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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Auction Winners!

It is now my complete honor to announce all the Writers For Hope Auction winners!

I can't tell you how crazy it was during the last five minutes of the auction. Floodgates came down, bids were pouring in and I was just yelling incoherent burst of excitement in the general direction of the computer.

In the frenzy, there were a few bids that came in after the 11:59 cut off and were, unfortunately, disqualified. Thankfully, this was a very rare occurrence. To anyone that it did happen to, I'm very sorry and thank you so extremely much for participating in the auction!

Here are the winner's and the times of their final bids:

  • ITEM #1: THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER
    • Donor: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
    • WINNER: Katharine Rossiello (12:42pm)

  • ITEM #2: CASSIDY LANE
    • Donor: Maria Murnane
    • WINNER: MES (10:16am)

  • ITEM #3: RECKLESS: A MEMOIR
    • Donor: Rebecca Allard
    • WINNER: Katharine Rossiello (12:41pm)

  • ITEM #4: STORYBOUND and STORY'S END 
    • Donor: Marissa Burt
    • WINNER: Tony Gerone (10:59am)

  • ITEM #5: Query Critique
    • Donor: Emmie Mears
    • WINNER: Kirsten (11:55pm)

  • ITEM #6: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jodi Meadows
    • WINNER: Susan Jett (8:23am)

  • ITEM #7: Query Critique
    • Donor: Dahlia Adler
    • WINNER: Linh Nguyen-Ng (11:58pm)

  • ITEM #8: Query Critique
    • Donor: Lauren Spieller
    • WINNER: C.C. Ford (12:32pm)

  • ITEM #9: Query Critique
    • Donor: Brenda Drake
    • WINNER: M Hebert (11:58pm)

  • ITEM #10: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jami Nord
    • WINNER: Derek (1:19pm)

  • ITEM #11: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jami Nord
    • WINNER: mk (2:07pm)

  • ITEM #12: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jessica Sinsheimer
    • WINNER: Scarlett Cole (11:59pm)

  • ITEM #13: First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Lauren Spieller
    • WINNER: C.C. Ford (11:52pm)

  • ITEM #14: First Ten Pages Critique
    • Donor: Gail Nall
    • WINNER: billypayne (8:40pm)

  • ITEM #15: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Allison Pang
    • WINNER: Shelley Morrison (11:58pm)

  • ITEM #16: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Jodi Meadows
    • WINNER: Cheyenne Campbell (8:21pm)

  • ITEM #17: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Molly Lee
    • WINNER: Laurie (11:05pm)

  • ITEM #18: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Catherine McCall
    • WINNER: Beverley Baird (10:46pm)

  • ITEM #19: Thirty Page Critique
    • Donor: Emanuelle Morgen
    • WINNER: MMHoff (11:56pm)

  • ITEM #20: Query OR First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Skylar Dorset
    • WINNER: Beverley Baird (11:56pm)

  • ITEM #21: Query/First Chapter Critique OR Query/Full Picture Book Critique
    • Donor: Veronica Bartles
    • WINNER: Beverley Baird (11:58pm)

  • ITEM #22: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Caitlin Sinead
    • WINNER: Faydra (11:59pm)

  • ITEM #23: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Ava Jae
    • WINNER: Jim Dean (1:56pm)

  • ITEM #24: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Stephanie Sauvinet
    • WINNER: Anna Bragg (11:39pm)

  • ITEM #25: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: N.K. Traver
    • WINNER: Kirsten (11:57pm)

  • ITEM #26: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Marie Meyer
    • WINNER: Katharine (11:59pm)

  • ITEM #27: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Karen Dionne
    • WINNER: Beverley Baird (8:24pm)

  • ITEM #28: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Juliana Brandt
    • WINNER: M Hebert (11:57pm)

  • ITEM #29: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Rebecca Yarros
    • WINNER: Ashley Hearn (11:35pm)

  • ITEM #30: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Brooks Benjamin
    • WINNER: M Hebert (11:59pm)

  • ITEM #31: Query AND First Three Chapters Critique
    • Donor: Marieke Nijkamp
    • WINNER: Lauren Grimley (7:51pm)

  • ITEM #32: Query AND First Chapter Critique AND Signed ARC of MORE THAN MUSIC
    • Donor: Elizabeth Briggs
    • WINNER: kimcjohnson (11:46pm)

  • ITEM #33: Partial Manuscript Critique AND Permission to email and discuss comments
    • Donor: Stephanie Sauvinet
    • WINNER: Anonymous (11:59pm)

