Blog Contest AND Monday Microfiction (Love and Hate)

It's time for a blog contest giveaway!

Thanks to everyone for helping me reach the 200 follower milestone. To celebrate and offer my appreciation for your support, I'm hosting a contest giveaway of the following:

One person will win a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate.

Four people will win the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog's Life.

For a chance to win, please do the following:

1. Be a follower of this blog.
2. Leave a comment that includes your desire to enter the contest and your email address so I can contact you if you win.

That's it---so easy!  If you would like your name added a second time to increase your chances of a win, please make mention of this contest (with a link back) on your blog or other media, and let me know that you did. The contest ends at midnight on Saturday, July 30th. The winners will be chosen at random and announced here on Monday, August 1st.  Good luck!

Grandma's Goulash graciously hosts Succinctly Yours, the wonderful meme for those of us addicted to microfiction. The trick is to write a story in 140 characters or less using the photo below as inspiration. To add to the challenge is the word of the week, "obscure."  My stories are below.

Love

Vivian’s butt obscured Ed’s study of the rare yellow-bellied sapsucker perched in the tree. 

Ed smiled. He didn’t mind the alternate view.

(139 char)

 * * * * * * * * * *

Hate

Jan complained of everything from their picnic lunch to the temperature of the lake water. 

Bill bided his time. Drowning would shut her up.

(137 char)

Have a great week!
Lisa

Winners, Faeries & Microfiction Monday

My blog contest closed on Friday, and now it is time to congratulate the winners! Thanks to everyone who participated and shared the contest information with others. I met my goal of 100 followers and then some. Wow! Never underestimate the power of supportive blog friends.  Here are the winners (chosen in three separate, random drawings):

~~  $20.00 Amazon gift certificate  ~~

Cathy C. Hall (Cathy C's Hall of Fame)

~~ On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King ~~

J.L. Campbell (The Character Depot)

~~ Journal by Peter Pauper Press ~~

Donna Volkenannt (Donna's Book Pub)

Congratulations! Goodies will be shipped upon address verification. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Now on to the ever enjoyable Microfiction Monday, where 140 characters tells a story.   For more fun reads, click over to Susan at Stony River and link to other microfiction gems.

“Will I really be slow dancing in my very own show?” Fae giggled. 

Satyr rolled his eyes. 

“Bimbo! I said pole dancing in your very own shoe!” 

No liberally sprinkled faerie dust could that dread odor quench. 

She learned that magic held no power 

o’er a young lad’s shoe-sweat stench!

Go ahead and roll your eyes. I deserve it. The first is groan-worthy. As to the second, anyone who ever had a little boy at home knows exactly the stinky shoe smell to which I refer. If someone bottled that eye-watering odor and unleashed it over a city it would be considered biological warfare. Moms, you know it's true!

Thanks for visiting. Please check back here for Wednesday's post and then Book Blurb Friday, a new meme I'm hosting every week. It is a fun and rewarding challenge, and I hope you'll opt to participate.  For details, scroll down to my last post, or click on the tab above under the blog header.  Please come back and join the fun!

Til next time -
Lisa

Clip art courtesy of Webweaver.nu.

February Blog Contest: First Step to 100!

February brings sleepy groundhogs, gaudy hearts, and President's Day sales. February is also "National Snack Food Month," "Jobs in Golf Month," and my personal favorite, "National Spunky Old Broads Month."

I admit, it is hard to top "Spunky Old Broads," but I'm adding "First Step to 100 Month" to celebrate my February blog contest. I considered "Shameless Self-Promotion Month," but that one is already claimed by a reality TV star.

My goal is to reach 100 followers this year, so I'm starting early. Here's what I'll be giving away to thank the faithful and entice the inquiring:

The first prize winner will receive a $20.00 gift card for Amazon.com, always a nifty thing to have for purchasing whatever might tickle your fancy:

Second prize is Stephen King's "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," an awesome read for anyone, writer or not. Here's the summary straight from Mr. King's website:

"On Writing is both a textbook for writers and a memoir of Stephen's life and will, thus, appeal even to those who are not aspiring writers.  If you've always wondered what led Steve to become a writer and how he came to be the success he is today, this will answer those questions."

The third prize winner will receive a journal by Peter Pauper Press. Use it to chronicle your dreams, plot your novel, or write your grocery list. Whatever you choose, you'll do it in style:

Three prizes mean three chances to win! It's easy to enter.  Here's how:

• Comment and sign up as a follower of Writing in the Buff, or remind me that you already follow. Your name will be entered one time. 
• Want to up the odds? Mention this contest on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter with a link back to this blog and let me know you did; your name will be entered a second time. 
• Are you an overachiever? Want multiple chances to win? For each person who links from you and becomes a new follower here at Writing in the Buff, his/her name will be entered into the contest and so will yours. Please be sure your pals say you sent them so I know to credit you for the references. The more followers you send, the more times your name will be added into the drawing.

The contest will be open until Friday, February 25th. I will announce the winners on Monday, February 28th.  Blog friends outside the U.S. are welcome to join in the fun.

I'm excited about this contest and hope to increase my followers to 100 this year, so stay tuned for more contests and wordplay shenanigans here at Writing in the Buff!

Enjoy your weekend!
Lisa

P.S. For all my friends buried in snow, I wish you cozy fires, warm snuggle buddies, and an endless supply of hot chocolate (or whatever beverage you prefer to accompany the snuggle-by-the-fire stuff.) Above all, please keep safe.