Write Dreams

Thank you

2012-02-17T01:00:00.000Z

Here we are, the auctions are closed and the total is in!

*drumroll*

We have raised an amazing…

£1073 / $1694

All the money has already been donated to Donna’s Dream House.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated, bid, promoted and cheered us on.

All of you are special, amazing people and thank you so much.

Update

2012-02-12T16:15:00.000Z

We’re just sorting through the final bids and will post the total in a little while…

A little love...

2012-02-01T11:28:00.000Z

...for our last auctions?

We've extended a few lots until tomorrow:

THREE signed copies of Sky Hawk!
A signed copy of Mistress of the Storm!
A signed hardback of Darren Shan's Palace of the Damned!
Signed copies of Walking with Witches, One Boy's War & Play laugh and learn: Celebrate the Seasons!

Tonight we'll be closing these two items:

An awesome Scarlet t-shirt!
A first chapter critique and a copy of Possum Summer!

If you want to help rebuild this...

...to resemble a Dream House again, please do consider bidding :-)

(How's that for pulling heartstrings? ;))

Finally, Melissa Sugar and Johanna, can you email us asap to claim your winning bids? Thank you! :)

We'll update the blog with our total SOON! Thank you all!

<3

Weekend update!

2012-01-28T18:29:00.000Z

All the auction lots are all live now! And at the end of today (UK-style) TWO more auction items will go to the highest bidders, so let the bidding wars commence once more! :)

Up for grabs today:

A full YA critique!
A signed set of the Lottie Biggs series with personalized drawing!

And don't forget tomorrow's items either:

Signed copies of Tabitha Suzuma's books!
The Young Sherlock Holmes series, including a signed copy of Fire Storm!

Finally, Fiona Dunbar's signed set of the Lulu Baker trilogy and Luisa Plaja's signed books have both been extended to the 30th! Get your bids in while you still can!

And as always, thank you all for continuing to be SO VERY AWESOME.
<3

Day 13 - Item 4

2012-01-28T11:00:00.004Z

From Lynn Huggins-Cooper signed copies of Walking with Witches, One Boy's War & Play laugh and learn: Celebrate the Seasons

Eleanor and Izzy are on a trip to Newcastle, visiting the Literary and Philosophical Society library. They see odd shadows and hear ghostly whispering voices - and a book in a glass display case leafs open as they watch. Pages stop fluttering at woodcut of a group of witches hanged on the town moor in 1650. The girls hear a bell ringing and their adventure begins...The friends decide to study the witches for a history project. When witches' bones are unearthed in St. Andrew's graveyard in Newgate Street the girls investigate, and encounter an unearthly dark cloaked figure. As they follow the trail that the accused witches took around Newcastle, the friends fit the pieces of the puzzle together ...and put themselves in danger.

One Boy's War
Sixteen-year-old Sydney is overwhelmed by the excitement of the 1914 recruitment campaigns and the bravado of men leaving for the Great War. Bursting with enthusiasm, he runs away to join up, but soon finds himself a long way from home in a frontline trench where reality - and the rats - begin to bite. Told through Sydney's optimistic letters home and his journal, this is his honest portrayal of the disillusionment and degradation of life and death in the trenches of World War I.

International

Bidding is open until February 2nd 11PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 13 - Item 3

2012-01-28T10:00:00.003Z

From Harper Collins a SIGNED hardback of Palace of the Dammed by Darren Shan

In the third instalment in the creepy, captivating Larten Crepsley series, Larten finds out what it means to love… but is he also damned to find out what it means to lose?

Lost in the arctic waste, carrying a baby whose love he could never deserve, Larten faces the darkest time he has ever known.

But hope has a way of shining through even the smallest of cracks, and just as Larten reaches the end, a new beginning presents itself. The trouble is, for Larten, the violence of his youth is never far from the surface… and those he loves are the ones he hurts the most. As Larten experiences heaven and hell, and tries to save the soul of a child, the question is: can he save his own?

International
Bidding is open until February 2nd 10PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)
Minimum bid is £10

Day 13 - Item 2

2012-01-28T09:30:00.004Z

From Jen K Bloom a critique of the first three chapters plus a query AND a copy of POSSUM SUMMER

Jen grew up in the middle of the wind-swept plains of Oklahoma & developed her deep love of traveling & animals from exploring the Sooner state river bottoms. She had a possum (and a raccoon) for pets, could mount a horse Native-American style (saddle-less and flat-footed) and once climbed a mountain only to come face to nose with an American Buffalo.

It was a very big buffalo.

She’s lived as far away as Darwin, Australia as a beach bum (camped in Kakadu!) & as close as Virginia as an owner/breeder Azawakh handler but currently calls Berlin, Germany her home. She is and will always remain an Okie, however.

Jen is owned by the Sphynx cats Yoda and Blue, who do not believe in alarm clocks but do believe in incessant meowing, & is the handmaiden of her darling beautiful daughter Loki.

She’s also lucky to have her husband – who is always her first & best beta reader – regularly tear apart her writing!

