The Veil Giveaway Winner!

It's time to announce the winner of Cory Putman Oakes' new YA novel, The Veil, autographed by Cory herself!


Congratulations to..... Commenter #6:


LadyBird At Home


Check your email --- I'll be contacting you shortly!


Thanks to everyone who entered and showed support for Cory's new book and for the cul-de-sac, too.  You can find The Veil on Amazon; on your Kindle; iPad, or Nook; and soon at other bookstores and libraries near you.  


In the meantime, thanks for reading the cul-de-sac.  More celebrating, nesting, nurturing, reading, sharing, and traveling soon!

Giveaway and Book Recommendation: The Veil

This is my good friend,  Cory Putman Oakes:

Cory is amazing.  A former lawyer, she now juggles full-time mommyhood with a flourishing career as a novelist.  She writes, edits, and manages publication deadlines during her toddler's naptime.    She also maintains a gorgeous home, throws creative parties, cooks original recipes, and completes P90X in her spare time.  To top it off, Cory's a genuine friend who, within hours of a major disaster striking you, will show up at your home with homemade baked goods and hugs.  Cory's a bit younger than I am, but I nevertheless aspire to be as cool as she is when I grow up!


Today is extraordinarily special for Cory, because after years of hard work, she is releasing her debut young adult urban fantasy novel, The Veil, published by Octane Press:

The Veil is a paranormal romance set in Marin County, California.  Here's the publisher's blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi.  Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be -- the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem.  And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her.  Or so he says...

Sounds good, doesn't it?  I had the privilege of reading a manuscript of The Veil, and I liked that while it's accessible and appropriate for young adults, it's also a page-turner for grown-ups.  I read it straight-through, with no breaks, twice!  And as a mom of girls, I also appreciated the strong female protagonist and the clean language.  If you enjoy the fantasy worlds created by Stephanie Meyer, J.K. Rowling, and Madeleine L'Engle, you'll immerse yourself in Cory's world of the Annorasi.  I'm not the only one who thinks so; the reviews so far have been great, like this one by Emelie Saunders on The Pioneer Woman:   "It was rejuvenating to read a fantasy novel without vampires or werewolves....This was the book I have been looking for all this summer."


To celebrate The Veil's release, I am honored to give away an author-signed copy of The Veil to a cul-de-sac reader.  Cory will even personalize her inscription, if you wish to give it as a gift to a young reader (perfect for the holidays!) or keep it for yourself.  


Here are five ways to enter -- you can use any or all of them to increase your chances of winning:


1.  Subscribe to Cory's blog and then leave a comment here telling me you did.


2. Add The Veil to your reading list on Goodreads and leave a comment here telling me you did.


3.  Ask your library to purchase a copy of The Veil and leave a comment here telling me you did.


4.  Become a Google Friend Connect follower of the cul-de-sac and leave a comment here telling me you did.


5.  Blog, tweet, or post on Facebook about this giveaway and leave a comment here telling me you did. 

Entries close Wednesday, November 9, at 6 pm Central.  If you don't win, don't despair: just purchase your own copy at Amazon, support a wonderful writer who is making her publication dreams come true, and transport yourself to the fascinating world of the Annorasi!


Happy Reading!


(this giveaway is now closed --- winner will be announced soon!)

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to #15: Denise on winning the $50 Sephora gift card!  Denise, please contact me at theculdesacblog @ gmail.com within 48 hours to claim your prize.  Thanks to everyone who entered and who is supporting my baby blog!

It’s a Makeover! And a Giveaway!

Notice anything new?  Thanks to the creative talents of Danielle Moss, the cul-de-sac got a much-needed makeover!  The new look is way more “me,” and I so appreciate Danielle’s patience and skill.   I encourage any of you who are looking for blog re-designs or pre-made templates to check out Danielle’s talents here.  She’s lovely to work with!  Thanks, Danielle!

In preparation for the new school year, I’ve been giving myself a mini-makeover, too.  A few new clothes, a few more hours at the gym, a new hair cut, and a new bag of fresh make-up have made a world of difference in my attitude about going back to work post-baby #3.  It feels really good to spend a little effort on me these days.

I also want to encourage those of you silent readers to come out of the woodwork and join the cul-de-sac conversation.  I’m really valuing the connections I’ve already made via this blog and would like to get to know you, too!  So in celebration of beautiful blog templates and beautiful friendships, I’m giving away a $50 gift card to Sephora, a one-stop shop for all-things beauty.  Whether you are a perpetually sleep-deprived working mom with dark undereye circles like I am, or a polished, trend-setting fashionista like I’m not, Sephora offers something for you.

The gift card can be used online (with free shipping for $50 in purchases) or in one of their many U.S. stores.  You must be at least 18 and a U.S. resident to enter.

To enter:  Follow the cul-de-sac via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment letting me know.  If you are already following, leave a comment.

For additional chances to win:

1.  Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know.

3.     2.  Share the blog love and leave a comment about a great blog (other than your own) that I should be reading.  :-)

In all cases, make sure your email address is in your profile so I can contact you should you win.  Entries will close Sunday, August 28, at 8 pm Central, and random.org will choose the winner.  Good luck!