Tuesday 20 July 2010

Contest to celebrate!


I’ve finally sent my query out into the world, and am holding my first ever contest to celebrate, or rather, Ginger’s contest to celebrate I’ll have time to feed him again (he does rather well for food I hasten to say, but look at that sweet little grumpy face). A strange but sweet serendipity means that this week I am also celebrating three whole years in blog-land, and finally (but no means least) this is a contest to celebrate you. Yup, you over there, behind your monitor (looking mighty fine today, may I add). I appreciate and read every comment you leave me, and love knowing you like this blog – it really warms my heart. So please enjoy this contest – I had a lot of fun collecting and contemplating the prizes.

There are four prizes to be won, in the order of below. All the prizes reflect me and my vintage / hoarding interests, or are dear to me (and my novel-to-be) in some way. As some of you already know, I collect second-hand Great Pan and Fontana imprints of Agatha Christie books as I adore the cover art (as well as the gorgeous stories). I also collect elderly Puffin children’s books, and am somewhat fascinated by old Ladybird books. I have a burgeoning china tea cup collection (now depleted by one cup!) and more than a healthy interest in vintage broaches. Have I whetted your appetite yet? *grins*

Click through on the pictures to see them in all their glory.

Prize One


China tea cup trio (Paragon) stamped ‘By Appointment of Her Majesty the Queen’
1950s broach (at least, antique dealer said 1950s!)
Agatha Christie ‘The Big Four’ (This edition 2nd printing Pan Books Ltd 1962)
Ladybird Books ‘What to Look for in Winter’ (This edition 1959)
Agatha Christie ‘A Murder is Announced’ (This edition 14th impression Fontana June 1980)
Mary Norton ‘Bedknob and Broomstick’ (This edition Puffin Books 1974)
Wild Flowers Cigarette Card Album (This is complete, dates from 1918 - 1939)

Prize Two



China cream jug (was told it dates from 1930s)
Agatha Christie ‘The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding’ (This edition Fontana 1963)
Agatha Christie ‘A Pocket full of Rye’ (This edition 19th impression Fontana 1975)
George Orwell ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’ (This edition Penguin Modern Classics 1969)
Ladybird Books ‘Fun and Games’ (This edition is 7b in the Key Words Reading Scheme, 1966)

Prize Three


‘Sweet William’ magnet (bought in Glastonbury)
John Wyndham ‘The Day of the Triffids’ (This edition published by Penguin 1981)
Agatha Christie ‘Evil Under the Sun’ (This edition 21st impression Fontana 1978)
Ladybird Books ‘The Story of Lighthouses, Lightships, and Lifeboats’ (This edition 1968)

Prize Four



Daphne du Maurier ‘The Birds, and Other Stories’ (This edition published by Penguin Books 1975, read my review here)
Agatha Christie ‘Five Little Pigs’ (This edition 14th impression Fontana 1975)
Ladybird Books ‘The Runaway’ (This edition 1948)

I will also be writing little notes about each prize, why I chose it, and what it means to me (and possibly the novel-to-be). Each prize-winner will also get a postcard about the novel-to-be, which reveals a secret! And that is all I am saying about that (zips mouth).

RULES

This competition is open to everyone no matter where you live in the world
You must be a follower of this blog. Be a ‘lovely folk’ and click the follow button!
You must leave a comment on this blog post

Extra entries can be gained by:
Linking to this blog post from your blog (+1)
Linking to this blog post by using the picture of Ginger on your side-bar or where-ever it fits! (+1)
Tweeting about this contest (+1)
Nb - if you do any of these things please let me know in case I miss them. Thanks!

Deadline is August 8th to give folk enough time to see it. Wish me luck with my query! And good luck to you too.

PS - I did originally put 'four' years being in blog-land, but that is because I am a muppet who cannot count. Hee!

64 comments:

Maria Zannini said...

First off, congratulations on birthing your query and sending it out in the world. Good luck!!

Secondly, while I'm not a big mystery reader, I loved your choices of antiques for prizes.

I'm already a follower but I'll give you a tweet and a mention in tomorrow's blog.

Linda said...

Jayne

Let me be one the first to congratulate you. I have been following your blog for a long time now and can't tell you how wonderful it is that you have got to this stage. I hope you feel pleased with yourself because us fellow bloggers and writers know just how much you have agonised, slogged and sometimes cried during the process. Well done - you got there! May the world take care of your precious cargo - can't wait to see it on the shelves.

Linda

Kathy said...

How exciting! I wish I could read your query letter. ;)

And--I have never seen such a great group of prizes!!

Unknown said...

How exciting - I am so interested in the Agatha Christie books. I will be linking to this posting on my blog as well. Ooh and what is the secret? I am dying to know. Will you tell us all later even if we don't win?

Karen Jones Gowen said...

