Tis the Season of Giving - Contest Time!!!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Call by Reinga Spektor.


It has been a while and since you all have been so incredible and a pure delight to blog for, in this Christmas season, I want to give you something special. Something that will really make your eyes shine. Taking a cue from Shannon Messenger, I am going to let YOU pick the prize. I have in my hands three very valuable signed books up for the taking.


Rapunzel's Revenge
by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale (no relation). This is signed by ALL THREE of the authors/illustrators. That was not an easy feat to accomplish I'll tell you.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan.


Again, every one of these is SIGNED by the authors. And you get to pick which one you want. So, what do you have to do?

It is simple, really. You do a kind deed. It is the time when we really start to think of other people and I love this time of year for that. Do a conscious kind deed, put it up here what you did on this post and that counts as a point. It doesn't have to be big. Not tripping your sister in the hall could count for one. :) Even just smiling at someone that doesn't usually get a smile would be one (and it can be so huge). So you will be earning these books, but in very simple ways. You can get as many points as you want. I will be going off of the honor system here. [EDIT]: But make SURE you post what you've done here, especially if you've done the Tu Publishing link

One idea to earn points is to help spread the love about Tu Publishing, an independent publisher starting out. They want to publish multicultural sci-fi and fantasy for teens. You can learn more about them in my post here. I will be giving 5 points for posting an individual post about them, or if you make a direct donation. I really want to see them become a reality.

With these books, I really think I could get a lot of subscribers, but I don't feel offering more points for that is in the spirit of what I am asking for. It's about giving of yourself (but spreading word of this contest would greatly be appreciated. Kindness begets kindness I've discovered).

You all are more than fantastic, thank you. You rock.

Contest is open until Sunday Dec 13th at 11:59 PST. (no international this time, sorry). Have at it, and Merry Pre-Christmas. :)

21 comments:



Frankie Diane Mallis said...

Awww this is such a great idea!!!

Jazz said...

I donated $25 to Tu Publishing. I really wish I could donate more to them. Only 13 days left.

Shannon Messenger said...

Awesome idea Heather. I will definitely be entering, I just need a few days to put a few things together. :) (PS, does it count as a good deed that I'm giving away my very precious signed copy of Twilight, starting tomorrow?)

Heather said...

I LOVE the spirit of this contest! I'm returning a book to the library tomorrow (Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty), and I'm going to put some cash between the pages. Either the librarians will find it and donate it, or the next person who checks it out will get a fun surprise. I've always wanted to do that, thank you for giving me a great excuse! I'll also post about the publishing house tomorrow! As someone who is writing YA sci-fi right now, and was totally shocked/impressed by the whole LIAR thing, I fully support such a wonderful effort.

Unknown said...

WOW. This is a flipping awesome contest! And they are EACH such great books--they are amazing!

I published a post about Tu Publishing after I saw yours...does that count?

I'm going to go home, gather my clothes I don't want any more (and maybe some books, too), and donate them....

Heather Zundel said...

Frankie - Thanks! I've been really excited about this one.


Jazz - duly noted and thank you!!!


Shannon - I will let you count it if you want. And could you please put up a post about Tu Publishing? You have an awesome following on your blog.

Heather - Hello same name! And that is SUCH a wonderful idea! I wish I had thought of it. But what if you find some super honest person that tries to turn it in? Maybe you can leave a note for them so they know it is theirs. You have a point!

Beth - Thanks! They really are. I love them to death. And that definitely counts. I've never been quoted before. Such a perfect post. Just keep me updated on the good deeds! :D

Tere Kirkland said...

Wow, what a great idea! I really enjoyed your post yesterday about Tu Publishing, I'll have to write my own post tomorrow!

It's funny you posted this today, as I've been in a very giving mood. I've been mailing off lots of books to my writer friends who would benefit, and I just donated a bunch to our local library.

Thanks for offering such a great contest and spreading good will.

Lenore Appelhans said...

Regina Spektor! I am listening to her a lot these days as well.

PJ Hoover said...

I donated a critique to the Bridget Zinn auction. Does that count?
Great idea, Heather! Really!

Tere Kirkland said...

I just blogged about Tu, and donated $5. I urged others to donate, even if it's only the minimum-- who can't afford five bucks, right? Thanks again for running this contest, and for introducing me to this publishing house. I want to see them become a reality, too.

