Giveaway: Signed copy of “The Colossus Rises (Seven Wonders #1)”

Many younger readers (and a number of older ones, too!) know Peter Lerangis through “The 39 Clues”, for which he wrote 3 and a quarter stories. Recently, he started his own fantasy/adventure series, “The Seven Wonders”. He came to the Philippines for a book signing event last May 4th at National Book Store to promote the first book, “The Colossus Rises”.

When I interviewed him, I had an extra copy of “The Colossus Rises” signed, and that’s what I’m giving away this month!

MECHANICS:

1. If you are a WordPress user, all you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment on this post with the answer to the question “Which of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World would you most want to visit if you had a time machine?” If you already follow this blog, then simply comment with your answer to the contest question. Please share the link to the giveaway in any of your social networking accounts.
2. If you are not a WordPress user, you can either subscribe to this blog by clicking on the link at the bottom of the right sidebar or you can just follow me on Twitter (@almeldiel). Leave a comment on this post with the answer to the question “Which of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World would you most want to visit if you had a time machine?” If you’re already a subscriber or if you already follow me on Twitter, then simply comment with your answer to the contest question. Please share the link to the giveaway in any of your social networking accounts.
3. Once I have validated your entry, your comment will appear on this post.
4. The winning entry will be chosen by a random draw and will receive a signed trade paperback copy of “The Colossus Rises” by Peter Lerangis.
    
   

   ONE BOY
   Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem.
   In a few months, he’s going to die.
   ONE MISSION
   Jack needs to find seven magic Loculi that, when combined,
   have the power to cure him.
   ONE PROBLEM
   The Loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and
   haven’t been seen in thousands of years…
   SEVEN WONDERS
   …because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

5. You have until 31 May 2013 (11:59pm) to send in your entries.
6. Barring any unfortunate interventions by Yoda-talking, Viking-looking red bearded men, I should be able to announce the winner within the 1st week of June.
7. This contest is open only to residents of the Philippines. (Sorry, foreign friends!) If you live outside the Philippines but you have a friend or relative with a Philippine mailing address who will be willing to receive the prize for you, then you’re welcome to join the contest.
8. The winner must reply to the notification e-mail within 3 days from receipt of the notice, otherwise, the prize will be forfeited in favor of the second person on the random list generated to determine the winner.

Spread the word, and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!

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Disclaimer (To satisfy the WordPress.com Terms of Service): This giveaway is not sponsored and is not being posted in lieu of paid advertising on this blog. I bought the book and paid for it out of my own pocket and had it signed at an event that I attended. ☺

Bookmark Monday #6: Despicable!

Wow, I just realized I didn’t blog for like…a month. So many things to do, so little time!

Anyways, time for another Bookmark Monday, this time, featuring some cute little yellow creatures and some cute little girls.

 
I got these back when there were movie promos for “Despicable Me”. There used to be about 5 different designs, but I gave away 3 of them to other readers already.

And the reason why these are shot with “Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises” is it’s also time for another giveaway, which I will be announcing later this week. Stay tuned!

Winner of the “Miss Peregrine” Giveaway!

It’s April 1st, and you know what that means, right?

Happy Birthday, Fred and George Weasley!

And also, here’s what the List Randomizer coughed up to determine the winner of the signed copy of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”:

Congratulations, Ghirlie (@ghirlieee)! You win this:

And because I’m so happy that so many people supported this giveaway, I’ll also send the second person on the list, jhudiam, a copy of “Interim Goddess of Love” by Mina V. Esguerra. No, this is not an April Fools joke.

Ghirlie and jhudiam: Please e-mail me your full name, complete mailing address, and contact number. Send the details to: thegirlwhoread(at)gmail(dot)com. Please send the details by April 4, 11:59pm so that your prize will not be forfeited.

To everyone who joined, thank you so much! And please do keep checking in here and on Twitter for details about the next giveaway.

Edited to add:

I got the book! <3 Still can't breathe that I have it. Thanks also for the bookmark, book plate&sweet message. God bless you :"> @almeldiel

—
ghirlie marie joyce (@ghirlieee) April 13, 2013

Giveaway: Signed copy of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”

This contest is closed. Winner announcement: click!

✿ ✿ ✿

Another giveaway! Hurray!

So the awesome and totally random Ransom Riggs was in the Philippines recently. If you missed having your book signed, then here’s your chance to own a signed copy of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”!

MECHANICS:

1. If you are a WordPress user, all you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment on this post to let me know that you want to join the giveaway, and that’s your contest entry right there! If you already follow this blog, just share the link to this giveaway on your blog or Twitter or Facebook or Tumblr or whatever social networking service, then leave a comment with a link to your post/tweet.
2. If you are not a WordPress user, you can either subscribe to this blog by clicking on the link at the bottom of the right sidebar or you can just follow me on Twitter (@almeldiel). Leave a comment to let me know that you subscribed or comment with your Twitter username, and that’s your entry right there! If you’re already a subscriber or if you already follow me on Twitter, then just post a link to this giveaway on your Twitter or any social networking site and leave a comment with a link to your post/tweet.
3. Once I have validated your entry, your comment will appear on this post.
4. The winning entry will be chosen by a random draw and will receive a signed trade paperback copy of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs. We had this copy signed during Ransom Riggs’ book signing last 3 March 2013 at Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street.
    
   

   A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here – one of whom was his own grandfather – were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow – impossible though it seems – they may still be alive.

5. You have until 31 March 2013 (11:59pm) to send in your entries.
6. Barring any unfortunate interventions by sheep on the loose or cranky bartenders, I should be able to announce the winner by April Fools. (I just hope you believe me if you win.)
7. This contest is open only to residents of the Philippines. (Sorry, foreign friends!) If you live outside the Philippines but you have a friend or relative with a Philippine mailing address who will be willing to receive the prize for you, then you’re welcome to join the contest.
8. The winner must reply to the notification e-mail within 3 days from receipt of the notice, otherwise, the prize will be forfeited in favor of the second person on the random list generated to determine the winner.

Spread the word, and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!

✻ ✻ ✻
Disclaimer: (To satisfy the WordPress.com Terms of Service) This giveaway is not sponsored and is not being posted in lieu of paid advertising on this blog. (I don’t have advertising at all!) I bought the book and paid for it out of my own pocket and had it signed at an event that I attended. ☺

Valentine’s Day Giveaway winner…winners!

I felt a tad disappointed that only 2 people actually sent in entries to the giveaway [mechanics and entries: click!] even though the page got a lot of hits and many people said they wanted to join. But I got good news from Mina V. Esguerra yesterday! She said that she wants to give prizes to both contestants, and so…

Claire wins the signed copy of “Fairy Tale Fail”, while Mina will send Nicole another one of her books. Congratulations, ladies! Please send your owls to thegirlwhoread(at)gmail(dot)com so that I can get your mailing details.

Thanks for joining, and may you get a little taste of a romantic fairy tale today. ❤

Valentine’s Day Giveaway: “Fairy Tale Fail” by Mina V. Esguerra (Signed)

This contest is CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who showed interest and to those who actually sent in entries.

✻ ✻ ✻

It’s the 1st of February and in a few days, it will be Valentine’s Day. It’s the perfect time to read a sweet love story despite what the cynics may say, so let me be your Book Fairy Godmother through this Valentine’s Day Giveaway!

MECHANICS:

1. Answer this question in the Comments: Regardless of your real life romantic circumstances, which fairy tale would you most like your happily ever after to be like? In no more than 3 sentences, share your ideal fairy tale with us and why it’s the kind of story you want your own love story to be like.
2. Post a link to this giveaway in your social network accounts and/or your personal blogs. Include the permalink/URL of your social network post/blog entry in your comment. I’ll count just one entry per person no matter how many times you post a link to the giveaway, but your entry will not be valid without at least one linkback.
3. All entries will be screened until the winners are announced, so don’t be alarmed if your comment doesn’t appear on the post. I will update or comment on the post when I receive a valid entry. In case your name is not acknowledged in the next update, let me know on Twitter (@almeldiel) or e-mail me at thegirlwhoread(at)gmail(dot)com.
4. The winning entry will be chosen by Mina V. Esguerra herself. The winner will receive a signed copy of the Philippine print edition of “Fairy Tale Fail”.
    
   

   “Of all the twenty-something women who are hopeless romantics, Ellie Manuel is more “hopeless” than “romantic.”

   Even after her Prince Charming broke up with her, she just won’t give up … because fairy tale heroines don’t live “happily ever after” right away, silly, they’re tested first!

