Last Day of the Chapter Book Challenge #ChaBooCha

Today is our very last day of the Chapter Book Challenge, so how did you do? Did you manage to write a complete first draft? Congratulations if you did, but, if you didn't, don't feel like you failed, because the simple fact is that as long as you wrote more this month than you would have done if you hadn't participated in the challenge, then you have done wonderfully!

I will be finishing my first draft by tonight (the deadline). I have about 1,000 words or so left to write, so I know I can do it. I think my story will be a bit longer when I do my revising though, because there is some work I need to do on my sub-plot, but that doesn't make this draft any less complete.

If you found, like I did, that new story ideas started to plague you while you were in the midst of writing this one, you can always join the Blog Your Book in 30 Days challenge. It is running concurrently with Camp NaNoWriMo, starting on April 1st and ending on April 30th, and it's a simple matter to combine the two. There will be one prize drawing every week during the challenge and, for those who sign up for it and actually write something every day on their blog (either a chapter of their book, an excerpt of their book or just something about their book), there will be a drawing for a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate.

If you have won a prize during ChaBooCha, please e-mail me with your name and mailing address, so I can get those prizes sent out.

For those of you who are new to ChaBooCha this year, let me tell you a little bit about something we started last year. Running this challenge is fun and rewarding, and though I know most of you would join even without the prizes being offered, I love rewarding people with prizes and I think it makes things a little more fun. But buying and sending out prizes can be expensive, so last year, we created two anthologies which helped towards the cost of this year's prizes. Someday, maybe we will make enough from the anthologies to do some advertising and do even more exciting things with the challenge. Last year, the anthologies were "Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales" and "Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from Around the World." The Teapot Tales anthologies are only open to Chapter Book Challenge members who are officially signed-up, but the holiday anthologies are open to everyone.

This year, we are creating two more anthologies: "Teapot Tales: Pirates, Mermaids and Monsters of the Sea" and "Ghostly Echoes: Spooky Tales from Around the World." You can aim your stories at middle grade children, YA, or even adult as long as you keep the stories kid-friendly. Check out my publishing press, Melusine Muse Press, for more information about the anthologies (and other anthologies) as well as submission guidelines.

*****

Give-away!

We have one last give-away to do. Chapter Book Challenge member and regional ambassador Melissa Gijsbers Khalinsky has kindly offered to send one lucky member a copy of the children's book "Once Upon a Slime: 45 Fun Ways to Get Writing Fast!" by Andy Griffiths. All you have to do to enter is to comment on this post by this Friday at noon GMT on April 14th. Must be a signed up member of the challenge to qualify. I will announce the winner on April 14th, but as of April 1st, you will no longer be receiving e-mails of these blog posts in your e-mail, so check back on the 14th to see if you've won!

*****

Winners!

We have several prizes to be awarded today.



First off: a paperback copy of "The Talisman Chronicles." Winner may choose either the black and white interior version or the color interior version. Winner was chosen by a random number generator. And the winner is:

Wendy Greenley!

Congratulations, Wendy!

*****

Next: a paperback copy of "The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes" by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Winner was chosen by a random number generator. And the winner is:

Linda Schueler!

Congratulations, Linda!

*****

Next: a paperback copy of "You Can Write Children's Books" (second edition) by Writers Digest. Winner was chosen by a random number generator. And the winner is:

Melissa Gijsbers Khalinsky!

Congratulations, Melissa! 

*****

Next: a copy of "Writing Habit Mastery: How to Write 2,000 Words a Day and Forever Cure Writer's Block" by S. J. Scott. Winner was chosen by a random number generator. And the winner is:

Kelly Vavala!

Congratulations, Kelly!

*****

Next: a ChaBooCha keychain. Winner was chosen by a random number generator. And the winner is:

Cecilia Clark!

Congratulations, Cecilia!

*****

And now for the really big drawing. Who is going to win the grand prize of a Kindle (Wi-Fi, 6" Display)? Winner was chosen by a random number generator from a selection that included everyone signed up for the challenge. And the winner is:

Dani Duck!

Congratulations, Dani!

To everyone who won a prize during the challenge: I am not always the most prompt at getting prizes mailed out, but be patient and you will eventually get your prize! And a big congratulations to you all!

Contact me if you would like to buy a ChaBooCha keychain. If enough people want one, I will make a special order of them.