Wednesday, December 3, 2014

IWSG and Christmas Book Giveaways

Are you ready for Christmas?

It's so easy to get wrapped up in the crazy-crazy of this time of the year, which includes deadlines for those of us in publishing. Some days I wonder what life is like on the other side--without the ever-constant projects and need to promote/market. We all have our own brand of insanity, whether career oriented, family oriented, health oriented...

What I mean to say is, we all have challenges. This time of the year it's easy to get overwhelmed by the parties, the gifts, the to-do list, but I hope you'll take a few minutes and refocus your efforts. Give yourself time to breathe. Remember the reason for the season:



I'll be taking the rest of December off from the blogosphere to truly enjoy my family and make preparations for my coming little one. I wish you the most amazing Christmas!

(PST! I should also mention the most amazing resource is now available to writers, FREE! And guess who contributed an AWESOME article about blog tours? Yup. Yours truly.)




Now, to help celebrate, here's your chance to win a LOVELY Christmas book! But first, the winner from last week...

Julie Musil shared THE SUMMER OF CROSSING LINES with us, along with two lies and one truth. Those who guessed the truth correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook 

Julie's game: 

1. Julie knows almost all the words to the GREASE soundtrack.
2. She used to wear a bow in her hair—Madonna Material Girl style.
3. She loves country music, but doesn’t know any country line dances.

And the lie is:

There is no lie. Ooh! Bet you didn't see that one coming. If you guessed at all, you were entered into the game. Lucky you! 

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...


Congrats Alex! 

And now to today's feature...

It's their first Christmas since entering the Praxos Academy and 16-year-old sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane Morgan are looking forward to some serious R&R. But when their little sister mysteriously disappears from her bed on Christmas Eve, all thoughts of fun disappear with her. 

Emma and Lana must do everything in their power to locate her and bring her home safely. Easier said than done, they are forced to go on yet another journey, this time taking them out to the murky depths of the North Sea as well as to the far reaches of southern Portugal. 

Get your copy HERE.

Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart, Michael, two neurotic dogs and a cat who thinks she's a princess.

Shortly after completing her studies, Suzy was offered the position of trainee journalist for a local English newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she moved on to become assistant editor for the region's largest English language publisher. Since then she has also worked as the editor of one of the Algarve's most loved monthly lifestyle magazines. Early in 2010 however, Suzy began working as a full time author. She has since written several books: Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga), Daisy Madigan's Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, The Temporal Stone (The Morgan Sisters) and Forever Fredless.

Her favorite cheese is goat's cheese - purely because she's lactose intolerant and can't eat any that comes from a cow :( Her husband has started making her the most divine low gluten, goats cheese pizza and it's to die for!
I want some! Ahem...back to business...

Suzy gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of LOOKING FOR LUCY JO. How awesome is that?

You have until Tuesday, December 23 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. The winner will be notified and awarded just in time for Christmas and be sure to come back for the answer on January 7.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Suzy once sat next to Robert Pattinson on a train ride from London to Bath. He was super cool and chatted for a while before he was distracted by a much younger lady with bright blue hair and a tattoo on her wrist that read Stamus Contra Malum.
2. She celebrated her birthday one year with Kiki Dee - you might remember her from the 60's? She was particularly famous for singing Don't Go Breaking My Heart with Elton John.
3. She has a belly button piercing. (Yes, it hurt!)
So which is the lie? Are you taking a Christmas break? What are you doing to celebrate the holidays?

64 comments:

  1. Eep! I hope this doesn't post twice! Silly technology. ..

    Hey Crystal!
    Congrats on the little one on the way! Thats exciting. Thank you for the reminder that Christmas is a season of peace and joy and not about rushing and spending and stressing. Have a wonderful month off and we'll see you next year! Here's to a fabulous 2015.
    - Jen

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  2. Enjoy the season, Crystal, and continue to embrace the new addition to the family.

    Congrats to Suzy on her amazing publishing career.

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  3. Have a great Christmas and new year! :)

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  4. Enjoy your holiday break, Crystal. Have a wonderful time with your family and preparing for the new little one. :)

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  5. Oh my gosh, what a humbling video. Thank you so much for sharing it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need dab my eyes with a tissue.

