Meet Sarah Mylanowski! In NYC!

To celebrate the release in the last of the Magic In Manhattan series (Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags), Parties & Potions, they are running a sweepstakes to w"in a trip for four to Manhattan to have lunch with Sarah Mlynowski!"

"Answer the below question and win!
As Rachel and Miri know, life’s a ball when
you’re a witch! In 100 words or less, tell us what
you would do if you could be a witch for a day!"

Just answer the question and fill out the entry form.

If you aren't feeling up to writing 100 words or less for that question, but are still interested in the series and author, she's all over the internet with chats and interviews.

Like Love?

Harlequin, the long-lived, publisher of adult romances is starting a line for teen girls - and they want your help. On their site:

"The Harlequin™ Teen Panel is an online reader panel for teens between the ages of 13and 17.

Members of the Harlequin Teen Panel will participate in fun quizzes and discussions about things like: books, movies, music and websites. In other words, everything that you’re interested in.

This is the place to be if you love to read!
Sign up today to share your opinion about the books you’ve read and the books you’d like to read—as well as other things that help you choose your books."

More importantly, according to my sources:

"Teens will be asked to fill out fun quizzes; they’ll participate in discussions and will also receive FREE books (approximate retail value of $10-$15 per book?) and have a chance to enter into sweepstakes (with [parental] permission)."

Check it out, and remember, as always, if you find a book you love so much you think others should read it, ask the library to buy it - we probably will.

Girls Can't What?

"As women, we've all been there at some point in our lives....a job...a sport...some activity where we were told we can't participate simply because we were female."

The website, "Girls Can't What?" wants you to share your story.

Check out their site for girl-powered talk, book reviews, and real stories of girls who didn't listen to those who said they can't.

Dragon's Horde 2008

What's that? I hear you asking.

"Dragon's Horde is a contest for teen writers with the goal of discovering and publishing fresh talent in the areas of short story writing, poetry, artwork, photography, and illustrated stories such as manga. The prize is publication in a forthcoming anthology called, Dragon's Horde 2: A treasury of teen art and writing as well as copies of the book for the winners in each category."

Full info here.

Deadline is December 31st.

Good Luck!

Morris Award Shortlist

The Morris Award is given to the best debut novel for young adults; it must be the author (or illustrator's) first published book. Here are this year's nominees:

A CURSE DARK AS GOLD by Elizabeth Bunce
GRACELING by Kristin Cashore
ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS by James Lecesne
MADAPPLE by Christina Meldrum
ME, THE MISSING, AND THE DEAD by Jenny Valentine

This is just the shortlist - the winner will be announced in mid-January.

***pssst: I'm rooting for GRACELING! But I haven't yet read ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS, and it looks really good!

Feeling Creative?

Want to get your art published on a massive scale? Say 19.5 MILLION copies?

On the back of ketchup packets?

Or maybe you just want your school to score the $1,000 worth of ketchup?

Or line your pockets (or college fund) with $1,000 of your own?

Maybe you've just always wanted to draw a ketchup bottle into surreal scenes?

Well, the way to do it would be to enter the Heinz Ketchup Creativity™ Contest 2008-2009.

Live Chat with Meg Cabot!

Since you're probably stuck inside with all this snow, why not chat with an immensely popular author?

From the readergirlz blog:

"Join the readergirlz forum tonight at 9pm EST/6pm PST as we chat LIVE with Meg Cabot! Tiaras optional.

And during the day, to psych up, visit Girl Week at Reviewer X's blog."

Have fun!