Day 22: Item 5: BOOK

A wonderful donation was made of Janet Fox's

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet's life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she's ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father's betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie's heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be.

Be sure to check out Janet's Blog!

Day 22: Item 4: SIGNED BOOK

The talented Jessica Bell has donated a 

signed copy of her book

Twisted Velvet Chains.

From Amazon:

Twisted Velvet Chains is a collection of poems which follows the experiences of one woman growing up with a bipolar, drug addicted, gothic musician mother. Each poem represents specific moments of their life that embrace vivid rich imagery, and illustrate the turmoil of emotions both experience while together. The collection is divided into four parts that flow one into the other from childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and post-death.

Rave Reviews:

"A bold, unique voice, Jessica Bell's words leap into existence with the bravery of raw, vivid imagery and language aimed straight at the heart of the matter. Masterful, lyrical and haunting, Twisted Velvet Chains is a pulls no punches approach to tackling painful, delicate subject matter with a refined skill and subtle grace." --Debbie Berk, Editor of The Stray Branch.

"In Twisted Velvet Chains you enter a landscape that is sensual and metaphysical, comic and tragic, where Gothic Neanderthals give birth to songs, and a little girl's vulnerabilities leak out from the pages. Jessica Bell is a shape shifter; explorer of childhood memories, and observer of our existential loneliness, alienation, and detachment. --Mark Van Aken Williams, Author of Circus by Moonlight and The Prophet of Sorrow.

Jessica Bell is a literary women's fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter who grew up in Melbourne, Australia, to two Gothic rock musicians who had successful independent careers during the '80s and early '90s.

She spent much of her childhood traveling to and from Australia to Europe, experiencing two entirely different worlds, yet feeling equally at home in both environments. She currently lives in Athens, Greece and works as a freelance writer/editor for English Language Teaching publishers worldwide.

Jessica's debut novel String Bridge, will be available 1st November, 2011. A full list of poems and short stories published in various anthologies and literary magazines can be found under Published Works & Awards.

From September 2012 Jessica will be hosting the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca, home of Odysseus.

Day 22: Item 3: FULL MG/YA MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE

The amazing (Jr) Agent Caitlen is offering up a few more critiques! Isn't she wonderful?!!!

(Junior) Agent Caitlen Rubino-Bradway at the LKG Agency will 

FULL MG/YA MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE
PLUS
at least TWO pages of notes 

If the bidding goes above $50, Caitlen will use her awesome agenting know-how to help you compile a list of 5 places to submit to.

Caitlen Rubino-Bradway holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Publishing from Rosemont College. While in college, she interned with LeFrak Productions, Tor, and Jane Dystel Literary. She currently lives and works in New York City, where she has attended the Monday "day after" dissections, sponsored by the Jane Austen Society of North America, of the most recent series of Austen teleplays.

Jane Rubino is on the right and Caitlen is on the left!

*Photo from the website

Day 22: Item 2: ART - MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE

The lovely and talented Brenda of Daisy's Etsy Shop 

is offering a beautiful 

MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE!

Pretty aqua blue background, collaged with raised pearl flowers ----

Lots of embellishments

Size is 11 x 14

Vintage storybook poem that says:

"Little Robin Red-breast

Sat upon a rail,

Neddle, naddle, went his head,

Wiggle, waggle, went his tail"

Glittery bird nest

This was so much fun to make!

Be sure to check out her shop for even more fun items: cards, bookmarks, etc.

Day 22: Item 1: GIFTCARD

Crystal's lovely friend Kami has donated a 

$20 gift card to her ETSY shop, The Elegant Elle!

Her items are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and I know you will love what she has to offer!

 

About Kami:

I am a 27 year old artist from "flyover" country (i.e. the Midwest). I love to craft and create. Art has always been my passion whether in the form of music or creating art with my hands. I am the wife of a fantastic man and the mommy of the most beautiful little boy and fluffy puppy.

The Elegant Elle came to be when I fell in love with the beautiful headbands and floral hair accessories that I would see celebrities wear in magazines. I couldn't afford the $100+ price tag of the accessories they wore, so I decided to come up with my own. The hair accessories I made were intended to be worn by just myself, I had no intention of selling them. Soon my friends, family and strangers were complimenting my hair accessories when I wore them out and wanted to know where to get them! That is when The Elegant Elle was born ~ I wanted to share the beauty I created with others. I feel sexy, flirty and romantic when wearing one of my hand crafted pieces and want other women to feel the same way.

The Elegant Elle was Featured in November 2010 on West Michigan's FOX 17 News as an Outstanding Artist.