    Elsie

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  6. The whole train ride next to Robert Pattinson seems to have a lot of detail--so I'm guessing the lie is #1. I hope you get lots of rest this holiday season! I'm so excited for your new addition. I'm thinking gift cards for everyone. It will make my month a lot less stressful;-)

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  7. Have a great time with your time off. Love and appreciate that family of yours. Thanks for sharing that video! Since we won't see you before the end of the month, Merry Christmas!

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  8. Great reminder! This is a busy week for me and I already cut something out so I can keep my life in order. Saying no can be tough.

    Enjoy your time off from blogging!

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  9. I actually won! Still stunned.
    Guessing the third is the lie.
    And Jesus is the reason for the season.
    I'll be posting a couple more times and then shutting it down for the holidays. Have a great Christmas!

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  10. Soooooo important to breathe and stay sane… wise words, Crystal… and congrats to Alex! And so neat with the IWSG book! And I ADORE Julie… love all of this. :)

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  11. I'm guessing #1 is the lie. Egg on my face if I'm wrong. Congrats Alex. Remembering what matters is important.

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  12. The lie is no #1
    Suzy's career has been amazing. What a ride!

    Have a blessed Christmas season and wonderful New Year.
    Enjoy your time with the family.

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  13. Enjoy your break! Have a wonderful holiday.

    I'm going with #1 as the lie. Congrats to Suzy.

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  14. This time of the year is so crazy that it's impossible to get anything done. I think you have the write idea about not blogging. In the meantime I will still be blogging. lol Enjoy your break and Merry Christmas!

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  15. Enjoy your break. :)

    IWSG #151 until Alex culls the list again.

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  16. Beautiful Christmas video, Crystal! I'm going with #1 as the lie too.

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  17. No Robert Pattison is my guess. And no break for me over Christmas but you enjoy yours. You're going to be a very busy woman over the next year.

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  18. Funny you mention Christmas. The holiday season is my focus in my #ISWG post for today. It truly is a special time.

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  19. I've visited several bloggers this morning who are taking December off. I'm really tempted to follow suit and just enjoy this blessed season. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.

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  20. Enjoy your break and have a great Christmas!

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  21. Got my copy in hand and I wish I could take December off. Ha, no I don't somehow I fit it all in. :-)

    Anna from Shout with Emaginette

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  22. I'm guessing one is the lie.

    Have fun on your break. I'm taking a break but I keep sneaking back to catch up with my friends.

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  23. Have a wonderful holiday!

    I'll guess #3 is the lie.

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  24. Enjoy your time off. Come back all invigorated in January!

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  25. Happy December.

    I'm going to go with #1 for the lie, just because there are so many details one of them must be wrong...

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  26. I love the video Crystal, very humbling. I'm going to say #3 is the lie. Enjoy your time off and making preparations for the little one! It'll be great to see you back in January! Happy Holidays to you and yours and thanks for participating! Eva, IWSG Co-host

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  27. I'm going with #3 for the lie since it's the odd one out. :)

    I go Christmas shopping as early as October so I'm never busy in December. Lol! Have a great month, Crystal! ^_^

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  28. Enjoy the rest of your month off! I'm going to take some time off in December as well. I will be looking forward to reading your blog tour contribution--just down loaded the ISWG book yesterday--I'm in there as well. :)

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  29. I'm guessing the lie is #2.

    Enjoy your break and refreshing your batteries. Time away from anything is so helpful in recharging and refocusing.

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  30. I don't believe in breaks.
    I can't help it.

    Have a great Christmas!

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  31. Have a wonderful December and Christmas. Enjoy your family. =)

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  32. Happy Holidays, enjoy your time off with the family!

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  33. What's life like on the other side? It's wondering if you'll ever get published or if you'll die with everything you wrote unread by anybody but yourself and a handful of others. Or maybe that's just me. :P Sorry, that came out kind of bitter, but it was the first thing that came to mind. Eh heh heh.

    Anyway, I'm not quite taking a break for the holidays, just going to be plotting as much as possible, since now's not a good time to be trying to write a book.

