Okay, Minions, pull up a nice fluffy chair and get cozy. There ya go. Got your favorite pillow? Your blood Slurpee with the cool black bendy straw? Good. Because Auntie Heather feels the need to do a public service announcement here (or, at the very least, an Auntie Heather service announcement).

A few Minions have written now, saying that they can’t find a copy of EIGHTH GRADE BITES at their local bookstore. If you run into this dilemma (or if you just happen to notice a store is not carrying EIGHTH GRADE BITES), please please PLEASE ask a sales associate to order more. Believe it or not, booksellers absolutely listen to their customers for what to put on the shelves. And we want everybody to fall as much in love with Vlad and his crazy life as we have, right? And we want Auntie Heather to be able to keep writing and publishing books about our favorite fanged friend, right? Well, the only way for that to happen is to get books on shelves and into readers’ hands. Sales=me publishing more books about Vlad. No sales=me maybe not finishing the Vlad series *shivers* It’s a sad truth, but there ya have it. And the easiest way for the good stuff to happen is for all of you to band together as the Minion Horde and make it happen.

If you know of anyone who hasn’t read EIGHTH GRADE BITES, please urge them to do so. They can borrow it from the library or a friend, buy it, whatever, but a big goal of our Horde here should be to spread the Vlad love. So far, it’s looking good out there, and I absolutely appreciate each and every one of you for doing what you can to tell others about my series. Fangs a lot, Minions! =

Okay, back to hoodies. For the rules, see the past bajillion entries (I’m feeling lazy today). The winner of Day 5′s hoodie is Shawn! And today’s question is this:

Day 6 (Drawing on October 17th): Who is the man in black?

First off, if you have or would like to creat fan art for Vlad, feel free to join this group and share with everyone! (And many, many thanks to Minion K8!)

And yay Minion Keif! Keif was the lucky winner of Day 4′s hoodie! To recap (just to cover it each time): I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies throughout October. And you can win one!

I’m going to be running this contest a little differently than I have done so in the past. This time, you don’t need to sign up for my newsletter at all, and I won’t be posting it on my Win Things page, just on my blog and MySpace. It’s very simple. I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies, as featured on the cover of EIGHTH GRADE BITES, over the course of October, which just so happens to be Vlad’s favorite month of all (and my favorite number). Do you have a hoodie yet? No? Well then, here’s your chance!

It’s super simple to enter. I’m going to ask a question about EIGHTH GRADE BITES. All you have to do is either post your answer here, message me on MySpace or email me your answer. If you get it right, you’re entered into that day’s drawing.

(NOTE: BE CAREFUL READING COMMENTS DURING OCTOBER, AS YOU MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY ENCOUNTER SPOILERS! IN FACT, YOU ABSOLUTELY WILL–SO IF YOU HAVEN”T READ THE BOOK, PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THOSE DETAILS)

I’ll draw for that contest right before I post the next question, which is when I’ll announce the previous contest winner.

If you don’t win, keep entering! (But if you do win, hey man, give the other Minions a chance…you can’t win again) And, to increase your chances, for every place online that you encourage people to come on over and check out my contest (be it a blog, forum, MySpace comment, wherever), if you can send me proof (ie, a link), I’ll give you an additional entry for that day’s contest.

Now, you don’t have to buy the book, but it really helps if you’ve read it. So borrow it from a friend, pick one up at the library, or if you like, buy a copy, and you’ll have a much better chance at winning (and yeah, it’s okay if you cheat by reading answers here…after all, it’s none of my business if you’re a cheater). You’ll want to study up and get those answers to me as quick as you can. Because this contest is really a series of thirteen contests…and these hoodies are going to go fast (time flies when you’re having fun, right?). Remember: if you don’t enter…you can’t win!

So, good luck…and here is today’s question!

Day 5 (Drawing on October 15th): What is Mr. Otis’s first name?

Big congrats to Sheila on winning Day 3′s hoodie! Without further ado…on to the next hoodie give-away.

