Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
YA Flash Death Match November Winner!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Read and Vote for November's NaNo Death Match!
This month, in honor of NaNoWriMo, our contestants will be competing with the first (roughly) 1,000 words of their YA NaNo piece. These are raw and unedited, so be kind! Read on and see which one grabs you! Be sure to leave a comment and vote no later than Wednesday, November 24th at Noon CST.
After I stuff myself with turkey on Thursday, I'll count up the votes for a Friday announcement of the winner! You'll probably just be getting back from the Black Friday sales, so be sure to check in!
This month, we have three great contributors:
Saturday, November 13, 2010
November's Death Match
I've been scratching my head for the last couple weeks, trying to figure out how to get people to compete this month. It's November (which you probably know) and most of my writing friends are, like myself, wrapped up in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I'm thinking they're all so busy, they aren't going to be in any mood to write a new flash piece for this month's competition.
So I had an idea.
Compete with your novel.
Whether your a NaNo participant or just happen to have an awesome novel you'd like to throw into the ring, this is your chance! This month, submit the first 1,000 words (you may finish a sentence/paragraph if necessary) of your NaNo novel or non-NaNo novel. Any topic allowed, it must, however, be a true YA piece. No need to edit, keep it nice and raw, in it's original state. We'll all understand.
If you'd like to compete this month PLEASE read through the rules to make sure you've got it right.
IF you have a blog, post it to the blog by Wednesday, November 17th at Noon CST and send the link to karlykirkpatrick@gmail.com. Make sure to put FLASH LINK in the subject.
IF you DON'T have a blog, but would like to participate, email me your story by Wednesday, November 17th at Noon CST and I'll post it to the YA Flash site. Email it to karlykirkpatrick@gmail.com with the subject FLASH STORY.
All stories will be posted for voting on Thursday, November 18 and will remain open until Wednesday, November 24th at Noon CST. Only votes that fall between those dates/times will count. No anonymous votes can count.
Prizes: If we get 10 or more entries, I will announce the top 3 as winners and they will be invited to join the YA Death Flash Anthology ebook. The Grand Prize Winner (the one with the top votes) will also get a signed copy of the paperback, Into the Shadows, my debut novel. I will announce the winners on Friday, November 26th.
Now's your chance to put your baby out there and see if your story and writing has what it takes! Tell your friends, family and followers to stop by from November 18-24 to cast their vote! Good luck!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Death Match #2
We have our competitors for this round of YA Flash Death Match!
(The topic as well as the competitors were chosen using a random numbers generator.)
The topic: Getting lost on vacation leads you to an inter-dimensional portal to an entirely new world, as contributed by J.L. Jackson.
The competitors:
Samantha Rill
and
Beth
Samantha and Beth are competing by writing a 1,000-word or less piece of flash fiction. The stories will be posted on August 11th and voting will continue through August 13th.
(The topic as well as the competitors were chosen using a random numbers generator.)
The topic: Getting lost on vacation leads you to an inter-dimensional portal to an entirely new world, as contributed by J.L. Jackson.
The competitors:
Samantha Rill
and
Beth
Samantha and Beth are competing by writing a 1,000-word or less piece of flash fiction. The stories will be posted on August 11th and voting will continue through August 13th.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Competitors, Start Your Engines!
James C. Wallace II
and
G.P. Ching
Topic: Urban Fantasy Coming of Age contributed by:
Amanda Heroman.Congrats on winning The Espressologist
, Amanda!Samantha Rill and Kathy Fenton White were also randomly chosen to receive a Mistwood gift pack just for participating. Congrats, Samantha and Kathy!
James and G.P. are competing for the top prizes by writing a 1,000-word or less piece of flash fiction. The stories will be posted on July 21st and voting will continue through July 23rd.
We'll be giving away two more Mistwood prize packs to random voters, so make sure you come back and vote for your favorite story!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Let the YA Flash Death Match begin!!!
We're thrilled today to bring you the very first YA Flash Death Match! You will have until Tuesday, July 13th at 12 noon CST to post your name and topic here. Every person who posts a topic will be automatically entered to compete in the first YA Flash Death Match. If you would like to contribute a topic, but would NOT like to be considered for the competition, please start your post with 'NOT COMPETING' so we know to exclude you.