POSSUM SUMMER

Princess is a die-hard tomboy growing up in the middle of the Oklahoma plains with only one friend in a thirty-mile radius: her best buddy Mart. Her dad’s off to war and her mama is gone all day working, so she’s in charge of the farm and all the inhabitants living on it for the summer. When she finds an orphan kit in the ragged remains of a possum her dog just killed, she has a real tough decision to make.

Save him against her father’s wishes? Or let him die?

From the moment she looks into his eyes her heart is lost, and she decides to try it – no matter the cost to her. But when Ike the possum’s cover is blown, she struggles to find the power in herself to get past the price he has to pay.

International
Bidding is open until February 1^st 9.30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 13 - Item 1

2012-01-28T09:00:00.004Z

From AC Gaughen a SCARLET t-shirt!

SCARLET is a retelling of the Robin Hood legend. Most of Nottinghamshire knows Will Scarlet: a quick and clever thief that sticks to the shadows and protects the band without question, but even those that know Scarlet’s really a girl don’t know the secrets of her past, like how she got the scar on her cheek. Guy of Gisbourne may be the one person who does: and he was just hired to bring Robin Hood and his gang to the gallows.

International
Bidding is open until February 1^st 9PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 12 - Item 5

2012-01-27T11:00:00.002Z

From Jessica Bell a signed copy of String Bridge & its soundtrack!

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits, and she realizes she's been seeking fulfillment in the wrong place.

International
Bidding is open until January 31^st 11PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 12 - Item 4

2012-01-27T10:30:00.000Z

From Catherine Knutsson a first chapter critique & signed ARC of Shadows Cast By Stars

Catherine Knutsson lives on Vancouver Island, where she can be found writing, riding horses, and wandering the wilds. Her first novel, THE SHADOWS CAST BY STARS, will be published June 2012 by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

From Catherine: My strengths as a critiquer, in the past I served as an assistant editor for a small spec fic magazine with a literary bent (it's called SHIMMER), and I taught singing for years, so I've got a good eye (ear!) for voice and building authentic-yet-tension-filled relationships between characters.

SHADOWS CAST BY STARS

Old ways are pitted against new horrors in this compellingly crafted dystopian tale about a girl who is both healer and seer.Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet—especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the Plague ravaging the rest of the world.

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to Plague, but that doesn’t mean she’s safe—government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cassandra and her family, they flee to the Island: a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors—and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken her under her wing, and the tribal leader’s son into his heart, the creatures of the spirit world are angry, and they have chosen Cassandra to be their voice and instrument….

Incorporating the traditions of the First Peoples as well as the more familiar stories of Greek mythology and Arthurian legend, SHADOWS CAST BY STARS is a haunting, beautifully written story that breathes new life into ancient customs.

International
Bidding is open until January 31^st 10:30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 12 - Item 3

2012-01-27T10:00:00.001Z

From Melanie Welsh a signed copy of Mistress of the Storm

Verity Gallant knows she’ll never be as pretty and popular as Poppy, her perfect little sister – she doesn’t quite fit in. But when a mysterious stranger hands her an ancient red book, everything changes. Verity becomes embroiled in a tale of dark magic and intrigue; she uncovers old rivalries and discovers new friends. Together, she, Henry and Martha explore the secrets stirring in the ancient harbour town of Wellow. But what will it take to stop a powerful witch hell-bent on revenge?

International
Bidding is open until February 2nd 9.30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 12 - Item 2

2012-01-27T09:30:00.002Z

From MG author Marissa Burt a 10 page critique of a MG manuscript.

Marissa Burt writes middle grade fantasy and is represented by Laura Langlie of the Laura Langlie Literary Agency. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, and drifted eastward, living in Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, and South Carolina, before coming back home to the Pacific Northwest. Along the way, she studied Sociology, Ancient Languages, and Theology and clocked hours as a social worker, barista, 5th grade teacher, bookseller, faculty assistant, and reference librarian. But not all at the same time. Marissa now lives in the Seattle area with her husband and three sons where she enjoys time spent around family, friends, and good books.

Her first novel, STORYBOUND, releases on 4/3/12.

From Marissa:

“As far as strengths as a critiquer, I think I can offer my personal experience of the writing and revision process as well as being a Faculty Assistant for graduate level coursework. Hopefully this combination will interest some people!”

International

Bidding is open until January 31^st 9.30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 12 - Item 1

2012-01-27T09:00:00.001Z

From Katie Dale & Simon and Schuster

Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale

How can you face your future when your past it a lie?
When Rosie Kenning's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntingdon's disease, her whole world falls apart. Not only does Rosie desperately miss her mum, but now she has to face the fact that she could have inherited the fatal illness herself. Until she discovers that Trudie wasn't her biological mother at all ...Rosie is stunned. Can this be true? Is she grieving for a mother who wasn't even hers to lose? And if Trudie wasn't her mother, who is? But as Rosie delves into her past to discover who she really is, she is faced with a heart-breaking dilemma - to continue living a lie, or to reveal a truth that will shatter the lives of everyone around her...

