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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

And the Winners Are...

What? You didn’t know? You haven’t seen it tweeted, FaceBooked, haven't read a blog about it, or or caught it flashing in multiple sidebars? Where have you been? Just kidding. The information I’m about to unveil doesn’t exist out there. The great “not contest” of 2010 resides right here on Middle Passages Lane.

Call the following a demonstration of gratitude, though the term “not contest” has more pizzazz than a boring old “thank you”--and seeing by the time most of you read this, it will be my birthday, na, na, na, na, na, na, I get to name this particular celebration in blog-land whatever I want. So there.

Hmmm. Confused? Don’t blame you. Need me to elucidate? Sure, I can do that.

Look at my sidebar. Believe it or not, the feet-dragging tortoise that is the number of Middle Passages followers, finally managed to lumber over 100 before the author stiffened from arthritis and was forced to check into a nursing home. I know, as I write this, the number is actually 101, but one of those followers is me. Don’t bother asking how I managed to follow my own blog because I’m clueless and since I don’t know how I did it in the first place, I sure as heck don’t know how to undo it. If you do, please share. Anyway, I digress.

Apparently it’s de rigueur to hold a contest now that I’ve reached 100 followers, or have written my 368th post, or tapped three times on the window, and, in so doing, I should ask my current readers to blog, FaceBook and Tweet about said contest, so that by this time next week, Middle Passages will have 200 followers all eying "the prize.” Most times, I’m all about conformity, but here I demur, cuz folks, slow and steady and all that, ey wot? And besides, I like readers who aren’t in it for the give-aways. You know, the ones that actually stick around and, um, read?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful for every Middle Passage follower and commenter, but the bulk of the credit for my forward momentum over the last year goes to several loyal, helpful and inspiring individuals through whose caring comments, I continue to grow as a writer.

Thus my “not contest”--structured to reward any three readers who meet simple guidelines, but statistically weighted toward those who have been commenting since the beginning, or, ahem, since last August, which was when I finally began to receive comments on a regular basis.

As such, behold the “not selection process” which, since I get to make the rules, has already occurred:

• I tallied up every Middle Passages comment since August 1, 2009 and July 21, 2010 (Here is where you are invited to say: “Get a life, Liza.”)

• and, entered anyone who commented over five times during that period.

• Every comment equaled one chance. For example, if you commented 27 times over the specified time period, imagine 27 raffle tickets with your name on them, added to a drawing.

Three “not winners” were selected in an unscientific process today--i.e., my daughter shook up a container filled with white slips of paper with names printed on them, closed her eyes and pulled out three.

Now, we get to the fun part.

What is a “not contest” if it doesn’t offer “not prizes?” Not much, right?

So here’s the deal. Each “not winner” will not receive...just kidding again, they will receive one of the following three books, all of which by the way, I have not read.

1) The Pocket Muse. Ideas & Inspirations for Writing, by Monica Wood
2) The Faith of a Writer. Life, Craft, Art, by Joyce Carol Oats
3) The Courage to Write (How Writers Transcend Fear), by Ralph Keyes

The first prize winner will select their choice of books. The second prize winner chooses next, and the third prize winner will receive the remaining book. Clear enough?

Now, a drum roll, please.

The winners are:

First Prize: Jody Hedlund of Author Jody Hedlund.

Second Prize: Glenn from Differences with the Same Likeness

Third Prize: Tabitha Bird from Through My Eyes.

Jody, may I ask you to please email me with your book selection and an address where you would like it sent? Tabitha and Glenn, please email me your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd preferences in books. Depending on which book Jody chooses, I’ll do my best to honor your choices and if you also, would send addresses to my email, I’ll mail your books off to you. Tab, I’m fine with the overseas deal.

I hope this “not contest” helps in some way to convey my appreciation to all of you who read Middle Passages. Aside from the three folks above, there are 32 other readers who have offered consistent feedback; some over long months and some more recently. I know too, there is a quiet group in the background cheering me on. You all know who you are. In my mind, every one of you is a first place winner.

14 comments:

Tabitha Bird said...

WOOOO HOOO! Oh how cool!!!!!

I will email you :) Thank you so much Liza and congrats on the 100 plus followers :)

Robin said...

I think that it is fantastic that you jumped that 100 mark. And what a fabulous idea. A non-contest. Lovely.

Purple Cow said...

The lady above - Robin - is the person who bumped up your score to 100 by suggesting I follow you.

I think its very risky giving away books you haven't read. I did that this year and gave my daughter's 5th grade teacher a book where teachers are all massacred and the surviving teacher kept getting hard-ons.

Ewwwwwhhhh...

PS I think your contest is a little bit rigged ;-)

Unknown said...

Liza, you are so clever! I was cracking up as I read your hilarious explanation of the not-contest. Creative people like you make this world a better, more colorful place!

Congrats to the not-winners, and Happy 101+ followers, Liza!!

glnroz said...

Ms. Liza, I am the "winner" waaayyy before today, in that I get to read the little stories that you post. I do appreciate you letting me participate in you NON-contest.. lol.. I will certainly tell everyone about my good fortune. thanx,, Glenn

Sharon said...

As ever, totally creative! Keep those stories coming. Congrats on the centennial!

Helen Ginger said...

This was totally not exciting. I'm kidding. It was indeed exciting, and I wasn't even a winner.

Congrats on the 100!

Jody Hedlund said...

First of all, Happy Birtday!! Hope it's a great day!

And secondly, WOW!! What an awesome suprise!! I'm loving the "not contest"!!!! What a creative idea! :-) And I'm liking it even better because I won!! ;-)

So, pick a book? How very cool! The Pocket Muse is one that I've heard about and would love to read! Thank you so much!! My mailing address is:

Jody Hedlund
PO Box 1230
Midland, MI 48641

I wish you and your blog many more loyal followers and much success in the future! Thanks, Liza!

Jon Paul said...

Congrats on your growing followership Liza, and congrats of course to the three lucky winners. :D

I'm with Glenn. Getting to read your stories and anecdotes is a real treat--and the real prize if you ask me!

Rose said...

cong to those lucky people who will get a book . they will have to give us feedback. cong on the no of followers that enjoy your blog

Ro said...

Oh my goodness! I love the way you wrote about your "non-contest" - far too funny. :)

WritingNut said...

Ooh, congratulations Liza! And congratulations to all three winners!

This was as fabulous idea! You are very clever indeed :)

Lydia Kang said...

A brilliant "Not" contest. Congrats to the winners, and to you for your lovely blog!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to you, and to the lovely winners!

Also, how pleased am I to see you went ahead and embraced the silly a little bit in this post, good lady!? Fun!

Slow and steady, as they say, Liza. You do lovely work. Keep on keeping on!