Roland's Journal

“Cryptid Hunters” Contest ends September 1st!

roland — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:01:03 +0000

The contest for a signed hardback copy of “Tentacles” (the sequel to Cryptid Hunters) is coming to an end. To enter go to my web page, click on the Contest! button on the right side of the journal, and follow the instructions carefully. Good Luck!

Bubbling Peach Pie.

roland — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:05:01 +0000

Gotta love pie season!!!

Young Hoosiers Book Award

roland — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:35:14 +0000

I love days like today. Clouds have moved into Oregon cooling things down, and I’m sitting at my desk (actually standing) working on a book, and I get an email from my librarian friend in Indiana, Myrna Fields, saying that “Cryptid Hunters” has won the 2009-2010 Young Hoosiers Book Award in the middle grade category. I’ve had books on this list before, but this is my first win there. Thank you Indiana readers! You can’t imagine what this means to me. It’s certainly going to get me through a few more chapters on the novel I’m working on right now.

Arkansas. Have a great school year!

roland — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:26:48 +0000

Marie and I are down here in sultry Arkansas visiting our daughter and her boys for a couple of days. I’m writing on her new 21.5 inch iMac and I have to say that it an absolute joy to work on. So much so, that I’m going to get one for the office up at the farm. In between hanging out with the family I’m working on the second installment of Storm Runners. I hope to have a draft finished in the next couple of weeks.

It is very hot down here in AR. Went out for a jog this morning (well, actually a wog, which is a combination of walking and jogging). At 6AM it was 80 degrees outside with 80 percent relative humidity. For a guy from Oregon where there isn’t really any humidity except in the form of rain this is HOT. Needless to say, there was not a lot of jog in my wog this morning.

As I proceeded on my sweaty way the yellow school buses were picking up loads of students, reminding me that school has started in a lot of places across the country. So… HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR! And don’t forget to READ A BUNCH of BOOKS!

Contest #3! Free signed hardback copy of TENTACLES!

roland — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:29:11 +0000

Our second contest has concluded. Yet another lucky winner has been chosen and has been sent a signed copy of one of my novels. For those who didn’t win don’t despair. The third contest is up with another question, but this time the question is from my novel “Cryptid Hunters.” The prize is a signed hardback copy of the sequel to Cryptid Hunters…TENTACLES. Just go to my Home Page RolandSmith.com click the CONTEST! icon on the right side of “Roland’s Journal,” and follow the directions carefully. You can’t win if you don’t play. Good luck!

Pie Season, etc.

roland — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:24:41 +0000

It’s been a little while since I made an entry. I’ve been busy writing…working on several projects…but the one taking up most of my time right now is the second book in the “Storm Runners” series. The first novel of the 3 part series will be out in 2011. Odd to be working on a book about a hurricane, looking out the window at the beautiful Oregon weather.

Today marks the official start of blue ribbon Pie Season. Marie is busy down the hall in the kitchen putting together and baking 3 pies for the Clackamas County Fair. We’ll run them over via car and ferry this afternoon. It’s a yearly tragedy. I don’t get to eat any of the pies (or even taste them). I do get to smell them though as I work in my office and on the drive.

The pies are judged tomorrow, but we won’t find out how Marie fares until Tuesday when the fair opens, or maybe not even then, as we will be winging our way to Arkansas, leaving the farm in the care of S&K for a few days.

2010 Willamette Writers Lifetime Achievement Award

roland — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:25:52 +0000

Last night I had the great pleasure of receiving the 2010 Willamette Writers Lifetime Achievement Award… I don’t think my lifetime is nearly over yet, but it was wonderful to get the award. It was presented at the Willamette Writers banquet during their annual conference. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, and you’re interested in writing, you might want to join them. They put on an amazing conference every year with editors, agents, and writers from all over the U.S. Just click the link above to go to their site. Thanks Willamette Writers! The award is up on the shelf and will give me encouragement every time I gaze upon it.

Oh… And don’t forget. I have an I,Q book contest running. If you don’t enter you can’t win.

2nd Contest!!! Prize: Another signed copy of I,Q Book Two: The White House.

roland — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:51:35 +0000

Our first contest has concluded and a winner has been chosen. For those who didn’t win don’t despair. The second contest is up with another question from I,Q Book One: Independence Hall. The prize is a signed copy of I,Q Book Two: The White House. Just go to RolandSmith.com, find the Contest! link on the right side of the Moleskine Journal, click it, and you are there. Follow the directions carefully. Good luck!

I,Q The White House Ready to Ship

roland — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:05:58 +0000

For those who won, the books are getting closer to the PO. I’m sending them media mail so it may take a bit of time to arrive. Happy reading!

I,Q The White House Giveaway is OVER. And the winners are…

roland — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:56:30 +0000

Well, those went fast! For those who didn’t respond quickly enough, I will do this again sometime when I have some spare books. It was a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy the book.

And remember, I would really appreciate it if you could post a review online after you finish it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The book is doing very well thanks to all of you! But I would really like to get the word out about the I,Q Series, both books 1 and 2. Let’s see if we can get the books on the NYT Bestseller List.

Okay, the winners are (and please excuse the typos in your names if I made any)…

Teresa Evans, Megan McDonald, Tricia Rathke, Belinda Vose, Katie Johnson, Brenda Young, Amy Fetterman, Trang McGillivary, Cayla Armatti, Rachel Kissinger, Stacie Sharp, Dawn Bardo, Vicki Herndon, Heather Moate, Joann Elder, Jessica Deon, Heidi Grant, Melissa Biehl, Barbara Bollingger, Anne Kalkowski, Kira Smith, Stephanie Stahl, Mindi Crook, Janette King, Amy Louthan, Donna Sweeny, Alyson Harkins, Nancy Albritton, Terri Moore, Donna Smith, Melanie Gentzler, Jennifer Boling, Sean Capelle, Barbara Scheuter, Susan Stanley, Jodi Frye, Anita Ballester, Belinda Vose, Tammy Brightwell, Marcie Odum, Sanydlee Singletary, Helen Cologne, Teresa Garrett, Kim Nelson, Kim Hornkohl, Marge Cox.

As you can see by the photo above the books are lined up, signed, mailing labels finished, now all we have to do is figure the best way to mail them out.

Again, for those who missed out. Stay tuned!