course she's taking taught by best-selling Author Bob Mayer.


I'm going to post each question and use one of my characters, Viktor, to answer each for myself. Feel free to play along with one of your characters and tell me if you discovered anything new.


1.  What is the identity your character shows the world?
Well, seeing how he's hiding, I'd say he shows quiet arrogance.
2.  What identity does this character claim for himself? How does he/she view themselves?
He's guilt-ridden and, even after all these years, still angry about living under the constraints of his cures. He views himself as unworthy of a cure, after everything he's done.
3.  What truth is buried so deep, your MC doesn't even realize it?
Although he's been forced to do things he didn't want that hurt others, his heart has always been in the right place.
4. What first impression does your MC create?
Excluding him being cute, he seems stuck-up and mysterious.
5.  How would your character's acquaintances describe him/her?
Odd, distant, and weird...
6.  What circumstance would make him/her act contrary to his norm?
 If he finds someone to love him despite his wrong-doings, and they are in danger.  


Dah, dah, dah!! So I did it. Now you give it a try. This is really great when you're starting a new WIP or bringing in a new character to your story. If the character is a new one being introduced into a WIP, try adding a few questions like:


1. Does this person fit into a stereotype already in the cast of characters?
2. How would this person react to pain, joy, teasing, etc..?
3. What is this person's purpose? Outward motivation? 
4. Does this person's inner motivations matter to the story? If so, how?
5. How will this character interact with those already established?


Remember, you are in the driver's seat of your characters. They are people you'd want to know or not; want in your life or not. They are the annoying driver who drives way to slow in front of you every morning while you're rushing your kids to school, or the sweet cashier at the convenience store who always has a smile on her face.


What do you like about them? What annoys you? Use your experiences in real like to relate to your characters--even when the character is setting. There are plenty of real-life settings that annoy or comfort me. Yes, I chat with my make believe folks all the time. I like them...or I like to hate them. Either way, I MUST build each a solid foundation if I expect them to stand on their own and make the reader say, "I think I've met this guy before."


And maybe you'll decide to give that egg painting experiment a try. Just picture how much fun it'd be getting rid of the characters you don't like. Oh, the egg-drama. 

Michelle Zink Book Giveaway, ARCs Galore Giveaway, & In High Spirits 100+ Followers!!

SHOUT-OUTS!!

Author Christine Fonseca has a wonderful interview with Author Michelle Zink on her blog. She's giving away a copy of both PROPHESY OF THE SISTERS and GUARDIAN AT THE GATE and both are SIGNED!!!

Carol's Print is offering a FANTASTICAL Giveaway!! ARCs Galore!!

There are too many major covers for me to post so I've typed them instead.

She has SIGNED hard cover of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES & SIGNED ARC of BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

ARC of PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White

ARC of IMMORTAL BELOVED by Cate Tiernan

ARC of DARK WATER by Laura McNeal

2 ARCs of RADIANCE by Alison Noel

ARC of JANE by April Lindner

ARC of DARK SONG by Gail Giles

ARC of THE HOUSE OF DEAD MAIDS by Clare B. Dunkle

ARC of KEEPERS SCHOOL: FEAR ITSELF by Andrew Clements

ARC of THE DIARY OF PIPER DAVIS (DEAR AMERICA): THE FENCES BETWEEN by Kirby Larson

ARC of IF YOU LIVED HERE, YOU'D BE HOME NOW by Claire LaZebnik

YEAH...Major wantage!!

CLICK to Enter!

SHOUT-OUT: BBA Online Conference

My intention was to share an article I wrote covering my adventures during my Bon Jovi weekend; however, I must postpone that until Wednesday. Boo--I know. But I found some great information you might be interested in and it's time sensitive. I have another SHOUT-OUT for you.

I was over on Crazy-for-Books the other day and saw her post on an upcoming online conference. It sounds great! The fee is relativity low, $15, and it covers two full days.

Discussions will range from what to blog, what makes an interview great, and a writer's online presence. The convenience is there, too. If you miss a chat or lecture you can always log in and listen to the recording. You can go HERE to register or get more information.

