Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Never Slow Dance With A Zombie Twitter Contest


I've finally found the perfect use for Twitter. A contest. A contest in which you can win free stuff (in my case, books) just for tweeting. I've had the hardest time trying to figure out why people love Twitter so much. But I figure if someone were giving me free stuff for tweeting, I'd be tweeting my brains out. So for all my friends who have Twitter and don't use it, now you have a good reason. And for those of you who were tweeting all the time anyway... Well, now you have a better reason.


The contest is being hosted by my good friend The Park Avenue Princess. Click here: Park-Avenue Princess . Why is she hosting the contest and not me? First off, she's my good friend, and secondly, she loves to tweet--duh!


The contest runs from October 2nd to October 7th. It’s easy to enter; just tweet or retweet a sentence using the book title, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie. That’s it! Your tweet can be as simple as: I will Never Slow Dance With A Zombie. Ever! Or creative like: Bela may slow dance with Edward, but I will Never Slow Dance With A Zombie... Okay, that's not so creative, but you get my drift.

What could be easier? Each time you tweet or retweet the title in one day you increase your chances of winning for that day. There will be a new prize winner everyday for the six days of the contest. Our only restriction is that no one player can win two days in a row.

A random drawing will be held after midnight each day. Winners will be notified by direct message via Twitter from The Park Avenue Princess. A new contest begins at 12:01 the following day. And like I said, the more tweets you send in one day, the more chances you have to win.


Prizes

Each day our winner gets their choice of one of six YA zombie book titles. Included in the mix is an autographed copy of my novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie. And if you win on day three, and want the same book chosen on day two. No problem. Winners can choose from any of the six YA books on the list. No restrictions. The list of books will be posted some time soon on my blog, my website http://www.evanlowe.com/, and The Park Avenue Princess' blog. So please, check her blog for the list of books and while you're at it, stick around, she has other cool contests you'll probably want to enter.

There will be a new winner chosen every day from the 2nd to the 7th. Entries are good for one day, and one day only. The key to winning is to enter often.

Grand Prize

On October 8th there will be a grand prize chosen from all the tweets sent over the six days. What is the grand prize? You will have to check back later to find out.


Please join in the fun. Seven chances to win seven prizes over seven days. And all you have to do to win is tweet. You know you love tweeting. And even if you don't, it’s time you made it pay!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

West Hollywood Book Fair



I put the wrong date for the book fair on my website. It's this Sunday, October 4th, not Sunday, October 2nd (October 2nd is Friday--duh!) . This is what happens when people trust me to keep my own schedule. But whether I got the date right or not, I will definitely be at the West Hollywood Book Fair this coming Sunday. I will be on the Zombies And Other Creatures of The Night panel from 1:45-2:45. Also on the panel will be authors: Amber Benson, Francesca Lia Block, S.G. Browne, and Seth Grahame-Smith. Panel moderator will be Del Howison. It's going to be a lot of fun, so if you're in southern California this coming weekend, please come on out.

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Seven Sisters


Saturday I discovered the Seven Sisters. At first when I heard the name I thought "What a great title for a novel or a story. I am going to use that." However, after hearing more about the Seven Sisters, I realized it was more than a great title. It was already a great story.

The Seven Sisters is a winery in Paternoster, South Africa. The wine is produced by sisters who, during apartheid, were evicted from their home in a small fishing village. They returned 22 years later and now produce seven wines, each named for one of the sisters.

For a compelling news clip about the Seven Sisters: Click here: YouTube - SABC News: Seven Sisters Wine (Paternoster, South Africa)

Wine making is a male dominated business. The winery has had its share of challenges, and so I am asking my wine drinking friends and followers to find out if Seven Sisters wines are available in your area. If you are a member of Wine Snooth they can sus it out for you. http://www.snooth.com/

I realize South Africa is not known for wine. But for too many years, what SA had been known for is discrimination. In some small way you can help right that wrong. Please go out and buy a bottle, and while you're at it, tell a friend. You can help give the story of the Seven Sisters a happy ending.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Tatiana


The lovely lady standing next to me in the photo is my friend Tatiana. Some of you may recall me mentioning her in the past. Tatiana designed my website, encouraged me to start using Twitter; she's doing my animated trailer, and has helped out in many other ways. In fact, we're standing in the location for my launch party, which she found. I didn't even ask her to do it... Okay, I begged her. Kidding. She's just cool like that.


