Wednesday, October 1, 2008

YAY FOR YA OCTOBER GIVEAWAY

The nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. October is here. And every October, a spooky story or mystery is always next on my TBR pile. 

In honor of October, I'm giving away a record breaking six books: Julie Kenner's entire Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, and Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts

The best selling Days and Nights of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom fantasy suburban adventure series follows Kate Conner as she battles demons and juggles a family life. Filled with suspense and fun, this edge of your seat series includes four books: Carpe Demon, California Demon, Demons are Forever, and Deja Demon

Although, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines isn't Halloweenish, I had to share it with everyone. Green's voice is amazing and An Abundance of Katherines is an entertaining coming of age novel. Thanks, Kaitlyn for the recommendation. :)

What's October without a novel with a spooky setting? Moose Flanagan is forced to live on the prison island of Alcatraz during the 1920's.  Al Capone Does My Shirts is another book my students consistently raved about. Therefore, the novel I'm giving away is loved. 

Can you believe Halloween is a measly thirty days away? I enjoy Halloween because it signals the beginning of the holiday season. Plus, I love trick or treating with my daughter and helping her choose her costume. This year, we're even dressing up the dog. :) Even though, I'm a bit too shy to go all out on Halloween, I absolutely love answering the door and walking the streets to witness others wearing amazing duds.  

To enter to win October's giveaway, all you have to do is share with me your favorite costume of all time. If you don't celebrate Halloween or you don't have a fave costume, just tell me what you like best about October.

My fave costume of all-time is my Star Wars Princess Leia costume I wore when I was seven.  My mom created the white dress with the matching white boots, exactly like the movie. And she wrapped my blond hair in those crazy side buns. I carried my brother's water gun. Tons of fun. 

Here are the contest rules:
 
1. To enter to win the above mentioned six books, leave a comment about your all time favorite costume or your favorite thing about October. 
2. The contest ends at midnight on October 31st, 2008 and the winner will be posted on November 1st, 2008. My daughter or dog will pick the winner. 
3. The contest is open to everyone. Don't be shy my writer friends. :)
4. If you post the contest on your blog or MySpace, you automatically receive two entries. Once again, last month's winner was a poster. 

Good luck! Have an amazing day everyone! :)  

66 comments:

TJ Brown said...

You know, that's a bloody long time to wait for books!;-)

My favorite costume, was my son's when he was two years old. My Mother in law made him a bee costume. Talk about adorable.

And my favorite thing about October is visiting farms, a great family tradition.
Teri

Carol M said...

My favorite costume would have to be the one my grandson wore last year. He looked so cute as Tigger!

I love fall because of the cooler weather and I love to go for a drive and look at all the beautiful leaves.

mittens0831 AT aol DOT com

Carol M said...

My favorite costume would have to be the one my grandson wore last year. He looked so cute as Tigger!

I love fall because of the cooler weather and I love to go for a drive and look at all the beautiful leaves.

mittens0831 AT aol DOT com

PJ Hoover said...

Pumpkin Seeds! Yummy!

And thanks for The Abundance of Katherines reminder. I think I'll pick it up today!

Melissa said...

There are so many things I love about October. I would have to say my most favorite are the haunted hay rides! I can't wait :)

Ilissa said...

I remember dressing up as a doctor when I was 4 years old. That was super cute. Thanks for the chance.

Anonymous said...

When my nephew dressed as my grandmother

luckydolls1323[at]verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

I love the excitement and the mystery and the beauty of October, the feeling that anything can happen.

I love that the veil between the worlds is thin, and you never know who or what you might meet at midnight!

And yes - holiday season is from Oct. 31 to Twelfth Night -- it rocks!

Barrie said...

Don't enter me for the book contest; I already have them! But....I have an amazing Ninja Turtle costume. For my kids, that is!

Carrie Harris said...

My son's birthday is on Halloween, which is my favorite holiday. I have an excuse to embarrass him for years to come!

bookworm said...

My favorite costume was when I dressed up as a gypsy. I was just a kid and was able to wear all sorts of mis-matched, funky clothing, tons of makeup and jewelry, all at the same time.

Sarah Woodard said...

I love the fact that the leaves are falling.
My favorite costume was being a fairy in 2nd grade. My grandma made these awesome wings for it.

Anonymous said...

My favorite costume (or the only costume I wore three years in a row) was an angel. I love fall because of the cooler temperatures... I'm so tired of the 90 degrees Florida has to offer in the afternoon!

I blogged about it here:
http://whatvanessareads.wordpress.com/contests-click-here-to-win-stuff/

Thanks for the contest by the way.
Happy Halloween when it gets here.

:)
Vanessa
whatvanessareads.wordpress.com
whatvanessareads (at) gmail.com

Unknown said...

