Just before my birthday, I ran a special offer at my Website. In return for buying a copy of Fear of Writing on January 24-25, book customers were entered in three prize draws—worth a total of $503—and given access to free downloads for writers worth over $100.
The three winners were drawn on February 9 by Sherry Doyle (pictured), co-owner of Books and Java here in Canyon Lake, TX.
I had the pleasure of calling the winners and they were all excited and pleased with their prizes.
PRIZE DRAW #1 – WINNER, JORI REIJONEN
Jori’s Prize: Consultation and Coaching Session with writer’s coach Lisa Collazo of Write What You Know, retail value $45.00
Note from Milli: My thanks to Lisa for donating this wonderful prize!
Jori said: “I could hardly believe it when Milli Thornton called to tell me I won the drawing and will receive consultation and coaching with Lisa Collazo. I don’t think I’ve ever won a drawing before.”
Jori says she’s using her prize to better understand how she stopped writing for so long, and how she can ensure she does not let that happen again.
“Also, Milli’s book, Fear of Writing, purchased during the special offer, has been helping me break that block. Recently, I looked up after an hour of non-stop writing and realized I’d written nine pages in response to her writing prompt ‘Yin and Yang’ (page 63).”
Jori had her second phone session with Lisa Collazo on February 28.
“Both meetings helped me feel I am on track with writing and finding balance in my life,” she said. “A very nice lady and, as we share a somewhat similar professional background, I enjoyed talking with her.”
Jori lives in Southwestern Michigan with her husband and two daughters. Between part-time employment as a psychologist, writing text- book supplements, performing as a belly dancer, co-leading a Brownie troop, and helping at her children’s school, she slips in time for creative writing.
Jori’s parenting articles, I’m Sooooo Stressed! and Creating Lasting Memories Together, appear in Great Lakes Family. She aspires to be a published author of children’s books, creating books that will “help bring children and their parents closer together.”
Jori added, “During my prolonged creative writing block, I wrote several textbook supplements and rationalized to myself that at least I was writing. But, I had neglected the children’s writing that I love. Milli and Lisa, thanks for this chance to break the drought.”
PRIZE DRAW #2 – WINNER, DAWN HUNT
“My package arrived yesterday. Thank you so much for all the great stuff! I have been wanting that software package for ages. I’m so excited, and my husband was impressed as well.” – Dawn Hunt
Dawn’s Prize: Screenwriting package worth $208. Includes Final Draft Scriptwriting Software, Sid Field’s Screenwriting Workshop (video set), Hollywood Creative Directory 52nd Edition, Formatting Your Screenplay by Robert Reichmann and Story by Robert McKee.
Prize winner Dawn Hunt (pictured) said: “The writing bug nipped me when I was very young. Even in grade school I wrote stories, poems, and scripts to my favorite television shows.
“It wasn’t until I moved to Connecticut that I finally braved novel writing,” she said. “In 2003 I became a winner of National Novel Writing Month, a feat I repeated in 2004.”
With three completed mystery/suspense novels under her belt, and several others in progress—including a middle grade fantasy adven- ture series—Dawn has begun the process of seeking publication. One of her novels is currently under review by an agent, and she is “waiting with fingers and toes crossed.”
“Screenplay writing is something I’ve always wanted to try,” she said. “While I’m writing, I can picture my characters on the big screen, right down to the actors who would portray them. Now that I’ve won this great package from Fear of Writing, I have all the tools I need to get started. No more excuses. Hollywood, here I come!”
Dawn M. Hunt is the author of The Curse of Timber Lake, End of the Road and Wasted Time. She is a member of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association, the National Association of Women Writers, the National Writer’s Union and the International Women’s Writing Guild. She is a 2003 and 2004 winner of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
Dawn grew up in the high desert town of Bend, Oregon where she raised goats, chickens and rabbits. After a 12-year “pit stop” in California, she’s now settled in Connecticut with her husband, son, daughter and three cats.
PRIZE DRAW #3 – WINNER, BETTY DOBSON
“Any one of Milli’s prizes would have been great, but the charms are just so charming and unique. I’ve worn the necklace every day since it arrived, and it has become quite the conversation piece.”
– Betty Dobson
Betty’s Prize: Hand-crafted and elegantly packaged sterling silver writer’s charm jewelry created exclusively for Fear of Writing by Greti Design of California. Retail value: $250.
Betty Dobson (at right, in an ancient Maltese temple) is a published and award-winning creative writer. She owns and runs InkSpotter Publishing, sponsors two writing contests, and works as a freelance writer and editor.
Betty, a Canadian, has always been caught up with words. As a child, she started reading before she could read—listening intently as parents and older siblings read to her at bedtime. She evolved into a true reader, inevitably described as the always-with-her-nose-in-a-book person. With each new story, she dreamed of trading places with the author and sharing her own ideas with other readers.
With equal parts patience and determination, Betty realized her dream in her late thirties. A first-place win in an essay contest sparked a string of writing successes that have grown more frequent in the past few years. Her published works include numerous short stories, poems, essays, and feature articles. She’s won awards for all but the latter, but plans to overcome that “deficiency.”
An InkSpotter, by Betty’s definition, is someone adept at “finding the right words.” Her primary mission is to help others find those words and unlock the stories lurking within each of us.
SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFERED BY GRETI DESIGN OF CALIFORNIA
For more photos and information about the special discount on writer’s charm jewelry for Fear of Writing regulars, visit Fun Stuff for Writers at Milli’s Website.
