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Still Sucks to Be Me Flash Fiction

This is from Sarah and is an entry for the extra points opportunity #5 to win the iPad! Go, Sarah!

Still Sucks to Be Me Flash Fiction POV: Serena 10/27/2011

MYTH: I (Serena) am awesomesauce.

TRUTH: Well, actually that’s true, but sometimes I have to make hard decisions.

Sometimes, it sucks having a best friend who’s a vampire.  Like now, for instance.  When I actually have the choice to become one myself.  I know Mina doesn’t wanna pressure me or anything, and she’s trying not to, but I know she wants me to turn. It’s so easy for her!  I mean, her whole family is vampires already.  And I know I really really wanted to become a vampire too, but on the other hand, I do kinda sorta love my family (and Nathan. Maybe).  A little bit.  Even if my mom can be a total *beep* sometimes, I don’t really wanna leave them forever.  Forever is such a long time.  On the other hand, if I do become a vampire, I can be with my best friend forever, and I know for sure an eternity of Mina+me=tons of fun.  We could travel the world together! But man, an eternity? Ugh, this is such a freaking permanent life-changing decision!

Sometimes, it just really sucks to be me.

Thanks, Sarah, that was really awesome! I love it! And now you’ve got an extra 200 points!

All kinds of cool Still Sucks stuff! (including notes on the launch contest…and other ways to win a copy)

Woot! Still Sucks to Be Me comes out TOMORROW! Wow, you know, it feels like this stuff takes forever and then all of a sudden, BANG! There you are. Ha, just like the rest of life, I suppose.

Well, I’ve got all kinds of stuff to report today.

Have fangs, will travelFirst off, I’m happy to report that I was interviewed by Captain Jack over on CJ Redwine’s blog. Yes, *that* Captain Jack. It was awesome, but he totally wouldn’t let me borrow his hat. I don’t know why. I’m really very trustworthy. Maybe if I’d brought him some rum…

Not only was the interview fun, but CJ’s husband made a vampire suitcase cupcake in honor of it! Is that not the most awesome cupcake ever?

Of course, even better for you guys…if you comment on CJ’s blog, you get a chance to win either a hardback set of Sucks to Be Me AND Still Sucks to Be Me (signed) or a pack of book swag (bookmarks, tattoos, etc.).

So get thee forth and comment! And follow and what not.

Okay, and over at Novel Novice they’re still celebrating the Sucks to Be Me series as their novel of the month! Woot! If you haven’t checked it out, you really, really need to. Besides a great contest, they’ve got free desktop Sucks to Be Me and Still Sucks to Be Me wallpapers, an interview with me (with more stuff to come), and you can even learn more about Dracula and Bram Stoker. How cool is that?

And some more reviews of Still Sucks to Be Me are popping up…like this one from MangaManiac’s Cafe: “This sequel to Sucks To Be Me weighs in every bit as good as the introductory novel…Still Sucks To Be Me wraps up some of the lingering story lines from the first book, and the ending was much more satisfying.  There’s lot of action and danger, and even a hot new guy to drool over.  Though I was left content at the conclusion, I would be more than happy to spend more time with Mina again in the future.”

And let’s see…what else did I have to tell you? OH YES.

The Still Sucks to Be Me Launch Contest. I am absolutely LOVING the entries I’ve gotten in so far. You guys are awesome. You rock. So I’ve got some more stuff to add to the prize packs…so go check it out! (I’ll be editing the launch contest post). Please do spread the contest around (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, your blog, your friends, your family)…if I hit a certain number of entries…there’s a good chance I’ll give an extra prize…(hint, hint).

Still Sucks to Be Me Launch Contest!! (Epic!)

<hyperventilate> Okay, so it’s already May 3rd! Still Sucks to Be Me is coming out on May 11th! Ack! I feel so unprepared this time. Is that weird? It’s my second book, but in some ways I feel more ACK than with the first one. I think it’s partly because there’s some other craziness going on in my life right now, so I just don’t feel mentally prepared (more on that stuff later, when I can share it).

