For those of you who haven’t seen my Facebook posts, Hermione made the semi-finals of America’s Favorite Pet Contest. I can’t thank enough all the people who have been voting every day and who have generously purchased PAWS votes to help her move ahead and also to raise funds for the PAWS Foundation to help pets. The competition is tough, and we still need your votes to get to the next and final round which ends Thursday night, March 31. Please keep voting each day with free votes and/or PAWS votes. Keep an eye out for double PAWS votes which count for twice the votes and go twice as far to help pets.
Thank you so much, and big purrs from Hermione. She’s a very sweet and beautiful girl, and I’d love to see her win. Please vote for Hermione here if you agree: https://americasfavpet.com/2022/hermione-cf74
Thanks so much for those who voted for my cat, Hermione, in America’s Favorite Pet Contest. She’s moved into the quarter finals, so needs your votes even more at this point. You can vote for free once a day and/or pay for PAWS votes that go toward the PAWS Foundation to help animals. Every so often, the PAWS votes double. When this happens, it’s indicated on the voting page: https://americasfavpet.com/2022/hermione-cf74
Hermione is a sweet and beautiful cat who will be four years old this summer. We adopted her and her brother, Harry, when they were three-month-old kittens. It was after our family had suffered a double loss. We’d lost our senior Siamese and my mother. The two kittens have given us so much joy and helped heal our sadness. They joined our older cat, Stripey.
I’m honored that so many people have been voting for Hermione, but the competition is tough. She went neck to neck with another contestant in a previous round.
On my other blog, she posted why she deserves your vote. Check out what she wrote here: https://wp.me/p7XcB0-1aE
Her brother, Harry, also blogged in support of his sister. Here’s his post: https://wp.me/p7XcB0-1bx
The Quarter Finals end on March 24. If Hermione receives enough votes, she’ll move on to the semi-finals. If she makes it to the finals and wins, she’ll appear in Catster Magazine and receive valuable awards.
Two of my books are running in the Critters.org Readers Choice 2021 Awards. The poll ends on January 14.
My time-travel novel, TIME’S RELATIVE published by Next Chapter Publishing, is entered in the Science Fiction/Fantasy book category. To vote for it, please go to https://critters.org/predpoll/novelsf.shtml and click on the box next to the book title (note the choices are arranged alphabetically, so this book is further down on the page). Once you vote, you’ll receive an email that you will need to confirm so that the vote will be officially counted.
My latest cozy mystery, BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE: Cobble Cove Story #5 published by Solstice Publishing, is entered in the all other short story category and is listed as the first choice. The link to this category is https://critters.org/predpoll/shortstory.shtml.
Please follow the directions above for casting your vote.
Two of my fellow Next Chapter authors, Brian L Porter, and John Broughton also have books running in the Critters.org Readers Choice Awards 2021 and would very much appreciate your vote.
Two of my cats, Harry and Hermione, have been entered in the CFA’s TNR Cat Photo Fundraising Contest. “From Feral to Fancy.” Voting ends on February 27 and costs $1 per vote. All funds raised by votes go toward TrapKing’s nonprofit, TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions, which will use the money to educate and teach cat rescuers the basics of TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release). If Harry and/or Hermione are chosen as one of the 11 grand prize winners, they will appear in Time’s Square for a photo appearance with TrapKing (Sterling Davis),
Here are the voting pages for Harry and Hermione. Thanks so much for your support and helping cats.
Grand Prize Winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablet and a 1-Year Access Pass to Bestseller Ranking Pro
16 Winners, one in each category, will receive special badges and promotion
TCK Publishing is recognizing indie, self-published, and traditionally published authors and we’re inviting all of you to join the 2021 Readers Choice Book Awards contest.
Get connected with your fans and ask them for their support by voting for you to boost your chances of winning!
We believe readers deserve to have a choice, and that’s why we’re proud to host the 2021 TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards.
