Persuasion…It’s All in Your Head

Okay, so Thursdays are MY days. I don’t have to run anyone to practice or lessons or dumb school. Save for a mumbled, sleepwalking hello to my eldest before she heads off  in the disgustingly wee hours of morning, I get to sleep in on Thursdays—except when my toddler thinks that 7:30 is a perfectly acceptable time to wake up. But I was up until 2 AM last night, so yeah, no way. I dragged my toddler into bed and said, “Sleep. Now.”

And after only a half hour of crying and promises to make her a Mickey Mouse pancake as soon as she woke up, she finally fell asleep (and I stopped crying to fall asleep with her). Rise and shine? Two hours later, baby. I even got up before her. So what’s my trick?

I’m half Jedi, of course.

This would prove handy with agents if I were only able to look them in the eye. I wonder if perhaps I shouldn’t show up to their offices in person instead. I know what you’re thinking: that’s a ticket straight to non-represented hell, Carol!  But really, those rules don’t apply to half–Jedis. One look into my eyes, and they’ll be like: yes master, sign this contract while I go dump all my other clients for you.

Don’t judge—I live in a fantasy world.

Now let me show you the ways I’ve been employing my Half-Jedi powers.

Check out what I won from Elana Johnson:

 

A signed copy of Lisa McMann’s Gone (from the Wake Trilogy). Nice, huh? I’m a bit behind posting about it. A while back she had a contest for her, like, millionth follower, and she gave away a ridiculous number of signed books. Now, I know what you’re thinking. How did she get a million followers and where is she getting all these signed books? Well, she’s full Jedi, for one thing. But don’t ask her about it or she’ll Jedi mind trick you into eating your own shoe. But yeah, I was crazy excited to win. You should’ve seen the little dance I did for it.

AND, I’ve been awarded a little more blog bling. I’m now at the stage where, looking at my sidebar, I’m beginning to wonder if all those people really meant to give all those awards to another Carolina Valdez Miller. I mean, really,  me? me? For realz? Dude, I would so be that person that accepts her Oscar crying like a loon (even if it was rigged-Avatar-should-have-won).

So, the blog bling…for the rules, click on the award pics. I’m not following the rules, as usual, so I won’t post them here.


Big thanks to the uber stylish and funny as heck Kimberly Franklin. I feel so Sex in the City with this one.



I pass this award on to:
Courtney Barr (Southern Princess)
VR Barkowski
Sara Mcclung
Karen Amanda Hooper




This award is so very cute, given to me by the super sweet, super talented Roxy Haynie.


I pass this award on to:
Alexandra Shostak


Thank you to Liza Carens Salerno (Middle Passages) for this one. It’s a beautiful one, to be sure, and so much appreciated.


 I pass this award on to:
Alexandra Shostak, who has a passel of cats all bedecked in steampunk gear (including goggles and leather gloves for their paws) that she’s taught to meow-sing along with HIM and to bow whenever they see images of Ville Valo.
Sara McClung, who has a magic dragon that hides on her body in the form of a giant tattoo on her back. The dragon comes out at night while she’s writing to whisper stories into her ear. It also defends her by breathing fire on morons who use really back pick-up lines.

Wendy Morrell, who has a chicken that gives her golden eggs filled with secrets to the universe. But Wendy likes the eggs so much, and is so certain that the human race is not yet ready for this knowledge that she hasn’t cracked  open a single one of her 435,256 eggs.


I could just hug Julie Dao for giving me this award, because I love to leave comments. In fact, I love it so much that I will leave novellas as comments sometimes. I can’t help myself. It goes against my nature to be brief.
See?

I pass this award on to:
Tricia J. O’Brien
Simon Larter



From the lovely Patricia Stoltey and Yvonne Osborne. Thank you my dears. I don’t feel like a prolific blogger at the moment. I’ve been so immersed in query preparation that my bloggie has suffered. :(
I pass this award on to:

Frankie Diane Mallis





The final three awards, I’ve previously received:
Thank you, Kristi Chestnutt!









 
Thank you, Annika of A Swede Abroad! This reminds me I never posted my happies list. I should do that. Someday.









Thank you, Jon Paul for the Picasso Award!











Finally, guess what? I’ve also come up with a super brilliant contest with super brilliant prizes that will make you drool and earn me like a million followers. Cuz, yeah, the prizes are that awesome. I can tell you that serious Jedi mind tricks (and possibly even  bribery) went a long way towards acquiring these prizes. But first, I must acquire 300 bloggie friends. That’s the rules. So, you know, feel free to send some my way.
(I am using my Half-Jedi mind powers on your right now).

******

Oh yeah, Susan fields is giving away Barnes and Nobles Gift Cards. Yes, you heard me correctly, all you bibliophiles. So hurry up, sign up, and win something. Ends 24 April.

Lola Sharp is giving away a $20 B&N card or The Hangover. Pretty dang cool.  Be cool and show up to the party with a good bachelor(ette) party story.

And be sure to check out Lisa and Laura Roecker’s Totally Epic 500 Followers Contest for some seriously fab prizes.  Ends…I don’t know when. But they’re drawing on 14 April, so hurry up. Warning: arm wrestling may be involved