Treasure Seekers--ENTER HERE!!

This is the entry blog for the Five Awesome YA Fans Treasure Hunt to win the TOWER OF AWESOME BOOKS! (See last blog for list of books) By the time you get here, you will have watched four vlogs over at Five Awesome YA Fans and solved four clues to get you the FINAL CLUE. You need to send me the answer to the FINAL CLUE along with your email address. We are doing this through email because it's a SECRET ANSWER! Instructions:

1. Solve the FINAL CLUE (There's a hint in the final vlog, if you need one.)
2. Send me your answer/s at: contest@thedustof100dogs.com
3. Spread the word, to be eligible for a BONUS PRIZE. (Keep reading.)

BONUS PRIZES: There are TWO signed copies of The Dust of 100 Dogs up for grabs for spreading the word about this contest! All you have to do is blog it, tweet it, facebook it--whatever! Instructions for BONUS PRIZES:

1. To enter for the BONUS PRIZE, list ONLY the places where you spread the word in the comment area of this blog with you email address!

DO NOT PUT YOUR ANSWER TO THE FINAL CLUE IN THE COMMENT AREA! (It's TOP SECRET, remember?) COMMENT AREA IS ONLY FOR BONUS POINT ENTRIES!

Deadline: August 12th 11:59PM EST. And don't forget to join me at Five Awesome YA Fans Ning for a LIVE CHAT Tomorrow--Saturday August 1st at 5PM Eastern time! Stop by and chat and wear your tiara, man! See you then!

Who Doesn't Want to Win Over *20* Books?

The July FAYAF Treasure Hunt is Almost Over!

THE PRIZE:

THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY

WILDWOOD DANCING FAT CAT (arc) FLUSH GIVE A BOY A GUN EVERY CROOKED POT LONDON CALLING THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTER ASH (arc) GATHERING BLUE THE DUST OF 100 DOGS MAYBE IUSHIGI YUGI (The Mysterious Play) OR NOT? TENDING TO GRACE THE CHOSEN ONE WAKE EXIT HERE THE SHAPE OF WATER FINDING MIRACLES HOW TO WIN IT: There are four small clues. Each one of them gives you part of the final clue. Solve the final clue & enter your answer. I've already vlogged the first three clues, first at Five Awesome YA Fans, and I've also posted them here, in my last blog. This week, I will vlog the last small clue at Five Awesome YA Fans, and will give you an additional hint to solve the final clue. At the same time, I will open up a blog here at Dog Fact #9, where you'll get instructions on how to send your final answer and contact details, and after two weeks, we'll toss all right answers into a hat, and pick a winner! DEADLINE: August 12th, 2009 11:59PM EST

YOU NEVER KNOW: I might drop a hint or two during the LIVE CHAT I'm doing at Five Awesome YA Fans on Saturday August 1st at 5PM!

The Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party I want to take a minute to thank everyone who participated in Wagging on Wednesday this year. It was a fun feature and a great excuse to talk about the books we're looking forward to reading and our dogs at the same time. To end our July Slumber Party, I'd like to introduce you to some of my former pets. When we moved from Ireland, we had to leave our pets in the care of many generous people. So, little did you know when you shared your dogs with me, you were actually helping me through living without my own!

This is Spider. She was an amazing hunter and was stupid-fluffy.

This is Cosmo. He was smaller than a toaster, yet, he chased tractors.

This is Guido. The coolest fish ever.

And this is Stella. Pure Awesome. These days, the animals around my house look more like this: (These are coyote pups hanging out in my back yard.)

Random Linkage: D100D was Lizzie's favorite read of the summer! (Don't you love her blog header?) I'll be back in a day or two with a link to the final clue & the Treasure Hunt entry blog!

Rerise Memory

Have you been keeping up with the Five Awesome YA Fans Treasure Hunt in July? You should be. Why? Because if you collect all the clues and then solve the final clue at the end, you could win the TOWER OF AWESOME BOOKS, which is growing every week and will be bigger than 20 books by the time we're done! So--in case you were on vacation or working hard at your summer job or just not aware of this amazing treasure hunt, today, I will review the first two clues, and add a third. Slackers! Take note! This is the only review you'll get! Here's the first clue:
Find more videos like this on FiveAwesomeYAFans
Here's the second clue:
Find more videos like this on FiveAwesomeYAFans
And here's today's clue--Clue #3:
Find more videos like this on FiveAwesomeYAFans
See you next week!

Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party

It's the 1st annual Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party

WELCOME!