Here's a lowdown of what the conference looks like:

Thursday Night - August 5th, to make sure your set up is working properly.
Official Facebook set up. Facebook is a great way to get yourself out there. Learn how to utilize all its benefits.

Friday - August 6th, Panel for International Bloggers -
What do international bloggers face that is different from other bloggers?
Panelists Larissa of Larissa's Bookish Life, and Doug the SciFi Guy!
Moderated by Jessica of Novel Reaction an What do international bloggers face that is different from other bloggers?

6 - 6:30 pm - Opening Event - How the conference works - what we will be talking about.  Meet the Moderators and ask questions. 

6:30 - 7:30pm - The Art of the Review
Hear how reviewers approach writing their reviews as well as authors weigh in on what they look for and appreciate.
Panelists - Sabrina of Cheeky Reads
Moderator - Jessica of Novel Reaction

7:30- 8:30 pm - Be a Better Guest Blogger/How to Guest Blog
Learn what bloggers and readers are looking for.  What is important to include when you guest blog.  What is the blogger's part and what is the author's/guest's.  How to bring more attention to your guest blogs.
Panelists: Rachel Smith - Bitten By Books
Moderator:  Terry Kate

9 - 10:30 - Should Authors have Blogs?
A round table discussion on the benefits and downsides of authors having blogs and what other possibilities are open to them.
Panelists - Author Gail Fraser,
Moderator - Terry Kate


Saturday 7th

11am - 11:30 EST- Opening Panel 
11:30-12:30 - Finding the Right Blogs 
What makes a blog a good match for what you write?  How do you find them?  What can you do to work with them, how to get in contact, SEO and web search secrets.

12 - 1pm - Approaching Authors and Publishers
Bloggers, how do you approach authors and publishers?  What makes your blog stand out to them.  ARCs, Authors, Interviews, the important parts and procedures.
Panelists: Rachel Smith - Bitten by Books,
Moderator: Terry Kate

1 - 2pm - The Book Trailer Debate
So to make or not to make a trailer.  Where can you put it, and who can you get to watch them?
Panelists - 
Moderator - Jessica

2 - 3pm - Time Management - Promotion
This is a good thing for all of us in life.  We are bringing in some pros to talk about time management and the benefits it can have on your promotion.

3:30 - 4:30pm - Live Events and Happenings - Important to Bloggers AND Authors
We need to reach out as authors and bloggers - so lets talk about how to go about it.  Book signings, conferences, libraries, book stores and more.  Where to go and how to go about it.

5 - 5:30 pm - Get your books Reviewed
Authors roll in getting reviewed and why that is important.  Is it all on your pub?  What is the proceedure and what falls to the reviewers.  Discussing why it is important to get reviewed.
Panelists - Larissa of Larissa's Bookish Life, Rachel Smith - Bitten By Books,
Moderator - Terry Kate

5:00 - 6:00pm - Bloggers Working Together - Co-operation
Blog hops, memes, networking, and reaching out to fellow bloggers.
Panelists - Rebecca - Dirty Sexy Books
Moderator: Jessica - Novel Reaction 

6:00 - 7:00pm - Blog Tours Pros and Cons 
Are they good for bloggers?  Do they benefit authors?  Hear from bloggers, authors, and those who organize the tours.
Panelists: Rachel Smith - Bitten By Books
Moderator: Terry Kate

7:00 - 8:00pm - What makes a Great Interview- 
Authors Weigh in on what they like to be asked and bloggers what makes the returned answers stand out.
Panelists  -  Ilona Andrews  http://www.ilona-andrews.com/  -   
Stacia Kane  http://www.staciakane.com
Moderator:  Phoebe Jordan 

9 - 10:30 - How Can Bloggers and Authors do it Better?
Wrapping up the ideas covered during the conference and discussing the future of Blogger author relations.
Panelists: Marta Acosta - Author and Vampire Wire
Moderator: Terry Kate 


I hope this was helpful. I'm going to take advantage of this conference. Hope to see you all there. ";-) Enjoy your weekend, Alleywalkers. 

Passing on Some SPAM!