AND

Fated by Sarah Alderson

What happens when you discover you aren't who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?

When Evie Tremain discovers that she’s the last in a long line of Demon slayers and that she’s being hunted by an elite band of assassins –Shapeshifters, Vampires and Mixen demons amongst them – she knows she can’t run. They’ll find her wherever she goes. Instead she must learn to stand and fight.

But when the half-human, half-Shadow Warrior Lucas Gray - is sent to spy on Evie and then ordered to kill her before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy, their fates become inextricably linked. The war that has raged for one thousand years between humans and demons is about to reach a devastating and inevitable conclusion. Either one or both of them will die before this war ends.

If your life becomes bound to another’s, what will it take to sever it?

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 31^st 9PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)
These books are not signed.

Day 11 - Item 4

2012-01-26T11:00:00.004Z

From Harper Collins a SIGNED hardback of Derek Landy's Death Bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant)

Think you’ve seen anything yet? You haven’t. Because the Death Bringer is about to rise…
The Necromancers no longer need Valkyrie to be their Death Bringer, and that’s a Good Thing.

There’s just one catch. There’s a reason the Necromancers don’t need her any more. And that’s because they’ve found their Death Bringer already, the person who will dissolve the doors between life and death.

And that’s a very, very Bad Thing…

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 30^th 11PM GMT

Bidding is in POUNDS (£)
Minimum bid is £10

Day 11 - Item 3

2012-01-26T10:00:00.004Z

From Gill Lewis 3 signed copies of Sky Hawk

Something lives deep within the forest... something that has not been seen on Callum's farm for over a hundred years. Callum and Iona make a promise to keep their amazing discovery secret. But is it enough to keep their secret safe from harm? From glittering lochs, across wide oceans to far off lands, the pact Callum and Iona make will change lives forever.

International

Bidding is open until February 2nd 9PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 11 - Item 2

2012-01-26T09:30:00.004Z

From Patrice Lyle a signed copy of Lethally Blonde

If Elle Woods were a teenage demon, her name would be Morgan Skully.

Morgan Skully is the world's only blonde demon girl, and she's got a brand new, very unusual afterschool job. Spying for the Devil. She'd much rather use her cloak-and-dagger skills to spy on hottie-licious Derek with her friends, but the Devil won't take no for an answer. Luckily for Morgan, her new boss is kinda hot. Her assignment is simple: find out who at Pitchfork Prep is funneling secrets to the Russian Werewolf Council. If she succeeds, pedicures and platinum highlights are just the beginning. But if she fails, she'll be expelled before she can woo Derek into asking her to the Brimstone Ball!

International

Bidding is open until January 30^th 9.30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 11 - Item 1

2012-01-26T09:00:00.003Z

From Dan Freedman a signed set of the Jamie Johnson Series

Born to Play

The Kick Off

Shoot to Win

Golden Goal

Man of the Match

World Class

We meet Jamie when he’s 13 in The Kick Off and, in each new book, we follow him on every step of his journey as he aims to fulfil his dream of becoming one of the biggest football stars in the world.

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 30^th 9PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 10 - Item 3

2012-01-25T11:00:00.003Z

From Luisa Plaja a choice of 2 signed books, you can choose any from the below:

Split by a Kiss

Swapped by a Kiss

Extreme Kissing

Kiss, Date, Love, Hate

Truth & Dare

International

Bidding is open until January 30^th 11PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 10 - Item 2

2012-01-25T10:00:00.002Z

From PanMacmillan the first 4 books from the Young Sherlock Holmes Series by Andrew Lane, incl a SIGNED copy of Fire Storm

The year is 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. His life is that of a perfectly ordinary army officer’s son: boarding school, good manners, a classical education – the backbone of the British Empire. But all that is about to change. With his father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously ‘unwell’, Sherlock is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire. So begins a summer that leads Sherlock to uncover his first murder, a kidnap, corruption and a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 29^th 10PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 10 - Item 1

2012-01-25T09:00:00.001Z

From Tabitha Suzuma signed copies of Forbidden, A Note of Madness, A Voice in the Distance, From Where I Stand & Without Looking Back

Sixteen-year-old Maya and seventeen-year-old Lochan have never had the chance to be 'normal' teenagers. Having pulled together for years to take care of their younger siblings while their wayward, drunken mother leaves them to fend alone, they have become much more than brother and sister. And now, they have fallen in love.

But this is a love that can never be allowed, a love that will have devastating consequences…

"How can something so wrong feel so right?"

International
Bidding is open until January 29^th 9PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 9 - Item 3

2012-01-24T11:00:00.000Z

From Hayley Long signed set of the Lottie Biggs series and personalised drawing!!!
(incl. Lottie Biggs is Not Mad, Lottie Biggs is Not Desperate & Lottie Biggs is Not Tragic)

My name is Lottie Biggs and in three weeks time, I will be fifteen years old.

And this is my book – it’s about important things like boys and shoes and polo-neck knickers and rescuing giraffes and NOT fancying Gareth Stingecombe (even though he has manly thighs) and hanging-out with your best friend having A BLATANTLY FUNNY TIME. It is definitely not about sitting in wardrobes or having a mental disturbance of any kind!

