What Happens When I Actually Try to Write

So first my evil kettehs are all like: Um, no, we're gonna stare at you and make you too distracted by our cuteness to get any writing done.

Then Lilah's like: Yeah, this is boring and you're not even really writing anyway.

Then Piper's like: Just 'cuz Lilah left, don't even think I'm getting down.

And then just for emphasis: YEAH BEYOTCH.

Then I kick Piper off and she's like: I'm going to SUFFOCATE myself in these bags, look what you've done!

And just as I make it back to my desk, Piper's like: BOOLAKASHAH. BAM! No writing for you.

And Lilah jumps back on the bandwagon and is all like: I'm going to hypnotize you with my scary demon eyes.

And then she's like: SCARY DEMON EYES. You. May. Not. Write.

And then she's all like: Heh. You're not writing, you're looking at PerezHilton. Oooooo. What'd crazysauce Tom Cruise do THIS time?

Sigh.


*I swear I did NOT pose my cats
*No cats were harmed in the making of this blog
*Piper did not, in fact, suffocate herself. Instead she beat me back to my chair, which I believe is evident by the pictures, but hey... you never know.
*I do realize Tom Cruise crazy jokes are so last season, or maybe even the season before that, but still... 

♥ me

VLOG: WisCon Style!

So, you might remember a couple weeks ago I went to WisCon. It was freaking awesome!

Not only were the panels I attended fun and, very often, funny. (Exhibit A: The Build a World panel built a world for a three act musical, titled: I Can Haz Musical, The Musical! Seriously, the panelists built a world taking place on a planet of LOLCats. And it was hysterical--just click the link to see what I'm talking about!) 


But while the panels and the conference itself was great, the people I met were even cooler. To name a few of my new faves:

I finally met the famous Derek Molata in person--he's even cooler/funnier IRL than he is on twitter/blogs/IM.  (And bad influence, don't even get me started on why I can no longer drink Amaretto. Thanks a lot, D!) And I met and totally fell for Rae Carson (who read from her recently sold YA trilogy and made me a diehard fan in an instant), Holly McDowell (who, from what I hear is the next Margaret Atwood), Karin Lowachee (who wrote the recent The Gaslight Dogs, which I'm reading and LOVING), and Amber van Dyk (another fabulous writer and helped to coin Derek's moniker The Chin).

What's The Chin, you might be asking? Well, here's your assignment for the day... Watch the vlog and tell me if you can figure out why it's Derek's new nickname =)

Oh, and there's a special treat at the verrrrry end, if you stick for it! (hehehe)



♥ 
me

Barry Lyga ROCKS!! Contest (ARC & SIGNED book giveaway)

So, Barry Lyga is pretty awesome. Alexandra and Carol, agree--we're huge fans! And to show just how great he is, we're giving away four of his books!!

There are four prizes and the contest is, like, super easy to enter! Here's what you can win:

SIGNED ARC of Archvillain

ARC of Goth Girl Rising

A SIGNED copy of Hero-Type (We're giving away TWO of these babies!)

Here's how to enter:

1. You must be a follower here at Babbling Flow, and Carol's blog, and Alexandra's blog! 
2. You must fill out the entry form, found here:  https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHgtVkJjX0tEbjJKa2xqS0otRWRkd1E6MQ

If you want extra points, here are a few of the ways to get them:

1. Participate in Barry Lyga Rocks!! Day (Monday, 6/28) by leaving an open letter to Barry on your blog, telling him why you think he's awesome. FIFTEEN extra entries for doing this!! We'll enter everyone's blog addresses in a Mr. Linky on that day, so the letters are easily found.
2. Blog about this contest. THREE extra entries.
3. Post this contest on your sidebar. TWO extra entries.
4. Tweet about this contest. ONE extra entry. (Please leave @saramcclung or @cvaldezmiller in your tweet so we can track!)

The contest will run from today until Monday, June 28, 2010 at midnight. We'll post the winners that week!

Good luck!!

♥ Sara

Very Vampire Giveaway WINNERS!!

Happy Saturday! 

It's looking like it's going to be a hot day here in Northern Va... So I'm planning to kick it indoors, with the AC on and read my CPs' lovely stories all day. Maybe I'll even make lemonade. Ooo yeah, I'm totally making lemonade today. Yum.

What about you guys--any big weekend plans?

Wait, what's that you say? You're not here to talk weekend pleasantries? You want to know who  won the prizes?

Hmmmmm. 

*thinks about it*

*smiles lovingly at all of you*

*thinks some more*

*makes up mind*

Since it's the weekend and since I so appreciate your patience (as it took me WAY longer than I thought it would to get everyone's entries sorted out), I won't drag this out and keep you in suspense. =)



Though I will first give this little note: If you didn't win? Don't worry! I've got other super fun signed book and ARC contests lined up for the coming weeks and months!! 



Now for the good stuff!!


The winners of the Very Vampire Giveaway packages are:

Congratulations to
The Book Vixen!! 

You've won:
 

#1 SIGNED Twilight! 

(and 4 Keepsake Journals in a Collectible Tin)

Hardcover, authentic signature... The whole shebang! 

Congratulations to

Nicole Ducleroir!! 

You've won: 

 

#2 SIGNED Anne Rice: The Vampire Armand

Congratulations to

Suzie Setzler!! 

You've won: 

 

#3 SIGNED Charlaine Harris: 

Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead

The first three in her Sookie Stackhouse series--you know, the ones the show True Blood is based off of!! (ALL three are signed!)

Congratulations to

Amanda Sabourova!! 

You've won:

 

#4 SIGNED Christopher Moore: 

Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck (A Love Story), Bite Me

His Vampire Trilogy! ALL three are signed! (If you haven't read Christopher Moore before, there's a great article about this trilogy here.)

