!! April X !!

Congratulations April: You’ve won the entire WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy by the fabulous Lesley Livingston–and it will be personalized!

Thanks to everyone who entered and spread the word. Better luck next time…

And not to worry, next time is right around the corner. I have another awesome contest starting up very soon featuring a hot debut YA–

So stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great time welcoming in 2011. And what better way to continue the festivities than with a wondrously awesome contest!

My friend and amazing writer, Lesley Livingston‘s new book is out, TEMPESTUOUS! It’s the 3rd book in the fantastic WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy.

So I got to thinking, let’s have a contest that runs up to Lesley’s official release party on January 20th, where I can then get the ENTIRE trilogy SIGNED and PERSONALIZED by Lesley to one lucky person.

This is the book description:

“I don’t love Sonny Flannery.”

That’s the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn’t know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that’s hidden deep underneath New York City.

But Kelley’s not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she’s got to find out who’s after his magick—and how to use her own. She’s got to uncover who’s recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She’s got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she’s got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he’s around Kelley.

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange and Darklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston’s ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

Does that not sound AWESOME?

Now, you must be wondering, how do I enter?

Simple.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below.

Leaving a comment will give you +1 entries.

How do I get more entries though?

Easy.

Sign into my site via Google Friend Connect for +3 additional entries.

Facebook me for +3 additional entries.

Follow me on Twitter for +3 additional entries.

Re(Tweet) the contest for +1 additional entries.

Anyone who was already a member of Derek Molata Online, a friend on Facebook, or following me on Twitter prior to the contest start date will receive 1+(3,6,9) entries when you leave a comment.

And that’s all there is to it. But YOU MUST TALLY YOUR POINTS WHEN COMMENTING so I know how many entries to mark you down for.

The contest will run from Saturday, January 1st until Thursday January 20th at 12:00pm EST. Once the contest closes I will tally up all entries, add them to a random number generator, and randomly select the winner.

Good luck!

Right. It took me a few days but I was finally able to find some time to upload the pics from the WONDROUS STRANGE book launch that HarperCollins put on this past Thursday. First off, I picked up Karin Lowachee after I was done work and we headed out for a bite to eat. As always, great company creates great conversation, and we quickly found ourselves running late. It wasn’t snowing too much but the roads were pretty icy, so I couldn’t drive like a complete maniac without endangering our lives needlessly.

When we found the bar that the launch was being held at, we quickly found a parking spot and made our way inside. But only to the inner doors. We mistakenly thought the side door was the only way in, which was locked, so we went back outside and walked aimlessly around the front of the bar, where we could see on the inside that Lesley had already started her reading. After walking in front of the window like lost puppies wanting inside, we realized that there was indeed another door and so we made our way into the crowded warmth.

After Lesley was finished reading from her book and making some great announcements, Karin and I located a few other people we were planning on meeting. Hijinks ensued. Namely S.K.S. Perry and I debating what was actually in the “crabcakes” we were eating, and Caitlin Sweet trying to get me to drink more wine. And more wine. Which really, isn’t a hard thing to do.

Yes. And then there was the purse. Stemming from a conversation on Skype with a few people, it seemed that I was forced into modeling Karin’s purse. I took to the task with great gusto. I’m sure the people in the bar enjoyed my photoshoot. Supposedly some people want this to happen regularly. I’m not quite sure why.

Anyways, I digress. It was a great evening out. If you haven’t picked up WONDROUS STRANGE yet by Lesley Livingston, I suggest you do.

You can check out more pics from the night here.

My lovely wife sent this to me and I must say I had quite a chuckle being the father of 3 girls.

You can check out the original list here, but I’ve reposted it below to save clickery.

In other news, the Wondrous Strange launch party hosted by Harper Collins last night was fantastic. I took several pictures (some of which I’m carrying a purse (not mine!)), which I will post tomorrow–hopefully.

On to the list:

Ten Simple Rules for Dating My Daughters

Rule One:
If you pull into my driveway and honk you’d better be delivering a package, because you’re sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two:
You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter’s body, I will remove them.

Rule Three:
I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don’t take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose his compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Four:
I’m sure you’ve been told that in today’s world, sex without utilizing a “barrier method” of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

Rule Five:
It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is “early.”

Rule Six:
I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven:
As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don’t you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight:
The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka – zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine:
Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car – there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Here I am, late again with an update of weekend festivities and cool up-and-comings.

First off, Saturday night was spent out-and-about with some wonderfully great friends. I picked up Karin Lowachee and braved the winter weather so we could head into Toronto to meet up with S.K.S. Perry and Leah Bobet at Spring Rolls. Crazy amounts of pad thai, dim sum, and mango salad (blah!), was had by all. Conversation was lively, minus the roofie talk, which was, of course, not so lively, unless you take into account the laughter. After dinner we were off to Cafe Volo for drinks and dessert. Karin and I once again stormed through the gelid weather and made it to our homes before the sun began to rise.

Sunday was spent with family, watching football (Dolphins! 10-5!), and making pierogies — from scratch. Yup, Erika and I made the dough and filling and spent the evening stuffing those little pockets of goodness. Only 3 broke in the water, which gave us a taste of what is to come on Christmas Eve. This year, due to time, we only made cheese-and-potato. Usually we also make my favourite, sauerkraut, but it just wasn’t in the cards.

Tonight is cabbage roll making. Meat has been purchased. Cabbage heads prepped. Speck and rice acquired. Erika and I have become quite good at making these as well, and so it shouldn’t take much time. And we’ll have a Christmas movie on in the background while we make them. What Christmas movie you ask? Why, Die Hard, of course!

I will take pictures of the pierogies and cabbage rolls when they are served tomorrow night.

And last but certainly not least, today is release day for Lesley Livingston’s WONDROUS STRANGE!

If you love danger, romance, faeries — and Shakespeare, then you’ll love this book. Go get a copy — or three!

Congrats Lesley!