Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Guest Blog: Gitty Daneshvari

I love Gitty's adult debut, The Makedown, which is absolutely comical! It is something that everyone can read and get a good laugh from! (You can see my review of it if you click the tag below).

Instead of a character post, this one is through Gitty's own personal experience (still funny nonetheless!). Her middle grade debut, School of Fear, will be out on September 1st, 2009 from Little Brown for Young Readers. Click here to learn more about it from Amazon! (Don't you love the cover?)

Scroll down to win either The Makedown and School of Fear!

~~~

Most people would agree that children can be seriously odd. And while parents may not actually admit their children are weird, that doesn’t stop them from furrowing a brow at their kids’ classmates. This is after all a group that routinely disrobes in public, eats food without washing their hands, and ends friendships over a fruit roll up trade gone awry. They even ostracize peers over an imaginary disease known as “coodies,” all the while considering basic hygiene such as brushing their teeth, work.

I’ve always been moderately self-aware so my status as enfant bizarre certainly wasn’t a surprise. However, as I began writing School of Fear I realized just how insanely weird a child I had been. My Middle Grade novel following four phobic kids prompted me to dig into the past and relive details far more embarrassing than I remembered. Once on a family vacation to San Francisco I asked the front desk to let me sleep in the lobby as a means of avoiding the elevator. The request was denied by a stern concierge. I instantly became hysterical and insisted my mother allow me to sleep in the car alone. As I was only eleven years old, this request was also denied. In the end I was dragged into the elevator while hysterically crying and proclaiming to all who would listen that my mother was trying to kill me. Oh, she really must look back on those days with fondness…

~~~

Prize(s): A signed copy of The Makedown OR a signed copy of School of Fear
# of Winners: 2
Eligibility:
North America/Europe

How to get entries:
(please put keep it in the format below when you comment!)
+1 Comment
(TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU WANT TO BE ENTERED IN IF NOT BOTH)
+1 New follower
+2 Old follower

+1 Linking this contest once somewhere else around the web

post signature

42 comments:

Erica said...

I would love be entered to win either

+1 comment
+2 Old follower


:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

Park Avenue Princess said...

I would love it if I could win either book! Thank you for hosting this giveaway Diana!

I am SO glad I stumbled upon your blog! I hope you'll come by mine. I'm having some giveaways myself and some other things to post as well!

LOVE your blog!

+1 comment
+1 follower

Paradox said...

Enter me for School of Fear!

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 Link: http://twitter.com/ParadoxRevealed/status/3318324953

paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com

Sheere said...

Enter me for the Makedown, please!

+1 comment
+2 Old follower!

sheere.dry@gmail.com

Mardel said...

+1 What a funny story! Good thing moms love their kids. I'd like to enter for either book, both look interesting.
+1 I'm a follower of your blog

Anonymous said...

You can enter my name for both.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I am already a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

AnAddictedBookReader said...

Awesome I like to win either, thanks!
+1 comment
+2 old follower
adrienne2093(at)comcast(dot)net

Ashley said...

I'd love either one!
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

+1 for commenting
+2 old follower!
+1 posted on my sidebar at http://booksobsession.blogspot.com

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

These both look great! I'd sure be thrilled to win either one, thank you so much for the chance :)
+1 comment
+2 Old follower now lol

Anonymous said...

cintiaq@aol.com

+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linking this contest at a blog in pulseit http://pulseit.simonandschuster.com/_1st-blogoversary/blog/513482/107649.html

Ren @ All By Myshelf said...

Enter me for School of fear. ^_^

+2 old(ish) follower
+1 linked at DahliasEclecticMind.blogspot.com

eclecticdahlia@aol.com

ReggieWrites said...

+1 Comment: Any of the books are fine with me!

+2 Old follower! YAY!

regietc@gmail.com

Pam said...

Although they both look good, The Makedown would be my preference.

+1 comment

melacan at hotmail dto com

Miriam said...

