Celebratory Swag Contest
We’re heading into a holiday weekend here in the US — let’s party!!
I was lucky enough to get into ComicCon in NYC this year, and loaded up on some pretty sweet swag — comic books, ARCs, sample books, bookmarks, and the like. Would you like some? I have enough to make three swag packs, with ARCs and books from Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jim Butcher, Dean Koontz, and much more.
All you have to do is leave a comment below — what is your favorite author promo or giveaway? And have you ever bought a book because of it?
I have a contest/announcement yahoo loop that is quiet except for news updates from me, and contest giveaways. Join here and you are automatically entered in my contests for now and evermore:
Michele_Lang_Book_Talk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Oh, and one final plug for Brenda Novak’s renowned auction to benefit diabetes research — I’ve donated a gift basket loaded with escapism. To check it out and make a bid, go here:
http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&dir=n&Auction_uid1=973498
Have a fabulous weekend — I’ll announce the winners in a week.
UPDATED TO ADD: Due to overwhelming demand ;-) I am adding two addtional prize packs with my OWN swag — ARCs and books — including one pack with my latest relese, NETHERWOOD — and yes, cover flats! The finest personal swag I can provide :) And as always, I will mail prize packs anywhere.
Again, have a wonderful weekend!
Posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 4:54 am and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow: RSS 2.0 feed. Trackback from your own site.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
my favorite was a book.yes
this was a series book i won
i fell in love with the story
so i went out and bought the
2nd book in the series
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Hi Michele,
This is a great contest. I’m a swag whore….I collect EVERTHING and have boxes of the stuff all over. And yes, I’ve bought books because of swag. I particularly like cover flats. I keep a box full of only coverflats and when I’m up for shopping, I’ll take it out and start looking through them. Gives me plenty of inspiration on what to buy next!!!
I also like neat little knic-knacs that I use and show off too.
Valerie
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:42 am
I tend to love books, cause then i get a taste of a author might not have gotten and i would purschase thier books in the future if i loved them. nice way to get a try out without really loosing anything
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hi Peggy –
My favorites are books too. One of the books I got was Naomi Novik’s HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON — it was so awesome I’m keeping it for myself and buying the rest of the series!
If not a book, I love to get stuff that evokes the mood of a book or gives me a sample of the writing. On line excerpts, sample books, even postcards with mini-teasers.
Thanks!
Michele
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hey Val!
“Swag whore” — ROFLMAO! As a writer, it is so nice to know that folks love collecting the stuff we give out, and that it inspires some to read our books. I also like giving away stuff that is intrinsically useful and fun on its own. I had some scented candles one year, and some bath petals another. Those things are fun, book or no book.
Thanks for stopping by!
Michele
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
Hey tinab –
Couldn’t agree more — see my response to Peggy above.
Thanks for your comment!
Michele
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
I have never won a swag so I guess I loose the whole swage whore title *Sigh* one day i will get to these things called conventions and see what it is all about *g*
In the meantime I tend to win contest on blogs *crossing fingers* and when I do I blog about the book and then rush out to amazon.com and buy the rest in a series (It’s an addiction) Love blog promotions and contest. *wink* Have a great weekend!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I enter contests to get books that I would like to read and to be introduced to new authors I have yet to read. I have purchased alot of books as a result of this. I like to get books or gift certificates to bookstores and would not pass up a Starbucks gift card.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
As far as swag that made me buy a book, I won a contest from Mindy Klasky in which I received a 14K gold cat charm, as well as two signed bookplates for The Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft and orcery and the Single Girl. I bought the first one, mostly because it sounded good, but also because I had the bookplate to put in it (otherwise, I could have gotten it from the library). It was so good, I ended up buying the second as well!
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Hi Michelle,
My fave is goody bags b/c you never know what you are getting. I have gotten books, coverflats, pens, bath stuff and even naughty stuff like a lipstick in a shape of a penis. Hope it’s okay to post that. LOL
I like anything.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
My favorite author promo or giveway, are any that involve chocolates!! Or books or anything I can use to pamper myself.
I once won an entire book trilogy and with out that, I would have never been introduced to the author and started reading her other books.