In case you haven't heard, for the entire month of July, we're featuring all kinds of pets here at Dog Fact #9, with small introductions and great pictures, sent by awesome readers! So far, my friend Beth and her three gorgeous cats came to say hello and Joanne Levy and her entire crew dropped in too. I'm thrilled today to welcome Sharon, from Sharon Loves Books and Cats, and her three cats. Sharon wrote: My 3 Kittehs Sabrina (Beanie, Beaners, My Little Itty Bitty Witty Black Kitty, Beaniekins, My Little Angel, Sabeanie, ¾ ear kitteh): Three years ago last month Sabrina became my first official pet cat. My father was highly allergic to cats, so I could never have any growing up. When I finally moved into an apartment that allowed cats, I quickly unboxed everything, and ran over to the local Petsmart shelter. This is where I found Sabrina. When I first saw her she was curled up in a little ball in her cage. I was immediately taken in by her beautiful shiny black fur and clipped left ear. As it turns out, Sabrina had her ear clipped because she was labeled unadoptable by the woman who originally trapped her. This person was planning on releasing Sabrina back into the wild! Thankfully, a friend of hers decided to foster Sabrina and give her another chance. Lucky for me because Sabrina is so much more to me now than just a pet cat. She is my baby! Sabrina’s favorite activities include: chasing laser lights, eating chicken, bothering me when I’m trying to read, sleeping on my laptop, and grooming me. Lilly (Lilly Monster, Monster cat, Lilly pad, Goofy Girl): Lilly came into my life a few months after her sister and littermate Sabrina. I had become quite friendly with the person who fostered Sabrina and she kept telling me stories of how close Sabrina and Lilly were. After hearing cute story after cute story, I decided to go in to Petsmart to take a look at Lilly. 2 weeks later Lilly she was reunited with Sabrina. It only took a day of two for them to start sleeping next to each other. Lilly has more of an outgoing personality than Sabrina. While Sabrina is still rather skittish Lilly is pretty much the stereotypical cat--- an aloof and independent grey tabby. While she may be aloof she is still my best pal! Lilly’s Favorite activities include: giving me love bites, sleeping in weird positions, rolling around in catnip, and attacking paper towel rolls. Blackie (Blackie Boy, moomoo, sweetface): Blackie has quite a different story. He used to live in my apartment until his owners moved out and abandoned him! This happened around 10 years ago and he has been around the neighborhood ever since. All the people in my building have been taking care of him throughout years. When I moved in the torch was passed to me. Not that I mind, because he is hands down one of the sweetest and most affectionate animals I have ever seen. As of now he lives on my porch. I even bought him his own little cat bed last year. He comes inside in the cold, but he hates being indoors. Blackie’s favorite activities include: eating catnip, sleeping on laps, talking, hissing at dogs, and sleeping. My foster kittehs: I have also done some kitten fostering. From left to right: Mookie, Shadow, Jewel. Second row: Sam and Diane, Dewey, and my current problem child Cookie. Amy says: I once had a great cat named Mookie, too! Here's a picture of us.

Thanks so much for coming around to the Slumber Party this week, Sharon! We love your cats! Random Links Some shout outs this week to recent interviews & reviews. Thanks so much for spreading the word!! Here's an interview with Mrs Magoo! I help kick off the dog days of summer with a Resort Chat at The Book Resort! And here's one more interview--with the Dreamer Reader! And a serious shout out to Leah for this review that I totally missed until this week! Adding one last link here...Do you want to win a signed copy of The Dust of 100 Dogs? All you have to do is go here and comment. You have until 7/24. Spread the word! The July Treasure Hunt at Five Awesome YA Fans Continues Here's the vlog that holds the 2nd clue! See you next week for a very special edition of the Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party...where I introduce you to my favorite pets from days past.

It's Tuesday and I'm Still Laughing at This

Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party

It's the 1st annual Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party

WELCOME!

