Another Link is Forged

The whole cyber-space thing - WOW - it still amazes me.

Through Internet social networks, online writing classes, and the wonderful writing/reading blog community I have found forever friends like Kiki Hamilton from WA (and I get to meet her for the first time in April at the WA-SCBWI Conf. YAY) - I have had the pleasure of 'meeting' writers and friends in other countries: Maha from Dubai and Katia from India to name just two - I have learned enormous amounts from teachers like Uma Krishnaswami and Sarah Aronson - And I have laughed, learned and commiserated with countless bloggers about the writing process.

Most recently through the awesomeness of the cyber-world I won my very own winner's copy of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE (that I just received, thanks again Casey). Now I have the honor to Buy-it-Forward for another lucky blogger.

The WINNER........of the SKY IS EVERYWHERE......by Jandy Nelson is....





My Photo
Will you look at how happy she is to win!!!!!  : )

Thank you to all for visiting my blog and entering the contest. If you didn't win here you may win on Corrine's blog!! Another link in the chain has been forged. YAY!!!! 


Buy-it-Forward Winner of The Sky is Everywhere: Who's next?

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to buy - thanks!
I WON I WON IWON IWONIWONIWANIWANNAIWANNA-I wanna see who's next to WIN, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE!!

If you don't know Casey McCormick and you've never clicked over to her blog Literary Rambles, and you don't know how informative, helpful, and fun her postes are, or that she's started a Buy-it-Forward chain-HELLO-What are you waiting for? Get on over there because it's only the best blog stop EVER. And I'm not just saying that because I won THE SKY IS EVERWHERE, by Jandy Nelson on her blog a few days ago. (YAY)

Here's what Casey says about the book:

THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson blows. my. mind. Boom. Gone. Again and again. I just read it a third time, despite an elephant ton of other books I need to read, because it's just that good. It works for me in every way, on every level. So much so that if you try to tell me you don’t like it, I’m very likely to stick my fingers in my ears and go, LALALALALALALA WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU LALALALALALA.


 
So heres the deal. I won THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE (did I already mention that?) Casey has ordered the book for me and it is on its way as I type (eek, can't wait). 

NOW, it's your turn to win. That's right.

Just comment on this post (1 entry), tweet about this post (1 entry), put this post on your Facebook wall (1 entry), send a friend who doesn't follow me over to comment on this post (1 entry), and you will have a chance (or two or three or...) to win your very own brand new copy of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE.  Isn't that cool?

Please be sure to let me know when you comment if you have tweeted or posted on Facebook, okay?

Here’s how it works. I’m going to order a brand new copy of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE for one lucky winner who follows the rules Casey has posted on her blog: 

"To enter the giveaway you have to be willing to do the SAME giveaway on your blog or Facebook. Meaning, you have to buy the book for someone else within TWO WEEKS of receiving the book. Your ONLY out is this: if you don’t love THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE enough to keep it and buy it for someone, you can give away the one you’ve received. But the giveaway has to continue. Meaning, whoever wins your giveaway has to buy it for their winner or give away the one they’ve received from you, depending on their feelings on it."

It is her hope, and mine, "that this will create a chain of PURCHASES in order to support the title. Not a big pass-the-book-around fest. In fact, you might even consider starting your giveaway right after you win" (which is what I'm doing bcz I'm THAT sure I'll LOVE the book), 

RULES:

1. You MUST have a blog or Facebook or somewhere you can give the book away and be clear about the rules (Twitter can’t support it, for example).

2. You MUST be willing to hold this exact giveaway on your blog or Facebook in which you purchase this book for someone else (or give away the one you receive from me, IF you don’t love it) and require that YOUR winner do the same. Preferably within TWO WEEKS of receiving the book from me.

2. If you win, PLEASE enter your giveaway into the linky widget ON CASEY'S BLOG and have YOUR winner do the same, again on Casey's original giveaway post  (not on your blog or my blog). That way she can track how long the chain lasts and how many purchases we achieve. Cool, right? I can't wait to see how long the chain goes on for.

3. U.S. entrants only.

4. Spreading the word will gain you extra entries (Tweets and Facebook). Stalking Jandy Nelson on the net (only on the net!) will also get you extra entries.

5. The contest will run February 17th to February 21st ‘til MIDNIGHT. I will announce the winner on February 22nd and the chain will commence.

Additionally, if you want to start your own giveaway chain for THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, please do and don't forget to add yourself to Casey's linky widget.

I don't enter a ton of contest, but I loved this idea of Buying-it-Forward and supporting another writer, and I hope you'll join me.

Travel Back a Thousand Years

Sunday Scribblings, if you don't already know, is a blog that “was set up to provide inspiration and motivation for anyone who enjoys writing and would like a weekly challenge.”
This week’s prompt is: a thousand years, and inspiration is what I found in the form of a poet that lived a thousand years ago.

Izumi Shikibu lived in Japan between 970 and 1033 AD and she is still known today for her beauty, her lovers, and her poems. Thirteen of which have survived time.

Thank you Sunday Scribblings. Without you I doubt I would have found Izumi’s beautiful words. To read something that was written in a completely different time, culture, a world so different from today’s is like time traveling from the comfort of my living room.

Below is one of Izumi’s more famous poems. Enjoy.


Things I Want Decided

 
Which shouldn't exist
in this world,
the one who forgets
or the one
who is forgotten?

Which is better,
to love
one who has died
or not to see
each other when you are alive?

Which is better,
the distant lover
you long for
or the one you see daily
without desire?

Which is the least unreliable
among fickle things-
the swift rapids,
a flowing river,
or this human world?
Izumi Shikibu

Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Arantani - The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono No Komachi and Izumi ShikibuTo read more from Izumi Shikibu check out - The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono No Komachi and Izumi Shikibu, compiled by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Arantani