Birthday Banner/Button Bash!!

28 years ago today I came into the world, already curious--eyes wide, not even crying.  (Happy Birthing Day, Mom! ;) 

For my birthday festivities here at Kristin Creative, I'm hosting a the

BIRTHDAY BANNER/BUTTON BASH!

The selected winner will get a new blog header, Etsy banner, or blog button designed by yours truly!

Here is a sampling of some I've made:

Blog headers

Yes, I took the picture of this book myself--it took FOREVER!!

Yes, I drew this flower by hand on my Bamboo tablet--it took FOREVER hahaha. Not sure I will try something this intricate again!

Etsy banner

Buttons

To Enter:

Comment here with your email address (or email it to me if you don't want yours floating around), which you'd like to win, and a short description of what you want it to look like.  Link your blog if you want a header to your existing design so I can get an idea of the colors/vibe.  If you plan on redoing the whole thing in conjunction with a new header, we'll talk colors/vibe later.

Since I am a photographer, I am willing to take some photos and do effects to them to incorporate (books, architecture, plants, whatever), so if you have any neat ideas for yours if you win, tell me now!!

I'm going to pick a winner based off the descriptions of what you're looking for (to see what sounds fun, and also what I can handle!!) so be realistic and creative!

Deadline: March 6th

I won?! GET OUT!

Well, what a great way to start the week!  I just got today's Alice Marvels, and I won Alex Flinn's latest book, Cloaked!  I see that the reviews are so so, but her books read super fast, and it's free :) 

After my friend Heather (check out her blog if you haven't yet!) won Delirium from Alice Marvels the week before, I decided to give it a shot last week.  She really does choose by your answers and not randomly, so that sort of makes it even more fun--both in coming up with your answer, and with validation of your writing skills by winning :) 

The Question:

What fairy tale character would you most like to be and why?

My Answer:

Maybe it's the Sociology major in me, but Cinderella is one of my favorite classic fairy tales. The story really demonstrates that you can rise above your circumstances. She worked hard her entire young life, desperate for change but stuck in a loveless home. Enter the fairy godmother, who represents anyone in our life that encourages and inspire us to take risks. Our lives are what we make of them, and while our efforts might not earn us an actual prince, they will earn us a better life.  I'd want to be Cinderella because she has perspective. Often people who come from virtually nothing and become successful have a stronger outlook--they don't take anything for granted because they know what went into getting that success. They might even be kinder to those less fortunate, and who knows? They might be a fairy godmother for someone else.

Again I say, if you aren't entering anything, you definitely WON'T win ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Any plans? None here. We certainly don't need any little stuffed animals laying around the house, and I don't need the calories in the candy. We may go out to a nice lunch though (because we both work from home, and we don't like the evening crowd)! 

My One Year Blogiversary Contest!

Happy One Year to Me!!

I'll start off by saying how incredibly thankful I am for those of you who have clicked on the FOLLOW button, apparently finding my words worthy of reading.  Personally, I think I've grown from this whole blogging experience.... this was me a year ago:

Me: Um.. hello blogging world, I'm Kristin. Um, I like writing fiction... I live in Texas... I'm getting new carpet next week... I have NO clue how blogging works or how anyone is going to find my page. Come to think of it, I don't know how to find anyone else's page either...

Kristi Chestnutt: I write too! I'll follow you!

Me: OMG where did you come from?

Kimberly Franklin: I write too! I'll follow you!

Me: OMG, how did y'all find me? Can we be critique buddies and email back and forth all day every day? (yes we do that...)

Kristi and Kim: I was just thinking the same thing!!

Me: Seriously though... how did you find me, and how do I find blogs to follow??

With their help (and yours!) I've since figured out the wonders of blogging!

CONTEST TIME!

I really hoped to do some HUGE huge prize packet, but you've all seen my Christmas Branch, Stanley... Things are tight (at least, I'm making them tight, because I'd like to eat in January when people are done getting their Christmas pictures taken haha).

The Prize: 

A $15 Gift Card to Amazon!

