Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #4

This week's give-away is actually quite special as it allows for multiple winners! Because I wanted to give more of you a chance to win something special during this year's challenge I decided to order four items from the Betsy-Tacy Society Gift Shop and offer them during the final week of this year's reading challenge.

To learn more about each item in this week's give-away all you have to do is click on the caption under each picture and it will direct you to the Betsy-Tacy Gift Shop where you can find a full description for that particular item.

A. Betsy-Tacy Bookmark

B. Maud Hart Lovelace Bookmark

C. Betsy's Trunk Pink Post-Its (4"x3")

D. Betsy-Tacy Book Magnet

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #4:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, November 5, 2011. In the comment left the participant should list which items are their 1st-4th choice (eg. #1D, #2A, #3B, #4C, etc.). In the case that more than one winner has chosen the same item as their first choice then a "first drawn, first choice" will be used to determine which winner wins which item.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must be subscribed to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signed up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 22.

5. The participant cannot have already won a give-away during this year's MHL reading challenge.

Good luck!

Announcing the Winner of the Deep Valley Books

This week was another big give-away as the winning participant will receive a complete set of the Deep Valley books by Maud Hart Lovelace as published by Harper Collins Publishers in the fall of 2010. The Deep Valley books are "companion" novels to the Betsy-Tacy series and wildly popular amongst Betsy-Tacy fans.

 And now, without further delay... The winner (drawn completely at random) of this coveted set is.... 

Congratulations to Carrie! Please email me where you would like your books shipped.

For everyone else, stay tuned for further chances to win great items before the end of the challenge!

In closing, I would like to extend a final thank you to Jennifer Hart at Book Club Girl and Harper Collins Publishers for arranging the donation of the Deep Valley books for this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog (if you haven't already), check out Jennifer's website.

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #3

We're beginning the final week of October, which means we are also fast approaching the end of the third annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge. We have just two more give-aways (10/23-10/30 and 10/30-11/2). For those of you who have yet to win there is still a chance you could finish the month with a fabulous gift!

I am once again happy to announce that one lucky reader will soon be the proud owner of the Deep Valley books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Once again this week's give-away is courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers. These two volumes contain the three books that make up the series: Emily of Deep Valley, Carney's House Party, and Winona's Pony Cart. The Deep Valley series were reprinted in this format for the first time in October 2010.

Browse Emily of Deep Valley

Browse Carney's House Party & Winona's Pony Cart

For those still unfamiliar with this particular edition of these books here is a little information to wet your reading appetite:

This two volume set is made up of three books: Emily of Deep Valley and then Winona's Pony Cart/Carney's House Party. In addition to the stories, each volume contains a forward written by two celebrated authors and Betsy-Tacy fans: Melissa Wiley and Mitali Perkins. In addition to these wonderful forwards there are post scripts at the end of each volume that contain biographical information, fun facts, quotes, and photographs linking the real-life counter parts of each leading lady in this series to their fictional selves. Also included is a mini-biography about illustrator Vera Neville.

So have I captured your interest? Here's what you need to do in order to enter the giveaway:

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #3:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, October 29, 2011.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must be subscribed to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signs up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 22.

5. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who links to a blog post where they have written a book review about one of Maud Hart Lovelace's books. The post must be recent (within the month of October) and should be a recent read vs. a reconnection read (i.e. remembering a book you read a while ago.)

6. The participant cannot already own the Deep Valley books.

7. The participant cannot have already won either of the two previous give-aways during this year's MHL reading challenge.

On Sunday, October 30th I will select the winners with the help of a random generator. Check back here later that day to find out who the winner is.

Good luck to you all!

In closing, I would like to again extend thanks to Jennifer at Book Club Girl for arranging the donation of the Deep Valley books to this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

-------------------------------------------

A Library is a Hospital for the Mind's Deep Valley book reviews:

• Emily of Deep Valley (2009)
• Carney's House Party (2009)
• Winona's Pony Cart (2009) 

Other related links:

• Melissa Wiley on Carney's House Party, Winona's Pony Cart and other Maud Hart Lovelace related topics.
• Mitali Perkins on Emily of Deep Valley and other Maud Hart Lovelace related topics.
• Soundtrack for Carney's House Party by Semicolon Blog

Announcing the Winner for the high-school and beyond Betsy-Tacy books!

This week was a BIG give-away as the winning participant will receive a complete set of the "high school and beyond" books within the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace as published by Harper Collins Publishers in the fall of 2009.

 

And now, without further delay... The winner (drawn at random) of this coveted set is....

JNCL

Congratulations to JNCL! Please email me {libraryhospitalblog AT gmail (dot) com}your mailing address so I can have the treasury mailed to you when it becomes available.

For everyone else, stay tuned for further chances to win great items over the next two weeks!