Those of you not chosen for the competition or those that are just contributing a topic, will be eligible for the 3 bookmark gift packs from Author Leah Cypess. These three prizes, plus the winning topic and prize winner, as well as the first 2 contestants will be announced on Wednesday, July 14th. Contestants will have until July 20th to email us their completed Flash, a piece of writing of no more than 1,000 words. It can be a complete story OR a scene, and please be sure it's for a YA audience.
As for topics, you can enter something like 'Paranormal Romance' or even be more specific, like 'zombies riding unicorns to the grocery store.' We're looking forward to some extremely creative writing!
Those of you not chosen for the competition or those that are just contributing a topic, will be eligible for the 3 bookmark gift packs from Author Leah Cypess. These three prizes, plus the winning topic and prize winner, as well as the first 2 contestants will be announced on Wednesday, July 14th. Contestants will have until July 20th to email us their completed Flash, a piece of writing of no more than 1,000 words. It can be a complete story OR a scene, and please be sure it's for a YA audience.
As for topics, you can enter something like 'Paranormal Romance' or even be more specific, like 'zombies riding unicorns to the grocery store.' We're looking forward to some extremely creative writing!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Guest Blog: YA Paranormal Author Meredith Shea Wood
Many thanks to Meredith for providing our Runner-Up prize of a signed copy of Panthan's Crucible and providing us with a wonderful Guest Blog. It's been great learning more about Meredith! Enjoy!
Panthan's Crucible
First of all, I wanted to say that I am so excited to have the chance to participate in this contest. I know some of you might be asking, “Who the heck is Meredith Wood?” Don’t be ashamed. I still wonder this every day. I thought I’d give away a few tidbits about myself and in doing so, I’ll feel like I know who I am for a day or two.
Hm, what are some things people like to know about authors?
Maybe some of their favorite authors?
Okay. I can do that. I love Charlaine Harris, though I loved her way before she became so famous with True Blood. When I first heard she’d signed over her Sookie books to Alan Ball I was ecstatic and figured I’d never survive the wait. But I did, and what’s worse, I realized I now had to share her world with others. After some careful thought, I realized I have jealousy issues with anything or anyone I hold dear to my heart. That’s probably not a good thing to reveal about yourself though, is it?
We should move on.
Maybe talk about my paranormal Panthan’s Crucible?
Sometimes life takes us for a ride where the good and the bad live in the same gray area. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the two. Maybe there is no right and wrong. Maybe it’s about choosing the best path for you. In Panthan’s Crucible Grayson and Laura learn this the hard way.
If you’d like to know a bit more about my world of Panthans, you can watch the book trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOiPhhQ__ps
I’ve been asked a time or two how old I was when I made the decision to become a writer. I can’t remember. So I guess the answer to that question is: I’ve wanted to be a writer forever.
Now, I do know that I can’t write in coffee shops, bookstores, well, anywhere in public really. If I want to write, I have to do it at my computer desk with the door shut and my music blaring. Ah, music. That is the biggest inspiration for my writing. And I stress the word music, not style, because I listen to everything: classical, opera, rock, pop, country, and all the in-betweens.
Right now, I’m working on two projects. The first is Panthan’s Abyss, which is the second book in my Panthan Series. I’m also doing revisions on a contemporary young adult called Push. If that isn’t enough to keep me busy, I’m also waiting on the release date for my upcoming young adult Somewhere in Between. You can watch Somewhere in Between's book trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKWRypG9GOc
This probably brings us around to wondering why I choose to write for the young adult market. It’s really simple. Teens are complex creatures, but I get them. Completely get them. I also want them to know that I believe their problems are very important. I did the teen thing and I’m doing the adult thing now. Through the years, my opinion has stayed the same: Life is harder as a teen than as an adult.
Maybe you know me a little better now. Things could change though so if you’re interested you can always find me on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/meredith_s_wood, my Livejournal Blog here: http://meredith-wood.livejournal.com/ or my fan page on Facebook here: http://bit.ly/9Nn14Y.
