Virginia Festival of the Book http://vabook.wordpress.com Celebrate our 15th anniversary by participating in one of these challenges. One for each week til the Festival. Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:59:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ en hourly 1 http://www.gravatar.com/blavatar/23af95b95ce117e6b9f81d07cc3667a6?s=96&d=http://s.wordpress.com/i/buttonw-com.png Virginia Festival of the Book http://vabook.wordpress.com Add a C’ville Restaurant to a Participating Author’s Title! http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/add-a-cville-restaurant-to-a-participating-authors-title/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/add-a-cville-restaurant-to-a-participating-authors-title/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:17:37 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=138 ]]>

Thanks to all of you who’ve been commenting on the “Mixed Bag” blog. We’ve been giving out bags as prizes for 14 weeks…and we aren’t done yet.

Congrats to Stephen Millard for last week’s great “you know it’s the Festival when” challenge. Give that man a bag! Also congratulations to AJ Jimenez who wins the raffle for the Baldacci-Trigiani tickets.

Now, back by popular demand is the put- a-C’ville-Restaurant-into-a-book-title challenge. But we’re upping the ante from challenge #13; this time, you must use a title from a participating author from VABook! 2009…

Mixed Bag Challenge#1: Can you add a Charlottesville restaurant into a 2009 participant’s book title?

Here’s the Participants list and C’ville Restaurants list if you need help. Examples: Rita Dove’s Sonata Milan. Adriana Trigiani’s Very Vivace. Go!

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/add-a-cville-restaurant-to-a-participating-authors-title/feed/ 16 vabookblog What Tells You It’s Book Festival Time? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/what-tells-you-its-book-festival-time/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/what-tells-you-its-book-festival-time/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:47:12 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=133 ]]>

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO STEPHEN MILLARD.

Very soon we will be starting the raffle for the David Baldacci tickets…

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

OK, this is the last week to get entered into the drawing for the Baldacci-Trigiani “Wine & Words” tickets. So write in!

We’re looking for signs and phenomena that whisper to you, “It’s Book Fest week.” This week’s challenge: 2. What tells you it’s Virginia Festival of the Book time?

Deadline: Mar 11, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/what-tells-you-its-book-festival-time/feed/ 7 vabookblog What’s Your Author Sighting Story? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/whats-your-author-sighting-story/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/whats-your-author-sighting-story/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:51:55 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=122 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO “Carol Scampoli,” “KC,” and “Mercedes”…WHO EACH WIN A BAG FOR THEIR COMMENTS BELOW.

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

We’re on to brushes with fame this week. This week’s challenge: 3. What’s your best story of an author sighting?

Deadline: Mar 4, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/whats-your-author-sighting-story/feed/ 11 vabookblog Write a Memorable First Sentence to a Novel. http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/write-a-memorable-first-sentence-to-a-novel/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/write-a-memorable-first-sentence-to-a-novel/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:27:48 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=117 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO “bb” FOR HER NOVEL SENTENCE: “It was the dead dog that started it.”

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

This week’s challenge: 4. Write YOUR OWN memorable first line to a novel.

Deadline: Feb 25, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/write-a-memorable-first-sentence-to-a-novel/feed/ 21 vabookblog What’s the Story of Your Book Crush? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/whats-the-story-of-your-book-crush/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/whats-the-story-of-your-book-crush/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:35:20 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=108 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO “Katie” AND “Brendan” FOR WINNING THIS CHALLENGE. SEE MAIN PAGE FOR THE NEXT OPEN CHALLENGE.

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

This week’s challenge, for Valentine’s Day: 5. What’s the story of your  book crush?

Deadline: Feb 18, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/whats-the-story-of-your-book-crush/feed/ 7 vabookblog How Would You Botch an Author’s Name? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/how-would-you-botch-an-authors-name/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/how-would-you-botch-an-authors-name/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:36:42 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=106 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO “Deborah Murray” FOR HER WINNING ENTRY. The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

All those authors names…so tough to keep them straight. Robert Rabbit Warren?J.P. O’Rourke?  Evelyn Wow us with this week’s challenge: 6. How would you botch an author’s name?

(Actual experience funny, but not necessary.)

Deadline: Feb. 11, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/how-would-you-botch-an-authors-name/feed/ 13 vabookblog What’s Your Idea for a New Literary Genre? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/whats-your-idea-for-a-new-literary-genre/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/whats-your-idea-for-a-new-literary-genre/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:10:23 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=96 ]]>

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO PATTY FOR HER NEW LITERARY GENRE: “Reality TV Thrillers.”

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.petite.”

Now it’s your turn. What genre’s yet to be seen in the book world? Ski-diving thrillers? Sci-fi poetry? This week’s challenge: 7. What’s your idea for a new literary genre?

Deadline: Feb 4, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/whats-your-idea-for-a-new-literary-genre/feed/ 10 vabookblog What Would You Call Your Bookstore? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/what-would-you-call-your-bookstore/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/what-would-you-call-your-bookstore/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:10:43 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=55 ]]>

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO “Tyler P.” FOR HIS WINNING ENTRY–A COMBINATION SANDWICH-BOOK SHOP: “The Erudite Appetite.”

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry. Congrats to last week’s winner–Ida Swenson–whose spot to read seemed like a work of fiction in itself.

Isn’t it a fantasy to own your own bookstore? This week’s challenge: 8. What would you call your own bookstore?

