Think you have what it takes to OUT-DESIGN US? Enter the Writer's Yardsale Design Contest with your best book, writer, or nerdy girl/guy t-shirt design and find out!
Bria and I get a lot of requests to put certain designs or slogans on t-shirts, mugs, and more, so we know there are some amazing ideas floating around out there. Do you have the best one? Let's find out with a contest!
HOW TO ENTER: You send us a .png file of your design
WHAT HAPPENS THEN: We put your design on a t-shirt in the CONTEST ROOM of the Yardsale for everyone to see…and vote on!
HOW TO WIN: On Wednesday, February 9th, voting starts and continues through Wednesday, February 16th. Pimp your t-shirt for votes!The winner get's a FREE t-shirt, journal, or mug (your choice!), showcasing their design!How cool is that?
THE SMALL PRINT:
Designs must be no hotter than PG13 & nothing copyrighted
Anything NOT COPYRIGHTED is fair game: Pimp your book. Pimp your favorite book. Inspirational sayings. Uninspiring sayings. Pretty pictures. Be clever. Be droll. Be so boring you’re funny. Whatever design you think is going to win…or at least earn a good chuckle.
The .png file must be at least 1000 pixels wide and no wider than 2500 pixels.
Also, if your .png file is on a white background, it will only go on a white tee -- if you want your design on a colored tee, the background of your .png file must be transparent.
While you can after 30 days sell your design anywhere you like, The Yardsale will be allowed to keep the design up for future sales as well.
Need an example? Your design doesn't have to be fancy. It can be as simple as a textual slogan like this one:
Check out all our designs at Writer's Yardsale for inspiration as well. Start prepping your designs now and get them in by Feb. 7th! We can't wait to see what you come up with!
I am so very excited to share with you the cover of my good friend Myra McEntire's debut YA novel, HOURGLASS. It's one of the most unique covers I've ever seen! Watch the teaser trailer below to see the cover. (Hint, if you don't get it at first, turn your head sideways.)
Isn't it made of awesome?!
I had the privilege to design Myra's blog template as well, showing off her new book cover. Head on over to see and let me know what you think in the comments below.
There are also some sweet contests going on in honor of HOURGLASS Cover Reveal Week. Enter to win some awesome prizes and read a few excerpts from HOURGLASS!
Read Monday's excerpt at Mundie Moms and enter to win a miniature hourglass!
Read Tuesday's excerpt at Eve's Fan Garden and enter to win a pair of bunny slippers!
Read Wednesday's excerpt at my book review site, YA Books Central, and enter to win a Kiss the Cook apron, designed by me!
And last but not least, head on over to Twilight Lexicon to enter to win a signed ARC of HOURGLASS and to read the official synopsis!
Check out this exclusive excerpt from Myra McEntire’s debut YA novel, HOURGLASS, and enter to win this Kiss the Cook apron! Why are we giving away a Kiss the Cook apron?
If you love the BBC show Merlin as much as I do (bad effects and all), then you'll love playing Merlin Bingo!
The hubs and I came up with Merlin Bingo after we noticed a few trends repeated in every episode. We joked that we should throw back a shot every time Arthur takes off his shirt. We pointed and laughed each time Morgana smiled mischievously. And every time Merlin falls down, we raise a glass and shout, "Huzzah!"
Then our little minds whirred a bit more. What if all our friends could gather around the tube on Friday nights and play Merlin Bingo? The first to hit Bingo wins!
Wins what? That's for you to decide.
I've designed ten cards for your downloading pleasure, made up of a selection of randomized boxes, each with a varying degree of difficulty. We only have one rule: whatever's in the box has to be seen on screen during the episode, not in the previews or opening sequence.
These cards are designed for Season 3 episodes only, and some cards my contain boxes the other cards do not. Click on the card to download it, then print. (You may need a Google account to access them.) Have fun!
I've been meaning to share my favorites of 2010 for a while now, but my back's been out, so quality laptop time has been minimal. Today, however, I feel much better. So here we go!
Of course, I have to start with the top books I read in 2010. I didn't get to read anywhere near as many as I would have liked, but these really stood out.
Favorite Books
Mockingjay, the third book in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, wins my heart, hands down. It's very hard to make me cry while reading a book (I've maybe only done it once or twice before), but Mockingjay made me sob...and tell my husband I loved him about three hundred times in a single hour.
The brilliance with Collins' series is that she makes us think long after the final page. Think about war. Think about love. Think about humanity's flaws. Think about our insatiable lust for entertainment. Think about how little we truly care for our fellow man.
Very few books have left quite a distinct mark on my life. Mockingjay goes soaring up to my all time favorites list.
Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor was an unexpected treat. I wasn't sure what to make of the cover, but don't let that dissuade you. Fans of paranormal YA will love this book.
Taylor takes us to three separate worlds, exploring different stories and legends regarding the afterlife and hell. Normally I wouldn't be drawn to those sorts of stories, but Taylor's writing was so swoon-worthy, I was enraptured by the first page. Her word craft is gorgeous, fluid, and seductive, and I learned a lot from her descriptions. If you're a writer looking to expand your descriptive horizons in a poetic way, this is a must read.
As far as adult fiction, Diamond Ruby by my friend Joseph Wallace was the clear winner. Inspired by the true story of a woman pitcher who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, this book had my heart breaking within the first few chapters.
First of all, Wallace can write. You're not reading about the 20's, you're in the 20's. From Prohibition, to the Spanish Influenza, to gangsters, to the KKK, to the Great American Pastime, you'll feel like you lived through it all, right alongside Ruby. Who is one amazing female heroine.
What I love most about this book is that Wallace paints the struggle for women's rights so clearly and exact, that both women and men will come away with a heightened respect for those who paved the way for equality--all artfully woven into an engaging baseball tale.