Oh, and before I hand this contest back over to Karly and Michelle I thought I’d say a few things to those aspiring authors out there.
Don’t ever, ever be ashamed to say, “I’m a writer.” Really. Because it doesn’t matter whether you’re published or not. It doesn’t matter if you have ten best sellers or one hundred out there. In the end, we’re all on equal ground. We’re all still pounding away on our keyboards hoping that last paragraph we wrote doesn’t read as badly as we think it does.
Also, download one of those memo apps for your cell phone. When the moment of inspiration strikes, they are so much easier to jot down notes on than scrounging around for scraps of paper and an ink pen.
Meredith Shea Wood
meredithwood.com
Panthan's CrucibleFirst of all, I wanted to say that I am so excited to have the chance to participate in this contest. I know some of you might be asking, “Who the heck is Meredith Wood?” Don’t be ashamed. I still wonder this every day. I thought I’d give away a few tidbits about myself and in doing so, I’ll feel like I know who I am for a day or two.
Hm, what are some things people like to know about authors?
Maybe some of their favorite authors?
Okay. I can do that. I love Charlaine Harris, though I loved her way before she became so famous with True Blood. When I first heard she’d signed over her Sookie books to Alan Ball I was ecstatic and figured I’d never survive the wait. But I did, and what’s worse, I realized I now had to share her world with others. After some careful thought, I realized I have jealousy issues with anything or anyone I hold dear to my heart. That’s probably not a good thing to reveal about yourself though, is it?
We should move on.
Maybe talk about my paranormal Panthan’s Crucible?
Sometimes life takes us for a ride where the good and the bad live in the same gray area. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the two. Maybe there is no right and wrong. Maybe it’s about choosing the best path for you. In Panthan’s Crucible Grayson and Laura learn this the hard way.
If you’d like to know a bit more about my world of Panthans, you can watch the book trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOiPhhQ__ps
I’ve been asked a time or two how old I was when I made the decision to become a writer. I can’t remember. So I guess the answer to that question is: I’ve wanted to be a writer forever.
Now, I do know that I can’t write in coffee shops, bookstores, well, anywhere in public really. If I want to write, I have to do it at my computer desk with the door shut and my music blaring. Ah, music. That is the biggest inspiration for my writing. And I stress the word music, not style, because I listen to everything: classical, opera, rock, pop, country, and all the in-betweens.
Right now, I’m working on two projects. The first is Panthan’s Abyss, which is the second book in my Panthan Series. I’m also doing revisions on a contemporary young adult called Push. If that isn’t enough to keep me busy, I’m also waiting on the release date for my upcoming young adult Somewhere in Between. You can watch Somewhere in Between's book trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKWRypG9GOc
This probably brings us around to wondering why I choose to write for the young adult market. It’s really simple. Teens are complex creatures, but I get them. Completely get them. I also want them to know that I believe their problems are very important. I did the teen thing and I’m doing the adult thing now. Through the years, my opinion has stayed the same: Life is harder as a teen than as an adult.
Maybe you know me a little better now. Things could change though so if you’re interested you can always find me on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/meredith_s_wood, my Livejournal Blog here: http://meredith-wood.livejournal.com/ or my fan page on Facebook here: http://bit.ly/9Nn14Y.
Oh, and before I hand this contest back over to Karly and Michelle I thought I’d say a few things to those aspiring authors out there.
Don’t ever, ever be ashamed to say, “I’m a writer.” Really. Because it doesn’t matter whether you’re published or not. It doesn’t matter if you have ten best sellers or one hundred out there. In the end, we’re all on equal ground. We’re all still pounding away on our keyboards hoping that last paragraph we wrote doesn’t read as badly as we think it does.
Also, download one of those memo apps for your cell phone. When the moment of inspiration strikes, they are so much easier to jot down notes on than scrounging around for scraps of paper and an ink pen.
Meredith Shea Wood
meredithwood.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Interview with YA author Kristina Springer
Welcome to the new followers we picked up yesterday and be sure to tell your friends about us. Even if they don't want to compete, they can still enter to win awesome prizes in the coming weeks!