Deadline: Jan. 28, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/what-would-you-call-your-bookstore/feed/ 10 vabookblog Name a Great Place to Read a Book. http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/name-a-great-place-to-read-a-book/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/name-a-great-place-to-read-a-book/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:40:36 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=53 ]]>

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO “IDA SWENSON” FOR HER READING SPOT.

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

OK, we want to know our fans habits and haunts. This week’s challenge: 9. Name a great place to read a book.

Deadline: Jan 21, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/name-a-great-place-to-read-a-book/feed/ 26 vabookblog Write a 15-syllable “Low-ku” About the Festival. http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/write-a-15-syllable-low-ku-about-the-festival/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/write-a-15-syllable-low-ku-about-the-festival/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:00:01 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=48 ]]>

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO “KATHLEEN” FOR HER WINNING LOW-KU.

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a Festival shopping bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

Now then, everyone’s heard of haiku. This week’s challenge: 10. Write a 15-syllable “low-ku” about the Virginia Festival of the Book.

Deadline Jan 14, noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/write-a-15-syllable-low-ku-about-the-festival/feed/ 9 vabookblog Where Were You in March 1995? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/where-were-you-in-march-1996/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/where-were-you-in-march-1996/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:10:42 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=46 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO BELLA STANDER FOR HER WINNING ENTRY. SEE MAIN SITE FOR NEW CONTEST.

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry.

This week’s challenge, as we enter a season of reminiscence: 11. Where were you in March 1995, when the first Virginia Festival of the Book came to Charlottesville?

Deadline: Jan 7, Noon. New challenge then.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/where-were-you-in-march-1996/feed/ 6 vabookblog Who’s Your Favorite Novel Character, and Who’s in the Movie? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/whos-your-favorite-novel-character-and-whos-in-the-movie/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/whos-your-favorite-novel-character-and-whos-in-the-movie/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:53:36 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=42 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO “DAN” FOR HIS WINNING ENTRY. SEE MAIN SITE FOR NEW CONTEST.

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry. 

This week’s challenge: 12. Who is your favorite character in a novel, and who would play that character in the movie?

Deadline New Year’s Eve, Wednesday 12/31, Noon. New challenge that day.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/whos-your-favorite-novel-character-and-whos-in-the-movie/feed/ 6 vabookblog Work the Name of a C’ville Restaurant into a Book Title! http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/work-the-name-of-a-cville-restaurant-into-a-book-title/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/work-the-name-of-a-cville-restaurant-into-a-book-title/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:03:08 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=36 ]]>

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.  CONGRATULATIONS TO ELIZABETH McCULLOUGH FOR HER WINNING ENTRY. SEE MAIN SITE FOR NEW CONTEST. The C’ville-restaurant-book-title challenge was our most active yet, thanks to all who participated with these funny comments! We loved them all!

The Mixed Bag Challenge: a new question each week for the 15 weeks leading up to the Festival. Prizes include a bag for the best comment each week, and a raffle chance at Festival event tickets for each entry. Check here for last week’s winner.

This week’s challenge: 13. Work the name of a Charlottesville restaurant into a famous book title. [Example? Howard's Enoteca]

Deadline: Dec. 24, Noon. New challenge then!

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/work-the-name-of-a-cville-restaurant-into-a-book-title/feed/ 33 vabookblog What’s Your Martha Stewart Idea for Our Shopping Bags? http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/whats-your-martha-stewart-idea-for-our-shopping-bags/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/whats-your-martha-stewart-idea-for-our-shopping-bags/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:02:22 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=15 ]]>

THIS PARTICULAR CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. SEE THE MAIN PAGE FOR THE ACTIVE CONTEST. Congrats to Sandy Anderson for winning challenge #14, her Martha Stewart idea for our shopping bags. Sandy wins a Festival shopping bag–though we hope it stays in one piece for a while!

We’re celebrating the 15 weeks to the 15th anniversary on this blog where we invite your answers/comments. We call it the “Mixed Bag Challenge.” Guidelines here.

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: 14. What’s your “Martha Stewart” idea for getting the most use out of a Festival shopping bag?

For more information on the 15th anniversary shopping bags, look here.

 

We’ll close the challenge at Noon every Wednesday. Next challenge will appear 12/17. Good luck, leave us a comment below!

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/whats-your-martha-stewart-idea-for-our-shopping-bags/feed/ 4 vabookblog VABook!–What You Love in 15 Words… http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/vabook-what-you-love-in-15-words/ http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/vabook-what-you-love-in-15-words/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:22:39 +0000 vabookblog http://vabook.wordpress.com/?p=12 ]]>

THIS PARTICULAR CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. SEE THE MAIN PAGE FOR THE ACTIVE CONTEST. Congrats to Lyndele von Schill who won this challenge. Congrats to Lyndele von Schill who won our first challenge with her post:

Readers and Writers
together

Weather
the crush and
rush

to mill and
thrill

in Charlottesville

Lyndele wins a shopping bag this week, but all entrants are eligible for the Baldacci-Trigiani tickets.

We’re kicking off the 15 weeks to the 15th anniversary by starting a blog where we invite your answers/comments. We call it the “Mixed Bag Challenge.” The question could be about the Festival, or books, or Charlottesville…we just want to hear from our fans. Every week will be a new challenge or contest, and the best answer each week (as judged by the Festival or its designee) will get a free 15th anniversary shopping bag! Just for participating, we’ll enter you in a raffle for soughtafter tickets to a Festival event!

So tell us this week…15. What do you love about the Virginia Festival of the Book in 15 words?

Deadline, Wednesday, Dec 10.

]]> http://vabook.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/vabook-what-you-love-in-15-words/feed/ 19 vabookblog