I am a highly creative person. So much so that I have no business sense, sometimes.

And... I love contests!

I love to give away prizes.

Since I am headed to Brenham this Friday for the annual Author/ Poet luncheon--and I happen to be working on the third book in my series--I decided maybe it's time for a new contest.

I designed a brochure that announces the new contest so I can print, fold and take it with me on Friday. After this wicked, winter blast passes (during which, I will be writing away my days), I hope to make it to an office supply store to pick up some tri-fold brochure paper. Maybe the T-shirts I ordered will be ready to pick up the same day.

There are twelve characters in my series, The Gifted Ones, six of which have been named in the first two books. Names are not a problem for me. My characters usually name themselves. Their faces take shape as they speak to me.

Powers?

Powers, on the other hand, take some thought. With the Gifted Ones, the power has come to me as the character has taken shape in the story. It's a process that comes with story telling, and I am a story teller of strong, life-like characters, so I hear.

The idea for this contest came to me through a discussion with a fan who stopped by my table at ComiCon '14. It was my first trip to a ComiCon with my fantasy series. I had never thought of my series as a superhero themed series. I gleaned a great deal of information from that weekend of fun. 

The teenager who stopped by asked if any of the characters were going to wear spandex in the next book. We had a laugh, and I said, "Who knows? Maybe." He replied with a nod, "If so, I will have to read the series."

The more I laughed about that encounter, the more I thought about it.

Spandex?

Superheroes?

Why not?

If you read the first chapter of the third book--the rough draft is posted in my den--you will see that I did, in fact, choose to open with one of the characters dressed in spandex. This fan encounter provided the basis for the contest.

Why not include my fans in the decision making process and have some fun while writing the third book?

And so, I am.

I've attached a copy of the brochure in PDF format if anyone reading this would like to participate in the contest, or give it to a teacher so they can try to win a gift card for his/ her classroom.

Looking forward to seeing the reader ideas!