  • ITEM #34: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Fiona McLaren
    • WINNER: davidoarr.com (11:39pm)

  • ITEM #35: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Tamara Mataya
    • WINNER: davidoarr.com (11:54pm)

  • ITEM #36: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Joy McCullough-Carranza
    • WINNER: Linh Nguyen-Ng (11:58pm)

  • ITEM #37: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Christina Henry de Tessan
    • WINNER: Meredith Tate (11:58pm)

  • ITEM #38: Thirty Minute Phone Conversation Regarding Publishing
    • Donor: Maria Murnane
    • WINNER: Katharine Manning (10:00am) 

  • ITEM #39: 90 Minute Social Media and Marketing Session
    • Donor: Andrea Dunlop
    • WINNER: Mary J (8:48pm)

Congratulations to everyone!!



Here's what you need to do to claim your awesome prizes:
  1. Go to my RAINNmaker page and donate your bid amount by WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30. Highest bid amount for those who chose to outbid themselves. =) 
  2. There is a "Message to RAINN" section in the donation form. In it please include either the name you won the prize under or the Item # of the prize you've won. 
  3. Once your donation has shown up on the page, please email me at countlesslives@gmail.com, with the Item # in the subject line and I'll give you the information you need to get in touch with your donor. If you won a book, please include the address where you would like the book sent in your email. 
  4. Read, write and be merry.



Finally, I have tallied the highest bids on each auction item and can tell you that once all donations have been made to the RAINNmaker page, we will have raised $1937!! Once I add in the donations made by those who did not take part in the auction, we are at $2012!!


You are all helping me raise over $2000 for RAINN. To say the very least, you have completely blown my goal of $400 the hell out of the water. 


This money will help over 200 survivors get the support they need. It's completely amazing.


To all the donors, bidders and folks who spread the word about this auction, THANK YOU, from the very bottom of my heart. 

BIDDING IS CLOSED!


Bidding for the Writers For Hope Auction is officially complete! No more bids will be considered at this point.

Thank you so much to absolutely everyone for the support and generosity that you have shown here today. You are all amazing.

Please check back in tomorrow for a list of our winning bidders and some auction wrap up!

For now, go enjoy your post-auction relaxation activities. Like maybe eating some sort of pie, or something.

You've earned it.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Writers For Hope Auction

*Cuts big red virtual ribbon*


BIDDING IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!

You have from now until 11:59:59 tonight to bid to your heart's content. No bids from before 12:00am, or after 11:59pm, on the 23rd will be considered. Just twenty four hours to try to win the prize(s) you most desire and contribute to RAINN!

If you want to use the master list to find the items you're interested in, please check out the previous post or the menu directly to the right.

Please place your bids in the comment section of the specific item you're bidding on, not in any of the information posts. All bidding starts at $10 (remember every ten spot translates into one survivor getting the support they need)!

Also, if you're not a writer or just not ready for a critique yet but want to donate any amount whatsoever to a truly wonderful organization, you can do so here at any point. Or, hey, maybe today is one of those amazing days where you put on your pants and find $5 in the pocket that you totally forgot about and now you're at a loss as to what to do with it. I'm happy to tell you, we totally accept magic pants money here.

Even before any bids are in, let me say thank you. That so many of you have retweeted information regarding this auction or spread the word in other ways is so extremely appreciated. And I'm not sure the words exist to properly express my gratitude to all of today's donors. I just hope that you all have as much fun with the auction as I have had working with them.

If you find yourself with any questions throughout the day, feel free to leave them in comments or tweet them to me.

Now, go bid, you silly geese! I'll just be over here, mainlining Dr. Pepper.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Auction Items



Drum roll, please!!

It's time for the full list of auction items! There are winnings for readers, writers and people who know and ALL items will have a minimum bid of $10 - the price of one lunch! It's also the amount of money needed for RAINN to help one survivor take the first steps toward reclaiming their life. Every bid you make will go directly to helping a person in need of support.
love readers and writers.

Click on any item numbers that seem interesting to you for full details! (Or to bid, after midnight on the 23rd.)

First up, the readers!

SIGNED BOOKS
  • ITEM #1: THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER
    • Donor: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
  • ITEM #2: CASSIDY LANE
    • Donor: Maria Murnane
  • ITEM #3: RECKLESS: A MEMOIR
    • Donor: Rebecca Allard
  • ITEM #4: STORYBOUND and STORY'S END 
    • Donor: Marissa Burt

And now on to the writerly folks....

