CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BAFABW WINNER!

Hey GROOVY! You won!

I need to get you something "awww and sweet"... I'll poke around a bit (unless you've looked and chosen something). In the meantime, send me whatever email address you want me to send the eBook to at Marianne (at) mariannearkins.com and I'll get it to you.

Congratulations!!

It's Buy A Friend A Book Week!

*****THIS IS A STICKY POST*****

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That's right... it's Buy a Friend a Book Week! Here are the official "rules":

Celebrating BAFAB is easy. Just get yourself to a real-life or virtual book store during Buy a Friend a Book Week and, well, buy a friend a book! But here's the fun part: you can't buy your friend a book because it's their birthday or they just graduated or got engaged or had a baby or anything else. You have to give them a book for no good reason. In fact, this present out of the blue from you should shock the pants off of whomever you decide to give it to. And it'll make them happy. And that's the point: promote reading, promote friendships. Just make sure to let them know about Buy a Friend a Book Week, so they can spread the joy in turn.

As always (or at least when I remember!), I'm offering a contest that will run until Saturday, October 6.

I will buy you any eStory or eBook from either of my two publishers: The Wild Rose Press or Samhain Publishing.

Just leave a comment here with the title of the book you would like to win and I will have a drawing on Sunday, October 7, 2007. And, Happy BAFABW!

If you're looking for som ideas of good books to read, stop by our romance review site .

OTHER BAFABW CONTESTS RUNNING THIS WEEK: (this will be updated throughout the week. If you know of a contest or have a contest and want to be listed, please leave a comment with the link.)

Keeper of the Snails is running a MONTH-LONG contest.

Judy is offering a book of your choice, up to a $20 value!

MORE Contests!!

Alice is giving away two books from her collection!

Just Write is giving away a book from Amazon.com!

Verbatim is giving away a paperback of your choice from Amazon.com.

Alison Kent is giving away a book EVERY DAY! Hurry over!

Melody is giving away your choice of one of three books.

Fifteen Things

It's time, once again, for the Friday Fifteen!

Fifteen Things I Thought I Might Blog About Until I Remembered It Was Friday (and time for the Friday Fifteen)

1. That we lost two of our three caterpillars. Meeney and Miney have gone to that great dill plant in the sky... Eenie is still doing well, and Moe is a happy pupa in the side of the box. The deaths of Meeney and Miney, however, were so traumatic for both me and DD that we won't be pulling in any more swallowtails on dill. I've never had this kind of bad luck with the ones on my rue.

2. That I started reading Nora Roberts' new book: High Noon. It's very exciting and I can only read it in small bites right now. That may change, but for now, my heart can't stand it.

3. That Nora really knows how to subtly show attraction and she can build sexual tension unlike anyone else. There are many, many authors who could learn from her (namely nearly every Intimate Moments author I tried to read over the past few weeks -- sheesh).

4. That I submitted my 1953 story (now entitled "Don't Fence Me In") to The Wild Rose Press's Vintage Rose line, and got a request for full almost immediately. This made me feel better, since I have two other queries out with the Champagne Rose line that have been there for a few weeks without a nibble. My fault, really, because I know that's the busiest line.

5. That I've decided to NOT submit to Champagne Rose anymore if possible (that is, unless it's something I've already written). It's the contemporary line that allows more sexual situations than Sweetheart Rose, and probably 75% of the submissions go there. Even though I adore both editors I've worked with there, I'm too impatient.

6. That my dog, Bailey, got her stitches out yesterday and her lab test came back with nice wide, clean margins. Even though tests also showed that it was the "really bad" cancer that can quickly become inoperable, I caught it soon enough (the doc still thinks that's a miracle, considering where the lump was and how hairy the dog is -- I figure God knew I wasn't ready to lose Bailey yet).

7. That my friend, Ceri, bought my story "Now That We've Found You". I'm always nervous when a friend buys my stuff. Their opinions matter more than a stranger's.

8. That my garden is growing like crazy! I'm going to be buried in cucumbers and squash soon. If you're in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by and help yourself.

9. That I feel at loose ends now that I've finished and submitted my latest story. I always wonder if I have another one in me, or if the well is dry. Thus far, the story ideas keep bubbling up...still, I always wonder.

10. DH watched American Hot Rod last night, and it was about a tribute car for Elvis, sponsored by Reeses peanut butter cups (did you know, they make their own peanut butter right there in the factory?). Aside from how disgusting their special candy sounds (a peanut butter cup with a layer of banana cream, because Elvis' favorite food was a peanut butter and banana sandwich), it was interesting to watch. And, it gave me an idea for my next Vintage Rose. Bubble, bubble...

