The day has finally come! 300 brilliant, electrifying and I must say, quite fetching followers of my blog! It's been an amazing week for me and hitting the 300 follower mark is the icing on the cake! On Tuesday I received the first half of my advance for BILLYCAN: Book II of the Nightshade Chronicles! Wednesday I spoke with my editor and found out some really surprising things they're going to do to market Nightshade City! Yesterday I received the 1st pass galley, which included some of the new chapter illustrations, which are completely full of awesomeness, thanks to the astonishing illustrator Omar Ryyan! Just wait until you see the cover, which also has a special surprise on it...but can say!!! Argghh!
So, in honor of all these remarkable events my fabulous and overworked agent, Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency has graciously offered up her services to three lucky winners!!! The three winners will have their choice of how they'd like their prize doled out. Please note: This is open to all writers and illustrators!
Choices: (1) 30 page critique of your MS, (2) a query critique, (3) a 30 minute phone call to talk about your writing or illustrations!!! Yes, a real live phone call!
If you don't win one of the above prizes or you already have an agent, don't despair! I'm giving away three more prizes! Two lucky winners will each receive a $25.00 gift card to Barnes & Noble or an American Booksellers Association gift card if you have an Indie store you love dearly, choice is yours! Last but not least, one winner will receive a signed copy of the NIGHTSHADE CITY ARC! They are printing this month and hitting the streets on April 26th!! Gah!
To recap the five prizes:
3 winners will receive a critique or phone call with the inimitable Marietta Zacker!
2 winners will receive a $25.00 gift card to B&N or the ABA!
1 winner will receive a signed (by me of course) ARC of NIGHTSHADE CITY!
My rules are easy, nothing wonky:
1. If you are already a follower, simply leave a comment!
2. If you are not a follower of my blog become one through the google followers link, (you won't be disappointed, scout's honor!) and leave a comment on this post.
4. If you already have an agent, please put "Agented" in the comment, so I know to only enter you in the last 3 prizes!
5. Please enter only once!
6. The contest will run until next Friday and I will announce the lucky winners, all chosen randomly!
So, follow, comment and conquer, my pretties!
Happy Writing and Illustrating to you all!
xoxo -- Hilary
That is truly awesome Hilary! You are a beacon for others like me to follow.
ReplyDeleteCongrats...and yes...I am a long time follower!
Well that couldn't be easier to enter, could it. Um... hi.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on your progress toward publication, good lady!
Great contest Hilary! And great news :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower and unagented. Would love a critique (or any of the other goodies you are giving away).
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the great news Hilary! Already a follower so please enter me in the contest.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I couldn't be happier for you. Everything is taking off for you, and I'll be able to say I knew that girl when.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add:
ReplyDeleteShameless promotion:
Please visit my blog and comment today. I have a post by guest blogger Justine Dell where she shares an ACTUAL query letter of hers that found success.
She is a wonderful lady, always willing to help another writer and I would really like her to get the recognition she deserves.
Thanks!
Yay for 300 followers, Hilary! Thank you for hosting the contest and consider this the official "Hi. How's it going?"
ReplyDeleteHarley
Congrats on the followers and very cool contest. I'm a follower and unagented. :)
ReplyDeleteOoh! Excitement!
ReplyDeleteAlready a follower (unagented) and proud to be one!
Thnx for hosting such a great contest! I'm a follower.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the fabulous stuff going on in your life. Hopefully some of that good stuff will rub off on me. I could sure use it. :0)
Christy
Also a follower and unagented! Hilary, thanks for the opportunity and yeah for NIGHTSHADE CITY II and getting part of that advance.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to increase your exposure. Good luck on your edits. I look forward to checking out your work.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower and unagented. Sign me up, girl! ;)
Thanks for the awesome contest. I'd love to win. And congrats about hitting 300 followers and all the good news about your book.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the 300 -- now more than that. And great idea about the contest. Thanks to you and your agent, both.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the followers and yay on the contest. Very cool of you to do this. I'm a follower
ReplyDeleteWow, amazing contest! (You have a very cool agent.) I'm a follower already...