I have the honor of passing on some BAM-BAM SPAM, today!! AWARDS. There are so many amazing bloggers out there, so many WORTHY! Ugg. So little time, so much to do, so many Alleywalkers deserving of some Wha-hoo!!! 


I humbly accepted this Versatile Blogger award like, um...forever ago from my wonderful bestie, Cheryl of Wandering (and wondering) through YA Lit. I am a slug. Ugg, again. (I think I must like the letter 'g'.) I am finally passing on the goods, my precious'.


Some of you have seen this, and some of you haven't so I'll elaborate. The rules of this award are to share seven things about yours truly and to pass it on to 15 more blogs I've recently discovered.

Oh'Tah, Buttweats! You asked for it.

1) I love chocolate! No I REALLY, REALLY love chocolate. Like fresh strawberries dipped in warm dark chocolate with a few glasses glass of red wine LOVE.


2) I've broken my nose, not once but twice. Yeah, big book deal is going to get me a new nose. I HATE my nose. I want the one I was born with. 


3) I am a MONDAY NIGHT HOTTIE. (I can't believe I just said that out loud. We don't have Pink Lady jackets or anything. Okay, some of us have sweatshirts.) Really, they are the wonderful woman, ages 23 to 60, that I dance with. They are my dancing angels.


4) No. I'm not telling you HOW I broke my nose-TWICE. Saving that for a later date.


5) I was a speaker at my high school baccalaureate. I made them cry...and laugh a ton...and no, I didn't trip in my three-inch heels up the freaking steps to the alter at church.


6) I was never the girl in high school to have a crush on any celebrity, hanging posters on my walls or buying teen mags. I was too busy fantasizing about my vampire and werewolf hunks. 


7) I was asked to enter a national pageant. I turned it down. Though I can prance with the best of them, I'm just not the frilly girl. *no apologies, either. not anymore. *grins* 


Now, for the really interesting part. Here's some newer blogs I've stumbled upon that are special to me, even if I have one-heck-of-a-time visiting often.


Kay Em Evans
KCBOOKS From Mom to Author & Everything in Between
Karsten Knight
MBWcreates
Plot This
Nicole O'Dell
Read My Mind
The Siren's Song
Shannon Loves Cats and Zombies
Sharp Pen/Dull Sword
So, Write
The Daily Harrell
Totally the Bomb
Under the Fairy Dust
Watch Me Practice

There you have it, my fanGtastical Alleywalkers. Check out my friends' pads, and have a blast. I do have one more item to add. A list of Debut Authors for 2011 has been compiled on Goodreads. More are being added daily. Go vote for your favs. Authors Supporting Authors. ALWAYS! Thanks. 


Love <3

Shout-outs! Linkage, & Other Eerie Tales From The Alleyway

~Shout-outs~

Between Writers' Ally and the GRAFFITI WALL, I feel I'm slowly developing a place of ultimate support for readers and writers alike. This is a place where the unpublished writer and the published author can mingle the splats of their life and writing experiences. I use daily posts to chat about writing techniques, inspire with the occasional writing exercise, and have a loaded Tool Box for the MG and YA Writer. I promote the success of writers/authors. I also have the Impetus Room, where anyone can jot down their goals for the week, and share their successes. *Can never have enough people sharing successes and encouraging one another.*

So now, I've decided to start another venture. Nothing too serious, but I hope to make it a regular event. Many bloggers share interesting links they've come upon throughout the week. I love that. So much information to feed on. In the coming weeks, every-so-often, you'll see a post called Shout-outs, which will cover links to helpful posts or sites, to contests I've stumbled upon, and just about any link to promote a fellow writer's success.

Here's a few I want to share with you. Have at 'em!!

Great middle grade book suggestions on From The Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors. Check out the wonderful books this group of middle grade authors have suggested. You don't have to write MG to read it. Sometimes the plot lines and sub plots are easier to follow from an internal 'writers' perspective. (Yup, it's fairly impossible for me to read like a reader, anymore. I try like @#&*, but it's tough.) These are great books to dissect to see and learn how the author weaved it all together.

Become an email subscriber on Random Acts of Reading. Great site! A group of sales reps for Random House Children's Books have joined forces to chat about what we love most...BOOKS!!