My favorite thing about October would have to be Fall. The leaves are just beautiful. Also my birthday is in October! :) <3

Marianne Arkins said...

Okay... I suddenly feel old... I was Princess Leia as a freshman in high school. You were SEVEN.

Dear heavens...

The worst thing about October is that winter is coming... the green, growing things are brown and it's COLD.

But the trees are pretty, and chocolate is cheap *G*

Anonymous said...

oooh those books all sound great!!! i would love to be entered!

my favorite costume was one i wore last year hehe it is of the cat in the hat i love it so much and so did my younger siblings : )

lc_intocable (at) yahoo (dot) com

cpullum said...

My favorite costume was Casper with the tight plastic costume and the face mask that was hard to breathe in!! Miss those costumes!

Diana Dang said...

What I love about October? It's my birthday on the 3rd! =D Hopefully I get a few books as some presents (even though I already have a million more to read from the library and the ones I won). Haha, I can't wait for this friday!

Meredith said...

My favorite thing about October is the weather. I live in AZ and the weather starts getting cooler. It is just amazing. It just feels like a great month. And of course, because it is my favorite month (other than December-when my birthday is) it always seems to just fly by.

My favorite costume?? That is a hard one. I have a few favorites. There is a picture of me from when I was about 2 and my mom dressed me up as a teddy bear. I was also an eighth note, a dog groomer, a gymnast, a clown, and a wizard.

~Meredith

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Teri! :) I love the bee costumes for little ones so cute. Kaci was a Wonder Pet last year. :)

Hi, Carol! Fall is beautiful. Ah, Tigger. :) I love the big furry costumes. They look so comfy.

Hi, PJ! Great book. :)

Hi, Melissa! Me too. I'm definitely going to have to check the area for a good one.

Hi, ihchicky! Cute. You're welcome. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Dolls123! What a great idea. :)

Hi, Devon! Yup. Best time of the year. :)

Hi, Barrie! Sure. Your kids. Uh huh. Which one? :)

Hi, Carrie! What a great day to have a birthday! So many party ideas. Happy Bday, Carrie's son! :)

Hi, Bookworm! Great costume idea. :)

Hi, Sarahbear! Me too. How cute. I'm picturing adorable, multicolored sparkly wings. :)

Hi, What Vanessa Reads! Thanks for posting. An angel - adorable. My niece was a devil last year. And yes, I agree, cool temperatures are nice after a hot summer. Especially in Florida. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Tempestt! Happy Birthday!

Hi, Marianne! LOL. :) The chocolate is cheap? Enjoy the leaves and stay warm.

Hi, LC! Great costume and you can reuse it on March 1st. :)

Hi, CPullum! :) Yes, everyone must remember an uncomfortable Halloween. Yikes.

Hi, Diana! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Hi, Meredith! Wow, what amazing ideas. I love the eighth note and the dog groomer. :)

Unknown said...

i wish it was still socially acceptable for me to go trick-or-treating. :) my favorite thing about october is my birthday on the 16th! :)

Anonymous said...

I LOVED both Al Capone and Katherines. Two of the best books I've read in the past year! I haven't read any of the Demon books, though, but I've heard they're really good.

As for costumes, my mom made a red crayon costume one year, and for years afterward either my brother or I had to wear it. Although it was fun the first few times, it quickly grew old.

Kaitlyn said...

Lauren and I are planning to go out trick or treating as Bacon and Eggs this year. Unless she is going to be a poop and back out on me for a wonder woman costume.

Bunny B said...

My all-time fave costume would be being a fairy princess! Being ethereal and magical just makes me feel gorgeous! :P

bunnybx at gmail . com

Sena said...

My favourite costume is definitely dressing up as a vampire! Putting on a cool cape, cool fangs and bloooood!! XDDD Thanks!



sena.sagani[at]gmail.com

Bunny B said...

Blogged!

bunnybx at gmail . com

Justin The Teen Librarian said...

I don't need to be entered in the contest (I'm a librarian! I have way too many books as is!)

But...

I was Robin (of Batman and Robin fame) in 1985 and it was fab. I wish I could still fit in the costume, but alas, maybe my baby will someday (which is coming on January 20th 2009. Woo hoo!)

Sara Hantz said...

WOW......I love October because in NZ it means spring is here and the weather is gorgeous!

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Virginia! Happy Birthday! :)

Hi, Caryn! Crayons always make great costumes. Is red your favorite color? :)

Hi, Kaitlyn! I love the bacon and eggs idea. Hopefully, I'll see you guys.

HI, Bunny B! Yes.. :) I love that about Halloween.

Hi, Sena! Sounds fun. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Justin! So exciting.. Can't wait to meet the little one. :) Babies are so fun to dress up. Kaci was a pumpkin her first Halloween.