Next up in our author spotlight is Kristina Springer, author of The Espressologist. She's agreed to autograph a copy of The Espressologist for one lucky winner! She's so talented and we're pleased to have her visiting today!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I've always loved writing and knew I would do some sort of writing from about college on, but I didn't know I would write fiction until around five years ago.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Meg Cabot
and Lauren Myracle
What inspired The Espressologist?
I was sitting in a coffee shop on a date with my husband when a woman walked in and I knew she was a venti carmel frap. It gave me the idea that you could tell a lot about a person from their coffee drink and then I thought why not try to matchmake based on that.
What is the main thing you hope readers will gain from your book?
Lots of laughs.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Starbucks
Why did you choose to write YA fiction?
I had an idea for a book and it happened to center around four girls in high school. I gave it a shot and loved writing YA and have been doing so ever since.
Do you have any upcoming books or projects to share?
My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours
comes out 8/31/10 and Pumpkin Princess will be released in the fall of 2011.
Where can our readers find you on the web?
@TinaSpringer on Twitter
www.facebook.com/KristinaSpringer
Kristinaspringer.blogspot.com
www.KristinaSpringer.com
What would you tell other aspiring YA authors?
Be persistent! It's a long road but a great one.
Next up in our author spotlight is Kristina Springer, author of The Espressologist
. She's agreed to autograph a copy of The Espressologist for one lucky winner! She's so talented and we're pleased to have her visiting today!
I've always loved writing and knew I would do some sort of writing from about college on, but I didn't know I would write fiction until around five years ago.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Meg Cabot
and Lauren Myracle What inspired The Espressologist?
I was sitting in a coffee shop on a date with my husband when a woman walked in and I knew she was a venti carmel frap. It gave me the idea that you could tell a lot about a person from their coffee drink and then I thought why not try to matchmake based on that.
What is the main thing you hope readers will gain from your book?
Lots of laughs.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Starbucks
Why did you choose to write YA fiction?
I had an idea for a book and it happened to center around four girls in high school. I gave it a shot and loved writing YA and have been doing so ever since.
Do you have any upcoming books or projects to share?
My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours
comes out 8/31/10 and Pumpkin Princess will be released in the fall of 2011.Where can our readers find you on the web?
@TinaSpringer on Twitter
www.facebook.com/KristinaSpringer
Kristinaspringer.blogspot.com
www.KristinaSpringer.com
What would you tell other aspiring YA authors?
Be persistent! It's a long road but a great one.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Interview with YA Fantasy author Leah Cypess
This week we're featuring interviews of the amazing authors who are taking part in the prize portion of our competition. Remember, to take part in YA Flash Death Match, all you have to do is follow.
Author Leah Cypess has graciously donated a signed bookmark gift pack for three lucky voters! She's awesome and inspiring so check out her interview out below...
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I have confirmation when I was eight-years-old, I told my grandmother I would be an author when I grew up. But I have a feeling I made up my mind even before that.
Why did you chose to write YA fiction?
I've always liked YA, and the four manuscripts I wrote before Mistwood were always intended to be YA. Originally, I thought Mistwood was going to be my first attempt at an adult fantasy novel... until some time after I finished it, when I realized there was nothing stopping it from being YA as well.
What is your favorite book?
Only one? Are you kidding me? ;) For now, I'll say The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and then keep going before I get a chance to change my mind...
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Rattling off the first 5 that come to mind: Megan Whalen Turner, Juliet Marillier, Dave Duncan, Sharon Shinn, Connie Willis.
What inspired Mistwood?
An image in my mind of a supernatural creature being hunted in a misty wood. I have no idea where it came from, but it popped into my mind one night, and I picked up a pen and started writing.
What is the main thing you hope readers will gain from your book?
The main thing is a really enjoyable reading experience -- the kind that makes me close a book with a happy sigh.
Do you have any upcoming books or projects to share?
I'm currently working on the revisions for a companion book to Mistwood... currently scheduled to be published in 2011 (though it does not have a title yet).
Where is your favorite place to write?
