L.J. Smith's Blog, page 10

New Vampire Diaries Contest!!!

> Originally from MySpace Blog <

If you've read Vampire Diaries: Volume 6: Shadow Souls, then you know that Bonnie is sent home with an opal ring set with diamonds, as well as many other pieces of opal jewelry, and I can tell you in advance that this opal ring gains great significance in Vampire Diaries: Volume 7: Midnight.

So I can't think of a better prize right now than "Bonnie's Opal Ring"--which has been slightly sized down from its book description (which would hardly be suitable, except as a cocktail ring!)

Now you can win this version of Bonnie's opal ring!  It's made of 14 karat gold and 14 karat white gold, with one central opal and diamonds sprinkled around it.  This is a gorgeous ring that sells for over $700—so pretty that I got one for myself!  And if you didn't win an autographed Shadow Souls book during the last contest, here's your chance, because I'm offering ten this time round as second prizes.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm going to have to confine this contest to readers in the United States, just because I had so much difficulty mailing prizes to other countries.  Sorry about that—maybe I'll be able to find a solution in the next contest.

To enter, simply send an email to info@ljanesmith.net with the words BONNIE'S OPAL RING in the Subject Field.  Inside, if you like, you can let me know who you think Bonnie should end up with in the Vampire Diaries.  Will it be Matt?  Damon?  Some boy yet to be introduced?  I'd love to hear your opinion.

This contest will begin September 15, 2010, and end on Halloween, after which the winners will be announced.

Also—I shouldn't have to say this, but—only one entry from any email address, and only one prize to a home address.

Good luck!

New! Bonnie's Opal Ring Contest

> Originally from Blogspot's Ye Olde Blog by L.J. <

[image error]If you've read Vampire Diaries: Volume 6: Shadow Souls, then you know that Bonnie is sent home with an opal ring set with diamonds, as well as many other pieces of opal jewelry, and I can tell you in advance that this opal ring gains great significance in Vampire Diaries: Volume 7: Midnight.

So I can't think of a better prize right now than "Bonnie's Opal Ring"--which has been slightly sized down from its book description (which would hardly be suitable, except as a cocktail ring!).

Now you can win this version of Bonnie's opal ring (see above). It's made of 14 karat gold and 14 karat white gold, with one central opal and diamonds sprinkled around it. This is a gorgeous ring that sells for over $700—so pretty that I got one for myself! And if you didn't win an autographed Shadow Souls book during the last contes--well, here's your chance, because I'm offering ten (10) this time around as second prizes.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm going to have to confine this contest to readers in the United States, just because I had so much difficulty mailing prizes to other countries. Sorry about that—maybe I'll be able to find a solution in the next contest.

To enter, simply send an email to info@ljanesmith.net with the words BONNIE'S OPAL RING in the Subject Field. Inside, if you like, you can let me know in your email who you think Bonnie should end up with in the Vampire Diaries. Will it be Matt? Damon? Some boy yet to be introduced? I'd love to hear your opinions.

This contest will begin September 15, 2010, and end on Halloween, after which the winners will be announced. I'm hoping that I can put up the quotes from winners of this and previoius contests on my new website.

Also—I shouldn't have to say this, but—only one entry from any email address, and only one prize to a home address.

Good luck!

Sorry for Not Blogging Lately

> Originally from Blogspot's Ye Olde Blog by L.J. <

I realize that I haven't been blogging much lately. That's partly becasue I've been editing Midnight and working out a new contract with Harper/Alloy (my Vampire Diaries publishers) for another trilogy, or arc, of Vampire Diaries stories. Thanks to the many, many people who sent in ideas for names of this new arc--and I'll ferret out the winners as soon as my publishers and I come to an agreement about the name.

The other thing that has been going on is a makeover of my website--each and every page changed, I hope for the better. I have a great new webmaster, Usok Choe, of Usok Choe Design, who had wonderful new ideas to revolutionize the site, give it a facelift and make it easier to work with. Now we're both going over it with a finetoothed comb, making sure that everything is consistent and convenient. We're looking to unveil it before Halloween.

I hope that visitors will stop by and catch up with the latest Vampire Diaries news, as well as that of my other series.

And I hope to be able to blog more in the future. Honestly.

New! Bonnie's Opal Ring Contest

If you've read Vampire Diaries: Volume 6: Shadow Souls, then you know that Bonnie is sent home with an opal ring set with diamonds, as well as many other pieces of opal jewelry, and I can tell you in advance that this opal ring gains great significance in Vampire Diaries: Volume 7: Midnight.

So I can't think of a better prize right now than "Bonnie's Opal Ring"--which has been slightly sized down from its book description (which would hardly be suitable, except as a cocktail ring!).
Now you...

Sorry for Not Blogging Lately

I realize that I haven't been blogging much lately. That's partly becasue I've been editing Midnight and working out a new contract with Harper/Alloy (my Vampire Diaries publishers) for another trilogy, or arc, of Vampire Diaries stories. Thanks to the many, many people who sent in ideas for names of this new arc--and I'll ferret out the winners as soon as my publishers and I come to an agreement about the name.

The other thing that has been going on is a makeover of my website--each and eve...

MORE News & The Silver Cord & Don't Despair, Delena

A half hour after midnight:

Well, on the 18th (yesterday by a half hour, I mailed out the last of the prizes for the Twin Fox Ring Contest and the Forbidden Game Contest. The last of them are sent, now, except for one person who lives in England. Abbie R., I have written to you about clarifying your address.

It's so sad . . . but what with customs forms and possible custom charges to the winners, I may have to confine my contests to the USA and Canada. I'd hate to do that, but I'm running into ...

MORE News & The Silver Cord

A half hour after midnight:

Well, on the 18th (yesterday by a half hour, I mailed out the last of the prizes for the Twin Fox Ring Contest and the Forbidden Game Contest. The last of them are sent, now, except for one person who lives in England. Abbie R., I have written to you about clarifying your address.

It's so sad . . . but what with customs forms and possible custom charges to the winners, I may have to confine my contests to the USA and Canada. I'd hate to do that, but I'm running in...

News & The Silver Cord

I woke up today feeling efficient and romantic. I have no idea what that means, but I thought I'd put it together by putting up the answer to a question I got not long ago about how I had used the "silver cord" image in many of my trilogies. I searched what's left of my memory and tried to trace the usage.

By the way, for those of you who are still entering The Forbidden Game Ring contest (or, dear me, The Twin Fox Ring Contest) the winners have been randomly selected, informed, and have writ...

How does a writer keep a large number of characters distinct and accurate?

I got a question from a very eloquent adult writer who wanted to know how to keep her many characters straight as she wrote her book. My answer: this is a monstrous problem, especially if you're writing a series. I often copy ads off the Internet that look somewhat like the character they represent. For Shadow Souls, I even carefully picked out real clothes from expensive prom offerings so that I could visualize the dresses on the girls more clearly. I may post them on my website. Of course t...

I've been answering some emails lately, and . . .

I've been answering some emails lately, not exactly because I have free time, but because I've been overwhelmed by guilt, and because some of them I'm going to post as blogs (my answers, not the whole emails or my guilt). I wanted my faithful subscribers to know that if they have a question, now is probably a good time to ask it.

Only please no more "I'll die if so-and-so and so-and-so don't get together in Midnight, or "Promise that you won't kill so-and-so"--which I completely don't underst...