Day Thirty: And the winner is…

(It’s 11:08 p.m. and I just returned home from Eugene, Oregon where I spoke at the monthly Mid-Valley Willamette Writers meeting. And I am still technically on time to do today drawing for yesterday’s winner.)

Pattie!

Congratulations, Pattie. You have won The 2010 Writer’s Market Deluxe Edition by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer’s Digest Books).

For an exciting recap of what you have won, please click here.

If you would be so kind as to send me your snail mail via e-mail at “writer mama at earthlink dot net” I will make sure you receive your winnings.

In case anyone is wondering, the winner each day is chosen by a random integer generator and has nothing to do with your comment, whether or not you know me, or your shoe size.

Thanks to everyone for participating.

Onward! There are still plenty of books to win!

Please RSS subscribe to this blog and/or sign up for our monthly e-zine to stay in the know.

I’ll be asking for blogroll suggestions on the last day of the giveaway, September 30th.

The 2009 Giveaway List: The Writer Mama Back-To-School Giveaway Starts Tuesday, September 1st!

Fall in Love with Books Again!

Hosted by Christina Katz, The Writer Mama, for the Third Year in a Row

(This post is stuck at the top of this blog through September 30th: Scroll down for today’s giveaway!)

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know!

Please read “Da Rules” before you jump in!

Day one: The Beginning Writer’s Answer Book edited by Jane Friedman

Day two: Page After Page by Heather Sellers

Day three: Write-Brain Workbook by Bonnie Neubauer

Day four: A one-year subscription to Writer’s Digest

Day five: Writer Mama by Christina Katz

Day six: Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen

Day seven: The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh

Day eight: Take Ten for Writers by Bonnie Neubauer

Day nine: The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters by Wendy Burt Thomas

Day ten: A one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com

Day eleven: On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels

Day twelve: The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman

Day thirteen: Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz

Day fourteen: Book By Book by Cindy Hudson

Day fifteen: Thirsty by Kristin Bair O’Keeffe

Day sixteen: Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript 2009 by Chuck Sambuchino

Day seventeen: Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers

Day eighteen: How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Day nineteen: The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maas

Day twenty: Trust Agents by Chris Brogan

Day twenty-one: Time of My Life in paperback by Allison Winn Scotch

Day twenty-two: Plug Your Book and e-Publish by Steve Weber

Day twenty-three: Novel Shortcuts by Laura Whitcomb

Day twenty-four: Publicize Your Book by Jacqueline Deval

Day twenty-five: Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined edited by Andrea Buchanan and Amy Hudock, Mama, PhD: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic Life edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant & The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood and Social Change edited by Shari MacDonald Strong.

Day twenty-six: Poet’s Market by Robert Lee Brewer

Day twenty-seven: Children’s Writer & Illustrator’s Market by Alice Pope

Day twenty-eight: 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market by Alice Pope

Day twenty-nine: 2010 Guide to Literary Agents by Chuck Sambuchino

Day thirty: The Deluxe 2010 Writer’s Market by Robert Lee Brewer

Special thanks to Jane Friedman from Writer’s Digest books, as well as all of the giveaway authors!

Introducing The Person Who Made This Year’s Writer Mama Back-To-School Giveaway Possible…

If it had not been for Judy Miller, there would have been no Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway this year. Last spring, I took one look at my schedule for September (I write, teach and speak for a living, in case you are new to the blog) and didn’t think I’d be able to make it through the third year.

But I love hosting this giveaway! And I especially love all the self-reflection and sharing it encourages. So instead of throwing in the give-fest, I asked Judy Miller, who has been working as my assistant since March, to help. She was responsible for pulling together each daily post…and then I came in at the last minute and added the questions and managed the comments and drawings.

So if you’ve been really impressed with me all month, please spread a little appreciation Judy’s way. She totally deserves it. I am very fortunate to have a chance to work with Judy these past five months. She has been making impressive strides in her writing career and, next year, look for her e-workshop for parents of adopted tweens and teens, which is going to create a powerful context for transformation and healing.

In the New Year, Judy will be launching an e-workshop for adoptive parents called Parenting the Adopted Child. More info will appear in her website and in her blog soon but if you know any adoptive parents who are coming up on the tween/teen years with their kids, please don’t hesitate to point them Judy’s way!