The New York City subway. I lived in Brooklyn and worked or went to school in Manhattan for many years, and those long commutes were incredibly productive.
What would you tell other aspiring YA authors?
Well, first I'd direct to them to an awesome article by Jennifer Crusie, which I reread recently and remembered how much I love: Rats with Islands: How to Survive Your Publishing Career. Its basic message is to not give up, but she says it far more eloquently than I could.
And second, I'd add that it's important not to pin all your hopes on a single manuscript, no matter how great it is. I wrote and submitted four manuscripts before Mistwood. They all got positive responses -- each one got at least one revision request from an editor, and one went to the acquisitions committee at two different imprints -- but eventually, when each had been rejected by every publisher in existence, I had to move on to the next manuscript. If I had remained focused on my first book, or written sequels instead of completely new books, I never would have gotten an offer for Mistwood.
Author Leah Cypess has graciously donated a signed bookmark gift pack for three lucky voters! She's awesome and inspiring so check out her interview out below...
I have confirmation when I was eight-years-old, I told my grandmother I would be an author when I grew up. But I have a feeling I made up my mind even before that.
Why did you chose to write YA fiction?
I've always liked YA, and the four manuscripts I wrote before Mistwood were always intended to be YA. Originally, I thought Mistwood was going to be my first attempt at an adult fantasy novel... until some time after I finished it, when I realized there was nothing stopping it from being YA as well.
What is your favorite book?
Only one? Are you kidding me? ;) For now, I'll say The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and then keep going before I get a chance to change my mind...
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Rattling off the first 5 that come to mind: Megan Whalen Turner, Juliet Marillier, Dave Duncan, Sharon Shinn, Connie Willis.
What inspired Mistwood?
An image in my mind of a supernatural creature being hunted in a misty wood. I have no idea where it came from, but it popped into my mind one night, and I picked up a pen and started writing.
What is the main thing you hope readers will gain from your book?
The main thing is a really enjoyable reading experience -- the kind that makes me close a book with a happy sigh.
Do you have any upcoming books or projects to share?
I'm currently working on the revisions for a companion book to Mistwood... currently scheduled to be published in 2011 (though it does not have a title yet).
Where is your favorite place to write?
The New York City subway. I lived in Brooklyn and worked or went to school in Manhattan for many years, and those long commutes were incredibly productive.
What would you tell other aspiring YA authors?
Well, first I'd direct to them to an awesome article by Jennifer Crusie, which I reread recently and remembered how much I love: Rats with Islands: How to Survive Your Publishing Career. Its basic message is to not give up, but she says it far more eloquently than I could.
And second, I'd add that it's important not to pin all your hopes on a single manuscript, no matter how great it is. I wrote and submitted four manuscripts before Mistwood. They all got positive responses -- each one got at least one revision request from an editor, and one went to the acquisitions committee at two different imprints -- but eventually, when each had been rejected by every publisher in existence, I had to move on to the next manuscript. If I had remained focused on my first book, or written sequels instead of completely new books, I never would have gotten an offer for Mistwood.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Gift Card Winner: Kathy Fenton White
Kathy Fenton White
Who is Kathy Fenton White?
First and foremost I am devoted active duty military wife living in Texas with my wonderful husband of 20 years and three great kids. In a previous life (before kids), I was a graphic designer and marketing professional. I now enjoy my role as a busy stay-at-home mom running my kids to soccer and basketball games.
Last, but certainly not least, I'm an aspiring YA novelist. I've always had a dream to someday write a book. But that always seemed like just a dream until recently. The idea for a book came to me last year out of the blue. I started writing....and now I can't stop.
I have a notebook full of ideas for new stories that I update weekly (sometimes daily) as they pop in my head. My WIP that I finished in early December desperately needs to be edited but I can't get this idea out of my head for a whole new story. So...you guessed it, I'm currently writing the new story.
Watch for me someday on a bookshelf near you. Until then, you can check out my progress at http://kfentonwhite.blogspot.com or find me on Twitter at @kfentonwhite.