To recap (again….y’know, just in case we have any newcomers to the contest): I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies throughout October. And you can win one!

I’m going to be running this contest a little differently than I have done so in the past. This time, you don’t need to sign up for my newsletter at all, and I won’t be posting it on my Win Things page, just on my blog and MySpace. It’s very simple. I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies, as featured on the cover of EIGHTH GRADE BITES, over the course of October, which just so happens to be Vlad’s favorite month of all (and my favorite number). Do you have a hoodie yet? No? Well then, here’s your chance!

It’s super simple to enter. I’m going to ask a question about EIGHTH GRADE BITES. All you have to do is either post your answer here, message me on MySpace or email me your answer. If you get it right, you’re entered into that day’s drawing.

(NOTE: BE CAREFUL READING COMMENTS DURING OCTOBER, AS YOU MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY ENCOUNTER SPOILERS! IN FACT, YOU ABSOLUTELY WILL–SO IF YOU HAVEN”T READ THE BOOK, PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THOSE DETAILS)

I’ll draw for that contest right before I post the next question, which is when I’ll announce the previous contest winner.

If you don’t win, keep entering! (But if you do win, hey man, give the other Minions a chance…you can’t win again) And, to increase your chances, for every place online that you encourage people to come on over and check out my contest (be it a blog, forum, MySpace comment, wherever), if you can send me proof (ie, a link), I’ll give you an additional entry for that day’s contest.

Now, you don’t have to buy the book, but it really helps if you’ve read it. So borrow it from a friend, pick one up at the library, or if you like, buy a copy, and you’ll have a much better chance at winning (and yeah, it’s okay if you cheat by reading answers here…after all, it’s none of my business if you’re a cheater). You’ll want to study up and get those answers to me as quick as you can. Because this contest is really a series of thirteen contests…and these hoodies are going to go fast (time flies when you’re having fun, right?). Remember: if you don’t enter…you can’t win!

So, good luck…and here is today’s question!

Day 4 (Drawing on October 13th): What does the symbol on the front cover (contained within the series name) mean?

It looks like you Minions will get your wish–you’ll have the next Vlad Tod book in your hot little hands even sooner! My editor just informed me that NINTH GRADE SLAYS will hit shelves on April 17, 2008. Wooohooooo!

Ooooooh, can you feel the tension?? We’re down to ELEVEN hoodies now! Big congrats to Val on winning Day 2′s hoodie! And…on to the third hoodie give-away.

To recap (stop me if you’ve heard this one): I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies throughout October. And you can win one!

I’m going to be running this contest a little differently than I have done so in the past. This time, you don’t need to sign up for my newsletter at all, and I won’t be posting it on my Win Things page, just on my blog and MySpace. It’s very simple. I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies, as featured on the cover of EIGHTH GRADE BITES, over the course of October, which just so happens to be Vlad’s favorite month of all (and my favorite number). Do you have a hoodie yet? No? Well then, here’s your chance!

It’s super simple to enter. I’m going to ask a question about EIGHTH GRADE BITES. All you have to do is either post your answer here, message me on MySpace or email me your answer. If you get it right, you’re entered into that day’s drawing.

(NOTE: BE CAREFUL READING COMMENTS DURING OCTOBER, AS YOU MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY ENCOUNTER SPOILERS!)

I’ll draw for that contest right before I post the next question, which is when I’ll announce the previous contest winner.

If you don’t win, keep entering! (But if you do win, hey man, give the other Minions a chance…you can’t win again) And, to increase your chances, for every place online that you encourage people to come on over and check out my contest (be it a blog, forum, MySpace comment, wherever), if you can send me proof (ie, a link), I’ll give you an additional entry for that day’s contest.

