Happy Birthday to Me (and Some Celebrating)

They say it's my birthday. Da-na-na-na-na. It's your birthday too...

Wait. Maybe not. But we can pretend, right? I'm pretty good at sharing, usually. Why not? You can take that extra year and I'll keep the party. Sound good? Deal then.

Anyway, I had a post all ready for today, and then I realized that, ahem, today is a day I should be celebrating. Because I feel like it. And because most years I try to skip right over this day and not make a big deal about it and blah blah. But not this year. This year I'm already giving away prizes and gifts and doing fun things to celebrate (it's not too late to enter!) so I figure I might as well go all the way.

Virtual cookies all around! Party hats and all that jazz.
 No gifts required.

However, if you absolutely insist ... if you must offer a gift, read my book and then leave a review. Help spread the word on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, Shelfari, and Book Depository.

In the current market, reviews are one of the most effective helps you can offer to a new author. Two sentences is all we need, and those same sentences can be copied and pasted in each different venue. And what I want most for the coming year is to grow and expand my career. So yeah. Two sentences, five minutes. That's all. And if you do it by the end of today, July 9th, 2013, YOU get presents. 

*clinks glass with a butter knife*

 Regardless of the previous paragraph in which I contradict myself by saying no gifts, and then telling you what you can give me, I want to make a virtual Dr. Pepper toast.

Thank you! Thanks for reading and for continuing to come back here and see what I have to say and for giving me a reason to keep writing and keep blogging and just altogether keep on going down this path. I *heart* you all to the moon and back, and I can't wait to see what this next year brings!

Fun Stuff Coming Up!

Guys! I feel like I have so much to tell you. It’s not that I’ve been keeping secrets, or taken a break from posting, but suddenly I have a list of THINGS to share.

When I was writing my posts for the week, I looked at my calendar and realized that June is over and July is upon us. And HolyCrapSummersHalfwayOver, and there are some FreakishlyCoolBeyondAwesome things coming up fast.

Like a really fun Birthday Bash promotion, in honor of my birthday, and also DESCENDANT being published, and in which you can buy my book and get free stuff, be entered to win free stuff, and then get more free stuff for participating. It runs July 1-9^th, and there are lots and lots of ways to participate, and did I mention free stuff and prizes? Yeah.  Maybe keep that in mind and if you’re planning to buy or gift a copy of DESCENDANT, you may want to wait until July 1st, and check back here for the details on how to get your free stuff. (I mentioned free stuff, right?)

Party. Balloons. Party favors. YAHOO!

A few weeks after that, I will be doing a little traveling, some of which *might* involve research for a manuscript which *might* be a sequel to DESCENDANT. This trip will also involve a few days in Utah, during which time I may set up a signing if I have time. (I’ll let you know!)

Also, have you ever attended WorldCON? If you’re at all into science fiction / fantasy of any kind (Star wars anyone? No? Star Trek maybe? Game of Thrones?) it’s pretty much a week of unbridled awesome. And this year, it’s called LoneStarCON, because it’s in San Antonio, which is only two hours away from me, which means I WILL SO BE THERE! So far, I am not planning on being on any panels or participating at all because I hesitated too long, but I don’t even care. I have my reservations and have paid my fee and at the end of August, I AM GOING. (So if you’ve ever considered attending, you should come this year and find me and say hi.)

What else? Oh yes! My friend Tova (the one who made my awesome DESCENDANT lip balms and body sprays) at The Way of the Witch has recently launched an Ailment app, which will is geared toward helping people find holistic, natural remedies to whatever ails you, kind of like Abby in DESCENDANT. Cool, right? I recommend checking that out if you’re at all into natural healing.

Okay, last thing. I have some seriously big goals for the next few months, and lots of important tasks vying for my attention, so aside from a few extra promotional posts, I’m going to cut back to one post a week until September.  And because it seems like a good time to experiment, I’m going to try posting that once-a-week post on Tuesdays. (Obviously, I’m feeling rebellious.)  

Thanks so much for reading and for understanding and for just being awesome. That’s all for now!

*Don’t forget to check back on July 1^st for an opportunity to participate in the Birthday Bash Promotion and get lots of free stuff!

One Day Special: Win the Coolest Prize Ever

Well. Clearly, this is a week for contests. Because while tomorrow I will be jumping into this Deathly Hallows, Part 2 celebration, today I am having a one-day only hurry and throw me an answer giveaway.

Because Saturday was my birthday, and I feel like giving away fun stuff to my friends. Also, I don’t have a clue what to blog about right now, because my brain is still full of cheese and chocolate fondue from The Melting Pot. So why not just give stuff to people, right?

Tomorrow’s contest will be easy, so because of that, I think today’s will have to be harder. BUT it will be worth it. Because the winner will come away with a handful of very fun prizes.

Check these out!

 Okay, what you're looking at is probably the most random collection of prizes I've ever given away. But they all have a story. Well, all except that giant Tootsie Roll paper clip. I probably just bought it because it was cool. So, the dolphin bookmark (plush, by the way) came from Sea World, the wooden surfboard bookmark came from Hawaii, and the sombrero-guy pen came from San Antonio. At some point (as you can see) I used to buy this stuff every time I went somewhere. But then I never gave them away until now. So. Also, to sweeten the deal, I'm going to throw in a bag of these.

You know you’re dying to win this prize!! (Because who wouldn't want a bunch of useless, but silly stuff like this?)