You have been blogging for FOUR years??? Look at what I've missed, only knowing you for less than one of those years. And I have the lovely Nicola Morgan to thank for that, too. Looking at your prizes, I'm wondering if maybe you shouldn't be opening an account on ebay rather than offering prizes lol. Yes, I'll twitter this. (Always looking for things to twitter about since usually I got nothing.)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Oh, and good luck with the query!!

Anne Gallagher said...

Wowee! Spectacular prizes. I'm in, and will be blogging about it on Friday, will also post it on my sidebar today!

All the best luck with your query. Chins up, as they say!

Theresa Milstein said...

Good luck with your query.

I'm already a follower. I'll put a link to this post on the top of my blog and on Facebook.

Old Kitty said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Oh wow!! I'm so so so so so happy and thrilled for you!! GOOD LUCK with your query!! Be strong and hang on in there and think positive and lovely beautiful thougths!!!

Oh yay!! What a fun giveaway - you are so sweet to be doing this!! And double YAY that sweet Ginger is going to be fed! LOL!!!

Hugs to you and to your gorgeous kitties!!!

Enjoy these triumphs and your many more to come!

take care
x

Jayne said...

Sheesh, just realised I can't count and it is actually three years I have been blogging. Dangerous with a calculator, that's me! And thank you so much everyone. *picture me skipping for joy at your kind words - yeay!*

Happy Frog and I said...

Very many congratulations to you, exciting times!

What a lovely competition and such great prizes. If I ever get to 4 years of blogging I will have to give this a go myself! :-)

Happy Frog and I said...

Oops, 3 years! ;-)

beedle said...

I'm a new follower,as I've just found you, but I look forward to becoming a regular!

Your prizes are amazing, and I am just off to tweet about your competition @beedle82

Melody said...

Yay! Many congratulations on sending out your query! :)

And count me in the contest!

The Words Crafter said...

Oh, you sent your baby out into the big, wide world-good for you!!! I'm already a follower and will be posting about it and putting it on my sidebar this weekend. Good luck!!!

Mystica said...

Congratulations! All the very best.

Gorgeous collection of prizes!!! I follow you on GFC

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Abhishek Duggal said...

Thanks for the opportunity!

A Certain book said...

You've whetted my appetite and good luck with your query. Wow, you've come a long way. I was following your blog last year but I kind of disappeared off the blogosphere for a spell and now I'm back! So lovely to bump into you again. I've already got you on my blog roll, and I'll put Ginger up too. The prizes are right up my alley by the way! I've got my toes and fingers crossed.

Really looking forward to a secret from your novel.

Joanne.

Anonymous said...

I like Ginger. He looks great.
Thanks for a fun post.
All the best, Boonsong

Rachna Chhabria said...

Jayne... congrats on your sending your query out into the publishing world. I wish you loads of luck.

Wow..three years of blogging. That is cool. I am yet to complete four months.

Natasha said...

Congratulations on sending your query off. Ginger is one contented cat today,I can see.

Would love to enter- I am a big time fan of Dame Christie and am salivating looking at the giveaways. Will tweet it right away and mention on my blog later today.

Unknown said...

I love Ginger! And your contest sounds amazing! Hugs..

Anonymous said...

Good luck, good luck, good luck!

Unknown said...

This is so neat!!! First off CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I wish you the best of luck and hope that you are to do well in the querying world!

Great contest! Sign me up!!! Consider it on my sidebar, and I'll find a place for Ginger to sit... I love kitties after all!!

Bossy Betty said...

Congrats on getting that query out there. I've got my fingers and toes crossed for you!

I must say you are generous in your giveaway!!!

VR Barkowski said...

Congratulations, Jayne, this is HUGE. And I can only begin to imagine how thrilled Ginger must be. Food is one thing, attention from a query obsessed writer? Something much more coveted in the feline world. :)

Your prizes are extraordinary! Of course I'm a follower. Ginger now resides in my sidebar (and looks quite handsome if I do say so myself). and I've also tweeted and facebooked.

Congrats, too, on your blogoversary - three years? Wow!

Talli Roland said...

WOW! I knew there was a reason I loved your ginger kitty! What a fab contest!

And congratulations on your query, on your three years in blog-land and in general, being you!

Mise said...

Three whole years, Jayne! That's good going. I shan't enter, as I'm just clearing my attic out for now water-tanks and I have an embargo on Anything More, but I wanted to congratulate you on your blogging, on your writing, and on the mistiness of your eyes.

Mise said...

PS: Four prizes is very generous!

Amy Allgeyer Cook said...

Three years!!?? Wow! I'm glad I found you ... finally. ;) And big congrats on that query! I hope it brings you good, good news!

Carol Kilgore said...

Lovely contest. And double congratulations:
Congrats on three years in blog land
AND
Congrats on sending your query.
Love the photo of Ginger :)

Ann said...

Congratulations on your query and good luck too. Fingers and toes crossed for you.

I am already a follower, and will link your post to my sidebar.

Unknown said...

Conrats on getting your query out!!! How exciting! Best of luck!!!!

I LOVE LOVE the prizes you're offering in this awesome contest. I'm off to put Ginger on my sidebar!