From Hayley:
This auction item also includes a small ink (or ink and pencil) cartoon drawing of the winning bidder (or whoever they would prefer). Please be aware that I am not a trained illustrator and the drawing will be in the style of the illustrations I provide in the Lottie Biggs series. My illustration will be a one-off interpretation of any photograph emailed to me and not the result of a professional artistic commission.
Examples of my illustrations are available here: http://www.mykindabook.com/blogs/2010/12/Lottie-sketches
The illustration will not be framed but will be mounted on cardboard.
The illustration will be dispatched within one month of me being emailed a photograph by the winning bidder.

International
Bidding is open until January 28^th 11PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 9 - Item 2

2012-01-24T10:00:00.001Z

From Fiona Dunbar signed set of the Lulu Baker Trilogy

A modern day Cinderella meets Absolutely Fabulous! Lulu's dopey dad is in trouble. He is about to marry Varaminta le Bone, ex-super model, author of How to be Thin Like Me and mother of the odious Torquil.

Lulu, unlike her father, knows that Varaminta is far from sugar-sweet. She is determined to save him, but how? Lulu has no idea...until, on her birthday, she stumbles into an odd little bookshop and Ambrosia May's cookbook falls at her feet.

Packed with magical recipes, including one for Truth Cookies, it seems the only way to get Varaminta and Torquil to reveal their true colours. But that's only if Lulu can only find the strange ingredients (three sun beans? camel butter?) and persuade the ever-dieting Varaminta that these cookies are not to be missed!

Also a hit CBBC show - Jinx!

International
Bidding is open until January 30^th 10PM GMT*
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

*extended deadline due to item changes

Day 9 - Item 1

2012-01-24T09:00:00.024Z

From Write Dreams accomplice Marieke a FULL critique of a YA novel.

Marieke (pronounced Mah-ree-ka) is a YA writer, professional dreamer, and proud-to-be geek.

She wants to grow up to be a time traveler. In preparation of that, she spends way too much time watching Doctor Who and searching for stray TARDISes. In the midnight hours of the day Marieke is a storyteller, and all her stories – ranging from literary to fantasy – have a sprinkling of magic to them. Whether it’s histories with a twist, epic fantasy, or magic realism, she loves to write stories that bend the line between reality and imagination. She's been a slush reader for several years, which makes her feel at least somewhat qualified to offer this critique.

In her own words: When I critique a manuscript, I'd like to do a full read through first, to get a sense of the story and the characters. Based on that, I'll write you a detailed reader's report with overall comments on plot development, characterization, and consistency of voice. I tend not to focus on technique so much, but if I notice something is off, I will mention it and sometimes use a few pages to illustrate my point with line edits. Once I've sent you my comments, I am happy to discuss it further and answer any questions you might have.

International
Bidding is open until January 28th 9.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 8 - Item 4

2012-01-23T11:00:00.006Z

From Sara Wilson Etienne a signed copy of Harbinger, along with a Harbinger lanyard and Holbrook Academy Brochure

Plagued by waking visions and nightmares, inexplicably drawn to the bones of dead animals, Faye thinks she's going crazy. Fast. Her parents think Holbrook Academy might just be the solution. Dr. Mordoch tells her it's the only answer. But Faye knows that something's not quite right about Dr. Mordoch and her creepy prison-like school for disturbed teenagers.

What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends—her Holbrook "Family"—wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown red of blood. Faye has no idea what it means, but fears she may be the cause.

Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her—and maybe the rest of the world, too.

A rich and tautly told psychological thriller, Harbinger heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in YA.

US only
Bidding is open until January 27^th 11PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 8 - Item 3

2012-01-23T10:00:00.001Z

From The Class 2k12 and amazing collection books, critiques & gift cards!

CHAINED PLUS a 10-page manuscript critique from Lynne Kelly

LETHALLY BLONDE by Patrice Lyle

ONE FOR THE MURPHYS by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

AURACLE PLUS a 10-page manuscript critique from Gina Rosati

AND

10-page manuscript critique from Caroline Starr Rose

10-page manuscript critique from Katherine Longshore

10-page manuscript critique from Kathryn Burak

AND Gift cards from Kimberly Sabatini $25 gift card to B&N & J. Anderson Coat’s a $25 gift card to Powell's bookstores.

US only
Bidding is open until January 27^th 10PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 8 - Item 2

2012-01-23T09:30:00.001Z

From author Kat Zhang a 5000 to 10,000 words critique!

Kat Zhang is an avid traveller, and after a childhood spent living in one book after another, she now builds stories for other people to visit. An English major at Vanderbilt University, she spends her free time performing Spoken Word poetry, raiding local bookstores, and plotting where to travel next. What’s Left of Me–about a girl with two souls–is her first novel and will be released by HarperCollins on 9/18/2012. She is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. You can read about her travels, literary and otherwise, on her website or check her out on Twitter.