I'm giving it a month, a WHOLE MONTH for you to spread the word.  I'm at 252 followers right now (which is awesome!), and between now and January 10th, let's see if I can get up to 300 followers.  If I do, I'll add a second winner! 

A $10 Gift Card to Amazon!

The Haps:

Must be a follower: new +1 / old +2

Sidebar: +2

Mention in blog post: +5

Send a new follower my way: +5 for EACH! Tell them to comment below and mention you!!

Tell me what you'd like to see more of from me in 2011 (book reviews, writing tips, etc...) +1

So that's it! And don't forget, I am giving away one prize.  If I get up to 300 followers, I'll throw in a second winner!

Contest ends midnight (central) January 9th

Winner(s) announced January 10th!

You should know about this contest

We interrupt this blog break to tell you about a giveaway at Kristi Chestnutt's blog!!  Amazon gift cards!!! HELLO!

CLICK HERE!

Happy Weekend everyone.

And the Winner is...

Lindsey at Dangerous With A Pen!

Congrats!  You've won a signed copy of Kristi Chestnutt's The Wolf Within!!

Please e-mail me at kristinrae023 at gmail dot com and tell me where you'd like it sent!

Her entry:

"I'm trying to tell you that I'm different, and it's not safe for you to be around me."
"I don't care what you are. I'm in love, I tell you. Love!"
"You don't understand! I'm a vamp...wait...were...no...ange...hmm...zomb... I give up. What hasn't been done?"

So very wonderfully done!  I loved reading all of the hilarious cheese! Thanks so much to everyone for participating!

202 Follower Giveaway!

Hurray for reaching 202 followers!!

I'm so thankful and happy that I could connect with all of you in some way!  We are each so different from one another, but many of us have the same loves and goals, and that's what makes blogging with all of you so incredible.

In effort to support our joint efforts, I will be giving away a signed copy of

The Wolf Within by our very own blogging buddy, Kristi Chestnutt!

Here is the description from Goodreads:

When Gwyn, a quirky college student, bumps into Faden, a private investigator with a secret past, life as she knows it will not just change, but end.

Faden can’t deny the powerful connection he and Gwyn have right from the start, a connection that pulls him towards her when he knows he should be staying away. As his investigation into the town’s most recent murders heats up, his resolve weakens and he gives in to Gwyn’s pull, knowing that getting close to someone again would mean sharing his secret: he is Immortal.

Little does he know that he will never get the chance to tell her himself. His past hunts him down, taking Gwyn prisoner and plunging them into a world they never knew existed. Together they will be thrown into the midst of battle, befriending the very serial killer Faden has been hunting. Forced to leave their homes behind and run from the authorities, we watch as Gwyn helps Faden become the leader that destiny and fate has called him to be.

 

Sounds exciting, right?!

 

Now let's have some fun!

This giveaway will be easy cheesy.  Here are the only rules:

 

1. You must be a follower

2. Finish the cheesy dialogue:

 

"I'm trying to tell you that I'm different, and it's not safe for you to be around me."

"I don't care what you are.  I'm in love, I tell you. Love!"

"You don't understand!  I'm __________."  

 

Easy as that!  I'll assign everyone a number and use random.org to pull the winner of The Wolf Within!!

 

Contest ends Sunday, May 9th!

 

Spread the word!

Amazing Contest!

Liz at Cleverly Inked is hosting the most amazing Birthday Phenomenon! 

http://cleverlyinked.blogspot.com/2010/04/birthday-phenomenon.html

(I'm pasting the URL because stupid blogger won't let me LINK ANYTHING!)

50 authors, 53 books to choose from, and LOTS of swag!!

Happy Birthday, Liz!

LOADS of Contests!

I wasn't going to post today, but I'm having so much fun entering these contests, I had to share.

If you love YA, head over to 

for more contests than you can imagine! Hurry because they end Sunday at midnight!

Happy Saturday!

Playing Catch Up... and an Award.

Wa gwan? is the Jamaican way to ask, "What's goin on?!" Some of you got it!!

