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!!!

WMBTSG Day Twenty-Eight Drawing: And the winner is…

Jaymie!

It’s a good day to be a Packer’s fan. (My husband is also one.)

You have won a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com!

Congrats, Jaymie. Enjoy your subscription!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 2 chances to win!

Please, tell everyone you know about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

Day Twenty-Seven Drawing: And the winner is…

Jennifer Crain!!!

You have won Page After Page & Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers.

Congrats, Jennifer. Enjoy your books!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 4 chances to win!

Please, tell everyone you know about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

Day Twenty-six Drawing: And the winner is…

Jennifer H!!!

You have won The Writer’s Digest Guide to Queries.

Congrats, Jennifer. I think this is your lucky month!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 5 chances to win!

Please, tell everyone you know about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

Day Twenty-Four Drawing: And the winner is…

Lisa!!!

You have won The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success.

Congrats, Lisa. Happy renegading.

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! And don’t worry, there are still 6 chances to win!

Please, tell everyone you know about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

WMBTSG Day Twenty Three Drawing: And the winner is…

Karen!!! (She did it again!)

You have won Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create Your Own Writing Specialty and Make More Money by Kelly James-Enger.

Congrats, Karen. You lucky girl!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 7 chances to win!

Please, tell everyone you know about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

WMBTSG Week Two Giveaway Sponsors: Many Thanks!

Before I re-announce all of our week two winners from the Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway, I want to thank our generous giveaway donors once again:

Day eight: The Write-brain Workbook by Bonnie Neubauer.

Day nine: Freelancing for Newspapers by Sue Lick.

Day ten: Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner by the Writer’s Digest Editors.

Day eleven: The Daily Writer by Fred White.

Day twelve: Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds by George Singleton, illustrated by Daniel Wallace.

Day thirteen: A Cup of Comfort for Writers edited by Colleen Sell from contributors Sage Cohen, Samantha Waltz, Amy Mercer and Lisa Romeo.

Day fourteen: A one-year subscription to Writer’s Digest magazine, edited by Maria Schneider.

Congratulations again to our week two winners: Cat, Katrina, Jennifer, Pattie, Tricia, Amie, Katrina (again), Mary Jo, Beth, and Ann!

Thanks for spreading the book-love!

WMBTSG Day 22: And the winners are…

Did you win yesterday?

I’m posting the results early, so you can find out!

Don’t forget to scroll down for today’s drawing.

The winners are…

Pam Maynard!!!

Adrienne (who said, “Marketing, uggh.”)!!!

Karen (who said, “Eeek! A platform?”)!!!

You have won Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform by me, Christina Katz.

Congrats! I’ll send ‘em, when they arrive!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 8, count them—8, chances to win!

Please, tell everyone you know about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

WMBTSG Day Twenty-One: And the winner is…

Ladies, a word of caution before I announce today’s winner. Two folks got cut before this drawing because of a comment with less words than the minimum of 50. Please remember to keep your comments between 50-200 words! Thanks. (I hate it when that happens!)

And the winner is…

Writerinspired (that’s Mary Jo)!!!

You have won 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market by Rachel McDonald.

Congrats!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 9 chances to win! (Oh no, we’re into the single digits on days left!)

Thanks for your help spreading the word about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

WMBTSG Day Twenty: And the winner is…

Pam!!!

Well, you haven’t won 500,000 dollars, but you have won the books that can help you write the novel that can land you the $500,000 contrat…maybe.

You have won Writing the Breakout Novel & Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.

Congrats!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 10 chances to win!

Thanks for your help spreading the word about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

Oh my goodness, we are two-thirds of the way done!

WMBTSG Day Nineteen: And the winner is…

Cathy!!!

You have won First Draft in 30 Days & From First Draft to Finished Novel by Karen Wiesner.

Congrats!

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! And don’t worry, there are still 11 chances to win!

Thanks for your help spreading the word about the 2008 Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway.

Oh my goodness, we are almost two-thirds of the way done!