From Kat:

As a critiquer, I have worked in multiple creative writing workshops, as a critique partner for other authors, and as an intern for a literary agent. I can focus on a myriad of different things, from voice to plot development or even as nitty-gritty as grammar and line edits. I'd be happy to look at work from a certain angle, as well--for example, if the author is especially worried about a certain aspect of the writing and wants me to look at that part closely. Whatever the author wants! :)

Bids up to £30 = 5000 words
Bids over £30 = 10,000 words

International
Bidding is open until January 27^th 9.30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 8 - Item 1

2012-01-23T09:00:00.009Z

By The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment's own Matthew MacNish a query critique.

Since its start in March 2010, The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment has been an invaluable source of information for all of us in the querying trenches, with its examples of queries that worked, the many series on writing, the QQQE Creature Compendium, and of course the countless query critiques by Matthew himself.

Matthew's query critiques are detailed, insanely helpful, and perfect for anyone about to pick up their manuscript and join the trenches!

International
Bidding is open until January 27^th 9.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Mystery Box

2012-01-22T10:00:00.001Z

It's... *drumroll*...the Mystery Box auction!

And it’s the mystery boxes of mystery boxes, packed full of amazing donations from Storytellers Inc, Plackitt & Booth, PanMacmillan & the instigator of Write Dreams; Luna

The full contents of the Mystery Box will remain a mystery until they are revealed to the winner. They comprise various MG/YA books, ARCs & swag (some of which is signed!)

But a few clues wouldn’t go amiss, hence the picture and yes that really is an uncorrected proof of Garth Nix’s A Confusion of Princes ^_-

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)
Bidding is open until January 26^th 10PM GMT

minimum bid is £10
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Weekend update

2012-01-21T16:54:00.001Z

Let's start with the most important - Donna's Dream House is working hard on getting back on its feet. You can read the latest updates on their website here.

Then some auction news: we're halfway through posting our lots! And at the end of today (UK-style) THREE more auction items will go to the highest bidders, so sharp your bidding skills for some last moment wins!

Up for grabs today:

Copies of WAR HORSE and a signed bookplate!
A 10 page MG critique by author Marissa Burt!
A signed hardback of OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy!

And don't forget tomorrow's items either:

The complete IMMORTALS series including signed books and awesome swag!
A signed copy of CLARITY and bookmarks!
Signed copies of ARTICHOKE HEARTS and JASMINE SKIES!

Not to mention, we have some special indeed coming up.

But that's still a mystery... *grin*

Finally, the enthusiasm this week is amazing! January is always a bit of a dark month, but you're definitely lighting it up! We'd love to spread the word to even more people, so if, beside bidding, you want to help us by blogging or tweeting about Write Dreams, we'd love you even more ;)

Day 6 - Item 2

2012-01-21T10:00:00.013Z

From Faber & Faber a selection of YA titles:

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Blackout by Sam Mills

Tarzan: The Greystoke by Andy Briggs

Flying for Frankie by Pauline Fisk

Dark Woods by Steve Voake

Furnace: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 25^th 10PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 6 - Item 1

2012-01-21T09:00:00.004Z

From Joss Stirling signed copies of Finding Sky & Stealing Phoenix AND signed posters!

You have half our gifts, I have the other... When English girl Sky catches a glimpse of bad boy Zed in her new American high school, she can't get him out of her head. He talks to her with his thoughts. He reads her mind. He is the boy she will love for ever. Shadows stalk her past but a new evil threatens her future. She must face the dark even if it means losing her heart. Will Sky have the strength to embrace her power and be brave enough to control her own destiny, or will the demons of her past prevent her from realizing her true potential?

What do you do when your soulmate turns out to be a thief? Steal her, of course.Phoenix was raised within the Community, a gang of thieves with paranormal powers, under the control of a harsh master known as the Seer. The notion that there's a soulmate out there for every person with a paranormal gift is mere myth in Phoenix's world. That is until the Seer gives Phoenix thedetails of her next target, Yves Benedict. He's more than just her next victim, he is her destiny. To be together, Phoenix must break away from the Community but resistance against the Seer puts them both in mortal danger. Phoenix has never trusted anyone before, now it's time to trust Yves with her life

International

Bidding is open until January 25^th 9PM GMT

Bidding is in POUNDS (£)
The minimum bid for this item is £10

Day 5 - Item 3

2012-01-20T11:00:00.001Z

From author Marcus Sedgwick signed copies of Midwinterblood and Flood and Fang

“I will live seven times and I will look for you and love you in each life. Will you follow?”

In 2073 on the remote and secretive island of Blessed, where rumour has it that no one ages and no children are born, a visiting journalist, Eric Seven, and a young woman known as Merle are ritually slain.

Their deaths echo a moment ten centuries before , when, in the dark of the moon, a king and his queen were tragically torn apart. Their souls searched to be reunited as mother and soon, artist and child, forbidden lovers, victims of a vampire, but only a bloody sacrifice will rekindle their true love.

*

Edgar, the 'self guardian saviour of Otherhand Castle' is a wonderful creation: vain, pompous and pleased with himself, he narrates the story of FLOOD AND FANG with wit.