:D

Unknown said...

Conrats on getting your query out!!! How exciting! Best of luck!!!!

I LOVE LOVE the prizes you're offering in this awesome contest. I'm off to put Ginger on my sidebar!

:D

Alexandra Shostak said...

Congratulations on sending out that query! First one's the most nerve-wracking (I say as though I'm not lying...)

I'm a follower! I want to enter into the contest, it looks awesome! :) :)

penandpaints said...

Hi
Well done on sending out your query.
What a lovely idea for prizes, that's a really thoughtful collection.
I'll mention you on my next post!

Angelique said...

Hi Jayne =) I left you a comment back over on my blog but not sure if you'll see it so thought I would drop by here as well. For your vamp loving friend, see if she's read Insatiable by Meg Cabot or Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler...both have vamps and both are laugh out loud funny (along with the romance and action and all that good stuff =)

Oh...and congrats on sending out the query!! That's huge!!

Christina Lee said...

These prizes are so lovely and personal!

I am a follower!

Good luck with querying!

Kyna said...

I wanted to stop by and thank you for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower :D I'm glad you found me through Al :) And I'm glad I found your blog as well!

Clara said...

What a great contest!

And congratulations on finishing your query and sending it, I`m crossing my finger here! =D

Anonymous said...

I wish you all the luck with your query, Jayne.

What a wonderful contest. Your inclusion of 'Day of the Triffids' sent me down memory lane and I used to buy Agatha Christie paperbacks as a teenager. Love the china.

Hope you are giving Ginger plenty of attention.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

A huge congrats on sending out your first query. It's both an exciting and scary thing to do :)

WritingNut said...

Wow, congratulations! I'm very excited for you :)

This sounds like an amazing contest! What wonderful prizes! :)

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

Congrats on sending out your first query. That's fun. Hope you hear back soon. :)

Stina said...

Congrats on leaping into the world of querying. Good luck!!! :D

Al said...

What a fab bunch of prizes!

Please count me in.

You must have a good friend in a shipping company :-)

I have to share the word verification word:

it is "mates"

Susan Fields said...

Don't enter me in the contest because I feel guilty for winning too many lately, but I did want to say congratulations on getting that query out the door! What an awesome feeling! And hooray that Ginger gets to eat. :)

What awesome prizes - have fun with your contest!

music obsessive said...

Better late than never. Ginger now ensconced in my sidebar with appropriate link, although what my music readers will make of it who can say - haha!

Very best of luck with the querying (from one who has tried and failed). I expect to see the first Ferst on the shelves soon.

DJ Kirkby said...

Good luck! Prize two is making me drool just a little bit. bet you're sorry you said I was looking good now, eh?

Devon Ellington said...

Congrats on getting out your query! may it find the perfect home.

Enjoy.

Ev said...

I feel very honoured to have been one of your 'followers', particularly at this moment in time when you have sent out feelers for publishers. You did it! Aren't you great, well some you. I insist you take time out from feeding Ginger to pat yourself on the back. If the memoir I've ghost-written ever makes it to a launch in London you HAVE to come. I'm dying to meet you in person.Congrats again.

Andrea Eames said...

Huge congratulations on sending out your query - and best of luck!

Andrea xx

Matthew MacNish said...

I came over here from Christine's Journey. I am now your newest follower.

Nice to meet you!

Stephanie Thornton said...

Happy blog birthday! I just meandered over from VR Barkowski's blog. Good luck with your query!

Rose said...

Hello- I am so excited about you being at this stage with the book!

I have finally followed you and can now enter this lovely competition! I have never been very good with the tool bar thingy but now I am off and going!

I can't believe how much effort you have gone to find all these beautiful things- I'd love to enter!

Private said...

Oh Jayne, how wonderful! I wish you the best of luck with your query:) And I'm of course joining in on the fun!

I've done everything you asked + the three things extra. I hope I win! I adore Agatha Christie as well:)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Good luck!

~Nicole

Jackee said...

Yay for the query hunt beginning! I'll not enter this one, because I don't want you to have to send it clear across the world, but I will shout out your party.


Good luck, Jayne!

Deniz Bevan said...

Oh those are gorgeous prizes! I've blogged about it and posted the photo of Ginger as well. I just used my own cat in a contest I held too!
Good luck to everyone.

Aubrie said...

Good luck with your query!!! That's so exciting. :)

AlphaChick said...

New follower here, sending you oodles of luck and good karma for your query. So exciting, especially to novelists just starting out like me.

And wow, Ginger is beautiful! And he has great taste in prizes. Enter me too please, Ginger.

Eliza said...

Congrats on sending your query :-)

J.C. Martin @ Fighter Writer said...

Congratulations on sending the query! Look forward to hearing about the acceptance! :)

Bird of Paradise said...

Yes Daphnie Dumauer wrote the origional short srory that ALFRED HITCHCOCK based this classic movie on But Hitchcock changed the entire location from ENGLAND to the USA swictched the month as well as the charitures