Topic: Blueboarders Only ARC giveaway! The Marble Queen

[Stephanie J. Blake]

The Blue Board has been such a wonderful supportive environment for me ever since I joined in 2006!

I want to give *one* of you a signed copy of my ARC.

All you have to do is respond to this post, telling me what the Blue Board has done for you.

I will put all of the names in a hat and have one of my kids pick a winner on August 1st.
I will ship to any country.

(There are also going to be two ARC's available on Goodreads starting July 18th.)

Thanks guys!

[Kell]

Aw, that's great, Stephanie.

For me, the best thing about the Blue Boards is being able to interact with unpublished, multipublished, obscure, and best-selling authors. It's a more egalitarian community than most boards, and it really shows the range of possibilities that are open.

[JennaWren]

YES, I DO! (To answer this thread's question!)

The blueboards have been the singular best thing to happen to my writing for children. It's been my college course, my encyclopedia, my home-away-from-home. Here, I've found some of the best writer friends a girl could ask for -- people who support me, encourage me, critique me, push me, and cheer me up. And, for some of these friends, that support has carried over into other areas of my life. 

I know that there's a great deal about writing for kids out there on the internet -- but here, you get that info, as well as a warm community free from vitriol and hate.

Yay, blueboard love!

Modified to slap head because I forgot to say how your story, Stephanie, from pre-pub to slush pile to success is one of the most inspiring ones here! Seeing that happen to fellow blueboarders is also one of my favorite things about this place. 

[AnneN]

Stephanie, what a sweet thing for you to do!  I know I've been looking forward to your MARBLE QUEEN for years, and right there is one of the loveliest aspects of Blueboard life:  we get to know people in various trenches, slogging, slogging, slogging, and then Good News happens, and then More News, and then there is a real book out there, about which we care personally, with all our hearts, because we knew it when it was a mere twinkle in the author's eye, and we saw its queries, and we heard all those stories about it, all those years, and we just couldn't be prouder now, to think of that real book now really getting into real kids' hands.
 :grouphug2
So happy for you!

[C.K.]

Stephanie, I'm definitely going to read your book whether I win a copy or not  :alce: The Blue Board has been an endless source of support for me -both  in providing writing/publishing information and emotional support. I've been coming here for 7 years now. Life wouldn't be the same without it!

[Owl]

I'm so looking forward to reading THE MARBLE QUEEN at last!

I've been on the Blue Board since 2003 and I've followed the success stories of so many BBers with interest. Yours, Stephanie, is one of the most inspiring! The best thing I've found as a result of the Blue Board is my fabulous critique group, The Feathered Pens.

[Jayca]

Ah, the Blueboards. My safe haven. A place to celebrate, commiserate, share, inspire, and be inspired. The place to come for great information and advice and the bestest online friends ever. That's why I've been hanging out for 8+ years 

Stephanie, I can't wait to read The Marble Queen! Your journey has been a great source of inspiration!

[Vonna]

What a sweet idea, Stephanie! I'm not sure how long I've been here, but I lurked under an assumed name for ages before the kindness and generosity of the blueboarders coaxed me out of my shell. I have gained so much knowledge and found so much encouragement here. I rarely go a day without it (or even half a day!) Best wishes to you for a great lunch for The Marble Queen!

[Sully]

The Blue Boards inspire me and keep me motivated over and over again.
The Blue Boards also allow me to watch wonderful journeys unfold, like yours, Steph! 
(P.S. Could you fold the corner of my entry so it has a better chance of being pulled out of the hat...  )

[amya]

It was on the Blue Boards that I met **you**!!!     

[TracyH]

Me!

I love the blueboards because it's a safe place to come and hang out with other crazy writers (and sane ones - but they aren't as fun). It's great to have a place to celebrate and commiserate with other people who are on the same journey and understand how I feel. PLUS, I get to enter fun drawings for books!

[dinalapomy101]

Stephanie, I am so glad to see your book coming to fruition!!! I have also been a board member for that many years now (wow!) and love the query help and support I've gotten here -- not to mention the fabulous books I've learned about written by BBers!

[Michelle J.]

