Friday, August 31, 2012

Watch Out!! ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD Giveaway!!

Although cherishing the last few days of my summer blogging break, I'm glad to jump in today with a surprise for you! The awesomesaucesome C.Lee McKenzie is celebrating the release of her MG phonominon, ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD!!


I read the first chapter a while back over on YAlitchat's First Pages Group. From there, C.Lee sent me the first few chapters to have a peek at.

Description: Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town’s bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he’s up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn’t the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion, materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get worse when Pete’s guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find his aunt and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.

Can I just say how much I HEART middle grade? And with saying that, I'll stop jabbering and let you hear from C.Lee herself.


BOOK PROMOTION 
There are so many ways to promote your book using media these days. Since I like the idea of using a Blog Hop, I thought I’d share how I set mine up and bore you with a few opinions, too. Sorry about the opinions. I used Mr. Linky to have followers sign up. It was easy and efficient.
I created a theme that I thought would be fun and connected to my book. In my case I called it The Swamp Hop. You’ll have to read the book to find out why, or just look at the cover! 
I asked each blogger how long and what topic they’d like, and I offered a choice of topics that I felt I could write about if they didn’t have one in mind.  
I bundled all of my links and my post and subbed those in an email well ahead of the post date. (I think Sheri’s the only one I’ve be pokey about. Sorry, Sheri!) By having everything together it saved time for me and my host. Early subbing was good because there were a few glitches in the links and I had time to sort those out. 
I showed up at the blog site while my post was active and even afterward because some comments came several days later. I responded to the comments, tweeted and announced the post on fb.  I was sure to use the permalink because people often find links after new posts are up.  
Because I know hosting someone does require some planning and, therefore, time I gave a gift to my hosts. In my case it was a short anthology of my short stories--some previously published and illustrated. 
I did some giveaways, but I didn’t use Rafflecopter and here’s why: Warning Another Opinion Ahead. I found it annoying. If someone took the time to visit the post and leave a comment that was enough for me to give them a book. If they wanted to “like” my pages or “tweet” or give me a shout out on “fb” bless them. What I really wanted was someone to read my book and give me an honest review. That seemed like a fair exchange.  
On the day of the guest post I added a note on my blog about where I’d be and what I’d be discussing along with links to the bloggers’ sites as well as their published books. It wasn’t all about my book, even though I liked to think it was. 
:-) 
I’m not a pro at this, so let me know what I’ve left out of this Blog Hop plan. I’ll take notes.  
Thanks, Sheri. Loved having the chance to be here today.

It's me who needs to thank you, C.Lee, for the awesome information. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. 

Here's a little extra treat for all you Alleywalkers! You just HAVE to watch this trailer. Honestly, it's one of the best trailers I've ever seen for middle grade. I LUV it!



Awesome, right? Want a copy? 

Good. Just leave a comment below, saying so, and you'll be entered to win one of two eCopies that C.Lee is generous offering as a giveaway!! Two winners to be randomly drawn and announced on September 7th! Spreading the word isn't necessary, but it would be so sweet of you!!

Or, here's where you can purchase your very own copy: AMAZON KINDLEAMAZON PAPERBACKB & NSMASHWORDS

C. Lee McKenzie is a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains where she lives with her family and miscellaneous pets. She writes most of the time, gardens and hikes and does yoga a lot, and then travels whenever she can. 

She takes on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. Her first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, which dealt with cutting and suicide was published in 2009. Her second, titled The Princess of Las Pulgas, dealing with a family who loses everything and must rebuild their lives came out in 2010. Her short stories appear in Stories for Children, The First Time and the soon to be published, Two and Twenty Dark Tales. She just published her first Middle Grade novel, Alligators Overhead, this year.

Find C.Lee ~ WEBSITEBLOGFACEBOOKTWITTER : @cleemckenzie, AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE, & GOODREADS.

16 comments:

  1. Lee, I thought you handled your tour awesome! (And just leaving a comment is good enough for me as well.) Your tour rocked!

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  2. This is sooo up my alley. Please enter me :)

    eeriestories75 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  3. I have to agree, the Rafflecoptor is a big PITA. For some reason they malfunction on me. I plan on doing my promotion on Seconhand Shoes the same way.

    I would love the book for my step daughter. She's 10 and loves to read. Her nose is always in a book.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

    http://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/
    http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/

    shellyarkonwrites@hotmail.com

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  4. Sounds like a great read. =) Congrats. Thanks for the insight on the behind the scene play in getting the blog hop together. Something I'll have to think about soon. =)

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  5. I'm not entering because I already bought my copy, but I wanted to stop by and say, "Yay for Lee!"

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  6. Thanks all for stopping in at Sheri's today. She has one incredible blog and I'm very excited about being here today.

    I'll be back to say later today and by Sept. 7th I guess we'll have the winners. Yay!

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  7. I won a copy on another blog and CAN'T WAIT to have time to read it. Sounds like so much fun. Thanks for sharing your ideas on setting up your blog tour.

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  8. As someone currently in the throes of planning out a blogtown tour, this information was so very helpful. Thank you C. Lee and thanks for having her Sheri.

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  9. Waving at Jessie! Glad you stopped in. And Angela, I'm really glad this has been helpful. Good luck with your blogtown tour.

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  10. Love to win a copy but sadly, no ereader :(

    I guess I'll just have to buy one!

    Congrats, C.Lee :)

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    Replies
    1. Sorry. I'll be giving a hardcopy away in the future. Thanks for stopping in though.

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  11. Hi Sheri and CJ
    My name is Jenna. CJ, You are a brave courageous fighter, You are a special miracle from god, a gift from above, earthly angel, a smilen hero. You are full of happiness, life, smiles, joy, fun,love, and spunk.

    I am a very huge Hockey, Football, and Baseball fan. My friend who lives in my town, Mark Recchi, played for Boston Bruins for a couple years. He is retired now, and he, and Daryl Sydore, Jarome Iginla, and Shane Doan, own our WHL team here.

    I am very very big, big big Redsox fan!

    I was born with a rare life threatening disease, and have 14 other medical conditions, and developmental delays.

    I wrote this poem
    Each of us are Special
    Each of us different,
    No one is the same
    Each of are us are unique in our own way,
    Those of us who have challenges, we smile through our day.
    Those who of us who have challenges, we smile through our day.
    It doesn't matter what others say
    we are special anyway.
    What is forty feet and sings? the school chior
    http://www.miraclechamp.webs.com

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  12. Awesome post! Lee did a wonderful job runnning this blog hop/tour. My blog was a stop on two different days I thought things ran very smoothly. I like how she mentioned the importance of having everything prepared early because things can go wrong. Also, I know my blog readers loved hearing from her about their comments on our review and interview. I love when authors comment back like that. Well done, Lee!

    I am so glad I stopped over here as part of her tour. I am really enjoying your blog and just saw we have the same agency representing us. :) Wishing you much success. I am your newest follower.
    ~Jess

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    Replies
    1. Waves at one SUPER BLOGGER! It has been so much fun hopping around to all of these great blogs that I almost want to write another book!

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  13. Since today's the last day before the winners are announced, just had to pop in and say again! This has been great.

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    Replies
    1. It's been a pleasure hosting you!! So glad you're here!

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