Readers Choice Award Categories
1. Advice
2. Business and Investing
3. Self-Help
4. Health
5. General Nonfiction
6. Memoir
7. Romance
8. Fantasy
9. Thriller
10. Mystery
11. Children’s Book
12. YA and Middle Grade
13. General Fiction
14. Historical Fiction
15. Science Fiction
16. Religion
How the Contest Works
Any author (regardless of who your publisher is) may submit one (1) book in any of the given categories for FREE. Limit one free entry per author and per email address. Entries for additional books after your first entry may be purchased here.
Entries are subject to evaluation and review by the TCK Publishing Readers Choice Awards committee (book submissions are not just automatically approved).
The TCK Publishing Readers Choice Awards committee will review and determine the final book entries.
Successful entries will be notified through a confirmation email from TCK Publishing.
Casting of votes will be open until November 13, 2021
The book entry with the highest votes at the end of the voting period will be declared the winner (authors and readers are allowed to vote once).
Declaration of winner and awarding of prizes will be on November 30, 2021.
The winner will be notified through an email from the TCK Publishing Readers Choice Awards committee.The TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest is an international poetry contest established in 2021. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication of his or her poem on the TCK Publishing website.TCK Publishing is recognizing poetry writers from all countries, backgrounds, and levels of experience and we invite you to join the 2021 TCK Publishing Poetry Contest.
How the Contest Works
Any writer (regardless of who your publisher is or if your work has been previously published) may submit up to five poems totaling no more than 500 words for an entry fee of $5.
You must purchase your entry here (you can purchase as many entries as you like if you choose to enter multiple submissions).
After you purchase your entry, you will be asked to complete a short Google Form to complete your submission so you can submit your poem(s) on that page.
All entrants will be notified through a confirmation email from TCK Publishing.
Submissions will open on November 1, 2020.
Submissions will close on March 31, 2021.
Declaration of winner and awarding of prize will be on April 21, 2021.
The winner will be notified through an email from the TCK Publishing Poetry Contest committee.
On Saturday night, August 8, the Cat Writers’ Association hosted their 26th annual Awards Ceremony, but this year it was conducted virtually and live streamed through Zoom and Facebook. Despite some minor technical glitches, the event was well planned and professionally presented. Many people were involved in this effort and also the contest itself. CWA President, Deb Barnes, was the main person who made the event possible.
I am truly honored to have won a Muse Medallion, the most prestigious award the CWA sponsors, for my short story, “Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery.” Although I’ve won Certificates of Excellence in the past, this was my first Muse. If you’ve seen or read any of my interviews where I talk about how I got started publishing my work, I always mention CWA. It was the first writing organization I joined over twenty years ago and is the one I feel proudest to belong to.
Besides the awarding of the Muse Medallions in various categories of writing, videography, photography, social media, blogs, and more, the sponsors who supported the contest gave away special prizes that consisted of monetary awards and other items. Here are a list of all the talented winners and their entries: https://catwriters.com/wp_meow/contest/
One other feature of the event included raising funds for Tabby’s Place, a cat sanctuary in New Jersey. Donations are still being accepted. Each donation will earn entry into raffles for prizes donated by sponsors. The raffles will be drawn on August 16.
Here’s a video about Tabby’s Place that was featured in the early part of the awards ceremony but got cut off from the Facebook feed:
For those who missed this great event, it can still be viewed here:
I look forward to next year’s awards ceremony that will, fingers and paws crossed, take place at a conference where all members can gather in person.
The cat’s already out of the bag, literally, because my character cat, Sneaky, already posted this on his blog but for those who missed the post, I’ve been awarded Certificates of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association for my article, “Keeping Indoor Pets Safe from Household Dangers,”; Sneaky’s blog, https://sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com; and my short story, “Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery.” I’m very honored to have been recognized for these awards and am now in the running for CWA’s coveted Muse Medallion. The winners of the medallions will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony in July, date TBA.
On Wednesday, June 3, I’ll be appearing on the Podcast, “Once and Future Authors” that will be shared on Facebook and YouTube, as well as iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher. When the links are available, I will add them to this post.