Wow. Four days out can sure put you behind. I missed so many great blog entries, awards, I even won TWO contests!!!

Thank you to Girl With One Eye at A Squirrel Amongst Lions for the $20 Amazon Gift Card, and to Jami at YA Addict for the book The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson!!

AND I just got an email requesting that one of my photographs be used on the cover of an online poetry magazine (more details as I get them). How pumped am I right now? This couldn't come at a better time, because I've been seriously contemplating selling some of my work and this is just added exposure!!

I feel so empowered right now, I'm going to enter the super fun Twilight contest AND giveaway hosted by my affiliates, Kimberly Franklin and Kristi Chestnutt! Check out their blogs for the official rules. It's definitely too much fun for the closet Twilight fan in all of us to pass up!!


Well, I have yet again been hoarding the awards, so I think I may just do one at a time here and there and everywhere once in again great while what? for my sanity's sake. I also probably won't follow all the rules because I'm afraid I haven't been keeping THAT good of track of them.

Today's award of choice, because it's fun, is the Creative Writer Award, given to me by DL Hammons of Cruising Altitude and Julie at Silver Lining! Check out their blogs!

I'm going the 6 lies and 2 truths route:

1. Sometimes my baby toenail falls off. I mean, there's not much to the thing anyway, and it doesn't hurt... much. It grows back eventually.

2. One trip to Disney World, I got sick on Space Mountain and it landed on people waiting in line below the ride.

3. I am mentioned in the acknowledgments section of a published novel.

4. While we were in Italy, hubs got his wallet pick-pocketed at the Trevi Fountain.

5. I was in a friend's wedding, and my car got broken into during the reception. They busted my window, stole $1000 worth of stuff, and threw it all in the dumpster of a church.

6. I used to be in a band, and we once had a gig at a club in Nashville.

7. When I was 12, I broke my arm rollerblading in my friend's driveway. It was summer, and I HAD to swim, so I tied a grocery sack over my cast. It smelled really bad.

8. I know all the words to every Monkees song.

Now, which two are TRUE?!

I'm passing this along to Katie at Prophetic Pictures and Stephanie at Stephanie's Blog.
I follow both of these creative blogs, and you should, too!

Contest Winners!! And February Recap.

Last week, on February 23, I announced my Birthday Contest!
I was pleased with the number of entries, and the sentences! Such gifted writers y'all are!
But about this age guessing business... I was tempted to deduct entry points from everyone who guessed 30 and above!! GASP!
My new age is....
27!!

The main prize was a signed copy of Heist Society by Ally Carter!

And the book goes to.......


Sarah Ahiers of Falen Formulates Fiction!!!!

Please e-mail me at kristinrae023 at gmail dot com with the address you'd like it shipped to!

The side contest was for a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

And the winner is......

Jen Daiker at Unedited!

Congrats Winners!!
Thanks for entering!

Febbraio Recap:

Did this month just FLY by, or is it just me?
I mean, sure, it's a shorter month than most, but wow.
Writing progress wise, I've been focusing solely on Between the Letters this past month. I've been working on one chapter a day, revising it then sending to my online Krit Group! They've been giving me AMAZING feedback, and are more excited about BTL than I have been, which is boosting me SO MUCH. A big THANKS to you lovely ladies. ;)
As of today, I'm on chapter 17 which is right around halfway done!
Hopefully in my March Recap, I can say I've begun querying!! But we'll see!

Reading wise this month, I've read:

Give up the Ghost by Megan Crewe *4/5
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain *5/5
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison *4/5
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick *5/5
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore *4/5

Apparently, my pace is 5 books a month, because January was also 5.
March may be a bit less because I'm about to tackle Beautiful Creatures (FINALLY) and that baby is 563 pages!!

February also held my BIRTHDAY, which was fantastic! I celebrated for an entire week (my husband would say longer), and I was given some very thoughtful gifts that I'm very thankful for! Love them ALL!
AND it SNOWED on my birthday for the first time ever!! It's always rained! First time for snow!! And by the weekend I was wearing bermuda shorts and flip flops, getting sun burned on the back deck while reading a book. Yes... yes I did.