A major MUST contest, giveaway, and great cause!! Check it out at Candyland.

Free downloads on books! I have a few. Awesome and major THANKS and boxes of invisible Hotheads goes out the the amazing authors! Check them out on The Book Butterfly's Blog.

On Ingrid's Notes, she shares different picture books and how they are developed. It's an interesting post, and can be related to the development of MG or YA material.

Tara, over on the Bodacious Pen, is have a 'Honkin' Giveaway!!

Happy hunting, everyone! *Monday grins*

SNOT AND THE WHOLE THING

Some of you expressed an interest in seeing the winning entry to my PSYCHIC CONTEST. I had planned on posting the winner and then the 1st runner-up but quickly realized that together they bloated my post. 


So without further ado, chit-chat, or rambling from me, here's your grand prize winning entry. The six year old thought it was hilarious. That's what did it. Thanks Candyland.

Boy Larsen, small town, Maine, was just awarded the top prize at the first annual U.S. Pretend Inventor's Convention this past weekend. His creation, Snot Plugs, took home four of the five top "snots" in the youth category,"Gross Helpful Things." When asked how he came up with such an innovative product (seriously, waaayyyy ahead of his freakin time), his response? "We were out of Kleenex, but I found a couple fries in between the seat cushion. Problem solved." It's no wonder this little man was such a hit. He's sure to impress even naysayers when his next product, Vomit Comet, a star-shaped device meant for funneling throw-up into trashcans, hits stores early next century. Simply brilliant. There you have it. *cheese*

We Gut WINNERS!!

Winners for my 'RANDOM 10 YA BOOK GIVEAWAY' were chosen by using a random generator from RANDOM.ORG.

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: 

Result:

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

HERE'S HOW IT WORKED: all contestants had a number of entries contingent on their participation in the contest. I typed up an alphabetical list of the contestants. The first contestant received the number 1 to however many entries they had accumulated. (ex. 6 entries would have gained u the numbers 1 through 6. The next name in line may have had 10 entries. They would have been assigned numbers 7 through 16 and so on.)


After that, I simply plugged the beginning number of 1 and the ending number of entries into the generator and hit 'GENERATE' 10 different times. easy-peasy!! 

WINNERS of randomly chosen YA book titles are:

#46 - Candyland -- DREAMING ANASTASIA

#300 - Throuthehaze -- BURNED

#170 - Lydia -- THE DEMON'S LEXICON

#259 - Sherrie P. -- IMMORTALS

#285 -- Taffy -- SHIVER

#73 - Creepy Query Girl -- WINTERGIRLS

#155 - Joanne B. -- SPIDER'S BITE

#224 - Nicole D. -- THE HUNTER GAMES: Catching Fire

#77 - DL -- A SOFT PLACE TO LAND

#9 - Ann Marie -- IF I STAY

~~major congrats!! to the winners~~
(& my condolences to those who didn't win. u r all winners in my book)

(you have 5 days to email me your mailing addies. Thanks.)

WINNERS of the 'PSYCHIC' CONTEST were a little more difficult. Man we got some funny entries. And after three of my humanoids--sorry, the sixteen year old was too busy for you just as he's too busy for me now--here's our results: remember, they picked'em for whatever reason, mostly if you made them laugh.

6th Runner-up Signed THE FIRE STONE by Riley Carney -- Adventures in Children's Publishing

5th Runner-up signed BOOK PLATE for BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver -- Susan Kaye Quinn

4th Runner-up signed THE PACK & EXPLORER X-ALPHA by Lm Preston -- Dianne Salerni

3rd Runner-up 1st Chapter Critique by Riley Carney -- Jessie Harrell
2nd Runner-up 20min Skype conversation with Elana Johnson -- Joanne B.
1st Runner-up Synopsis & Query Critique by AE Rought --MBW aka Olleymae
GRAND PRIZE WINNER First Chapter Critique by Caroline Starr Rose --Candyland
(i'll be emailing you with the specifics soon.)
congrats!! to all the winners and thank you all for participating. Gut me some new ideas for more fabulous contests this summer including a major blogfest I hope you'll all join...