Guest Post + iPod Contest: Swati Avasthi & Tour Wrap Up

Since October 1, I've been working with Swati Avasthi, author of the debut YA Split, on a blog tour to gain interest not only for her but in honor of the fact that October is Domestic Violence awareness month. Now that this month is over, Swati is here today to not only give the final dollar amount raised for donation to a DV Organzation, but to share with us the playlist for Split because she is wrapping up this already amazing tour with a iPod giveaway! But first.... Swati's thoughts and wrap up, along with the Split playlit!


National Domestic Violence month had passed and so …

I declare the tour officially over; I declare the auction officially closed, and I declare the Before the Split Blog Tour and Auction a success.

I call it a success – Do you?

Let’s recap here for a sec:

GOALS

1) To honor domestic violence month by raising awareness about domestic violence:

Check. Part of the purpose is to speak about it, so others can speak up. Another is to support survivors of domestic violence.

Here are some of the great comments about domestic violence:

“When I was a kid, there weren't such a things as child abuse, or abusive homes. Children and women were property. What happened in the home was private.
Growing up in an abusive house wasn't easy. But you loved your parents because you don't know any better.” ~ Sharon K


“There are so many more aspects to abuse that tear you apart beyond the abuse itself. The helplessness, the incredible guilt that comes with being unable to protect your siblings...even years later, when you're all grown up and the abuser is dead and gone, the old guilt still eats away at you and that blank card still stares you in the face.” ~ TreeFeathers

2) To have some fun:

Check. I’ve enjoyed myself thoroughly, and that’s what counts, right? (That and getting a mention in Nathan Bransford’s blog and at Cynsations. Oh yeah.) Re-inhabiting Jace’s voice for the guest post and interview was like when you come to your mother’s house and you inhale and the first thing you smell is your childhood. I missed writing as Jace, hearing his voice. I was glad to find he was still talking to me. (And that doesn’t make me crazy. See I wrote a post about why and if it’s on the internet then it’s gotta be true). And for the content I didn’t create, I bow to the Techno-God.

3) To get stuff we want

Check. Someone’s going to get an exclusive and early copy of SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready. And the hottest selling items: critiques from agents. Jill Corcoran’s went for $190. Smaller items included great bookmarks, lots of books, and miniature sheep.

4) To raise some cash for Family Violence Prevention Fund.

Charity Auction: We had 86 items. Nearly 80% of them went.

250 comments? Check! Last tally = 292. Doing the happy dance, I’ll tell you! Because that means Family Violence Prevention fund is getting $500 from me.

And the calculator says:

$3,940 total for Family Violence Prevention Fund.

Oh yeah. Happy dance on double time!

Highlights:

Best Effort: For What It’s Worth. Karen, the awesome, matched my $1 donation at 100% for up to $50. And she got it! Fantastic. She went the distance, too. She was on almost every stop with a comment, helping me work toward that 250 comment goal. The amazing Amy at Amy Reads (who got on board without even being officially part of the tour!) is a close second; she rounded up comment and matched my donation. Wonderful people.

Best Prize: “Wait, what? There were prizes?” you say. Oh yes. In addition to Knopf generously giving away a book at each stop, a cover contest is still over at YA Addict where you can win a copy of the audiobook or the hardcover. But the best prize is today’s!

An 8G Pink Nano i-pod, straight from the refurbished dept. Never been used.

Best Music:

Whenever I write, I listen to music and not just any music – the right music. As promised, here is the playlist I listened to over and over again while writing Split. (Don’t judge me. Musical tastes are wide.)

* Higher Love by Steve Winwood
* 8 Mile by Eminem
* Break it Down Again by Tears for Fears
* Crazy by Seal
* Just Scream by Tom Cochrane
* What It’s Like by Everlast
* Walking Wounded by Everything by the Girl
* Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats
* The End of the Innocence by Don Henley
* A Different Drum by Peter Gabriel
* Call and Answer by Barenaked Ladies
* Holding Back the Years by Simply Red
* Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
* Roads by Portishead
* Rabbit Run by Eminimem
* And the Band Played On by Simple Minds
* Here with Me by Dido
* Father, Son by Peter Fabriel
* Digging in the Dirt by Peter Gabriel
* Here Comes the Flood by Peter Gabriel
* Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel
* That Voice Again by Peter Gabriel
* More Than This by Peter Gabriel
* Fields of Gold by Sting
* Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
* Love to be Loved by Peter Gabriel
* Washing of the Water by Peter Gabriel
* Secret World by by Peter Gabriel
* White Flag by Dido
* Life for Rent by Dido
* Take On Me by a-ha
* Honestly by Annie Lennox
* I Know by Fiona Apple
* New York Minute by Don Henley
* Day by Day by Day by Day by Day by Day by Roland Orzabal
* The Heart of the Matter by Don Henley
* Lean on Me by Bill Withers


Best Cruise Director: Kari and Kelsey at The {Teen} Book Scene to set up the tour and also helped me with every post. Kari was also a tweeting maniac and a woman who answered my questions at all hours. If you missed a post and want to check it out, she has taken care of that, too.

I’m inspired and amazed by how many people came together to raise money and awareness. Thanks so much, bloggers! You’ve been incredible. Thanks so much followers, your comments have made a tangible difference, clearly. Thanks so much artists, authors, agents and editors for you incredible donations! Thanks so much, Kari, for so many things I can’t count, but mainly for making this tour a blast.

I started the tour by saying that October was the month to not feel paralyzed by the overwhelming statistics, but rather to join to together and see what we could do to help.

Well, we did it. Congrats everyone!


From my standpoint, this month has been awesome. Swati has put an immense amount of effort and work into this tour at every stop- and that same fire is clear in her book. And now, after all this amazingness, I have for you guys two contests: Win a copy of the book, and win an iPod Nano.

Book Giveaway Rules:
US/Canada only
Fill out this form
Ends November 14

iPod Nano Giveaway Rules:
US Only
Fill out this form
Ends November 14

For those of you interested in the audiobook, you have until Wednesday to create your own Split cover and enter it at YA Addict.