Win-It Wednesday: Paper Towns

The winner of the Louder Than Words series is... Taylor Cullen! Send me your address, T. Chapel Hill--woohoo!This week, I'm giving away a hardcover copy of Paper Towns by John Green. (It's sad Margo, the blue cover). I finally got a chance to read it and love it, as I'm sure lots of you guys have. I was so impressed by how Q grew through the book. I mean, Margo was the catalyst but it was really all about him, you know. And the awesome friendships plus a bit of mystery didn't hurt. It's a great read! So, in case you don't own Paper Towns yet, here's your shot. Just comment below and tell me what your best "get it done" tip is. You know, for when you have something to do but you're sort of procrastinating. I've been having a shaky writing week (see yesterday's post) so I need lots of ideas on how to keep going until I finish this book! I will do it! Then, you're entered. I'll choose a winner next week. International is cool too. Happy Wednesday!
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Win-It Wednesday: A Set of Three Books by Teens

The winner of last week's copy of Liar is... Nicole [ZBZ]! Send me your address, N. Everyone else, don't wait--you'll read a spoiler soon, so get Liar while you can experience it on your own.This week, I'm giving away three books. They're nonfiction, truly moving, written by teens and edited by Deborah Reber. I wrote about them for I Heart Daily today, and I also mentioned that Deborah is looking for her next group of teen authors, so if you're interested in that, go here and find out more. To enter to win all three books (so far) in the Louder Than Words series, just tell me what you're working on, creatively, in your own life. You don't have to give away the plot of your screenplay or reveal a secret knitting project (though you can if you want to!), but just tell me what's up in your creative world. I'll choose a winner--international or US--next week with my trusty random number generator. Works every time!

Win-It Wednesday: Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Last week's winner of the 6-word memoir contest is Rachel, who wrote: "When does everything begin to matter?" Love that! Send me your address, R, and I'll send you I Can't Keep My Own Secrets (such a fun, original book!).This week, the prize is Justine Larbalestier's new book, Liar. I finished it yesterday while volunteering at my local farmshare, where I picked up deliciously perfect Snow White-looking apples, hence the photo. I'm into on-location book photos lately. I don't want to say too much about the book, just that I thoroughly enjoyed the ride of this story, which is complete with twists and turns and tangible confusion for the reader, the narrator and everyone involved. Liar threw me off balance while I was reading--in a very good way! There is tons of fun info on the book at Justine's engaging blog, so go there to dig up more info. In the meantime, for a chance to win my hardcover copy, just comment below and tell me about a one-word-title book you've enjoyed. Yes, I'm getting random with these questions, but bear with me. I'm curious. Mine? LIAR, of course! (I also adore Lisa McMann's WAKE and FADE).
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Win-It Wednesday: I Can't Keep My Own Secrets

The winner of Graceling (the readergirlz pick of the month--we're chatting live with author Kristin Cashore TONIGHT at 9pm EST, so join us!) is... Amanda, who's reading Poems of New York for school and Shiver for fun.This week, I'm going to give away a copy (it's an ARC) of Smith Mag's latest 6-word memoir book, I Can't Keep My Own Secrets. It's an amazing collection of 6-word memoirs by teenagers. I'm going to open to one page and just write down a sampling of what I find there: "I thought you said you'd call." --Jennifer G. "Two cheerleading sisters. I chose acting." --Maggie M. "Always listening, but never really heard." --Agnes T. And those are just a few! There are guys in here too, of course. Every page is shining genius! Can't you tell already?? So, this contest will take a tiny bit of skill. What's your six-word memoir? Write it in the comments below, and you should also post it on SmithTeens.com, where you'll find thousands of six-word memoirs to inspire you. Oh, and follow them on twitter for an update each day (follow me too if you like!). Mine? Here goes: "Writing teen novels. The angst lives." --Melissa W. See, it's fun! GO.

Win-It Wednesday: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I forgot to choose a winner for Bennett Madison's The Blonde of the Joke! It's Caitlin Usignol. And the dream-sharing winner of And Then Everything Unraveled is... Myra! Send me your addresses, C and M. This week's giveaway is for a copy of Kristin Cashore's Graceling, which is the featured book on readergirlz this month. I have to admit that I'm not a huge fantasy reader, but this book had such adventure and romance and kick-assness that it drew me right in. If you've read it, come join in the book talk on readergirlz! If you haven't, enter to win it below by telling me what book you're reading right now, and how you're liking it... even if it's one for school. I'm interested. Me? I'm reading a few, but the one by my bedside is How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford. More on that soon--it is fantastic. PS-I'll choose a winner in two weeks because I'm out of town next week and away from the internets! PPS-Nina Malkin, author of Swoon, is holding a huge Fall Reading Lust contest over at her blog... in case you're in a contest-entering mood.