CATCH AN AGENT'S ATTENTION
  • ITEM #5: Query Critique
    • Donor: Emmie Mears
  • ITEM #6: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jodi Meadows
  • ITEM #7: Query Critique
    • Donor: Dahlia Adler
  • ITEM #8: Query Critique
    • Donor: Lauren Spieller
  • ITEM #9: Query Critique
    • Donor: Brenda Drake
  • ITEM #10: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jami Nord
  • ITEM #11: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jami Nord
  • ITEM #12: Query Critique
    • Donor: Jessica Sinsheimer

MAKE THOSE FIRST PAGES SHINE
  • ITEM #13: First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Lauren Spieller
  • ITEM #14: First Ten Pages Critique
    • Donor: Gail Nall
  • ITEM #15: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Allison Pang
  • ITEM #16: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Jodi Meadows
  • ITEM #17: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Molly Lee
  • ITEM #18: First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Catherine McCall
  • ITEM #19: Thirty Page Critique
    • Donor: Emanuelle Morgen

WINNER'S CHOICE
  • ITEM #20: Query OR First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Skylar Dorset
  • ITEM #21: Query/First Chapter Critique OR Query/Full Picture Book Critique
    • Donor: Veronica Bartles

COMBO PACKS
  • ITEM #22: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Caitlin Sinead
  • ITEM #23: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Ava Jae
  • ITEM #24: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: Stephanie Sauvinet
  • ITEM #25: Query AND First Five Pages Critique
    • Donor: N.K. Traver
  • ITEM #26: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Marie Meyer
  • ITEM #27: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Karen Dionne
  • ITEM #28: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Juliana Brandt
  • ITEM #29: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Rebecca Yarros
  • ITEM #30: Query AND First Chapter Critique
    • Donor: Brooks Benjamin
  • ITEM #31: Query AND First Three Chapters Critique
    • Donor: Marieke Nijkamp
  • ITEM #32: Query AND First Chapter Critique AND Signed ARC of MORE THAN MUSIC
    • Donor: Elizabeth Briggs

EXTENSIVE CRITIQUES
  • ITEM #33: Partial Manuscript Critique AND Permission to email and discuss comments
    • Donor: Stephanie Sauvinet
  • ITEM #34: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Fiona McLaren
  • ITEM #35: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Tamara Mataya
  • ITEM #36: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Joy McCullough-Carranza
  • ITEM #37: Full Manuscript Critique
    • Donor: Christina Henry de Tessan

CONSULTS
  • ITEM #38: Thirty Minute Phone Conversation Regarding Publishing
    • Donor: Maria Murnane
  • ITEM #39: 90 Minute Social Media and Marketing Session
    • Donor: Andrea Dunlop

There they are! Thirty nine fabulous auction items from thirty four amazing donors!

Comment sections on the items will be off until 12:00am EDT. After that, let the bidding wars commence!

Any last minute questions? Put them in the comments!

Monday, April 21, 2014

ITEM #39: 90 Minute Social Media and Marketing Session

DONOR: Andrea Dunlop
Can you not tell your Twitter from your Instagram, or think "Pinterest" is a typo? Fear not. Andrea can help you master social medial tools, craft a marketing plan, and dramatically improve your outreach to readers, bloggers and media outlets.

During this ninety-minute session, Andrea will review with you (based on your level of knowledge) how social media works and how to use platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Blogs, Amazon, and Pinterest, going over etiquette, frequency, and nuances to keep in mind with each of these unique online spaces. Together, you will determine the audience and brand-identity (i.e. who are your readers and how do you connect with them) and target your place in the market. Based on your preferences and schedule, the two of you will put together a comprehensive social media strategy to begin building up the author's platform. You will leave with a packet of information about how to use each platform and an individualized plan.


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #38: Thirty Minute Conversation Regarding Publishing

DONOR: Maria Murnane

Do you have questions about the publishing process? Want to pick the brain of a published author? Best-selling author Maria Murnane would love to answer your questions!





STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #37: Full Manuscript Critique

DONOR: Christina Henry de Tessan
LENGTH RESTRICTION: 100k words or less

AGE RANGE: Adult

GENRE PREFERENCES: NO Science Fiction, Fantasy or Magical Realism

SPECIALTIES: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 month


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #36: Full Manuscript Critique

DONOR: Joy McCullough-Carranza
AGE RANGE: MG, YA

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME:
Under 50,000 words – 2 weeks

Under 100,000 words – 1 month


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #35: Full Manuscript Critique

[Tamara.jpg]
DONOR: Tamara Mataya
LENGTH RESTRICTION: 120k words or less

AGE RANGE: Any

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

SPECIALTIES: Contemporary Romance, Urban Fantasy

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 month


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #34: Full Manuscript Critique

DONOR: Fiona McLaren

AGE RANGE: Any

GENRE PREFERENCES: NO Erotica

TURNAROUND TIME: 2 months




STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #33 Partial Manuscript Critique AND Permission to email and discuss the comments

DONOR: Stephanie Sauvinet


LENTH RESTRICTION: 30,000 words or less

AGE RANGE: YA, NA, Adult

GENRE PREFERENCES: All subgenres of Science Fiction and Fantasy

TURNAROUND TIME: 5 weeks


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #32: Query AND First Chapter Critique AND Signed ARC of MORE THAN MUSIC

AGE RANGE: Any

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

SPECIALTIES: YA or NA

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 week


Coming June 17th!Music major Maddie Taylor seems to have her life all figured out. She’s just finished her junior year of college, has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, and plans to go to grad school to write movie scores. Only her roommates know she practices guitar every night and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars.

Tattooed singer Jared Cross has a new girl every week, but when he catches Maddie playing one of his songs, she attracts his attention in an unexpected way. His band needs a fourth member for The Sound, a reality TV show competition—and he wants her. Though Maddie refuses to be another notch on Jared’s bedpost, she agrees to risk everything for the chance to be a rock star. 

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared behind his flirty smile, and with each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. When the show pressures Jared to flaunt his player image, they’re forced to keep their relationship secret, but Maddie can’t help but want something real.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #31: Query AND First Three Chapters Critique

DONOR: Marieke Nijkamp


AGE RANGE: YA

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 month




STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)


ITEM #30: Query AND First Chapter Critique

DONOR: Brooks Benjamin
AGE RANGE: MG

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 10 days





STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #29: Query AND First Chapter Critique

DONOR: Rebecca Yarros


AGE RANGE: YA, NA

GENRE PREFERENCES: NO Erotica, Horror or Mystery

SPECIALTIES: Romance

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 month


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #28: Query AND First Chapter Critique

Displaying Juliana L. Brandt.jpg
DONOR: Juliana Brandt


AGE RANGE: Any

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 week



STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #27: Query AND First Chapter Critique

DONOR: Karen Dionne

AGE RANGE: Adult

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 2 weeks




STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #26: Query AND First Chapter Critique

Swoon
DONOR: Marie Meyer
AGE RANGE: YA or NA


GENRE PREFERENCES:

Contemporary, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Historical, Light Science Fiction, Romance or any combo of these.

NO MG, Westerns or High Fantasy


TURNAROUND TIME: 2 weeks


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #25: Query AND First Five Pages Critique

DONOR: N.K. Traver

AGE RANGE: MG or higher

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

SPECIALTIES: YA, NA

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 week



STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #24: Query AND First Five Pages Critique

DONOR: Stephanie Sauvinet

AGE RANGE: YA, NA, Adult

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 2 weeks




STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #23: Query AND First Five Pages Critique

AGE RANGE: YA, NA

GENRE PREFERENCES: NO Erotica or Super Graphic Content

TURNAROUND TIME: 2 weeks



DONOR: Ava Jae



STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #22: Query AND First Five Pages Critique

Picture
DONOR: Caitlin Sinead

AGE RANGE: YA, NA

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 1 week



STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #21: Query/First Chapter Critique OR Query/Picture Book Critique

DONOR: Veronica Bartles

AGE RANGE: Picture Books, MG, YA

GENRE PREFERENCES: NO Horror, Erotica or Dystopians

SPECIALTIES: Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale Retellings

TURNAROUND TIME: 3 weeks


STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #20: Query OR First Chapter Critique

Photo Credit: Larry Stritof
DONOR: Skylar Dorset

AGE RANGE: Any

GENRE PREFERENCES: NO Horror or Dystopian

TURNAROUND TIME: 2 weeks




STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)

ITEM #19: Thirty Page Critique

DONOR: Emmanuelle Morgen


AGE RANGE: Any

GENRE PREFERENCES: None

TURNAROUND TIME: 6 weeks





STARTING BID: $10
(Help one survivor get the support she/he needs!)