"Flood and Fang is as funny and twisted as the members of the Otherhand family themselves... You'll laugh when you read this book - a lot."

International
Bidding is open until January 24th 11.00 PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 5 – Item 2

2012-01-20T10:00:00.003Z

From Janice Hardy a 100 page critique of a novel!

Janice Hardy is the author of the fantasy trilogy THE HEALING WARS, where healing is dangerous and those with the best intentions often made the worst choices. She lives in Georgia with her husband, three cats and one very nervous freshwater eel. You can visit her online at www.janicehardy.com, chat with her about writing on her blog, The Other Side of the Story (http://blog.janicehardy.com/), or find her on Twitter @Janice_Hardy.

From Janice: [my] critique style, I like to look at a manuscript at both the macro and micro level, offering feedback and suggestions on story and structure issues, as well as line edits and craft issues. I focus a lot on POV, show don't tell, and the goal-conflict-complication scene structure (as these tend to give many writers headaches), but I'm happy to look specifically at any concerns the author has.

International
Bidding is open until January 24th 10PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 5 - Item 1

2012-01-20T09:00:00.001Z

From authors Carole and John Barrowman a signed copy of Hollow Earth

Lots of twins have a special connection - being able to finish each other's sentences; sensing what the other is thinking; perhaps even knowing when the other is in trouble or in pain - but for 12-year-old twins, Matt and Emily Calder, the connection is beyond special. Together, the twins have extraordinary powers. They are able to bring art to life, or enter paintings at will. Their abilities are sought by villains trying to access the terrors of Hollow Earth - a place where all the demons, devils and creatures ever imagined lie trapped for eternity. The twins flee with their mother to the security of an island, off the west coast of Scotland, where their grandfather has certain protective powers of his own. But too much is at stake, and the twins aren't safe there either. The villains will stop at nothing to find Hollow Earth and harness the powers within...

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)
Bidding is open until January 24th 9.00 PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 4 - Item 3

2012-01-19T11:00:00.002Z

From author Tamsyn Murray the complete Afterlife Series - My So-Called Afterlife, My So-Called Haunting, and My So-Called Phantom Lovelife.

Lucy Shaw is a ghost with problems. First, she’s stuck haunting the men’s toilets on Carnaby Street, not the best place to spend eternity. Second, no-one can see or hear her. And third, the man who killed her last New Year’s Eve is still on the loose. Is it any wonder her mood is blacker than a tramp’s fingernails?

So when a lighting engineer called Jeremy walks into the toilet and asks her what she’s doing there she’s not exactly Miss Congeniality. But given that he’s the only person who can see her, she decides to overlook the fact that he’s drippier than a toddler’s nose and accepts his offer of help. Before she knows it, she’s out of the toilet and meeting other ghosts, including the emotionally unstable Hep and the lip-smackingly gorgeous Ryan.

Together, they track down Lucy’s killer, encountering meerkats, exorcists, and the world’s stroppiest tattoo artist along the way. Will their efforts to catch Lucy’s murderer succeed? What happens if they do? And just how do you go about snogging the boy of your dreams when you don’t actually have lips anymore?

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)
Bidding is open until January 23rd 11.00 PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 4 - Item 2

2012-01-19T10:00:00.003Z

From YA author Susan Dennard a 50 page + query letter critique!

Susan is a reader, writer, lover of animals, and eater of cookies. She used to be a marine biologist, but now she writes novels. And not novels about fish either, but novels about kick-butt heroines and swoon-worthy rogues (she really likes swoon-worthy rogues). She lives in Germany with my French husband and Irish setter, and you can learn more about her crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on twitter, facebook, or Goodreads. Her debut, Something Strange and Deadly, will be available from HarperCollins in July of 2012!

Susan's critique strengths in her own words:

1) I'm tough. There's no holding back here. If I see something that's an issue (be it a plot hole, an inconsistent character, poor dialogue tags, etc.), I point it out. ALL of it. But...that said...

2) I say it nicely. Writing and reading are so subjective, I make sure to emphasize that all my comments are my opinion. It's up to YOU to decide if you want to listen or not. I've received many comments from crit partners that I've chosen to ignore, and I'm sure they've received many from me that they've opted to ignore. :)

3) I also offer suggestions for how to fix things I think are issues. If I see a flat paragraph, I'll over you ideas for how to amp up the emotion. If I see a character behaving "out of character", I'll write up suggestions for how I think the character would act. Sometimes, it's impossible to see our own issues--much less come up with solutions! Oftentimes, an outsider can spot things and find ways to fix problems that you're simply too close to the story to catch.”

International
Bidding is open until January 23rd 10.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 4 - Item 1

2012-01-19T09:00:00.007Z

From Laura Lascarso a signed ARC of Counting Backwards

Taylor Truwell is a sixteen-year-old girl from Florida with a troubled past, a neglectful mother, a seemingly callous father, and an urge to flee. When Taylor is caught with a stolen car, her violent reaction lands her in court for resisting arrest. Her father convinces the judge of an alternative to punishment: treatment in a juvenile psychiatric correctional facility. And so Taylor arrives at Sunny Meadows.

