And the Winner Is...

First of all, I want to thank everyone for entering my very first ARC giveaway contest. I hope to have more in the near future. I really can't believe the response I received--that made for a hard decision. I'm more happy than I probably should be. hehe. I can't believe I have so many followers now. Thank you everyone. This was totally a collective effort to get me over 100 followers. Cheers!

Now, you probably have already scanned down the post to find out who the winner is, and I totally don't think less of you for having done so. I would have done the same thing. In writing this, I want to add a little suspense. I'm mean but in a really angelic way. 

So, lots the entrees talked about how they love dystopian books. Others, discussed how they loved The Hunger Games series and can't wait to get their hands on another book of similar genre. A couple people said they'd share the book with others. Some wrote poetry, even haiku. A few were writers and really needed a break from the madness of writing. One person's stuffed animals were jealous of my stuffed animals. One said if she didn't win this ARC, she better get one of my book's ARC. I'll have to see what I can do on that one. I sort of need a finished manuscript and a publisher first. hehe.

All in all, I loved your entrees. They were so fun to read. But I must choose one winner. And the winner is: 

Audrey! For this really creative reason why she should win an ARC of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth!

"If I were Mr. Darcy, Divergent would be my Elizabeth. At first, I wasn't really sure about her, she had a great cover and danced well, but nothing awesome enough to tempt *me*. But after a while, I began to see her everywhere, see the great stuff to be said about her, and soon learned she was everything I liked in a book. Sure enough I began to fall in love with her. And then after entering contest after contest and being rejected (in the rain, even!), I feel this is the final showdown Longbourn... please think of Mr. Darcy. I don't think he can handle another rejection from Elizabeth. 

=D Thank you so much for the contest!"

I giggled when I read her entry. Thank you so much Audrey for your creativity. I will email you later on today to get your address to mail you the pretty ARC.

I wish I had a whole box of ARCs to give everyone that entered, but alas, I could only choose one person.

Thank you for entering. Much love to all my followers and visitors, too. 

PS: There will be no "What I've Learned Wednesday" this week for obvious reasons. So, I pose this question to you: What have you learned in the process of writing?

Time is Running Out

My blog posting creativity is greatly lacking today. It's a Monday morning. I'm tired. I'm beginning a new work week. Where's my creativity, guys? It probably will come back. I do have to admit that I was listening to my iPod this morning and a Michael Jackson song came on. Can't remember which song it was, but I was totally rocking out in my bathroom as I did my hair. I felt like one of those 70's dancers. I probably looked pretty funny. Who cares, though. I was having fun. Maybe I'm not as tired as I think I am. Perhaps some creative juices are flowing. Wahoo.

Well, I hope that your creative juices are going strong today. Why? With some creativity, you totally could win an ARC of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. If you haven't entered the contest I'm holding to win the said ARC, what are you waiting for? Follow this link to fill out the form.

You have until 4:00 p.m. mst TODAY. Get to it kids. I will announce the winner on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.

Since time is running out for the contest, I will share Muse's music video for the song Time is Running Out. Such a great song.

Have a really nice day!

Randomness on my Bloggy Friend

I'm pretty much in a giggly mood today, and pretty sure that everything I post today will make absolutely no sense, but I post anyway. Hopefully, I can get some laughs out of you on this fabulous Friday!

First of all, I went to dinner last night with the lovely, authoress Morgan Shamy. I know you’re all jealous, as you totally should be. The two of us had so much fun. Laughing, talking about writing, and encouraging each other to keep going. Seriously, I want Morgan to be my new best friend. What luck that we live like 15 minutes away from each other.

I have decided that the writing industry is by far the coolest industry ever. I love the bonds of friendship formed here. I love the creative atmosphere. I love how writers are all rooting each other on.

Now, I want to thank all of my new followers for joining my Bloggyworld and Twitterworld. With great surprise, between Saturday and today, I have gone from having 79 blog followers to 127. That is phenomenal. I could not have done it without you! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your love with me. Gracias. Merci. Danke. Arigato. Xie Xie. Grazie. I’m multi-lingual, too! Hehe

Whatever you do, don’t forget to enter to win an ARC of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. The contest closes Monday, March 28, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. MST. Follow this link to enter.

Last, this video makes me snarf every time I see it. Enjoy the Homestar Runner Fun! What’s your favorite Homestar Runner clip? Let me know cause I want some more giggles today!

What I’ve Learned Wednesday: Where’s the End

The End. That’s what a book concludes with, right? While writing a book, the ending (I will call him Chuck), decides to take a vacation but never tells you the destination. While Chuck is on holiday, he didn’t leave you a phone number, email address, twitter name, nothing! He just skipped town, leaving you struggling to finish your story. All the while, you eat pounds and pounds of chocolate (at least that’s that's what I do). Eventually, Chuck returns and wonders why you look so disheveled and exhausted.

You tenderly take Chuck in your arms and say, “It’s ok. I finished the story without your help. I made you better than you were to begin with. Now, you owe me big time!”

So, your story is finished. It’s sparkling, glittering, like a vampire. Hehe!

Right now, I want to finish my book more than anything, but Chuck keeps wriggling his way out of my fingers. And what do you know; I’ve decided to do a huge overhaul on my manuscript. Yep, Chuck is so not in sight anymore. He is being very naughty, much like a puppy. I can’t teach him to stay, or to come, or to poop outside. What am I to do with the little Chuckster? Just keep working until he obeys, I guess.

What I’m alluding to is: Writing sometimes feels like a long road with a mirage glistening in the distance. You think you can catch up to it, but you can’t. It keeps lingering in the distance, taunting you while it sneers and wickedly laughs at you.

But Chuck, the end of writing your story, will come. It can be caught, tied into a beautiful, perfect story. Well, more perfect than you ever thought it would be. How do I know this fact when I’m only working on my first book? I know it because I’ve been to libraries, and book stores, and I’ve read a lot books. Those books are physical examples that Chuck can be wrangled in. The end of writing, editing, revising, and rewriting your story is within your grasp. Finishing your book takes perseverance and time, with an added couple hundred cups of patience, too.

Follow the rainbow until you reach it, finding your pot o’ gold—your finished, stunning book.

Have you ever felt like Chuck’s left you stranded? How do you cope during these times?

 
PS: Don't forget to enter to win an ARC of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth on my blog. Follow this link to fill out the entry form. Good Luck!

ARC of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth Contest Begins...

In celebration of reaching 100 followers on my blog, I'm holding an ARC giveaway contest. The lucky winner will get a *sparkly* ARC of DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. Follow this link to fill out the entry form.

Contest Rules:

• Contest closes on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. MST
• Its open Internationally.
• The happy winner will be chosen by having all the needed points (5) and has the best and most creative response to the question.
• The winner will be announced Wednesday, March 30, 2011. 

Thank you for helping me reach 100 followers. I couldn't have done it without you! Seriously, I am giddy and happy and all of the above!

GOOD LUCK!

My stuffed animal, Mr. Monkey, said he'd protect the book for the time being.

However, a group of my other stuffed animals felt left out. They will be protecting it, too! The book is in good hands until it reaches yours.

Thank you again!

ARC Giveaway Contest

Once I get 100 followers on my blog, I'm doing my very first ARC Giveaway Contest. The ARC, of which is in my possession as I type, is DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. I will have more information about the contest on Monday, March 21, 2011. Follow my blog and if you're on Twitter for a chance to win!