Thursday, March 26, 2009

Flipping Out: The Contest

So! *brisk clap* Who's in the mood for a contest? Oh good, I am too! Why a contest? Well, over the weekend, this blog turned two. And true to form, I didn't even notice slash completely forgot. So to make up for that, we're going to have an extra big contest with lots of prizes. However, a comment on this post is not going to be enough to enter you in this contest. No no, you're going to have to work for this one. In order to be entered in the contest, you must send a question for Marshall Karp, author extraordinaire, to be asked and published in our multi-blog interview of him which will be posted on April 14th. Send your questions to askmarshallkarp@gmail.com, and don't stop at just one question - I'll be giving a prize to the person who asks the MOST questions. And a prize to the person who asks the BEST questions (in my humble opinion, of course.) And a random prize to a questioner picked at random. So you have lots of chances to win. (And don't worry if your question is random or weird. Marshall is a total smartass and lots of fun, so absolutely anything goes with the questions.) And what do you win? Why, I'm glad you asked. The first prize is an autographed copy of the best book I've read this year - Flipping Out! (Does anyone else love autographed books as much as I do? Aren't they just the coolest things EVER?!)
(Doesn't that cover just scream AWESOME!?) I'll be posting a full review of the book on April 8th, but here's a sneak peek - I LOVED it! The next prize is what I'm calling the "Mystery Package". There'll be another copy of Flipping Out, which is a murder mystery, and then other "mystery" items - whether they have a mystery theme or are just a surprise to you. (Read: If I can think of items with a mystery theme, they'll be in there - if not, it will just be a fun prize pack.) And the third prize will be a fun prize pack. I will try to find some Mr. Pickles chickens, but given that I haven't even looked at the craft stores yet, I have no idea if there are any Mr. Pickles available around me. So! Get cracking on those questions, and increase your chances to win a fabulous prize. I'm assuming we'll close the email for questions a few days before the interview is scheduled in order to give Marshall time to answer them, so I would recommend having your questions in by midnight on Thursday, April 9th.

6 comments:

Fiona Picklebottom said...

When I first read about this a while back, I just figured it would be something in which I would be unable to participate, as I am unfamiliar with Marshall Karp and so would not have any questions for him. I briefly considered reading something of his, but when faced with the three three-foot tall piles of books waiting to be read that are piled by my dresser and the half-dozen mini-piles of about 8 books each under my bed, I thought that my husband, if he saw me bring in a new book to read when ALL THOSE OTHER ONES ARE SITTING RIGHT THERE, might do a little 'flipping out' himself. Ha ha! Did you see how I just did that? Worked in the title of the book?

HOWEVER, I have managed to come up with a question (or two) for Mr. Karp, DESPITE having no knowledge of his work. Here it is:

I really enjoy reading and have several authors whose work I never fail to pick up when I see it (assuming, of course, it is in paperback or on a sale table, as I have some kind of obsessive thing that causes me to NEED TO OWN books that I like but not bottomless pockets of cash). What is it about your work that would make YOU one of those must-read authors for me? In other words, while murder mysteries are one of my go-to genres (and I understand that's what this book is), what will I find that differentiates your mysteries from the work of others? In even OTHER words, sell yourself to me as a potential reader. Thanks for taking the time to participate in this, by the way. That in itself makes me want to pick up your work and give you a chance to invade my towering piles of to-be-read books.

Anonymous said...

Dude, I am totally loving the mystery themed give away. You? Genius!

Shelly said...

Fiona - I love you, man. You crack me right up. And yeah, I'm with you on the huge piles of books. I told my husband recently that I needed to go to Barnes and Noble for some new books and he VERY POINTEDLY looked at my (overflowing) book case and piles of books on the floor around it. BUT, I have this sickness that when one of my favorite authors publishes a new book, I MUST run out and buy it. ALSO also! If you don't have a Barnes and Noble membership, you MUST get one. You save on everything in the store. As much as 40% on brand new hardcover bestsellers! You even get a discount on the Starbucks coffee in the coffeeshop.

Shelly said...

Shelly - Thank you, my friend! I like the idea - I'm just terrified I won't be able to think of things to put in the "mystery pack". Oh well, I'll think about that when the time to put it together comes, right?!

Fiona Picklebottom said...

I DO have the B&N membership. AND the Borders. AND any other random bookstore that offers one. :)

Shelly said...

LOL! Me too!