Congrats to Kathy!! And, because I feel a need for full disclosure, I know Kathy in real life (imagine that!). She is my sister's best friend and has been since I can remember. I'm just glad she's allowing me to tag along on her writing journey!
Next week we'll be featuring the authors who are donating prizes to our contest starting next month!!!!
KWho is Kathy Fenton White?
First and foremost I am devoted active duty military wife living in Texas with my wonderful husband of 20 years and three great kids. In a previous life (before kids), I was a graphic designer and marketing professional. I now enjoy my role as a busy stay-at-home mom running my kids to soccer and basketball games.
Last, but certainly not least, I'm an aspiring YA novelist. I've always had a dream to someday write a book. But that always seemed like just a dream until recently. The idea for a book came to me last year out of the blue. I started writing....and now I can't stop.
I have a notebook full of ideas for new stories that I update weekly (sometimes daily) as they pop in my head. My WIP that I finished in early December desperately needs to be edited but I can't get this idea out of my head for a whole new story. So...you guessed it, I'm currently writing the new story.
Watch for me someday on a bookshelf near you. Until then, you can check out my progress at http://kfentonwhite.blogspot.com or find me on Twitter at @kfentonwhite.
Congrats to Kathy!! And, because I feel a need for full disclosure, I know Kathy in real life (imagine that!). She is my sister's best friend and has been since I can remember. I'm just glad she's allowing me to tag along on her writing journey!
Next week we'll be featuring the authors who are donating prizes to our contest starting next month!!!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Who Wants a Gift Card?
Since our contest doesn't officially open until July 7th, we didn't want you to sit here and be bored. No, no, no - we want to liven up the party!
So, this week you have the chance to win a $5 Barnes & Noble gift card. In fact, we're handing out two!
There's about nine billion ways to win, so check out the rules below.
Leave a comment for one entry (hard, right?).
Here's how you can get extra entries:
+1 - Follow @YAFDM on Twitter
+1 - Follow @karlkirkpatrick on Twitter
+1 - Follow @michellesussman on Twitter
+1 - Follow YAFDM's blog through Google Connect
+1 - Follow YAFDM's blog through Networked Blogs
+1 - Follow Karly's blog through Google Connect
+1 - Follow Karly's blog through Networked Blogs
+1 - Follow Michelle's blog through Google Connect
+1 - Follow Michelle's blog through Networked Blogs
+2 - For Tweeting, FBing or blogging about YAFDM
Tell us how many extra points you earned & how (links for the +2, please). And make sure you identify yourself in the comment, just in case you aren't uber-connected and don't have one of these fancy-schmansy accounts we can use to trace you back to your email address.
This part of the contest is for readers and writers! You don't have to write a damn thing to enter this part of the contest. If you love to read, then you deserve a chance to win too. Karly & I aren't picky about who's visiting.
Have fun and good luck!!! Entries are accepted from now until Friday, June 18th 12:00AM CST.
So, this week you have the chance to win a $5 Barnes & Noble gift card. In fact, we're handing out two!
There's about nine billion ways to win, so check out the rules below.
Leave a comment for one entry (hard, right?).
Here's how you can get extra entries:
+1 - Follow @YAFDM on Twitter
+1 - Follow @karlkirkpatrick on Twitter
+1 - Follow @michellesussman on Twitter
+1 - Follow YAFDM's blog through Google Connect
+1 - Follow YAFDM's blog through Networked Blogs
+1 - Follow Karly's blog through Google Connect
+1 - Follow Karly's blog through Networked Blogs
+1 - Follow Michelle's blog through Google Connect
+1 - Follow Michelle's blog through Networked Blogs
+2 - For Tweeting, FBing or blogging about YAFDM
Tell us how many extra points you earned & how (links for the +2, please). And make sure you identify yourself in the comment, just in case you aren't uber-connected and don't have one of these fancy-schmansy accounts we can use to trace you back to your email address.
This part of the contest is for readers and writers! You don't have to write a damn thing to enter this part of the contest. If you love to read, then you deserve a chance to win too. Karly & I aren't picky about who's visiting.
Have fun and good luck!!! Entries are accepted from now until Friday, June 18th 12:00AM CST.
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