So here is the question with a little lead up info: Two Julys ago, for my birthday my husband got me the most fabulous pink netbook (which I still use for hours EVERY DAY). Last year, he got me a Kindle (which I also use quite a lot). What could he have given me this year that could compete with those two gifts and make me squeal with delight? (Freebee: It’s NOT an iPad. Hint: it will be good for my career as a writer, and will make me most happy around mid-August.)

Just throw your answers into a comment and tomorrow, I’ll tell you who (if anyone) wins!

*dances around in excitement*

Winner of the Summer Rocks Contest

By Nichole Giles

Today is the day I promised to announce the results of the drawing for the silver Roxy bracelet. The winner was picked using a random generator, and though I wish I had more than one bracelet to give away, I could only pick one lucky person for this particular contest.
And the winner of the bracelet is Ali Cross. (Cheer, clap, clap, clap, clap, cheer, hooray, and the crowd goes wild.)

Oh, but I couldn’t stand just picking one name! I have so many awesome followers and wanted everyone to win, so I had an extra name drawn as a runner up. In the event that I’m unable to locate Ali, this person gets the bracelet. But since I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case, the runner up will be getting a delicious chocolate stash in the form of either a Symphony bar or Hershey’s—her choice. So the runner up is Cindy Beck. (Dancing, clap, clap, clap. Cheer, and the crowd goes wild again.)
Congratulations, Ladies! Please contact me privately with your snail mail address information so I can get your prizes delivered this week.

Thank you so much for playing, and stay tuned this next few weeks for another fun drawing! (All you followers will automatically be entered—but watch for ways to increase your chances of winning.)

Have a happy, rockin’ summer! (And happy birthday to all my fellow July babies.)

Ten Reasons Summer Rocks and a Prize

By Nichole Giles

Anyone who knows or has ever heard a speech by the up and coming big-time author, James Dashner, has an inkling of his propensity for making lists. The man has a top ten for everything. And they’re always funny. Or, at least I find them amusing.

But recently he posted a list on his blog about all the reasons he hates hot weather, which in my book translates to summer. Now, while the Dash-man does make some good points, I am here to counter his dislike of my favorite season of the year.

Why, you ask?

Because I feel like it. And also, because summer rocks! ;-P (That’s me sticking my tongue out at James.)

So, I am hereby posting a top ten list of why summer is the BESTEST, most awesome season of the whole entire year. And then I’m giving away a really awesome prize. Again, because I feel like it, and summer—and warm weather—rocks.

10. Awesome, warm weather is perfect for water recreation. Boating, wave running, and skiing in local lakes, oceans, and rivers (skiing in the summer is called water skiing, which is why we don’t ski on dirt when there’s no snow).

9. No snow!!! You can actually walk around outside in the grass, barefooted and without a coat, and not get hypothermia.

8. A whole season (or at least part of one if you live in Utah) of healthy, natural vitamin D (aka sunshine).

7. Swimsuit and sandal weather—for soaking up those vitamins. (And if you hate looking at your feet, get a pedicure!)

6. Three words: Pools are Open. (And jumping in a pool is not nearly as scary as flying down a mountain on waxed wood with nothing to keep you from crashing into a tree but two skinny sticks.)

5. I can drive my convertible with the top down and not get snowed on, and also not have to leave my car at a local gas station because it's stuck in the parking lot (aka a sheet of thick ice).

4. Fireworks that make silly shapes in the sky, parades where clowns chuck candy at your kids so they ruin their braces eating it, carnivals with rides that cost way too much and make you throw up, and patriotic celebrations--because we live in America!

3. Cotton candy to give you a sugar high, caramel apples that also ruin braces--but are so worth it, snow cones--any flavor, and ice cream.

2. Barbeques and fresh veggies, baseball--especially the little kid kind, and blooming flowers.

1. My birthday is in July--and everyone looks forward to that.

This leads me to the big announcement. Next week is the big day (and no, I’m not telling you how old I am). When you’re a kid, people ask what you want for your birthday, but since I’m not a kid anymore, I’ve decided to give a gift away to one of my fabulous followers.

Check this out:

Pretty, huh?

Quicksilver / Roxy brand stainless steel charm bracelet. Retail value: $18.00.

Come on, you know you want it! To win this fabulous bracelet, all you have to do is one of these things:

1. Become a follower of this blog you’re reading or my other blog. (Or both.) Then, leave a comment on this post telling me you’ve become a fan. In your comment, tell me at least one thing you love about summer—or something special that reminds you of summer. If you’re already a follower, you’re one step ahead—but still leave me a comment and tell me why summer rocks.

2. Run on over to James Dashner’s blog and say hi to him. Tell him I sent you, and then come back here and let me know you paid him a visit. (You don’t have to follow him, but please still follow me. And whatever you say to him, be nice. He is my friend, after all.)

3. Go have a good laugh at the LDS Humor blog, and sign up to be a follower there, then come back here and tell me you signed up, and share a funny joke of your own. (Because everyone needs a good laugh, right? Oh, and then watch for your joke—and your name—to show up on the humor blog later this month.)

4. Listen to my playlist (on the sidebar) and tell me which summer song is your favorite. If your favorite isn’t on there, tell me what awesome summer songs I don’t have but should add. (As long as they’re appropriate, I will.)

Sometime on or around July 13th (that’s a Monday) I’ll have my trusty computer generator choose a random name from the list, and announce it here and on my other blog. The winner will then have to send me a private email with their snail mail information so I can send them the gorgeous prize. (Guys, I know this isn’t so much a prize you want, but it makes a great gift for an important female in your life. And if you follow me anyway, you’ll be automatically entered in the next awesome giveaway, which is coming up soon and is not jewelry.)

Now, get away from your computer and go get some sunshine!