Michael Spradlin Blog » Contests

Win A Free Copy of Debra Ginsberg’s New Paperback THE NEIGHBORS ARE WATCHING

Michael — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:02:03 +0000

Hello Reader Peeps!
A while back we ran an interview with Debra Ginsberg in my FIVE ON FRIDAY feature. Debra talked about her new book The Neighbors Are Watching which is just now out in paperback. Read the interview and post a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of three free copies of the paperback edition of The Neighbors are Watching. Forward this onto your friends. Give them a chance to win too!

This week we welcome author Debra Ginsberg. Her newest book The Neighbors are Watching was just released this week from Crown Publishers. We first became a fan of Debra’s work by reading her book Waiting about her experiences waiting tables, one of the most universal jobs out there. Visit Debra at her website where you can see the really cool trailer for The Neighbors are Watching. Thanks for joining us this week, Debra.

When did you know that you first wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. I must have started thinking about how I could get published when I was still in the womb.

What book or writer/artist do you feel influenced you the most?

That is really a tough question because there are so many. My earliest influences of the joy of storytelling were definitely the Brothers Grimm and Lewis Carroll. Those were the first books I read and they delight influence me still.

What book or books are you currently reading or have recently read that you’d recommend to others?

Rock ‘n roll biographies are my main guilty pleasure, reading-wise, so I was very excited to read Life, the new Keith Richards memoir. I just finished reading it and it was terrific – truly a cut above the rest. I highly recommend it!

If you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Don’t do it for the money! On a related note; don’t quit your day job. But ultimately, if you must write; meaning, if it truly calls you, then there’s nothing for it – you must do it. And if you must do it, then READ – as much as you can.

Can you share with us your next project or any information about the next book you’re working on?

I am currently at work on another novel – again in the area of psychological suspense – but there are other ideas brewing too.

Bottom of the ninth!

Michael — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:00:27 +0000

Bases loaded: Baseball From A to Z is in stores and I am up to the plate. I just need to get one run in… that’s it, just one. Just one randomly selected commenter or new Facebook fan will win a copy of The Youngest Templar, Keeper of the Grail. One week left! Come on out to the ballgame!

Inning #9: Last Inning!

Michael — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:30 +0000

This has been fun! Lots of people like to email me instead of commenting, and I really do respect that. Thanks for all the emails and thanks for all the comments! But we are here, folks: Baseball From A to Z is now in stores! This is the last inning of my Baseball blog contest to help bring attention to this book I love about this pastime I love. And the illustrations are just great… I’m just sayin’.

So here at the end of the game we have one more shot at a winning pitch for someone. Leave me a comment about ANYTHING on my site. Baseball, Templars, The Pony Express… anything. Or become a fan on Facebook and be sure to drop a comment down here that says “Became a fan” so I know you got there from here. If you comment and become a fan you can be entered twice. Getting free books have never been so easy!

Thanks for being a part of this Baseball From A to Z!

Bottom of the eighth!

Michael — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:00:33 +0000

We’re halfway through the eighth inning, celebrating the newest most awesomest baseball book on the shelves: Baseball From A to Z. And I am giving away a copy of The Youngest Templar, Keeper of the Grail to a randomly selected commenter. It’s the easiest contest ever — just leave me a comment. Seriously!

Inning #8: Baseball Season!

Michael — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:59 +0000

It’s here! Baseball From A to Z is now in stores! For many people the long winter days are over and springtime means BASEBALL! (And if you are still in your down coat, just pull out the old mitt, oil it up, and let the sweet smell of leather remind you of a summer day.)

I remember little league games followed by mugs of root beer at the A&W. Sitting in the stands at Tiger Stadium in 1984 when nearly every game was sold out. Who doesn’t thrill at the one of a kind sound of the crack as ball meets bat right on the sweet spot. (And if you ask me, there ought to be a constitutional amendment against aluminum bats!).

I invite you to visit Baseball From A to Z for an inside look at some of the art for the book, by a truly gifted illustrator, Macky Pamintuan. And tell me in a comment below something, anything – that the coming of springtime makes you yearn for. I’ll give away a copy of The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail to a randomly selected commenter. Or share this post on Facebook or Myspace and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you posted to Fbk or MSp).

Play Ball!

Bottom of the Seventh! Time for a stretch.

Michael — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:02 +0000

We’re halfway through the seventh inning. Stretch, then tell me your favorite baseball legend (or become a Fan on Facebook) before the end of the week and you might be trading a mention of a baseball great for a bound tale of a Templar hero.

Inning #7: Baseball Legends

Michael — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:59 +0000

Baseball is full of legends. Legendary players, stories too incredible to be true, and rumors… such thrilling drama sometimes surrounds the game. I have always loved reading the lore of baseball and learning the nuances of the game in different eras. It’s partly what led me to write Baseball From A to Z. But baseball is not my first experience with legends. Have you seen my book about Legendary Lawmen? About The Texas Rangers? Or how about the Legend of Blue Jacket? As a writer its tremendously fulfilling for me to find some barely mentioned tidbit and find the legend in it. As a baseball fan however, I love reading up on the legends themselves: Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Shoeless Joe Jackson… Some of my favorite baseball legends. Who are yours?

For inning #7, running today March 3 through March 16, I want to give away a signed copy of The Youngest Templar to a random commenter who tells me who their favorite baseball legend is. Become a fan on Facebook and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you became a fan).

Bottom of the Sixth!

Michael — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:07 +0000

We’re halfway through the sixth inning. Did you speak in baseball recently? Is your accent more Yankees or Mets? Share with me something you say in regular conversation that is all about baseball (or become a Fan on Facebook) before the end of the week and you might be saying “Play ball!” with a Templar.

Inning #6: The Pony Express is at bat!

Michael — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:34 +0000

It’s out! No, no, it’s didn’t strike out, it’s out out! The book, Off Like the Wind: The First Ride of The Pony Express arrived in bookstores yesterday, February 16. Why the baseball reference? Are you visiting my site for the first time? (Hey, if so, welcome!)

Well, I will tell you: Baseball From A to Z, my next picture book, arrives on March 23. And one of the things I love about baseball is how much of the whole baseball culture has wiggled into our daily conversation. My aforementioned “strike out” reference. I want to know what part of baseball has infiltrated the way you talk. What do you say that has a distinct baseball flavor to it?

For inning #6 here at Team Spradlin Baseball giveaway extravaganza, running today February 17 through March 2, I want to give away a signed copy of The Youngest Templar to someone who shares with me some phrase or reference that you use a lot that originated with Baseball. Become a fan on Facebook and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you became a fan).

Bottom of the Fifth!

Michael — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:00:44 +0000

We’re halfway through the fifth inning. I want to know what you track in baseball time. What do you associate with baseball season? What happens in Spring, Summer or Fall to make you think “Oh right, that means baseball”? Share with me (or become a Fan on Facebook) before the release date of my next picture book about the Pony Express, and you might time your 2010 baseball experience with a Templar.