JK Publishing Reader Appreciation Blog Hop

Kitty Corner A Special Gift, Vampires Among Us #2

JK Publishing Reader Appreciation Blog Hop

Thanks to everyone that participated! I hope everyone had a great time! Don’t forget that A Special Gift, Vampires Among Us #2 is scheduled to be released between Dec. 26-28! Keep a watch on the website and my facebook page (once you are in f/b, go https://www.facebook.com/alicebrownau...) for more details! You will want to like the page anyways, as Mr. Brown and I have been busy trying to give this page a facelift. Starting next year we will be holding “fan of the week” contests, I will be posting snippets of current work in progress, and posting monthly newsletters on the site. You will also have the option of “one-click-buy” straight from the site to Amazon! Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

***Also, please check out my good friend Jess Buffet's blog hop at:
http://jessbuffett.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/jk-publishing-reader-appreciation-blog-hop
she is on tomorrow's schedule, but being in Australia, her time differs much from ours and it is my understanding that she is starting hers now.....so hurry on over and say hi!

***Currently on question #7 ***

#7. The most popular toy of 1984 was what doll named after a vegetable?
Amy Bowens got that one correct w/ Cabbage Patch doll...congratulations, Amy and she has chosen the VCTF keychain and whistle

Okay, that leaves just one prize left, and that is a ebook of Vampires Among Us
so, here is the last question of the evening: In the "Christmas Song" what are folks dressed up like?

Remaining list of prizes:

1 VCTF keychain with whistle
1 e-book copy of Vampires Among Us

Question #5: Name the three reindeer whose names begin with "D" ** we have a winner:
Barbara K answered, Donner, Dancer, Dasher and has chosen the mousepad as her prize
Welcome Barbara! Stick around, we still have a few more questions to go!

#6. Scrooge feared this Ghost the most? Amy Bowens got the correct answer with "Ghost of Christmas yet to come"
Amy, I need for you to pick a prize out of the list below. Next question in five min. everyone!

Remaining list of prizes:

1 VCTF keychain with whistle
1 e-book copy of Vampires Among Us

Okay, Amy picked the notepad and pen as her prize, so removing that off the list, we have two more prizes! And here is the next question!

#7. The most popular toy of 1984 was what doll named after a vegetable?

Well, today has been a blast ladies! I am so glad everyone stopped in to say hi, play some games, and have some fun! But wait, it’s not over quite yet! So, I thought I’d share with you a personal tidbit. Every year, after Thanksgiving dinner is over with and the kitchen is cleaned up, we start digging out our Christmas decorations. With either Christmas music or a movie going in the background, soon the family starts getting into the spirit of things.
Until we go to start decorating the tree. You see, the little paper and cloth angel ornament photo I have included I made back when I was in kindergarten. And let me tell you, that was a long, long time ago. It amazes me every year when I dig through the decorations and come across it. I fully expect it to crumble in my hands, or to have damage of some sort, but it looks as it always has. And then, I gently take it out of the box and look up to see my husband and daughter rolling their eyes. They know what is coming, I just can’t seem to help myself. “You know, I made this ornament when I was back in kindergarten.” I say to them. They hear it year after year; and their reply is usually something like, “yes mom, I know, you tell me every year.” Or “Yes, dear, I know.” But then I see two big smiles on their faces because they know that something so little, of no dollar worth what-so-ever, is one of my most treasured items.
Okay, enough going down memory lane or I am going to start crying. Nope, this is a party! And here is what we are going to do. I am going to list the prizes I have left. Then, I am going to start posting Christmas trivia questions. The questions will be spaced out about 15 minutes or so over the next hour and half. As you answer them, also state what prize you would like to receive. As the prizes are called for, I will delete them off the list. First correct answer gets their choice of the gifts listed below. So here we go:

Prizes List:

1 Alice Brown notebook and matching pen
1 VCTF keychain with whistle
1 e-book copy of Vampires Among Us
1 mousepad of A Special Gift

Christmas Trivia Questions: 1. What were Frosty's last words? Okay, this one has been claimed!
Answered by bn100 who is getting the A Special Gift keychain and flashlight

2. The most popular item to put on top of a Christmas tree is? Tiffany got this one correct and asked for ebook of The Music Box

***TIffany, your answer came in the exact same time as the other answer, so I missed it. I apologize, and you still get the free copy of Vampires Among Us! I am going to leave it on the list, though, since I have questions already picked out. I'll email you after the blog to see what type of reader you have. Thanks for playing!