11. The fact that having fifteen things on the list is just too many. I start to run out of steam right around now. Every week I wonder if I have fifteen anythings in me.

12. That I want to dead head my cosmos out by the mailbox, but am having too much fun watching the goldfinches land on them and eat.

13. That I am saving seeds from all my annuals to take with me when we move out west. I fully believe in thinking positive. However, I have WAY too many columbine seeds. Anyone want some?

14. That having someone who loves you more than anyone else in the world is a wonderful feeling. DD tells me this everyday (usually when she's clinging to me like a leech -- she very touch-feely. I don't know where she gets this, as neither DH nor I are that way).

15. That I have a winner of my "Buy A Friend A Book Week" contest -- Ginny was the luck name I pulled from the hat (well, actually, I ran the names through Random.org, but that doesn't sound as good).

Phew. Done. Happy Friday everyone!!

*STICKY POST* Buy A Friend A Book Week

**THIS IS A STICKY POST -- SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWER ENTRIES**

How... How... How could I have forgotten this important event?!?!?!

Buy A Friend A Book Week is nearly over!

*shakes head in shame*

Starting TODAY and running through next Thursday, July 12, 2007 I am running a contest for a $5.00 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press -- enough to buy a full length novel in eBook format, or to put toward a print book if you so choose. There are some really amazing books available over there. So many, you may have trouble choosing.

It's easy. Just put your name in the pot (okay, the comments). And... for an additional entry, tell people about the contest on your own blog and post the link in the comments. How simple is that?

What about you? Why aren't YOU having a BAFABW contest? Hmmm??

There are a few folks participating. If you'd like to enter their contests, too, go here to see the list.

Good luck!

AMMENDED TO ADD:

If you don't want the Wild Rose Press gift certificate (for reasons I simply wouldn't understand!), and you live in the USA or Canada, you may also opt for Door Number Two: Your choice of one of the following books --

1. Marriage for Baby by Melissa McClone
2. Crowned: And Ordinary Girl by Natasha Oakley
3. Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard

And the Winner is....

Straight from my DD's hand...

ANNO!!

I'll send you a Wild Rose Press gift certificate shortly.

Congratulations!!

Tune back in next week to see another contest, because this was just too much fun!

Whodunnit?

Somebody bought me a book for no reason! Today, in the mail, I received a copy of Melissa McClone's book "Marriage for Baby"... who sent it? C'mon you can tell me.

I'm dying here.

I'm also excited, because as I mentioned previously (to Melissa in this post), I haven't read any of her books. And, would you believe my library system doesn't have any (this is going to have to change... I have a big mouth, and I'm not afraid to use it).

So, thanks to whomever sent the book... I'm dying to know your identity.

Win a Book!

THIS IS A STICKY POST... SCROLL DOWN FOR NEW ENTRIES.
con·test [n. kon-test; v. kuhn-test]
1. a race, conflict, or other competition between rivals, as for a prize.

It's that time again -- time for BUY A FRIEND A BOOK WEEK! What a great excuse to go out and get a book for someone, maybe introduce them to a new genre or share a book that you love. It's awesome to send a gift to someone, out of the blue, don't you think?

In honor of the week, I'm giving away a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press (enough to buy a full sized eBook -- though you can certainly use it to buy several short stories instead!) -- and all you have to do is post a comment sometime this week. Every comment you leave gives you an entry -- so come back every day and say hello! I'll hold this contest all week (April 1 - April 7, 2007) and let my DD choose a name randomly at the end of her day (usually around 8:00 p.m.) on 4/7 and will announce the winner the morning of April 8th.

Sound exciting? Let me know what you think. You know what? I just this moment decided to start a bit early and will put all of today's comments in the pot as well. Enter early, enter often and tell a friend!

EDITED TO ADD: I'll put links to other BAFABW contests here (if you, or someone you know, is having a contest leave me a comment and let me know).

Karen is giving away a book of your choice from Amazon, up to a $15 value!

Judy is giving away a book of your choice from Amazon, up to a $20 value!

Amanda is giving away a book of your choice, up to a $15 value!

Susan Helene Gottfried is giving away several books, (but you'll have to check her site for the details)!

The Egret's Nest is giving away a book, up to a $25 value!

Two books are up for grabs at Verbatim!!

Booklogged is giving away three books from her own collection!

Framed and Booked is giving away your choice of a book from Amazon, up to $15 value.

Literary Feline is giving away the book of your choice, up to $15!

I'll keep updating as more contests pour in.