I’m still getting the occasional hit on my Cover Dog Photo Contest posts from last summer. Thought I would let you know, I’m running another portrait contest. This one is a raffle to celebrate the launch of Maximum Security later this month.
It’s part of my online launch party on Facebook, Wednesday, November 20, from 7pm – 11 pm, EST. Participate in party activities to rack up entries. There will be lots of other prizes as well, but the grand prize is an oil painting of your dog from photos that you supply to me. No purchase is necessary to earn entries.
Go to the Maximum Security Launch Party Page to RSVP, and while you’re there, get your first entry by suggesting a caption for the photo of Buddy, a little troublemaker caught in the act of eating Grandma’s Christmas present.
If you’d like to study up for the trivia questions, half of these are from this sample of Maximum Security. The rest come from A Shot in the Bark and Drool Baby. Other activities do not require any special knowledge to participate.
Please feel free to invite anyone who likes dogs and mysteries – but then, who doesn’t?
It is so Cold today
The wind is Bold today
And I am Sold today
On staying in my bed.
Oh, No, the puppies said
No matter what your dread
We’ll dance upon your head
Until you see our way.
And so we’ll bark and bark
Eventually you’ll hark
You’ll take us to the park
So we can run and play.
(Sung to the tune of Tra-La-La Boom-de-ay)
I’m really excited about Maximum Security. It’s going to be another month before it comes out (November 21, Yikes!) and I can’t stand it, so I’m posting the first 10% here. This dog park mystery features my very own Max (yes, that’s her, above) as an escape artist (she’s playing to type). If you want to go straight to the dogs, skip the prologue and go to “Day 1.”
To get the PDF, click here > Maximum Security Sample
I hope you love it!
Here’s another picture, just because.
My response to Hugh’s latest blog post:
I feel like Dorothy, at the end of the Wizard of Oz, where she wakes up and pontificates about finding things in her own back yard. For three months I scoured the internet, looking for the perfect escape-artist cover-dog for Maximum Security. Doh. He lives next door.
Meet Simba. Simba Lives with Jerome Wilson, owner of Northside Grange Pet and Urban Farm Supply, where I get my grain-free kibble.
Simba is a bright and talented young man. I’ve known him since he came to live with Jerome as a pup less than a year ago. One day in July I was hanging over the fence and being neighborly. Simba has his own yard-within-a-yard, to keep him out of the garden. I noticed a small stock pallet leaning against the gate to Simba’s playpen, blocking the gap between the bottom of the gate and the ground.
“Does Simba ever try to escape?” I asked.
Turns out escape is one of his great pleasures in life.
Watch Simba in action.
Simba Wiggled through, only to meet his warden . . . er, owner, Jerome, on the other side.
I haven’t decided which picture to use yet because I don’t know which is my favorite. I’ll be sure to post the oil painting here when it’s done. Meanwhile, I’ve been playing with this image and I like it alot.
If you’d like to see some of my other entrants, click here and here.
In April, I announced a contest seeking a photo of an escaping dog to use as the basis for the cover of my upcoming book, Maximum Security. The winner of the contest will have their dog featured on the cover. They also get the original oil painting of their dog used to create the cover.
You can check out the original post and rules here. I posted an update, featuring some terrific contenders here.
There’s still time to submit a photo. The contest ends July 31.
I wish I could feature everyone’s baby on one of my covers, but I don’t have that many books in me. Meanwhile, I thought I would share some of the more intriguing photos. Some entrants have really pushed the envelope on how they define escape:
By the look on Storm’s face, I’m suspecting that his definition of escape includes herbal kibble.
Buddy has seen a few too many jail-beak movies. This is his version of sneaking out in the laundry cart.
Sadie is hitching a ride.
Jax thought a good roll in the dirt would provide camoflauge for his escape.
Hollywolf is using a disguise.
This young man has just launched a full-frontal surprise attack.
I’m sorry to say, Dr. Watson has been “collared.”
Sherman is relying on his good looks ot get the part.
Lady figures her experience as a professional dog model with her own line of greeting cards will win the day.
And then we have our alternate species entrants:
This mama possum shows a talent for drama.
Marlon Monroe demonstrates his acting skills, appearing here in drag as Takeesha Naquisha
Sty tuned! I’ll announce the winner on August 1st.
Lia Anderson Dog Park Mysteries by C.A. Newsome 