Thanks, Stephanie, this is very generous of you! Amongst the reasons everyone above me has given, I love the blueboard because it's a place I can come with research questions. There are so many people on here with talents other than writing, and they offer their wisdom when possible. Where else can you find accurate answers to obscure questions?

[Vijaya]

Please put my name in the hat! Let's see, what has the BB done for me? Given me a place to hang out with other like-minded folks. It has given me friendship, commiseration, encouragement, inspiration ...

Vijaya

[Natalie]

Hooray! Even if I don't win, I'm definitely going to order a copy for our school library and spread the word. :-)

The Blueboards are like a course in writing for children on steroids (the course is on steroids, not the kids ;-). It's a place where you can learn from authors is all stages of writing and publishing. I've never seen anything quite like it anywhere else on the web.

[majanecka]

The friendships, support, and knowledge.

[Lill]

I'd love to win a copy! The blue boards have provided friendship, sanity, support, advice, information, and laughter.

[JulieM]

The Blue boards are a valuable source of support, encouragement and commiseration. They have given me some wonderful critique buddies and insightful information.
Best of luck with your release of The Marble Queen into the world.

[Alison A]

What everyone said and more, but I'm happy to buy your book.
I'm always happy to buy BB's books.

If I do win an ARC, I'll gladly give it to my school librarian.

[Christy]

I've already preordered a copy of your book. But I would say that the blueboards have kept me writing when I would have given up. I've also met so many people through this and then later meet them in real life like you! I'm just thrilled about your book coming out.

[elissacruz]

I came to the blueboards looking for information, but I quickly realized that I needed the camaraderie I found here more than I needed facts and figures.  I still adore those discussions about the ins and outs of publishing, but I love to be able to commiserate with a fellow kidlit writers, or join in the congratulations of others' successes, or talk about things that my non-writing friends or family would never understand.

And if I win your copy, (after I peek inside) I'd love to add it to our donation pile at From the Mixed-Up Files, if that's okay with you.

[Kim Kasch]

Oh for me the Blue Boards have been a place to share a love/passion with like-minded folks. It's like a retreat I can get to without spending any money or having to worry about What Not to Wear and I can come back over and over again and no one will make fun of me for saying something stupid. Plus I always find some inspiration, a few friends and some kind words . . .

[JetGirl]

I have been waiting to get to read this one!  I read an excerpt on your blog a long, long time ago. 

The blueboards are my place to laugh and cry with my fellow writers as we torture ourselves *cough cough* I mean, work on our craft and move ever closer to success.  I have seen so many people have their dreams come true, especially when they were ready to give up.

Our industry is too much to bear without a place like this to soften our landings and celebrate our victories.

[ruecole]

Pick me! Pick me!

I belong to several writers' boards, but, by and far, the BBs are the safest, most encouraging, most educational, and FUN boards out there. I mean, what other writers' boards has this number of smilies? The alone makes the BBs the BEST! 

Plus I've found good friends, fantastic critiquers, knowledgeable professionals, and some really, really great books here, too.

Rue

[ktlc1113]

Great fun, Stephanie! Among many, many things, the blueboards have always been a supportive environment for the low times in the writing life.

[justjoan]

Great idea!

The Blue Boards offer me a way to connect with other writers and share the highs and lows of the writing business. It's wonderful to watch writers grow and advance in their careers here. I've made great friends, read great books, found comfort in my misery, celebrated career advancement, and felt the love and understanding that only comes from people who share a passion for writing.

[Stephanie J. Blake]

Bumping this up to give everyone a chance to sign up!

[Vinca]

The blue boards helped me recognize you in person at the local conference. (hee)

Congrats again, Steph!

[YAchicka]

Glad I didn't miss this!!! I don't even know where to start with what the boards have done for me. From trench buddies and 'I quit' moments to wise advice and amazing people I'm blessed to have in my life - I'm forever indebted to this community.
Great idea Steph!! Can't wait to read ALL your books! 

[Stephanie J. Blake]

The winner of the ARC is SULLY!DM me with your address and I'll send out The Marble Queen!
Thanks everyone for entering!