win – Page 3 – Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow!

June 23, 2015June 23, 2015

Win A Doodle! Hooray!

IT IS TIME FOR A CONTEST!

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 puppehs. So I gave her a great dane protecting puppehs. (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...well, you're getting the idea. (Click to enlarge.) — Jenion wanted a cyclist. So I gave her a cyclist. (Click to enlarge.)

Pam wanted a writer in a yoga pose petting an angel dog. — 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?

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’s three 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!

Second Prize: This winner may select a signed copy of my picture book, Sarah Gives Thanks, OR a signed copy of the anthology Blood on the Floor: How Writers Survive Rejection (I have an essay in there).

Third Prize: The winner gets the book the Second Prize-winner didn’t want. Hey, it’s better than nothing.

DEADLINES, ETC.

Your entry is due on or before Monday, June 29. The winner of the drawing will be announced on Tuesday, June 30.

That’s it! Answer a question and get going!

GOOD LUCK!

March 10, 2015March 12, 2015

Win A Doodle! Woo!

When I posted my first “Win a Doodle!” contest last year, my motives were simple: I didn’t have a post but I still wanted to post something. I figured that maybe a dozen blog followers would enter. Instead, the comments section went nutty. I was bewildered.

So I did the doodle contest thing a few months later – and that turnout was even nuttier.

It’s been a quite a while since my last doodle contest — and a few of you rabble rousers won’t let me forget it. I have been harassed! Harangued! Badgered! Bullied!

And, like France on the eve of a major war, I have capitulated.

Here’s another chance to win your very own doodle!

IF YOU WIN, I WILL DRAW WHATEVER YOU WANT!

Yep. It’s true. Need proof? Fine.

Jenion, the winner of the first doodle contest, is an avid cyclist. She asked me to doodle a cyclist. So I did.

Kid Lit Reviews, the winner of the second contest, is a devoted animal rights advocate. She asked me to draw a picture of a Great Dane protecting a few smaller dogs. So I did.

Aw! Look at the puppehs! (Click to see larger.)

On another occasion, Jilanne Hoffman’s punk kid, ignoring the fact that I do not like cats, asked me to draw a picture of a cat.

Then that punk kid asked me to draw a kitten.

Oh, whatta punk that kid is!

So yes. I will draw whatever you want.

Well, there is one exception. I won’t draw what you want if what you want is pervy. I am a children’s book author, bucko, so take your dirty business somewhere else!

There is one other point to consider. I am not a portrait artist, so if you ask me to draw a picture of you, I will cheat. My friend and fellow blogger, Vanessa Chapman, learned this the hard way.

HOW TO WIN

The winning name will be drawn at random. The draw-er is this guy.

He’s nutty, but his integrity is unimpeachable.

HOW TO ENTER

To get your name in the drawing all you need to do is leave a comment that answers the following question:

If you could have any fictional character as a pet, which character would you choose and why?

The “why” is key. If you just yell something like “SCOOBY DOO!” your name will not be included in the drawing. You need to explain your choice.

Got it?

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING

Want me to stuff the ballot box in your favor? Fine. I’ll add two more ballots if you announce this contest on your blog and link back to this page. That’s three chances to win!

Don’t have a blog? OK, then you can get one extra ballot if you announce this contest on your Facebook page or Twitter feed.

DEADLINES, ETC.

Your entry is due on or before Monday, March 16. The winner of the drawing will be announced on Tuesday, March 17.

The completed doodle will be posted on this blog. The original drawing (suitable for framing!) will be mailed to the winner.

That’s it! Answer the question and get going!

GOOD LUCK!

July 15, 2014August 3, 2014

Win a Doodle! Win a Doodle! Win a Doodle!

In March, I hosted a contest. The grand (and only) prize was an official, original, custom-made Mike Allegra doodle.

Despite my doodling ability, the number of people who entered this contest was pretty large. This surprised me.

What also surprised me was that some of you reeeeally wanted that ding-dang doodle. In fact, a few people threatened to sic their cats on me if I didn’t do another doodle contest post haste.

To these people I say settle down because here’s another chance to win a doodle!

IF YOU WIN, I WILL DRAW WHATEVER YOU WANT!

Don’t believe me? Here’s proof:

Jenion (the winner of the March contest) wanted a drawing of a bicycle racer. So I drew her a bicycle racer.

But here is real proof: I am not fond of cats. (I am horribly allergic and keep rodents as pets.) But, once upon a time, Jilanne Hoffmann’s punk kid asked for a drawing of a cat. So I drew him a cat.

Then Jilanne Hoffmann’s punk kid asked for a drawing of a kitten. So I drew him a kitten.

Did I mention that Jilanne Hoffmann’s kid is a punk? Well, he is.

So, yes, I will doodle whatever you want.

Well there is one caveat: I will not draw whatever you want if your wanted whatever is perverted. I am a children’s book author; behave yourself!

HOW TO WIN

The winning name will be drawn from a hat. The fellow drawing the name will be this guy.

He is fair, impartial, and looks like a 19th century bare-knuckled pugilist.

HOW TO ENTER

To get your name in the hat, all you need to do is leave a comment with some Words of Wisdom.

To get the ball rolling, here are some actual Words of Wisdom from my parents:

Mom: “Don’t be a candy ass.”

Dad: “The ox is slow but the Earth is patient.”

Mom’s wisdom usually came in the form of vague threats.

Dad’s wisdom usually sounded like its was written by a Confucius in need of a designated driver.

You can do better than this. I know you can. I’m counting on you.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING

I’ll add two more ballots to the hat if you announce this contest on your blog and link back to this page. So, yes, you can get three chances to win!

Don’t have a blog? OK, then you can get one extra ballot if you announce this contest (and link back to this page) on your Facebook page or Twitter feed.

DEADLINES, ETC.

Your Words of Wisdom are due on or before Monday, July 21.

The winner of the drawing will be announced on July 22.

The completed doodle will be posted on my blog. The original drawing (suitable for framing) will be mailed to the winner.

Also, cheaters will be stabbed.

So get going! I need all the Words of Wisdom I can get!

GOOD LUCK!