DEAREST DOROTHY: Merry Everything!

Charlene Baumbich is back with the fifth installment in the Partonville series DEAREST DOROTHY, Merry Everything! Set in the heart of the Midwest, these books feature a community of loving characters, and a spunky, irresistible heroine — 87-year-old Dorothy Jean Wetstra.

In DEAREST DOROTHY, Merry Everything!, the residents of Partonville find themselves coping with a terrible tragedy during the holiday season: one of their own is killed Thanksgiving weekend. Everybody pitches in to help the family, and the outreach certainly surprises Katie Durbin. But there's not much time for quiet contemplation—not with her plan to revitalize Partonville's shopping district already well underway. It looks like Katie will need a Christmas miracle (and Dorothy's prayers) to convince a few stubborn townies that her motives are as pure as a fresh snowflake.

Coming October 2006

Tell us about the Dearest Dorothy in your life! Submit an original short essay of 1,000-1,500 words and mail it in to us.

 
OFFICIAL RULES FOR THE Dearest Dorothy CONTEST

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT ENHANCE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WIN.

Open to legal residents of the Continental United States aged 18 and older. Void where prohibited by law.

1. To enter the Dearest Dorothy Contest (the "Contest"), submit a short essay of 1,000-1,500 words about a "Dearest Dorothy" in your life. Entries must be mailed to Penguin Group (USA), ATTN: Dearest Dorothy Contest, Penguin Viking Publicity Department, 375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014. All entries must be typed. Limit one entry per person.
2. Each entry must include the contestant's full name, email address, postal address and age.
3. To be eligible, all entries must be postmarked by December 22, 2006 and received by December 29, 2006.
4. Entries will not be returned. By entering the Contest, contestants agree to abide by these rules, and represent and warrant that their entries are their original works, do not violate the rights of any third party, and grant to Penguin Group (USA) Inc. ("Sponsor") the right to edit, publish, copy, display and otherwise use their entries for purposes of this Contest or promotion without further permission, notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law.
5. Entries are void if they are in whole or in part illegible, incomplete, damaged or not typed. No responsibility is assumed for late, lost, damaged, incomplete, illegible, postage due or misdirected mail entries. Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliated and parent companies are not responsible for technical malfunctions of any kind which may limit the ability to participate, or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsor shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.

1. On or about January 23, 2007, all eligible entries received will be judged by a qualified panel of judges selected by the Sponsor.
2. Entries will be judged based upon content and creativity, with equal weight being given to each criterion. The decisions of the judges and Sponsor with respect to the selection of the winners, and in regard to all matters relating to this Contest, shall be final.
3. Winners will be notified via email and/or mail on or about January 31, 2007.

Prize(s):

1. First Place: One first place winner will be flown to have dinner with the author of the Dearest Dorothy series, Charlene Baumbich. This prize specifically includes $100 in spending money, economy class roundtrip airfare to a location selected by Ms. Baumbich, dinner with Ms. Baumbich (subject to her availability), two nights hotel accommodation for the winner in or near the town where the dinner is to take place, transportation to and from the airport to the hotel and to and from the hotel to the dinner location and a complete signed set of the Dearest Dorothy titles. The winner is responsible for any expenses not expressly included in the prize description such as personal expenses, additional hotel or travel expenses, telephone calls, incidentals and upgrades. Travel arrangements must be made through Sponsor and all travel and hotel accommodations are subject to availability. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $1460.00).
2. Second Place: Two second place winners will receive a complete set of signed Dearest Dorothy titles (ARV: $60.00 each).
3. In the event that there is an insufficient number of qualified entries or if the judges determine in their absolute discretion that no or too few entries meet the quality standards established to award the prizes, Sponsor reserves the right not to award the prizes.

Open legal residents of the Continental United States aged 18 or older. Void where prohibited by law.

General:

1. Employees, and their immediate family members living in the same household, of Charlene Baumbich or Sponsor, its subsidiaries, affiliated or parent companies or the agencies of any of them are not eligible for this Contest.
2. No cash substitution, transfers or assignments of prizes allowed. In event of unavailability, Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value.
3. All expenses, including taxes, (if any) on receipt and use of prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners.
4. Winners may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release. The affidavit must be returned within fourteen (14) days of notification or another winner will be selected.
5. By accepting a prize winners grant to Sponsor the right to use their entries in connection with this contest and to use their names, likenesses, and biographical information in advertising and promotional materials, without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.
6. By participating in the Contest and/or accepting the prize, contestants release Charlene Baumbich, Sponsor, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates and parent companies from any liability, injuries, damages, cost or expense, including reasonable attorney's fees, arising out of or connected to participation in this Contest or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prizes.
7. Any dispute arising from this Contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and the entrants consent to the personal jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.

Winners List:

• For a copy of the winners' list, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by July 1, 2007 to: to Penguin Group (USA), ATTN: Dearest Dorothy Contest, Penguin Viking Publicity Department, 375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014.

Sponsor:

Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014