Anthology Books Giveaway Contest

by MudslideMama

My fellow traveling mamas and I not only love to travel and write (and oh yeah, our kids. We love our kids, can’t forget that bit), but we also love to read about other peoples’ travel tales. Reading about other places isn’t the same as experiencing them personally, of course, but a well-crafted story can come close; that’s one reason that collecting submissions for our anthology is so fun. Another reason is simply the joy of discovering great short stories, which are essentially what any collection of tales are, no matter the theme. A favorite anthology for many is the whole Chicken Soup for the (fill in the blank) series, while I especially enjoy McSweeney’s anthologies.

A lot of new writers get their first break in Dave Egger’s publishing house, and well-established authors have contributed to his anthologies as well. Dave Eggers is probably a pretty good guy. Besides assisting new writers launch their professional careers, he teaches writing at a nonprofit tutoring center called 826 Valencia (he’s in San Francisco, but there are others under the 826 mantle in Seattle, Chicago, LA and New York). This week, we have a great contest giveaway in the form of five McSweeney’s books. Yeah, FIVE! And before you ask, yes, they’re new. I pinky-swear I didn’t read them first.

The McSweeney’s Anthology Books Giveaway Contest includes:

1) The Better of McSweeney’s, an anthology that includes short tales by David Foster Wallace, Zadie Smith, Ian Smith, and many others.

2) Timothy McSweeney’s at War for the Foreseeable Future and He’s Never Been so Scared, an anthology including contributions by T.C. Boyle, Wells Tower and more.

$McSweeney\'s 25$ 3) McSweeney’s 25, a classy hardcover book with short stories by Joyce Carole Oates, Steven Millhauser, Padget Powell and other writers.

4) Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney’s Humor Category, which includes contributions by Tim Carvell, Jon Hodgman, Michael Ian Black, and many other hilarious authors.

5) Comedy by the Numbers, a collection subtitled “The 169 Secrets of Humor and Popularity.”

That’s quite a celebration of the written word! Anyone who has thought about starting a collection of anthologies would do well to start with these quintessentially 21st century post-modern short stories. Like all short story collections, they’re great to bring on road trips or vacations, since they can be read in short bursts. How do you win this great collection of anthologies? It’s easy: Just leave a comment below telling us what kind of books you like to take on vacations with you – genre, author, whatever. The contest is open to US residents only, and no relatives of the Traveling Mamas should enter. Contest will close at Tuesday night at 12:01 AM, April 15, 2008. We’ll announce the winner Wednesday, April 16. Have fun!