Tiffany, you won both questions 1 &2...we are going to take a small break, about 5 minutes before next quesion is called. Tiffany, please pick out another gift you would like so I can remove it from the list....thanks and congratulations!

Sorry that took a bit longer than 5 minutes. I had to go make a sandwich for dinner. Now I'm back, and we are going to continue.

3. Who yelled "Stop!" to Frosty? Lysette Lam got this one correct and has won the small framed photo of A Special Gift, Vampires Among Us #2...congratulations!
Okay, only 4 more questions to go!

4. Which reindeer's name is also the name of a kitchen cleanser? ??? What, no answers? The answer is Comet! Let's move on, next question will be below the picture.
I am also changing font size to larger on the current question and color to red...I am hoping that will keep everyone from getting confused.

Okay, the winner for the last blog contest that we held is: Sarah M. Sarah, I loved your story about getting a new Christmas ornament every year. It reminded me of when my daughter was a baby, we started collecting the holiday bears at Wal-Mart. As you can well imagine, they soon overran us! As my daughter is grown now and outgrew them, they had been sitting in the garage for a few years. Last year my husband's unit was deployed the end of November, and a few wives and myself got together and planned a Christmas party for the families. I washed up all of those bears and took them to the armory, set them up as props for picture taking and young kids to play with, and then gave them away at the end of the party.
Sarah if you will email me at: authoralicebrown@gmail.com with your information, I can make arrangements to get the prize to you when it comes out.

Also want to mention Janka and her lovely tradition of going on a train ride. I really wish they had something like that around my house. It sounds like it would be a lot of fun.
And Katherine, it sounds like you have a family full of love, girl!

Next contest will be up shortly, so don't go anywhere!

**Heads Up! This is a Special One!**
I want to thank each of you who have stopped by and participated today. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful group of fans! I am looking forward to spending more time with each of you next year, as well as continue to write what you love! For the fourth prize: Want to be the first to get your hands on the highly anticipated release of A Special Gift, Vampires Among Us #2? The projected release date is 12/26-28, but if you win this prize, I will make sure you are sent one of the very first copies! This will be in e-book only. Along with the book, I’ll include a swag pack.
So, simply leave me a reply telling me about one holiday tradition that you love. For me and my family, it’s making and decorating gingerbread cookies. It is hard on my hands, because I always make a double batch of dough. I cut out the cookies thick, which leaves them soft in the center, just the way my household likes them. After they are baked and cooled, I make up a batch of royal icing and divide it into tea cups. Add a different color to each cup, we then take a set of cake decorating paint brushes to ‘paint the cookies’!
Our daughter didn’t appreciate it when two years ago hubby and I got a bit dog-tired crazy and started decorating the cookies complete with male/female body parts! We had so much fun that we continued it last year, and already talking about who can ‘decorate’ the best gingerbread angel, or man this year!
So, what is a favorite tradition of yours? Leave me your reply along with your name and email. Winner will be picked randomly.
***Next contest will be around 7:00 p.m. Be sure to join me for a chance to answer some more Christmas trivia and pick your own prize!

Congratulations! Our winners for the last blog hop quiz were: Janka & bn100. Janka, I already have your info., so I will include this with your other prizes; bn100, I am emailing you in just a few to get your information. Thank you to both of you ladies for playing!
Okay, next contest will be starting in just a few!

