Yay! It’s giveaway time again!
Thanks to everyone, I recently passed 500 blog subscribers and 800 followers on Twitter. Maybe I could say “thank you” 1,300 times in response… Though that would be a bit much, right? 😉
So, I’ll say a great, big THANK YOU once again with a gesture. Last year’s belated blogoversary giveaways went really well, and I’m always happy to offer something that readers can benefit from. This time, I have two international giveaways. In other words, everyone will be eligible to participate – and you can choose to enter one giveaway, or both!
All rules and other details can be found after the jump. First, here are the prizes:
Giveaway #1: Free Critique of Your WIP’s First Chapter
For Giveaway #1, I’m offering to one (1) writer a critique of their WIP’s first chapter. Whether you’re unsure if your first draft is going in the right direction, or you’re almost ready to have beta-readers review your manuscript, this is an opportunity to have another writer read the beginning of your WIP and help make it shine.
As I read your first chapter, I’ll pay attention to your protagonist’s introduction, narrative voice, and possible conflict, among other things. I’ll also offer constructive feedback on what works and what could use improvement. If you have anything specific you’d like to me look at, I’d be happy to do that as well.
If you win, please be ready to send your WIP’s first chapter within one (1) week of accepting. We can discuss other details (e.g., timeline for my response, how and where to send the first chapter) at that time.
As for genres, here’s what I read most often and would therefore be most interested in critiquing:
- Fantasy (Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult)
- Historical Fiction (see above)
- Science Fiction (see above)
- Dystopian (see above)
- Other genres on a case-by-case basis
To Enter Giveaway #1: Access the Rafflecopter widget as instructed at the bottom of this post, then leave a comment here saying that you’d like to enter Giveaway #1. Make sure you include the WIP’s current title (if you have one), genre, and a 1- or 2-sentence “pitch,” just so I can get an idea of what your story is about.
Giveaway #2: Your Choice of Book (Up to $15) from My Reads of the Month, Courtesy of The Book Depository
For Giveaway #2, I’m offering to one (1) reader their choice of a book I picked as a Read of the Month since last July. This giveaway is open internationally, as long as The Book Depository ships to your country. (Click here for their current availability.) You may want to have at least one back-up choice, in case your first choice isn’t available or exceeds the $15 limit.
Here are the Reads of the Month you can choose from:
- July 2015: Ironskin (Ironskin Trilogy, Book #1) by Tina Connolly
- August 2015: Six of Crows (Six of Crows, Book #1) by Leigh Bardugo
- September 2015: The Fifth Season (Broken Earth Trilogy, Book #1) by N.K. Jemisin
- October 2015: This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
- November 2015: The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Book #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
- December 2015: Radiant (Towers Trilogy, Book #1) by Karina Sumner-Smith**
- January 2016: The Martian by Andy Weir
- February 2016: The Abyss Surrounds Us (The Abyss Surrounds Us, Book #1) by Emily Skrutskie
- March 2016: Walk On Earth A Stranger (Gold Seer Trilogy, Book #1) by Rae Carson
**I actually picked Towers Fall, Book #3 of the Towers Trilogy, as the December 2015 Read of the Month, but it makes more sense to give away the first book in a series, right? 😉
If you need more choices, I’d be happy to recommend any of these:
- A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin
- Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book #1) by Tamora Pierce
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- Blackbringer (Faeries of Dreamdark, Book #1) by Laini Taylor
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Book #1) by Laini Taylor
- The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings, Book #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy, Book #1) by N.K. Jemisin
- Poison Study (Study Series, Book #1) by Maria V. Snyder
- Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, Book #1) by Leigh Bardugo
To Enter Giveaway #2: Access the Rafflecopter widget as instructed below, then leave a comment here saying that you’d like to enter Giveaway #2. Make sure you include your top three (3) book choices from the lists provided.
Rules for the Giveaways
- Click on the link at the end of this post to access the Rafflecopter widget. Then, follow Rafflecopter’s instructions to earn points for different options (comments, social media, etc.).
- All giveaways will be open through midnight EST on Tuesday, May 3rd. No entries will be accepted beyond this deadline.
- Two (2) winners will be selected, one for each prize.
- If you’re selected as a winner, you’ll have 48 hours to respond to my email and claim your prize. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will contact a new winner. (Please note that I value your privacy and will not share your information with anyone else.)
- Once both winners have claimed their prizes, I will announce their names via blog post.
- While I don’t mind you sharing the giveaway link, it’s not mandatory for your entries. I’d like to see as many readers and friends who have already follow me benefit, since these are “thank-you” gifts for current readers and followers.
Ready? Click here to enter the giveaway(s).
Thank you once again, and good luck to everyone who participates! Let me know if you have any questions.
That GIF! 😀
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XD It was the first scene I thought of to use as a gif! I couldn’t help it. *lol*
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CONGRATS!!! Getting to certain follower-milestones is just always such a thrill 😀 You go, girl!
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Thanks, Kat! 😀 Both milestones snuck up on me last month. And once I realized I had hit both, I knew I should do something for readers.
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That is so great of you! THANK YOU 😀
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Oh and I also entered the giveaway and I would absolutely looooooove to get a chance to finally read All the Light We Cannot See. Even before I heard about the story, the cover completely mesmerized me. But you chose such excellent books in general as your picks of the month, it’s a tough choice.
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Awesome choice, Kat! 😉
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Congratulations!! 🙂
I have entered giveaway #2.
My top three books is:
Ironskin, by Tina Connolly
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K Jemisin
Walk on Earth a Stranger, by Rae Carson.
