March 30, 2009

CBE Follow Up

We had a big time at CBE (Christian Book Expo).  I enjoyed meeting so many of you.  Here are a couple of pics, as promised.  First, our winner of the FREE 3-DAY PASS was Keri.  She was such a sweetheart. We met just before my presentation and visited afterwards, as well.

The "Dee's Circle of Friends" pins were a big hit.  Here's a pic of them on my badge.  It was great fun to walk through the event, see someone wearing one and stop to give them a hug.  Since the people attending didn't have badges (they had green wristbands), folks wore them on their shirts or lapels.

I went off-site to do some signings and met Naomi at Lifeway. She's part of our online communtity and heard about the event through my eNewsletter.  I absoultely LOVE meeting girls who are part of our communtity. So, getting to have some face-time with Naomi was particularly special.  She has the cutest little baby. I wish I'd gotten a picture for you.

As far as our current ARC GIVEAWAY CONTEST, our first winner was BOOTS.  He's a back-to-back winner because he won an ARC last year as well!  Congrats to Boots. Last week's winner is "Mocah with LINDA" from Austin, Texas! (Ends up Linda's in-laws live on the same street I did when I was in high school! How fun is that!?!)  So, now we start all over again.

If you want a chance to win an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of my May release, A Bride in the Bargain, then leave a comment here on my blog between now (March 30) and Sunday (April 5).  We'll pick a new winner on Monday (April 6) and then go for another round.  So, be sure to check in again and good luck!

posted by Deeanne on 03/30/2009 - 55 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

March 25, 2009

Become a Fairy Godmother

I used to live directly across the street from my high school. On prom night, I would turn out all the lights in my sister's bedroom (which faced the street), open the window and watch all the couples arrive. The senior girls would stride up the entryway in chiffon, silk and satin.  In colors ranging from red to pale green to peach to cream. The boys would look so fabulous all decked out in their tuxes and shiny shoes.

Only when the last couple had arrived would I close the window and return to my room, longing for the night when it would be my turn to glide up that sidewalk.  I can't imagine what it would be like if I'd never had the opportunity to attend because I couldn't afford a gown.  The thought never even crossed my mind.

But somebody not only thought about it, they decided to do something. The Giving Gown Foundation is an organization that collects new and "like new" prom gowns for girls who would otherwise be unable to attend their proms due to financial difficulites.  They provide these girls with gowns, shoes, purses, jewelry and whatever other accessories they need for FREE.

It is their goal to build confidence and self-esteem in these girls. And while the girls who visit Giving Gown are all about the dress, the women who work there are all about the girls. Their desire is to extend grace and love and respect to the girls.  They want the girls to pull away from that window and to experience what it feels like to dress up and attend that special event.

If you’d like to donate, they are looking for new or like new formal/evening gowns.  It needs to be “teen appropriate.”  In other words, the gown shouldn’t be more than 5 years old (in order to be in fashion). So if you have a prom dress from several years ago, it probably wouldn’t be quite what they were looking for.  Bags and shawls and jewelry, however, are more flexible—so long as they are new or like-new.

They need all sizes, colors & styles.  They need shoes (particularly strappy ones), handbags, jewelry, wraps/shawls. Unopened cosmetics (samples are fine) are also very much appreciated.

If you don’t have any “hard” donations, gift cards for services (hair salon, nail salon, dry cleaners, florists, limo rental) are welcome. As are monetary donations to help defray operational costs, purchase equipment & provide gowns to girls whose size may not have been donated. (They are in particular need of plus sizes.)

Click here to find out where to either mail or drop off your donations.

CBE was great fun.  I will give you a full report next week, complete with photos.

We've been having technical difficulties lately because our server is updating/upgrading.  So, once we get all the kinks worked out, it should be great.  So, sorry for the delays and inconveniences lately.  Anyhoo, we just now picked a WINNER of our ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) and are in the process of notifying him.

If you would like a chance to win an ARC of A Bride in the Bargain, we are starting the contest all over with a clean slate.  So, leave a comment on the blog between now (March 25) and Sunday (March 29) for your chance to win!  (You must live in the continental US to qualify.  Sorry! But I can’t afford to be mailing copies to Zimbabwe, etc!)

posted by Deeanne on 03/25/2009 - 27 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

March 16, 2009

Advanced Copy of A Bride in the Bargain

Our computer has randomly selected a WINNER for our FREE PASS to CBE, but our winner couldn't make it down to Dallas! So we are currently notifying the runners' up until we hit on one who can make it.  As soon as we have an official winner, I'll let you know.

