Friday Fricassee

Happy Friday!

So, let's talk Baker's Dozen.  I've been saying all along that submissions will be as they have been recently -- both email and web form.  However, in chatting with Michael, I've learned that it will be easier to administrate the contest if we go to webform-only.

That's what we're leaning toward.  And unless there's a huge public outcry, we'll move forward.

*waits for huge public outcry*

Seriously, tell me your thoughts.  (Thoughts like "I can't submit with a webform because I'll be at work" are easily remedied by having a friend or significant other submit for you.)

Michael tells me that almost 80 percent of you are currently using the webform during our critiques and contests, so I'm thinking this won't be a huge issue.

Second topic: DONATIONS.

I've asked that those of you who are NOT planning on entering the Baker's Dozen but who would like to donate to the effort mark your donation either BOOKS or ADMIN so that I can correctly allocate the funds. I've also told you that, if the donation isn't labeled, I'll put it toward BOOKS.

So I wanted to tell you about the book thing and why I'm doing it.

We have a beautiful library in our town; it's only a few years old and it's spacious and clean.  On the second floor, there is a large room with a rotunda -- I love writing there, especially when it's raining! Just off the rotunda room, there is a way-cool YA ROOM.

Did you hear me?  A YA ROOM!!  It's closed off with glass doors and windows, and has several mod-looking desks with PCs on them (not that I'd sully my fingertips on a PC, but still).  All the YA books are shelved in there, so that's where you have to go if you want to check out a YA book.

There's just one, tiny problem.  THERE ARE ALMOST NO NEW BOOKS IN THERE.  And when I checked the card catalogue, I discovered that it wasn't just that the books were checked out.  They weren't there at all.  And there is no "NEW RELEASE" display for YA (or MG) books anywhere in the library.

Naturally I'm passionate about YA because, well, I write it.  But I also read it -- and I want to know that the fabulous array of awesome books out there is available to the teens in my community who rely on the library rather than the bookstore for their reading choices.

I could pass along my already-read books to the library.  But...I LOVE my books!  I don't want to part with them.  I want to be able to reread them whenever I feel like it.  (Except the ones I don't like.  Those don't stay.)  I want to be able to caress their spines while they sit on my bookshelves.

Yeah.  Booklove.

So when I finally made the decision (after much coaching and encouragement) to charge for this year's Baker's Dozen, I realized what a wonderful opportunity it was to give back to the book community where I live.  Because they desperately need it.  (Not sure why a multi-million dollar building doesn't have the funds to keep up with new YA releases, but there you have it.)

And, yes, I'll be donating the books anonymously.  My way of saying "thank you" and also "your YA book selection sucks so I'm making it better" to my local library.

Anyway, if you choose to donate toward the books, that's where the money's going.  YA (and a few MG) books for my local, new-book-deprived library.

And if you choose to donate toward "ADMIN" instead...thank you.  That's equally appreciated!  I don't have to tell you how much work goes into this auction.  And I do have monthly hosting fees, too.

That's it for now!  Next week:  SECRET AGENT on Monday and BAKER'S DOZEN SUBS on Tuesday and Thursday.  Whew!