Tagged as: anthology, books, contest, giveaway

{ 157 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Linda N April 11, 2008 at: I have a small problem concentrating on a book when I’m in a new location. Too many distractions. So I only bring books I have already started, and am totally involved in.
2 Brian B April 11, 2008 at: Travel guides, obviously. I also like short story or essay collections for flights/airports. They’re easy to pick-up and put down.
3 Linda Howard April 11, 2008 at: mystery novels
4 Marilyn Wons April 11, 2008 at: I bring true crime books – I love them
5 margaret herrin April 11, 2008 at: Thrillers.
6 Desmond April 11, 2008 at: I usually take short story anthologies wherever I go, because they’re meant to be consumed in small portions anyway.
7 valerie mabrey April 11, 2008 at: cozy mysteries
8 jesy April 11, 2008 at: Neato idea
9 jan koontz April 11, 2008 at: a book that will last for a long read
10 Shannon Baas April 11, 2008 at: I like a variety of books, but usually take a short one along.
11 Roseann Kies April 11, 2008 at: I love biographies and learning how people became what they are today!!!
12 Noreen April 11, 2008 at: I love to take something light or friviolus, a cheesy romance or sometimes I bring an old favorite pride and predjudice since it is easier to put down
13 Lindsie April 11, 2008 at: That’s a hard one because a good book I can’t put down and end up spending the whole vacation reading instead of doing vacation things! A book of short stories would be great to cure this!
14 Miranda Allen April 11, 2008 at: I like reading Humor books from any author!
15 dorothy April 11, 2008 at: most the time a thriller
16 Aurae Beidler April 11, 2008 at: I usually bring a thriller or murder mystery, like James Patterson.
17 Leigh Nichols April 11, 2008 at: I LOVE Stephen King and Joe Hill books!!
18 Vicky Boackle April 11, 2008 at: i read fiction.
19 Jennifer Barnett April 11, 2008 at: I like to read mysteries while on vacation.
20 Theresa N April 11, 2008 at: A good biography,or romance, or mystery,
as long as it’s good I not real choosey about the genre.
21 christopher h April 11, 2008 at: sci-fi
22 jennifer handke April 11, 2008 at: My favs have always been suspense/horror books… Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Richard Layman, but every once in a while, a good bodice-busting romance is good to perk up your marriage with.
23 Linda Moeller April 11, 2008 at: I’d take a couple Janet Evanovich romance/mystery novels. Probably from the Stephanie Plum series.
24 Naomi April 11, 2008 at: Actually, anthologies like these would be great. I find it hard to read in more than short bursts these days with a needy 4 year old and clutchy 8 month old…
25 Katherine Frazier April 11, 2008 at: History books about where I am going.
26 Mary April 11, 2008 at: I like the books by Dean Koontz. On my last trip in February I purchased Seize the Night by Dean Koontz while in the airport in Charlotte, NC. It has become one of my favorites that he has written. I love suspense novels and fictional crime novels.
27 Denise April 11, 2008 at: I always love true crime.
28 Carol Harrity April 11, 2008 at: Historical fiction is one favorite.
29 susan varney April 11, 2008 at: any romance novel
30 Brittany Rebello April 11, 2008 at: I like to take mystery books with me simply because they keep me entertained on the plane
31 R Hicks April 11, 2008 at: I CRAVE REFERENCE BOOKS AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
32 Cindi April 11, 2008 at: Hello, I take a lot of magazines because I usually am very far behind in reading them! I take a good mystery book with me. The story line causes me to get involved that the travel part of the vacation goes much quicker. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks very much…..Cindi
33 John Sweeney April 11, 2008 at: I PREFER NON-FICTION OR A VERY FUNNY COMEDY
34 Susan Chester April 11, 2008 at: I like very light reading when I am on vacation. I always take inexpensive paperbacks that I don’t have to worry about.
35 bob keck April 11, 2008 at: I really like sarcastic humorists like david sedaris or augusten burroughs.
36 Lori Kaveney April 11, 2008 at: A really good mystery
37 durbzblogz April 11, 2008 at: Can’t enter the competition because I live in South Africa, but I’ll chip in anyway – I like crime (serial killer stuff) and courtroom dramas, plenty of magazines and newspapers. I’m paranoid about not having anything to read, so I usually have about four or five books on me – oh and a Rough Guide to ? and heaps or maps so I don’t get lost.
38 C Duran April 11, 2008 at: I like chick lit on vacation
39 Desmond April 11, 2008 at: Some good science fiction is nice…
40 Laurie April 11, 2008 at: A great graphic novel.
41 Janice J April 11, 2008 at: When we are on the road I read anything I have about the area, so we won’t miss seeing something special, when we stop I read my mystery novels.
42 James L. April 12, 2008 at: I like reading adventure novels while I’m on vacation as well as travel guides of the cities I’m visiting.
43 Stephen Saunders April 12, 2008 at: a great horror novel of course! =)
44 Angela April 12, 2008 at: I have a thing for children’s fantasy novels… good stories.. no adult drama.. just my idea of relaxing

