End of Summer Elevensies Giveaway

It's that time again, where I celebrate my good fortune of getting published by giving away books! 

I'm sharing the FABULOUSNESS that is the 2011 debut author group THE ELEVENSIES.  (seriously, go check out all the amazing books. I can't believe I know these writers)


This time I'm going completely nuts giving away books in BULK. There are three packages up for grabs - some are bonus books. All you have to do is tell me which collection of books you'd like. I know, I know, the choice is TOO HARD! But life is full of choices, as all the protags in these stories demonstrate. You will just have to pick.


rules:

• fill out the form (make sure you fill out your email, dudes! You are hard to track down.)
• no need to follow (but I'd love if you did)
• ends October 10, 2011 (which is Thanksgiving, Canada style)

On to the books:

THE ECLECTIC ELEVENSIES YOUNG ADULT COLLECTION:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
The End of the Line by Angela Cerrito
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Popular by Alissa Grosso
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (signed copy!)

(yes, Jay Asher is not an Elevensie, but it's a pretty awesome book)



THE MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE COLLECTION:

*Vanished by Sheela Chari 
*With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo
When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton (signed copy!)
Plain Kate by Erin Bow
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

*Elevensie
BONUS: included in this package you get stickers and bookmarks of the upcoming middle grade novel

 MAY B by Caroline Starr Rose

Caroline is a peach of a lady (wait, not peach. She deserves more than a cliche. I don't even like biting into one of those - too much fuzz. It should be something really yummy like watermelon. Yeah, Caroline is a seedless watermelon) I can't wait for January 2012 when this novel in verse to comes out!




THE MIXED BAG OF MERMAIDS, MONSTERS, AND OTHER WONDERFULLY WEIRD THINGS COLLECTION:

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Seven Tears into the Sea by Teri Farley (signed copy!)
Unwind by Neil Shusterman
Ingo by Helen Dunmore
Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau



Please fill out the form here

edit: hey, I forgot to ask for your blog addy. If you have one, stick it on there so I can visit. Or comment on the post!

Lake Superior Park kayak trip

I'm back from another awesome expedition. This time to the remote, wild coast of Lake Superior. The official Park description:

Along the eastern shore of Lake Superior is a landscape like no other. A succession of massive headlands disappears into a shining expanse of water, forming a rugged coast that stretches farther than the eye can see. The world's largest fresh water lake - deep, cold, beautiful, myth-inspiring.

Gitche Gumee slept for most of our trip allowing us to get up close to the magnificient towering cliffs and spectacular pictographs. Here's a few shots, but of course, the photos don't do it justice. Most days we planned the headlands to avoid the afternoon winds, so the sun wasn't right for good pictures. I wish everyone could experience actually being there and witness the power of nature.

Click any photo to view larger.

checking out the pictographs on the rock

heading to the Devil's Warehouse where ancient scrolls were kept in a cave

Denis contemplating the Devil's Chair, where the giant supposedly rested after stepping over the lake

self portrait of the coast

Denis checking out one of many sea caves

my view from the tent couldn't be better. Cliffs aren't bad either

three cedars growing together from rock

Only a few moments of pure terror with some interesting crossings. And an unceremonious dumping and thorough pounding of one wet Terry under a rolling surf in the first three minutes of the trip. Yeah, welcome to Superior.

What grand adventures did you have this summer? Tell me about how the simple power of the outdoors filled you up.



Three days left

Thought I'd pass along this insider scoop. The 2011 Iditarod summer raffle has 2000 tickets to sell, and they've only sold half of them. And the draw is in three days! Good odds.

Do you want to help support Iditarod 2012? How about a chance to win one of two grand prize trucks. Check it out here.