History keeps her secrets longer than most of us. But she has one secret that I will reveal to you tonight in the greatest confidence. Sometimes there are no winners at all. And sometimes nobody needs to lose. ~John le Carre
A few years ago, when I had a newsletter giveaway, I had a special drawing for those who said they had never won a giveaway – not only from me but from anyone. I knew where they were coming from because that is how I have often been. I sometimes say if there is a giveaway drawing with only two entrants and one of them is me, the other person just got a lot of luckier. With my “never won” drawings, I did take some people out of that category.
Plus, it’s not really true that I’ve never won a drawing. I have. Several times. Once I even won a $100 bond at a Christmas dinner. Another time I won a beautiful afghan hand knitted by a library supporter to raise funds for our library. It’s beautiful. Let’s see. What else have I won? Years ago, I won a chicken dinner at a local restaurant. Another time I won some cologne. And I did win my cute little dog and cat mini Christmas tree. Of course I don’t think anybody else wanted it enough to try to win it. Whatever the reason, I was happy and I set up the tree in my dog room every year.
So, I have won some things. It could be that I don’t enter giveaways that often unless it’s to raise money for a good cause. That makes me remember winning a drawing for some exercise, sort of kick boxing classes that I would never do. Okay, you’re saying how come I entered that drawing. Well, it’s like this. I was with my granddaughters at a sidewalk day in our little town. I’d just given them money to enter at a booth raising money for some good cause. The prizes were big baskets of candy. They were excited and already tasting that candy as they entered. They didn’t win.
But while they were eyeing the baskets to decide which one to put in their tickets for, this cute little boy about their age at maybe 10 or 12 came up and asked me to buy a chance on those exercise classes. I pulled out a dollar absolutely sure I wouldn’t win, but the kid was happy to find somebody willing to buy one. A few days later I got the phone call that I was the winner. I tried to give away the free classes without success, but they did also give me one of those soft, freezable ice packs. That has seen a lot of use.
Without losers, where would the winners be? ~Casey Stengel
Casey is talking about sporting competitions here. That’s what my pictures are about. The top one is one where my granddaughter won some ribbons at a horse show and then let her little sister take a ride and hold one of the ribbons. The other is of another granddaughter after a cheering competition. It is fun to win, but somebody does lose or there is no competition.
The same can be true in life. Not everybody wins the heart of the fair maiden. I liked this quote about winners and losers in the game of love.
In the game of love, the losers are more celebrated than the winners. ~Mason Cooley
That might be true in some novels. A heart-broken character might stay in our thoughts longer although I like the happy endings where the guy gets the girl.
I like doing giveaways and I like having the prizes be one of my books. Of course, I hope that if the winner reads my book, they might want to read more of my books. I read once that a writer’s books are his or her best advertisement. Whether that’s true or not, I have done my best to use it. In 2023, I gave away 42 books in my giveaways. The winners were from all over the USA from Utah to Maryland and Florida to Pennsylvania along with a few right here in my home state of Kentucky.
That leads right into my first winner of 2024 from my blog giveaway last week. The winner is Roberta. I haven’t heard from her yet, but I met Roberta a couple of years ago at a book event. So, I know she’s from Kentucky.
I do appreciate all of you who chimed in answering the questions I asked about my posts here. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and suggestions.
Have you ever won one of my books? Or a book from some other author?
I’ll leave you with this smile from Bill Murray. “Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.”
Comments 14
Author
It’ s fun to read that so many of you have been winners of one or more of my books and of other writers’ books too. You all must have a lucky streak.
Sorry, Ann, that you haven’t won one yet, but I’ll be doing more giveaways this year. Maybe you will be a lucky one this year.
Those who enter my blog giveaways have a better chance of winning than those entering my newsletters’ giveaways. That’s because there are always many more intries in the newsletter giveaways, but a couple of you have won those too. That’s great. And I’m hoping to send out a newsletter next week. So, you might just win again. Not sure yet what the prize will be. That is, besides books.
I have won some of your books, and others .Its a great thing to win a book !
No, I have not won one of your books, but I did win one from another author. Winning one from you would be very nice, as I have liked and enjoyed the books of yours that I have read…so far only 5, but I hope to get more before too long.
Yes, some from you and other authors too, I love entering contests and love reading the books.
I have not won one of your books, but I think I have only entered 1 drawing. I have read 20 of your books & love them. Thanks for writing Christian fiction.
Author
It’s a win for me when you’re reading my books, Alison. Thank you. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my stories. I love writing Christian fiction and sharing stories.
I have won one of your books and was gifted with a book from Debbie Macomber.Those are the best things to win as I love books. Looking forward to your new book.
Yes I have won books and the Angel stained glass ornament and the nativity boxes a few years ago.
Congratulations Roberta!
I have won once and it was one of your books along with a mini navity that spells out B E L I E V E. My collection has grown a little since I started with one. I am very excited and proud of them and have them put in a special place. I have put out my mini navity set for at least two Christmas’ since I won it. I love it.
Author
I thought that little Nativity Set was so cute, Pamela. I’m glad you’ve been able to use it with your Christmas decorations.
Yes, I’ve won books from you and also from another author through a Goodreads contest. I also got a free book as a door prize at one of your get-togethers a few years ago. And I’ve won book prizes a few times from contests at my local library. Books make awesome prizes.
I’ve been a winner of your books….a couple of times (over the last several years.) In fact, I won in December! I love your books and am looking forward to May when the next one comes out. Thank you for the giveaways and the opportunity to own one of your books! My “Ann Gabhart” bookshelf is growing!
Yes, I’ve won books from you, and one time I won a lovely Christmas snow globe you were giving away! My biggest win, bookwise, was when Enclave Publishing had a drawing for all of the books they’d published that year, and I won! I still haven’t read all of those 🙂
Yes, Ann, I’ve been a winner of books several times, and several years ago I won a book from you! I’ve also won Valentine’s dinners and tickets to a couple of concerts. I do enter giveaways and I always count it a blessing to win.
Congratulations to Roberta!!