Charity Giveaway/Hop Featuring The Endangered

This was a hard blog/hop to prepare for!  There are so many things I care about and there are so many wonderful charities out there.  However, in light of my recent completion of my cyberpunk, I chose to go with a charity that advocates wildlife conservation.  My choice for this giveaway/hop is The Wildlife Conservation Network.  This is a smaller group that hasn't been around for very long (since 2002); but I like where it has gone so far and I think it has a lot of potential.  One of the reasons I chose this charity is because it's not as well known as say...the World Wildlife Fund; thus, it has far fewer contributions on a yearly basis.  Another thing I like about this organization is its Mission:

Founded in 2002, Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is dedicated to protecting endangered species and preserving their natural habitats. We support innovative strategies for people and wildlife to co-exist and thrive. We partner with independent, community-based conservationists around the world and provide them with the capital and tools they need to develop solutions for human-wildlife coexistence. WCN's conservationists actively engage local people as effective stewards of their environment and work in a culturally-respectful manner to ensure that conservation skills and values will be passed on to future generations.

Anybody get warm fuzzies at the prospect of an organization that focuses on co-existence?  I like that.  Because while I like the environment and all the wildlife, I also understand that people tend to put themselves first.  This organization understands that too!  I'm also a fan of community based initiatives.  Getting down to the level of the local people, teaching them stewardship and not undermining their cultural values is a huge aspect of advocacy.  Plus, I like the idea of passing it along to the kids!

To learn more, check it out in Charity Navigator.

OKAY, now for the giveaway!  In honor of the awesome work this charity is doing to help preserve certain endangered species, I'm giving away books featuring endangered species!  The winner can chose one of the following:

Tigers: Any one book from The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck.

Wolves: Any one book from the Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer.

Polar Bears: Ice by Sarah Beth Durst.

Mute Swans: Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler or The Swan Maiden by Jules Watson.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. This hop runs from 3/30/12 to 4/4/12. Hit the green "Do It" buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the green enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner asking for their choice. This contest is open to international entrants.

Monday Muse: "Pretty Little Head" by Eliza Rickman

Yes, I love Eliza so much that I've posted TWO of her songs on Monday Muse *GASP*! Actually I recently got her new album, O You Sinners, and the album version of this song rocks my socks in so many ways. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the album version on YouTube yet, BUT this one is a pretty decent version. As you can see, she has a lovely LIVE voice. Enjoy!

Lucky 7- Sneak Peek of Tamrin

Oh man, I hate doing these chain thingies, but total bad Karma if I ignore it, right? Okay, it's actually kind of fun...

The rules:

Go to page 77 of your current WiP.
Go to line 7.
Copy down the next 7 lines/sentences, and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
Tag 7 other sadists, I mean writers.

So, here's your sneak peak at my WIP, Tamrin. To be fair, this bit is actually near the end...Cause I write the beginning and end of my books before I write the middle. -.-;  And it's a pinch more than seven...Cause I couldn't resist showing just how horrible that little paper is.  Does that make me a cheater?

Suspicious, I bring my narrowed eyes back to her.

She’s still rummaging through her purse, as though the tiny thing were Mary Poppins’ carpet bag. “Oh,” she breathes in annoyance. “I know it’s in here somewhere. I worked so hard on it!”

She whips her hand out.  "Ah!" In her thin, silk wrapped fingers she’s holding a pale slip of folded paper.  Holding it between her fore and middle fingers, she extends her hand toward me. “Here you are.”

Unease burns high in my stomach. My next breath comes hard, as if someone is squeezing my lungs. My heart hitches, starts beating wildly, sending dizzying adrenaline throughout every vein in my body. Suddenly I’m sweating and shaking, too afraid to move or blink.

This is it.

I tag:
PJ Schnyder
Lia Habel
Lindsay Cummings
Stella Price
Ally Schiller
Kim Stewart
Sarah Beth Durst

Monday Muse: Prince Nuada - Mordred's Lullaby

This is one of my all time favorite songs (Mordred's Lullaby by Heather Dale). In case you didn't pick it up yet, I love Arthurian legend. I had to pick the version with Prince Nuada because I'm a softy for Celtic myth (even if it's totally wrong in this movie) and because I deeply enjoy the spear practice scene. :)

Ten Reasons Why This Week Is Both Wonderful and Terrifying.

1-PRO I finished my Cyberpunk, The Anansi Inheritance. It's a YA and it's actually about something that's getting hot! Get excited it might actually sell!

SIDENOTE: Now I'm working on Tamrin, a YA pararom set in the same world as Scar-Crossed (which is STILL on submission with publishers, BTW). If Scar-Crossed doesn't sell, I'm going to try to get Tamrin to sell and then maybe have Scar-Crossed be the next in the series. The wheels are turning, feel the burn.

2-CON The Anansi Inheritance is with the betas as we speak. This is where the terror comes in. My agent just got back from South Africa. I'm due to send her this MS next week. The industry moves lightning quick. What's hot today is old news tomorrow. I'm afraid that the betas (or my agent) will give me so many edits that I miss the band wagon. *prays that this is not the case*

3-PRO I put progress bars on my WIP page. (You should go see, they're purdy)

4-PRO Now that I can actually see my progress, I'm not so disappointed in myself as a writer. Yes, I write a lot at once and it never feels like I make any progress, but I have ADD...And it's not like stuff is not getting written. Plus, I have two jobs, two cats, a happy marriage, a passable social life, and I haven't killed my plants or gone insane yet. Yay! Not too shabby.

5-PRO I'm going to Lunacon this weekend.

6-PRO/CON I'm on panels at Lunacon. Yeah, I really need to do these to promote myself, but I'm terrified of public speaking :/

7-PRO They are fun panels...Two YA, one pararom, a heroes to villains, and a future of suburban lit panel.

8-CON I'm moderating two of said panels. It's my first time doing this. See #6. Look at #6 again.

9-PROPROPRO HOLY CRAPS I'M ON TWO PANELS WITH TAMORA PIERCE! *faints* *fans self* So, in case you missed something, Tamora is officially the reason I started writing when I was in high school. In my world, meeting her is like meeting J.K. Rowling.

10-CON I have to be professional and can't do a geek-out dance in front of Tamora Pierce.

P.S. BUT since I'm a professional now...Maybe we can be friends? EEPS!

So, I need to have a flawless MS that knocks my agent's socks off and sell it ASAP. I need to be a panelist and a moderator. AND I need to not make a fool of myself in front of my literary hero. Can she do it?

Wish me luck everyone!

Girlie Love Moment.

OMG I am in love with this mini-film! SO PRETTY! All watch and bow!

ODYSSEE

Monday Muse: MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS | SHAMPAIN

I don't advocate drinking Champagne...but I'm all about nutty British women doing Jacksonesque dances in the street while singing about angels.

Lunar Love Giveaway/Hop

This giveaway is all about the moon! Stories about the moon, with the moon on the cover or in the title, and those written about the strange things that happen under the moon are welcome!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. This hop runs from 3/08/12 to 3/13/12. Hit the green "Do It" buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the green enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner asking for their choice. This contest is open to international entrants.

Monday Muse: Stereo Fuse - Everything (lyrics)

Can we talk about how sad this song is? No, let's not talk, let's just listen.