I blogged you on Prize-a-Tron!
http://www.prizeatron.com
45 Krystal D. April 12, 2008 at: classic literature, contemporary, non-fiction, anything.
46 Marilyn Wons April 12, 2008 at: I love Sidney Sheldon – I would take his books – they are fast reads
47 scarlette monahan April 12, 2008 at: Thriller night
48 Mary April 12, 2008 at: Science fiction.
49 Mike Weisberg April 12, 2008 at: sci fi
50 susan varney April 12, 2008 at: romance novels
51 Kierra April 12, 2008 at: books by Emile Zola, which are French literature
52 Nora Scott-Platt April 12, 2008 at: I like mysteries, biographies and reference books along with historical romance books, travel guides and any information I can get my hands on.
53 gerald estep April 12, 2008 at: I bring true crime books – I love them
54 Kathy Walker April 12, 2008 at: I LOVE to read…and vacation is one time I can do this and not feel guilty…after all…its Mama’s vacation too!!!! I love all books…but I usually like James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark…ect…
55 sandy April 12, 2008 at: love an asst
56 DeeAnn April 12, 2008 at: I’m a big sci-fi fan and I usually have one stuffed away in my bag somewhere. Even though I’m on vacation, I like to get a little bit further away from reality. Beam me up Scotty!
57 Ruth Utterback April 12, 2008 at: James Pattersons,alex cross crime stories
58 Steph April 12, 2008 at: I take whatever is hot at the time. No Country For Old Men, The Ruins, stuff like that.
59 Dan Smith April 12, 2008 at: Thrillers
60 Regina April 12, 2008 at: Mysteries.
61 kitty April 12, 2008 at: Mysteries
62 Tammy April 12, 2008 at: I like to take Harlequin Romances with me when I travel. Very light reading, a little bit of escapism, and easy to travel with.
63 Belinda April 12, 2008 at: I love mysteries and romance novels.
64 Elizabeth M. April 12, 2008 at: I love to bring chick lit with me!
65 Julie Ford April 12, 2008 at: I like period/historical romance, something from a number of book club recommendations I watch for, or biographies. Thanks for the chance to win!!
66 Melissa D April 12, 2008 at: I love trashy celebrity bios, and I read them on vacation because I don’t care who sees me reading them!
67 Jennifer April 12, 2008 at: On vacation I’m all about chick lit. I save the heavy stuff for riding the subway to work.
68 christopher h April 12, 2008 at: science fiction
69 Jessica April 12, 2008 at: I love short stories, especially anything in the horror genre. Non-fiction also is great.
70 Denise April 12, 2008 at: I love true crime anytime.
71 Annette April 12, 2008 at: mystery and romance.
72 Gretchen Taylor April 12, 2008 at: A good “beach” book and a couple of mysteries. Always more than one!
73 Chris April 12, 2008 at: history books
74 Deborah Wellenstein April 12, 2008 at: I have always loved post-apocalyptic fiction! Strange, I know!
75 jennifer handke April 12, 2008 at: Anything, Any type, Anywhere… I even read cereal boxes if I’m out of books.
76 Jennifer Jozwiak April 12, 2008 at: I love mysteries for the beach
77 Sarah Stern April 12, 2008 at: When I travel I let it all hang out and read the trashiest, fluffiest stuff I can find. Chick lit is great for this, as are potboiler pageturners. But the very best of all are stacks of magazines from the airport newsstand.
78 Sharon Jones April 13, 2008 at: I love an autobiography. Thanks for great contest
79 Mary Casper April 13, 2008 at: mysteries
80 jennifer handke April 13, 2008 at: I love them all, but on vacation, something short, sweet, doesn’t require too much brain power.
81 Sylvia Belle April 13, 2008 at: I like to listen to mysteries while I drive, on airplanes lite reading and at the destination it depends upon the kind of vacation.
82 Caroline Pelchat April 13, 2008 at: I love to read and eat up books constantly. Anthologies give you an idea of what writers you may enjoy to read more from. When I vacation I bring the book I am currently reading and 2 or 3 more of different genres. Mystery/Crime is my favorite, but comedy, love, horror, classical can be found in my book bag at any time.
83 jan koontz April 13, 2008 at: a big fat one
84 Amy Moore April 13, 2008 at: I read ANYTHING I can get my hands on. Whether its mystery, fiction, do it yourself, or the back of a cereal box.
85 Anthony Hedden April 13, 2008 at: sci fi
86 christopher h April 13, 2008 at: anything by heinlein
87 Susan Craig April 13, 2008 at: anything by Terry Pratchett. Also, extra books – the worst thing is to run out!
88 amateurdelivre April 13, 2008 at: I can never pick just one – it just depends on what I am in the mood for. But, I ALWAYS bring a lot of books, that’s for sure:)
amateurdelivre at gmail dot com
89 lisa April 13, 2008 at: romance books
90 Gretchen T April 13, 2008 at: Several books go into the bag. Non fiction, fiction, mystery, a bit of it all.
91 Dorothy Rozdilsky April 13, 2008 at: Girl Private eye mysterys
92 Catherine copeland April 13, 2008 at: my favorite author is Ann Rule. I just love her. I take her books along with me often when I travel
93 Angela Thompson April 14, 2008 at: I love true crime stories
94 leloni April 14, 2008 at: Usually true crime stories…
95 Sylvia Belle April 14, 2008 at: I love to read. True crime stories are great.
96 Dawn April 14, 2008 at: Terry Prachett for the plane and hanging about waiting (always happens at some point). Then SciFi or shorts-yes would be thrilled to snag the anthologies). Recently a return to Ivan Doig (would sell my soul to write like that).
97 sarah April 14, 2008 at: Anything horror, monsters, murder, etc.
98 Niki Moyer April 14, 2008 at: Historical romance is my favorite
99 Bobbye F April 14, 2008 at: Travel books that tell me about where and what I am seeing while on vacation!
100 Tonya Keener April 14, 2008 at: I would give my right arm to win this….. but I don’t have to right? !!!!!!
101 christopher h April 14, 2008 at: trashy star trek books
102 Tammy April 14, 2008 at: I like to take Harlequin Romances with me when I travel. Very light reading, a little bit of escapism, and easy to travel with.
103 Rachel Fox April 14, 2008 at: I love to read true crime stories!
104 Marion Burgess April 14, 2008 at: I love to read medical thrillers like ones written by Tess Gerritsen.
105 Melanie April 14, 2008 at: I prefer to take big, thick epic novels so that I can afford to take the time to get good and lost in the storyline.
106 Connie G April 14, 2008 at: A good mystery.
107 Barbara Fox April 14, 2008 at: I love to go on vacation with Janet Evanovich — books that is! Nice light read that keeps me in a good mood.
108 kathy pease April 14, 2008 at: true crime
109 trudee carreiro April 14, 2008 at: mystery books james patterson, jaonne fluke, laura levine, ect
110 Kathy Scott April 14, 2008 at: Mystery and romance.
111 shawna April 14, 2008 at: true crime and fiction girly books.
112 Denise B. April 14, 2008 at: Coupon books and area dining/shopping/attractions guides.
113 Catherine copeland April 14, 2008 at: i love true crime books and I love ann rule. I really enjoy a good book not just on vacation but any free time
114 jen g. April 14, 2008 at: On a long road trip especially, I like to read books like Travels with Charley (J.Steinbeck) and Traveling Mercies (A.Lamott) that are basically thoughts of their experiences as they “travel.” Otherwise, I love historical fiction novels, too!
115 Angela J April 14, 2008 at: Varies from month to month, year to year, depends on what I’m in the mood to read at a given time.
116 Shelly April 14, 2008 at: Usually mysteries to keep me absorbed on a long plane flight.
117 Shirley Younger April 14, 2008 at: love romance and mystery
118 Ruth Utterback April 14, 2008 at: James Patterson or Nelson Demille books
119 kiyana April 14, 2008 at: I like Dean Koontz books
120 Lara Aleff April 14, 2008 at: I like to read mysteries!
121 Janet April 14, 2008 at: ty 4 the nice contest!
122 Desmond April 14, 2008 at: Humor collections are good, too…P. J. O’Rourke or Christopher Buckley, for instance.
123 kerri April 14, 2008 at: true crime and bios are my favorite
124 William LuBien April 15, 2008 at: I take technical, radio-related books.
125 Leigh Nichols April 15, 2008 at: GOT to have my Stephen King!!
126 BobV April 15, 2008 at: any mystery is great.
127 Connie G April 15, 2008 at: A good murder mystery.
128 Ruth Utterback April 15, 2008 at: James Patterson, Nelson Demille
129 Catherine copeland April 15, 2008 at: i love love love ann rule. she is an awsome author. i love biographies, true crime, and political books. It makes getting there an education
130 Elizabeth M. April 15, 2008 at: I like Stephen King and Dean Koontz.
131 Terri Wagner April 15, 2008 at: I love to bring a good mystery or detective novel. Patricia Cornwell and James Patterson are 2 of my favorites.
132 Tammy April 15, 2008 at: I like to take a Harlequin Romance with me when I travel.
133 Dan Smith April 15, 2008 at: I like biographies
134 Susan Smith April 15, 2008 at: I like to take the lastest bestseller with me when I go on vacation
135 Roger Deming April 15, 2008 at: sounds like some great books to read. would love to get them.
136 Veronica Garrett April 15, 2008 at: I only take one or two books alone, ones I am interested in reading either good mysteries or non fiction biographies.
137 Tonya Keener April 15, 2008 at: murder mysteries hands down
138 Pamela Hansen April 15, 2008 at: I love Danielle Steele books they keep me interested
139 christopher h April 15, 2008 at: really trashy space-opera type science fiction
140 Rachel Fox April 15, 2008 at: True Crime Dramas always keep me interested while on vacation!
141 taryn April 15, 2008 at: I love chickie books for vacations. Nicholas Sparks, Karen Kingsbury, etc
142 Brooke April 15, 2008 at: I like to take one or two BIG FAT classics that I haven’t read before – like Brothers Karamazov, Anna Karenina, or Remembrance of Things Past.