I hope everyone else had a fabulous February!!

Felice Lunedi!

Books, Contests and Other Great Things!

Rachael Hawkins is having a sweet giveaway to celebrate Hex Hall coming out on Tuesday. I've been following the buzz for this book, and it sounds fantastic! The winner gets a Hex Hall t-shirt, a signed copy of Hex Hall, and a $25 B&N gift card to buy MORE books!
Check out Rachel's blog to enter!

(Click on the book cover to order on Amazon.com)

In other fun book news, today is the release date for Kristi Chestnutt's The Wolf Within!
The powers that be have assured us this will be available for purchase online by tomorrow, but I am impatient and keep checking frequently! So excited for her debut!

Other great things popping up this time of year...
Girl Scout Cookies!

Hubs and I went to the lake last weekend for a mini birthday getaway, and were attacked by a Girl Scout at the gas station. Yes, I said attacked!
"Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies? We're just closing up."
I look at hubs and bat my lashes, visions of Thin Mints dancing in my head.
"Do you have any cash?" I ask, ever so sweetly.
He laughs and digs in his pocket and pulls out a $10, which Scout sees and quickly informs, "For 50 more cents you can get three boxes."
She's goooood.
She got three boxes out of us and a 50 cent tip.
We went in the gas station store and bought milk.
Scout laughed when she saw us walk out with our Borden bottle and said, "Got Milk?!"

With Easter approaching, the pastel candies have already started lining the shelves!
And you know what that means...

That's right. Cadbury Mini Eggs.
These are not the snot-filled stand-ins (which I WILL eat if they are in front of me), these are the MINI EGGS. Solid milk chocolate eggs with a crispy delicious candy shell.
Freaking addictive, I say.

Don't forget to enter my Birthday Contest HERE!

Felice Giovedi!

Birthday Contest!

How would you like to win a signed copy of Ally Carter's newest release, Heist Society?

It's already a New York Times Best Seller!

I had the opportunity to meet Miss Carter last Thursday, which you can read all about on this post. It was a joy to hear her speak, and I encourage everyone interested to check her website for her schedule.

Since today, Tuesday, February 23, is indeed MY BIRTHDAY, I thought it was only fitting to host a CONTEST for my lovely followers!! (Better to give than to receive, right?!)

Now, this is a Young Adult book, so I'm sure some of you are saying, "Well DARN IT, I don't read young adult chick's books... That's sissy stuff!" (Am I right DL?) You shouldn't feel left out! Not on Kristin's birthday! (Gasp!) So I will also be giving away a $10 Amazon e-mail gift card.

Up for Grabs:

1 signed hardback of Heist Society by Ally Carter

OR

$10 Amazon e-mail Gift Card

Rules:

Must be a follower

To Enter:

Leave a comment specifying if you are entering for the book (US only) or the gift card

Extra Entries:

+1 for guessing my correct age on this birthday!

+1 for blog shout out or sidebar (show me the link)

+1 for finishing this sentence:
Eyes closed tightly, I blew out the candles on the cake, and wished...

Contest ends at midnight this Sunday, February 28th.

Winners announced Monday, March 1st!

Buona Fortuna!

Things Are Already Looking Up

So, y'all know how down I've been feeling, and let me tell you, the outpouring of support has helped tremendously. I'm sticking to my diet (which means no guilt which means I can be proud which means ONE DAY in the FUTURE - however far away that may be - I will be able to buy SMALLER pants), I'm successfully revising one chapter a day of Between the Letters and am already getting GREAT useful feedback from my super fab online Kritique Group (not to be confused with my other Critique Group), AND to top it all off, I won my first blog contest!

Liz at Cleverly Inked hosted a fantastic 100 followers contest, giving away two signed books of Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore, and a $20 Barnes and Noble Gift Card. I won a signed book and the gift card!! SO excited! Seriously lifted my spirits... lots. If you want your spirits lifted (and want to win FREE stuff), check out my sidebar section under CONTESTS! for some current opportunities! People really do win those things!