Sunny Meadows is anything but the easy way out, and Taylor has to fight hard just to hold on to her sanity as she battles her parents, an intrusive therapist, and a group of particularly nasty fellow patients. But even as Taylor clings to her stubborn former self, she gradually relents to new friendships—and to unexpected romance. Sunny Meadows goes against everything Taylor stands for. But could it be the place that saves her?

In this striking debut, Laura Lascarso weaves together a powerful story of anger and self-destruction, hope and love, and the complicated way that it all comes together.

International
Bidding is open until January 23rd 9PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 3 - Item 3

2012-01-18T11:00:00.003Z

From Waterstone’s Children’s Book Award-winning author Sita Brahmachari a signed copy of Artichoke Hearts and her new book Jasmine Skies*

Twelve-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic and outspoken family where it’s not always easy to be heard. As her beloved Nana Josie's health declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her, and also starts to keep some of her own.
She is drawn to mysterious Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past and has grown hardened layers - like those of an artichoke - around his heart.
As Mira is experiencing grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around her. An incredibly insightful, honest novel exploring the delicate balance, and often injustice, of life and death - but at its heart is a celebration of friendship, culture - and life.
Winner of the 2011 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.

Mira Levenson is bursting with excitement as she flies to India to stay with her aunt and cousin for the first time. As soon as she lands Mira is hurled into the sweltering heat and a place full of new sights, sounds, and deeply buried secrets . . .

From the moment Mira meets Janu she feels an instant connection. He becomes her guide, showing her both the beauty and the chaos of Kolkata. Nothing is as she imagined it - and suddenly home feels a long way away. Before Mira leaves India she is determined to uncover the truth about her family, whatever it takes, and she must also make a decision that will break someone's heart...

* Jasmine Skies will be realised 29^th March 2012

International
Bidding is open until January 22nd 11.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 3 - Item 2

2012-01-18T10:00:00.005Z

From Kim Harrington a signed copy of CLARITY & signed bookmarks

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

US only
Bidding is open until January 22nd 10.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 3 - Item 1

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000Z

From PanMacmillan the complete Immortals Series by Alyson Noël, including 3 signed books AND Goody-bag!

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.
Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)
Bidding is open until January 22nd 09.00 PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 2 - Item 3

2012-01-17T11:00:00.001Z

From Amy Fellner Dominy a signed hardback of OyMG

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. After all, she’s been arguing with her Zeydeh (that’s grandfather in Yiddish) since she could talk. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she’s sure she can win the final tournament and a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot—literally. His name is Devon and whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she’s up for the challenge—until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship’s benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity be worth a shot at her dream?

Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy cooks up sizzling romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup in a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.

US only

Bidding is open until January 21^st 11.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 2 - Item 2

2012-01-17T10:00:00.001Z

From MG author Marissa Burt a 10 page critique of a MG manuscript.

Her first novel, STORYBOUND, releases on 4/3/12.

From Marissa:

“As far as strengths as a critiquer, I think I can offer my personal experience of the writing and revision process as well as being a Faculty Assistant for graduate level coursework. Hopefully this combination will interest some people!”

International

Bidding is open until January 21^st 10.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 2 - Item 1

2012-01-17T09:34:00.001Z

From http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com

THREE copies of War Horse with signed bookplate!

This book recounts the adventures of a horse as he moves from life on a farm into the battles of World War I, the story of a friendship lasting through the toughest of tests.

Through the eyes of the war horse, Joey, Michael Morpurgo tells this moving and powerful story of survival on the Western Front.

Runner-up for the Whitbread Award.

UK only (outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 21^st 9.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 1 - Item 3

2012-01-16T11:00:00.002Z

From YA author Rachel Ward signed Numbers Trilogy:

- Numbers, Numbers 2: The Chaos & Numbers 3: Infinity

‘Since her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Jem has kept a secret. When her eyes meet someone else’s, a number pops into her head – the date on which they will die. Knowing that nothing lasts forever, Jem avoids relationships, but when she meets a boy called Spider, and they plan a day out together, her life takes a new twist and turn. Waiting for the London Eye, she sees everyone in the queue has the same number – something terrible is going to happen.’

UK only

(outside the UK but still want it? Have a look here for the “Nozomi loophole”)

Bidding is open until January 20^th 11.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 1 - Item 2

2012-01-16T10:21:00.001Z

From YA author Ryan Graudin a 50 page critique!

When Ryan's not writing and drifting around the globe, she enjoys hunting through thrift stores and taking pictures of her native Charleston, SC. Her novel LUMINANCE HOUR, the story of a Faery Godmother who falls in love with the prince she’s forced to guard, is due out with HarperTeen in 2013. You can find more about it on her blog: http://ryangraudin.blogspot.com/

From Ryan herself:

“A fair warning: I'm a harsh, sometimes even brutal critiquer as my critique partners will tell you. I look to bring out the best in a piece: character development, setting and language. Bid at your own risk!”

