Friday, January 29, 2010

Guest Post and Lone Star Legend Giveaway!

I am so exited to welcome Gwedolyn Zepeda to Jo-Jo Loves to Read!  If you missed my review, you can read it here.  In her guest post she has decided to share a little more information about the chupacabra.  So if this legend is new to you I suggest you read the following guest post.

Here is what Gwendolyn wants to share with us:
In my latest novel, Lone Star Legend, protagonist Sandy Saavedra is trying to embark on a career as a serious journalist who tackles Latino issues, and then the news organization she works for is taken over by a gossip blog conglomerate. Sandy is asked to write “snarky” pieces about celebrities, and she finds that a little demeaning, but she’s willing to rise to the challenge. So I had all that in place, and then I thought: What would be even more demeaning to someone likeSandy than writing gossipy blog posts? And the answer was a chupacabra story. It would be like asking Anderson Cooper to go on location with the Loch Ness Monster, in her mind. 

I live in Texas, and there are periodic chupacabra claims here, of course. Before I started writing this novel, there was an alleged chupacabra sighting out in the Hill Country somewhere. Every time that happens, I feel kind of embarrassed trying to explain the legend to my non-Latino friends, because it’s pretty silly, and they ask if I believe in chupacabras, and I get defensive and ask if they believe in Bigfoot, and then they ask what the word chupacabra means, and I say “Goat sucker,” and then they make dirty jokes, and etc., etc. So I’m always a little annoyed when there’s a chupacabra story on the news. But after this one sighting, right before I started writing this novel, a lot of Mexican bars and restaurants turned it to their advantage by offering chupacabra-themed drink specials and t-shirts. And I thought that was a good way to rise above a silly situation. So I wanted to give Sandy an opportunity to do that, too, by finding her own chupacabra and turning it into a story to be proud of.

Fun Fact #1: The working title of this novel’s manuscript was “Chupacabras in Love.” But my New-York-based publisher worried that not enough readers outside the Southwest would know what the word meant, so we changed it to Lone Star Legend.

Fun Fact #2: Just yesterday morning, workers in Bridgeport, Texas found what seemed to be the body of a dead chupacabra. Biologists have determined that it’s actually a rare hairless raccoon.

Thanks for stopping by today Gwendolyn!  I am always excited to learn about a new legend and this one was sure new to me!

Now let's get on with the Giveaway! Miriam from Hachette has offered to give 3 copies of Lone Star Legend away to my readers!  Thanks again Miriam!

To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S. or Canada.  No PO boxes please.

For one entry leave me a comment including your email address below.

For an additional entry share a legend that you know of.

For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.

Please include your email so I will have a way to contact you if you win.

You will have until February 12th to enter and I will draw for winners on February 13th.

Good luck everyone!

21 comments:

Katy said...

Caitlin

Enter me
katybug2373@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I guess I didn't really know about this myth? I'd love to be entered so I can figure it all aout :)
stacybooks at yahoo

Emma said...

Lone Star Legend sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

mindy said...

this sounds like a great read thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

Debi said...

Hi there!

Just wanted to let you know that you won the wrap-up contest for What's in a Name 2. Could you please e-mail me (rdagmstevens at frontiernet dot net) with the e-mail address that you'd like your gift card sent to? Thanks! And congrats!

--Annie

Marian Perera said...

I tried to think of a legend from my original country (Sri Lanka) but I can't remember any, which made me feel a bit sad. The only legends I know about are the Loch Ness monster, Sasquatch and so on. I've been Westernized.

I'd still like to enter the giveaway, though. :)

Marian

mdperera at hotmail dot com

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read this book.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Nickolay said...

This sounds like a fantastic book. Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Denny, Alaska said...

Thank you for entering my name in your giveaway!

denny(dot)gill(at)gmail(dot)com

Amy said...

I want to enter. Just hearing the author's comments makes me want to read, she has such a humorous slant on things.

The only legend I know of, here in CA, is of the "bloody Mary", supposedly if you drive past one particular street at night you see her. Funny thing is, everyone around has heard of it,and deep down back in high school we believed it. I still think of it when I pass that way!

Amy
gingercatranch at gmail dot com

Ally said...

Please enter me!
allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

Ellie Wright said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Adriana78 said...

I want to win this book! In Mexico we have La LLorona!

asalgado@highlandbaking.com

Cheryl B said...

Please enter me! I'd love to read this!

cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

I only know the usual legends--Big Foot, The Loch Ness monster, etc. though I have heard of the legend of the Chupacabra Legend (hubby watched a documentary recently about it).

cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

#1
blogged about it here:
http://proudboobymama.blogspot.com/2010/02/feb-10-giveaways.html
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

#2
blogged about it here:
http://proudboobymama.blogspot.com/2010/02/feb-10-giveaways.html
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Edna said...

please enter me into the contest

I blogged on
http://edna-myfavoritethings.blogspot.com/

mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Reading said...

Please count me in. Thanks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Nancye said...

I would like to be entered in this contest. Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is what comes to mind.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net