Hi, Sara! I'm jealous.. We're heading into Winter. :( and you're enjoying Spring.

katayoun said...

what i love about october is ofcourse the colorful leave and persimmons!!! ummm the lovely orange and yummy persimmons!!

MarjoleinBookBlog said...

oops, I forgot to enter ; )
Last year I had a great halloween party: I was dressed like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at tiffany''s. But whit a little horror side effects(like some bloody red lipstick beside my lips..that makes you wondering..is it lipstisck..or blood? That Halloween party was so much fun..it was at the final performance of a Halloween like musical titled: shhh..it happens. And it was about a few freaks in an abandoned amusement park...
(if you want to know what it looked like: http://www.shhhithappens.nl/home.html )
Great contest as always Keri!
xo
Marjolein

Anonymous said...

Awesome halloween themed contest. haha.
My favourite costume would have to be the Jack of Spades. haha. I had this playing card costume when I was eight years old. I basically felt like a character out of Alice in Wonderland. haha.

Please enter me in the contest, though I should mention that I already own and have read "An Abundance of Katherines", so I would love to win the other books. Thank you. =)

- Carmen T
carmenalexistsang[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I have two favorite costumes the first is from when I was maybe 4 or 5 and my parents dressed me up as a clown. Wig, makeup, nose big floppy shoes everything it was a really good costume. And then when I was probably in 4th grade and had decide with my brother (at the time my only sibling was my brother who is a year younger yet was in the same grade as me) that we were to young to trick or treat. I dressed up as a flamenco dancer to look cool and it actually was. It was really cute.

Carolina said...

My mom doesn't let me celebrate Halloween because she thinks it's evil, so I've never dressed up in a costume. :( But if I had a choice I would dress up as a doctor or punk fairy princess! :) My fave thing about october is that the weather changes.

Carolina said...

Oh and linked the contest to my blog!

asdfjkl; said...

I've seen someone dressed up as a fridge, magnets and all!

My favorite halloween costume is this little chicken outfit for toddlers. My family thought it would be fun to dress our dog up for halloween and the chicken outfit would fit her perfectly!

TheBookworm
www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com
emailthebookworm(at)yahoo(dot)com

Gabbi said...

When I was in kindergarten, this girl dressed up as a table. :P That was pretty awesome. Think she went as a jar of jelly beans, one year, too.

I'm dressing up as Scully from the X-Files this year! Halloween is my favourite holiday!

Please enter me. allfivestars (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

Sara said...

One of the strangest costumes I've seen is my 2nd grade teacher's. She dressed up like a hymn book. Yeah, you heard right, a HYMN BOOK! Who even gets that idea?? Weird.

Sara
sosarora_11(at)hotmail(dot)com

di said...

I like to dress up as the roman goddess diana and my fav part is the CHOCOLATE

MarjoleinBookBlog said...

I forgot to say: I also posted this contest on the sidebar menu of my blog : )

rb said...

My favorite thing about October is 'Study Break'! (which alas is for a major exam in November)..probably as you could already tell, we don't celebrate Halloween here but I really want to try trick or treat! Or just treats :D

lone_hammy@(no spam)yahoo.com.sg

ellie_enchanted said...

I don't celebrate Halloween, but does Purim count? If so, my favorite costume is a blue mini iPod that I made out of cardboard and sparkly stuff. That doesn't sound so original now, but at the time it was.
October means the weather gets cooler, but not too cold, which means (hopefully) rain!

juiciliciousss reviews said...

hmm, my favorite costume was the panda that i dressed up in last year. i had on the cutest pair of headbands and was panda-shaped ears and since i had black hair, it looked totally natural.
steph30wang@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo!! Great contest Keri!

My favorite costume is a tie between my adorable 2 year old niece as Winnie The Pooh last year, and an unbelievable Klingon costume I saw some guy in at a costume contest years ago. It was amazing! He looked like he walked right off the set of Star Trek!

My favorite thing about October besides staring at wicked costumes, Thanks-Giving(food) and the amazing fall foilage is decorating outside the front of our place for Halloween! (Ha ha, am I cheating if I list 4 things?) I always have a lot of fun thinking up new ideas for the Halloween decorations because the kids just love it. :)

Angelina said...

Great books!!!


My favorite costume is Queen bee and white angel whch really got me
compliments.

I love october because my mom's birthday and my brother's birthday fall in october. Two birthday parties for me to enjoy.

Angelina Lucas

HylianVampire said...

My favorite thing about October is that it's the month when leaves start chaning and it gets cooler outside. I love the air of Autumn!!

thanks for these monthly contests!

hylianvampire @ hotmail . com

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I love An Abundance of Catherines!

