Critter Goes to College/Giveaways!

On Monday, I posted a picture of my new friend, Critter, and posed some questions about who he was and why he was appearing on our blog. All to be answered now! In addition to two giveways in celebration of his visit! (More on that later.)

So, who is Critter? He is an interactive art piece (created by artist, Ian Sands) that has visited several Children's Lit blogs since 2009. He was last seen strolling around Ann Arbor, Michigan before visiting with me. When he ultimately returns home from his travels, he will be auctioned off, with the winning bid donated to St. Jude’s.

As I’ve said, Critter has had many and varied travels, but I do believe this is the first time he has gone to college! Here he is, packing up:

And with me in the back of the car:


Now, jump ahead a few hours, a few freeways and a few Taco Bell Taco Supremes and here he is, entering one of the entrances to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). This is the Thomas and Mack Center, the state-of-the-art arena that features sporting, music and cultural events:

Now, after cruising a couple more streets and parking, he takes in his new environment. His dorm:


Here he is, admiring new Student Recreation and Wellness Center, which hosts a wide array of health and fitness services:


All of which he loved, but found exceptionally exhausting! So I know he was quite happy to finally kick back on a bed with a cold can of apple juice, and his favorite iPod tune...

Which brings is to the giveaways! In order to be entered, leave the name of the song you think he’s listening to on his iPod in our comments. And also tell us which prize you’d like to win:

BOOK, which is a hardcover copy of Diana Peterfreund’s Rampant.

Or

CRITIQUE, which will be a line edit critique by me--Tina Ferraro--of the first chapter of your unpublished novel (geared at young readers, max 20 pages). As background on me, I am the author of three published Random House young adult novels, two of which were nominated for the Romance Writer’s of America Rita(R) award for Best Yong Adult Romance of that year, and I am a frequent critiquer and contest judge. This may be the only time I offer this as a blog prize...but Critter is just that special to me!

The contest starts now, and “the book winner” and “the critique winner” will be announced here on Monday.

And next Critter is off to visit New Jersey’s
Cynthia Chapman Willis if you want to follow him along!