In case you haven't heard, for the entire month of July, we're featuring all kinds of pets here at Dog Fact #9, with small introductions and great pictures, sent by awesome readers! Last week, my friend Beth and her three gorgeous cats came to say hello. Today, I am SO STOKED to welcome brilliant writer and friend, Joanne Levy and her entire crew, including Kia, who we featured here on Wagging on Wednesday back in January. You might remember Kia--who fluctuates from being the most awesome dog ever to, a dog who--uh--who recently ate a couch. Here is the rest of the family. Joanne says: Simon Just over ten years ago, I was up at my local SPCA buying fundraiser lottery tickets when Simon and his brother Hobbes were dropped off in a cardboard box. They were three weeks old. I asked the lady if I could look at them, she said she could do me one better and I could take them home to foster them until they were ready to be adopted out. Needless to say, I left there with lottery tickets (I didn't win) and two tiny little kittens. At the end of the foster period, Simon stayed with me and Hobbes was adopted by a friend. Simon is definitely a lap cuddler. He's a bit shy, but is all about getting and giving love. He will sit on your lap for hours, just to be close. Chester Chester is the newest addition to our family, arriving a year ago last January shortly after our beloved old cat Pssst passed away. We saw Chester's picture on the website for a local rescue and we loved how he looked with his dirty little face. We brought him home and he fell in love with Kia. He will follow her around the house and will lay and snuggle with her at every opportunity. He is named after my husband's favorite local pub, Chester's. Gabby Gabby came to us several years ago, after we made a reservation on her egg with a breeder. She is a Timneh African Grey and she totally lives up to her name. She isn't the friendliest or cuddliest bird, preferring only the affections of my husband, but she sure is a talker. She makes various sounds that are pitch perfect (cell phone, oven timer, microwave and my least favorite - the smoke alarm) and she talks up a storm, even laughing in my voice when others are laughing around her. Some of the things she says we taught her "What does a DOG say....RUFF" and some she's learned on her own "Do you need to go out?" (to the dog). My favorite is when she imitates my husband on the phone: "'ello? hey...ya...ya...k...bye." Joanne, I can't thank you enough for bringing the whole crew around to meet us today at the Dog Fact #9 WOW Slumber Party. Snacks for the hairy ones on the table--for the winged one on top of the fridge and I think there might be a treat for you in the fridge, too. The JULY FAYAF TREASURE HUNT: So hey WOW! Do you want to win an awesome tower of books? Here's a sampling of some titles...full title list to come...because I think the now-11-book-high tower might be growing! UPDATE...three more books added this morning. We'll be up to 20 soon! FLUSH GIVE A BOY A GUN EVERY CROOKED POT LONDON CALLING THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTER ASH (arc) GATHERING BLUE THE DUST OF 100 DOGS MAYBE OR NOT? TENDING TO GRACE THE CHOSEN ONE Here's the deal. I will be vlogging and blogging on Five Awesome YA Fans Ning over the month of July. Each vlog will have a clue, and each clue will give you a word...and at the end of the month, you can put those words together to make THE WHOLE CLUE. And then, if you answer the clue correctly, you will be entered to win THE AWESOME TOWER OF BOOKS.

Here's a link to the first vlog which has the first clue.

And for fun? Here's a blooper...because making your first ever vlog takes more than one try.

Wagging on Wednesday--The Partay

And so it begins...The 1st annual Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party

WELCOME!

For the entire month of July, we'll feature pets with small introductions and great pictures, sent by awesome readers! Who's first to the party? My friend Beth and her three gorgeous cats. I've known Beth since I was about seven. She's been super to me since I've been back in the states and really supportive of this whole writing thing, because she's a writer, too. (She's also an animal lover who gives a lot of time and support to our local Humane Society. Rock on Beth.) Beth wrote: Grace (aka Gracie Lovebug, Gracie Gubbguts, Gubba, Gubbers, Smoochie-face-Grace, Moose Paw) is a ~10 year old tabby cat that we adopted from the HSBC in 2004. Here she brandishes the Great Paw of Doom. Devereaux (aka Devo, Queen Queenie [like Jean Genie], Queenie, B*tch Kitty, Clumpy McClumperson, Grumpy McGrumperson) is a cranky 16-year-old domestic short hair. Perpetually in a bad mood. (Below) Maggie (aka Maggie Baggypants, Maggala Baggala, Little Maggie Peanut, Little Chunk of Chocolate) is a ~4 year-old tabby, also adopted from the HSBC. She was discovered trapped in a second-story rain gutter and was rescued by the HSBC. She suffered a trauma to her right eye so is partially blind. (As you can see from the attached, the nicknames "Little Maggie Peanut" and "Little Chunk of Chocolate" no longer apply.) I'm so happy to meet your cats, Beth! Thanks so much for coming around with them! There are treats on the table for them--and treats in the fridge for you and the Mr. (See you tomorrow!) Since we usually talk about books we're looking forward to here, I'm thinking we should do that in the comment area while munching on party snacks. I'll go add mine now...

Do you have a groovy pet you'd like to bring around? Send a pictures/info to:

WOW@thedustof100dogs.com

PARTY GAMES TO COME! CRAZY BIG PRIZE TO WIN. MORE DETAILS SOON.

Have you joined FAYAF yet? The Dust of 100 Dogs is the book of the month for July, so I'm going to blog there on Fridays, here on Wednesdays, vlog a little, and leave clues for a really groovy so-far-not-thought-up-yet party game. But the prize is big. (About $150 in books!) More details as I dream them up. (Or Friday--whichever comes first.) (My money's on Friday.) And here's a random link for you--did you see the cover for Lisa McMann's GONE yet? Click here to see it! It's amazing!