Welcome to Blog Fest 2010!

We’d like to welcome you to Fiction Flurry! First, who are we? Well, the Fiction Flurry blog grew out of the Marysville (Ohio) Writers Group. We are a gathering of writers from every single genre: literary fiction, romance, YA, paranormal, Christian, essayists, self-published and then some! We chose the name because it sounds like a yummy treat! We post on books and writing. If you like to talk literary arts, this is the place for you! After Blog Fest is over, we hope you will come back to visit often.

To celebrate Blog Fest, we are giving away *TEN* great books to *TEN* lucky winners. It is SO EASY to win. Every single BLOG FOLLOWER gets one entry into our contest. If you leave us a comment answering this question, you will get THREE ENTRIES to win.

Here’s the question: what would you like to see discussed here at the Fiction Flurry blog? Do you have an idea for a topic or a posting? Is there a particular genre that you’d like to learn more about?

That’s it – all you have to do is leave us some feedback, and you could win one of these books:

The Benefits of Bribery (or How to Win a Starbucks Gift Card!)

Okay, let’s all start by agreeing: taking a bribe to do something dishonest is bad. Period. We’re not even going to discuss it further. However, offering a bribe to get someone to do something you want/need/really know in the long run is good for them is a lot more like telling your best friend/significant other/yourself, “nope, your butt definitely doesn’t look fat in those pants.” Just like that little white lie, some bribes are truly a win-win. You want it, they want it, they just don’t know they want it yet. It’s in their best interest; right?

For example, here you are, reading a blog that you probably didn’t even know existed until, like 30 seconds ago. Why are you here? Because you were enticed by the notion that you could possibly win a little slice of caffeinated Starbucks heaven (which you can – more on that, below). In the meantime, I want/need/really know it is in your best interest to read along with me.

Writing fiction is a lot like a legally approved form of bribery. As an author, I create characters then place them in situations that twist, tangle and thoroughly tease them – all for your amusement and approval. There is a pay-off for both of us, you see. It works like this: I endeavor to write the best piece that I can, then I turn it over to you, the reader. I bribe you with an entertaining story that keeps you engaged until you hit those two final words, “the end.” You have taken a short journey with me that I hope you have found worthy, and I have – for the moment, anyway – quieted the beast inside me that wants/needs/really knows it is in my best interest to write. Win-win.

Oh yeah, here’s the real bribe you came for: FOLLOW THIS BLOG and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $15 Starbucks gift card. All followers – with the exception of contributors – will receive one chance at winning. Contest will remain open until midnight (EST), Friday, May 28, 2010, at which time Bijoux will randomly pick the winner. Good luck to all!