Congratulations to 
Stormi Johnson!! 

You've won: 

 

#5 Bram Stoker's Dracula

AND The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead

Congratulations to all the winners, I hope you enjoy your prizes. Please make sure to contact me with your mailing information!

♥ Sara

Friday Funny... Proposal Style

You've had a long week. You deserve to laugh.

 It's time for the Babbling Flow's Friday Funny!!

Proposal Edition

Warning: This is super cute.  Thanks to Sarah Enni for sharing with me!

Also, Casate Conmigo means Marry Me (as if you couldn't figure that one out for yourself...)



Happy Friday!!

OH! And the Very Vampire May Giveaway winners will be announced TOMORROW!!

♥ me

ALA FTW

Today I am happy for three reasons:

1. Carol Valdez Miller is coming to visit me!!
2. We're both going to ALA
3. I'm totally meeting up with my girl PJ Hoover at some point during this time

ALA DC 2010

Who else is going??

♥ me

I Am Not from West Virginia + An Open Letter to Cyber Bullies

Mistaken Identity:

Nothing against good ol' WV. Seriously, my husband's from there--most of his family still lives there. I love the state. But I am NOT Sara McClung from West Virginia.

Why do I feel the need to say this? Because I got a weird google alert a little while ago, about a Sara McClung from WV. And the link took me to this awful website. There's an entire message board dedicated to trashing my name double.

I feel awful for this girl. It's Internet bullying in all its disgusting glory. Physical threats and name calling and just completely horrible and immature and scary things.

Okay and you know I'm not one to rant about things on here, because I'm more of a sparkles and sunshine and "let's spread the happiness" kind of blogger, but today I just have to say one thing...

While the picture I posted is funny (well, I thought it was anyway), cyber bullying is not. Threatening people on the internet is cruel and childish and, let's be honest, if you do it you're a complete coward. And it can lead to some really, really awful things.

Rant over. Sorry for soapboxing, but ugh. It takes a lot to get me going, except for things like this.

What about you guys? Any thoughts on Internet bullying?


♥ me

********** An Open Letter to Cyber Bullies **********

Dear Cyber Bullies,

Cold regards,
Sara

PS. To the WV online bulliers: Stop doing it to the other Sara McClung! Anyone with this name is clearly awesome.

Vampire Giveaway CLOSED + Funny VLOG + Contest + Signed C.Moore Winner!

Hey ya'll. So, my Very Vampire May Giveaway is officially closed! It's gonna take me a hot minute to sort out everyone's entries, so bear with me! I'll announce the winners this week  =)

In the meantime, you must go check out Carol Valdez Miller's first vlog. It's her way of saying goodbye to John Green and David Levithan. And it's hysterical--she's even... um... in costume for it ;-)

When you've come back from C's VLOG, you must also run over to check out Shannon Messenger's latest contest! She's giving away a signed copy of one of my favorite books!! Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder--plus some freaking cool swag!

I must say, I owe a huge thank you to Karen Amanda Hooper for introducing me to that book. I read it in one sitting I loved it so much, and it's all because of how much she raved about it!

OH, and also...

This week's winner of the SIGNED Christopher Moore's Bite Me is...

*Insert Drumroll*

*

*

*

*Insert one more drumroll*

*you know... for good measure*

*

*

*

Sarah Enni!! 

Yay!!

*Tosses Confetti*

Congratulations Sarah =) Make sure you contact me and let me know where to mail your prize!

♥ me

Friday Funny... Yep, On a Monday

Umso I forgot to post on Friday! So consider this a funny to kick your week off =)


Shannon Messenger shared this funny with me. It's more of a cute than a funny, but man HOW CUTE IS IT?? #Iwantapetslowloris 





LAST CHANCE!!! Anyone who comments and leaves a link to another funny video, for future Friday Funny use, will be automatically entered in a drawing to win a signed copy of Christopher Moore's Bite Me!

Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win. I'll announce the winner on Monday!


Happy Friday Monday!

♥ me

Vampire Giveaway Extension!

I just got back from WisCon. (Ay-may-zing, btw) I have lots and lots to catch up on! (Emails and grocery shopping and personal stuff, oh my!)

So, with that in mind, I am extending my Very Vampire May Giveaway deadline. AND giving you more entry options, in case you want to up your chances.

The contest now will end on Monday, June 7 at midnight, EST.

If you want 5 extra entries: All you have to do is write a blog post about the contest. JUST about the contest all by itself. Sometime between now and Monday, June 7! Then come on back here and leave a link.

If you want 2 extra entries: Follow my blog on networked blogs (link is in sidebar). And make sure to tell me in the comments for this post =)

Oh, and if you haven't entered yet? Here's the link to do so!!

Um, as a reminder... Here are all the things I'm giving away:

#1 SIGNED Twilight! 

(and 4 Keepsake Journals in a Collectible Tin)

Hardcover, authentic signature...  

#2 SIGNED Anne Rice: The Vampire Armand

Hardcover, first edition--The sixth novel in The Vampire Chronicles.
However, from what I've heard because I haven't read it) graphic nature, winners for this must be 18 or older. (Not that I don't think someone younger can handle it, but I'm not a parent and under 18 means not an adult, legally.)

#3 SIGNED Charlaine Harris: 

Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead

The first three in her Sookie Stackhouse series--you know, the ones the show True Blood is based off of!! (ALL three are signed!)

#4 SIGNED Christopher Moore: 

Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck (A Love Story), Bite Me

His Vampire Trilogy! ALL three are signed! (If you haven't read Christopher Moore before, there's a great article about this trilogy here.)

#5 Bram Stoker's Dracula

AND The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead

Unsigned, unfortunately. But still fun!

♥ me