Photo a Day Challenge is hosted by Fat Mum Slim
Readers' Favorite
August 25, 2012
Photo Challenge Day 25: Fresh
I worked really hard on getting some writing done on my book today (I think I finished the chapter). So I decided to get a FRESH baked pizza and soda from Sam's for dinner.
Pure Entertainment: The Mine
ebook
Published February 2012
Read August 2012
Goodreads, Amazon
When I accepted this book for review, I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I thought it could be really bad or it would be fun and entertaining, though perhaps a bit cheesy (in the Back to the Future kind of way, not in a bad way). I like stories that have the character time travel to past times, but it is hard to find ones that are well done. I was pulling out books for my niece and I came across Time at the Top which has a young girl traveling back to the early 1900s, I think. I read it as a child. I remember having trouble getting into the story, but then really enjoying it. Apparently, time traveling stories have always piqued my interest.
The Mine is part of my ebook backlog that I vowed to make a dent in this summer. And I have to say it was a pretty good book to end the summer with. The beginning was rocky for me (maybe that is a trend for time traveling stories?), but at about the 20% mark it was like a switch was thrown and it was a great story that I didn't want to put down. I constantly wanted to know what was going on with Joel and Tom, Ginny and the girls.
There are a few references to Back to the Future and Marty McFly, but it was not a remake of the movies. It was its own story. Whereas Marty had Doc to aid him in traversing the time traveling pit falls, Joel is on his own. And probably a bit more like what it would be like if you or I was suddenly transported through time. Thankfully, he is a history buff and has a good memory of dates and sports history. Also unlike in Back to the Future, we don't really get to see any impact of Joel being transported to 1940 in the future. Partly, I think it is because we don't know much about the present day lives of the characters. I was also left with a few other questions at the end, but I can't share them lest I spoil the ending for you. I wholly expect you to pick up a copy of The Mine. I give it high marks for pure entertainment.
August 24, 2012
Photo Challenge Day 24: Path
Here is part of the PATH I talk on my way from the building to the parking lot each day.
Photo a Day Challenge is hosted by Fat Mum Slim
Friday Fun with Pavarti K. Tyler
It's again Friday. Yay! I've been sick this week so super glad it is almost the weekend. Today, Pavarti K. Tyler, author of Shadow on the Wall, Two Moons of Sera, and Consumed by Love, will introduce you to the fun of science fiction. Pavarti s an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She lives in the Washington DC area with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not busy working as the Director of Marketing at Novel Publicity she spends her time penning her next novel.
Aliens Rock
Green skin and purple skies, the possibilities of alien worlds and cultures is never
ending. You can have wild hair, extra rows of teeth, webbed toes, or even non-
humanoid creatures beyond the average person’s imagination. Add in a little politics, an
intergalactic war including aliens and maybe some religion and you have the makings of
a sci-fi best seller.
What is it about aliens that makes us all go “Ohhhh cool”? I think it’s equal parts the
unknown possibilities presented as reality and the opportunity for something really
different. A lot of the best alien stories and movies are all kinds of gross. Take Steven King’s Dreamcatcher or Ridley Scott’s Alien Series, talk about icky! I mean
you’ve got creatures popping out of all kinds of places they really shouldn’t! But we love
that right? I mean, incubating nasty gremlins from outer space is the fodder of the best
alien books.
 |
| Cover of Battlefield Earth |
For me, if you take anything having to do with a creepy crawly from outer space and
pair it up with some kind of romance I’m in. Which is why what I’m about to tell
you is going to come as a surprise. Battlefield Earth by
L. Ron Hubbard is the best alien book ever.
Now I don't mean the atrocity that John Travolta participated (Battlefield Earth Movie). I mean the old school Sci-Fi book that Hubbard wrote back in the day. I mean the book that deals with Earth in the year 3,000 where aliens are mining for their most precious metal - gold (who saw Cowboys and Aliens - I wonder where they got THAT idea!) I mean the saga that spans cultures, religions, the real and unreal worlds of Earth and Psychlo. I mean the saga of Jonnie Goodboy Tyler.
I bought my copy of Battlefield Earth at a hospital fund-
raiser for $0.25 because I thought it was funny. It sat on my shelf for a year before, much
to my husband's mocking, I finally picked it up. This is the only book other than Twilight
(shut up) that I stayed up over night just to finish one more chapter until it
was done. Don't believe me? Galaxy Press has agreed
to give away 3 paperback copies of Battlefield Earth to help me
convert you. Not to Scientology, but to the purest of Science Fiction.
August 23, 2012
Photo Challenge Day 23: Pair
This has been my favorite PAIR of shoes this summer. My sister gave them to me.
Photo a Day Challenge is hosted by Fat Mum Slim
Tips on Thursday: Giveaways
 |
| Free place to sleep (Photo credit: Brad Stabler) |
If you use Rafflecopter to collect entries then it is pretty easy to come in compliance. By adding a mandatory entry of agreeing to Terms & Conditions, you can notify participants of the rules governing your giveaway as well as providing a "no purchase necessary" entry. Here are statements to include in your terms & conditions:
- The dates and time the contest opens and closes. Even if you are using Rafflecopter that shows how much time remains to enter, you must include it in the T&C.
- Include "No Purchase Necessary" and "Void Where Prohibited" - Contests must have a "free" entry and it can be argued that time is a cost and therefore any actions to enter (following you on twitter, leaving a comment, etc.) might be considered a "purchase". Some states (i.e. New York and Florida) have more stringent laws governing contests for both the host and the entrant such as being bonded or registered with the state.
- State the value of the prize. Most of our giveaways are small in value, but if a prize is worth $600 or more IRS paperwork must be filed. If you are doing a really BIG giveaway and the combined total of all prizes being offered is valued at $5,000 or more you must be bonded.
- How are prizes award, winners contacted, length of time to respond, and what will happen to unclaimed prizes. It would be a good idea to include a statement about the odds of winning (typically based on the number of entrants, but with people assigning point values to different entry options the statement may need to be altered a bit). 24 - 48 hours may be considered too short of time for the winner to have to respond. Sweepstakes ran by major companies and organizations typically give 30 days. Choosing a new winner is the best option for unclaimed prizes, but you can also choose to offer a new contest.
- You may also consider limiting entries to people 18 or older (or age of majority in the entrants location). Anyone under 18 would need parents' permission to enter.
- To comply with with anti-spam and privacy laws, state that contact information will be used only to contact the winner and that the information will not be sold or shared. You can offer an entry for signing up for your newsletter. For more information on newsletters and anti-spam and privacy laws, see this article.
Coral of Alchemy of Scrawl has a good example to follow for T&C:
By clicking 'enter' I agree to these terms and conditions:
- I am at least 18 years old or older.
- I understand my information will not be shared with anyone and I will only be contacted if I am a winner.
- I understand my entry may be verified and if the entry cannot be verified it may be removed.
- Void where prohibited.
- Physical copies can only be shipped to US/CAN. eBooks and/or Gift Cards can be emailed internationally unless prohibited by that country.
- No purchase necessary to win.
You can get more information on what you need to do to make your next giveaway legal with this article.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this information should not be considered legal advice. If you have questions or concerns it would be best to contact a lawyer to address your specific situations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