In closing, I would like to extend a very special thanks to Jennifer over at Book Club Girl and Harper Collins Publishers for arranging the donation of the "high school and beyond" Betsy-Tacy books for this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #2

If you thought last week's give-away was exciting then you will probably love this week's give-away. Thanks once again to Harper Collins Publishers I am happy to announce one lucky reader will soon be the proud owner of the three volume set of Betsy-Tacy books! These volumes contain the "high school and beyond" books in the series and were reprinted in this format for the first time in October 2009.

Browse inside at HCP

Browse inside at HCP

Browse Inside at HCP

For those still unfamiliar with this particular edition here is a little information to wet your reading appetite:

This three book set is made up of two Betsy-Tacy per volume (i.e. 1. Heaven to Betsy & Betsy In Spite of Herself, 2. Betsy Was a Junior & Betsy and Joe, and 3. Betsy and the Great World & Betsy's Wedding). In addition to the Betsy-Tacy stories each volume contains a forward written by well-known 21st century authors such as Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin, and Meg Cabot (to name a few) who are all fans of the series and have a special memory or connection to the books. In addition to these wonderful forwards there are post scripts at the end of each volume that contain biographical information, fun facts, quotes, and photographs linking Maud and her friends and family in Mankato with her fictional counterpart, Betsy Ray and her friends and family in Deep Valley.

So have I captured your interest? Here's what you need to do in order to enter the giveaway:

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #2:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, October 22, 2011.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must be subscribed to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signs up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 22.

5. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who links to a blog post where they have written about one of their favorite scenes or characters from a Betsy-Tacy book. Extra credit if the writer goes to the trouble to include quotes. (If you don't have a blog then leave your answer in the comments of this post with a way for me to contact you.)

6. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who refers a friend or fellow reader/blogger who then signs up for this reading challenge prior to Saturday, October 22. (The friend must make a note when signing up that they are coming by referral and who referred them.)

7. The participant cannot already own the Betsy-Tacy high school and beyond books.

On Sunday, October 23rd I will select the winner with the help of a random generator. Check back here later that day to find out who the winner is.

In closing, I would like to again extend thanks to Jennifer at Book Club Girl for arranging the donation of the Betsy-Tacy books to this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

Announcing the Winner for The Betsy-Tacy Treasury

So we had quite a few entries for this week's contest. The winner will receive a brand new copy of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury published by Harper Collins Publishers on November 8, 2011. The treasury contains the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.

And now, without further delay... The winner (drawn at random) of this coveted treasury is....

KAREN Y. LEE  

(Note: Winner failed to respond after repeated attempts to reach them; so a new winner was drawn on 11/6/11.)

AUDREY from Just Audrey

Congratulations Karen Audrey! Please email me [libraryhospitalblog AT gmail (dot) com}your mailing address so I can have the treasury mailed to you when it becomes available.

For everyone else, stay tuned for further chances to win great items over the next three Sundays!

In closing, I would like to extend a very special thanks to Jennifer over at Book Club Girl for arranging the donation of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury for this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

(UPDATED 11/6/11)

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #1

It's time for the first give-away. This week participants of the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge can enter to win their own copy of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury!

The Treasury is a collection of the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace and will be released by Harper Collins Publishers on November 8, 2011.

To learn more about The Betsy-Tacy Treasury check out the promotional page at Harper Collins Publishers or my post from last week: Betsy-Tacy: The Beginning.

Please Note: This give-away runs from Sunday, October 9 through Saturday, October 15. The winner will be selected at random and announced here on Sunday, October 16. The Treasury will be mailed directly to the winner by the publisher around November 8, 2011 as per prior agreement between the publisher and this blog's owner.

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #1:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, October 15, 2011.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must subscribe to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signs up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 15. If you are not yet participating please sign up here before Saturday.

5. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who links to a blog post where they have written how Maud Hart Lovelace or the Betsy-Tacy series has impacted or influenced them as a reader or individual; or has influenced a little girl they know in a positive way.

6. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who refers a friend or fellow reader/blogger who then signs up for this reading challenge prior to Saturday, October 15. (The friend must make a note when signing up that they are coming by referral and who referred them.)

Good luck and check back often this week for additional Maud Hart Lovelace postings!

Other Blogger Give-Away

Remember when I read and reviewed Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay?

If not you can read my review of Russian Winter here. For those interested in reading this new release you now have the chance to win your own SIGNED copy!

The Boston Bibliophile has posted a give-away for three signed copies for US residents. To enter for a chance to win you must visit her blog post: Russo-Biblio-Extravaganza Giveaway- 3 *signed* copies of RUSSIAN WINTER and leave a comment before November 30.

Good luck!

Happy Betsy-Tacy Day -- Now Let's Give Some Books Away!