ReplyDeleteGreat contest Hillary - and congrats on EVERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 300! That's awesome! Great contest too - super prizes!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun week, and a fabulous contest! Congratulations on all of your (current and impending) success!
ReplyDeleteThis is all so rattastic! I'm excited to see your journey through publication. It gives me excitement and hope in my own writing venture. Consider this my entry and I do NOT have an agent.
ReplyDeleteOooh, lovely contest! I'm in, and a follower for some times. And thanks, I do appreciate you visiting my blog too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all fronts,Hilary! I follow. :D
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm a follower. :D
ReplyDeleteHey Hilary! Your agent must be nervous whenever you say, "I had this really great idea for you..." That is so cool of Marietta (She's on a first-name basis with your faithful blogger friends, right?) to offer critiques. Would that be better or an ARC? I don't know!
ReplyDeleteWell who wouldn't love one of those fabulous prizes? Or to read your book! Congratulations on an exciting week and add me to the hat.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Glad to hear all is going well. Is the critique only for finished manuscripts?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having 300 followers!! I don't want to enter, just wanted to send my congrats :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm am now your loyal follower! Please enter my name for all the wonderous prizes.
ReplyDeleteJim Danielson
Congratulations on reaching 300 followers, getting an advance on your next book, and seeing your galley! You've had an exciting week! I've been a follower for quite some time, so count me in....I have the perfect book for Marietta. :) (Confidence is everything, right?)
ReplyDeleteACK, that's so cool.
ReplyDeleteI can't WAIT to see the cover of Night Shade. Actually, I can't wait till it's out, but I guess I'll settle for the cover. For now.
And, yes, I want to enter your contest. I've been a follower for a while. :P
Hillary, your excitement for writing and books is contagious! I just added myself as your 309th follower! Please include me in your fabulous contest. Thanks. kdoherty
ReplyDeleteAwesome success in both your writing and achieving 300 followers!
ReplyDeleteMany more wonderful books to follow, I'm sure. Keep up the great work. Can't wait to read Nightshade.
I love your wallpaper website design. Nightshade City — great title. I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I'd like to be included in the critiquing contest with your agent.
Thanks,
Janet
Congratulations on an exciting week! What a fabulous contest idea. I'm glad I'm a follower and can get in on the action.
ReplyDeleteLove your zest for writing, blogging and great books!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great week, Hilary. Exciting and busy. I'm not agented so you can enter me into all three! Congrats on 300 followers! Did I say how much I love you new blog look? Well, I do.
ReplyDeleteOh, Hilary, I'm so excited for you!!! What a fantabulous week. I'm already a follower. Congrats on 300! What great prizes. Good luck to everyone :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you!! I'm already a follower!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome contest! Can't wait to see the cover of Nighshade -- you've got us all curious! Congratulations on all your success and good news!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 300 followers and the myriad great things in your week! And yay for contests! Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all of your success and thanks for the great contest! Officially following.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab week, Hilary. Mine has been pretty interesting too, as after committing the last 13 years to be a stay at home mum, I got a full time job with a law firm!
ReplyDeleteBearing in mind I still plan to write, I think I will have to forgo sleep, (as clearly I can't give up eating!)
Here is to many more good weeks for everyone.
Congratulations, I can't wait to see the cover. I have been a follower and I am unagented.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad I popped in! I thought I was following your blog, but I wasn't . . . strange! Anyway, I'm here now and ready to play, Rat-girl! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see another neat blog : ) Am now a follower!
ReplyDeleteYou are the queen of blogging. What a fabulous opportunity you and your agent are giving away to an author or illustrator. And congrats on your book debuting.
ReplyDelete300 followers - now THAT'S momentum! Kudos!!
ReplyDeleteThose are impressive book developments! It's sure to be a hit. Keep up the good work, Hilary! Happy to be part of 300+!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 300 followers! Great contest!
