Contests & Giveaways

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Haunted Halloween: Story Contest Winners!



First we would like to thank everyone for taking the time out to write a story for the Haunted Halloween event. We hope that everyone had a great time reading them and voting for their favorite.

Now, it's time for the winners.


1st Place

Story # 8 - Under the Bed 





2nd Place

Story #7 - Strange Things Are Happening 




3rd Place

Story #4 - Blackbird Sing




4th Place 

Story #6 - The Secret Ball




CONGRATS! I have emailed you all and you have 48 hours to respond with your mailing address.

Head on over to Lisa's Blog to see the COVER WINNERS! 


Happy Halloween and a HOT giveaway!


As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Kristie Cook and her crazy-HOT book Promise. Tristan (the reason for crazy-HOT) happens to have a birthday today, on Halloween! So happy birthday Tristan *mmwwah!* I can't wait to snuggle up with you and jump into your .....new book. ;) ha! But before that, you all need to check out the two giveaways Kristie has going on right now. One gives you the chance at winning a KINDLE 3!


Kristie is having a Mr. Beautiful's Halloween Hop & Birthday Bash contest. And here is what you can win just for helping spread the word. 



1st Prize
Purpose (#2 in the Soul Savers series) by Kristie Cook (ARC)
Promise Bookmark
Plus your choice of 2 of the following:

2nd Prize
Purpose (#2 in the Soul Savers series) by Kristie Cook (ARC)
Promise Bookmark
Dark Days and Wicked Nights (Free sampler featuring various authors)


 Complete the form below to enter as many times as you'd like. You can return and enter to win every day, between now and 11/5, by tweeting and posting. Get up to 50 BONUS ENTRIES for taking a picture of you and Promise in the wild...or your home or whatever.

. Don't have Promise yet? Buy it here or here. Have the ebook? Just make sure the first page shows up on your ereader in the picture.
Email the picture to kristie(at)kristiecook(dot)com for 25 extra entries or post it on your blog for 50 extra entries!



The form below is the one found on Kristie's blog.
For the question "Do you follow this blog?" it is referring to Kristie's blog HERE










BUT that's not all. The other part of the giveaway allows you to borrow Tristan for a while. Sounds great, right?? 

What you could win


$25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
iPod Shuffle
Kindle 3 or Nook!

How can you win?? 
Take the picture below and be creative!



How it works:
Take the picture above (or email kristie(at)kristiecook(dot)com for a higher resolution pic) and get creative with it. You can blow the picture up, cut it out and paste it to foam-board, then take Tristan on some outings in your corner of the world - just be sure to take pictures. Or create a video with him. Or, if you're an artist, give him a face (hint: sandy-brown hair, hazel eyes with green around the outside and gold flecks around the pupil, square jaw, full kissable lips). The sky's the limit and the more creative, the more likely you'll win.

Whatever it is, you MUST include the above picture in some form (so the judges can recognize Tristan!) and post your photo(s), image(s) or video on your blog, anytime till November 5th. (If you don't have a blog, you can post it on your Facebook page.) Give Tristan an actual post so we can find it the following week for judging.


I'm entering this contest myself and plan to post my entry early this week.

Haunted Halloween with Kristie Cook and a giveaway!




By: Kristie Cook

I’m a city girl. I married a country boy. After 10 years of living in various cities and suburbs, my husband had enough. Along with my brother-in-law, we bought 90 acres south of Kansas City and split it. He got the half with the old homestead (and a cemetery!). We built a house. Brand new. No reason it should be haunted. Right?

Eerie things happened in that house. We’d hear strange noises in the basement and, armed with various “weapons,” would check them out to find nothing. The microwave would turn itself on…even after we bought a new one. Just little things. But we lived out in the country, where dark is really dark, so it was easy to freak ourselves out.

One Halloween, I was traveling for business. My husband took the kids into town for trick-or-treating while he hung out with friends, no doubt watching scary movies, and then they went home and he watched Ghost Hunters. He finally went to bed by himself around 1 o’clock. He called me the next morning with the following story.

He had barely fallen asleep when something woke him. Kneeling by his side of the bed, down toward his feet, was a woman with white hair. She seemed to be crying. When she looked at him, her mouth moved, as if talking to him, but no sound came. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, she was gone.

A little while later, after staring at the moon for a while (it was the country – no need to close the blinds), he started to drift off when something woke him again. The woman had returned and this time it looked like she yelled at him. Her face looked angry or frustrated, as if she tried to tell him something important. But he heard nothing. This happened a few more times and each time, she became more agitated.

