hiding under the mattress: episode 1 & TEMPEST Giveaway!

So, this is a brand new themed post I'm doing on a non-regular basis. It requires bravery, humility, and thick skin. Basically, I'm going to post the first chapter of a random old manuscript...some are completed books, others are works in progress (ones that will probably stay that way FOREVER). I'm not going to allow myself to change or adjust ANYTHING. Not even basic typos.

Now, I know what you're thinking, why in the freak would I want to do something like this when I have plenty of Tempest fans who think my writing is clean and was born that way on the very first try with little effort or help from anyone? I've compiled a list of reasons to support this decision (and yes, I needed this in order to keep myself from chickening out).

LIST OF REASONS FOR TAKING HUMILIATION 101 
by Julie Cross

1) I haven't posted about writing or writing advice in a LONG time and I know this blog is reader focused, but I also know some of you are trying to write a book and looking for any help you can get.

2) Sometimes it's hard to listen to an author tell you how to write a book when you are under the assumption that they've never written anything bad in their life and there's no way they struggle like you do.

3) It gives me an opportunity to show my own versatility...time-travel and 19 year old boy point of views are not the only stories I've ever written.

The other important aspect to this theme is that I'm not going to give you a summary or book jacket type description. You get nothing. Just the opening pages. Not even a title. It's one of those things that you just have to dive in and read it without worrying to much about the details and missing info.

On to the contest! So...to enter the contest this week all you have to do is read the chapter, then in the comment section write your own first line of chapter 2 for this story. 

The winners will be chosen by random draw, if you tweet the contest or post on facebook, let me know in the comment section as well and I'll give you extra entries. I will select 3 winners this week and will include a signed copy of Tempest, plus 5 autographed Tempest bookmarks. 

Yes, you heard that right! 3 winners!


Contest Deadline is Saturday, April 28 at 11:59pm (CDT). Winners will be announced here on the blog, Sunday, April 29. 


Also...the next hiding under the mattress post will happen as soon as I receive 50 comments on this blog post. Duplicates count, and so do my replies to comments. So, chat away!

And here's my old, unpublished, learning experience....*hides in shame*