Joe, I can't wait to see the film! I have no doubt it will be a hit. I feel so privileged to have met a writer as brilliant as you. :)
And for the fangirl in me, I have to give props to The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint by Bree Despain. Even though this series is a girl-meets-boy YA Paranormal, it's like nothing I've read in that genre before.
You'd think a YA book about a Christian girl with a pastor for a father would be boring, but Despain's fiction is gripping, to say the least. Grace's faith in God is ever-present, which allows me to relate to her character more than other YA heroines. And Daniel, well. He and Peeta (from Mockingjay) will always have my heart.
Favorite Films
(Yes, it's quite clear I'm not only a Children's Literature fan, but also a Family Film fan.)
Moving on.
Favorite TV
Doctor Who
I admit, I had never seen a Doctor Who episode before Series 5 aired with Matt Smith as the new Doctor. I know, it's blasphemy, right? But all my Twitter friends set me straight. Now I'm hooked and can't wait for Series 6!
The Pillars of the Earth
This was on my recommendations list on Netflix for a while, but I just now had time to watch it all. (My back's been out, remember?) I love medieval films, and this mini series from Starz is masterful, rivaling the best movie epics. I must warn you though, it's insanely graphic, which I don't care for. I was drawn to the story, the light, the colors, the actors, the characters, so I made it through the whole series, though I skipped over many parts. There is a LOT of blood, nudity, rape, etc., as one would expect with a story about the evils that corrupt mankind. But it was satisfyingly powerful, and has stuck with me ever since. That's why I recommend it.
Parenthood
I had no idea this show existed until late this year. I'm so glad I found it! Parents, you have got to give it a try.
The IT Crowd
And for slapstick, I always get a roaring laugh out of The IT Crowd. Catch it on Netflix, if you're in to British humor. (Click on the image below for a particularly hilarious scene.) :)
Merlin
Yes, another BBC show. In fact, I'll take a short cut and add all of BBC to my favorites list. (I've become fond of Law & Order UK as well.) But Merlin, specifically, has become one of my favorite shows of all time. Season 3 is the best so far. Catch it on SyFy on January 7th!
Favorite Music
Antoine Dufour
Thanks to Pandora, I've been introduced to this amazing guitarist. I often listen to my Antoine Dufour Pandora station while I'm working on my various websites. His music has the right mixture of energy, seduction, and heartbreak to get me through various design snafus. I wish I could play guitar like this!
Helen Jane Long
Oh. my. gosh. I love her Porcelain album. Such emotion. It reminds me a lot of the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack, which I absolutely adore. Again, another musician I found via Pandora.
Thom Yorke
Specifically "Skip Divided (Modeselektor Remix)" -- I was looking for some creeptastic music for one of my WIP playlists, and man, does this deliver.
In fact, if you want more from my Creeptastic playlist, here it is!
Favorite Websites/Resources
NetGalley.com -- This has made book reviewing for YABooksCentral.com so much easier. If you're a book review blogger, head thee to NetGalley!
Joomla.org -- As a web designer/manager, Joomla's content management program is a God send. I don't know what I'd do without it. It makes my site PluggedInParents.com possible, and cuts my at-desk editing/coding time down by at least 70%. And it's FREE. The learning curve is high, but once you dig in and master it, it's a thing to behold!
I'm currently in the process of switching YABooksCentral.com over to Joomla. What do you think of the new design so far? This is the first sneak peek of our beta site, hopefully going live in April. Don't you feel privileged?
RiffTrax.com -- If you're a fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and the idea of hearing them riff over blockbuster films like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Twilight series strikes your fancy, head on over to Rifftrax. MST3K is still going strong, only in .mp3 format!
The Yardsale -- Okay, I have to pimp one of my own sites for a minute. Bria Quinlan and I started The Yardsale, where we create t-shirts, mugs, and other gifts for writers, authors, lit students/professors, and book lovers. Check out our main store here: http://www.cafepress.com/romanceyardsale
You can also find custom creations over here: http://romanceyardsale.spreadshirt.com -- where we have Hunger Games, Twilight, and Harry Potter shirts, among others.
This year we'll be holding a few contests, and creating more custom shirts/merch for our author friends for their own promos and giveaways. So stay tuned! And if you'd like a shirt designed for one of your books, please let us know!
GrooveShark.com -- When I hear a great song on Pandora, I immediately add it to one of my GrooveShark playlists. Then I can go back and listen to it anytime I want. Great for WIP playlists -- and creating one of those widgets like the one I included above.
Favorite Products
My iPad
Since taking the plunge into the iPhone world, my at-desk computer time reduced drastically. Now, with the iPad, that time has reduced even more. Not only can I read ARCs from NetGalley, using the BlueFire app, but I can review picture book ARCs in color. I did buy a Kindle, but returned it within a day or so and opted for the iPad. Call me a gadget snob, but the iPad was the best choice for a web designer/writer/book reviewer like me.
Flexible Ice Blanket
Yes, now that I'm 30, you'll see more "practical" things listed under my favorite products section. This one rivals the iPad for the top spot. *snort* Those with a bad back know what I'm talking about. These ice blankets help speed the healing, so I can get back to writing!
Feline Pine
Another practical product. I've switched out our clay litter (dusty, harsh on the environment) for this pine version, which is available at most stores. If you scoop your cat's litter daily, or every other day, you must try Feline Pine. It. Smells. Like. Pine. Not, you know, that other stuff. It's made from reclaimed sawdust, and it's fully biodegradable because it's pine! I'll never go back to clay litter again. (And I've tried the other "environmentally friendly" litters as well. This one beats them all!)
I'm sure there are tons more, but this is all I can think of for now. Maybe in 2011, I'll actually write my favorites down and keep the list somewhere.