Tatiana is a very talented artist, and I am happy to say that very soon we will be working on a project together that will be available only on my website. For Free. It's a YA paranormal short series. Tatiana will be illustrating. That's all I'm going to say about it for now. But we're both very excited. Stay tuned for more details. If you'd like to see some of Tatiana's work check out her website http://www.TheArtofTatiana.com/ and feel free to tell your friends about her amazing art.


I will be announcing my launch party soon (I know, a month after I launched), and I'm going to have a Twitter contest where we'll be giving away prizes every day. Lot's happening right now, so check back often.


Friday, September 11, 2009

Update


I know I haven't posted in over a week. I've been trying to finish the first draft of the new novel. I figured out why I was stuck, and now I'm moving again (after throwing out 20 pages). I should have the draft done by the end of next week.


West Hollywood Book Fair


If you happen to be in Los Angles next Sunday October 2nd,I will be appearing at the WeHo Book Fair. I am on the Dark Delicacies Panel at 2PM. Please stop by.


NCIBA Trade Show


The following weekend on Saturday October 10th I will be appearing at the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show at 11 AM.


SCIBA Trade Show


And finally on Saturday October 24th I will be at the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show participating in the Author's Feast.

For exact locations please consult the Trade Show's websites. And if you'd like me to do a reading and signing at your school or book store, or come to your apartment and read to your kids, just drop me a line, and I will try to make it happen. Please note: I come to read to your kids, please provide a strong cocktail ;-0


Thursday, September 3, 2009

Do Not Read This!!!


Now I'm a published author.

With one book under my belt I would like to publish another. So each morning after I work out, instead of calling my agent about TV work, I write. At least, that used to be my pattern. However, since I've become a published author, I find myself reading the one thing I know better than to read--reviews.

As a playwright, I was told a long time ago to ignore the notices (that's what snooty New York playwrights call reviews). Stick to your art. And for most of my writing career I have been able to either avoid reviews or read and dismiss them. But with the arrival of Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, all that has changed.

Here's my new morning routine. I turn on the computer and google alerts pings: review, review, review.

SMART SIDE OF MY BRAIN: Oh great! People are reading the book. I'm happy about that.

NEEDY SIDE OF MY BRAIN: But what are they saying about you?

SMART: It doesn't matter. Whatever they think it isn't about me. Its about the book.

NEEDY: Of course it's about you! You wrote the darn book, didn't you?

SMART: I'm not going to read the review. I did that yesterday. I read a bad review and it brought me down all day. I was a mess, and totally unable to work.

NEEDY: That's why you need to read this, E-Man...

[Yes, the needy side of my brain calls me E-Man. It's an ego boost]

NEEDY (CONT'D) ...Read just one. If it's good it will counter act the effect of the one you read yesterday.

SMART: But what if it isn't good?

NEEDY: Stop being so negative! Read the darn review!

So I read the review. This one is complimentary and quite flattering. I can feel all the angst from yesterday slipping away as I read.

SMART: You're right. I'm glad I read it. I feel better already. Thanks. Now I can really get some work done.

NEEDY: Wait! There's another one.

SMART: I... I shouldn't push my luck.

NEEDY: There you go being negative again. E-Man, baby, have some faith.

[Needy me knows how to push my buttons]

SMART: Okay, but just this..... *reading* AHHHHHH! SHE HATES ME!

Another day without writing. I promise myself I won't read any reviews tomorrow

NEEDY: *chuckling* Sure you won't.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Hitched



Last week I went to Virginia to see my niece get married. Isn't she lovely? Congratulations Daniel and Veronica.


Short story: My controlling niece planned every aspect of the wedding. The only thing she left up to Daniel was to choose the ties that he and the groomsmen would wear. When Daniel proudly walked in with his choice, Ronnie said "No." Then went out and bought the tie he is wearing in the photo.


"Hey Daniel, most of us didn't realize we weren't in charge for many years. You are ahead of the game. Welcome to the family."