My favorite thing about October has got to be making my own costume. No store-bought junk for me. It's much more fun making a costume. Especially since I'm doing it with a friend. We're dressing up as the characters from novels we're writing!

If I win, I can be contacted at my site's "contact me" page (click my name).

Cheryl said...

My favorite costume(s) were the year my daughter and son were 5 and 3 and I made their costumes, down to the wigs. I dressed them up as Raggedy Ann & Andy! They were so cute!

Cheryl S.

Anonymous said...

My favorite costume was my friend's genie outfit. It was really cute, but she ended up freezing outside.

My favorite thing about Octover is the change of seasons like all the leaves changing colors. Also I like the cool down from the hot summer.
-Rima

cata ananias said...

Hey there.
My favorite halloween costume has to be the one of a multicolored ball a friend of mine wore 2 years ago. It covered her from the neck upto her knees, and she really did look like a giant ball. It was funny :)
And the thing I like the most about October is that Christmas is just 2 months away! Yay!
Thanks..
Cata
(email: cata2404@gmail.com)

Anonymous said...

My favorite costume is the one I'm wearing this year. I'll be Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Very glam!

Favorite thing about fall --- the psychic said I'd sign with an agent this month. I've got one more week to go until I write her off as a crackpot.

coll

K and/or K said...

favorite costume i've heard of, not seen: someone wearing all red riding a tricyle.

what was he?

a mensteral cycle

Brenda said...

Hello Ms Keri...what a fun contest...

I don't have a favorite costume, but my favorite thing about October is that there is a day where people actually give you free candy/chocolate!!! What could be better then that...grin...

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Katayoun! The leaves and flowers are gorgeous this time of year. Especially in New England. :)

Hi, Marjolein! Sounds like fun! And I checked out the website. Love the name.. Looks spooky. :)

Hi, Carmen! Good idea - I love the card costumes.

Hi, Book Adorer! Little kid clowns are adorable. A flamenco dancer.. Love it. :)

Hi, Carol! Thanks.. :) I like the punk fairy princess idea.

Hi, Bookworm! A fridge! That's a good one. And yes, the little chicks are cute. You should post pics of your dog. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Gabbi! Scully's a good one. Don't you just love it when people create amazing costumes.. :)

Hi, Sara! That's different. Teachers are usually very creative this time of year.

Hi, Not So Closet Geek! Love it! ;)

Thanks, Marjolein!

Kelly Polark said...

My favorite costume is when my mom and I drew and colored and sprinkled glitter on big butterfly wings for me to wear with a black leotard and tights. I wore deely-boppers on my head, too.
My favorite thing about October is my children's excitement when we go all out decorating the house and yard, carving jack-o-lanterns, and picking out their costume.

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, RB! Breaks are nice. :) Enjoy.

Hi, Ellie Enchanted! An IPOD.. What a great idea for a costume. :)

Hi, Stephanie! Pandas are soo cute. :) Love it.

Hi, Judi! Little ones are sooo cute on Halloween. I agree. It's a great time of year. :)

Hi, Angelina! Queen Bee is a good one. Enjoy the birthday parties. My brother's birthday is in October too. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Hylian Vampire! You're right. It's gorgeous outside. You're welcome.

Hi, Paradox! Homemade costumes are the best. :) Sure.

Hi, Cas2ajs! Adorable idea. :)

Hi, Rimasbookjournal! Halloween is always a toss up. Some years it's cold and others it's freezing. Enjoy!

Hi, Cata ananias! What a cute idea! Yes, I love Christmas. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hey, Coll! Love your costume idea!! You will.. I can feel it. :)

Hi, K and/or K! Hilarious!!! :) And so creative.

Hi, Brenda! So true. Yum! :)

Hi, Kelly! So cute. October is a blast. :)

sruble said...

My favorite thing about October is Halloween. I love trick-or-treating, I love little candies in big bags, and I love costumes (even though I am not good at making them, although I tried every year). The only thing I didn't like about Halloween was that it was usually so cold that we had to wear our winter jackets over our costumes.

Fun contest, great books!

Stephanie

Just Listen said...

Is this international? I'm an Aussie. :D

Um, my favourite thing about October is that over here it's just starting to heat up. I love the summer so it's great that we finally don't have to wear those tents they call "uniforms" any more. And I think that summer fashion is so much more fun and colourful. I've gone a little off track, but yes, that's why I love October.

:D

Anonymous said...

My favorite costume was a tinkerbell costume I wore in high school.

I love the color of the trees as the leaves turn, buying mums, and carving the pumpkins with the kids.

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Sruble! Thanks.. Yes, last night was chilly.

Hi, Just Listen! Yes, it's international. Enjoy the spring.. :) I'm jealous. :)

Hi, Kimmy L! Yum. :)