Too terrified to sleep, he watched the moon move across the sky. Around 3 o’clock, she was there again, but really angry now, throwing her hands at him and, again, soundlessly yelling at him. Then she moved around the corner of the bed, to where he couldn’t see her anymore. He lay, frozen, hoping she’d gone away for good. No such luck.

He lay on his side, still facing out, when he said it felt like it does when I crawl into bed. He felt someone getting into my side of the bed and sliding under the covers. He squeezed his eyes shut, barely able to breathe and shaking like a leaf – a big, 6’2”, 225-lb leaf. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling on it, trying to roll him over.

After a string of profanities, he prayed furtively, “Please, God, make it go away.”

And it did. As the moon moved out of sight, he was finally able to fall asleep, not to be awoken again.

The next morning, as they’re preparing to leave for school and work, my husband told my oldest son, “I swear I saw a ghost in my room last night.” No other details.

My son asked, matter-of-factly, “Was she blond?”

We moved to Florida not too long after that, but still hadn’t sold the acreage. When my husband had to go back to do some renovations before selling, he stayed at the nearest hotel, 30 miles away, refusing to spend the night in that house.




Purpose by Kristie Cook
Publisher: Ang'dora Productions (December 15th, 2010)
Reading Level: 17 and up
Paperback: 377 pages
Series: Soul Savers, book #2
Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she’ll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she’s been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she’s forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.

Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself…but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?

Prize: 
  • 1 winner will receive a signed copy of Purpose and bookmarks.

Rules:
  • You must be at least 17 to enter. 
  • Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
  • Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
  • Contest is US ONLY and ends November 14th.
  • Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
  • The form must be filled out to enter.  












- *Hugs* Thanks Kristie for the spooky story and book donation of Purpose, which I can not WAIT to read! 



Click HERE to read my review of Promise.







Find Kristie Cook
Kristie Cook  /  Promise  /  Purpose  /  Goodreads   /   Twitter


Purchase Promise (Soul Savers, Book #1)
Amazon  /   Barnes & Noble  /  Smashwords

Pre-Order Purpose (Soul Savers, Book #2)
Pre-Orders now available HERE!


*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! 
Please read full entry rules here

In My Mailbox (21)


This was the best week of books EVER! First I have to thank Simon and Schuster and Ellen for your epic awesomeness! I was so thrilled to get these books!

AND Kristie Cook, author of the fabulous book Promise, for the "O-M-G FREAKING OUT" surprise I received yesterday. (PICTURE AT THE BOTTOM)

 Also, thanks to Jennifer DeLucy who is super sweet and offered a copy of her books, Brenda Pandos, Disney, Flux, T.K. Richardson, RandomHouse and Valerie from I Should Be Writing.

Simon and Schuster awesomeness!


Review
The Mortal Instruments (BOX SET) by Cassandra Clare
The Haunted by Jessica Verday
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (2 copies)
Invincible Summer (ARC) by Hannah Moskowitz
Stay (ARC) by Deb Caletti
The Fallen 1: The Fallen and Leviathan by Thomas Sniegoski
The Fallen 2: Aerie and Reckoning by Thomas Sniegosky
Freefall by Mindi Scott
Vanished by Meg Cabot
Haven by Kristi Cook
It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Elixir by Hilary Duff
Wither (ARC) by Lauren DeStefano
Darkness Becomes Her (ARC) by Kelly Keaton
-----------------------------------
The Sapphire Talisman by Brenda Pandos (signed and bookmarks)
Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler
Whisper of Light by Jennifer DeLucy
Other by Karen Kincy
Return the Heart by T.K Richardson (signed and bookmarks)
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney


Won - from Valerie
When It Happens by Susane Colasanti
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder
Scribbler of Dreams by Mary E. Pearson


SURPRISE!
Purpose (ARC) by Kristie Cook (signed and bookmarks....and....)


My very first BLURB!! And it means so much to me. I adored Promise and can't wait to read Purpose. Thank you a million times over Kristie for this surprise!! :) 




What did you get in your mailbox this week?


*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristie at The Story Siren 
and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Crossroads Tour: Kitty Keswick



1. I read that you grew up in California and your grandfather had a vineyard. What was a typical day like for you as a child hanging out in the vineyard?
    I played a lot amongst the vines.  They were planted in rows and it was fun to run through them. I would sit in the little ditches under the vines and snack off the grapes. There weren’t any kids my age, so I made up stories to keep me busy. The vineyard was sold when my grandfather died, now houses are in its spot. Sorta sad. But nothing last forever.