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome milestone! and what a cool contest! i'm happy to be a follower and take part in the contest! congrats to you on all the good news that just keeps coming out of your books!
ReplyDeleteCongrats - can't wait to see what you do when you hit 1,000!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou guys are awesome! I wish MZ could give EVERYONE a critique! She might never talk to me again though, if I offered that up! ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo -- Hilary
Thanks for this great contest! :) Margo Dill http://margodill.com/blog/ margodll (at) aol (dot) com
ReplyDeleteCongrats and thanks for a great contest!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your success. Your books sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteJune Sengpiehl
I'm a new follower; great contest!
ReplyDeleteCongrats and thanks for running this fantastic contest! I came over from YAlitchat to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI am now a follower of your blog!
Congrats on everything, fellow Holiday House girl! I am following your blog and welcome you to do the same. You can click the link at my website at www.kathrynlay.com. Sounds like Holiday House is doing you right! :)
ReplyDeleteGrats on everything. Thanks for hosting such a great contest.
ReplyDeleteNow let's talk about winning. I think it should be me me me. What are your thoughts. LOL!!!
Anyway, already a follower and I am unagented, so I would love to be entered.
Thanks again. *Huge Smiley Face*
I'm following! And oooh, wow, what an opportnity! O__O Thank you so much for making this possible!
ReplyDeleteFabulous contest idea! Congrats on all your success! (unagented)
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh! oh my gosh! SIGN ME UP!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Hilary! You're having an awesome year huh? (PS I'm starting to check my mailbox in anticipation every day... Okay, I KNOW it's too early, but STILL!!!)
Yay, 300! You should do a Spartan-themed party to celebrate. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm already a follower – I'd love to win a 30-page critique. Thanks for having such a great giveaway!
Wow, Hillary, quite a contest! I'm already following so add my name -- thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary, Your constant upbeat attitude is so refreshing. I'm very excited about this contest because Marietta has had my full for a bit over six months. I'm still hoping one that one, but I'm near query time for another MS so sign me up!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!!
SO I'm new to your blog, but I'm already loving it.
ReplyDeleteIt's very insightful and fun. I had to leave my seriousness at the door and I'm glad I came to the party.
I'm Unagented, and have 2 new manuscipts,a sassy MC with a knack for finding danger. Throw in the paranormal romance of the decade and you've got the gist of my literary world.
Finger CrossedX
Thanks for the Opportunity
Dawn
Great contest! Please enter me in the drawing for the last 3 only please, I don't have anything for you to review!
ReplyDeletebooknerdd(at)gmail(dot)com
Congrats on all this good news! I'm not looking for an agent though (I'm an intern at a literary agency) so please just enter me for the last two prizes :)
ReplyDeleteomnomnom-books.blogspot.com
jujubeantea@aol.com
Congrats on all your great news, Hilary! And how generous of you to share a contest with such terrific prizes. I'm already a follower, and I just shared a link to your announcement in Facebook. (Of course, I'd love to win myself, as I am unagented.)
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Carmela
TeachingAuthors
Cool post and congrats on the great news. Excited squeeeee:) I'm already a follower and, alas, unagented as yet:(
ReplyDeleteI am a follower, Hilary. Carmela's post reminded me to come on over and leave a comment. I am UNagented but hope to follow in your amazing footsteps some day.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the good news!
Nina
Nina Johnson
Aspiring Author
I am a follower! Wow! What an amazing contest and sounds like there are some exciting things happening with your book. Can't wait for it to come out.
ReplyDeleteThought I was a follower of your blog because I get all your updates, but that was through goodreads! So happy to be following. Love your writing, and what a great contest!
ReplyDeletehttp://marycunninghambooks.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLove the contest! I am following your blog, and would love to be entered in the contest. I do not have an agent right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks =)
adayintothewriter.blogspot.com
What a great idea! I'm a follower - :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the 300 followers and all of the other wonderful things going on for you! I can only imagine how excited you are and I'm truly happy for you:)
ReplyDeleteHey, Hilary! Great contest, awesome blog and the coolest name ever - you rock!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my blog a few weeks ago. You're an inspiration.
