Brandi Baby!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!! =

Now, now, my Minions, don’t lose heart if you didn’t win. This contest has been a ton of fun! And it just so happens that your Auntie Heather really, really, really likes to make you all crack tiny little bleak smiles, so please keep an eye on the blog(s), because there will be more give-aways. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to dye…my hair black with red streaks. Cool stuff, too, like ARCs (Advanced Reading Copies) of NINTH GRADE SLAYS, and other Vlad-oriented goodies that will set your little black hearts to flutter.

Many, many, many, many, many, many of you have clogged my Inbox with questions of whether or not I will offer the hoodies for sale now that the contest is over. So…here’s the official answer: YES. But! There’s a caveat. You’ll have to wait until I set up a new page (read: my web designer does it for me) on my website that will act as a Minion Stuff store where you can purchase all sorts of cool Vlad stuff (some of which I’ve yet to order, but it’s all way, way kewl. Trust me.). So…hang in here for a month or two or four while I gather up some neat stuff…and if you have any suggestions for things you’d love with Vlad’s vampire smiley on it…I’m all ears (and fangs). In the meantime, patience is a virtue. So…please try to be virtuous for at least a little while, ‘kay?

Now, what are we all going as for Halloween? See, to Auntie Heather, every day is Halloween, but it’s nice when the rest of the world gets into the spirit of such an excellent holiday (btw, Merry Samhain to my fellow Pagans!). I was planning on being a zombie, but instead, I’m using tonight as yet another excuse to don my ren garb and go as a wench. Hmmm…maybe a wench whose been bitten by a vampire…? What about you, Minions?

P.S. Any pics you send me of you dressed as a vampire or of you in Vlad’s hoodie or of you wearing Minion Bling….I’ll put them in my MySpace Pics folder.

P.P.S If you’ve created (or are interested in creating) fan art of Vlad, you should join this awesome group, created by one of your fellow Minions!

First off, some happy news. =

It seems Wyoming and Nebraska have realized just how cool Vlad is. Which, of course, my Minions knew long before anyone else, but it’s nice to be recognized as a spooky author. Also, some major changes are coming to my website soon, so stay tuned!

You guys offered up some sharp answers for what Elysia is, and I just wanted to say that though answers varied, they were all right in their own way. Elysia is vampire society; it’s all around us; it’s vampires co-existing. And just a heads-up: you’ll learn more about what Elysia is when you read NINTH GRADE SLAYS..which you can now pre-order on Amazon! Now, I make no promises…but Amazon is known for shipping books earlier than the date they’re set to hit shelves. So…it might be a good idea to pre-order it and get in on all the secrets that await you with the next Vlad book.

Okay. Now. The day you’ve been waiting for. Here it is, Minions. The last day you can win a hoodie. We’ve come a long, long way, but it’s finally here. Did you win the last one? Maybe…if you’re name is Brian. Congrats, Brian!!!

Now today’s question is easy. And I’m even giving you the answer upfront.

The answer is my favorite number, Vlad’s age, and what day of the contest this is.

Any takers???

(By the way, the drawing for the last hoodie is on Halloween!)

Well, this is it, Minions. After I announce the winner today, I have only TWO HOODIES left to give away. Can you believe it??? Yeah. Me neither.

Big congrats to Adam!!! Adam is now the proud new owner of a hoodie!

And you can be too. Just brush up on the rules, and answer today’s question:

Day 12 (Drawing on October 29th): What is Elysia?

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, but hey, I’ve been busy stalking the creatures of the night–and Vlad can totally vouch for me. I have a new friend (given to me by the fabulous Ms. Jackie Kessler, succubus writer extraordinaire), and as of yesterday, he has a name. Say hello to…NOSBEARATU!!!!
As you can see, Jackie also sent a little snack along with Nosbearatu so he wouldn’t get hungry and gnaw on any unsuspecting mailmen along the way (yes, that’s a heart). I’ve decided that Nosbearatu will accompany me during my travels from now on. He and Vlad should get along famously.

And if not….well…my money’s on Vlad.

Hoo-boy! I can’t believe we’ve been through this many hoodies. Thank you all for the great pics of you in your hoodies–it’s so cool to see you all looking like Vlad! (Or Vlad’s little sister, according to one Minion)

Today’s winner is Michael–YAY!!! And you Minions should stick around, because this contest is nearing its end. Today’s question is this:

Day 11 (Drawing on October 27th): Who is president of the Stokerton council?

And for discussion’s sake, how are you all doing? School/work good? Happy/sad? Any news from Minion Land that I should know about? I like checking in with my Minions–gotta keep in touch with the Horde! Me, I’m good. Pretty happy, as I got some GREAT Vlad-related news yesterday (and no, I can’t share just yet), and busy busy busy. I’m also kinda relieved that this contest is almost over. That big box of hoodies takes up so much room! Thanks for taking them off my hands.

ONLY 3 HOODIES LEFT!!!

