A Giveaway Celebrating Three Years as a Published Author

A Giveaway Celebrating Three Years as a Published Author

Three years ago this month, I published my first novel, The Prophecy. It was a huge step for me. I’d always wanted to write fiction, but could never get past the initial idea and first few scenes of a story.

That changed in November 2013, when I had a huge epiphany: writing fiction wasn’t all that different from writing non-fiction, something I’d been doing for a while. All I had to do was translate the outlining and other skills I’d developed as a genealogist, first as an amateur and later as a professional, into stories.

Seven weeks later, I’d completed the first draft of The Prophecy. I’m not going to pretend it was easy. It most certainly was not, but it was one of the most satisfying feats I’ve ever accomplished.

Over the past three years, I’ve published a total of eighteen novels and novellas as well as more than half a dozen shorter stories under three pen names, Lucy Varna, V.R. Cumming, and Celia Roman. None of that would’ve been possible without you, the reader.

To celebrate my three year anniversary as an author, I’m holding two very special giveaways for all my newsletter subscribers, one for readers living in the United States and another for readers outside the US. One grand prize is available for each set of subscribers:

  • For US residents (you must have a US mailing address and a valid email address): One Kindle Paperwhite, plus one ebook edition of any of my currently available novels or novellas, your choice.
  • For non-US residents (you must have a valid email address): A $25 Amazon.com gift certificate, plus one ebook edition of any of my currently available novels or novellas, your choice.

Rules: The giveaway ends at midnight EST on February 28, 2017. To be eligible, you must subscribe to one (not all!) of the newsletters for any of my pen names (Lucy Varna, V.R. Cumming, Celia Roman). To enter, comment below using the email address used to subscribe to said newsletter. In the comments, include your state (if you’re a US resident) or your country (if you’re a non-US resident) and the name of the pen name whose books you read (e.g. Canada, Celia Roman) so that I can verify each entrant’s status as a newsletter subscriber. Additional comments are welcome. Winners will be chosen at random within one calendar week of the entry period’s closing and notified shortly thereafter by email. I reserve the right to choose another winner should the initial winner(s) not respond to the notifying email within three days of it being sent. The notifying email will come from cd [at] cdwatsonauthor [dot] com, so add that addy to your list of safe email addresses. Winners will be probably announced in various places online (this blog and the blogs of my pen names, social media sites, and my various fiction newsletters), so be prepared to have your first name or initials and country of origin shared.

That’s pretty much it.

I know you’re wondering why I’m not opening this giveaway up to non-subscribers, and the answer is simple. My newsletter subscribers are my most loyal readers. They’re the ones who’ve helped me build my writing career by buying, reading, and reviewing my books. Without them, I would’ve failed a long time ago, so it’s only appropriate that this giveaway be centered on my biggest fans.

If you know of someone who would be interested in this giveaway, please encourage them to read one of my books first (The Prophecy and The Vampire’s Pet are free, and the others are not expensive). If they enjoy those, then they are free to subscribe to the pertinent newsletter and comment below to enter the giveaway.

To be honest, though, if I were looking to attract new readers with this giveaway, I would’ve set it up differently. So share or don’t; I won’t be offended either way. This is simply my way of expressing gratitude for three wonderful years writing and publishing stories.

Thank you, my friends, and good luck. Here’s to three more years!

P.S. I get a lot of spam on this blog, so comments are held in moderation until approved. All comments that aren’t spam are approved, but it may take me a few hours to sort through everything. Thanks for your patience! I should’ve mentioned this at the start. 🙂

112 thoughts on “A Giveaway Celebrating Three Years as a Published Author

    1. Sweet! Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

      P.S. I edited your address out of the comment for privacy reasons. If you win, I’ll get it from you later, ok? Thanks so much!

  1. Maryland Lucy Varna and V. R. Cumming

    Here’s to the next 3 years and the next and the next OKAY you get the jest I get it!! LOL

    1. Lol! Yeah, I’m hoping for more than three more years of writing myself! 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

  2. I’m from the state of Delaware on the East Coast. We’re enjoying 72 degree temperatures which is definitely not the normal to expect in February! But it’s nice.
    Luca Varna is the pen name whose books I read.
    Emily

  3. I’m sure I’m subscribed to Lucy Varna and I have The Prophecy, Theif of Hearts, The Choosing and an anthology Alien Kisses & Holiday Wishes. I’m also subscribed to V.R. Cummings and have The Vampires Pet….awesome, and seriously want the rest of the series. Thank you for the chance at this awesome giveaway!

    1. A double fan! Awesome. I promise, more stories are on the way as soon as I can get them written, including The Master Vampire (Eric!) and the final entry in The Pruxnae Series, Sweet Surrender.

      Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

  4. Thank you for all the long hours and dedication to provide such wonder books. Subscribed to all three names! Thank yiu for this awesome chance!
    From Sweet Home Alabama!

    1. We used to live in Alabama (Fort Rucker). Every time we came home from a trip to visit my folks in Georgia, I’d put on Sweet Home Alabama so me and my son (then about 4-5 years old) could sing it as we crossed the state line. 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  5. From Orlando, fl! I’m a huge fan of your vampyr series by V.R. Cummming and cannot wait for the master vampire!