Are we having fun yet? I hope so! Okay, on to our third blog, and another chance to win some cool prizes!
The third prize today is a holiday stationary gift set. To win, simply answer the Christmas questions below with the correct answer. The first two that gets all of the answers correct will win the gift set (Yes, I have two to give away!) Don’t forget to include your name and email in the comments. Next drawing after this will be about 4:00 this afternoon!What is Frosty the Snowman’s nose made of?Possible Answers: A carrot, A potato, A button, A rock
  Who is Ebenezer?Possible Answers: The Milk Man, The 23rd President, The Scrooge, Mrs. Claus’s secret friend
What color is the Grinch?Possible Answers: Green, Blue, White, Black
  Which reindeer’s name starts with a “B”?Possible Answers: Bart, Burt, Bodog, Blitzen
  Which reindeer does not belong below?Possible Answers: Dancer, Comet, Roger, Dasher

Time to announce our winners for this morning! For the first blog, name one of the authors that was participating in the blog hop yesterday, the winner is: Daina Merritt!

The winner for the second blog contest is Janka Duncan!
Congratulations ladies! I will be contacting you shortly to make arrangements to get you the gifts!
Now, nobody go away! We will be having our next contest shortly!
****And, as a special treat, just because I love you guys so much, and I am in the Christmas gift giving spirit; Janka and Cheryl, I have some wonderful runner up prizes for you ladies! I'll be contacting you shortly with info!

JK Blog Hop Fan Appreciation: Today is all about being thankful for our fans and supporters. I want to make sure I send out a special thank you to my international fans. I have been fortunate enough to make friends with a few in the UK, Australia, and Greece. They have been a huge help in getting word spread around about my books. Thank you ladies! For the second prize of the day, we are going to play a Christmas trivia game. Leave your answers along with your name and email. The first person to answer all of the questions correctly will win a handmade bracelet and earring set. I'll be announcing the winners for this blog and the first one this morning about noon, so don't go away!What Christmas Ballet is the most famous of all?Possible Answers: Rudolph’s Surprise, The Nutcracker, Mr and Mrs. Clause, Frosty Goes to New York
Where was Mommy kissing Santa Claus?
Possible Answers: On the Corner, In the Bedroom, Under the Mistletoe, In a Dark Alley
Who wrote the song "Here Comes Santa Claus"?Possible Answers: Michael Jackson, Gene Autry, Persy Douglas, Leroy Jones
What does Alvin want for Christmas?
Possible Answers: An iPod, A bottle of Rum, A Hula Hoop, A new car
What should little children leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?Possible Answers: Cookies and Milk, A bottle of Wine, Chewing gum, Cheddar Cheese

Fan Appreciation

This week has been deemed reader appreciation week at JK Publishing. I am pleased to be a part of this wonderful group of authors and editors that make up this unique company.

I clearly remember the first post that I received from a reader shortly after Vampires Among Us was released. She told me how much she loved the book; that she had written a wonderful review for me, and was looking forward to my next release! As a new writer, I had no idea previous to this as to how well my writing would be received. It is a gamble that all new writers take. Reading her post brought an instant smile to my face, and I remember thinking, yes, I can do this!

Since then I have met so many wonderful people who have been willing to not only read my work, but help me get word out about it as well. Numerous of you have passed out bookmarks for me, shared posts about my books, and given me a shout-out within your groups. Thank you! I know I would not be where I am today without you.

And since today is my day for the JK Reader Appreciation Blog Hop, I will be giving away multiple prizes throughout the day. All winners will be picked randomly. So, keep a close watch for my blog posts today in order to win some really cool prizes! Be sure to leave your name and email in the comment section below so I have a way of contacting you.

Two other JK Authors who are both very cool ladies in their own right are also involved in the JK Blog Hop today, so stop by their blogs as well and tell them Alice sent you! PS…I heard they also have some pretty cool prizes they are giving away!

Author Lynn Ray Lewis: http://lynnraylewis.blogspot.ca/?zx=47756e228d86c8bb
Author Jessica Anderson Killabrew: http://jessicaandersonauthor.weebly.com/blog.html

Now, for the first prize. Free ebook of your choice of Vampires Among Us or The Music Box. Will also include an 8.5 x 11 photo of cover and a set of character description cards. All you have to do to win is tell me in the comments section below the name of one of the authors that was involved in the JK blog hop yesterday (12/17). Don’t forget to leave me your name and email also, because the first ten participants in this event will automatically be eligible to receive an autographed bookmark of my upcoming release, A Special Gift, Vampires Among Us #2.