It’s A Wrap!

Our first Down Under Author Showcase ended yesterday and what a marvelous event it was.  We had the participation of 28 authors and 2 independent Down Under publishers and  gifts from the Embassy of Australia and the Embassy of New Zealand here in DC.  My thanks again to Bottom Drawer Publications, Wayward Ink Publications and all of the wonderful authors from Down Under!  It’s been grand!  Let’s do it again next year!  And if you need a refresher, our Down Under Author Showcase Page will remain up until its updated at the next Showcase!

I discovered many new authors myself and am still happily buried in John Wiltshire’s series “More Heat Than The Sun”, and then will move on to more discoveries from authors this month.  I hope everyone had a great time and made discoveries of their own, that extends not only to authors and books but facts they learned about Australia and New Zealand as well.

Some of my favorites?

Wombat poop looks like cubes. -picture 1

There are caves in New Zealand where glow worms light the ceilings like stars -#2

An ancient tree so old it has its own name and looks like an elf should be standing  beside it.

Flightless parrots, mobs of camels and kelpies who cross the backs of sheep!

And so many places of incomparable beauty from the red dirt deserts of the Northern Territory to the beaches of the south, to the hills so green in New Zealand they remind you of emeralds and mountain lakes with water so clear it looks crystalline.  And don’t get me started on all those cities and towns I now wish to visit as well!  What were your favorite facts this month?

Over the next several days I will be  announcing winners of the various contests.  Today we will start with the winners of our Down Under Scavenger Hunt.  Here they are!

Down Under Author Scavenger Hunt Winners!

The Winners of our Down Under Scavenger Hunt are, in the order that their entries were received:

 

First Place: Julie Small              $75.00 Amazon gift card

2nd Place:Vitajex                             First Choice of any of the following gifts listed below

3rd Place:Jennifer Florence       2nd choice of any of the following

4th PlaceShirley Speakman        3rd Choice

5th Place Antonia Aquilante        4th Choice

6th Place:H.B.                                   5th Choice

7th Place:  Hannah B                     6th Choice                 

   Prizes to Choose From: Choice of 1 box from Australia or New Zealand Gift Box (large), Choice of 1 of the Smaller AUS or NZ Gift Box* or

 Under the Southern Cross Anthology from Dreamspinner Press – a total of 5 e books*

How to Speak Kangaroo or your choice of any 2 books from our Down Under Authors*

Note: I will be posting some pictures of the boxes later today!

Now as the dust settles from our first big event, just a note that May will be Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Authors Across the Pond Showcase…all month long!  Just a little something to scribble on your calendars!

Now here is This Week’s Schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words…

Sunday, February 1:

• Cover reveal – Jackie Nacht’s Venomous Mates ‘Strike of the Diamondback‘
• In Our Book Spotlight:  The Bucket List by RJ Scott
• Down Under Winner Announcements and this Week’s Schedule

Monday, February 2:

• More Winner Announcements!
• Release Day for John Inman’s Payback! (contest)
• Chris Scully ‘Nights Like These’ Virtual Tour (contest)
• A MelanieM Review: Infected: Epitaph by Andrea Speed
• A Sammy Review: Night Like These by Chris Scully

Tuesday, February 3:

• More Winner Announcements
• Excerpt Tour for Sin City 2 by Morticia Knight (contest)
• A Sammy Review: The Mechanical Chrysanthemums by Felicitas Ivey
• A BJ Review: Second Act by Kaje Harper
• A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Tame A Wild Human by Kari Gregg

Wednesday, February 4:

• More Winner Announcements from Down Under Author Showcase
• A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Shy by John Inman Audio book
• Excerpt Tour with D. P. Denman’s Bare Threads (contest)
• A Sammy Review: Dex in Blue by Amy Lane
• A Stella Review: Backwoods Asylum by Megan Derr

Thursday, February 5:

• More Winner Announcements
• Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock’s The Merchant of Death (contest)
• In Our Book Spotlight: RJ Scott’s Alpha, Delta
• A Stella Review: Rabbit Season by Megan Derr
• A Sammy Review: Ethan In Gold by Amy Lane
• A MelanieM Review: A Wedding to Die For by Xavier Mayne

Friday, February 6:

• More Winner Announcements , last author contests end!
• A Sammy Review: An Infatuation by Joe Cosentino
• A MelanieM Review: Trowchester Blues by Alex Beecroft
• A BJ Review: Payback by John Inman
• A MelanieM Review: The Bucket List by RJ Scott

Saturday, February 7:

• Final Down Under Author Showcase Announcements!
• A MelanieM Review: No Boundaries (Phoenix, Inc. #1) by S.E. Jakes