End of Debut Authorpalooza and Grand Prize Giveaway

For the last fourteen days this blog has been turned over to ten of the best debut authors 2011 (and one 2012) had to offer. I was honored to have them here, not only because I didn't have to write a post myself for two weeks, but because I believe supporting debut writers is the only sure pathway to continued growth in the field. Promoting and buying debut authors is how readers signal to publishers that they should continue to take risks on the unknown. I hope this event has been productive in that regard.

It's also been an enlightening experience. Too often, as a reader, it's easy to forget the blood, sweat, and tears that go into the creating works that are often devoured in a few days time. When a novel's done, it flows so effortlessly it becomes hard to imagine it any other way. I think Douglas Hulick's post illustrated that even authors fall into the trap of believing that's how it should always be. I dare anyone who's ever illegally downloaded a book to come read these posts and not feel a little guilt over that crime.

So I say to writers everywhere, thank you. Thank you for pouring your heart into your work. It's appreciated. Not just by me, but by the endless readers out there who are taken to new places every time they open a book. 

And to readers, never let a book's newness dissuade you. If you haven't read a debut author this year, do it. Seriously. Give it a try. If you hate it, well... remember that it was A Dribble of Ink who told you to read it.

I'm sure it's not gone unnoticed that there have been a lot of giveaways on the site this week. Nine to be exact, including lots of signed books. Well, it's not quite finished. As a thank you to everyone who's been following this series of posts, the authors have decided to do a...

Grand Prize Giveaway. 

Here's how it's going to work:

• All entries from the previous nine giveaways will be rolled into the Grand Prize Giveaway. 
• That means, there are a total of nine possible entries per person. 
• There will be one winner, who will receive the entire Grand Prize Giveaway. 
• You have until August 12 at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time to get your entries in.
• So if you haven't entered all the previous giveaways this week, and you want to win the Grand Prize, click on this index of posts, and enter. 
• I'll draw the winner of the Grand Prize on August 13, along with all the winners of the individual giveaways.

You might be asking, what's in the Grand Prize Giveaway?

To be honest, I don't even really know everything that's going to be in it. Generally speaking, all ten authors will be contributing things. Courtney Schafer is putting in a signed ARC of The Tainted City. Kameron Hurley is putting in a signed ARC of Rapture. Teresa Frohock is offering a 6,700 word crit of whatever (I would recommend not asking her to critique a shopping list). Anne Lyle will send an ARC of The Merchant of Dreams when it's ready. Mark Lawrence will pen a copy of King of Thorns for the winner. The list goes on. I'm even going to send the Grand Prize Winner something. In other words, you really want to win this.

Good luck and THANK YOU for reading this week.

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Staffer's Book Review (and occasional musings) will return to regular programming Monday. I've got some great reviews (Libriomancer, King of Thorns), my Hugo vote breakdown, and a piece of investigative reporting I think everyone will find interesting.