Black Friday Blog Hop Back to Blog
Update: Thanks so much for participating in the Blog Hop! Cassandra Carr picked our big winner and that lucky person is geminicalli@yahoo.com. Congrats!!! And if you didn’t win…please, come back here on 11/29/11. I’ll be hosting an all-day release party for ANGEL OF DARKNESS then, and there will be tons of goodies up for grabs. Thank you!
Thanks for coming by for some Black Friday Blog Hopping fun! Here are the details for the hop (provided by Cassandra Carr):
One random commenter (can be on any of the blogs) will win a Kindle Fire, along with all the prizes below! That’s the easiest kind of shopping I can think of…
Prizes:
– Cassandra Carr: copy of either of my two current releases, Talk to Me or Head Games
– Kristabel Reed: back list copy of one of her stories and then on her own blog a $10 GC plus a copy of her newest release, Risque, a Regency Menage Tale
– Lucy Felthouse: back list copy of any of her single-title books
– Cari Quinn: back list copy of one of her books
– Leigh Elwood: two back list copies of her books
– Natasha Blackthorne: copies of her two Regency era novellas: Grey’s Lady and Waltz of Seduction
– Amber Kallyn: e-copy of Dragos 1
– Camryn Rhys: Kindle copies of The Barn Dance and Off the Record – Foodie Erotic Romances
– Lissa Matthews: two of her back list books
– Misa Buckley: an e-copy of Ironhaven and To Reach the Dawn
– Lacey Wolfe: a copy of Ambers Muse
– Courtney Sheets: a $25 GC to Ravenous Romance and a copy of Kona Warrior – PDF
– Sara Brookes: an e-copy of one of my back list books
– Cynthia Arsuaga: a copy of an e-book, and on her own blog five book charm book tethers
– Louisa Bacio: .pdf copy of my first book in The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf series, and on her own blog a $10 certificate to Ravenous Romance, and each commenter will also be entered to win a Goody Bag of new Orleans treats
– Malia Mallory: one copy each of The ABC’s of Erotica and Santa’s Back Door Baby
– Cynthia Eden: a copy of Angel of Darkness (either print or digital)
– Carrie Ann Ryan: an e-copy of The Alpha’s Path
– Jacquie Rogers: a Smashwords coupon for Faery Merry Christmas, plus on her own blog, a free copy of Much Ado About Marshals
So what are the rules? Simple: visit as many of the blogs as you can and leave a comment for the blog owner. For every comment, you’ll get one entry into the grand-prize drawing. Be sure to leave your e-mail address with every comment so we can find you if you win! And don’t forget that several blog owners are giving away prizes specific to their blog, too!
One winner will be chosen on Saturday morning using random.org. I will contact that person about the Kindle Fire and then each blog owner with a prize will contact the winner themselves to arrange delivery of said prize. Questions? Contact me at AuthorCassandraCarr AT gmail DOT com.
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Sweet! Now…on to my post for Black Friday…
I’M A COWARD
There. I’ve confessed. When it comes to Black Friday crowds, I get stresses. Too many people. Too few presents. Too much drama that you see aired later on your local news broadcast.
So how do I handle Black Friday? Here are some of my survival tips:
1. Whenever possible, shop online. So many places are offering free shipping. Get those goodies online. Save yourself the drama of endlessly searching the parking lot. Sit in your comfy chair at home, and click quickly for your order.
2. If you have to head out on Black Friday, never shop alone! Take a buddy–a friend can be the perfect aid you need when it comes to finding those perfect bargains.
3. The shoes. Oh, the shoes, baby! Don’t go for fashionable when it comes to Black Friday. Go for comfort. Pull out those comfy sneakers because you are about to walk like a mad woman. (Unless, of course, you follow my first survival tip–and shop from home!)
4. Hide your prizes. When you get to your car to dump out your goods, don’t leave them in plain sight. Sadly, there will also be folks out looking to steal on Black Friday. The chaos is the perfect cover for them. So please don’t leave your new purchases out where folks can see them. Hide them in your trunk. Deposit them at your house and then go shopping again. Just be careful and be alert.