Another great thing: THREE DAY WEEKENDS! President's day is Monday, and while I could save that day and use it elsewhere this year, methinks I need it now. I plan to be glued to my computer, revising and typing furiously (maybe I should disconnect the internet??). I may also want to enlist the hubby to help me clean the house between today and tomorrow so I won't be tempted to on Monday. Although, the forecast is Sunny, high of 52 low of 29... I do believe I'll have to do some vitamin soaking/reading out on the back deck for at least a couple of hours.

Does anyone else find it easy to get distracted when you sit down to write? What sort of things pull you away? And why exactly do we get distracted from writing in the first place? We LOVE writing! Is it a fear? Is it belief that when we sit down to write, we are ignoring too many other things (like the ring in the toilet) that should be tended to first? What is it that pulls you away most?

And The Winners Are.....

Thanks to everyone who participated in my 100 Followers Contest!! The entries were HILARIOUS! I've selected two winners with the help of random.org, and they are...

Guinevere at This is Not My Day Job!

and

Lindsey at Dangerous With a Pen!

Congrats! You will both receive a $10 e-card from Amazon.com!

Please send me an e-mail at kristinrae023@gmail.com!


Well, that was exciting!
And do you know what else is exciting? An interview with the author of The Secret Year, Jennifer Hubbard!

Be sure to stop by Monday for the interview!

Happy Weekend!

LOST, Contests to Enter, and Other Stuff!

Well, let's just get the LOST conversation out of the way. I was disappointed, yet I don't know what I was expecting.

Hubby and I had dinner at my parents house, then settled on the couch for three hours of LOST goodness, only to yell at the TV during every break for commercial, "STUPID!!!" I really don't know what I was expecting... certainly not two alternate realities. Certainly not a near opening shot of the island UNDERWATER for who knows how long (very poor CGI by the way). Certainly not Desmond on flight 815 and then suddenly he's NOT on it anymore... Certainly not a soap opera return to the living by Sayid. Certainly not a cryptic message from Juliet beyond the grave, claiming that the hydrogen bomb worked. Even though in one reality we see that it DID work, all of their lives are still going to pot anyway, and in this life, Jack and Kate won't be together and that's just TRAGIC!!!!! (At least they brought Boone, nka Damon from The Vampire Diaries, back!)
And I've heard from interviewed cast members that they still don't even understand how it's all going to tie together, so I'll be patient. :::Taps foot until next Tuesday:::

January was a pretty good start to the New Year. Got quite a bit of writing/revising/agent research done, kicked my butt in gear and got a personal trainer for 3 sessions, and finished these books:
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris 3/5
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard 4/5 (Interview with author coming soon!)
Gallagher Girls #1 by Ally Carter 3/5
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 5/5
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber 4/5

Thanks to Natalie Murphy for the Over the Top Award!!!
And Thanks to S.B. for the Happy 101 Award!!
Check out their blogs!

There are quite a few contests going on that you should be informed of:

First of all, if you haven't yet entered my 100 Followers Contest, you have until this Friday at midnight, Central Time. ENTER ON THIS THREAD!!
The Wolf Within Prize Pack Giveaway from our very own Kristi Chestnutt!
The Body Finder Giveaway at Flipping Pages for All Ages
Gift Card (B&N and Amazon) Giveaway at Cruising Altitude (Make sure you tell him Kristin Rae sent you!!!)
Query Critique Contest by a REAL agent at Neverending Page Turner (Make sure you tell her who sent you!)
Amazon Gift Card Giveaway at Unedited
New Release Book Giveaway at Once Upon A Book Blog

If you're looking for a bit of laughter, something completely crazy and nonsensical perhaps, my friend just created the most hilarious new blog called Not Quite True. He's like his own plot generator. Follow his blog for a daily dose of hilarity and unexpected inspiration. He even helped me come up with some scenes and dialogue from my novel Between the Letters!! Inspiration comes in all forms!!

