My YA debut, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, is officially in stores today!  To celebrate, I’m having two contests with prizes for people who help me spread the word.  Here’s how it works:

CONTEST #1: FOR WRITERS

Been slaving over your NANOWRIMO manuscript for months and would like a professional opinion?  Thinking you need to do one more draft before sending your work-in-progress out to agents but need input?  This is the contest for you!

As many of you know, during the day I’m the acquiring editor for Flux, the young adult imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide.  In this capacity, I’ve worked with New York Times Bestselling authors Simone Elkeles and Maggie Stiefvater. And if you’ll help me promote my new book, I’ll turn my critical eye to your manuscript.

First prize is a manuscript critique.  I will read up to 60,000 words of your work –in—progress and provide you with detailed, written comments.

Second prize is a partial manuscript critique.  I will read the first 50 pages of your work-in-progress and provide you with detailed, written comments.

Third prize is a micro-critique.  I will read the first 10 pages of your work-in-progress AND your query letter and provide you with detailed, written comments.

All prizes also include a signed copy of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.

The more you enter, the more chances you have of winning. How to enter:

1)      For 1 entry: Follow me on Twitter (@BrianFarrey)

2)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message with hashtag (cut/paste, it’ll be easy): I can’t wait to read WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by @BrianFarrey  http://bit.ly/fPnlEk #wowy1

3)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message with hashtag:  Hey, writers, win a critique of your MG/YA WIP! (http://bit.ly/lCC6kC) #wowy1

Three chances to win right there!  And feel free to tweet #2 and #3 as often as you like for additional entries. (But, y’know, don’t scare away your own followers by filling up your feed.) The contest ends June 6 at 11:59pm Central time.  Using a random number generator, I will determine the three winners and contact them via Twitter DM.

Rules/Caveats:

1)      My reading of all work is not in my official capacity as editor of Flux. Meaning that by sending me your work for review, you understand that it is not being submitted for consideration to be published by Flux.  Flux, and its parent company Llewellyn Worldwide, have nothing to do with this contest.

2)      I require a minimum of two months to respond after winners have submitted their materials.

3)      All winners must submit their work to me within six months of winning. (In other words, winners should not start writing the moment they find out they won.  Ideally, they should start tightening an existing manuscript before sending it.) Submissions must be in the form of an MS Word document (please no PDFs and definitely no Works files). No hard copy submissions.

4)      Why is 60,000 words the cut-off for a “full” manuscript critique? Because I firmly believe that if you are an unpublished writer, this is the ideal length (or even shorter) for your debut.  If your manuscript is more than 60,000, I will only read the first 60,000. But, hey, that’s still a SUBSTANTIAL part.

There will be one first prize winner, one second prize winner, and one third prize winner.

CONTEST #2: FOR NON-WRITERS (aka “readers”)

Of course, not everyone who may be interested in winning is a writer.  Some people just read for the thrill of it. I like those people and I want them to feel included.  So here are the prizes for the non-writers.

First prize is an eclectic collection of signed, first edition hardcover books.  This collection will include:

• MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins *
• PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ by A.S. King
• THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff
• LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater
• NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer

Second prize is an eclectic collection of signed paperbacks books.  This collection will include:

• GODLESS by Pete Hautman
• THE ALCHEMYST by Michael Scott
• M IS FOR MAGIC by Neil Gaiman
• BALLAD by Maggie Stiefvater

Third prize is a $25 gift card to the book retailer of your choice (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Indiebound, etc.).

All prizes also include a signed copy of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.

The more you enter, the more chances you have of winning. How to enter:

1)      For 1 entry: Follow me on Twitter (@BrianFarrey)

2)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message (cut/paste, it’ll be easy): I can’t wait to read WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by@BrianFarrey   http://bit.ly/fPnlEk #wowy2

3)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message:  Win a collection of signed first edition YA books! (http://bit.ly/lCC6kC) #wowy2

As with the other contest, feel free to tweet #2 and #3 as often as you like for additional entries. The contest ends June 6 at 11:59pm Central time.  Using a random number generator, I will determine the three winners and contact them via Twitter DM

*=Please note: the signature in this book is the stamp signature developed for Suzanne Collins when she went on the Mockingjay tour in late 2010.