So…the lovely ladies over at Novel Novice are featuring Still Sucks to Be Me/Sucks to Be Me as their Novel of the Month! Woot! There’s gonna be giveaways and all kinds of stuff going on over there, including some desktop wallpapers. I definitely want you to check that out.

There will also be some various interviews and what not and I’ll post links as they go up. And I’ve officially ordered some new bookmarks and new temporary tattoos (a VRA Logo one and a Vampire Squirrel one too). So I’m kind of ready.

But wait…you’re here to see what the launch contest is, aren’t you? Ha, gotcha! I knew it! Without further ado…

Still Sucks to Be Me Launch Contest!

In celebration of the launch of my second book, I’m going to be giving away one GRAND prize and 4 other prizes. Actually, I should say prize packs. (NOTE: I updated the Second Prize because I’d forgotten to include the video chat with me earlier!)

UPDATE Monday, May 10th…I’ve added to the prizes!!

A bloody cool Sucks to Be Me vase

The Prizes

  1. (Epic) Grand Prize: a signed hardback copy of Sucks to Be Me, a signed hardback copy of Still Sucks to Be Me, assorted bookmarks and stickers, A Vampire/Monster Pack from my Publisher: (including a copy of Monster Slayers, a copy of A Practical Guide to Vampires, and Nocturne), your choice of a T-shirt from the Sucks to Be Me T-shirt Shop, AND a visit from me (the visit can either be A) a pizza party for you and up to 15 of your friends OR B) a presentation-style/workshop visit for up to 300 people) to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada (or, hey, if you live somewhere really cool, I reserve the right to expand this to include international locations)! PLUS a one-of-a-kind Sucks to Be Me wine bottle vase!
  2. Second Prize: a signed hardback copy of Sucks to Be Me, a signed hardback copy of Still Sucks to Be Me, assorted bookmarks and stickers, A Vampire/Monster Pack from my Publisher: (including a copy of Monster Slayers, a copy of A Practical Guide to Vampires, and Nocturne), a Skype Video chat with me (for however many people you want to cram into the room), and your choice of a T-shirt from the Sucks to Be Me T-shirt Shop PLUS a one-of-a-kind Sucks to Be Me wine bottle vase!
  3. 3 Runners-up Prizes: a signed hardback copy of Still Sucks to Be Me, assorted bookmarks and stickers, and A Vampire/Monster Pack from my Publisher: (including a copy of Monster Slayers, a copy of A Practical Guide to Vampires, and Nocturne)

I said Epic, right? That’s pretty epic, isn’t it? I can’t wait to meet whoever wins the Grand Prize!!!

Who Can Enter

Anyone, anywhere (though note the stipulation for the Grand Prize…since I’m paying for this trip myself, I’m going to have to restrict it to the US/Canada…but I’m leaving some wiggle room…if you’re international, try and talk me into your location!). All other prizes are completely open to all locations (since, you know, I love *all* my fans everywhere).

Entrants under the age of 13 will need a parent’s permission before being able to accept a prize.

How to Enter

Okay, so I’d solicited comments and suggestions on what people should have to do to enter this Epic contest. And there were some really, really great ones. But then, I thought, Hey! Maybe I should make it easier… So…to enter, all you gotta do is tell me why YOU should win. However, there’s a chance to win bonus entries (see below the form).

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Age (required)

Your Location (required)

Why Should YOU Win? (required)

BONUS: Extra Entries!

Want to get extra entries? MORE chances to win? E-mail me (at kim @ kimberlypauley.com) any (or all) of the following for extra entries (these are the ideas that people submitted). The more creative the better! Be sure to use the same e-mail address you submitted your entry under so I can match it up.

  • Fan fiction! Write a story featuring any of characters from the story. Heck, re-write the ending if you want!
  • Create/draw a picture of Mina (or anyone) to show what she’d look like after turning (or just at all!)
  • Make a song playlist that you think fit the books
  • Create/draw a vampire squirrel!
  • Create a YouTube video with something to do with the book or the book launch (could be a trailer, a book review, a re-enactment of a scene, just you chatting…whatever!) Be sure to tag it with “sucks to be me, book, Kimberly Pauley” so I can find it online to add it to my YouTube channel.

