The third book in my bestselling V V Inn series, BIG GAME, launched earlier this week. It was the perfect time after my participation on a FOX5 panel in San Diego discussing “Mommy Porn” and before a slew of radio interviews —including a really detailed one with blogtalk radio this week hosted by Garrison Leykam on Conversation Crossroad . The reader feedback on the book has been overwhelmingly positive so far. YAY! I couldn’t be happier!

As a lot of you know, April 23 marked the two-year anniversary of my nephew’s death in a motorcycle accident. I plan on donating a portion of BIG GAME’s proceeds to a group that helps promote motorcycle awareness to motorists. Making this deadline to honor him was incredibly difficult, but despite everything—I did it. Reader support kept me going these last two months, like an IV drip of caffeine might for some writers.

I can’t adequately put into words what your emails and comments do for me. I’ve been largely housebound for over three years. Sometimes my only adult interaction (besides my husband) is through these online relationships and interactions. When a writer lives in their head it can become very lonely and often discouraging. It’s extremely easy to give up, or put off writing until you feel like it. Family, friends, and sheer force of will can become the only things sustaining you.

When you add in my medical issues—Rheumatoid Arthritis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Celiac’s, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Murine Typhus… and other stuff that is hopefully on the ‘outs’ this season… well, damn, there are some days I don’t even want to get out of bed. Not only do I seem to pick up bacteria every where I go, I have such a weakened immune system that whatever it is can become a big issue real quick.

In the hope of stirring up reader interest, I sent an email out to my distribution list in March—asking for reviews of the first two books in the series in exchange for their name being entered in a private drawing. I did not publicize this offer on Facebook, Twitter, or directly on my website. It was an insider’s deal. There were 58 entries for the following prizes:

Three books: one signed and numbered set of print editions of the first three books in the series One signed and numbered edition of book three, Big GameA $50 gift card to the eBook retailer of your choiceA $25 gift card to the eBook retailer of your choice
I received some phenomenal reviews on Amazon (and the UK Amazon), Apple, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and on blogs—you all went above and beyond, thank you!! As much as I’d like to award the prizes to the most well worded reviews, I can’t. I promised it would be a drawing based on a number generator, and it will.

If you don’t win, please understand that I do value your support and kindness. It was incredibly inspiring to read the reviews posting each day while I was pushing myself to finish this book on time. Due to the outpouring of support on this drawing, I’m running a similar one right now for reviews of BIG GAME, but making it open for everyone. Check out this public Facebook event for more details on how you can win and how to have more than one entry, too. Give me a week and I’ll transfer the details to this website and make a new contest page as well.

The winning numbers picked by generator.org were 2, 9, 28, and 52 (in that order). Those numbers correspond to the names listed alphabetically in a spreadsheet. Without further babbling on my part, here are the winners:

Grand Prize Winner of an entire set of signed print books: Ashley Harvey

Winner of a signed copy of BIG GAME: Christine Appleton

Winner of $50 gift card: Johnni Bayne

Winner of the $25 gift Card: Tarisa Tate

Book winners: please email me your physical address at [email protected] to receive your prize. **Print copies of BIG GAME will not be ready for two more weeks, so expect your package to go in the mail by the end of May.

Gift card winners—I will need to know the retailer you prefer to issue the gift card.

There is still a chance to win signed & numbered copies of my books. Please check out the event on Facebook listed above for details. If we get over fifty individual entrants, I will double the gifts awarded.

Lastly: I have not heard from Nolene Eliassen Wold, winner of the proof copies back in January. If I don’t hear from you by the end of the month I will include the proof copies (the only ones in existence) in the Facebook BIG GAME review event as well.

Thank you all for your continued support and I sincerely hope you all enjoy the latest (and what I think is the best) installment to the series - BIG GAME!

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords
(other retailers to follow within the month)

Cheers,

~C.J.