(As Ryan is currently knee deep in edits herself, it might take a little longer for her to get back to you.)

International
Bidding is open until January 20^th 10.00PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

Day 1 - Item 1

2012-01-16T09:11:00.001Z

From YA author Keris Stainton signed copies of Della says: OMG and Jessie ♥ NYC as well as a signed proof (aka ARC) of Emma ♥ LA

Della’s over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party – but then she discovers her diary has disappeared... When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della’s distraught – how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?

Jessie's just arrived in New York, hoping to forget about her awful ex.New Yorker Finn is in love with his best friend's girlfriend. They might be perfect together, but in a city of eight million people, will they ever find each other?

Emma’s just arrived in Los Angeles, a million miles away from all her friends, and any chance of a boyfriend. Unless you count dull old Oscar – which she doesn’t. Not at first, anyways. Teen heartthrob Alex might have potential too. If she can get him away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi, that is. Two boys, unlimited sunshine, and a new life among the stars. Maybe LA’s not that bad, after all.

International (will be sent as soon as Keris has a copy of Emma ♥ LA)

Bidding is open until January 20^th 9:30PM GMT
Bidding is in POUNDS (£)

one, two, three... GO!

2012-01-12T21:01:00.000Z

I like countdowns...

It’s almost launch day!!!

As you can tell I’m getting really excited about it, because our WriteDreams inbox in brimming with generous, wonderful, mysterious*, magical, fantastical and spectacular donations.

So to entice you into bookmarking this page for Monday, let me share just a handful of these. We have:

A full signed set of Tabitha Suzuma's books
Waterstone's Children's Book Award-winning Artichoke Hearts
All of Alyson Noël's Immortals series with some awesome swag
Signed books from Marcus Sedgwick
Something from Michael Morpurgo
ARCs, critiques, and much more…

WriteDreams2012 will last for 2 weeks so there is plenty more to come.

Oh and virtual cupcakes to keep you going. ^_-

*there is a clue there for an upcoming auction ^_-

Nozomi approves of this blog...

2012-01-05T15:23:00.000Z

... and thinks you are all awesome <3

Write Dreams

2012-01-01T18:29:00.001Z

Once upon a time, a beautiful and desperately ill young girl made three special wishes. She left a little red box at her bedside where they were found after she died on New Year’s Day 1996. Donna Curtis had just turned 20. She had spent her last four years fighting cancer. In that time Donna saw the suffering of many terminally ill children and vowed her legacy would help them live a little more happily in the time they had left.

Donna’s Dream House is a holiday home for children and teenagers with life-threatening or terminal illnesses, situated in the heart of Blackpool. The Dream House is run completely by volunteers and encourages and sparks the imagination. It’s how any child would imagine the perfect holiday to be. It’s full of light and laughter, fun and - most importantly - life. Since it's start, Donna's Dream House has hosted and helped almost 380 families. 300 of those children have now sadly passed away, but the families who are left behind will always cherish the memories from Donna’s Dream House.

The house consists of four family apartments, all with themed rooms for absolute escapism. Themes include Winnie the Pooh’s Den, Cartoon World, Teddy Bear World and a Tangerine Room decked out with Blackpool Football Club merchandise. As well as each family having their own ‘apartment’, there is a fabulous garden area to the rear of the house, a center for teenagers, and possibly the most poignant room of the house, a pretty wooden chapel-like quiet room set on its own grounds. The next phase of the house was to build a bereavement centre, where parents and relatives can go to be with others in similar situations.

Source: Blackpool Gazette

Except on Wednesday 21st December 2011, in the middle of the night, arsonists broke into the office building and adjacent health center. There they stole essential computer equipment and damaged the suite, before setting fire to the furniture. When the fire was discovered, it was almost too late. The building was so badly damaged that it may have to be rebuilt completely, with total damages estimated in excess of £80,000/$125,000. More importantly, the fire destroyed photographs and mementoes of Donna, and hope. The opening sentence of Donna’s Dream House’s website reads: Christmas is cancelled. For some of the families due to attend it might have been the last one.

We think no one - Scrooge or Grinch - should be able to cancel Christmas.

In 2011 we organized Write Hope and raised money for the Save the Children Emergency Relief Fund, to help the children struck by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The response was overwhelming. Because of it, because we know how amazing this community can be, we hope to repeat that success.

What happened to Donna's Dream House quite literally hit much closer to home for one of us, but there is so much more about it. Because the holiday season shouldn't be about going through the ashes of a place that brought love and hope to many. It should be about spending time with your loved ones and remembering those who can't be there anymore. It should be about making memories that will last a lifetime.

It should be about making the world a bit kinder, wiser, better. And at the start of the new year, exactly sixteen years after Donna's death, this is the perfect place to start.

We'd love for you to be in too. Sign up, spread the word. If you have ARCs, books, critiques, swag to spare, pop us a mail. If you're a publishing professional, agent, editor, author, who wants to participate, pop us a mail.

If you want to help, pop us a mail.

Thank you <3