By sending in the extra entry, you give me permission to post it online to share. (It will be posted by first name only)

How to Win/Contest Details

I’ll be judging all of the entries with a panel of esteemed judges (okay, maybe not esteemed, but definitely energetic). The contest runs until June 11th. Winners will be announced soon after (depending on how many entries there are and how long it takes me to get through them). If, for some reason, you are not able to complete the online entry form, you can mail your entries to me at PO Box 303, Grayslake, IL 60030. All mailed entries must be received by June 11th.

18 Days to Go…launch party ideas?

So, it just really hit me that there’s WAY less than a month to go before Still Sucks to Be Me is released! Ack! And I haven’t set up the big launch contest yet!

So I’m working on what the prizes will be now…I’m thinking part of the grand prize would be an author visit/presentation (unlimited attendees) and/or author visit/pizza party type of thing for you and up to 20 of your friends. Thoughts on that? Do you like the idea? I’d probably have to restrict it to be just in the US or Canada though…

Anything else you’d like to see? What do you think people should have to do to enter?

I will entertain all suggestions, no matter how wacky! So let me know! What would you like to win? What would you like to have to do???

UPDATE: If you happen on this post, the Launch Contest is now up and running until June 11th, 2010!

Winners of the Still Sucks to Be Me FANS Only ARC Giveaway!!

Okay, so remember how I said I’d reserve at least 3 copies to give away to fans? Well, my lovely publisher sent me another box of ARCs, so I’m DOUBLING that — I’m giving 6 copies away to people who entered the FANS Only SSTBM Giveaway! Woot! Without further ado…here are the winners…(more entries did help people out in the random picker spreadsheet)

  • Taylor
  • Alina
  • Victoria
  • Alessandra
  • Autumn
  • Jade

Congrats! All you guys gotta do now is email me at kim @ kimberlypauley.com OR use the Contact form and tell me a) full name / address (if you’re under 13, I’ll need a parent’s email so they confirm it’s okay for you to accept the book), b) whether you’d like the ARC signed or not and, if so, do you want it signed to you or just signed with my name.

You guys rock! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the book!!

I got all kinds of cool fan art and poetry. My favorite might have to be this (but it was all really, really cool):

Car Windshield - Still Sucks to Be Me!

Gung Hay Fat Choy & Happy VDay & Still Sucks reviews…

Woot! Well, it was fun yesterday meeting up with Kristin Walker and Kristina Springer for the signing in Bolingbrook. I managed to NOT eat a lot of chocolate, which was great (am officially down 15 lbs. now! Just 15 more to go!).

Yesterday was also the Chinese New Year (Happy Year of the Tiger!), so Gung Hay Fat Choy!

I got two awesome cool pieces of news today. One, the first review of Still Sucks to Be Me from Sarah at YA Librarian Tales! She liked it! Whew!

Honestly, the second book thing is much more nerve wracking than the first book thing. Because now people have expectations. And they write me about them. Which is cool, but obviously I can’t meet everyone’s expectations of what should happen since Mina kind of does her own thing. Half the time, I can’t stop her. Okay, more like 99% of the time. So it’s really great to finally hear from someone that they like it! And they think it’s funny! Whoo!

AND I got this super-awesome-wonderfulness of a blurb from the oh-so-cool Margot Adler (of NPR fame):

Of all the Vampire novels I have read, Sucks to be Me was my absolute favorite.  It was smart, original, with a lovely, honest heroine, and it was laugh-out-loud funny. I almost fell out of bed laughing at one point. I couldn’t wait to get a hold of the sequel, Still Sucks to be Me. When it came out, I devoured every page. For those who love the genre, yet are tired of tragic, Byronic lugubrious vampires, this is truly a unique and hilarious read. —Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon.

That just seriously made my day. I <3 Margot!

So now commences the waiting as I wait to hear how other authors and reviewers feel about the book…

(and yes, people, I will very soon be announcing some contest-y type things…because I love you. You know I do.)

