New Writer's Challenge: Please Vote!

Back in the spring, I participated in World Book Night as an official "Book Giver." I had the honor of giving out 20 copies of "The Lovely Bones," and the group I selected to give them to was a classroom of adult students working on getting their GED through the WakeTech Adult Education Department.


I was very excited to meet everyone, and they welcomed me warmly. In fact, so many were interested in hearing about writing as a career, that I decided to create an opportunity for them:

I created my very own NEW WRITER'S CHALLENGE!

Every entrant receives a prize just for participating. The top three finalists have their articles published on my blog (here!) The Grand Prize Winner will receive a copy of each of my books, signed by me, and an assignment as a guest blogger here on LoriTheAuthor!

So, here is where you come in!... We need voters to decide which story wins!

Please take a few minutes to READ ALL THREE articles before voting. (Don't worry... they're short!) AFTER YOU'VE READ THEM, please go to the survey to register your vote! (Below.)

Thank you very much for giving a few minutes of your time to help encourage those in our community who are working hard toward a better future!

Entry: Brushing Up Against Coco


Entry: Overcomer



Entry: The Person Who Changed My Life Irrevocably

I hope you enjoyed reading the entries. Now it's time to VOTE! Please access the voting form here... there are only 3 questions... it will take under a minute! THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE VOTING FORM! (Voting is open until June 29, 2012.)

Want to stay posted on who wins? Follow my blog (on the right) so you'll know when I post the winner!

Momnesia Swag Pack Giveaway!

I just can't help myself. I love running these giveaways! It gives me a chance to show my appreciation for all of my readers and "share the love," so to speak.

What is a Momnesia Swag Pack, you ask? It's a gift pack that includes a Momnesia: Find Balance tee shirt, lipstick pen, handmade hair ribbon, glitter nail file, iPhone stylus, & more! Entering is easy and fun!

PLEASE GIVE THE ENTRY FORM A FEW SECONDS TO LOAD. THANKS, AND GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Did you submit as many entries as possible? Great! Good luck winning, and thanks for playing!

To stay posted on additional giveaways, fun articles, events, & more, I invite you to join me on Facebook!

Interested in Momnesia Swag? I've got tees, shot glasses, mugs, tote bags... even g-string panties! (Gasp!) Visit the Momnesia Swag Store at www.cafepress.com/Momnesia!


Want to check out Momnesia, the novel? It's available in paperback or kindle. Find it, see reviews from readers, etc. here: Amazon!

Want to share this giveaway with your friends? Fantastic! Please use the links just below this post to share via Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and more!

Summer Reads Giveaway!

THE SUMMER READS GIVEAWAY HOP HAS BEEN MOVED TO MY NEW SITE! PLEASE GO HERE TO ENTER!

Momnesia Wine Party -- Win a $10 iTunes Card!

Who? You, me, and many other fun people!
What? Having a blast at the Momnesia Wine Party!
Where? Niche Wine Lounge, Holly Springs, NC
When? Thursday, May 31, 7:00 pm till ???
Why? Because what could be better than a party that's all about books, women, wine, and chocolates?!!

Guess What? (Are you guessing?) Okay, I'll tell you! In order to make this a blowout bash, we want to spread the word... and we need your help! We're making it fun by giving you a chance to Win a $10 iTunes Gift Card, just for telling people about the party!


Here is the entry form. Please give it a minute to load. When you're done entering, scroll down to see more party details!
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More event details:
Join us for an evening of wine, books, and fun!


~Free chocolates and bookmarks!
~A short reading from "Momnesia," by Lori Verni-Fogarsi!
~Book signing!
~Games that will make you laugh till you cry!
~Enter to win a free, super-luxurious spa basket!
~$2 Wine tasting!


Not just for women, men also enjoy the "Momnesia" concept and are starting their own version of a "Men Against Momnesia" movement! (I say this in jest... sort of, but not really!)


Please mark your calendar and invite your friends! (Click HERE to see the invite, RSVP, and/or invite your friends!)


For a free preview of Momnesia, please visit www.LoriTheAuthor.com!


Hope to see you at the party!

Kindle Fire Giveaway! Holey Moley!

Please click to take a look at my novel!
(You will not lose your place.)
And good luck with the giveaway!