I really want to be entered in this please, to win either. The covers are so bright. Thanks for hosting these awesome giveaways, especially international ones xxx

+1 Comment
+1 New follower

miriamfrancos[at]dsl[dot]pipex[dot]com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I'd love to be entered for School of Fear.

Blogged-

http://bridgethegapx.blogspot.com/2009/08/sunday-giveaways.html

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Jenny N. said...

+1 Either book would be fine with me
+1 New follower of yours

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

Unknown said...

+1 I'd like to be entered for both
+1 new follower
+1 tweet

http://twitter.com/bridget3420/status/3366403816

Anonymous said...

Please enter me to win the Makedown!
+1 comment
+1 new follower
I posted this contest on my blog
www.elenagraffino.wordpress.com

Andrea
andreaartist24@yahoo.com

Brittany said...

I would love to read both of these. They sound really fun!
+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linked on sidebar

teensatthelibrary[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

I would love to be entered for School of Fear

+1 Comment

+2 Old follower

+1 Added to sidebar
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com

Kate
neverendingshelf@gmail.com

Ninja Fanpire said...

+1 Commenting
ninjafanpire@hotmail.com
+1 New follower
+1 Linked to contests in blog post: http://ninjafanpire.blogspot.com/2009/08/contests_15.html

wdebo said...

+1 I would love to be entered in for The Makedown!

+2 Old Follower

+1 Linked:

http://wdebocontestfinds.blogspot.com/

Thanks Diana!!

Wdebo :)

electricalbookcafe@yahoo.com

Liviania said...

Sounds cool - I'd love to be entered for the Makedown. (I can't believe it's already been a year!)

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower

inbedwithbooks AT yahoo DOT com

Sarah said...

Please add me to the draw.
+1 Comment
+1 New follower

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered for School of Fear.

I also shared on my blog.

http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/giveaways-in-blogland-14/

+1 comment
+1 sharing

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

Wrighty said...

Please include me for School of Fear
thanks!

+1 comment
+2 already follow
+1 added to sidebar
www.wrightysreads.blogspot.com

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Beth said...

+1 Please enter me for both.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

+1 Thanks for this chance to win
Please enter me in to both!!!

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

+2 I am a old follower

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

+1 I twetted about this in Twitter

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

I twetted here is the link http://twitter.com/theblindcupid/status/3618298067

deltay said...

This sounds great, very unique and original, kind of alternative.

+1 Either or would be great :)
+2 Old follower

Ellz said...

These both sound great, please enter me for both.

Please count me in!
+1 comment
+1 new follower
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

L said...

Both they sound like great books, so entered me for both!

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 sidebar:
http://violeteyesroaming.blogspot.com/

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Book Sp(l)ot said...

I'd like to be entered for School of Fear, please

+1 for commenting
+1 for following (apparently I wasn't already no matter how much I thought so)

book.splotATgmailDOTcom

...and I get some points, maybe, for copying and pasting things with a word spelled wrong?

Beleth said...

I would love to enter this contest! I prefer Makedown.
i am a new follower

battyaboutbats(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks <3

booksrmysoul said...

Blair W
blairwlewis@gmail.com

Thank you for this chance to win this book!!

+1 Commenting
+1 New Follower
+1 I twetted http://twitter.com/booksrmysoul/status/3677984409

2 points

booksrmysoul said...

Blair W
bliarwlewis@gmail.com

Please sign me in for either book!!!

Unknown said...

Acacia
bucsfan12@rocketmail.com

Thanks for this chance to win enter me into both please.

+1 I am a New Follower of this blog
+1 I commented
+1 I twetted:https://twitter.com/lovenibs2/status/3668525557

3 points

CassandraBelikov440 said...

+1. commenting
+2 old follower
+1 posted about it in my blog

http://irishprincess440.blogspot.com/


Cassandra Conley
cassy133@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hi all. How are you?