    2. You wrote a lot as a child. Can you share one of those story ideas and would you ever bring one of them back for a “possible book” idea?

    I have a story with a girl with a photographic memory. I wrote it in High School. It’s took place in the near future then 2000. Not sure, if I’d write it or edit it. I have so many projects swirling around in my head; it’s a matter of finding the time to work on them. Ideas were never my problem. It’s time that’s my enemy.

    3. I saw that you are a fan of Jensen Ackles (me too, since his time on Days of our Lives), but if you could choose what stars could play the Freakvilles characters Kasey and Josh, who would you choose?   

    Oh ,yes he was great as Eric Brady. I liked him on Dark Angel, too.  Big fan girl, never met him though. Hum, casting FREAKSVILLE is hard. Would need someone who is 16 and can do a British Accent for Josh. No clue there...Not Pattison, he’s too well known as Edward.. Kasey would be harder. Maybe Emma Stone? It would have to be someone with a quirky spunk.

    4. What is your favourite thing to do to relax after a hard day of writing?  

    Relax what’s that? Since selling FREAKSVILLE my life has been pretty crazy.

    5. Can you share with us what you are working on right now? 

    Really rough unedited teaser? This isn’t final but it’s a scene taken from FURRY & FREAKED, book two. I really like Ruby and Kasey. They play off each other in a fun way. They are complete opposites but common goals bring them together as friends. Ruby is blunt, she’ll tell you how it is, and everyone needs somebody like that.

    I think this is somewhere in chapter five...  Kasey is alone at her new school. Valkyrie is Ruby’s pet name for her. You’ll have to read the series to find out what it means.

    ****
    Chairs screeched signalling the mass exodus of the final bell and end of the school day. I hung back pretending to dig through my backpack waiting for the last student to leave the classroom. I didn’t want to run into Clay and his gang. I’m not one to hightail it from ghosts or teenage werewolves but, heckling was something I was never good at swallowing.

    “You’re going to miss the bus, Valkyrie.”

    I nearly jumped out of my skin as Ruby materialized next to me.  Her jet black hair was pulled into two short pigtails streaked with navy blue. She ran her hands down her black and navy plaid pegged leg pants studded with massive amounts of safety pins, until, she came to a zipper and proceeded to remove a mint, not before blowing a piece of lint off it first.

    “Here,” She said thrusting it my way.

    “I don’t want it. No telling how long it’s been there. You died in the seventies, right?” I replied hoisting the backpack over my shoulder as I ignored my personal poltergeist. As I weaved in and out of the desks until I was out of the classroom and in the hall. Ruby followed with her blue combat boots hovering an inch or so above the floor.

    “As if, 1988. Take it or I’ll cram it down your throat! Don’t think I won’t do it. Your breath smells like something died.” She took a step closer and sniffed, curling her upper lip in disgust."I stand corrected you reek. What’s in the backpack? A body?”
    “Could be, if you keep it up.” Ruby and I had this little verbal wits match. I really liked that about her. 
    *** Furry & Freaked, Kitty Keswick


    Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
    Publisher: Leap Books (January 8th, 2010)
    Reading Level: Young Adult
    Paperback: 328 pages
    Series: Freaksville, book #1
    High school is hard enough when you’re normal. There’s peer pressure, book reports, the in crowd and the enormous zit that has a life of its own. Having a family whose skeletons in the closet lean toward the paranormal is not a topper on anyone’s list. Sophomore Kasey Maxwell is busy juggling the typical teen angst. Add visions, ghosts and hairy four-legged monsters into the mix and you get FREAKSVILLE. It’s a wonder Kasey has survived.

    Every woman in the Maxwell family has the gift of sight. A talent sixteen-year-old Kasey would gladly give up. All she wants is a normal life. Shopping and talking about boys with her best friend and long-time sidekick Gillie Godshall consume her days. Until Kasey has a vision about Josh Johnstone, the foreign exchange student from England. The vision leads her into new waters, a lead in a play, a haunted theater…and into the arms of the Josh. Yet, both Kasey and Josh have secrets lurking in dark corners. Can Kasey’s new romance survive FREAKSVILLE?

    Find Kitty Keswick
    Kitty Keswick   /   Twitter   /   Goodreads

    Purchase Freaksville
    Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   The Book Depository