“Half memoir, half travel, A Yank Back to England...is an absolutely wonderful book, not only about going home again but also about love and family and tradition and the passage of the years.”
—Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic (Washington
Post)
To see the entire quote, click here.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Hurray, a giveaway!


We've been very remiss about visiting everyone lately, but we have been a little crazed! We promise to catch up soon, and hope you all forgive us—and, in the meantime, help us celebrate. We finally got our new website up (well, mostly)—and we're finally done with proofing! Hip, hip... So we wanted to share our excitement (and relief!) with all our bloggy friends. And how better to celebrate than with a giveaway? A couple, actually.
Great British Journeys by Nicholas Crane
Residents of the US and Canada: We're giving away a hardcover copy of Great British Journeys by BBC-TV's Nicholas Crane. You'll follow not the prodigal footsteps (couldn't resist) but those of eight explorers who set out to chronicle the state of the British nation, including Gerald of Wales, H.V. Morton, Celia Fiennes, Daniel Defoe, and William Cobbett. On foot, on bicycle, on horseback, and by boat—share their passion, imagination, and curiosity. Lots of photos too!
Orioles shirt
We wanted to make sure to include my former countrymen (and women) this time, as well as our friends down under and beyond, so we decided to make this a true cultural exchange. While readers on this side of the Atlantic enjoy this great book about England (and hopefully get in the mood for another book about England, hint, hint!), I'd like to share a bit of what I've found in America with the rest of you. Some of you may know that Prodigal Daughter is quite the little softball player, and she has introduced me to the game of baseball! I actually quite enjoy it and, I confess, sometimes watch it on the telly without her prodding. I know it's not cricket, but... So we thought we'd give away an Orioles shirt. The Orioles are Baltimore's professional baseball team and, while DC now has the Nationals, we've stuck with the Os. The fact that they lose quite often endears them to me even more—must be my English side making me root for the loser, well done and all that. (Note: this sleeveless shirt is man's large, which in US athletic wear is quite large. Perfect for a nightie, ladies!)
And for the kiddies
We want to get the little ones involved too! So we're giving away a travel journal for the budding tourists in your midst. (Sorry, this one's for US/Canada residents only. Postage is quite silly now.)


Enough chitchat, how do I enter?
OK, OK, here are the rules. Quite simple really, and there are lots of opportunities to enter.

*For the book & shirt: You can only enter for one or the other, based on where you are. North American residents, you're in for the book; others for the shirt. (Please say!)
*One entry for each of the following:
  • A comment in post below--make it exciting, we're celebrating!
  • One entry for signing the guestbook at ayankbacktoengland.com (it helps us climb in the search engines plus, it makes me look popular!)
  • A link to this giveaway on your blog, facebook page, twitter, or other networking site you might have. You must come back and leave another comment with link.
  • One entry for putting my book on your shelf at Shelfari, LibraryThing, and/or GoodReads. Must come back and leave another comment. (One bonus entry for Melissa at SmittenByBritain for having my book on her shelf before we'd even heard of Shelfari—thanks, darling!)
  • One entry for tagging my book "travelogue" and "travelogues" at amazon.com (you have to enter the actual words in the little box). Then come back and let me know...
  • One entry if you email us a lovely England photo (72 dpi please); photos that were submitted before or during our last giveaway do not count.
*For the travel journal: Just leave a comment in this post saying who it's for—and where they might be going! One entry per person (finish, as Lew would say).
*We have to be able to reach you: if you don't have a blog, please leave an email in your comment.
*Depending on the number of entries, we'll use the roulette wheel again, the bingo cage, or some other random method. (Will separate by prize first, of course!)
*Contest will run until October 24, 2009 (midnight Eastern Time). Winners to be posted/contacted on Monday, October 26. If we haven't heard back in 72 hours, another winner(s) will be drawn.

That's it! Look forward to hearing from lots of you...

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hip hip hooray!! Good on ya Prodigal Guy and Gal. A very smart looking site indeed and might I say a fab giveaway as well.

Count me in for the Nicholas Crane book. I watched his Britannia (?) documentary and really enjoyed it.
Ta for the extra entry too.

Don't worry, I'll do all of the required steps and jump through hoops as well. This is one of those times where I might even follow you off a bridge if you were so inclined (ha!).