Hmmm…for some odd reason, I can’t seem to message anyone on MySpace. So! I’ll just notify the winner on here and hope she sees it. SILENT SNOW–YOU WON A HOODIE!!! Yay you!

Now, if any of the rest of you would like a chance to win a hoodie like Vlad’s…here’s your chance:

Day 10 (Drawing on October 25th): On the night Mr. Otis came over for dinner, what shirt did Vlad wear?

Now, there was some debate during the last question over whether Bathory was Vlad’s home town or Elysia. I assure you, it was Bathory. If you’ll recall, Elysia is more than a place, it’s sharing the company of vampirekind.

ONLY FOUR HOODIES LEFT!!!

Congrats, Matthew!!! Everybody wants to win a hoodie and you did!

But…no worries, my Minions, this contest still has some hoodie-goodness left in it. (It’s weird…I can almost feel the distressed “geez, I want a hoodie” vibes from you guys) On to day 9’s question!

Day 9 (Drawing on October 23rd): What’s the name of Vlad’s hometown?

In other news, my grouchy day ended (yay!) and I’ve been working on the third Vlad book, TENTH GRADE BLEEDS. I’ve actually had to go back and reread EIGHTH GRADE BITES and NINTH GRADE SLAYS (in manuscript form, of course….don’t get excited just yet. You still have to wait until April to delve) just to kep all my facts straight. But it’s a lot of fun being back with Vlad…even if his life does suck because if me.

And speaking of NGS….if you’re a reviewer, drop me a line and I’ll put you on my “awesome people who will receive an ARC of NINTH GRADE SLAYS” list.

In case you haven’t heard*, I’m running a contest. (See rules here) The winner of Day 7’s hoodie is Andrea!!! And if you’d like a shot at winning one of Vlad’s hoodies, just answer me this:

Day 8 (Drawing on October 21st): What’s the name of Vlad’s best friend?

Now, on to other stuff. I’m grouchy today. Why? No idea. But I’m annoying me. How’s my Minion Horde holding up? What are you all reading (besides Vlad)? What are your plans for the best holiday of the year (Halloween)?

*Exactly what planet do you live on? Because, clearly, I need to visit there…and maybe smack** some people.

**Or…y’know…somnething less violent***.

***Possibly involving the use of a spork****.

****Or maybe a spatula.

My dear friend (and agent sibling), Lisa McMann (author of WAKE), just announced this–go on over and enter, Minions! From her Amazon blog:

WAKE Contest!! Ends Halloween at midnight (Pacific)

Woo, baby! It’s time, peeps.

Time for the First Official WAKE Contest!! Follow the directions below and you could win one of the following very free, amazingly fabulous prizes:

– An advance copy of WAKE (1)*

– A giant 24″ x 36″ glossy WAKE poster (1)*

– A smaller, less glossy, yet still completely delectable WAKE poster (1)*

– A WAKE dog tag on a 24″ chain (10)*

Here’s how you enter:

1. Click to go to my official website, here: http:// lisamcmann.com. Scroll down until you see the link, “Email Me!” and click on it.
2. In the subject line, write “WAKE CONTEST”
3. In the body of the email, tell me in a few sentences about a nightmare you’ve had. (Keep it G or PG-rated, puh-leaze! Or I’ll delete it and you’ll be disqualified.) If you don’t remember dreams, make something up! I’ll never know the difference.

That’s it. Simple. GO!

WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007, via email. If you don’t hear from me by midnight Pacific coast time, you did not win.

Contest FAQs (well, actually, just the answers. You can guess the questions if you are bored):

1. Chosen randomly.

2. Draw them from a hat.

2.5 A cowboy hat, if you must know.

3. Because I said so. It’s my contest.

4. No, I’m totally serious. G or PG-rated dreams only.

5. No, I’m not a cowboy. I just like hats.

6. I will ask winners for their mailing addresses via email — don’t send them now.

7. Teens, college students, librarians, teachers, dads, moms…anybody reading this is eligible to enter the contest.

8. (x)* <— indicates the quantity of that particular item I have to give away in this contest. One prize per person.

9. You really need to email me if you want to enter, yes. If you post a comment here, you are not officially entering the contest. I might forget about you if you are not tucked safely into my CONTEST inbox folder, and I don’t want that to happen.

10. Absolutely NOT. I will not send you spam or sell your email address or do whatever those nasty people do without telling you. I hate that.

11. Truth? Because I want you to visit my website. That’s why. Humor me.

12. I <3 u 2

I have the best Minions on the friggin’ planet! Fangs so much for the support, guys. Vlad and I are feeling the love, big time. (P.S. He says hi)

Sandra won a hoodie!!! And now we’re down to…uh…hold on…*does the math* six hoodies? Seven hoodies? What day is it???? Oh. There it is, day 7. So that means we have seven hoodies left. (Hey, it’s not my fault I’m confused…I’m giving away like a bajillion hoodies here. It tends to make one dizzy.) If you want one, here’s today’s question:

Day 7 (Drawing will be on October 19th): Where does Vlad go at night to think?