Contest #1 ...

Here's the deal: I'm giving away some great swag. All you have to do is sign-up for my email newsletter, and you'll automatically be entered to win.

Yeah, okay...but what about the prizes??

Glad you asked. One lucky person will win the Grand Prize: A character named after you in the next Ray Dudgeon novel, TRIGGER CITY, plus a signed first-edition hardcover of Big City, Bad Blood.

Damn, that's fine! But what if I don't win the Grand Prize?

Well...five other lucky folks will win a signed, limited edition chapbook containing a Ray Dudgeon short story, as well as a signed Big City, Bad Blood poster (suitable for framing, or for making a very large paper airplane). Happy now?

Sure. When is the big giveaway?

NOW! Well, not right now, but within a week or so, I'll draw names at random from the list of subscribers. So take a minute and subscribe now.

How will I know if I'm a big winner?

I'll contact you by e-mail. If, for some insane reason, you don't want a character named after you in the next book, you'll still get the swag and I'll draw another name for the character-naming prize. Cool?

Cool...Sounds like fun. Thanks.

Thank you for playing. And good luck.

Contest #2 (for librarians only) ...

What happens if a newbie author holds a contest and nobody enters?

I dunno. But that's what happened here.

Having read that libraries are strapped for funding, I tried to give away a bookstore gift certificate to a library. I figured it was a good way to give something back to the librarians who've been so kind by recommending Big City, Bad Blood to their patrons and having me as a guest speaker in their libraries.

And I got a good number of responses . . . but no entries. The librarians who wrote said that the contest (which was based on finding the geographical error in BC,BB) was too time-consuming, even with the clues provided.

Point taken. Lesson learned.

When TRIGGER CITY is released, I'll post a new contest for librarians, and I promise it'll be less onerous.