Last week the lovely and talented Alicia Jamtaas was the big winner of the Mike Allegra Win A Doodle Contest. Her prize was a custom made doodle of anything she wanted.
What she wanted was raven shape-shifter.
I had never heard of a raven shape-shifter before. Fortunately, Alicia clarified things:
“A raven shape-shifter is a woman who is able to shape shift into a raven. Like a selkie – woman to seal.”
“Ah!” I replied. (I decided not to mention that I had never heard of a selkie, either.)
Fantasy stuff is not really in my wheelhouse, but I figured I’d come up with something. I visited Google Images. There I discovered that no one on earth seems to agree on what a raven shape-shifter looks like.
So I winged it (so to speak).
Here’s your doodle, Alicia! I hope you like it.
Do forgive me. (Click to enlarge.)
***
This is my last post before shutting down the blog for the summer. Before I go, however, I wanted to give you one last bit of doodle-related news:
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, I AM NOW ACCEPTING DOODLE COMMISSIONS!
That’s right! You no longer have to win a contest to get your very own doodle. You just need to pay me. Click on the Hire Me! menu above for rates and details.
***
Have a great summer everyone! I’m going to miss you!
Who will be the lucky doodle winner? Will it be YOU?
Holy schmoley cannoli! You guys sure like my doodles!
I am surprised and delighted to report that my Win A Doodle! Hooray! post was the most commented-upon post in my blog’s four-year history – handily breaking the former record holder, A Natural Cure (which had an unfair advantage as it was Freshly Pressed).
So wow. Just wow. You guys are wonderful!
And your vacation tales were delightful! And horrible! And delightfully horrible! I loved every last one of them.
In fact, if you haven’t already, I would highly recommend that you head back to the post to peruse some of the anecdotes. Your morning coffee will be pouring out of your nose in no time.
But enough of my yammering! It’s time to get down to business!
Let’s find out who will win a Custom Made Mike Allegra Doodle!
Our esteemed judge took his position before the Penguin Ice Bucket of Impartiality…
He dumped the entries inside…
He wielded the Tongs of Selectivity-ness…
And stirred.
And stirred.
And stirred.
*Sigh* And stirred.
I’m growing old, kid.
And the winner is…
ALICIAJAMJAAS!
(How do you pronounce that, Alicia?)
Congratulations, Alicia-Something, you are the winner of a Mike Allegra Doodle!
BUT WAIT!
There are two other prizes!
The Second Prize-Winner gets to select one of my books!
And the Third Prize-Winner gets what the Second Prize winner didn’t want!
So! Let’s continue!
Oh, crap, that means more stirring, doesn’t it?
Nope. Shaking.
Why didn’t I ever spank this kid?
My parents spanked me and I turned out fine. And obedient.
Stop shaking! For the love of God, STOP SHAKING!
And the Second Prize winner is…
GIFF MacSHANE!
Congratulations, Giff! You have won an autographed copy of Sarah Gives Thanks OR Blood on the Floor!
And the Third Prize winner is…
Um. Also GIFF MacSHANE?
OK. That’s never happened before. Apparently that outcome is possible when you throw multiple ballots into a bucket.
So the judge and I had a consultation.
After much deliberation, the judge decided that as much as we love Giff (neither one of us knows Giff, but both of us concluded that Giff is probably someone we would love to go bowling with) it would be unfair to give her two prizes.
SO! We’re giving this another go!
And the Third Prize winner is…
Oh, you gotta be kidding me.
*Sigh* The Third Prize winner is my bloggy tormentor/cat fancier/Brussels sprout eater/punk kid raiser JILANNE HOFFMANN!
I knew we should’ve given both books to lovable Giff.
Congrats to Alicia, Giff, and Jilanne! Please head on up to the “Hire Me!” menu and send me an email.
Thanks to everyone who entered! See you next week!
Here’s your chance to win an official Mike Allegra custom made doodle!
But first, a word from Giddy Happy Mike:
This is the cover of the July 2015 issue of Highlights for Children.
Isn’t it great? I especially like this part:
That’s my story!
“Harold’s Hat,” is in the latest issue of Highlights (which is awesome)! And the editors decided to promote it on the magazine’s cover (which is awesomer)!
The issue arrived in my mailbox on Saturday. My son took one look at it, turned to me and said, “You are so cool.”
Best Fathers’ Day Present Ever.
The entire magazine is fantastic, by the way (Highlights is always fantastic). So be sure to pick up a copy for the little ones in your life. OK?
Thank you for indulging me. Now where was I? Oh, yes…
THE WIN A DOODLE CONTEST!
IF YOU WIN, I WILL GIVE YOU A DRAWING OF WHATEVER YOU WANT!
Don’t believe me? Then just take a look at these recent doodle commissions!
Sarah wanted a Caffeine Gnome, so I gave her a Caffeine Gnome. (Click to enlarge.)Sue wanted a Great Dane protecting some puppehs. So I gave her a Great Dane protecting some puppehs. (Click to enlarge.)Jenion wanted a cyclist. So I gave her a cyclist. (Click to enlarge.)Pam wanted a writer in the sunshine in a yoga pose petting an angel dog. So I gave her a…well, you get the idea. (Click to enlarge.)And the less said about this salamander, the better. (But if you must know…)
So, yes, your doodling wish is my command.
There is one exception, however. I will not draw whatever you want if whatever you want is pervy. I am a children’s book author, bucko, so take your dirty, filthy business someplace else!
HOW TO WIN
The winning name will be drawn at random. The draw-er is this guy.
He is apparently a fan of gritty AMC dramas.
HOW TO ENTER
To get your name in the drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment below answering ONE of the following questions:
What was the best vacation you’ve ever had?
or
What was the worst vacation you ever had?
If you choose to describe your worst vacation (and I really hope you do!) please provide some detail to illustrate all the awfulness, OK?
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING
Want me to stuff the ballot box in your favor? OK. I’ll add two more ballots if you announce this contest on your blog and link back to this page. That’sthree chances to win!
Don’t have a blog? No problemo. Then you can get one extra ballot if you announce this contest on your Facebook page or Twitter feed.
PRIZES (PLURAL!)
As I mentioned, the Grand Prize-Winner will get a custom made, one-of-a-kind, Mike Allegra doodle (suitable for framing or lining birdcages).
But I have other prizes, too! Our esteemed judge is going to draw two more names from the hat!
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 