To enter: spread the word about RAVEN by doing one (or more) of the following things and emailing me to let me know what you’ve done:

- embed the book trailer in your profile 

- post the countdown widget on your page

- post the RAVEN banner on your page

Have another idea for spreading the word?  Let me know!

Deadline: You must enter by Feb. 1, 2009.

Draw: Winners will be drawn randomly on Feb. 10, 2009.

Up to 3 entries per contestant; the more places you post, the more entries you can have!

Questions?  Email me.
* You can find the widget on my profile; click the lower left hand corner to copy it.
* Go to my photos to find the code for the banner

* The code to embed the book trailer can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svmSzHVXMKE 

OR find it under My Videos, and post it as a blog or an email to your friends.

Allison ;)

Hope your summer's going well!  As some of you know, I got married a few weeks ago and went down south for a honeymoon.  It was lovely!  Since then I've been back on my computer working on my new book.  It's more like the book is working on me.  It's been writing itself.  I can't wait to tell you more about it in coming months. 

Thank you for your wonderful emails and for all your encouragement.  If I could bring forward Raven's release, I would, but I can't.  So let's just enjoy the anticipation! :)  If you want to be among the first to get it in February, you can pre-order it anytime on Amazon or Chapters. 

V Dep

Check out the amazing cover of Raven, designed by Sammy Yuen Jr. 

Raven comes out on Feb. 10, 2009...

If you love to chat about books, and WIN FREE BOOKS (they’re giving away LOTS -- they just gave away 8 copies of Street Pharm and 6 of City of Ashes), then join up!  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8575522198 

I’ll see you there!

Want me to critique your work over the phone? 

Want to win a Simon and Schuster prize package? 

What If? Magazine and Simon and Schuster Canada present the SNITCH WRITING CONTEST.

How the contest works:

Send us a poem or story/essay about the negative effects of drugs, violence, or gangs or a success story/poem on someone who was able to break away from them. What If? editors will chose a first and second place winner in each category (poetry and prose). The winners will be awarded the prizes packages as noted below.

How you enter:

You can enter by emailing your entries to: editor@whatifmagazine.com with the subject line 'Snitch Contest'. You can enter by mailing your entries to: What If?
What If? magazine
'Snitch Contest'
19 Lynwood Place
Guelph, ON N1G 2V9
If you would like your mailed entries returned you must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient postage.

What you can win:

First Place Prizes
(one each for poetry and prose)
1) A one-on-one, in-person critique of your submission with Allison van Diepen by phone
2) Simon and Schuster book prize package valued at $119.95
3) Publication in the summer issue of What If? magazine

Second Place Prizes
(one each for poetry and prose)
1) Simon and Schuster book prize package valued at $45.97
2) Publication in the summer issue of What If? magazine

Contest Rules:

1) One entry per person in each category.
2) Prose no longer than 2000 words.
3) Poems no longer than 20 lines.
4) Entries must be received at the What If? office no later than April 18th, 2008
5) Book prizes to be compiled by Simon & Schuster Canada and must be accepted as awarded. Prizes have no cash surrender value.
6) This contest is void where prohibited by law or local statute.
7) Full contact information for your entry must be included with the entry. This must include a contact telephone number, email address, and a complete mailing address.
8) Entries that fail to follow the contest rules, as well as entries that arrive after April 18th, 2008, will be automatically disqualified.
9) The judges' decisions are final and only the winning entrants will be notified prior to publication.
10) Family members/relatives of What If? magazine or Simon & Schuster Canada employees are not eligible to enter.
11) All submitting writers must be 19 years of age or under and Canadian citizens.

Did you hear about Simon Pulse Blogfest?  From March 14th to 27th, some of your favorite authors will be answering your questions here: http://www.pulseblogfest.com/ 

To submit a question, go to the Blogfest Myspace page. 

See you there!