Please pick me! I’ve really wanted to check these out!
143 michelle rosborough April 15, 2008 at: Everything, I just pick a book and take ie.
144 Timothy Sternberg April 15, 2008 at: Travel guides.
145 Ed Nemmers April 15, 2008 at: David Sedaris
146 Carol Drury April 15, 2008 at: no favorite authors except I do like JD ROBB but anything with a corpse will do just fine and I love English murders especially well!
147 sarah woods April 15, 2008 at: Love the travel and the art book. many Thanks Sarah W.
148 Tisa April 15, 2008 at: I love both historical, art & travel books when I travel! ~ Thanks!
149 Gretchen T April 15, 2008 at: Anything that isn’t work related…. mystery, classic, short story.
150 jason fiske April 15, 2008 at: There is a spot in my bookshelf for these. It’s a waitin.
151 Terri Lannan April 15, 2008 at: I like romantic suspense books. Although, a coworker recently got me into this vampire romance series as well.
152 C Duran April 15, 2008 at: I love to read Jane Green novels when I’m on vacation.
153 Janet April 15, 2008 at: christain romance
154 Donna Kozar April 15, 2008 at: I like political thrillers.
155 Karin April 18, 2008 at: Humorous books
156 Valerie Frost April 1, 2009 at: Novels, Dean Koontz, Nicholas Sparks, dog Stories,
Old cassics, Albert Payson Terhune, Jim Kjelgaard
157 Cara April 7, 2009 at: short story collections, for variety

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