Winner And We're Not Done Yet...

Happy Thursday All,

I'm posting this kinda late in the day, but I couldn't be on the computer very long earlier because I had another obligation in my personal life (a good one, I promise, nothing bad) so I decided to wait until I had talked to the winner of yesterday's drawing and was done with my other obligation to post.

The winner of yesterday's December Days Blog Giveaway was Sarah!

Congratulations, Sarah! Lauren Oliver will mail you your copy of DELIRIUM soon.

Tomorrow is yet another giveaway...you're gonna have to come back and see who the author is and what book it is.

Next week I have THREE, count 'em, THREE giveaway days. Three different authors, three different books.

So, keep coming back, because tomorrow is a giveaway day and next week is THREE (and I'm not saying which days!)

Have A Thrilling Thursday!

Love Is In The Air...And In The Giveaway Novel!

Happy Wednesday Everybody,

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR THE NEXT DECEMBER DAYS BLOG GIVEAWAY HAPPENING LATER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!****

No, you're not seeing things! That is, in fact, the December Days Blog Giveaway day!

You're in for a treat. YA author, Lauren Oliver is going to give to one lucky winner a signed copy of her thought-provoking and fascinating dystopian novel, Delirium:

Lena is looking forward to being cured and safe from the deliria. Days before receiving the cure, she contracts it...she falls in love.

It's a fascinating read, everybody!

And here's how you can try to win a signed copy of this incredible novel (please read the instructions carefully):

One entry per person. I'll be closing the contest at 10:30 p.m. Central Time:

1.  You can comment on this post. Please leave your first name and an email address. If you do not leave an email address you will be disqualified. (I need an email address so that I can contact the winner and give them information on how to claim their prize).

2.  If you want to keep your email private, then email me at bethany.averie@yahoo.com (Some people have other email addresses of mine--please note that if you email me your entry, you must send it to bethany.averie@yahoo.com since I am not accepting contest entriest sent to any other email address--it's just easier to have entries at a central location).

I'll announce the winner in Thursday's post!

Have A Wondrous Wednesday!

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Happy St. Nicholas Day / Tuesday Everybody!

In my background, I have Flemish (Lowland Dutch) and German, and from what I understand, both backgrounds celebrate St. Nicholas Day.

St. Nicholas is who Santa Claus is based on. He was a real person. Unfortunately, not a lot is known about him, other than the fact that he would often provide for the poor and needy.

There's a story that there was a girl whose father was too poor to provide a dowry (which was extremely important back then, not as much now). So at night, St. Nicholas dropped off money so that the girl could get married.

He was a bishop and tried very hard to help all those in need.

I heard that the Dutch put out wooden shoes. They place hay in the shoes for St. Nicholas' horse.

Growing up, we'd put out a shoe downstairs the night before St. Nicholas Day. In the morning we'd have  presents in and under our shoes, and sweet treats in our shoes. It was great fun, and not many people I know celebrated St. Nicholas Day, so it felt like something special.

My husband and I carry on the tradition to our offspring, who have enjoyed it. This morning there was joyful shouts as St. Nicholas gifts were fawned over.

Today, I think we're finally getting out our Christmas Tree, and I'm hoping husband will get out the lights for outside the house. We're a little behind this year, but I did put some garland over the mantelpiece. I also found some fun wall decorations and they're up. So now we just have to put up the rest.

I started wrapping presents, out of necessity. Husband and my father have a similar gift and I didn't want husband coming across it on accident, so I wrapped it up last night. I still have some shopping to do, and I expect when husband gets back from his doc appointment (he seems to have some kind of a cold) he'll want to take care of some of his own shopping.

What fun Christmas/December Traditions do you have in your family?

Have A Tinsel-Filled Tuesday!

Turkey Vultures, Shopping, & Giveaway Details

Happy Monday Everybody,

I hope y'all had a great weekend! My weekend was packed! I had shopping to do, church, and we went to the library--but it was a good weekend.