Forty-eight years ago today the the city of Mankato, Minnesota (the real Deep Valley) declared October 7th "Betsy-Tacy Day." And so in honor of this special day I have a very special announcement to make.

As part of my Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge, here at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind, I am giving away a complete set of Betsy-Tacy books. That's right, you could be the proud owner of the entire series (ten novels combined in seven books) from Betsy-Tacy to Betsy's Wedding, as published by HarperCollins Publishers.

What's more each book contains a forward written by 21st century authors (i.e. Judy Blume, Johanna Hurwitz, Ann M. Martin, Meg Cabot, etc.) who are fans of the series and have a special memory or connection to the books. These are fun to read and my favorite, at least from the glance I took, was the forward written by Ms. Hurwitz. In addition to the forwards there is a post script of sorts at the end of each book. This "post script" contains biographical information, fun facts, quotes, and photographs linking Maud and her friends and family in Mankato with her fictional counterpart, Betsy Ray and her friends and family in Deep Valley. Definitely a fun addition to the books.

So have I captured your interest? Here's what you need to do in order to enter the giveaway, participants must:

1. Be a resident of the United States.
2. Subscribe to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind (via google reader, bloglines, blogger, etc.)
3. Be a participant in the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge (Join before October 10)
4. Not already own the Betsy-Tacy books.
5. Blog about the Betsy-Tacy books: why they are special to you, which is your favorite book and character in the series and why. Or if you've never read them please post how you first heard of the books and what appeals to you most about the series. (If you don't have a blog then leave your answer in the comments of this post with a way for me to contact you.)
6. Link that post to the Mr. Linky below no later than next Saturday, October 17th.

On Sunday, October 18th I will select the winner with the help of a random generator. Check back here later that day to find out who the winner is.

In closing, I would like to extend a very special thanks to Jennifer over at BookClubGirl for arranging the donation of all seven books to this reading challenge. I am truly honored to be asked to host this giveaway. (I am also really excited to see who wins!) I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website. She's stocked it full of Betsy-Tacy information and I've found it to be a great resource and a fun read.

Free Books: Give or Receive

At the last book club meeting I learned about a new source for free books. It's called Paperback Swap and is a free service that permits members to clear out books from their shelf that they no longer want in exchange for their choice of a new book.

Books can be paperback or hardback and the only cost is the shipping to send your book out. The more books you give away the more books you can get.

It may not be the best service for people not willing to part with any of their books, but I thought it was great since I do occasionally find myself with a book I no longer want. Before finding Paperback Swap I would donate the book to my local library, now I can give them away to other readers in exchange for books I want to read and own. To open an account you must post 10 books you wish to give-away, this was difficult as I only had 9 books to post, but I figure I can always pick up an inexpensive paperback at a library sale in the next week and launch myself into free-book status.

At any rate, I thought this was such a great concept I wanted to pass the link to my readers.

Bloggy Giveaway Quarterly Carnival!

CONTEST IS CLOSED (1/31/09 - 10:00pm EST) THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING! The winner is DANIELLE (#49) as selected by Random.org. CONGRATULATIONS, Danielle! Your book and gift card will be on their way shortly.

This is an exciting week for book lovers nationwide... it's the Bloggy Giveaway Quarterly Carnival week!

Last quarter I gave away a two-volume hardcover set of Middlemarch by George Elliot to Amber.

This time I am giving away two items: the first is a paperback copy of Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I enjoyed this book when I read it last fall and you can read my review of Ella Enchanted (both book and movie) by clicking on the hyperlinked title.

The second item is a special bonus -- a $5 gift card to Starbucks. Even if you aren't a coffee drinker you can find other treats at Starbucks including hot or iced teas, hot chocolate, desserts, or cool beverage accessories.

If you are interested here's how to enter my contest and possibly win!

1. Option A: Subscriber to this blog (using Blogger, Bloglines, GoogleReader, etc.). Once you subscribe please leave a comment at this post letting me know you have done so. If you have subscribed to this blog in the past, please see Option B.

Option B: Browse this blog, find and read one of my book reviews (that you haven't read before), and leave a comment at this post telling me what it is that you particularly enjoyed (or did not enjoy) about a specific review (or reviews).

2. Leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you. Or if you have a way to be reached by your blog, leave a valid link back to your blog where I can contact you.

3. Contest open to U.S. residents only (sorry) and ends on Saturday evening, January 31st. I will announce the winner and contact them around February 1st or 2nd. (The winner will be selected using a random number generator.)

In the meantime, even if you don't win I encourage you to come back for the Winter Book Swap in February and watch for other Book Giveaway's in the future. To increase your chances of winning something (books, gift certificates, non-book items, etc.) this week be sure to check out Bloggy Giveaways by clicking here.