Oh and I know all about being busy. I have been quite remiss as well due to classes and work. I am also considering a move over to Wordpress so I have been working out design ideas while learning Photoshop as well. Phew! I really miss connecting with everyone and having time to gobble up more Brit stuff and share it all. It will be the beginning of December before I'm above water I'm afraid. If you hang in there with me, I'll always return the favor.

Oh, and if any of your readers are interested in another giveaway, I have a Nigel Kennedy CD to give out on Friday. If they visit and can't find the giveaway, just leave a comment and I'll count them in.

All the best,

Melissa

Anonymous said...

Denis,

My work is done.

Twitter link: http://twitter.com/SmittnbyBritain

Let me know if you can't find the tweet. I'll also post on Facebook.

The Amazon tags: done!

Guestbook: done!

Photos - I just sent to you.

Here's keeping my fingers crossed!

Anonymous said...

HOW AWESOME, HMM, CAN I ENTER FOR A PRIZE DADDY?

GO YANK, GO YANK, GO ME(HI HI), GO YANK!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE GIVE AWAY!


Kate Lipman

Anonymous said...

Did a post on the blog:
http://georgetownbooks.blogspot.com/2009/10/portrait-of-prodigal.html

Also signed guestbook...
Carole

Jonathan Thomas said...

How about this for exciting - I can't wait to read your book!

The post I just wrote will end up on Twitter, Facebook and the blog.

Did the Amazon thing.

Throw my had in for the Nicholas Crane book.

Good luck!

Sarah Tyler said...

Yay! How exciting! I'm so happy for your success with the book and the new website looks gorgeous. I can't wait until the book is released, I'll definitely be pre-ordering it.

I wanted to thank you for the wonderful articles you do on Anglotopia about British recipes. They're just perfect for me as I love England and cooking, haha.

Also, I have signed your guestbook, added the tags to your book on amazon.com, linked to you on my twitter page: http://twitter.com/sarahtyler1
I also put your book on my new shelfari page: http://www.shelfari.com/o1514611551/shelf

Thanks doing what you do :) I'd love to win the Great British Journeys Book!

Maggie said...

Okay, i signed the guest book, I linked the giveaway on my blog, and I tagged you at Amazon (and you've been on my Amazon Wishlist for awhile now!). I also linked your book's site on my blog because I don't have a Librarything, etal account. Does that count?

http://maggieosullivan.blogspot.com/2009/10/prodigal-give-away.html is the link at my blog.

And since I've never been to England, I guess I have to sit that one out!

And now for my comment. I'm toasting you and I raise my glass and say:

May neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
Congratulations on your new book and may you have many more. May success be yours!

Anonymous said...

I posted a link to your site on my blog - http://yesangelswatchoverme.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I also signed your guestbook, tagged your book on Amazon, and listed your book as "to read" on my Goodreads book list.

Paul Donnelly said...

A lovely warm witty book that I am only too pleased to support. Buy this book, kids! You will be glad you did.

My activities this morning:
- Signed guestbook.
- linked to my blog http://seemehearmetouchme.blogspot.com/ You're right up top - above even my profile!
- added Amazon tags

Onward!

Paul Donnelly said...

p.s. - I'm also a proud follower of this site!

Anonymous said...

I'm in for Goodreads & amazon.
Mandy (shirt)

ProdigalWife said...

I made a post--can I enter?

Anonymous said...

One entry for Karen (BC) for signing the guestbook.

parTea lady said...

Your new website is great. It's really packed with interesting travel information, etc. I really enjoyed "The Author" and "Our Travels" sections.

Thanks for your giveaway - the Great British Journeys book looks super.

Daffycat said...

The new website is pretty awesome, Denis, very readable and so interesting. Congratulations!

I've posted a link to the new site and to the giveaway for you. Don't enter me for the giveaway though since I won your last one! Still enjoying that tea, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I live in Florida, so I would qualify for the book - if I win. Congratulations on publishing, Much success.
Barb
keysbmv (at) yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I would like the travel journal for Daniel.

dreaob @ aol dot com

Mrs. Apple said...

This little journal would be for one of my kids... maybe the 8 year old - she LOVES to journal. I am trying to get a trip together to go to Washington D.C., but with 7 kids ages 12 and under, it is proving to be rather expensive!!

dadacovimajo at gmail dot com

TheLadyWhoLunches said...

Sorry, I do realize this is way past due. But I just was adding your blog to my RSS link and saw this post. ORIOLES! You're a Baltimore fan?? I'm from Baltimore. Love it. That's all. Just had to say that.