5. Don’t let the stress get to you. Long lines make you frustrated? Screaming toddler have you seeing red? (And I’m not talking about Santa’s suit!) Then just take a deep breath. Hum a Christmas tune, and remember…you’re going through this drama because you want presents for the people that you care about–this is for them.
Happy shopping!!
Cynthia Eden
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#4 is a great tip, but also so sad. I’m definitely with you, Cynthia- online shopping is the way to go. Although this year I ventured out with family, but we only did so at 11 AM so the real crazies were all gone.
I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and enjoy the weekend!
thanks for the awesome giveaway! I am also a fan of shopping at my computer desk! Ugh, I don’t like the rude and crazy people!
I’m definitely a practicioner of the 1st rule, its a bit too annoying to deal with the crowds!
melorabrock {at} gmail {dot} com
I wholeheartedly agree with number 1! I like to go to discount places like Marshall’s and TJMaxx but only before Black friday or a week after; they’ll still have great deals!
geminicalli at yahoo dot com
i don’t do black friday.. but i like rule num 1..thanks for the giveaway!
darksiry(at)gmail(dot)com
Free shipping and no crowds are the top two reasons I love online shopping. Also, I like the anticipation of checking out the items once UPS delivers them to my door.
I hate shopping, so I avoid the mall or any big, crowded stores, especially on days like Black Friday. If I have to shop, I prefer doing it online.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Happy Holidays!
gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com
I will not go out the weekend of Black Friday! I would love to win this…I don’t have a Kindle, can’t afford it…so I have to read e-books on my PC, kind of hard to take that with you 🙂
I just can’t handle all the chaos! Besides, ‘get up early’ just doesn’t register in my mind 😉
I used to LOVE Black Friday. No sleeping throughout the night and shop and shop and shop until next early afternoon….. And that’s AFTER hours of driving since I am a Canadian…. But can’t do it anymore after I have a baby…
I’m sticking with #1, shop online as much as possible. Since I don’t have much shopping to do, I just wait until a a few days later and check out what’s left. There are usually sales going on during the holiday season, so I’ll take those over the Black Friday madness any day.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
I wouldn’t call that cowardice, that’s smart survival methods it saves your sanity and your pocket book lol. I know when I laced up my nikes this morning I was ready to throw elbows haha. I definitely could have saved myself the drama and aggravation by online shopping but the girls and I make a day of it so it’s more a social thing than survivalist. But none the less next year I think we will all sit around with our laptops coffee and zebra striped slippers for the sale ;)roeflor@gmail.com
I am with you, I am a coward. I stayed home and shopped online. I once saw two elderly ladies fighting over a toy and one ended up leaving in an ambulance. Neither ended up with the toy. Thanks for this awesome giveaway
teressaoliver at gmail dot com
My version of avoiding Black Friday stress is staying home! If I really want to shop, there is always the internet! Thanks for the giveaway! I really enjoyed Never Cry Wolf and would be more than happy to relieve you of Angel of Darkness in print, if I’m lucky enough to win! brendem7@comcast.net
I’ve never done Black Friday shopping. Online shopping that day does sound a lot easier. Awesome giveaway. Thanks for the chance. I don’t own an e-reader and i want a Kindle Fire, so I would love to have this one. Plus it has a lot of books from great authors too. Hope everyone had a great holiday.
KimS.
truebloodfan(at)rock(dot)com
I used to go out on Black Fridays but now I shop online. So much more comfortable!
Thalia
museclues08 AT yahoo DOT com
I actually did Black Friday once. The thing is that I did not know anything about Black Friday (please don’t laugh. I was really ignorant back then) My friend woke me up at 1:00am and we went to Target. When we got there I see all these people outside but I didn’t think anything of it. We went in, bought our stuff, and got out in one piece. But never in my mind I thought about the mess and the big deal about Black Friday. Now that I look back and, besides of laughing at myself, I say to myself that I was brave back then, but now I’m a total coward. But at least I got to experience it. I rather make my purchases on a day like this online. No lines, no stress, no traffic.
I prefer to avoid the crowds and shop online. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I hate going even out of my house on Black Friday! I prefer shipping online 🙂 I dont have to fight with people or worry that I’ll be trampled to death!
