The past couple of weeks I’ve talked about the different charities that authors support with their writing. Author Dianna Love found a whole different venue to include schools, libraries and the arts.
Digital entries
Dianna used her character, Feenix, a lovable young gargoyle to stimulate people’s imaginations. MyFeenix.com challenged high school students and adults to use their creative juices to showcase their interpretations of the character.
There were 3 categories in both divisions, flat art, digital art and 3-d art. There was no charge to enter the contest, so the field was wide open. Dianna made Blood Trinity (the first book in the Belador series which she co-wrote with Sherrilyn Kenyon) available to everyone by offering to send it to the school or public library if they needed a copy, to level the playing field.
Judging the entries
There were 2 rounds of judging before the art pieces made it to the final round held in the art gallery of Alexi Torres in Atlanta, which was judged by 6 different people. I was extremely impressed by the quality and detail in the work. While I read both books in the Belador series, I was again reminded that when we read, we all see the characters differently. None of them really were the vision I had of Feenix, but that didn’t make them wrong….just different.
When I asked Dianna if she felt any particular art entry matched her vision of Feenix, she was quick to admit that she had a totally different picture in her mind, but she was thrilled that so many entered and how they envisioned her creation. I’m sure a lot of authors would be surprised by the way their fans saw their characters.
Here’s a list of the winners (You can check them out at MyFeenix):
Adult Flat Art
1st – Cara Bevan
2nd – Christine Rossi
3rd – Donna Peters
Adult Digital Art
1st – Cara Stemo
2nd – Andrew Bernier
3rd – Mary (Mia Snow) Nason
Adult 3D
1st – Ann Pressly
2nd – Nikki Overkamp
3rd – Heather Machel
High School Flat
1st – Annelisa Leinbach
2nd – Zachary Meyer
3rd – Sarah Stock
High School Digital
1st – Maddison Authur
2nd – Evelyn Lumish
High School 3D
1st – Drew Shields
Along with prizes and money, each winner won a set of books for their school or local library.
Dianna Love (who is also an artist) explains why she ran this type of contest.
Bottom Line: When books are donated to any kind of library, everyone’s a winner.
Monday Giveaways
From Debby Giusti: At Seekerville, he big giveaway this week is a $25 gift card to buy books–Seeker books, of course–and a $25 gift card to Starbucks! Thanks, Glynna and Cara, for the great prize.
And remember…we’re giving away a Toshiba Netbook (loaded with Microsoft Office) at the end of the month from a random drawing of all our visitors. Your name is added in the randomizer EVERY time you comment.
BTW, Barbara Vey is guest blogging on Monday!
From Stephanie Barko: An excerpt & signed paperback of young memoirist Jamie Patterson’s Lost Edens about marriage and denial is yours for a comment at literary publicist Stephanie Barko’s blog from 10/17 through 10/22.
From Jill Stone: GET LOST IN A STORY giveaways for the week of October 17 – 21: Monday Angela Cerrito – a copy of THE END OF THE LINE, Thursday Jane Sevier – a digital download of FORTUNE’S FOOL, and Friday Jo Robertson has an electronic copy of either THE AVENGER or THE WATCHER to giveaway!
Barbara, thanks for highlighting Dianna’s program to unite art and fiction. She’s an amazing woman…so talented in so many ways.
Ah,thanks, Debbie. You’re so sweet. I hear there’s a big event going on at Seekerville Blog today and plan to come by to visit.
It was such a joy to have you at our event in Atlanta, Barbara! What a fun night with the final judging then the guests who came for the reception. I loved the way everyone fawned over all the different versions of Feenix. He is just too adorable. Alexi Torres was so generous to loan us his studio at the Tula Art Center and Gallery. Anyone who is not familiar with his work should stop by on the first Thursday of any month when his studio and many others are open to the public. We called all the finalists on Sunday and I have to say it was really exciting to tell them the news. The finalists’ art at http://www.MyFeenix.com site will have ribbons in place by mid day. Thanks again for covering this event, Barbara. Everyone loved meeting you.
What a wonderfully creative contest! Congratulations to all of the winners and to Dianna!
PS: I recognize one of those backsides, LOL.
thanks Leiha! lol…of course you’d recognize a backside.
Dianna, from the beginning I thought this was an OUTSTANDING idea, and I’ve only become more convinced of it’s value as you’ve gone thorugh the contest. WTG! And I love the art! Like Barbara, nothing matched “my” vision in my head, but that’s the way it should be, right? Grins.
Awesome job, Dianna, and thanks for the MyFeenix art contest!
Ah, Jeanne, that’s a super nice compliment. I’m sure when I finally reveal “my” version of Feenix it will be a surprise too since we all see him so differently. Thanks a bunch!
I’m so happy that I live in the area and could make the event. What I really loved was seeing the pieces in person. They took on a whole new life from what I had seen on the website. I know that one of the entries looked almost more like a stuffed animal online, but I was completely amazed to see what a beautiful piece of sculpture it was. All the finalists did a fabulous job.
And yes, everyone should click on the link and go see the studio owner’s art. Alexi pieces were so unique, they made me want to build a house to hold one!
We were so glad to have you and Bill at the event. I agree, the pieces were all so wonderful in their own way. Alexi is just amazing and having his ginormous art all around just added to the fun. Thanks for attending!
Hi Barb! Such fun in Seekerville today huh?
I think it’s so cool for Diana to sponsor a contest like this…anything to promote reading and creativity is awesome in my book!
XOXO~ Renee C.
I enjoyed the interview, Barbara. Dianna Love was wonderfully articulate, creative in her thinking and generous, as always.
What a great contest, Dianna. Congrats on it’s success and to all the entrants and winners. Thanks for the wondeful highlights Barbara.
Thank you for the wonderful contest! It was grand seeing all the finalists on the website and this interview brought the whole process to a new level. I enjoyed reading the book and creating the art and was thrilled to be a finalist and receive an award!
This was a brilliant way to promote the books and a great way to bring support to libraries and schools. I teach horseback riding and have mostly girls between the ages of 10 and 16. I encourage them to read as I am an avid reader and they will all be getting a chance to read Diana’s books!
Great Contest and wish the best of luck to all the entries.
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