A suh-weet giveaway and a little break.

So, I did a royalty-free stock image search for the word “focus” and this is what came up. Really?
Photo credit: stock.xchng


Here’s the thing: I need to finish my next book. And I need to focus. And I was reminded recently of a verse I blogged about more than a year ago:


“Be strong and do the work.” ~1 Chronicles 28:10

Do the work. It’s like an energizer bunny clanging around in my head.

So I’ve decided to hunker down, focus and plunk this draft out once and for all. In order to do the work, I’ve decided to take a two-week Tag(g)lines hiatus.

But, in the meantime, I thought it’d be fun to do a drawing! 

For one lucky winner, I’ve got a pretty sweet prize collection, if I do say so myself. Here’s what’s up for grabs:

  • $10 Amazon.com gift card—an entire mall in your computer, yes, please!
  • $10 Target gift card—the store that gets more of my money than any other.
  • $5 Starbucks gift card—mmm, enough said.
  • Print copy of Susan May Warren’s fabulous My Foolish Heart—the only book that’s ever made me cry about football and which should totally be made into a movie with Chris Hemsworth as the male lead.
  • A nice big bag of dark chocolate mint M&Ms—amazingness for your mouth.
  • A virtual hug from moi.
One winner is going to get all these fabulous things—and I’m pretty sure he/she will be most excited about the hug. Pretty sure.

But you’ve got to do something in order to enter. It’s easy. It’s painless. It’s explained below:

People who know me know I can be a little slow to jump on things.

Proof: I didn’t see the first Lord of the Rings movie until it was on dvd. Then Aragorn walked onto the screen and I knew I’d made a grave mistake waiting so long.

But once I commit, I commit.

And I’m finally committing to a Facebook author page. *chagrinned expression* (Confession: I’m actually not sure how to look chagrinned, but I’m willing to try.)

So…to enter the drawing for the above-mentioned fabulous items, I just need you to Like my Facebook Page*…then leave a comment here letting me know you did so. IF you FB/Tweet about the contest, I’ll enter you into the drawing a second time—but be sure to let me know you did so!

To recap:

-I’m taking a blogging break.
-But I’m giving away cool stuff.
-“Like” my Facebook page.**
-Leave a comment below letting me know.
-You’re entered!
-FB or Tweet about it…and you’re entered twice!

I’ll be back here on November 26 to announce the winner. (Stay tuned, too, for some more fun stuff coming in December!!) See you in a couple weeks…and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

*And thank you in advance for forgiving my shameless promotion. 🙂
**I actually launched the page last night, so if you already “liked” it, just let me know in the comments and you’ll be entered in the drawing. 
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    Comments 81

    3. Go WRITE girl! Proud of you for taking the break, and your “shameless plug”…marketing yourself can feel funny, but you do all while making us laugh–and giving us stuff;) I’ll be praying your words flow! Along with the coffee. Always the coffee.

      Reply

    4. You didn’t have to prompt me to “LIKE” your author FB page — I LOVED doing that, my friend!
      And it’s promoted too — I want others to fall in love with your writing too.
      I think I’m taking a break the entire month of December … so brava for taking a writing break.

      Reply

    7. Of course, i like you, Melissa, but i proved it by liking your facebook and sharing your details about the contest (though that is just the icing on the cake!) Thanks

      Reply

    9. Chris Hemsworth.

      Mmm.

      I mean…uh…he’d be great as Caleb. *cough* Yep.

      Hehe. Yay for you finally having an author page, yet another place where I can communicate with you to let you know I’ve emailed, tweeted, or left you a blog comment. 😛

      And yay for finishing your next book so I can start to read it again soon!!!

      Reply

      1. Wouldn’t he be perfect for the role?? Wouldn’t he be perfect for any role?? 🙂

        Haha, yes, there was a serious shortage in our methods of communication, wasn’t there. *snicker*

        Reply

      1. Thanks very much, Keli. I’m sort of glad I told everyone about the goal to finish the book in these few weeks…knowing everyone knows I’m shooting for it will make me push harder. 🙂

        Reply

    11. I “liked” you when I saw you in my FB stream. (Really, really liked you long before. 🙂 )

      Kudos to you, Melissa, for marching forward and prioritizing. I’ll be taking a break myself around the holiday season. Go, Melissa, go! Cheering for you!!!

      Reply

    14. Of course I liked your FB page! How could I not since I have already known and “liked” you for years!??! 🙂 Praying for you as you “do the work.”

      Reply

      1. Thanks bunches, Melissa! Oh, I need to tell you–I realized last night that I hadn’t sent your prize book from last week yet. I saw it on my kitchen table last night and kicked myself. I’ll stick it in the mail asap. 🙂

        Reply

    18. So you’re an Aragorn girl, eh? I’m into Legolus (sp?) myself. Only when he’s blond, though, not so much in Pirates of the Caribbean. TMI, I suppose?