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Thanks, Elin! 🙂
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Hi Sara,
This is such a wonderful giveaway, thank you! And congratulations on reaching such an amazing number of followers!
I’m entering giveaway #1.
My WIP is currently titled Seasons of Mist, and is a YA Fantasy.
Five generations of Winters have lived at Rose House, two generations more than they should have. But Spring has not arrived to take control of the Elements, and when the Grey takes their parents, Jeremy and the twins, Amy and Luke, have to find a way to juggle the modern world of school, and interfering social workers, with the ancient world that their Elemental birthright gives them access to.
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Thanks, Nicolette! And you’re welcome. It’s fun to do things that readers are excited about and can benefit from, besides writing tips and worksheets. I look at it as my way of giving back to people for everything they’ve done for me.
I like the sounds of your WIP, btw. 🙂
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CONGRATS!!! 😀 On all your subscribers. That’s pretty awesome and this giveaway sounds sweet.
I’ll like to be entered in the second giveaway since I haven’t written anything lately. I really need to stop being lazy about it.
As for the books, I choose:
The Martian
The Book Thief
The Monstrous Thing
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Thanks, Zezee! And those are all excellent choices for books. 😉
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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First of, Congratulations!
I would like to enter the second giveaway, for a chance to read Lila By Marilynne Robinson
Rafflecopter username: Joana Bento
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Thanks very much, Joanna. 🙂
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Congratulations, Sara! Those are amazing milestones 🙂 I can’t enter the giveaway because I don’t have a WIP and I have most of those books, but this is an amazing opportunity and I just want to tell everybody entering good luck and that those are some amazing books you can win!
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Awwww, thank you, Mogsy! Are you sure there aren’t a couple books on the list that you don’t have yet? How about Blackbringer or The Abyss Surrounds Us? Would either strike your fancy?
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What a great milestone, Sara:). Congratulations!
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Thank you, Sarah! 🙂 Did you want to participate in either giveaway?
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That’s very sweet of you – but I think I’ll pass. I know it gets complicated when it gets international and as for the editing – while I heartily recommend you as a really thorough editor, I’m aware I already owe you some serious me-time on your m/s, anyway!
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*blushes* And I have every intention on asking you to be a beta-reader when the time comes. We’re getting closer, I promise!
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No worries. You need to be absolutely happy with it.
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Congratulations, Sara, that’s awesome!
I’d like to enter the 2nd giveaway, and I’m thinking of This Monstrous Thing (since I haven’t gotten to it yet but do want to), and Shadow and Bone. 🙂
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Thanks, E.! 🙂 And both books are great choices.
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Hi, Sarah! Great job on getting more subscribers!!!
I’m entering Giveaway #1. My current WIP is a YA Fantasy called Bound by Fire. Summary: Every year assassins, thieves, and merchants, traveling from the five kingdoms of Elysia for a chance to participate in Élevage—a contest devised by the High King. Some come out of curiosity, but others, for glory–for a chance to compete for a handsome prize.
Thanks for this opportunity!
-Vanessa Valiente
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Thanks, Vanessa! And your WIP sounds very interesting, and definitely along the lines of what I’d read. 🙂
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Congratulations Sara, that’s a lot of subscribers/followers! Would you be willing to post about how you achieved that goal? I’d love to read about it!
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Thanks, Leanne! 🙂
I wasn’t planning on writing a post about the milestones. They both snuck up on me around the same time last month… And I’ve got a few important articles on my plate at the moment (including my next DIY MFA post). So, if I’m going to write about how I achieved them, it won’t be for a while.
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Thanks for hosting this giveaway! There are several books on this list I’ve been hoping to read! Six of Crows, A Monster Calls, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone in particular. ^ ^ I’m currently working on the MIss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series. Keep up the great blogging!
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
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Thank you, Tori! And you’re welcome! 🙂 Excellent book choices, btw.
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Congratulations on 1300 (combined) followers!! I can’t say I’m surprised, because you totally deserve that many and more. ^_^ I really enjoy your blog posts. I always look forward to seeing them in my inbox!
This is an amazing giveaway. :O Especially the first prize!! (And it’s original!)
Totally entering both… *scurries away to enter them*
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I just realized I was supposed to comment some things here to enter! Heh! Here we go:
Prize #1: My WIP is Emergence. Genre: YA epic fantasy. Pitch: A group of teenagers get caught up in a war, but begin to wonder if they’re fighting for the wrong side.
Prize #2: My preferences are: The Name of the Wind, Walk on Earth a Stranger, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
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Ha ha, no problem! So you can ignore the question at the end of my previous comment. 😉
EMERGENCE!! 😀 I was kinda hoping it would be that one.
Awesome book picks, too!
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Haha, the awkwardness here as we are commenting at the same time… xD
Yay! ^_^ That WOULD be the one, hehe! It’ll be a while yet before I let anyone read my other WIP (The Rebel of Mosoria). O.O
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Thanks, Brianna! And you’re very welcome. I like doing something now and then to show people how much I appreciate their encouragement and support. Plus, the giveaway “themes” tie in with two of the topics I talk about most here. Why not? 🙂
Btw, if you want to enter both giveaways, could you reply to this and let me know what your three book choices and the WIP details listed in the post? 😉
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I did that right before you published your response! xD
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And I just responded to your other comment. XD You’re one step ahead of me!
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Haha!
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I’m entering the 2nd giveaway ! my top three picks are All The Light We Cannot See, Six of Crows and the book thief
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Awesome! Good luck, and great picks for your book choices. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Karin!
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