Here is a link to a survey that I’m sending to my newsletter and blog subscribers. If you subscribe to both, you can only take it once. Complete the survey by June 6 to be eligible to win a $10 amazon gift card. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LFKZLS7
Thanks for your support, and good luck in the contest!
National Kitten Day was celebrated on July 10. On that day, on behalf of my cats, Harry and Hermione, I posted a contest for free coupons good for 12-count variety packs of Purina Fancy Feast® brand wet cat food, any variety (up to $11.99 value) as well as a photo op for the winners’ cats. The coupons were provided by Purina along with information on the advantages of including wet food in cats’ diets.
Although many cats prefer dry food, wet food is an important part of a cat’s diet. Here’s why according to nutritionists at Purina:
Water makes up 60 per cent of a cat’s body, so it’s important for them to stay hydrated. The moisture in wet food gives them additional hydration because each lap from their water bowl only gives them about 3/100 of a teaspoon.
Wet food is also high in protein which helps maintain the muscle mass that they lose as they age.
Wet food is available in many different varieties and flavors that may appeal to even finicky felines. It is also easily digestible and contains all the vital nutrients and elements for a cat’s diet.
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. Below are the winning entries.
Karma and KashSkipperUnaJakeCopper
Also, mark your calendars for my two free book giveaways from July 19 to 22. Â During that time, to celebrate Harry and Hermione’s first birthdays, you can get your free books here: mybook.to/RTDmybook.to/cc4
Also, in honor of Harry and Hermione turning 1, I’m hosting a fundraiser for the Golden Paws Society, the rescue from which they came. The fundraiser has already started, and it would be great if you could contribute any amount to help other kittens and cats find homes. https://www.facebook.com/donate/1954368081329994/
Also, one of the winners of the Kitten Day Contest operates a rescue that is greatly in need of help. Any amount you can donate to her GoFundMe campaign will be much appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/f/lynnes-kitty-rescue
National Kitten Day was celebrated on July 10. On that day, on behalf of my cats, Harry and Hermione, I posted a contest for free coupons good for 12-count variety packs of Purina Fancy Feast® brand wet cat food, any variety (up to $11.99 value). This Sunday night, July 14, Harry and Hermione will paw five random winners for these coupons from everyone who sends a photo of their kittens or cats to me at debbiewriter@yahoo.com with the email subject: Kitten Day Contest Entry and follows me on any or all of the following social media sites. The winners will be contacted on Monday, July 15. Winners must be U.S. residents. In addition to winning the coupons, each winner will have their kitten or cats’ photo posted on this site in the future.
Also, mark your calendars for my two free book giveaways from July 19 to 21. Â During that time, to celebrate Harry and Hermione’s first birthdays, you can get your free books here: mybook.to/RTDmybook.to/cc4
Also, in honor of Harry and Hermione turning 1, I’m hosting a fundraiser for the Golden Paws Society, the rescue from which they came. The fundraiser has already started, and it would be great if you could contribute any amount to help other kittens and cats find homes. https://www.facebook.com/donate/1954368081329994/
My new release, Sea Scope, has been nominated for three awards. Below are the voting links and information about each contest. Every vote is greatly appreciated.
Sea Scope, has also been nominated for an Author Academy Award. All votes are appreciated. Please scroll to the bottom of page 10 where my book is listed in the mystery category. Thank you so much. (link: http://AuthorAcademyAwards.com)
Sea Scope is listed on the bottom of page 10 in the mystery category of the Reader’s Choice Awards.
For those of you who haven’t seen my Facebook posts, Hermione made the semi-finals of America’s Favorite Pet Contest. I can’t thank enough all the people who have been voting every day and who have generously purchased PAWS votes to help her move ahead and also to raise funds for the PAWS Foundation to help pets.
The competition is tough, and we still need your votes to get to the next and final round which ends Thursday night, March 31. Please keep voting each day with free votes and/or PAWS votes. Keep an eye out for double PAWS votes which count for twice the votes and go twice as far to help pets.
Grand Prize Winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablet and a 1-Year Access Pass to Bestseller Ranking Pro
Ruff Drafts 