Now, you don’t have to buy the book, but it really helps if you’ve read it. So borrow it from a friend, pick one up at the library, or if you like, buy a copy, and you’ll have a much better chance at winning (and yeah, it’s okay if you cheat by reading answers here…after all, it’s none of my business if you’re a cheater). You’ll want to study up and get those answers to me as quick as you can. Because this contest is really a series of thirteen contests…and these hoodies are going to go fast (time flies when you’re having fun, right?). Remember: if you don’t enter…you can’t win!

So, good luck…and here is today’s question!

Day 3 (Drawing is on October 11th): What’s the name of Vlad’s crush?

Well, we’re down to twelve now in our little contest! Ami was our big winner this time!! (YAY! Congrats again, Ami!) So…on to the second hoodie give-away. To recap: I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies throughout October. And you can win one!

I’m going to be running this contest a little differently than I have done so in the past. This time, you don’t need to sign up for my newsletter at all, and I won’t be posting it on my Win Things page, just on my blog and MySpace. It’s very simple. I’m going to give away 13 of Vlad’s hoodies, as featured on the cover of EIGHTH GRADE BITES, over the course of October, which just so happens to be Vlad’s favorite month of all (and my favorite number). Do you have a hoodie yet? No? Well then, here’s your chance!

It’s super simple to enter. I’m going to ask a question about EIGHTH GRADE BITES. All you have to do is either post your answer here, message me on MySpace or email me your answer. If you get it right, you’re entered into that day’s drawing.

(NOTE: BE CAREFUL READING COMMENTS DURING OCTOBER, AS YOU MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY ENCOUNTER SPOILERS!)

I’ll draw for that contest right before I post the next question, which is when I’ll announce the previous contest winner.

If you don’t win, keep entering! (But if you do win, hey man, give the other Minions a chance…you can’t win again) And, to increase your chances, for every place online that you encourage people to come on over and check out my contest (be it a blog, forum, MySpace comment, wherever), if you can send me proof (ie, a link), I’ll give you an additional entry for that day’s contest.

Now, you don’t have to buy the book, but it really helps if you’ve read it. So borrow it from a friend, pick one up at the library, or if you like, buy a copy, and you’ll have a much better chance at winning. Of course, I’ll take it easy on you with the first question. But trust me, you’ll want to study up and get those answers to me as quick as you can. Because this contest is really a series of thirteen contests…and these hoodies are going to go fast (time flies when you’re having fun, right?). Remember: if you don’t enter…you can’t win!

So, good luck…and here is today’s question!

Day 2 (Drawing is on October 9th): Which of Vlad’s parents was a vampire?

It has been a strange week, Minions.

No, no, no. You really have no idea. Trust me.

First off, I’ve had the Humpty Dance stuck in my head all week (pronounced with an Umpty…). Yeah. I know. And secondly, I’ve been gathering up all the entries for the first hoodie give-away! You Minions have been crazy with the entries, which is awesome. But get ready, because once I give the first one away, I’ll be giving another one away basically every two days. So the contest is about to hit a really fast pace. Good luck!

Secondly, our own dear Froze8 sent me an amazing piece of fan art (click on it to see a bigger version). Fangs so much, Minion! = And hey, if anybody else wants to create some fan art, please do!
Thirdly, it seems a Minion has recently started a fan club for fans of me and my Vlad books! *blush* I’m truly, truly honored. So please, if you like me, you like the books, go show your support and join. It’s called (appropriately) the Minions of Heather Brewer. Maybe if the club gets big enough we can hold fan-club-only contests and sneak previews…

Fourthly (or is it twenty-sixly?), Auntie Heather is tired. And behind on her emails (again). But! She does have wonderful Minions. And that’s all that matters. =

EIGHTH GRADE BITES (the paperback edition) is now available for pre-order on Amazon!

EIGHTH GRADE BITES has been nominated for the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2008 Best Books for Young Adults list!!! *dances, faints, dies* They’ll be voting come January…until then, fingers crossed, Minions!

Also, EGB received a fantastic 4Q review from VOYA! =

(Okay, you can go back to trying to win a hoodie now)