CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS

**I've never been all that crafty.  Strangely enough, I tend to supplement book giveaways with things like handmade gift bags and crocheted gnomes.  Go figure.

During January, I took suggestions for possible Tallwood High mascots to celebrate the release of my Samhain novella, "What She Deserves." Winners are:

Ginger M., who suggested "Tallwood High Wildcats", in honor of Meankitty. She was not the only participant to suggest Meankitty be honored, but hers was the first name out of the hat. Ginger will receive a copy of the book and the resultant crocheted figurine, which I will duly photograph before posting. Be patient, Ginger! Great art like this takes time!

The second place winner's name is pending, as my first selection failed to respond to hails and a second second place winner has been contacted.

Here is a random link to the Crafty Gangsta's website because you need to see his video: http://craftygangsta.com/

Here is a picture of one of the gnome charms I've been known to give away:

(Any gift received by winners may not be as pictured...and may be full of the beans.)

If anyone likes to crochet, the gnomes I make are sort of like:

http://bellasartes.blogspot.com/2007/08/simply-gnome-free-pattern.html

The pattern is way too clever to have been created by me so please abide by the requests of the pattern-maker should you feel inspired to create your own gnome charm. Here is the Wiki page about the Japanese art of amigurumi, or crocheting small, cute stuffed toys (I am not joking), which this gnome is apparently representative of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amigurumi.