Cross your fingers for me. :)
hhs
Hi Hilary,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the fabulous news and I'm looking forward to seeing that mysterious book cover. Thanks for running the contest, too.
Cheers!
I generally don't do the blog following thing, preferring the old-fashioned blog reader approach, but I'm game to enter a contest with cool prizes like these. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHilary, you are awesome! I am already a follower through Blogger, but I just clicked the Google Friend Connect button, too. Yay!
ReplyDeleteAlso, have I ever mentioned that I had two pet rats as a teen? ;)
Hi Hilary! Thanks for the great blog and the great contest! You rock!
ReplyDeleteOh, that is awesome! (As you know, I am agented, but I would still like to enter for a chance to get feedback from Marietta!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book progress. I love following fellow writers. It's so much fun to hear about each experience.
ReplyDeleteI actually found your blog through a FB recommedation. Apparently a lot of my friends are your followers. :)
Thanks for the contest. Great prizes. :) Critiques are so vaulable.
What fun you must be having right now Hilary! I am SO EXCITED for you and for Nightshade City! Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity (though I follow you ANYWAY!) And PLEASE tell your wonderful agent Marietta that her offer is just incredible. I wish all of your fans and you good luck and Joy in the future!! (Me Too!! :-D)
ReplyDeletecongrats on your success Hilary! I can't wait to read Nightshade City, and I'm glad you're surrounded by people that clearly believe in you and the book.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you and Marietta have outdone yourselves in the coolness department. Great prizes and of course I hope I win!
Oh, yay! I get to leave the 100th comment! How cool is that?? So happy we have so many brilliant entries AND I've met some new great people, who's blogs I will be following, lurking and commenting on!! Can't wait until Friday! :)
ReplyDeletexoxo -- Hilary
First congratulations, Hilary! Your book looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteSecond, I have no idea how I missed this contest, but at least I'm not too late. Great prizes. I must go post on my sidebar. Maybe I can keep others from missing out!
Wow! What a great contest! And your book looks fabulous- congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI'm with VR- I'm glad I didn't miss this contest or finding out about your book!
Congrats on all the cool stuff happening! Great contest! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful contest! I'm so glad I didn't miss it! And your book sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat contest -- thanks to you and Marietta for the generosity.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Awesome contest :-)
ReplyDeleteSweet! Nice to find you, and I'm glad I came by in time to enter this contest. Congrats on your book! A critique is exactly what I need right now.
ReplyDeleteHillary! This is a wonderful contest, thank you so much! And congrats on the 300--now I can say I new you when... :o)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh - I hope I am in time, Hilary! I am already a follower. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting over 300 followers - w00t indeed! And I am so excited for you with everything that is happening with your writing. Roll on October!
What a fabulous agent you have! Very generous. Congrats on 300 followers, but more importantly, congrats on your wonderful agent.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful contest. I'm so glad I stumbled onto your blog.
ReplyDeleteVery exciting! Thanks for this great opportunity. :O)
ReplyDeletewww.dianeestrella.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI thought that I commented but Blogger is hating on me today... If this goes through twice it is not intentional!! Congratulations for everything that you have going on right now. Thank you for hosting such an awesome contest!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteJust joined in for the fun - I would love an agent critique! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just became a follower, Hilary.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your wonderful success! What an exciting time for you.
Best,
Heidi
I have jumped on board. Pick me. Randomly.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Kristen
I am happy to be a "follower"! Thanks for this opportunity! : )
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic opportunity you are providing! Thanks! I am a follower.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 300+ followers. It looks like this contest is adding to that quite a bit. :D Nightshade City looks like a great read. Too bad we have to wait such a loooong time still to get to read it. ;) Of course, one lucky winner will get to read it sooner.