Funday Monday- December 6th, 2011

Greetings everyone! It's Monday, and since it's almost Christmas (19 days and counting) here's a little video of some lights and one of my favorite songs!

Now for other exciting things to do on this Monday. Let's start with a couple of blog contests.

5. The 12 days of Bookmas! The lovely ladies at BookEnds, LLC are hosting their 2nd annual 12 days of Bookmas contest on their blog. Each weekday (business day) there will be a clue posted at noon. Subsequent clues are available on their clients blogs which they have provided a list to here. The first one to guess the book correctly wins a prize. Check it out, but remember you have to be quick!

4. The 12 (Historical) Days of Christmas! Another 12- themed contest is being hosted by Rita at Not Another Romance Blog and Danielle at Ramblings from this Chick blog. This contest is honestly about posting comments and reading some very inventive stories as 24 authors pair up together and provide fun tales based on 12 different themes. For more details check out Rita's post.

3. Continuing on this 12 days theme we have an awesome free read that you can find on The Season. The 12 days of Christmas anthology is a collaboration of 12 authors (who would've guessed) each with a story based on 1 of the 12 days of Christmas. Originally released in 2008, it's still a fun holiday read. Get it here. Featured authors include: Jackie Barbosa, Kay Gregory, Kate Austin, and Sherryl Hoyt. 

2. Got a Geek Story? Well, Entangled publishing is holding open submissions for Romance+Geek= Happily Ever After. Dust off the typewriter, and grab you a 24-pack of Dr. Pepper, Mt. Dew and a little spiked eggnog. Deadline for submission is Jan. 15th, 2012. So, there's time to take a couple of days off for a little Christmas feast. More details can be found here.

1. Finally let's talk flash mobs. I knew they existed but never spent enough time researching them on YouTube. Let's just say today is a good time to check it out. There are tons of videos- some good, some bad- available and you can't help but marvel at the power of music. People from all walks getting involved to dance, sing, or both. If you're a music lover like me then some of these videos may just give you a little feel good this Monday.

Funday Monday November 28th, 2011

It's time for another Funday Monday! I've been absent the last week due to the holiday, some personal business, and a little seclusion for my reading mind.
Now that Thanksgiving is over it's time to turn my mind to the season of giving! Of course with the season there is music, books, activities, decorating and so much more. Don't forget the fondness of the colors red and green to add a sparkle. This Funday Monday is a little bit of mish mash of things so bear with me.

5. Center for Writing Excellence Fiction in Five- You like short stories? Like deadlines? Enjoy straining your creative abilities or challenging yourself? Then this contest may be for you. Fiction in Five is a chance to write a 700-1,000 word short story in 5 days. There is an entry fee of $5 to submit, and multiple entries are allowed. As always I'm not a fan of entry fees but sometimes they serve a purpose. The prizes vary but there are several. Deadline for entry fees and registration is midnight on December 2nd, 2011.

4. Eclat Fiction- something new and bright is available in the world of fiction anthologies. Eclat Fiction is based in the UK and plans on publishing fiction anthologies (10 stories per issue) online and available for free. Submission has no entry and rules can be found by clicking the link. The deadline for submission is December 5th, 2011 and stories must be at 1,000 words or under. You heard that right, flash fiction fans unite! This publication is all about showcasing unknown talent. So if you're looking for an opportunity of getting your work out in the open for the first time since the light bulb was invented then take a chance.

3. Christmas Music- I love Christmas music. Since the early years of my childhood the day after Thanksgiving always meant one thing to me-- time to break out the Christmas CD's. Not many in my family understand my insistence at listening to carols and songs all through the season. I can't tell why I do it. But when I went back to a 9-5 job and the Christmas season hit, I knew I would need my music. Luckily I found this awesome directory online. It lists radio stations across the country that play Christmas music from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas day.

2. Operation Awesome Mystery Agent Contest- Break out the 1 sentence pitches, and hone them until your fingers crack. This Thursday, December 1st, 2011 Operation Awesome blog will be hosting another Mystery Agent Contest. No 250 blurb or query entry here. Just 1 sentence that tells the awesome sauce of your story. Get ready to pitch away. Contest opens at 9am and they go until they get 50 entries. Be ready!

1. The Polar Express- I love the book, love the movie, and love the music. Nothing says Christmas like The Polar Express. Recently I discovered the website while doing research for work (don't ask because it would be a long story). Anyhoo, what I found on the website were games, recipes, crafts and activities that you can complete at home with the children and the family. How much fun is that? To me boatloads. Anything that can turn a couple of magical hours into an entire magical evening! If you're looking for something fun to do on a Friday night this site may spark some ideas.

There you have it. Everything I provided above should keep you busy for the rest of the day. Between hunting for that Christmas radio station, downloading craft activities, and gathering your writing wits to enter a few contests! Ready yourselves for the countdown to the most wonderful day of the year!

Funday Monday June 20th, 2011 Edition

It's Funday Monday!!!! Contest's galore and all sorts of other things to do and learn.