There have been contests where I dont win, but I go and pick up the book anyway because I think it will be a good read
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I love to win books and gift certificates to B&N, Amazon and Starbucks. I’ve bought lots of books after I won one and enjoyed it. I love reading books in order so I’ve even bought the first books in a series before I read the book I won! lol
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
My favorite are books or sample chapter excerpt books. I love a chance to try an author and possibly buy if I like what I read. Yes, I have bought after trying a book or reading a sample chapter book and getting hooked on a story.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I love the coverflats and the books. And posters. I love anything signed by the author. I have bought books from looking them up on the internet, when I get their names from bookmarks.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
my favorites are books or gift certificates, but I like swag too.I’ve found quite a few new authors by winning a book.If I enjoy the one I’ve won I’ll purchase more from the author.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Hi Michele,
What a cool contest! Well, I love cover flats, ARCs and books. But I also love bookmarks, magnets, pens… lol. I like just about anything that promotes an author and/or books.
Have a great week!
May 27th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Hey Sarai!
Hope you had a great weekend — the weather was beautiful here and we took it easy.
I really enjoy celebrating with contests like this…it’s fun to send out prizes to people. Being a writer is such a deep joy, it’s so great to share it!
May 27th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Hi Joye!
I like prizes I can email to people, like amazon gifts cards (my last prize) or free downloads of ebooks etc. It’s instant gratification for me, and for the person winning the prize too.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hi Kimberly B:
That’s a great story…I hope that Mindy Klasky comes across it!
That sounds like such a great prize. I’m always learning more about what works the best.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Hi Kimmy –
I love making up goodie bags probably the most of anything I give away…each one is different, sometimes really quirkly b/c I throw all kinds of things in there like cut stones, little toys, things I like that I collect to send along as the mood strikes me. I sent off a feather boa once along with the advertised prizes!
I love to give an extra little surprise when time and budget permits…
May 27th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Hi Ashley —
Some contests blow me away with their generosity of spirit. I love contests that make you feel like the world is an open, magical place, where anything can arrive in the mail
May 27th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hey Carol –
As I’ve mentioned before, I think gift cards are great. I’ve had winners give me feedback that the time they took to savor the shopping experience was like a second gift in itself
May 27th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Hey Cherie J:
I am considering making an online gift book for readers as a prize sometime soon. I have a nice little backlist that is waiting for me to figure out how to do this…
May 27th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Hi Robin P:
Thank you for reminding me to sign my own swag! I try to personally inscribe books that people win as prizes, but sometimes when I send off postcards or bookflats as a bonus prize I forget to sign it.
Bad writer! LOL Thanks for the reminder…
May 27th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Hey Char –
If you’ve never gotten to a conference, you’ve got to give it a try sometime for the goody rooms alone. Whole rooms filled with free books…ComicCon was awesome to behold
May 27th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Hi Yolanda!
Thanks so much for stopping by — it’s so great to know that readers enjoy the freebies we writers create to promote the stories we love!
I’ll be announcing the winners on Friday….
May 27th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
My favorite promo items are pens and bookmarks. My favorite prizes are books and gc for books. I have bought a book from promo items.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Hi Amy S –
Thank you for stopping by…I will be announcing winners on Friday so please check in!
M
May 27th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
my favorite promo item was a free ebook from an author it was the first book in a series of 3 and yep you guessed I couldn’t pass up the next two so I went out and bought those as soon as I finished reading the first one lol.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Books are my absolute favorite giveway. And, yes, I’ve definitely bought other books by winning. I’ve discovered new authors this way that I would not have otherwise picked up or read.
Thanks for the chance to play and win.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hi Pamk!
As I mentioned above, I’m thinking of giving away some ebooks as a future prize — my backlist needs to find a new home
May 27th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hi Debbie,
Books are totally the best swag
May 27th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Hi Michele!! Love the color..
My most favorite promo would be excerpt and it must be interesting with cliffhanger. Yes, I’ve bought books because of it. And a lot too!!
May 27th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Swag I like:
Pens. Nice ergonomic pens.
Post-its or other note pads.
Tote bags with sexy or silly double entendres from your books or tagline.
Gift certs to just about anywhere you can shop online. I like Body & Bath Works, etc., but I like to pick my own scents, please.
Baskets of mixed stuff - sexy, funny, edible. Or all three.
Book downloads. I have purchased the first THREE books in a series when I won the fourth. Admittedly, I was familiar with the author’s work and liked it already.
In general, I like disposable/usable stuff as I’m trying to downsize my stuff in preparation to move from house to apartment in a couple years. As such, I do not have use or ROOM for cover flats, bookmarks, mugs, mousepads, keychains and the like. I already have what I like and what I like to use. Many t-shirt prizes are L or XL, which does this BBW no earthly good, except as a rag. I DO like jewelry, especially if it has significance to your book, but it is such a personal preference that I only enter contests for things I REALLY like, not something I might wear once a year.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi Amylove!