Ashley A
ash_app@hotmail.com
I haven’t done the black Friday shopping for a couple of years. Last few times I went, people was pushing me and I don’t like that. lol Good luck everyone!
Forgot my email amysmith98(@)gmail.com
I’m with you – online shopping is my friend!!
Thank you for the awesome giveaway opportunity!!
Gena Robertson
robertsongena@hotmail.com
Not gonna do it (Not this year anyway)! There really wasn’t anything out there that I wanted that badly to tackle the crowds. I’m not a big online shopper, so I’ll go out next week when I don’t have to worry about being football tackled trying to get in the door ** LOL **. bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net
Okay, so I tried to be brave and I went out to Old Navy. Gah! The line stretched from the front of the store to the back, and those awesome $1 scarves? So gone.
Thanks for sharing all of the advice! Please, keep it coming!
I love that I can do almost all my shopping online, so no malls for me today.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
I am with you! Being able to shop online has made things so much easier.
Oh wow what an awesome give away! roeflor@gmail.com
When the kids were little I did venture out to the stores on Friday to get the goodies. One year they wanted pound puppies. So I waited in line at the store that had advertised them. When the store opened we all rushed in and went in all directions. Of course I went to the toy section.
No puppies. Came to find out that the store put out 4 puppies in 4 different locations of the store. A lot of people were very upset and yelling at the service desk. They finally brought out the entire shipment, so we all got what we wanted. I don’t shop on Friday anymore. lol
luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com.
thanks for the great tips, i don’t go to the stores anymore either. i let my family do that if there is something that we need. thank you for the chance at such a great giveaway and i hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
*waves the white flag with you* Put me firmly in the coward column. I even make sure I have enough food in the fridge and pantry so I don’t have to venture out at all–not even to the grocery store! Love the idea of this blog hop! Thanks so much for participating.
silverjames@swbell.net
wow! Thanks so much for the chance to win! I am totally amazed!
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
Maybe that’s why I can’t stand Black Friday- no way I could wear awesome high heels and battle awful crazy crowds!
mconnolley@yahoo.com
Black Friday is not a good place for me to be– too many people. Ewww… I love your tips. When the kids were little I’d shop late at night when my husband got home, and that took a little pressue off. I honestly wouldn’t wait in line unless it was something SO good that it was beyond resisting. So far, I haven’t done it:)
wayfaringwriter at gmail dot come
Terrific giveaway! thanks so much!
rypm25@aol.com
You know, I went out late in the afternoon for the first time this year (did my online shopping in the morning!) and it wasn’t too bad. Maybe next year I might be one of those crazy kids out at midnight, but it would have to be for a really good deal!:-)
I stay away from shopping as much as possible! Thank you for the chance to win
I fully support your rules and I’av only ever gone Black friday shopping one time which is quite enough for me! I hate the fighting and I’m short s I’m very pushable. I stay from all that drama. rshereifa at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the chance to win! Happy Black Friday!
andralynn7 AT gmail .com
loving the hop and read 2 book today
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity! Very generous and great prizes!!
I’m also an online shopper one Black Friday experience was enough for me, lol.
Gena Robertson
robertsongena@hotmail.com
I actually managed to get through Black Friday unscathed this time! Some people are just flat out ridiculous about it.
n.dematos@gmail.com
those are some great tips 🙂
meandi09@Yahoo.com
I send the hubby 🙂 I worked retail too many years and don’t want to deal with the people.
Thanks for participating in the giveaway!
gigi s
gigis0426(at)gmail(dot)com
Forgot to post my email address earlier……mmbrack@Earthlink.net
I love it! Have always wanted a Kindle! Thanks!
No crowds for me thank you…love online shopping! This is such an awesome giveaway! I would love to be entered:
sugar_creek_cottage@yahoo.com
Thanks for this opportunity! n.dematos@gmail.com
This is a great giveaway. I agree with your tips. I get so stressed out when it comes to the crowds. I love to do online shopping.
kiss417@hotmail.com
This is a fun giveaway.
Thank you for the generosity.
lindsaywolford AT sbcglobal DOT net
This is such an awesome giveaway! I would love to be entered:
sugar_creek_cottage@yahoo.com