Also, I've been dying to read "The Lightning Thief". ;)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I donated $665 to our local hospital's annual fundraiser.

Heather Zundel said...

Tere Kirkland - I saw your post, it was wonderful! Dang girl, so how many points is that for you?

Lenore - Yep, I am definitely loving my Regina Spektor. ^_^ Do you have a favorite song of hers?

PJ - Yes! That definitely does! Count yourself entered!

Tere - I love The Lightning Thief. It looks like you are ploughing ahead to win. Really how many are you up to?

Sharon Mayhew - DUDE!!! Can I count that for double points? Really, that is incredible.


For good deeds I've done (no worries, I'm not counting them): I picked up my little sister from school, made banana bread for my family (the bananas were a bit frightening), and babysat my cousins across town for free. Too bad cleaning my room can't count as a good deed...

Tere Kirkland said...

LOL, I'm just glad you gave me an excuse to blog about Tu Publishing and not look like I was ripping off your post idea.

As for points, well, I think I'm only up to 10, 5 for donating to Tu, 5 for blogging. Unless you want to give me an extra point for the books I donated (but they were mostly paperbacks). So 11 sounds pretty good to me!
Maybe this weekend I'll go through my old clothes and make a donation to the Bridge House-- that's the local substance abuse treatment center. I've been meaning to do that, anyway. I donated some furniture to them in September when we moved, and they were very grateful.

Sharon, that is amazingly generous! Good karma! Definitely double points, imo.

Mmm, banana bread...

Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos} said...

I just donated :-) And I will definitely spread the word on my blog! Great cause - thanks for passing it on!

Shannon Messenger said...

Okay, I posted about it, and tweeted about it, and donated--no idea how much that counts for. (I also sent at least one new follower your way--yay Sara! Here's hoping others will come too.) And I turned my sprinklers off for the last few days to save some water (California is totally in drought mode) and um...I picked up a shift for my coworker (even though I don't get any extra pay--the drag of being a salary employee--and I kinda don't have the time) so she could go see her sister-in-law. Oh, and I'm sneaking food to a opossum (sneaking, because my husband is terrified of the thing and wants it to go away, but I can't let it go hungry) Any of that count? I'll let you tally my total based on what you think qualifies.

Shannon Messenger said...

Oh, almost forgot! C.J. Redwine is trying to raise money to help bring the little girl she's adopting from China home, and she's taking donations either through her blog or through a coffee company that donates $5 every time someone buys a bad of coffee. And she's super sweet, and what more wonderful cause is there than helping an orphan get to her new family? So I donated $25 to the adoption fund--which I would've done anyway, but if it counts for entry well, it'd be nice. Here's a link in case you're interested in helping.

http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/2009/12/java-for-johanna.html

brizmus said...

I would love to be entered in this - I made a pledge at Tu Publishing. I really hope they get the money they are looking for. Later today, I'm planning on writing a blog post about it, so I will come back with the link for that. I really hope more people donate in the days there are left.

Tere Kirkland said...

So I did go through my clothes and it was a pretty paltry bag to donate, but I had 3 warm winter coats I never wear anymore, and they were very happy to receive those.

I feel bad that I didn't have more to give.

Shannon Messenger said...

So, I went back and donated a little more to Tu Publishing--not to get extra points in your contest so much as that she came to my blog and left an amazing comment to help answer some questions one of my other followers raised, so I was inspired to do a little more (you should check out her answers-they are awesome) But...in case it helps...cool. If not, that's fine too.

Haven't really done any other good deeds (too busy writing) except I have agreed to see my Uncle, who hasn't spoken to me in six years (long story involving his horrible wife who decided she hated me, and made him cut me out of his life--my relatives are a mess.) I'm still not thrilled with him for the way he hurt my mom in regards to my wedding 5 years ago, but he's trying to mend fences so I have agreed to try too...which is pretty big considering I'd stopped calling him my Uncle since I hadn't heard word one from him for so long. So...I don't know if that counts as a good deed, but it's still something I'm proud of myself for. :)

Unknown said...

I just donated $25 to Tu Publishing! They are SO CLOSE, and the deadline's almost up....I hope they make it!!!

AND I just cleared out my closet of some more clothes to donate...I'll post pics as soon as my camera battery recharges...

Heather Zundel said...

You guys are INCREDIBLE.