So now I know why it’s such a huge job to run this giveaway! Because it actually takes two. And to tell ya the truth, some days, when I was traveling and Judy’s hard drive bit the dust, we probably could have used three. So now I’d really appreciate it if you would give Judy your attention so she can say hello.

Hi Writer Mamas!

I’m Judy. Some of you already know me. I’ve been helping Christina out as her part-time assistant since May. It’s been fun and an invaluable learning process on how it all works in the world of writing, self-promotion and marketing, and platform development. My general responsibilities have been to help with the blogs, e-zines, and other overflow Christina has with her full schedule. In the process of developing my platform, I’m learning a lot by helping Christina with hers.

I am a writer mama living in the Midwest with my husband and four children. Three of my four are adopted, so my platform is adoption and adoptive parenting. Raising an interracial and multicultural family provides a life that is rich with layers, texture, and a little bit of drama from time to time. My successes include articles in adoption and parenting magazines and essays featured in A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families (Adams Media) and Pieces of Me: Who Do I Want to Be? (EMK Press, November 2009). I am a columnist for the adoption network, Grown in My Heart, focusing on special needs. I write about parenting my international family on The International Mom’s Blog.

The 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway: DA RULES for 2009

The Giveaway starts at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2009 and runs through midnight on September 30, 2009, with at least one new prize each day (some days more than one!). Hope you can come on by. Please read these rules before you start participating:

1. You must comment to the post that describes the daily prize(s) you want to win, in order to be entered into the drawing for that day. No exceptions. Please be sure to comment to the correct post. The comment link is located just under the post title. Your comment will be posted after it is approved (usually within a few hours after you post…unless I am sleeping).

2. You may comment only once per day (and therefore be entered to win once per day). But you may comment every day, for sure. If you make a spelling or grammatical error in your post, just let it go. Don’t comment twice to correct it. Winners are selected by random drawing, so don’t worry. A typo will not eliminate you.

3. All comments must answer the question of the day, which will be posted each day with the giveaway item(s). In other words, no drive-by commenting. As a writing instructor, I can not resist this “teaching opportunity,” so all questions will relate to discovering more about ourselves as writers. Answering the questions will only take a few moments out of your busy day, so thanks for being thoughtful. Your post must be between 50-200 words or it will not be approved. (Use Word Count in Microsoft Word if you want to be sure you have enough words.)

4. Comment to win beginning on September 1st at 00:01 a.m. PST and continue to comment each day for 30 days for maximum chances to win. Each day’s drawing closes at midnight (12:00) PST. The winner is chosen by random drawing the next day. There is no set time for the drawing, as I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere. So, stay tuned! I’ll try to get it up by noon PST whenever possible.

5. Please allow 1-2 months for delivery of your item. Some items shipped directly from the author, some are shipped from elsewhere, some are shipped from the publisher (so please be patient). Prizes will only be shipped to United States locations. You may participate if you live abroad and have your own US mailing address. And yes, sure, if you have a friend who loves you so much that he/she is willing to ship your books from the US to you elsewhere in the world, that is fine.

6. There are two (2) ways to win:

a. WIN THE DAILY PRIZE (OR PRIZES!): You may be selected as the day’s winner through a random drawing held from the pool of folks who comment for the listed items each day during September. Only posts that answer the day’s question will be considered. Your post must be between 50-200 words or it will not be part of those in the running to win.

b. INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE FELLOW WRITER MAMAS: You can be selected as one of three most inspirational contest participants for the month by sharing your writing and publishing success stories and tips in your comments. So go ahead, inspire us with your posts! The three most frequently inspiring writers selected on October 1st will each win signed copies of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids. (You do not need to be a writer mama to win, though it’s a good idea to remember that you are writing for an audience of writer mamas.)

Thanks for spreading the word about The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway! If it’s anything like last year, it’s going to be a ton of fun!

The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway Week Four Books

Day twenty-two: Plug Your Book and e-Publish by Steve Weber

Day twenty-three: Novel Shortcuts by Laura Whitcomb

Day twenty-four: Publicize Your Book by Jacqueline Deval

Day twenty-five: Literary Mama Day [Titles TBA]

Day twenty-six: Poet’s Market

Day twenty-seven: Children’s Writer & Illustrator’s Market

Day twenty-eight: 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market

Day twenty-nine: 2010 Guide to Literary Agents

Day thirty: The Deluxe 2010 Writer’s Market

Feel free to grab the badge and spread the word! [Here's some copy to use...]