Win-It Wednesday: And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman

Last week's winner of Amor and Summer Secrets is... Jess! Send me your address, J.This week, I'm giving away a signed ARC of And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman. I did a reading with Jennifer earlier this month, and she's delightful and funny and energetic, just like her book. If you don't believe me, just read this great review by Steph Su. To enter, just tell me about the last dream you remember having. Like, nighttime dream, not big life dream, though come to think of it, I'm curious about that too. Happy Wednesday!

Win-It Wednesday: Looks by Madeleine George

The winner of E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks is... Hannah S.! Send me your address, H.This week, I'm giving away a copy of Looks by Madeleine George. Here's the thing: This book felt so real that it made me uncomfortable. The way Madeleine captures the feeling of a high school classroom, the emotions that come with a friendship lost, the observations that the quiet kids make each day... all so palpable here. I loved it! That's why I read it on my honeymoon, almost without stopping. Here's me on the Sunset Coast in Nova Scotia, photographing the book instead of the romantic beach. To enter for a chance to win this book, just comment below and tell me what the best book you read this summer was... this one may be at the top of my list! Oh, and there are two covers (hardcover on left, paperback on right) that look so similar but have slight differences. I love both--I think they're really elegant. PS-Something weird is going on with my comments (sorry). So if you post and it doesn't show up, that probably just means I have to dig it out later, and I will!
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Win-It Wednesday: E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks

So many things to say today! I'm going to punctuate each part of this post with a glitter star. First, that was Cynthia entering the contest! She won a prize, of course, along with a bunch of other brave souls who made me fun videos to entertain me during the slow summertime. I'll be showing a few more lip syncing videos here as soon as I get permission from their makers. I just adore this game. Now, if you made me a video, email me with your address and "Lip Sync Contest" in the subject and I'll send you a prize. It'll be good. Promise. The winner of E. Lockhart's A Treasure Map of Boys, as chosen at random from everyone who made a video and/or spread the word about the contest is... Erika! Send me your address, E! Tomorrow, I promise to share my own lip sync video, along with some more of the entries from the contest. As soon as I get up the nerve. This week's contest is for another E. Lockhart book, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, now out in paperback. To enter, just comment below and tell me whether you prefer the hardcover (left) or paperback version (right). I think I'm partial to the hardcover, though I do love those shiny awards stickers. Go, E. Lockhart!
And lastly, but not... uh... leastly, Tonight is Teen Author Reading Night (6-7:30pm, Jefferson Market Branch of NYPL, 425 6th Ave, at 10th St.) and I'm reading! So are these awesome people. So come! Jessica Blank, Karma for Beginners Jen Calonita, Sleepaway Girls Aimee Friedman, Sea Change Paul Griffin, The Orange Houses Jennifer Sturman, And Then Everything Unraveled

Win-It Wednesday: Sing to Win Reminder

Reminder: This contest is going on for one more week! So remember, here's the challenge: Make a video like Daniel's (below). Whatever song you like, a quick excerpt works. Lip Sync it up. Everyone who makes a video gets a prize, because--hello--you're providing me with major entertainment. I'll send out lip gloss, a book or two, maybe some new music, various fun stuff. Nothing boring. If you're not up for the singing part (why not????!), you can spread the word about this contest. That counts as an entry too. Just tell me below where you posted/tweeted/talked it up, and you'll be entered to win a copy of E. Lockhart's latest, The Treasure Map of Boys. One random video-maker and/or word-spreader will win this book. And if you make a video, you have a chance to win this book and another prize because every video gets a prize! Oh, and if you make a video, which you can totally do with the camera on your computer or a digital camera, put it on youtube and share it with me: youtube.com/melissacwalker. You don't have to make it public if you don't want to, but if you do, let me know if I can share it later. I would love to do a singing post in August. Remember, the deadline for videos is August 5th. Good luck, and have fun! Make Daniel proud! PS-Just so you know, the videos are coming in--a few public, some private--and they are AMAZING. Thanks, you guys!

Reminder: Sing to Win!

Just a reminder about this contest. It's going on for two more weeks. Get filming! And another reminder about Daniel, who is awesome and inspired this contest: