Archive for the ‘Reader Challenges’ Category

DailyLit News: November 2009

Note from the CEO
It’s facetime here at DailyLit!  Upload a picture on your profile page and be eligible to win a free John Grisham book. It’s also time to thank Diane Von Furstenberg for sponsoring one of her favorite books of the year, Madame de Staël, now available for free on DailyLit.    And it’s time to launch our “Big Ideas” channel with inspiration from Gary Vaynerchuck, named one of this year’s most influential men.  We’ve also got free daily tips from Grammar Girl (secrets out — I love grammar!) and a new feature that allows you to automatically resume your books when you want to take a break for the holidays — just in time!

Susan Danziger
Founder and CEO, DailyLit
susan [at] dailylit [dot] com

Diane von Furstenberg Brings Favorite Book to DailyLit for Free
Iconic designer Diane von Furstenberg has a holiday gift for you: one of her favorite reads this year is now available on DailyLit for free.  Madame de Stael: The First Modern Woman is a fast-paced biography that tells the glamorous, dramatic story of a woman who was a true force to be reckoned with. Vogue Magazine called it “a timely mediation on female power and an inspiring profile of one woman’s courage.” Thanks to Diane and the publisher, it’s free through the end of January. Read it.

New! DailyLit Kicks off “Big Ideas”
“Big Ideas” is designed to inspire you with new ideas for both work and play.  Kicking off this new channel is inspiration from Gary Vaynerchuk’s new book Crush It! Cash In on your Passion.  He grew his family’s wine business and became a national industry leader, landing him at #18 on AskMen.com’s list of 50 most influential Men of 2009. Read it–FREE.

DailyLit’s Big Read: Short Story by John Grisham
Bestselling author John Grisham just released his first ever collection of short stories, Ford County–and we’ve selected one as this month’s Big Read. “Fetching Raymond” is a simple, powerful story about a day one family knew was coming but still can’t face. Read it–FREE.

Reader Challenge
As bestselling author Daniel Pink wrote, exercising your creativity leads to personal and professional success.  With that in mind, and holiday dinners fast approaching, this month’s reader challenge asks you to imagine a fictional holiday gathering and describe–in no more than 50 words–a character, conversation or event at your holiday meal. Share your mini-stories in our Reader Challenge forum. And to sweeten the pot, we’ll select three winners, each of whom will receive a copy of Mollie Katzen’s new book, Get Cooking.

New reads
–Grammar Girl: She’s on the scene to make grammar easy and fun with her “quick and dirty” tips.  We’ve got a selection from her new book that will make you a better writer. Read it–FREE.
–Jane Perry Returns: In a second piece of original writing, Laurel Dewey’s inimitible heroine Detective Jane Perry returns to DailyLit. Get into her head with “You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover,” a blog entry by the detective. Read it–FREE. (And if you missed the first installment, “An Unfinished Death,” read it here–FREE.)

Pause Your Books for the Holidays
You’ve always been able to suspend and resume delivery of your books using the links at the end of any installment. Now, with the holidays coming up, when you want to suspend your book, you can set a date for it to automatically resume.  Just click on the “suspend” link at the bottom of any installment to set it up.

Upload Your Picture Now–You May Win a Grisham Book
To make our community a little friendlier, join us for some facetime here at DailyLit.  Help us out by uploading a personalized profile picture. Your face, your cat, your favorite painting–doesn’t matter what you choose. And everyone with a personalized picture uploaded by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, November 22nd will be automatically entered to win one of five copies of John Grisham’s new book Ford County.

Winners of the 50 Word Crime Noir Challenge

In September our Reader Challenge asked you to write a crime noir in 50 Words. Thanks to all who participated–so many of you submitted great mini-crime stories, making for a great challenge. Our guest judge James Ellroy just picked his three winners.

Without further ado, here, in no particular order, are the winning crime noirs. Congratulations! Each winner will receive a free signed copy of Blood’s a Rover, Ellroy’s new novel.

“Not What It Seemed” by seagoat
 I almost fell for the dame. She murdered Case and now she was going down. She yanked her little gun from her purse and fired. She was a lousy shot. I slugged her beautiful face. The wig flew off. I gaped. Then I kicked him in the crotch.

Untitled, by mstrust
“It’s done?” she asked.
He had a photo as proof. She looked closely. Held out a bag.
“Killing his girlfriend was cheaper.”
“You hired someone else?” He sounded hurt.
“Simple job,” she smiled.
He shook his head.
“Scorned women keep me in business.”
“Hits?”
“Arrests,” he said, pulling his badge.

“A Friend in Need” by snailgenie
In trouble again.
She wiped the rain out of her eyes, or was it tears?
He hesisted…
She wasn’t the brightest bulb, but then again, he often had a hangover.
He sighed and offered her his coat.
Later, he’d regret leaving his handcuffs in the pocket.

Read all the entries in our Reader Challenge forum.

DailyLit News: October 2009

Note from the CEO
It’s a month of style, soup, and spooks.  Check out our new DailyLit Style line launching with Shoes, Bags and Tiaras featuring stunning objects from the Victoria & Albert museum collection. We’ve also got recipes from Molly Katzen (known for her bestselling Moosewood Cookbook); the spooky Legend of Sleepy Hollow as our new Big Read; oh, and for the beat of a different drummer, we’ve got a new memoir from Stewart Copeland, drummer for The Police.

Susan Danziger
Founder and CEO, DailyLit
susan [at] dailylit [dot] com

New! DailyLit Style Kicks off with Shoes, Bags, and Tiaras
We’ve created DailyLit Style to bring you fashion, art and style of all kinds. Kicking off this line is Shoes, Bags, and Tiaras featuring objects from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London sent directly to your inbox one gorgeous object at a time. Read it—FREE.

New Reads: Recipes, A Rocker, and More
—Get Cooking by Mollie Katzen: The author of the best-selling “Moosewood Cookbook” has just released a brand new collection of recipes, from Genuine Mac & Cheese to Chocolate-Peanut Butter Crunchy Things; we’ve got a taste for you. Read it—FREE.
—Strange Things Happen by Stewart Copeland: He’s the drummer for The Police, one of the most successful rock bands of all time. Find out what happened backstage, pictures and all. Read it—FREE.
—Unfinished Death by Laurel Dewey: In anticipation of the paperback release of Dewey’s detective novel, “Redemption,” each month we’re releasing one original, never before published story featuring her inimitable character, Jane Perry. Read this month’s story—FREE.

DailyLit’s Big Read: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
With Halloween approaching, we’ve made the classic short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow our next Big Read. Join us in following our hero Ichabod Crane into the dark, misty woods. Read it—FREE:

Reader Challenge: Tea with the Queen
As a tribute to the launch of “Shoes, Bags, and Tiaras” from the Victoria & Albert Museum collection, this month’s Reader Challenge will challenge you to invite an unlikely character for tea with the queen.  Describe this encounter in one sentence and post your royal responses in our Reader Challenge Forum. (For those of you who took part in last month’s challenge, winners will be announced shortly.)

Fresh Voices, Fresh Tastes
We’re proud to announce the launch of two series from our very own DailyLit Externs: Authors in the Kitchen by Megan Halpern features bestselling authors, including Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife), talking about cooking and the stories that spice it up. The Ghost in the Pantry by Erin Ferretti-Slattery features recipes and stories that highlight’s her own family’s rich history. Read Authors in the Kitchen or The Ghost in the Pantry—FREE.

DailyLit Selects (This Week: Malcolm Gladwell)
DailyLit Selects is our on-going series of excerpts from new and noteworthy authors. This week we’re featuring an excerpt from Malcolm Gladwell’s new book What the Dog Saw. You can also check out excerpts from Dan Brown’s new book and Oprah’s latest book club pick. Read DailyLit Selects—FREE.

Last Day to Enter Mini Crime Noir Challenge with Guest Judge James Ellroy

It’s here–your last chance to write a mini crime noir and enter it into our Reader Challenge with guest judge James Ellroy. The bestselling crime writer will select three winners, each of whom will receive a signed copy of his new book, Blood’s a Rover. Start thinking like a hardboiled cop and get to it in our Reader Challenge forum–you’ve only got until 11:59pm (EST) tonight!

3 Days Left in Mini Crime Noir Reader Challenge with Guest Judge James Ellroy

There’s only three days left to enter our Mini Crime Noir Reader Challenge. James Ellroy, the “Demon Dog of American Crime Fiction,” will be choosing three winners, each of whom will receive a signed copy of Ellroy’s new book, Blood’s a Rover. Ready to put on your detective trench and start writing? Head to our Reader Challenge forum here. And hurry–you’ve only got until 11:59pm on Sunday, October 4th!

Write a Crime Noir in 50 Words — Judged by James Ellroy — Deadline 10/4

There’s less than a week left to participate in DailyLit’s creative challenge to come up with a 50 word mini-crime-noir.  James Ellroy himself, known for his intense crime-noir novels, will be reading the submissions and selecting three winners, each of whom will receive a signed copy of his new book, Blood’s A Rover.  You can learn more about the challenge here — and read the essays that have been submitted so far.  Deadline for submissions is October 4th (at 11:59pm) — that’s 10/4 (over and out!)

DailyLit News: September 2009

Note from the CEO
I’m thrilled to announce that DailyLit has delivered over 25 million book installments! To celebrate, we’re launching the DailyLit Selects excerpt program starting with an excerpt from Dan Brown’s new book. We’re also celebrating Darwin’s 150th anniversary with this month’s Big Read, and we’re releasing David Wellington’s 30 stories in 30 days–all available for FREE.

Susan Danziger
Founder and CEO, DailyLit
susan@dailylit.com

New: DailyLit Selects: Excerpt Program–Dan Brown Kicks it Off
You asked for excerpts from noteworthy books, and we’re making them available. To kick off this new program, we’re launching an excerpt from Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol. We’ll periodically send you excerpts from books we think you’ll enjoy. FREE for you.

DailyLit’s Big Read: Darwin’s On the Origin of Species
Join the world-wide celebration of the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and find out for yourself what all the controversy was about. We’ve taken the first four chapters and made them this month’s Big Read (but don’t worry, you can go on to read the rest of the chapters–or go for it all at once with the full version). Join the Big Read–FREE.

New Reads: 30 Stories in 30 Days; Momlogic; The 50th Law; Defining Twilight

  • 30 Stories in 30 Days: A first for DailyLit. We’re joining in the countdown to the publication of author David Wellington’s Frostbite–a tale of werewolves in the frozen north–by releasing one of his short stories each day for 30 days, all for free. But no cheating! One story is released per day–you won’t be able to skip ahead. Read them—FREE.
  • Momlogic Recession Survival Guide: Times are tough. The experts at Momlogic have created this guide to help you and your family get through the downturn. And it’s completely FREE–a price any budget can handle. Read it–FREE.
  • The 50th Law: Robert Greene’s book The 48 Laws of Power was aimed at business types, but it deeply moved one fellow you might not expect: rapper 50 Cent. Greene and 50 teamed up to write The 50th Law, a book for everyone who believes that if you fear nothing, you will succeed. The publisher has made the entire book available to our readers. Read it–FREE.
  • Defining Twilight: Studying for the SAT or ACT or know someone who is? Defining Twilight uses the blockbuster novel to teach vocabulary words and test-taking skills. We’ve got four weeks’ worth of words. Read it–FREE.

Reader Challenge: Crime-Noir in 50 Words with Guest Judge James Ellroy
Best-selling author James Ellroy is known for his intense crime-noir novels. He’s even been called the Demon Dog of American crime fiction. Venture into the world of hard-boiled cops and criminals and come up with your own 50 word mini-crime-noir. Don’t forget to create an intriguing title. James Ellroy himself will judge the entries and select three winners, each of whom will receive a signed copy of Ellroy’s new book (to be released on Sept. 22nd), Blood’s A Rover. Post your mini-crime-noir no later than October 4th at 11:59 p.m. in our Reader Challenge Forum.

Classics by Request–The Brothers Karamazov
Thanks to requests from “jogrebe,” “wsimpson,” “psycheinaboat,” and others, we’ve just launched The Brothers Karamazov on DailyLit. Experience the intense story of love, death, betrayal, and faith that makes this Dostoyevsky work–his last–a true classic. Read it–FREE.

The Inspiration Behind the 6-Word Memoir

It’s great that you’ve been enjoying our “____ in 6 Words” Reader Challenges. (This month’s challenge: Summer Vacation in 6 Words.) We wanted to highlight the inspiration behind the 6-word memoir: SMITH Magazine. Their Six-Word Memoir project is based on the idea that everyone has a story, and everyone should have a place to tell it. The place? Their website, to start, which has a lively community of folks sending in 6-word stories every day. They’ve even published a book of their favorites, Not Quite What I Was Planning, and have another one planned. So keep working on those 6-worders! You might be able to see your name in print.