**NOTE: Be assured I will contact the winner and will mail the prize. Generally books are sent "media mail" so they may be a little slow to arrive but they will be sent.

Upcoming Book Give Away

It's almost time for the next book give away!

Check back next Monday to find out what I am giving away and be sure to check the Bloggy Giveaways website for more ideas of cool things you can win.

And the winner is...

I used an automatic generator to pick the winner of this week's giveaway, Middlemarch by George Elliot.

And the winner is... Amber! (The 4th comment on my post.)

Congratulations Amber! I will be sending the two-volume hardback set of Middlemarch to you in the coming week. Please email me your full name and address.

Thank you to all 28 of my readers who read a review and left a comment. As always, I wish I had enough books to give each of you a copy, but alas I don't. Still, thanks for playing and don't let this stop you from reading this great book. Almost every library should have a copy if you don't want to spend the money. It is a long book, but it is a good one.

Be sure to check back here often as I never know when the mood might strike to give away another book and I love to hear your thoughts about the books I review.

Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Event -- CONTEST CLOSED 10/31

I know, I just posted a book give away a week or two ago... well, I'm hosting another one since this is the official quarterly Bloggy Giveaway week.

The selection this time is a new, two-volume hardback copy of Middlemarch by George Elliot. (The copy I am giving away is not as pictured to the right, but is published by Konemann Classics, sorry no picture of the set is available, but it is very nice. I have duplicates and am giving away my un-read second set.

Middlemarch is one of my all-time favorite books and in my opinion a must read for all readers.

If you are interested here's how to enter my contest and possibly win!

1. Look back over my archives and pick one book review - any will do - read it and leave a comment in this post telling me which review you read (and why);

2. Leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you. Or if you have a way to be reached by your blog, leave a valid link back to your blog where I can contact you.

3. Contest open to U.S. residents only (sorry) and ends on Friday evening, October 31st. I will announce the winner and contact them the weekend of November 1st.

**NOTE: Be assured I will contact the winner and will mail the prize. Generally books are sent "media mail" so they may be a little slow to arrive but they will be sent.

The winner will be selected using a random number generator.

More giveaways (books, gift certificates, non-book items and much much more) can be found at the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival, so check it out!

And the winner is...

So I took the four names of readers who left comments the other day on my Book Give Away post and wrote each of them on a slip of paper. The papers were then mixed up, put in a hat, and asked my husband (who was quite clueless as to what I was doing with the names) to pick out one piece of paper and hand it to me.

And the winner of this week's book give away is...

Veronika.

Congratulations Veronika! I will be sending you a copy of Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell, per your request of the two options.

Thanks to Tere, Ibeeeg, and MawBooks for participating -- I'm honored to have so many loyal readers of this blog. (I  just wish I had enough copies to send one to each of you!) Stay tuned in the coming weeks/months as I'm planning some more Book Give Aways!

Announcements!

Two quick announcements.

1. Today is the last chance to sign up for this week's book give away. Tonight I'll have names drawn and tomorrow I will announce the winner. The winner will receive their choice of either I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith or Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. For more information check out the Book Giveaway post here.

2. If you are a regular reader and have a book blog or a personal blog that you'd like to share with me, be sure to let me know. Some I have, but not everyone and I'd love to catch up on your writings.

Subscriber Book Give-Away!

That's right, I'm hosting my first ever subscriber/reader book give-away. To participate you must:

1. Be a reader/subscriber of A Library Is A Hospital for the Mind blog.
2. Go back and find a book review I posted prior to October (posts can be as early as July) that you have not already read and commented on.
3. Read one review.
4. Leave a comment at this post letting me know what review you read and your thoughts on the book and review. (Please be sure to leave some valid way for me to contact you, i.e. email address or link to your blog where I can leave a comment.)

At the end of the week, (Friday, October 17) I will take all the names of each entry and put them in a hat and draw out the winner.


The winner will have the choice of one of the two following books:



Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell






I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.











Please note: Ruth is a new copy. I Capture the Castle has been read once, but is a crisp, tight copy. Both are paperback.


Have fun and good luck!

Friday Finds and Book Give Away!

My Friday Finds list is pretty small this week as it only consists of one book.

Marley And Me by John Grogan. My sister is reading this book. That fact alone caught my attention since my sister doesn't read a lot. But the books she has read and mentioned over the years are generally great reads. (Including the Anne of Green Gables series, Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier, and the James Herriot series All Creatures Great And Small.) In fact, my sister said that Marley and Me reminded her of the All Creatures series. "It's a funny story and a fast read. I think you'd like it," said she, and thus I added it to my "To Be Read" list. As a side note, Marley And Me has recently been adapted to film and will be showing in theatres starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson this December.

And now for the really interesting news... I am going to host my first ever Book Give Away! So spread the word and stay tuned for the announcement early next week.