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at http://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

Writer Mama Back To School Giveaway Week Three

Day fifteen: Thirsty by Kristin Bair O’Keeffe

Day sixteen: Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript 2009 by Chuck Sambuchino

Day seventeen: Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers

Day eighteen: How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Day nineteen: The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maas

Day twenty: Trust Agents by Chris Brogan

Day twenty-one: Time of My Life in paperback by Allison Winn Scotch

Feel free to grab the badge and spread the word! [Here's some copy to use...]

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at http://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

The Writer Mama Back To School Giveaway Week Two Books

Day eight: Take Ten for Writers by Bonnie Neubauer

Day nine: The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters by Wendy Burt Thomas

Day ten: A one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com

Day eleven: On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels

Day twelve: The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman

Day thirteen: Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz

Day fourteen: Book By Book by Cindy Hudson

Feel free to grab the badge and spread the word! [Here's some copy to use...]

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at http://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

Fall In Love with Books Again with The 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back To School Giveaway

Pencils, books, back-packs, PTA, after-school activities…It’s that time of year again.

What time of year?

Time for the 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back to School Giveaway!

[Sound of cheers and applause from time-pinched moms who cannot wait for their little darlings to be back in school for six hours a day...]

[Or sound of checked cheers as moms try to imagine what it will be like to send these wee ones crawling or toddling around to school...hard to imagine until it happens.]

Either way, we certainly deserve some fun! Am I right?

The way the giveaway works is easy. I spotlight a book and author each day. I ask you a question about writing or motherhood or both. You answer. I select a winner from among the responses. I make that person’s day.

I love my job!

Hope to see you here in September. Please spread thew word!

Here’s a little blurb, if you want one to post. Feel free to grab the badge!

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at http://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

Blogroll Improvement Project: Help Me Clean It Up For a Chance to Win a Copy of Writer Mama

The theme this month is the January Blogroll Improvement Project.

Two hours later, I’ve updated the blogroll with your requests. But I haven’t had a chance to go through the entire blogroll to make sure it’s up to date. I now realize that this is going to take hours. (Days?)

My goal is to create the largest community of writer mamas on the web. Can you help? Go to the “Writer Mamas” category of this blog and start clicking. Don’t everybody start at the top. Start anywhere on the list and click four or five links.

Does the link work?

Does it take you to a writer mama’s blog or website?

Am I missing any really cool/helpful/inspiring writer mama blogs that should be on this list?

Add any instructions or corrections for me in the comments section, please. And thanks, it’s a big help!

And please let me know if you have suggestions for our other categories as well, which include: (respectful, moderated) Forums, Freelancing (general), Giveaway blogs (products or books), Kid writers (kids who write), Mom Magazines & Zines, Multiple POV blogs (aka Group blogs), On Authorship (or helpful blogs by authors), (blogs about) The Publishing Biz, (blogs on) Self-promotion, blogs with (Visual Inspiration), Writing, Writing Fiction, Writing for Kids (as opposed to kids writing), and Writing Poetry.

Thanks for your nominations! Please decide to suggest based on quality of content, so we can make this blog as helpful as possible.

Former students, please check your link. Does it work? Please let me know in the comments to this post.

Please don’t send me every blog you have created UNLESS you are a writer mama or your blog is for writer mamas. Thanks!

Also, a word of caution: you might like music, but is it smart to have really loud music of your choice blast when I click on your blog? Not to be harsh or anything, but once this happens to me, I probably won’t go back. (If you startle me out of my chair, I definitely won’t be back.) Something to consider.

Thank you so much for helping me maximize the quality of this blog. Everyone who participates in the blogroll improvement project and comments below will be entered for a chance to win a copy of Writer Mama. Drawing next Monday, January 19th.

[P.S. This reminds me of a boo-boo I made. I said on my Facebook page that I'd give away a copy of Wendy Burt's new book, The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters, but I'll do that this Monday, January 12th. ]

Today is Wendy Burt Thomas’ Amazon Spike Day!