The Great Scavenger Hunt!

The Great Scavenger Hunt contestHave you heard about the awesome Great Scavenger Hunt Contest that author Kay Cassidy started? If you’re a librarian or teacher and you haven’t gotten involved yet…what are you waiting for (and hey, teens? If your librarian isn’t participating…now would be a good time to go give ‘em a whack on the head. Though, okay, maybe only figuratively, not literally. Don’t want a bunch of black and blue librarians out there.)?

I’m officially now a participating author with Sucks to Be Me and soon with Still Sucks to Be Me. I’m also going to be donating books to Kay to give away.

Good luck in the scavenger hunt!

And Happy Reading!

So, you're a blogger and you wanna review Still Sucks to Be Me…

So I’ve got this big shiny box full of ARCs of Still Sucks to Be Me. Some of them are earmarked for my fellow author peeps. And there’s a few I’m reserving for a special fans-only contest (coming probably in March), but some need to go out to book bloggers. I’d started a list but then lost it in The Great Computer Transfer of ’09 (read: I got a new MacBook for Christmas, but it didn’t like my old e-mails). So…I thought I’d try something I’ve seen a lot of other authors do…

If you’re a book blogger / reviewer and you’d like an ARC of Still Sucks to Be Me to review, here’s what you gotta do…send me an email at kim @ kimberlypauley.com (remove spaces) or fill out the contact form and tell me:

  • Your name
  • Your blog / site URL
  • Link to your review of the first book (Sucks to Be Me)
  • Anything else you’d like to tell me (like why YOU should get an advance copy)

I’ve got a limited supply, though my publisher will also be sending some out.

As an added thing…remember back when Sucks to Be Me came out and I had an online launch party where I featured other authors and their books for two weeks? And gave prizes? Well, this year I’m planning something similar, but I want to feature book bloggers / reviewers…so anyone I send out an ARC to, I’m gonna be interviewing you too and featuring you on my blog during the month of May. :-)

UPDATE: This is basically ongoing until I run out of ARCs…

The Advance copies of Still Sucks to Be me are HERE!

Woot! My book baby is here! :-) Well, the advance copies anyway, so I’m one step closer to holding my second book in my hot little hands. They look awesome!

ARCs!

Still Sucks to Be Me ARCs

Did I mention I was excited??

The Still Sucks to Be Me Cover !! Woot!

I am very, very excited to show you the cover for Still Sucks to Be Me, which will be released on May 11th!! The main color this time is blue, instead of red. Note Mina’s eyes!! Let me know what you think!!

Still Sucks to Be Me Cover

The Still Sucks to Be Me Cover!!

Still Sucks to Be Me now on Amazon! Whoo!

So I was on Amazon for an entirely different reason (I promise) and noticed that they’ve got Still Sucks to Be Me listed now! It’s not out until May 11th and they’ve got the title slightly wrong, but Woot! all the same. And apparently you can pre-order it! I think at least one person already has since the book has a ranking (I’m pretty sure you don’t get a ranking until at least one copy has been ordered). So that is total and utter coolness.

In bookish news, my editor went back and forth with me one more time with some teeny little changes, but I think it is finally all done. Whew. I now honestly have more sympathy about finding typos in books. They’ve always bugged me but it’s amazing to me now that no matter how many times you (or your editor or the copyeditor) go over a book, you always find something. I hope nothing made it through, but if you find a typo when you read it, I’M SORRY! I SUCK! I DID MY BEST!

In other related news, we had a photo shoot this past weekend and I should have a new official author photo coming soon. Which is good considering my last author photo? Um, totally me long-arming the camera all by myself and snapping a picture. This time there were PROFESSIONALS involved (the Souder Photography folks, to be exact).

Am really excited to see the photos of The Max, honestly. He’s way cuter than I am.

Random Still Sucks to Be Me tidbit of the day: the name of a teacher and the principal in the book are the names of one of my favorite teachers of all time (Jennifer McCoy, now McNeal) and the vice-principal (Mr. Fleming) from where I went to high school in 11th and 12th grade.