Day 5 Giveawaty- Signed Goodnight Goon

Note to self:  No more five day parties (I somehow forgot how little stamina I have!)

I'm so sorry.  I've been neck deep in revisions (knee deep really isn't all that deep when you think about it) and I have totally neglected my blog and my contest!  (I also owe some of you prizes and I promise I will get to the post office soon.)

Okay, onto the fifth and final giveaway.  Goodnight Goon written and illustrated by Michael Rex.   This petrifying parody earned Michael a spot on the NY Times bestseller list.

In a cold gray tomb
There was a gravestone
And a black lagoon
And a picture of –
Martians taking over the moon

All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment.  (and you must have a U.S. Postal address)

Contest ends Thurs, April 28th at 5:00 PM.

Day 4 Giveaway- Hop! Plop!

Many authors dream of the day that they will see their book on a shelf in B&N.   I gotta say... it's a great moment!  But there is actually something better.  Watching as your own child reads your story!

Here is Jordan "reading"  Hop! Plop! when it first came out in 2006.



To win, all you have to do is tell me how cute she is.  Kidding!   Just follow me on Facebook at Three Ninja Pigs.

And leave me a comment to let me know you want to be entered.

Day 3 Giveaway- Nightshade City

Okay, I am falling way behind schedule, but it's spring break and my kids are home.  Need I say more?

For day 3 of the Hop! Plop! Birthday Bash, I am giving away NIGHTSHADE CITY by Hilary Wagner.  Can you believe this exciting underground MG adventure started out as a picture book?

Hilary is here to tell us about it in her own words:

When I got the idea in my head to write Nightshade City, it started out far different. I was pregnant with my daughter Nomi (who at the time we were told was a boy), so I thought wouldn't it be great if I wrote a picture book for my two sons! Vincent was about five at the time and my baby on the way was going to be called Victor. If we have another boy anytime soon at least we already have the name picked out!

So, I started writing. The story began on a roof top of an old apartment building in a dilapidated city, two bony rats brothers, shivering close to each other on a dark and stormy night. *insert record screech here* Hmmm...two emaciated rats in an old dirty city on a dark and stormy night...that didn't scream picture book to me, especially when the owl comes after them moments later!

At that moment, I realized (quite clearly) I was not meant to write picture books. I adore them and buy way too many of them for Nomi--two now--and a total bookavore! I think writing picture books takes a special kind of knack, just like novels do. You either have the talent for them or you don't and just because an author can write a string of bestselling novels, don't think picture books are easy peasy to that same author--total myth! Last year I saw literary agent Michael Stearns speak (who has this awesome dry sense of humor) and he said (I'm summarizing) that many picture book writers move on to novels, but it is rare for a novelist to move on to picture books--at least good ones! He was certainly right in my case.

Just a few weeks back, I finished KINGS OF TRILLIUM, Book II in the Nightshade Chronicles and now I'm working on a second series. I'm so hooked on novels. I can never see myself moving into picture books. I'm just not built for them! For now, I'll just buy Corey's! Nomi can't wait for Three Ninja Pigs!!!! ;)

NIGHTSHADE CITY is available at Barnes and Noble stores nationwide, Indie Booksellers, Amazon and more.

Thanks, Hilary!

All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment. (You must also reside in the U.S.)

Contest ends Mon, April 11th at 5:00 PM.

Day 2 Giveaway- The Liar Society

Okay, day 2 of the Big Hop Plop 5th Birthday Bash!   I realize that not everyone out there reads and writes picture books.  So, today, I am giving away a copy of The Liar Society by the funny and fabulous Roecker sisters, Lisa and Laura. This YA mystery is fun, fast.paced, and full of suspense. (OMG, I am going a little overboard with the alliteration today)

You'd have to be living under a rock to have not heard of this one, but just in case...  here is the blurb:

Kate Lowry's best friend Grace died a year ago. So when she gets an email from her, Kate's more than a little confused.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)
Kate,
I'm here... sort of.
Find Cameron. He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell. They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace's death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not-so)-shining armor-the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her lovestruck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them-even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder...

All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment.

For this one, you must reside in the U.S.

Contest ends Wed, April 6th at 5:00 PM.

Happy Birthday HOP PLOP (and some giveaways!)

Okay, I'd like to say this is epic.  But if you want EPIC, you need to go to Lisa and Laura's blog for a truly epic, huge, crazy, insane contest, creative beyond your wildest imagination.  (or at least mine)

In any case,  today is the 5th birthday of Hop! Plop!  And I really want to do something special.  So, I am giving away FIVE prizes.

Each day, there is different prize and a different way to enter.  So check back M-F for new ways to win.

Today, all you have to do is announce on facebook or Twitter:

Happy Birthday HOP PLOP, an Eric Carle Museum PB of Distinction- http://bit.ly/guDDnx

Leave me a comment to let me know you've done it.  Do both  (facebook and twitter) and get two entries.

Today's prize is a $20 Amazon gift card or a PB critique.

Contest ends April 5th and 5:00 PM (EST)

Thanks for celebrating with me!