Happy Monday, mamas! I’m very pleased to share information about Wendy Burt Thomas’ Amazon Spike Day news with you. If you’ve been reading Writers on the Rise for any length of time, then you are already familiar with the reliable, helpful advice that Wendy Burt Thomas has been sharing over the years as part of her “Ask Wendy” Column.

I hope you will join me in purchasing Wendy’s new book, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters on Monday, December 1st. I’ve already made my purchase and I’m encouraging everyone I know to join me.

I’ve taken the liberty of pasting Wendy’s letter here:

Dear Friends,

Have you ever thought of making money from your writing? Perhaps you’ve got an idea for a novel or nonfiction book. Or maybe you’ve got some magazine articles swirling around in your head. If you (or someone you know) would like to know how to sell your work, I invite you to buy my new book, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters on December 1.

The 30+ samples of good and bad queries walk writers through the “must-have” and “don’t-even-think-about-it” points with a balance of clear instruction, examples and humor. Where similar query books just tell you to write a hook – it gives insight into what makes a good opening paragraph for an article, novel or nonfiction query. There are special considerations for book queries by genre (from Romance and Mystery to Speculative and Thriller – plus everything in between) and the FAQs come straight from the author’s experience as a writer, author, magazine editor and book copyeditor. The “what editors / agents / publishers like” and “what editors / agents / publishers don’t like” are incredible resources, offering a look into water coolers throughout the publishing industry. Plus, it’s funny.

Why December 1? It’s my official “Amazon Spike Day,” where I attempt to bump my book up the rankings. The better my book sells before its December 5 release date, the more often Amazon will recommend it to shoppers and the more likely bookstores will order extra copies.

Here’s a link to check out the book: http://www.GuideToQueryLetters.com

So what’s in it for you (besides knowing you helped an old friend!)? Everyone who orders The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters from Amazon on December 1 receives:

1.  My free e-book, “3 Years of Ask Wendy; Your Freelance Writing Questions Answered” (a $9.95 value!) – featuring Q & As on everything from how to sell greeting card copy and fillers to making money from personal essays and short stories. (This e-book is compiled from my “Ask Wendy” column for Writers On The Rise, one of Writer’s Digest Magazine’s Top 100 Web sites for Writers.)

PLUS….
2. A chance to win one of 6 books:
o Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz (author of Writer Mama and founder of Writers On The Rise, www.getknownbeforethebookdeal.com)
o Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz (www.thewritermama.com)
o Work It, Girl! 101 Tips for the Hip Working Chick by Wendy Burt and Erin Kindberg (our second book in the Hip Chick series)
o A Christmas Dozen; Christmas Stories to Warm the Heart by Steve Burt  (award-winning writer and author of 12 books)**
o Odd Lot; Stories to Chill the Heart by Steve Burt (winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award; winner of 6 Honorable Mentions for Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror; Honorable Mention Best Horror Book by ForeWord Magazine and Honorable Mention Best Genre Fiction from Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards)**
o Oddest Yet; Even More Stores to Chill the Heart (Bram Stoker Winner!)**
**Steve Burt is not only my dad and mentor, but also an award-winning author. In fact, he won the Bram Stoker Award, the highest honor in horror writing!

PLUS…
3. One winner will receive a free email or phone consultation and editorial feedback on the topic of their choice: writing for magazines, novel queries, greeting cards, nonfiction book proposals, freelancing for a living, etc.

Just order the book from Amazon (there’s a link to Amazon through http://www.GuideToQueryLetters.com) on Monday, December 1 and email me your receipt. I’ll email you the e-book and enter your name in the drawing!

Please don’t feel obligated to buy the book. But if you choose to, let me say “thank you” in advance!

All my best,

Wendy Burt-Thomas

www.GuideToQueryLetters.com

A little update…A BIG mistake!

Things have been hoppin’ here at the Katz household, as usual.

As you may have heard (smile), I have a book release this month.

My husband is directing the play, You Can’t Take It With You, and it goes up right about the same time as my publication date.

No problem.

I’ve got Samantha on a pretty manageable school/activity/play date schedule. And then last week she had three days off and that just through threw me all off.

Who’s idea is it to let these kids out of school anyway?

Then on Friday, just when I’d sent (I thought) the last of the WMBTSG prizes (except the copies of Get Known, which are on order), Mar e-mails and says in a very polite manner: Did you forget to choose the three most inspirational participants from the giveaway (as per “Da Rules)?