Announcing the 100 Follower Contest!!

A big thank you to everyone who has pressed that follow button and allowed me to, in a small way, be a part of your online community. Thank you to everyone who has given me awards, I am truly honored for the recognition. Thank you to the thoughtful comments and advice; I really do take it all to heart. Together, we are learning to become better writers, well-rounded readers, and maybe make a few friends along the way. I know I have!

In celebration of reaching the mind-boggling 100 follower mark, I am hosting my first contest!

Here's what's up for grabs!

$10 Amazon e-mail Giftcard to two lucky winners!! That's right, I said 2!!
I was going to do 1 winner at $20, but it's always more fun to have two winners right??

Deadline: Friday, February 5th, Midnight Central Time Zone

The rules:
1. Must be a follower (so if you aren't one, clicky clicky!)
2. +1 entry for sidebar post or blog blurb (let me know!)
3. Complete the unfinished sentence: (you can write more than one sentence, I won't mind!)

Valentine's Day was just around the corner, and I was still living a lie. And I didn't even know if it was possible to be forgiven, but I had to try. I'd just walk up and say,


And that's it! Be creative and have fun with it! I will be using a randomizer so don't worry about being judged (I don't trust myself enough to be impartial to the regulars!).

Announcements - And Advice from Author Colleen Thompson

My first lemon from my lemon tree! And more coming!

Announcement 1: Never in my short blogging life would I have imagined having 60 followers in just over a month of blogging. This online world is incredible! I've decided that if/when I make it to 100 followers, I will hold a CONTEST! I'll be thinking about the rules (I'm sure I'll have plenty of time), but I do believe the contest will have something to do with writing!! And as a prize, well, I'll be thinking about that, too. Most likely an online B&N gift card or something. So red rover, red rover send your blogging friends over!

Announcement 2: More exciting than a contest, Kristi Chestnutt, my very first follower that I didn't already know personally, has a debut novel coming out February 25, titled The Wolf Within!! To get us all ready for the release, I will be interviewing Kristi right here on my blog the week before. We'll learn a bit more about her, The Wolf Within, where we can get a copy, and more! I'll keep you posted!

This past November, I went to a small seminar by romance/mystery author Colleen Thompson. I haven’t read any of her books yet (though I received a signed copy of one), but she has a lot of them out, so she must be doing something right! Her seminar was called “Publishing 101”, and she shared some great info for aspiring authors. Some of this we’ve all seen before, but it never hurts to refresh the memory!

Here are some of my notes:

-Bridge the gap between thinking like a hobbyist and behaving like a pro:

-Discover your place – what shelf would your book sit on in a bookstore?

-Which authors’ fans would respond to my book?

-Don’t just read established authors – look for the last person who won the Edgar; read LOTS of debut authors; read in the area you like to write.

-Go to book signings to meet authors and talk to th

em (they LOVE to talk!) – network with them and

pick their brain, but DON’T USE THEM.

-Learn to cope with editorial changes – it’s not being a sell-out, it’s being realistic.

-Publishing is our universal need to connect; otherwise, we’d put it in a drawer and be done with it.

-Online or in public, be aware of the words and images you put out there. You don’t want to be remembered for the wrong thing. Err on the side of being respectful.

-Staying published is harder than getting published in the first place.

About agents:

-Do not give exclusives. Colleen said, “Let’s talk about exclusives and the human lifespan.”

-Query 5 agents at a time – wait for reactions, etc. Then revise query if necessary, send to the next 5…

-Look for agents that are part of the AAR – Association of Author Representatives

-Once you have your agent, choose your tantrums carefully – they will only put up with it for so long.

-Agents are not your friends, they are business associates – a marriage of convenience. (Personally, I’d like an agent that at least FEELS like a friend)

Goal Tracking:

Writing progress: goal for today - search and replace for ill-fitting nickname in entire MS, and fix a few chapter issues.

Weight progress: core and free weights at home