Meanwhile, the Advanced Reading Copies of A Bride in the Bargain have arrived and from now until the official book hits the shelves, we'll be giving one away per week! 

For those of you who are new to ARCs (Advance Reading Copies), it is basically my new book in Word format.  No frills, no pretty chapter headings, just a Word document bound in a white cover.

So, if you would like your chance to win a free advance copy of my new release, leave a comment here on my blog between now (March 16) and Sunday (March 22).  We will pick a winner at that time, then start all over again next Monday.

So, be sure to come by often and if you make it out to Dallas BE SURE to tell me you are a part of our online community so I can give you a "Dee's Circle of Friends" pin!

posted by Deeanne on 03/16/2009 - 37 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

March 09, 2009

Wedding Shower

Before I tell you about the wedding shower, I wanted you to know that due to the enthusiastic response we had to our lapel pin drawing, we are going to offer up weekly winners. Last week's winner has been selected. As soon as we hear back from her, I'll let you know who it is.  As of today (March 9), we start the contest over. So, if you want a chance to win a "Dee's Circle of Friends" pin or a "Bride in the Bargain" pin, leave a comment on my blog. Details here.

The drawing for a FREE 3-DAY PASS to Christian Book Expo is still ongoing, though. To be eligible for that, you have to leave a comment anytime between Feb. 16 and March 13. The more comments, the greater your chances of winning. Details here.

Now, for the wedding shower.  Our 22 yo daughter's best friend (since 2nd grade) is getting married (crazy!) and our daughter is the maid of honor.  (For those of you who have been with me since the VERY beginning when Bride Most Begrudging came out ... Do you remember the video trailer for that book? Do you remember the girl who played the part of Constance, the girl with a head full of red, curly hair?  That's her. The one that is getting married. She straightened her hair for the shower. Don't ask me why girls with curly hair wish it was straight and girls with straight hair wish it was curly. But, that's the way it is, I guess.)

Anyhoo, as maid of honor, our daughter gave her friend a wedding shower this past Saturday. She decided on a kitchen shower and I have to do the proud mama thing. She did such a great job of carrying the theme all the way through. One of my favorite of her ideas was the center piece. She had it arranged in an electric mixer! Is that just so cute? And it has kitchen utensils incorporated into the arrangement. I just love that.

One of the games we played was a hoot. She passed out a pair of oven mitts and knee-highs to each guest. Then told them they had to put the knee highs on while wearing the oven mitts. First one to get them up to the knees won the prize. (The prize was a pair of "onion goggles." You wear them while chopping onions to keep from crying. Ha!)

As party favors, my daughter went to Bath Junkies and had them mix up hand lotion using a scent from the kitchen (cinnamon lotion, vanilla lotion, ginger lotion, almond, clove, etc.). Then, she designed (she's majoring in Graphic Design) recipe cards and used a recipe that incorporated whatever spice that scented the lotion. Is that just the cleverest thing? (To view any of the pictures in a larger size, right click and open them in a new window.)

The girls who attended were the group of girls the bride-to-be and my daughter ran with all through junior high and high school. Such a treat to see them all grown up! I find more and more that I am really enjoying this stage of the kids' lives. Each stage has its ups and downs, but adolescence was SUCH a trying time that these early twenties years are all that more enjoyable.

posted by Deeanne on 03/09/2009 - 21 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

March 02, 2009

Dee Collectibles

We are going to give away free "Dee's Circle of Friends" pins to anyone who comes to my signing and/or presentation at CBE (Christian Book Expo) and signs up for my newsletter.  (If you've already signed up, just tell me and I'll give you one when you come by.) Then, you can pin it onto your name badge.

That way, we'll be able to spot each other in the crowd!  I'll be doing that every year from now on.  In addition to that, anyone who buys one of my books will also receive  a limited-editon lapel pin of my new release, A Bride in the Bargain.  These will only be given out while supplies last.  Once they are gone, that's it.

Then next year, we will issue a 2010 pin for next year's book and so on.  When all is said and done, you will have an official set of Dee Gist Collectible lapel pins!

So, if you haven' t registered for CBE yet, don't delay.  And remember, if you leave a comment on my blog between now and March 13, you will be eligible to win a FREE 3-DAY PASS (a $59 value) to the Christian Book Expo. But don't wait until then to register. Go ahead and register and if you win we'll reimburse you for your registration fee!

And for those of you who already know you can't make it to CBE, if you leave a comment, you will be eligible to win a "Dee's Circle of Friends" pin AND a "2009 Bride in the Bargain" pin.  So ... leave a comment for your chance!

posted by Deeanne on 03/02/2009 - 40 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

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