At first I was confused. I haven’t looked at “Da Rules” since August so it was all a bit fuzzy.

But you know what? I looked and I totally did! Doink.

Welcome to imperfection central. Make yourself right at home.

But you know what? I NEED to get on top of my to-do list. I haven’t been able to catch up since August. (How’s that for being real?)

So, I’m postponing the drawing for the three most inspirational participants until November 1st.

Please, stay tuned. I want to reflect on who those winners are going to be. It’s not as quick and easy as a Random Number generator. And I’m looking forward to deciding…later.

But right now: back to work!

Oh, and p.s. I think I forgot to mention that I’ve been fostering kittens in my home office for the past seven weeks…thankfully they go to good homes this weekend. At least, I’m looking for good homes for them. My brain will be a lot less full of kittens…next week!

WMBTSG: Thanks to our week four sponsors!

And, finally, thanks for our last group of giveaway sponsors:

Day twenty-two: Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform by Christina Katz (three copies).

Day twenty-three: Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create Your Own Writing Specialty and Make More Money by Kelly James-Enger.

Day twenty-four: The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell.

Day twenty-five: The Renegade Writer Queries that Rock, The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Selling More Work Faster by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell.

Day twenty-six: The Writer’s Digest Guide to Queries by Wendy Burt Thomas.

Day twenty-seven: Page After Page & Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers.

Day twenty-eight: One-year subscription to WritersMarket.com.

Day twenty-nine: 2009 Guide to Literary Agents by Chuck Sambuchino.

Day thirty: 2009 Deluxe Writer’s Market by Robert Brewer.

And congratulations again to our week four winners: Pam, Adrienne, Karen, Karen (again), Lisa, Erika, Jennifer H., Jennifer Crain, Jaymie, Katrina, and Meryl.

When you are ready to do some shopping for books from the giveaway for yourself or for the holidays, hop on over to the Writers on the Rise A-store. All the books are now there!

Thanks again to our week four sponsors!

WMBTSG: Thanks to our week three sponsors!

I’m not done thanking our generous giveaway donors! Three cheers for…

Day fifteen: Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time by Jordan Rosenfeld (two copies!).

Day sixteen: The Mind of Your Story by Lisa Lenard-Cook (two copies).

Day seventeen: Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon.

Day eighteen: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell from the Writer’s Digest Write Great Fiction series.

Day nineteen: First Draft in 30 Days & From First Draft to Finished Novel by Karen Wiesner.

Day twenty: Writing the Breakout Novel & Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.

Day twenty-one: 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market by Rachel McDonald.

And congratulations again to our week three winners: Maribeth, Cara, Mar, Beth, Ann, Stephanie, Cathy, Pam, and Mary Jo!

If you love the book you won and you are looking for a way to say “thanks,” one great way is to plug the book you won to other writers. What author wouldn’t love that?

Thanks again for participating, ladies. I’m almost done thanking and congratulating folks, but not quite.

WMBTSG Day 30 Drawing: And the winner is…

Okay, I don’t want the giveaway to be over either…but it will be back again next year bigger and better! So that gives us something to look forward to.

And now…without further ado…the final winner of the 2008 Writer Mama Back to School Giveaway is…

MERYL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You’ve won the 2009 Deluxe Writer’s Market edited by Robert Brewer!

[Sound of cheers and applause!]

To reread about what you’ve won, click here.

Please send me your snail mail address at writer mama at earthlink dot net.

Thank you EVERYONE so much for participating! (I want to know if anyone participated every day…?)

Tomorrow I will be asking for your feedback and comments about the giveaway. I hope you will come back for a satisfying ending to a wonderful month. (Call it closure, if you want.)

In the meantime, I’m still busy getting everyone their winnings! (Remember, two months is what I said in Da Rules. I’m sure it will be faster. But please allow two full months. Thanks!)

Day Twenty-nine drawing: And the winner is…

Katrina, Katrina, Katrina…how many wins is this?

Who cares? You won again! Congrats again, Katrina.

You’ve won the 2009 Guide to Literary Agents edited by Chuck Sambuchino!

To reread about what you’ve won, click here.

Please send me your snail mail address at writer mama at earthlink dot net.

Thanks everyone for participating! There is just one chance left to win the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway!!!