Contest: Calling all Janets! CLOSED!
Monday, December 10, 2007 at 11:33PM Calling all Janets!!! Janet Jackson...Janet Gretzky...
Well, it finally happened. One of the most dreaded moments in an author's life.
Years ago, I heard of this terrible fate that often befalls authors who are doing book signings, and yet in 4 years, I have never had it happen. Until now.
Each year I have counted my blessings that I have not been hit with the same fate as some of my comrades--the fate of a personalized book being dumped on a shelf and never purchased.
It happened. And I have survived.
And so has the person who came to my table to buy the book and nicely asked me to sign it as a Christmas gift for their mother JANET. Of course, I did so very happily and the book made its way closer to the cashiers. But then I turned my attention to the next customer, doing what I always do--trusting.
Half an hour later, one of the bookstore staff came up to me, the copy of Divine Intervention in hand. I think I knew the second I saw it. "It's a PERSONALIZED copy, Cheryl!"
My heart sank.
You see, two of my novels are consigned to the bookstores--Divine Intervention and The River. This means that I hold all the risk. If a book is returned damaged, I take the hit. If the store sticker peels off some of the back cover, I take the hit. And if a book is returned to me signed and personalized, I take the hit. Not the bookstore. Me. And truthfully, I can't afford to take too many of these a year.
So now I'm stuck with a signed book for some unknown person named...
JANET.
And "Shameless Promoter" kicked in and I thought I would make some lemonade out of that 'lemon' and give away a book, seeing as I can't sell it in a bookstore now.
So...calling all JANETS!!!
CONTEST RULES:
The copy of Divine Intervention will go to one winner. The draw will take place on Jan. 15, 2007.
For the "Calling all Janets" contest, simply comment on this blog post at the bottom and tell me the name of a famous Janet and why they're famous...or you can also enter if your name is Janet and tell us what you're 'famous' for. Keep it clean! Please leave your email address if you want to be entered into the draw.
Good luck!
Reader Comments (3)
Oh how I wish my name were Janet! :-) The first famous Janet that pops into my head is Janet Leigh. And all because of her role in Pyscho. Such a sweet woman (ok, so she stole from her boss!) and yet she made millions, including me, afraid of the shower for the longest time. I was so glad when my parents installed a glass door on our shower. Sure, it meant maybe your little brother would walk in and find his sister in a pose that would burn his retina's, but at least we knew that Anthony Perkins wasn't on the other side of the curtain. Even as I write this, I'm looking over my shoulder because, while at my computer, my back faces the door. So, please, Cheryl, send me your signed book!
Dear Karen:
Funny you mention Psycho...I did a scene from it for my "Celebrity Chefs" episode that airs tonight on CityTV Edmonton. You know, the knife scene?
(insert sharp, piercing, stabbing sounds here)
I sure hope my knife bit doesn't end up on the "cutting" room floor! (pun intended!)
Well, as Crocodile Dundee once said, "That ain't a knife...THIS is a knife." (or something close)
Your entry is entered. :)
Now I'm off to have a shower...
(ok, maybe not...)
Cheryl
YAY! We have a WINNER! Congrats, Karen--I, uh, mean Janet...hehehe...I will be mailing off your copy of Divine Intervention as soon as I get your mailing addy!
Off to email you now.
Cheryl