Sunday, October 27, 2013

Treat, No Trick!

Okay, here's the deal. I've got 5 hardcover copies of Sammy Keyes and the Night of Skulls sitting on my desk. They are "turtlebacks" or library editions--which are very durable (and even more expensive than the book-jacket version of the hardcover).

I'm pretty sure everyone here knows that Night of Skulls is a Halloween adventure, so in the spirit of Sammy's favorite holiday, I'm going to sign them and give them away.

Ready?

Here's the drill:

Send a picture of you in costume as one of the Sammy Keyes characters* to this e-mail address and include answers to the following questions in the body of your e-mail:
    1. What character are you? 
    2. What book is the character's from? (Or hold the book in your picture, if you want to.)
    3. Is it okay to post your picture on the internet? (Yes or No)
    4. (Yup, that's me!)
    5. Do you want to be identified? (No / First name only / First + Last Initial  / Tag me!)
In the e-mail's Subject Line put: COSTUME CONTEST

DEADLINE: Sunday, 11/3, before 5 PM Pacific time.

RESTRICTIONS: Books can only be shipped to addresses in the United States. (But that doesn't mean you can't send a picture if you just want to be part of the fun.)

WINNERS: I will consolidate all the photos (without names) and let Mark pick the 5 entries that he thinks are the best. (I hate picking because I always want to give everybody something...) 

NOTIFICATION: We will e-mail the winners before next Sunday's blog entry is posted (and ask for best mailing addresses via e-mail). 

You never know how many people are going to participate in something like this, so don't think you'll never win! And let me remind you--it's easy to dress up as Sammy. Or Casey! Have a chicken hat? You're Billy Pratt!

Hope you'll play along!  Regardless, have fun, safe, and Happy Halloween!

*Here are a bunch of costume ideas, in case you didn't see them on the Sammy Keyes FaceBook page:

20 comments:

Kylie said...

This is such a fantastic contest! I would love to win, but I am not entering seeing as I already have a copy of Night of Skulls and so many others deserve it over me. I might still enter if I have time, but just to show you my version of a character.

I saw the list of costume ideas earlier this week and I love them! There are such good ideas! Maybe I will dress up for Halloween after all!

Have a great week everyone!

Kylie

Unknown said...

Kylie I felt the same way about killer cruise, but I do not have copy of night of the skulls... So I will have to see
This is an amazing idea! Easpicially since my hi tops look pretty beaten up right now, and I have a skateboard so it's a piece of cake!
Will you post all of the pictures on next weeks post?

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

It would be fun to post the ones people give me permission to! Hope everyone has fun with it!!

Jessica said...

What a fun contest! I'm not sure if I'll enter, but good luck to everyone who does.

I went as Sammy for Halloween a couple of years ago; just grabbed a pair of binoculars, baseball cap, backpack, and softball glove (I don't have a catcher's mitt). I don't actually own hightops, though.

Hmm, I just had an idea for a character that's not on the list. Maybe I will enter, after all...

Gabrielle said...

That's such a cool contest! Probably won't enter, since I already have a signed book. Giving the people who haven't won contests to win a signed book. And good luck to all who enter! :D




Gabrielle

Yusa said...

I really would love to have this book. Costume would be a bit of a problem for me since gotta keep my hair covered but i'll see what i can do. I would love to see the ones who said you can post them, even if they are not winners! This could get really interesting! I have a bit of an idea... Cant wait until next week!

Get creative
--Yusa

Kylie said...

Yusa you could be Sammy as a bridesmaid because she had her hair wrapped up so it wouldn't be messed up when she rode her skateboard. Or Madame Nashira because she always has a bunch of scarves so you could have a scarf around your hair. Or you could be Lana as a movie star with her hair wrapped in a scarf. I have always pictured Lana as one of those movie stars that wear a scraf around their head like the use to in I think the 50s. Hope you are able to figure something out.

I think I might dress as Sammy, or maybe Holly.

Ky

Yusa said...

I can't wait i think this will be cool! I don't have a lot of costume props for the cool ones but i can try...

Gabrielle said...

I have a question. It's way of topic.... But a while ago you did a post about how Sammy Keyes got her name, and you said that Random House was going to do this contest to pick out a name for a character for Kiss Goodbye. Did they ever have that contest?




Gabrille

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

Gabrielle: We are trying to work this out. I will be SURE to let you guys know when it's set up. Thanks for remembering :-)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, everybody!

Jessica said...

Yusa, there's also one of the Sisters of Mercy (or the sisters from the church), El Gato, Skeleton Man... And you could wear a hat over a hair-covering, for Moustache Mary, Justice Jack, Sammy/Marissa/Dot/etc. (ball cap), Mrs. Wedgewood (wig over hair covering)... and even if they didn't explicitly cover their hair in a specific costume, as long as the rest of the costume is on point, I think you'd still be recognizable. For example, if you were wearing jeans, a sweatshirt (or pink sweater *shudder*), high tops, and had one or two of skateboard/backpack/binoculars/bowl of oatmeal/etc., I think you'd obviously be Sammy, regardless of what's on your head.

I'm with you, though, on not having a lot of stuff on hand to piece together a costume. I'm not going to enter unless I can put together something halfway decent... so it comes down to creativity.

Yusa said...

Thanks for the suggestions Jessica!

Happy All Saint's Day everyone!

--Yusa

Jessica said...

Killer Cruise's status has changed from "on order" to "in transit." What a nice birthday surprise from my library. Hope it doesn't take too long.

Happy Day of the Dead, everyone! Is anyone picnicking in the cemetery? I have to go get my car inspected and registered, but I will at least stop by if there's still daylight when I'm done.

Isabel said...

Awwww, I'd so do this, but I don't celebrate Halloween, oh, well, goodluck o all of you who do!

Isabel said...

I have a feeling this will be very very interesting, I'd love to see all your costumes guys! And happy late Halloween!
;D

Isabel said...

I have a feeling this will be very very interesting, I'd love to see all your costumes guys! And happy late Halloween!
;D

Yusa said...

Can you submit multiple things?

Jessica said...

My home internet is out, so I won't be able to upload a picture and submit (not that I'd put my costume together yet, anyway...).

Kylie said...

I don't think I will be able to send in a picture, I have to much I have to do today and I don't have to time to do it today.

I am looking forward to seeing the entries though!

Isabel said...

Whoever submitted, good luck!