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  34. Awww enjoy your family, the break, and have a wonderful Christmas! :)

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  35. How exciting to have a little one on the way. I do, too--a granddaughter. Enjoy the holidays.

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  36. Enjoy Christmas! I always seem to be on the edge of crazy around this time of year. Finals, and the end of the semester has ruled my life. It's so great to be able to slow down and really enjoy the family. I hope your Christmas is incredible this year!

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  37. Hope you have a great holiday and enjoy the time off!!
    Ninja Girl

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  38. Wow! A wee one on its way... A cute little bundle to cherish... So happy for you, Crystal! Enjoy the rest of the month. Have a blissful Christmas!

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  39. I hope you have a joyful season with your family.
    Juneta at Writer's Gambit

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  40. Hi Crystal .. love goat's cheese and the Algarve - Suzy's made the right choice for living.

    But how sensible to take off Christmas to enjoy your family, while you're one less .. and before your new baby arrives ... have a lovely seasonal end to the year ..

    Cheers HIlary

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  41. Wishing you all the best as you await the arrival of your own little one, special gift.
    Play off the Page

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  42. Hard to tell which one is the lie, but I'm guessing it's the Rob Pattinson one, since he probably would've been surrounded by a bunch of screaming adolescents! I downloaded that ISWG for my NOOK; I'm looking forward to reading it.

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  43. Best wishes for you and the precious little one that's coming. May the season bring you and yours lots of love, peace, and health. Merry Christmas!

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  44. Oh gosh...Christmas. I have done nothing to prepare. No presents bought, no decorations put up. Where did the months go? I can't believe it's December. So the answer is no, I am definitely not ready for Christmas. LOL :)

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  45. Looking for Lucy Jo sounds thrilling and I bet the imagery is amazing just from reading where the girls travel to look for their sister.
    Have a beautiful December with your family, Crystal. With all of the hard work you do, you deserve it. Sending you the warmest of wishes and the happiest of holidays.

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  46. I love the reason for the season.
    Enjoy your wonderful break! Now is the best time to do it. And have a great Christmas full of blessings and yumminess.

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  47. Have a great December! I did your tag for my blog today and linked you, so you may meet a new person or two. Although I think we share a lot of the same readers!

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  48. Have a great December. Merry Christmas!

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  49. ooh I think 2 is the lie (although all of those things are fairly epic!) I celebrate Chanukah, and I am SO excited this year. I'm getting some good makeup! :) I won't be taking a break (maybe just on New Years Day to watch the Honeymooners marathon! LOVE that show!) :)

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  50. It is so important for us to stop and take a breather! I hope your blog break is wonderful and I know you and your family will make special memories during this time. Good luck getting ready for your little one. :)

    Merry Christmas!
    ~Jess

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  51. Good for you, taking time off for the holidays! I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing time with family. Best wishes for your deadlines too--yes, there seems to be something going on in life, doesn't there? :)

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  52. December is such a crazy time of year, for sure. Hope the holidays treat you well, and enjoy your blogging break! :)

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  53. Have a great December! I still have a ways to go before I can take a break!

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  54. I am slowing my blogging for December too. I want to enjoy the holidays- it's such a special time.

    I'm going to guess the belly button ring as the lie. I am probably wrong, but Suzy does lead an amazing life, so I am going bold!

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  55. Hey Crystal,

    My oh my, can you write a long, long, long posting! Yikes and I will tell you I thoroughly skimmed through the entire thing.

    Have fun with that December break and yep, chill, relax and sing songs about me or whatever. As for Christmas aka "Boxing Day Eve", some of find it the loneliest day of the year.

    In peace,

    Gary

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  56. Enjoy your break! Love that video, my fave.

    Merry Christmas, Crystal!

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  57. I randomly guess #3 is the lie. How fun and intriguing!

    have a nice break for the holidays, crystal!

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  58. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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  59. I hope your holidays were awesome, and that 2015 brings you all sorts of amazing things :)

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  60. Happy New Year to you and your family, Crystal!

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  61. Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  62. Happy New Year and all the best for 2015!

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  63. I don't make "resolutions", exactly, so I love your idea for "goals". Have a beautiful New Year!

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Hit me with your cheese!