   Determined to pass the test, she spends the next year restoring herself to the girl Prince Charming had fallen in love with in the first place.

   Until she discovers that life without him might not be so bad after all: her career is taking off, her confidence is back, and the cute guy at work is no longer a stranger.

   So when is it okay to quit on a fairy tale?”

   Learn more about Mina and her other books on her website: click!

5. You have until 12 February 2013 (11:59pm) to send in your entries.
6. Barring any unfortunate interventions by conniving witches and evil stepmothers or distractions in the form of charming princes, I hope to be able to announce the winner by February 14th.
7. This contest is open only to residents of the Philippines. If you live outside the Philippines but you have a friend or relative with a Philippine mailing address who will be willing to receive the prize and send it to you, then you’re welcome to join the contest.
8. The winner must reply to the notification e-mail within 3 days from receipt of the notice, otherwise, the prize will be forfeited in favor of Mina’s second choice winner.

Spread the word, and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!

Thank you so much, Mina, for sponsoring this contest.

❤ ❤ ❤

“Fairy Tale Fail” is now available at your favorite book stores, published by Summit Books. You can also purchase the e-book version on Flipreads.com or other online outlets.

New Year Giveaway Winner!

My New Year Giveaway closed last Saturday, and I’ve consulted the mysterious, oracular Random List Generator.

So who’s going to have a Frost-y January?

Okay then, an even Frost-ier January, considering it’s been chilly these past few days.

Congratulations, Paw! You win a copy of “Kiss of Frost” and “Dark Frost” by Jennifer Estep. Please wait for the confirmation e-mail to find out how you can get your prize.

Thanks to all those who joined or who showed interest in this giveaway. I already have the next one lined-up for next month, and it’s gonna be a special one, just in time for Valentine’s Day. ❤ Please watch out for that!

✻ ✻ ✻

In the meantime, I hope you have started making a dent on your 2013 Reading Goals.

I’ve re-started “The Eye of the World” because I’ve long forgotten the few pages I read last year:

I also finished 1 out of the 6 books in John Green’s Back List:

This is how my 2013 Reading Challenge progress looks:

Actually, I’m probably just 2 books ahead because this counts the 2 novellas I read as 1 book each.

I hope all those with reading goals are doing just as well or much better.

New Year Giveaway: Mythos Academy #2-3 by Jennifer Estep

NOTE: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for joining!

✻ ✻ ✻

Happy New Year, fellow bookworms!

If you’re familiar with Chinese astrology, 2013 is the year of the Snake–my year!–and I want to start it right. So for my very first post this year, I’m hosting a giveaway!

MECHANICS:

1. Answer this question in the Comments: What are your reading goals for 2013? This does not mean just how many books you plan to read this year–though that’s included–but also other specific goals you want to pursue, like finally reading a particular book, starting a particular series, reading a non-English book (hey, nothing is impossible), reading something by a particular author…that kind of goal.
2. Post a link to this giveaway in your social network accounts and/or your personal blogs. Include the permalink/URL of your social network post/blog entry in your comment. This time, I’ll count just one entry per person no matter how many times you post a link to the giveaway. However, your entry will not be valid without at least one linkback.
3. The winner will receive a trade paperback copy of “Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2)” and “Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)” by Jennifer Estep.
    
   

   “The Mythos Academy books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s magic lets her see everyone who has ever touched or used an object as well as feel their emotions — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

   After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen finds herself shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendents of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and more. The academy is located in the fictional suburb of Cypress Mountain, North Carolina, and the kids there are training how to use their magic and various skills to fight Reapers of Chaos. The Reapers are some seriously bad guys who want to free the evil god Loki from his mystical prison so Loki can take over the world and enslave everyone.

   Gwen doesn’t think that she belongs at the academy or that she’s any kind of warrior, but she’s wrong — and she’s a lot stronger than she realizes.”

   Learn more about Mythos Academy on Ms. Estep’s website: click!

4. You have until 19 January 2013 (11:59pm) to send in your entries.
5. The winner will be determined by a Random List Generator and will be announced before the end of this month.
6. This contest is open only to residents of the Philippines. If you live outside the Philippines but you have a friend or relative with a Philippine mailing address who will be willing to receive the prize and send it to you, then you’re welcome to join the contest.
7. The winner must reply to the notification e-mail within 3 days from receipt of the notice, otherwise, the prize will be forfeited in favor of the next person on the randomly generated list.

