Hey Everybody!
Sorry if the blog’s been sort of quiet. I’m on deadline and we just did an overhaul of the server which has resulted in some behind-the-scenes complications (including why no comments have been approved in several days–there are kinks. And yes, that’s the technical term I’m going with.)
But there are a few things I wanted to remind everyone about in the meantime…
1. NEXT WEEK I will be in Los Angeles, CA attending the RT Booklover’s Convention. (I know many of you have heard this before, but considering how many times I’ve heard “you should come to LA!” in the past few weeks I think it bears repeating.)
RT is a fun, book-centric event that, this year, will have a HUGE turnout of really awesome YA authors.
Cassandra Clare! Holly Black! Simone Elkeles! Richelle Mead! Melissa de la Cruz! And many, many more (see the full list here).
Saturday, April 9th will be “Teen Day” and RT is offering a special, super-discounted registration event for anyone who wants to just attend that one day of the convention. That’s also the day that there will be a HUGE autographing session featuring not only the YA authors in attendance, but ALL the authors from the adult aisles as well.
If you live in or around Los Angeles, I would highly recommend putting together a car full of people and making a day of it. As you all know, I can’t control where or when I go on tour, so it’s impossible to say if or when I–or any of these authors–be in LA again the near future, so come get them while they’re hot as my mother says.
2. Thanks for all the super great ideas for a replacement contest! I have given it some thought and have decided to have a super special T-Shirt/logo contest! (Many thanks to those of you who suggested it)
I’ll add the winning design to an assortment of things at the Ally Carter Shop at CafePress.com (probably a t-shirt, a button, and a tote bag). Unlike the other items for sale there, I will price these items so that there is a small profit and those profits will be donated to the Red Cross for Japan disaster relief!
How’s that sound?
This will be a lot like our annual t-shirt design contest except that it is open to EVERYONE (no age limit) and the $200 prize money will be donated to the Red Cross as well. So, technically, all that’s in it for you is the bragging rights. But, really, aren’t bragging rights the most important thing? That and getting to contribute to an awesome cause!
Special preference will be given to designs that embrace the theme of Gallagher Girls helping their sisters around the world.
Designs must be emailed to allycartercontest (at sign) gmail (dot) com on or before April 17th.
For more information on designing a winning logo, check out past t-shirt contest rules and suggestions (and be sure to read the comments section as a lot of people discuss things there.)
And, remember, there is NO AGE LIMIT this time around and all the proceeds/winnings will go to the Red Cross.
Happy designing and I hope to see you all in LA next week!
Ally
PS: EDITED TO ADD…
Some of you have asked in the comments about whether or not the winner will receive a free t-shirt. Of course! That’s a great idea. I’ll even throw in an autographed copy of UNCOMMON CRIMINALS.
PPS:
Entries can center around Heist Society and/or Gallagher Girls. Just so long as they incorporate the theme of global sisterhood.
Leah says
March 30, 2011 at 1:25 amOMG!!! I wish I lived in Cali still so I could see Ally! Anyway, I can’t wait for the contest! It’s great that it’s going to Japan!
Anonymous says
March 30, 2011 at 2:18 amAlly,
I am so exicted I told my mom that it was here in Califorina, and that I wanted to go really, really, really bad, like a month ago, and she said yes(evently); When I found out I jumping up and down with excitement for the longest time, I was overfulled with joy. Which means I not going ask for anything, any time soon because we live in a small town in San Diego County, so this is pretty big. I can wait epp! 🙂 Thes t-shirt idea is really good and I think it is cool and amazing that some of the profits will be donated to the Red Cross and the Japan diaster relief. I need to start brainstorming ideas for the t-shirt contest, I thinking… Anyways I just wanted to tell you that you are one of my favorite writers, and I think people should give you more credit than given you and other writer inspire more people to read, write, and help inspire creative ideas that most people would have not though of unless they had read books(Opps, I think that a run on sentence, sorry). Authors are superheroes, or at least I believe so and no one will change my opinion on that one. I can’t wait for the teen day, UC and GG5.
-Alexis 🙂
P.S. I like the change to the home page, I like the UC book cover it looks very nice.
Sophia says
March 30, 2011 at 11:41 amSounds awesome Ally!!! Good luck with your deadline!