Hmmm…I have an excerpt book hanging around here for the Shomi line, and will definitely toss it into the pile o swag for the winners!
Thanks so much for stopping by — I’m glad you like this color
May 27th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Book downloads and gc’s are my favorite giveaways, and a great way to learn about a new author. And yes, I have bought subsequent books after winning a download.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
My favorites are books and totes.
Thanks,
Marlene
May 27th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Books or GCs to get more books - what else would a book junkie want, lol. I’ve won some for authors new to me and then gone on to buy their future books. Just last month I had an arc to review for a pub for a suspense story, gave it to my mother and now she wants to read more for that author.
Swag can be cool, too.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Not surprisingly, books/ARCs are a big favorite. I’ve found many new-to-me authors like that.
Anything useful is great, too. Like shower gel, nail polish… (Alright, nail polish isn’t useful to everyone, but I’m still using some I won a couple of years ago.
Can’t think of any other examples of “useful” right now.)
Chocolate is always tasty.
Gift certificates can be nice, but since I live outside USA, they’re usually not that useful for me. Unless they’re for ebooks.
I’m not a big promo item collector, so I can pass cover flats, magnets etc. I like the Shomi excerpt book, though. (I have the first one.) It’s like a mini-book.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Hi Cathy M –
Thanks for entering! And I’m like you…my grab at ComicCon was first and foremost the books, whether graphic or print
May 28th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Hey Marlene –
Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest!
M
May 28th, 2008 at 4:05 am
Hi Pam P!!
Thanks so much for stopping by
May 28th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Hi Paula!
Thanks for entering the contest! And I think the Shomi booklets came out great too…they give you a wonderful feel for the entire line.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Love to win books and gift cards. Pens, magnets, totebags and bookmarks are always useful in my house. Enjoy the coverflats, because they tend to have me going looking for the book to read.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hi Jean P:
Thanks for entering the contest and stopping by! I think the prize packs for this contest will have many of the items you listed
May 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I like anything the author’s
give away. I’m not picky, of
course books and gift cards
are my all time favorite. LOL.
It’s fun to watch the mail for
the goodies and winnings to come.
Books given away is a great way
for me to try new author’s. The
new books of my favorite author’s
that I don’t have by is nice too.
If I like a book then I am more
than likely to buy the rest in a
series.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Books are always my faves, with Amazon or B&N gift cards coming a close second. Jewelry, gift packs, book lights, innovative book marks or book thongs custom-made for the book are all my faves! And yes, I use the gc to buy the author’s book first who chose me as a winner. I’m good that way
I’m having LOTS OF BOOK GIVEAWAYS to go with my book reviews. Hope you’ll stop by and spread the word.
Thanks, Michelle!
May 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
My favorite is really books.
but sometimes a card for a bookstore is better.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I love anything that is a giveaway. But I especially love books, bookmarks, pens, gift cards, etc. I’ve also won some jewelry and book thongs made by the authors. Nothing I’ve won or gotten in a contest has made me buy a book. But if the book I win is by an author that is new to me and I like it, I will take a second look at the author’s other books. And sometimes buy them.
May 29th, 2008 at 12:40 am
My favorite giveaway is books, like so many other posters. I don’t collect any kinds of promo materials, but I do like bookmarks. I especially like the ones that list all the author’s books.
I have bought a lot of books because I won one from an author, loved it, then bought the rest of her books or because I read an excerpt while entering a giveaway, was intrigued and bought the book.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:03 am
Great contest!.. I love receiving books as a prize. I get to try a lot of different genres that way. I also love the personalized gifts authors send lets you see their personality as well.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I collect pens so I always like getting pens for Swag. I like postits too. The best is books, chocolate and GC for contests.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I LOVE books as giveaways and will frequently track down an author who’s book I’ve won.
It’s an excellent way to learn about authors I might have overlooked before.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Hey Everybody!
Thank you so much for all this great info…it will go into the blog post when I announce the winners. I want to take a little time and announce them in the morning.
And thanks for stopping by, Earlene, ABookworm, Jessy, Phyllis, Cynthya, Christy M, Dena, and Mina — I am so happy with the response to this contest!
All this info is really helpful — thank you!
Michele