Today’s winner is LEAH! Leah has won a a shimmery, cooling Bath and Body Works Lip Gloss (with handy dandy makeup mirror), in the official Secret Society Girl flavor of 312 Pomegranate Martini.
Why Pomegranate martini? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out!
You guys are all SO sick of hearing me say that, aren’t you?
So, when I was but a wee girl, they used to hold these big spring raffles at my elementary school, and every day at lunch the nice raffle volunteer ladies would be there selling tickets. Some of the prizes were super nice, like tickets to sporting events or birthday parties on the local birthday-party-pirate-ship outfit (Yes, this is what you crave in Tampa, and it’s actually a great little party!). Some of the prizes were stuffed animals. One year, the prize was this gigantic stuffed dolphin. I took one look at that thing and fell in love. I wanted that dolphin. He wanted me, too. He sat there, looking at me with big black eyes. “Win me, Diana. Don’t let me go to anyone else.” I dreamed about that dolphin. And I set about winning him. I shudder to think how much of my piggy bank’s innards were sacrificed to that thing. I knw I drank from the water fountain rather than getting juice or lemonade for weeks in order to devote every spare penny to buying raffle tickets. It’s entirely possible that I was one of the only kids bidding on the dolphin. Of course, I won him. His raffle box was completely riddled with my name.
And this is why I believe that you enter as many times as you want to win. It’s the same theory I had on submitting manuscripts. Can’t win if you don’t play. Today, I’d like to reward those people who have played this game through its entirety, and as such, have shown phenomenal dedication, persistence, and loyalty, which are all traits much admired by any Secret Society:
Alyssa Goodnight, Annie from OC, Bonnie Ferguson, Heather Brewer, Heather Dawn Harper, Jaci Burton, Lis, larramie, and Milady Insanity are all thereby gifted with a Rose & Grave pin. (Yes, Alyssa, you can have a lip gloss instead). Several of these cats have already won something in the contest. Hard core. (See, they ascribe to my dolphin theory). But that aint all…
They are also entered into the upcoming drawing for The Last of the Hoodies, and really the name says it all, doesn’t it? You guys want to hear the Saga of the Hoodie? It goes something like this:
In 2005, Diana orders hoodies. They arrive, and though are quite beautiful, are even smaller than the size chart for “fitted and runs small” would have led her to believe. They also were Not Cheap. However, they were a hit, and Diana spends a lot of time trying to find a less expensive way to produce them, because unlike the Cafe Press gear, these hoodies are not Print On Demand. But she can’t, and they are even more expensive now than they were in 2005. Diana keeps her fingers crossed for the day that Cafe Press expands its line of black products from mere t-shirts to hoodies. (But if 20 of you want to get together and order them, I’ll make it happen for you.)
I’d also like to add that this, the Last of the Hoodies, comes in one size only, and it happens to be a large, which, since they run hella small, is the size I wear (I’m usually a 6). The winner may choose an alternate prize from anything in the Eli University Cafe Press store. (This may happen if the winner is Heather B, or she may choose to make it a wardrobe staple.)
Angie, Carrie, Gina, Julie, Marley, Phyllis, Sara, Eileen, Kristen Painter, Lara, and Robin are now in a run-off contest for a gift basket of pomegranate martini beauty products (you think all I’ve got is the gloss?) No pictures available, but trust me, it’s nice.
Manic mom, Rhiannon, Pam, Jami, Estella, Jennifer Y, Minna, Leah, and Nancy are all in a run-off for a bunch of lollipop roses. Why roses? You know the drill…
All of these drawings are going to take place soon. Meanwhile, winners of all stripes, please send me your addresses over email (to be found in the profile block near my photo at the top of this page).
Okay, what else do we have in store for you all on release day? How about Secret Society Girl Sightings? Savvy reader Gina Johnson sent in this sighting late last night from a Tulsa-area B&N:
This is the first time I’ve seen the book on the shelves, even if it wasn’t with my own eyes. I was so excited! It might be my favorite SSG photo so far, though this may give it a run for its money:
This photo is from another Gina (Gina Black), who apparently needs to battle her cat to get her hands on the book.
Which reminds me, let me point you to some blogs that are doing their part to Get The Secret Out: Manic Mommy, Angie (Nice Mommy Evil Editor), the aforementioned Gina Black, Julie Leto’s Marisela Blog, Kelly Parra’s Words of a Writer, and I know I’m forgetting someone so just shout it out, and I’ll put your blog up on the list as well.
UPDATED: Jennifer Echols (whose own fab debut is coming out any minute), Maureen McGowan (everyone go and give prayers to her brother’s sick puppy) and Marley-care-of-The Knight Agency (who already have plenty of SSG stuff) have all posted about my release, and, in the biggest surprise of the day, Paperback Writer is doing a giveaway of the book on her blog! Go there and win a free copy! Also, Allison Winn Scotch, Robin Brande, Susan Adrian, Fiona’s Farrago (with pictures she took on pain of camera confiscation!), Bonnie Ferguson, and Alyssa Goodnight!
People who send me their SSG blog links AND/OR photos of SSG sightings today will be entered in yet another contest… because really, I kind of enjoy playing Santa Claus.
Or, as it were, Uncle Tony.*
*Read the book to find out.
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And, for those of you in the greater Washington D.C. area, please join me to celebrate the launch of my debut novel.
Reading, Discussion & Signing
When: Tuesday, July 18th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Borders Books & Music
White Flint Mall
11301 Rockville Pike
Kensington, MD 20895
I’ve been practicing reading aloud, and there will be cake. What more reason do you need?
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Finally, read the fabu review the book got at Teens Read Too. Quotes of note:
SECRET SOCIETY GIRL is a blast! Fun and witty, with an engaging theme, heartfelt situations, intriguing dialogue, and a cast of characters that you’ll be cheering for, it’s a story you won’t want to put down. You won’t go wrong picking up a copy of this clever, imaginative story.
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And, now, the tease: The Beer Story Which I Cannot Yet Name involves Dos Equis.
Okay, that is all! Go forth, discover SSG in the wild! Have a good week. I’ll probably be very quiet for a bit, as I’ll be busy trying to keep my cool…
UPDATE:
More pictures, sent by eagle eyed readers. I love my street team!
Here my book is at Indigo in Toronto. Picture sent in by the marvelous Maureen McGowan…
Maureen sent this to me on my phone this afternoon. I didn’t even know my phone could receive pictures. It’s now my new phone wallpaper. Ah, what a world we live in, where even our phones get wallpaper!
Thanks, Maureen!
And here’s my book sharing shelving space with the delectable Johnny Depp. (Now, though I describe the character George in my book looking a lot like Orlando Bloom, it occurs to me that in character, Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner is a lot more like Brandon… But that’s neither here nor there.)
This picture was taken by the lovely and very enthusiastic Julie Leto, who knows that nothing sells books like proximity to the Depp!
Thanks, Julie!
Okay, really off now, to have lunch and see this book for myself!
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