Well, this was an exciting thing to come home to one day: my very first box of ARCs (advanced reader copies)!

I tore open the box and found a letter from my publisher and a big stack of these pretty little things, looking almost like the finished book (except without the final cover)! Squeeeee! It’s the first time I’ve seen my book in actual book format, and it was crazily thrilling to flip through all the pages and see the chapter headers, and the text all set up, and the page numbers, and the title on every-other page, and my name on every-other page, and the back-cover blurb, and everything — just like a real live book!

(I wonder if that feeling will ever get old????) 

Anyway, I need to start sending these out to reviewers, but I thought I’d save one copy to give away at my newsletter! All you have to do is sign up for the newsletter, and you’ll be automatically entered to win. (If you’re already signed up, you’re already entered to win!)

You can sign up for the newsletter on the top sidebar on the homepage of the blog. Or you can follow this link and sign up: http://laurenchristopherauthor.com/#!/newsletter/

I’m doing an author newsletter because it’s really the easiest way to communicate with true readers and fans. Facebook is rather hit-or-miss these days; I’m pretty spotty on the blog; people don’t remember to check the website; etc. So an e-mail newsletter (which I plan to only send out once a month or less) is still the best way to let you know about upcoming book signings, deals on my books, giveaways, when the next book is coming out, cover reveals, that kind of thing. The newsletter subscribers will always be the first to know!

And for now, it’s a great place to celebrate! I’m doing one giveaway a month — Amazon cards, Barnes and Noble cards, beach-related “red” goodies, and more! Plus answering reader questions, sharing quotes about love, showcasing some cool “behind the scenes” people who help to make the writing happen, sharing fun facts about the book, sharing sneak peeks of chapters (of The Red Bikini and Book 2), and more!

So come on over and join the party! We’d love to have you…