      Anyway, of COURSE I’ll like your FB page and tweet this, too! I want to win the chocolate!!! And the other stuff sounds good too. I’m just running out of Halloween candy…

      Reply

      1. Aragorn all the way!! I don’t know why, Legolas just appeal to me. I think it was the pointy ears. 🙂 As for Pirates, yeah, Orlando doesn’t have a chance in that movie–not when he’s got Johnny Depp as a co-star. Jack Sparrow has to be one of the best characters ever.

        Reply

    20. I liked it – and I shared it yesterday – with no intentions of winning anything, but the reward of so many others discovering how cool you are! *Cheesy grin* – and that one I do know how to pull off. 🙂

      Good luck on finishing that book!!! Can’t wait to read it. 🙂 I took my kiddos to Chuck E. Cheese the other day and played skeeball and thought of you.

      Reply

      1. Aww, thank you, Gabe. I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese’s and play skeeball! This is why I need to hurry up and have a kid or something…so I can have a good excuse to hang out there. 🙂

        Reply

    22. Melissa Tag – you GO girl! Great idea – something for us all to remember you by while you take a breather. Enjoy – and yes, of course I like you. And I liked you, too. And it’s not just cuz of the free stuff, either. Although… that helps… I’ve heard…….

      Blessings,
      Becky

      Reply

      1. Thanks, Becky! Yeah, sometimes a girl just has to step away in the name of productivity. But hopefully, I’ll come out on the other side with a draft…and somebody else will come away the winner of fun stuff. 😉

        Reply

    23. Eep!!! I want ALL of those things. Best prize pack ever. I liked it last night, and I GUESS I’m going to go tweet about it, even though that might actually decrease my odds since more people will come and enter. Sigh . . . I GUESS that’s okay since I love you, and I want people to like your page. 😉

      Reply

      2. Haha when I saw that photo I was like, hmm, I can keep searching or go totally random. Random generally wins with me.

        And can I say congratulations again on your ph so awesome news?!?! Yay!!

        Reply

    25. My stepmom (Kristin Barrett Walker) liked your page but not sure if she could leave a comment. And she facebook posted about it too. So if you could enter her in your contest, that would be fabuloso. 😉

      Reply

    26. I didn’t see the first LoTR’s until DVD either! I was kicking myself for not going to the theater 🙂

      Liked your FB page! Nice to meet a new author. I’m looking forward to reading your book.

      Reply

    28. Hi Melissa – It was great meeting you at the MacGregor conference in Chitown. Only regret, is we didn’t get much of a chance to chat. But now that we’re friends online, we still can. Okay, so I liked your FB page, I love chocolate and books. I studied at Regent’s College in London one summer in college and took my kiddos there a couple years back to see the sights – their fav Tower of London interactive weapon room (pretend your a knight and look through this helmet, lift this sword, etc.). What took you to London? What were your fav sites? Is your book set there?

      Reply

      1. Hey Laura–yes, it would’ve been great to get to chat more at Chicago, but I’m glad cyberspace can keep us connected. 🙂 I studied abroad/interned in London in 2003 and have been back three time since. So many cool people, so many beautiful places…I’m jonesing for another return trip! One of my favorite spots was Tower Bridge–doesn’t get old. Oh, and the countryside around York–so pretty! How cool that you got to take your kids there! My book isn’t set there, but now that you mention it, I should probably set a future book there–good excuse for a “research” trip.

        Reply

      1. Of course YOU can have a real hug, Mel. Which means I need to come up to NW Iowa. I miss you guys! I don’t think I can in December, but maybe in January? We could have a late Christmas party…each discounted Christmas candy…and watch Christmas movies.

        Also, how did I not know you have a blog?!

        Reply

    35. Melissa! So excited for your author page and this crazy awesome giveaway. Not a thing there I wouldn’t love to enjoy. I’ll be praying for you as you kick it into gear and finish your book, and I’ll share your page and tweet about you for free, just ‘cuz you’re great. 🙂 (But for contest’s sake, I tweeted about the contest AND liked your page.)

      Reply

      1. Thanks so much, Bethany! And thanks for spreading the word, too. I lolly-gagged in starting the author page, but it finally happened. 🙂 (I really enjoyed using the word lolly-gagged just now. Pretty sure it needs to become a regular part of my vocab.) But yeah, thanks a bunch and best wishes in the contest. 😉

        Reply

    36. It would be an honor to “like” your author page and share your contest info via FB (which I’ve done!) even without the contest, but you’re right — it is a suh-weet giveaway. 🙂

      Enjoy your break! Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply

    39. You consistently turn out great posts and your FB author page is good news. I will go like it now. Hope you’re having a well-deserved productive break and a more than blessed Thanksgiving.

      Reply

      1. Thanks, Dee! It’s been a nice break, but I’ll admit, I’m starting to miss the blogosphere. I’ve gotten great writing done, though, so it’s worth it. Thanks for all your support, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

        Reply

    40. I “like” your Facebook page. Love your blog header – the title, the tag(g)line and the graphics! 🙂 After reading some of your blog posts I see the tagline perfectly describes what you provide in your blog posts: love, hilarity, and hope! 🙂

      Jes
      jswaks at gmail dot com

      Reply

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