Megan! says
March 30, 2011 at 7:11 pmOk!! Sounds good! Can it be about Heist or Gallagher? Does it matter? Or just Heist? But thanks! This sounds like a lot of fun!!
nat says
March 30, 2011 at 7:43 pmso we what take pictures of our sketches and then email them to you????
confused! please help
-nat
ps its realy cool that the prize money is going to help japan they definatly need it!!
happy writing
WannaBegallagherGirl says
March 30, 2011 at 7:58 pmi think the winner should, along with bragging rights, also get a free t-shirt or tote bag:)
Anonymous says
April 1, 2011 at 4:26 amOMGOMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!THE CONTEST THE BOOK OMG TIMES NFINITI!i am so excited!!!!!i know i am probley not goging 2 wina nd it a long shot but i dont want 2 put myself down im goging 2 try soooo hard i havent read HS sadly:( but i have read all of the GGs three times each so im getting my brain on my last dream to be a fashion desiner but now sence seconnd grade i rather be a dancer ive tookrn dance for 7/8 years i love it soo much i dont no wat i would do without dance its my passion wich is kinda-weird see i want 2 be a DANCER (wich IS A SPORT PEOPLE) (srry me and all my friends debate about it they all say no i say yes! and my sister a AUTHOR and my brother a GRAPHIC DIESIGNER! all so very differentbut anyways soo excited and 200 dollers for japan thats asome
-alexandra being hopeful!
Renee1 says
March 31, 2011 at 1:11 amWhen can you come to Oregon?? You have people dying here! I mean, that’s great for those in L.A. But what about us out here and stuck in the rain. It’s like all of Oregon is crying because you’re not here. Loving yhe contest idea!
Miastar says
March 31, 2011 at 12:04 pmYou could create a design on paper and photograph/scan it or you could use a Computer graphics program (Even Microsoft Paint) Spy Society (my Ally Carter fansite) has a tutorial on using Paint for & sharing Graphics 🙂
Anonymous says
March 31, 2011 at 1:07 pmi really wish i could go, but you see i love ALL the way across the country… oh well. hopefully next time you can make you’re way over to the East coast!! :]
Anonymous says
March 31, 2011 at 3:46 pmgood cause, t-shirt AND autographed copy of UC?! suddenly it is not just bragging rights… great idea, Ally!
Kristin says
March 31, 2011 at 6:49 pmthats wonderful Ally but if you can comment on this and anyone else is welcome to comment also but i know that alot of people want to know this, is there ever going to be a movie on the gallagher girl books. ive almost read all the books and i love them. i would also like to know if you are going to be makeing any more gallager girl books cause if you did that would be abosolutly amazing. i do my language arts projects on these books so i read one every 9 weeks cause why read a book that you dont want to do a project on but insted do it on books that you absolutly love. but next year in 8th grade there wont be any more of those books and i would be the happeist girl in the world if you made more gallager books and i know alot of other people would too. but i just love whole theme of the books alnog with romance and action and mystery is the combination for a perfect book and i justm LOVE IT!!! well hope you can answer all my questions
<3 always
Kristin(:
madyy:)) says
March 31, 2011 at 9:30 pmOMG i know i have no chance of winning but im going to try i swear i almost died when i saw the autographed copy of UC but before that i would totally love some bragging rights something to show my friends that being (what they call it) “obcessed” will pay off! if i won i would probably pee myself from excitement
madyy:)) says
March 31, 2011 at 10:45 pmOkay for the t-shirt contest i have a drawing of something but my brother said it looks like somebody could of downloaded it off the internet or something so how would i let yall know that i did it myself?
Bookyurt says
March 31, 2011 at 10:50 pmHi Ally,
I’m Katie, a book blogger. I’m sorry to ask so last minute, but I just found out I’ll be attending the RT Convention next week and I was wondering if you might be willing to let me corner you at some point during the convention for a quick interview? (It’ll be guerrilla style, via my smart phone, so audio or video.) I’d love to chat with you about Uncommon Criminals. If you’re willing, just let me know!
Thanks,
Katie
Renee1 says
March 31, 2011 at 11:10 pmOh my Gallagher! A autographed copy of Uncommon Criminals?!?!??! This is amazing! I can’t wait for the book to be realeased
Jewels says
March 31, 2011 at 11:37 pmOH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! I’m sooooooooooo excited for this contest!!! It’s gonna be so much fun!!!! I would love an autographed copy of UC, that would be so awesome!!! I wish I lived in Cali. I would love to actually meet you, Ally! You are one of my all time favorite authors!! Anyways, good luck on your work Ally!
Anonymous says
April 1, 2011 at 12:53 ami just read the gallagher series and i loved it so much! i really wish there will be another book of that series because i am still curious of what will happen
madyy:)) says
April 1, 2011 at 8:49 pmShes working on the next book right now…i think she knows if she stopped writing after OGSY we would hurt her lol
alexandra says
April 2, 2011 at 2:47 amally said she wanted so right up 2 6 GG books yeah!
-alexandra
GGluvr says
April 2, 2011 at 12:43 amThat’s a great idea but do we draw out a design or do it on the computer?
Mary says
April 2, 2011 at 12:44 amAre you going to write another book for the Gallgher Girls because you are a great author and I want the story to conyinue please continue writing about her life. ITS SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!! 🙂
Roe says
April 3, 2011 at 8:00 pmI’m way excited for this contest. I’m actually gonna get to participate in it. I just have one question.
Do we send the designs as attachments? Or just copy and paste?
-Roe