    1. I’m itching to dive back into Eric’s point of view. And finish out the series for all my super fans! 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. I’m already developing Sweet Surrender, the last Pruxnae book. It’s Tyelu’s story and will see a return to space, more on the Q, and will probably delve at least a little into why the Sweepers have become so active. Lots of exciting things in store there!

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. I can’t believe it’s so warm! I don’t even have to have a fire except at night, though it’s not much above 60 here during the day.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. Queensland! It’s on my bucket list. Well, *all* of Australia is on my bucket list, but specifically QLD as I have friends there.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  6. Hi Lucy! Congratulations to your 3 years as a published author! May you have more years to publish more worlds written in ink.

    Philippines, Lucy Varna

    1. Thanks, Roz! I’m definitely looking forward to continuing on as a writer. Love my job, and my readers!

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  7. Congrats on that milestone!

    I’m from the UK (Worcestershire now, though Scotland originally). I subscribe to your Lucy Varna newsletter, though I’m not sure if I did it under my full name or just my initials.

    Regards,
    Bruce

  8. Ohio, V.R.Cumming
    Love the Vampyr series! Looking forward to reading more from you. Now that I know your other pen names, I can check them out.

    1. Oh, all the pen names are quite different, so if you don’t like the others, no worries. 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. A triple fan! You’re a brave one. 🙂

      Hope you’re enjoying all the stories. Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. I see lots of books in the future. Hopefully most of them will be great. 😉

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. What is that show about the guys from Kentucky? It’s like a reality show, and the guys are COUNTRY. A friend from Australia happened to catch that and told me he couldn’t understand a word the guys were saying. So I hopped over and listened for a while, then told him, “That’s exactly how I talk!” 😀

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. A fellow Georgia peach!

      The Master Vampire will be out *this* year or I’m going to let fans come to my house and nag me until I finish the first draft. 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. Thank you for reading my stories! Without you, I could never make it as an author, and that’s the honest truth.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. If you like Fantasy Romance (or Paranormal Romance), I recommend starting with The Prophecy. It’s available as a free download: http://books2read.com/theprophecy

      If you prefer SciFi Romance, I suggest starting with The Choosing, which is available through the Kindle Unlimited program: http://books2read.com/thechoosing

      Either one is a fun read, but the Lucy Varna books aren’t nearly as *ahem* steamy as the V.R. Cumming ones. 😉

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  9. Congrats on 3 years. V R Cummings books.
    Thanks for this awesome giveaway chance.
    Carol L.
    New Jersey
    USA

    1. You’re welcome! I love having giveaways like this. It’s a great opportunity to connect with readers and see what they really like.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  10. Loops, my comment disappeared. A bg Congrats on 3 years. V R Cummings.
    Thank you for the awesome giveaway chance.
    Carol L

    1. All comments are held in moderation until I can sort through them and delete the spam. I promise, I approve anything that isn’t spam, but it sometimes takes me a while. Sorry about that! :/

  11. Lucy Varna newsletter and I live in Ohio. Congratulations on three years, here’s hoping for many, many more!

    1. Thank you for the well wishes. I love writing, so I hope to share many more stories with y’all over the coming years.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  12. Thank you for this chance. Keep these books coming! Mary Dellenbusch Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada 🙂

    1. You’re welcome! I’m looking forward to getting more stories to you soon.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. You’re welcome! I love, love, love doing giveaways for my readers. So much fun!

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  13. I am in Maryland and Lucy Varna books are my favorite. I hope you continue to write for many, many more years! Keep up the great work!

    1. Thank you so much for the encouragement. Without loyal readers like you, I could never keep writing!

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. I bet you’re feeling the cold right now! Good thing you have Eric and Jason to keep you company. 😉

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. I’m glad you’re enjoying them. Keep an eye out for more coming soon!

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. Me, too! I keep hearing that vampires are going out of style (in books), and I just shake my head. Vampires are always in style! 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. You’re welcome! Couldn’t write without an awesome group of readers at my back!

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck.

  14. This is so wonderful, thank you!! Luca Varna is the pen name of the books I read. I am from Michigan. Right now it’s cold and snowing here! Have a great weekend!

    1. Brrr!!! It’s still above freezing here, but wind makes it feel so much colder.

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. Thank you, Shirley! It’s been a great three years, thanks to readers like you. 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  15. I know you via the pen name Lucy Varna and my physical address is: Bothell, WA (15 miles East of Seattle, WA, Western WA) Good Luck to All who enter, too. Thanks for this chance! Congratulations on your writing anniversary!
    Love & Peace, 🙂

  16. Hi! Congrats on 3 years of writing and thanks for having this giveaway. I’m in Omaha, Nebraska, and I receive the V.R. Cumming and Lucy Varna newsletters. We have more winter on the way so a new Kindle would come in really handy 🙂

    1. I’ve been to Texas! ‘Course, I was about eight at the time, so all I really remember is Six Flags, the Astrodome, and the humongous horns on the cattle. 😉

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

  17. Hiya, I’m Australian and have a Lucy Verna for 2015 and am subscribed to VR Cummings. I love indie authors and everything you do, and the trouble you go to, to keep your readers happy. Thank you!

    1. One thing about indie authors: We definitely don’t take our readers for granted! 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

    1. I write different kinds of stories under each of my pen names, so you may not like the other stories. And no worries if you don’t! 🙂

      Thanks for dropping by and good luck!

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