5.) The question- I have heard unpublished authors, including myself, ask the question about pen names. Do you get one before you get an agent, do you build an online following with one, and multiple variations of said question. I honestly never asked anyone in the pub biz this question directly because
a.) I didn't want to look like an idiot for not already knowing the answer
b.) I didn't want to look like an idiot when I asked an agent on his/her blog when she already answered that question (archived circa 2005).
Now I finally got an answer!
Head over to Evil Editor's blog here for more info, especially take a look at Phoenix Sullivan's gem of wisdom in the comment section!

4.) The Romance Biggest Loser Contest
This fun little way to slip the pounds during the summer is still looking for participants. So, head on over. Don't be shy! I know strawberry shortcakes, and Sonic Blast Ice Cream are typical summer fare, but tis the season for delicious summer salads. Diet, but don't dye it!

3.) La Vie en Prose Cleansing Palette Contest
It's story time. Last week The Shark 'Janet Reid' had her little story jam, now it's time for Meredith.
Contest Starts: 6pm EST Monday June 20th, 2011
Contest Ends: 6pm EST Tuesday June 21st, 2011
Break out the Dr. Pepper and Cheddar Chex Mix and get crackin'.
Rules: Multiple stories accepted in comment section, must be a story, and the final sentence must be: I felt sorry, after that, but still I couldn't bring myself to cross the room.
Click the link to enter

2.) The Season Needs Reviewers
As some know, I review books for a wonder website called The Season. Right now the creator, the talented, Beverley Kendall, is in desperate need for additional reviewers. Categories are wide and far spread, a little something for everyone. Requirements include being able to review at least 2 books a month. FYI: This is a romance book review site so if you like romance of any shape or size and have a little time to commit check out the post.
-Another side note, check out The Season's blog on a daily basis. The blog has book giveaways every week.

1.) Creative Writing Contests
This is more like a general fun thing. A lot of folks who visit are already published or have agents, etc. So, writing contests may be out the door for you, but for the others this may be a little outside the box. It can be hard tracking down the ever-elusive contest information. This blog provides up and coming contests for you to check out. As always I will remind people to read the fine print, and I have not combed through the entire blogs givings. It's worth a look in my opinion.

Good luck and have a great week!
P.S. Review for Spoil of War by Phoenix Sullivan coming on Thursday.

Contests and Fun Stuff #2

Greetings all my fellow "lovers" of DST, a TLA for Daylight Savings Time, if you don't know what TLA means then I pray for you. Here's the Top 5 for contests and fun stuff.

Before I begin the list let me say one thing: March is Hot Hot Hot!!! So many fun things to do

5. DABWAHA! - A March Madness contest for Romance! Covers multiple romance genres so just because you don't read all of them doesn't mean you can't get involved and have fun.
Hosted By: Smart Bitches Trashy Books
Deadline for picks: March 15, 2011 at 11:59pm CST
Grand Prize: A 16 GB Ipad 2 (who doesn't want to get their grubby little fingers on that!).
There are other prizes as well but click on the link to get all the info. Remember time is short.

4. CSAR - Another March Madness bracket. Same theme Romance, but this time different categories. Put forth by the benevolent Camryn Rhys and friend.
Deadline for picks: March 21, 2011. Plus a few other stipulations (follow on blog, twitter, or FB) and announce who you are of course.
Grand Prize: An e-reader, no specifics on variety. But hey! It's an e-reader, beggars can't be choosy.
Good fun and another way to get crazy for something other than basketball.

3. Ashley March - March Madness Scavenger Hunt- Sensing a theme are we, well it is March. Now the good stuff. We have a scavenger hunt starting tomorrow (March 15, 2011). Ashley March is promising delectable prizes and fun times. You need to be ready 7pm MST because that's when the contest starts. Questions and all that jazz will be posted at that time. If you don't have time to partake check out Ashley's blog anyway. She's conducting lots of fun interviews with guest authors and yummy giveaways all month.

2. Miss Snark's First Victim Secret Agent Contest (March)- Ready to land an agent or maybe just get some feedback from one. Then 'Come on Down'! Authoress, creator of MSFV holds a lovely monthly contest called 'Secret Agent'. For more details click on the link, but submission time frames are on March 21st.

1. Spring Free Edit Contest- This is the big one my pretties! A lovely Cassandra Freelance Editor is hosting a contest for a free substantial edit (up to 100k).
Deadline: March 21st, 2011. You can enter once per day and have to supply a little blurb about the content of your story. Go get 'em aspiring authors. This type of thing doesn't come around often.


That's about it for this week.... except, I will be posting my own little contest on Thursday. Stay tuned it's gonna be good.

EE not today

Unfortunately I am without a horrifying or upsetting email excerpt to blog about today. Tomorrow could bring a lovely gem though.

For today I will just say that I am having lots of fun exploring Twitter. The challenge has been learning how to use the popular social media tool. No exception today as I figured out how to shorten URL's. Yea!

If you have not gotten on Twitter yet I highly recommend it. You can follow some of your favorite author's and they tweet about contests (free stuff joy), new books to devour, and all the random writing stuff we love to get news on.

Good luck and may you dream of purple sheep.