So when Cynthia Lord knew her galleys were coming for book Rules she got the bright idea to hold a little contest to see when they would arrive and offered to send a copy of the galleys to the winner. I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of a unique contest of my own for the galleys but no such luck. I decided that if you’re going to copy, why not copy from the best? With credit to cynthialord I hereby launch the official Hugging the Rock “When Will They Get Here” galleys contest. My publicist said they have been ordered and will be at the publisher on Friday. This Friday. Then mine will be shipped to me. Note: Both my publisher and I are on the same coast.
By my reckoning I should have them by the end of March so here are the ten arrival date options:
3/19, 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, 3/23, 3/27, 3/28, 3/29, 3/30, 3/31 Pick one and win!
And another plug for you to sign up for my newsletter (just in case you forget to read my blog.) The first issue will go out shortly and, if you’re a subscriber, there will be another contest in the newsletter to win a copy of the published book.
Getting early attention for your book is really important but I think it’s also hard for many writers to do because so many of us, (like ME) are introverts. I have a hard time jumping up and down and asking people to look at my book, read my book, review my book. But I truly believe that Hugging the Rock is the best thing I have written yet and if it takes me going out on the limb to the uncomfy zone to talk about it, I will. So that brings me to the topic of blurbs. My publisher mentioned it was time to start thinking about blurbs. Blurbs are endorsements, bits of praise, the appear on the cover (back or sometimes front). Actually they’re used in all sorts of promotional efforts.
Usually they’re by someone famous but my publisher said they use blurbs from regular readers, reviewers, librarians, etc for all sorts of things. But asking people to read for the purpose of blurbing is hard. First off, just because you like a person doesn’t mean you will (or have to) like their book. But some people don’t understand that. Some people think that if you hate their book you hate them. And some people are afraid to be asked to blurb for one person because then they’ll feel like they are fair game for everyone else to ask. So it’s a decidely awkward place to be. I’ll just say this, if you read a copy of the book, in galley or final form, and you want to comment on it, good, bad, or whatever, you can send to me, but you can also send to any comments to Laura at the email above.
Hugging the Rock is a journey of the heart that does make many people cry, but it is a hopeful journey that portrays a relationship not often seen in children’s books, a positive relationship between a girl and her father. In writing this book I gave myself the father I’ve never known.
Congrats – this is SOOO exciting!
I’ll take March 22nd, please.
And this is so nice of you to do this contest! You and Cindy ROCK!
funny, i was going to take 3/22…
3/24 it will be…the following friday and a birthday of a friend who’s a “good luck” sorta guy!
Put me down for the 23rd 🙂
But, I’m also a librarian with a teen advisory board. So if you have spare spaces on your official galley list I’d love to be on it! You can send items to Christi Showman, Flint Memorial Library, 147 Park Street, North Reading, MA 01864
I’ve added you to the “official” list.
Thanks so much.
Yay! Thanks 🙂
I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE A COPY TO REVIEW!
I PERSONALLY THINK IT WILL COME ON 3/28!
HI, IT GIRL! (WAVING TO IT GIRL! AKA SUSAN TAYLOR BROWN, THE GIRL WHO WANTED TO WRITE)
YAY! I’ll take the 30th 🙂
Hmm, I’ll take the 27th for $500, Alex.
oh yeah, it’s coming on March 20!
Congratulations!!!
I’m saying the 30th, only because I like to be different.
What fantastic ideas to promote your book. It sounds beautiful. I can’t wait to read it.
xo
Carrie
March 21st. New season, new book.
I guess March 21. 🙂
Crap, Kelly beat me to it. How about the 29th. 🙂
March 29th will be the day!
March 21st.
CONGRATS!!
Hey, I’ll be the 23rd because you know, cdasiym the librarian will get a galley anyway. I mean, did you hear her? TEEN ADVISORY BOARD!!! She doesn’t need the 23rd to get her free copy. She just needeth to asketh, right? Can I be the 23rd? 🙂
kd
I would like 3/31, please! 🙂
Kelsey
Susan, I wondered what the title, Hugging the Rock, referred to. Now that I know, I love it even more. Congrats on the publication of this book. And, yes, I am much the introvert and hate asking people to look at my stuff, too.
Don
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