Updated March 13th, 2009/Updated March 19th, 2009
Okay, been thinking about this whole March-is-love-your-Indie-Bookstore month, and I realized trying to guilt people into going shopping with their local guy sucks. We don’t need guilt here; we need a contest.
So here’s introducing March-is-love-your-Indie-Bookstore: The Contest.
How to Play: Go to a local independent bookstore. Buy something. Save the receipt. Send a photo or scan of the receipt to this address: indie@joehillfiction.com. Make sure either your e-mail or your receipt includes the name and phone number of the bookstore in question.
Prize: At the end of March I’ll have a random drawing, and send the winner a signed slipcased copy of GUNPOWDER.
BUT WAIT! There’s more. As this thing goes along, I’ll be adding other signed editions of other books for other randomly drawn winners. Stay tuned. (March 19 update: as promised, lots and lots of other prizes have been added since the contest began; there will now be at least 24 winners, with a rare or limited edition of something going to each randomly drawn entry; see here, here, and here)
And remember, even if you lose you win, because you will have supported a small bookstore, and come away with something worth reading.
Ground rules:
1. I’m backdating the contest to March 1st. So if you made a purchase earlier in the month, and you’ve still got the receipt, you’re good to go.
2. Your purchase must exceed 99 cents. You do not have a chance at a prize if all you did was go in your local bookstore to buy some mints and use their free internet to browse my twitterfeed.
3. Only one entry per household, please.
4. I’ll play nice, but if necessary, I reserve the right to modify rules for fairness.
5. Contest ends 12PM EST on March 31st, 2009.
6. What happens if you cheat? Well, if you email me a fake receipt, I probably won’t find out. But your soul will shrivel a little inside you, and you will find your luck turning unexpectedly sour. You will lose your house keys and pinch something sensitive in a zipper. You will step in dog doo on your way to an important event and everyone will think you beshat yourself and try to sit far far away from you. You will have a row with someone you love, learn you owe the IRS money, and grow a third nipple. The cosmos, in other words, will roughly wipe its ass with your karma. Of course if I do find out your entry was bogus, you’re instantly disqualified, and you will still find yourself getting soft parts stuck in zippers.
March 13th Update: Entries should include a shipping address, so I know where to mail your prize if you win, and to prevent multiple entries. (If you entered before March 13th, and didn’t provide a shipping address, don’t worry… your entry is still valid. But entries from the 13th onward that fail to provide a shipping address may be thrown out) Remember, per rule 3, only one entry per household. That means you only get to enter once, no matter how many receipts you email me. Finally, many prizes have been added to the contest, see the Subterranean Shockwaves entry for more info.
That’s all (for now). Now go to your indie bookstore and buy yerself a book.
Karen: yes, buying something from a small press with an online store counts.
My comic dudes never give me a receipt…..and I never ask for one, lol! I was just there last week getting my 2 copiesof L&K and Dark Tower….but I have to go back for the newest of The Stand. I hate the thought of sending a receipt with a $3 purchase price but rest assured- I’ve spent loads in that little comic book shop!! One time, my total was over $50 (which is a lot for me in 1 go) stocking up on The Walking Dead collected Graphic Novels.
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I’ve been thinking about all the indie bookstores from my life and they are all gone. The last one I really loved going to was Murder Ink on 92nd and Broadway in NYC. It’s so sad that Amazon and ebay are destroying indie bookstores. Thanks Joe for reminding us to be aware of our local booksellers.
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Thank you Joe! As the owner of an independent used book store, I appreciate your efforts to encourage folks to shop with us. I run a listserv for owners of brick and mortar shops like mine. I have over 300 members, and I emailed a link this contest to the entire list. I wish you the best!
Joe
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don´t need the bribe cos i only ever buy at small indie bookshops and recordstores, heh anyway, but what a neat idea.
love, from overseas
Does this apply to independent comic book/gaming shops? There’s a fantastic store here in Fargo I shop at all the time.
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Great great contest. A question: Are Non-US adresses & bookstores eligible? (Specifically Israely ones), and if so should I get the receipt in english?
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Love Your Indie Bookstore Month « Lazy Thoughts…
[...] I’m going up to the Mystery Bookstore this weekend and buy myself something–it’s been too long. And, this is too worthy and the contest too cool to ignore [...] Kudos to you, Joe!
le0pard13, thanks for the heads up on this contest. I finally got my scanner (halfway) working today, so my entry is in.
Joe Hill, kudos to you for actively supporting indies. Great idea.
I started reading mystery books after my first visit to MBTB in Houston about five years ago. It was the beginning of a “love affair” that continues.
While I haven’t done it for long, my quantity buying has made up for the few years. I will always support the MBTB, because they are the best.
Hey Joe…so the contest ends on Tuesday, right? I’ve been wondering how you are going to choose the winners. You gonna draw the receipts out of a hat? I’d love to know how many folks entered, too.
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Great contest! I sent in my entry yesterday, just in time
However I just received a notification that delivery of my email has been delayed though…so I’m resending the email…hopefully my entry still qualifies.
I sent my entry last night and got a delivery notification error. I resent it and I hope it got there this time.
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Did I miss the announcement of the winners?
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Great blog!!! Very informative and inciteful. Excellent!!!
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