Spread the word, and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!

p.s. Thank you, Hachette Book Group USA (Philippines), for the prizes.

♕ ♕ ♕

As for my own 2013 Reading Goals:

I’m still miffed that I wasn’t able to complete my 2012 challenge of reading 53 books; I only read 50. So this year, I decided to set the bar at 50, and look, I’m over-compensating for last year’s failure because I’ve already read 2 full books and 1 novella as of today.

Other challenges:

• Read John Green’s entire back list. It’s a tall order, but hey, that’s why it’s called a challenge.
• Read at least the first book in the Wheel of Time series, “The Eye of the World”. Yes, this is a challenge for me, but if I can finish “The Way of Kings”…
• Read the English translation of at least one non-English, non-Tagalog book. (Ha! Someone better make that translation of 해를 품은 달 happen this year.) I made it through the translations of 4 Japanese books last year; it’s just a matter of finding material that will really interest me.

That’s it. I think those are S.M.A.R.T. goals for me. What about you?

TGWR Giveaway #2: Winner!

Hey, guys! Sorry this took a while; real life and work got in the way. o_O

Anyhoo, so here’s what the List Randomizer coughed up after I inputted all the entries to TGWR’s Giveaway #2!

Congratulations, Naezel! You win this:

Naezel: Please wait for further instructions via your Twitter account.

Everyone: Do keep visiting and watch out for the next giveaway!

TGWR Giveaway #2: Win a signed copy of “Delirium” by Lauren Oliver

Welcome to my second giveaway here on The Girl Who Read and Other Stories!

As most of you know, Lauren Oliver was here in the Philippines last weekend to promote the second installment of her Delirium trilogy, Pandemonium. If you missed the book signing event last March 24 at Powerbooks Live, you can listen to my recording of the Q&A or read the accompanying transcript here: click! More important, if you missed having your books signed, then here’s your chance to win a signed copy of Delirium !

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing.

They didn’t understand that once love — the deliria — blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

TGWR Giveaway #1: Win a copy of “The Scorpio Races” by Maggie Stiefvater

 
Welcome to my very first giveaway here on The Girl Who Read and Other Stories!

I have one hardbound copy of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater and some Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3, also by Stiefvater) t-shirts up for grabs, courtesy of Scholastic Philippines. I’m happy and excited to give another reader a chance to read Scorpio because I really liked it.

                       

The Scorpio Races

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

 
Because it’s the Christmas season and it’s my first giveaway, I’ll make it easy for everyone to send in entries.

1. Post a link to this giveaway in your social network accounts and/or your personal blogs. You can post to as many as you like to increase your chances of winning.

2. Post a comment here and list the permalinks/URLs of all your social network/blog entries about the giveaway. One link = one entry.

3. In the same comment post, include the answer to this question after your link list: “In The Scorpio Races, Puck and Sean live in a beautiful island called Thisby. On which island in the Philippines do you wish you can live and not leave?” All you have to do for your entry to qualify is to name an island in the Philippines, but you can share your reasons for wanting to live there if you want to; I genuinely want to know! Your entries are not valid without your answer to this question.

That’s it!

The 1st Prize Winner will receive a copy of The Scorpio Races and a Forever shirt, and 2 Runners-up will receive 1 Forever shirt each.

You have until December 29th, 11:59pm to send in your entries. The winner will be determined by a Random List Generator and will be announced before 2011 ends. In case one person’s name appears on the Top 3 twice, that person will get the prize with the higher value (if applicable), and the 4th name on the list will move up to 3rd place.

Important note: This contest is open only to residents of the Philippines. If the winner resides outside of the Greater Manila Area, I’ll send the prizes by courier.

Spread the word, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

_____________________________________
Reviews for The Scorpio Races:
- My review on GMANetwork.com Lifestyle
- Chachic’s Book Nook
- RonReads.com

Book Giveaway Alert!

 
I finally got a green-light from my generous sponsor, so tomorrow, I’m going to post the mechanics for my very first blog giveaway!

Check back here tomorrow to find out how you can win a copy of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

p.s. The contest is open only to residents of the Philippines because I can’t afford the killer international shipping rates, sorry.