I’m pleased to announce my very first writers’ contest. Well, it’s not really a contest. It’s more of a giveaway. All you have to do is answer one question in the comments for a chance to win.
Miller-Kelton's latest album, "Tip-Top," was released on Tax Day 2011. The Ohio band is known for its thoughtful lyrics, its original sound and the dazzling vocals of Julia O'Keefe.
The prize is a copy of the latest CD from Ohio’s own Americana band, Miller-Kelton. You can read all about the album, “Tip Top,” here in the Seven Questions interview with the band’s talented songwriter, Edward Reilley Forman.
Here’s how the giveaway works.
I want to get to know all of you writers better and to help you make connections with each other. For a chance to win a copy of “Tip-Top,” please leave a comment about what you’re writing right now and how far along you are in the process. Feel free to discuss your novel, a short story, a poem, an essay, a freelance piece or even what you hope to accomplish with your blog.
I’ll use a random number generator to pick a winner the morning of Monday, June 6. By morning I mean when I wake up (Pacific time), or more likely, when my kiddo wakes me up.
So comment about your work-in-progress, and feel free to respond to each other’s projects if you find them interesting or similar to your own. I’ll count such responses in the drawing as well, since my goal is creating a sense of writerly community in this little corner of the Internet. The more you respond to each other, the more chances you’ll have to win. Hopefully we’ll get a robust conversation rolling.
Ready, set, go! I’ll announce the winner here on Monday.
Laura Stanfill 
Well, I’m currently working on a YA novel, Read Me Dead. I’m halfway through with the second revision of it which is basically an entirely new write-up of the first one. It’s changed so much since I started it. I’m even trying to share my thoughts on writing on my blog, and by that I mean, what I’ve learned through writing and what I think is helpful for others with writing. 🙂
Hi Emerald. The title sounds awesome. Where’s your blog?
Thank you. 🙂 My blog is at http://ebarnes23.wordpress.com
I’m writing a mystery story called “The Mystery of the Quiet People.” It’s about a series of beatings of people who have nontraditional sexuality (basically gay-bashing, but broader than that). The guys delivering the beatings dress like members of a religious cult, but there’s no way to be sure (so far) whether they’re actually members of the cult or not, since they wear masks. So, they key is to find the guys and stop the beatings, without whipping up anger against the cult, which may not even be involved.
The story so far is here:
http://jansleet.drupalgardens.com/content/mystery-quiet-people
Bella Bellazzo is fifteen, beautiful and human. And she is about to die.
Michael Storm is not a PI.
Michael Storm is not a hero.
Michael Storm has no business getting involved. He’s just a Mage Adept with a new-age occult store. He doesn’t save the world–he sells love spells to teenagers, and real ingredients to the magical community. But when Michael learns that Bella is a pawn in Brightlands politics, and has only three days to live, he can’t help himself. After all, the safety and wellbeing of humanity is everyone’s responsibility. Plus, he’s never met a real Faerie.
To save the life of a child, he will need to confront the Faerie Court on their home ground, navigate the treacherous line between the mundane and the magical, and finally come to terms with his own place in the world.
“Curiosity” is the novel that I’m currently working on. It’s a new project, and I’ve only written the first chapter and done a lot of brainstorming and plotting so far. I also share thoughts on writing etc on my blog.
The introduction sounds so interesting! Definitely something I would love to read 🙂 Is that part of “Curiosity?”
I’ve been practicing writing “hooks” that give a feel for, and description of, my writing. (Query letters are a long way away, but yu can never have too much practice!) It’s not a direct quote from “Curiosity”, it’s more of a ‘back cover blurb’.
I’m glad you think it sounds interesting. 🙂
I need to work on that exact thing. I can write you a story or novel, but ask me to describe it and I lose all sense of what I wanted to say. lol
It’s still a work in progress for me, too. Why does it always seem like such a hard thing to do??
It’s actually the topic of my post on my own blog today if you’re interested in having a read.
I don’t know, but it is very difficult! I will definitely give it a read. Thanks!
I love all these interesting stories, you guys, and the conversation that’s developing. Keep it coming!
She walked among them like she was one of them – she liked to pretend. She moved at a leisurely pace as if she were out for a Sunday stroll. Though she seemed to be meandering aimlessly she was in fact paying a great deal of attention to the people around her – listening intently to their every whim and desire – she was looking for someone.
She was tall, almost six foot, and slender, but not skinny; the toned muscles that covered every inch of her body ensured that. Her blonde hair, so fair it bordered on white, was less than an inch in length, set into an impossible array of spikes. Above her perfectly chiseled cheek bones sat a pair of violet, almond-shaped eyes.
If those around her had been able to see her they would have noted that she was stunning to behold. But they could not see her, for they were human and she was not.
Her name was Zepherina, though she preferred to go simply by Zeph, and she was a Soul Hunter.
This is the prologue from my next WIP ‘The Soul Hunter’. [I know I should probably finish the my other two novels before I commence a new one but since I thought of the idea I can’t get it out of my head]. It is about a demon (although the whole concept of God/Devil/Heaven/Hell is quite a bit different to our current understanding) who falls for a human and has him killed so she can be with him in Hell!
So far I have only written 5000 words, just enough to cement the idea in my head. We will have to see how it goes. Now off to keep working on WIP #2… really do have to get that one finished.
I have that happen with me. I’m in the middle of a WIP, and all these ideas just start coming for more stories or even ways to revamp my other novels or stories that need editing.
Interesting beginning. Definitely caught my attention. 🙂
And the winner is… Emerald Barnes! I did the random number generator at Random.org, and it came up with #1. Thanks, everybody, for participating. I love the conversation that got going here in the comments. I hope to do more giveaways soon with more CDs, some books and other fun writerly stuff, so stay tuned for more chances to win!
Congratulations, Emerald!
And thanks for the opportunity, Laura. Being able to talk about my work in a forum where people are (or at least pretend to be!) interested is reward enough! It was a great chance to get to know some other people and the type of writing that they do.
Thanks! I agree with you, Jo. It’s been great! I’ve enjoyed meeting everyone and having a chance to discuss writing as well. 😀
My pleasure, Jo! I’ll aim to keep this kind of conversation going on a regular basis. It’s so interesting to hear what people are working on. Thanks for your participation.
And Emerald, your CD went out in the mail today. Hope you enjoy it!
I just got it in the mail! I haven’t had a chance to listen to all of it yet but what I heard sounds good! Thanks for sending it!
Excellent! That was super fast post office magic! I’m glad you like the CD so far and I’ll pass that along to the songwriter. And for those of you who didn’t win this time around, I’ll do another CD giveaway in the next few weeks.