Okay, so what's the deal, you ask? How is it possible that you're giving away a Kindle Fire AND a $50 Amazon gift card to go with it? "It must be a scam!" exclaims the cynical, logical side of you. "It's too good to be true!"

Really, it's not. Too good to be true, that is. It's actually quite simple: I've chipped in with 24 other authors to buy a Kindle Fire and a $50 Amazon Gift Card so that one of our fabulous, much-beloved readers can win it!

Of course, I'd love for you to take a look at my novel, "Momnesia," and buy it if you're interested. But even if you don't, I encourage you to enter the giveaway because, well, who in their right mind wouldn't want to win this? Good luck!
(Enter beginning May 15 at 12:01am)

Here is the Rafflecopter entry form. Please give it a minute to load!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules, Restrictions & Details: Giveaway is open to anyone 13 or older who can receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Card. If you live in the US you can choose to receive a $50 Amazon.com egift card and have us ship the Kindle Fire to you or you may choose to receive a $250 Amazon.com egift card and purchase the Kindle Fire yourself. If you live outside the US you will receive a $250 Amazon.com egift card. All funds are in US dollars. All entries must be done through the rafflecopter form. This giveaway is paid for and sponsored by the 25 participating blogs and is not associated with or sponsored by Facebook, Twitter or Amazon. Giveaway runs from 12:01 AM EST on May 15, 2012 until 11:59 PM on May 30, 2012.

You Know What They Say About "Assuming"

Just in case you're not familiar, what they say is that when you assume, you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me." (Catchy, eh?)

I don't know if I would go so far as to say that I, or anyone else has been made an "ass" of, but I do feel that I should clarify a bit: As my readers know, I am a big proponent of finding balance between "momminess" and "sexiness." This is evidenced by a multitude of articles, tweets, interviews, and features that all tend to lean the same way. My overall message is this:

We women tend to put so much effort into our families, that we often forget about ourselves. Thus, we need to direct some effort toward taking good care of our Selves, so that we can enjoy our children and our overall life in peace, happiness, and the absence of resentment.

However, I'm realizing that there is an assumed message in all this, the assumption being that (as I've found to be the case), most of us don't have any problem finding our "momminess." We don't need to be reminded to sing preschool songs, play bubble bath games, and talk to our teens in the car on the way to their activities. We already do these things. As well as cook, clean, work, attend school functions, volunteer our time, take care of the pets, and the multifarious other things we, as dedicated moms, do.

Now, I'm sure there are--somewhere out there--moms who have not found their "momminess." For their childrens' sake, I hope they find their mommy groove so they can provide nurturing lives for the children they've chosen to bring into this world. But they are not my "target audience." The vast majority of us moms have already found (and often have been overtaken by) our "momminess." It's our sexiness that needs encouragement, and that's what I try to do.

Since I don't want to leave anyone out, I'd like to provide this advice for any moms out there who need encouragement to find their "momminess:" Sing songs, play bubble bath games, and talk to your teens in the car. When you are at home, make sure their schoolwork is done, praise them lavishly for good work, and punish them when they need it. Try and eat as many meals together as possible. Tuck them in at night with hugs and kisses, and a story. Then go pour yourself a glass of wine, light some scented candles, and be "you." Just you. It makes it easier to do all this other stuff. Balance. We can be both.

Love you!
xoxoxoxo

Southern Women's Show Second Chance Giveaway!

I had a great time exhibiting at the Southern Women's Show April 27-29 and if you attended, I hope you had a wonderful time!

LoriTheAuthor at Southern Women's Show!

If you visited my booth, "Momnesia: by Lori The Author," you likely entered to win a Kindle... 749 people entered and the winner was Mary Pulley. Congratulations Mary!

I really appreciate everyone who stopped by to meet me and so I've decided to offer a Second Chance Giveaway for Southern Women's Show attendees! It's easy to enter, and you have the opportunity to receive multiple entries! You could win a free, signed copy of "Momnesia!"

If you didn't purchase "Momnesia" while you were at the show, here is where you can find it on Amazon. Its a perfect book around Mother's Day, is a hot summer beach read, and if you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it! Click to go to Momnesia on Amazon. Don't worry, you won't lose your place... it will open in a new window!

And now, here's the entry form. Please give it a minute to load. If you're on a mobile device, you "may" need to "open in browser," but usually not. Good luck!