This morning after coming home from an errand, I pulled up to find that there were Grackles (big black birds, but not crows) and a Turkey Vulture picking at the garbage along the curb that was waiting for the garbage truck. I had never seen a Turkey Vulture that close before (and I was glad I was in the car). Those things are huge and ugly. You want to feel sorry for them for being so ugly, but they're so huge that you start wondering if you'd win if they tried to attack you. Fortunately, said vulture flew away and landed on the opposite side of the street on some one's rooftop, so I was able to get to the door unmolested by an ugly (and possibly vicious) bird. Although, I doubt they attack humans, but you can't be too careful! LOL. (yes, I'm being funny--it's okay to laugh).

Okay...I have an announcement:  This week there's TWO giveaways. Yes, you read that right TWO--on two different days.

Whenever you see THIS graphic at the TOP of a post, it means it's a December Days Blog Giveaway day:

I'll post the rules and everything each day. This is YA week--so there's 2 different days, with 2 different YA authors and books.

What's been a strange experience for you this Christmas/Holiday Season (please no vomit stories, I sometimes read comments when I'm eating)

Have A Merry Monday!

Congratulations...

Happy Weekend Everyone,

I'm a little late posting this--my day was pretty full--but the winner from Friday's giveaway of Will Graham novel is...

Valerie!

Congratulations, Valerie! I've forwarded your information to Will, so you should be getting that from him soon.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and keep your eye out for the next giveaway day--there's several more to come!

Have a GREAT Weekend!

Kicking It Off

Happy Friday All,

***CONTEST/GIVEAWAY portion of this post is now CLOSED***



December Days Blog Giveaway Icon
means this post is a December Days
Blog Giveaway post



You've heard the phrase, "Tis better to give than to receive", right? Well, that's what you're gonna get 6 or 7 days this month on Write By Bethany.

Each day--which are sprinkled throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas, but ending BEFORE Christmas--will feature a different author with a chance to win a copy of his or her novel.

Haven't finished your Christmas shopping? What's more awesome than a book that's signed by the author?

To kick it off, Will Graham has agreed to something very special. The winner will get his or her choice of one of his in-prints. Yep, you read that right. Whomever wins this giveaway will get to choose one novel of his in-prints to have personalized with whatever name the winner wants.

So here's the deal. These are the 3 novels Will has in print. He's provided a very short blurb for each of them, and given me permission to post the cover art so you can get a little feel for them.

Street Heat -- A former detective confronts the serial killer that got away... and the woman who broke his heart.

Sometimes There Really Are Monsters Under The   Bed -- An investigator and his heiress partner confront genuine Evil on that most special day, Christmas Morning.

Spider's Dance --A computer security consultant uncovers evidence of a deadly conspiracy with origins in World War II.

 
 

 

Okay here is how the giveaway will be run:

 

There will be ONE winner. ONE entry per person. I will close the giveaway at 10:30 p.m. Central Time.

 

Two ways to enter:

 

1. Comment on this blog. The way the comments are set up, every comment is moderated. This has worked to cut down on problems people have had in the past with being able to comment on this blog. If your comment hasn't appeared after you've hit the "submit" button, it's only because I haven't come in and pushed the "publish" button. Don't worry, I do get email notifications about every single comment. I will come on the blog and publish your comment and respond to it so you know that I've seen it and you're entered.  **IMPORTANT**:  Include a first name and email address. Posts that do NOT do this will be disqualified.

 

2.  You can email your entry to bethany.averie@yahoo.com  **Please note**:  I'm NOT accept entries emailed to any of my other email accounts. Please ONLY email your entries to the email address I've provided here. Thank you :-)
 

So, have fun and be sure to enter! You never know...the winner could be you :-)

 

Have A Fantastic Friday! 

Hey! Guess What? It's December...

Happy Thursday Everyone,

It's December! It's December! Guess what that means? It means that it's the month for my giveaway days.

Friday is the kick-off day! That means on Friday, I'll be hosting a giveaway of an author's in-print book that will be signed by the author for that day and mailed to the winner.

Other than that, been busy prepping for Christmas and taking care of some things on my end.

Hope all is well and don't forget to come back on Friday...it's the first of the December Days Write By Bethany Blog Giveaway

Also, BIG NEWS and Congratulations to my fellow writer and friend, Susan C. Muller. She just had her novel published through Soul Mate Publishing! I've had the pleasure of reading and critiquing part of this novel--a Romantic Suspense with paranormal elements and, I'd say a bit of mystery, too. The Secrets On Forest Bend is now available through the publisher. 

Have A Thrilling Thursday!