Trashionista

Win Bringing Home the Birkin

If you missed the chance to win a copy of Michael Tonello's Bringing Home the Birkin on our sister site, The Bag Lady, fear not, HarperCollins are running a sweep.

And they're not just offering the book, but, for one lucky winner, a genuine Hermes Birkin bag. Find out more here.

Look out for a review of Bringing Home the Birkin soon.

Related posts: Guest blog - Miss Couturable | Everyone Worth Knowing review | The Manny review

Tell us about ‘My Video Life’ and win £500 or Topshop vouchers

See, I told you not to worry, that there'd be more competitions and here's one now! (Plus, since you can win vouchers, it's given me a good excuse to show you this completely demented picture of Isla Fisher in the Shopaholic movie. Shopping vouchers. Shopaholic. You see?)

Anyway. The competition.

We have teamed up with Visual Networking experts, Cisco, to offer shedloads of cool prizes and all you have to do is show us a video that illustrates ‘My Video Life’.

Carry on over the cut for more info and details of how to enter.

The overall winner will get £500 worth of vouchers for a shopping spree  and the chance to spend a day in the studio with Cisco’s experts to make another video  – plus have Your Video Life featured on the Cisco consumer web site.

There are also eight £50 vouchers from top shop Topshop up for grabs, so you have a really good chance of nabbing one of the prizes.

We want to know about ‘My Video Life’ in less than three minutes. Show us what you do and how you do it.

What‘s your favourite way to use video and what for?

To enter the competition we need some footage from you which illustrates Your Video World.

- You can shoot a piece straight to camera telling us what you use video for
- You can shoot an interesting and creative video
- You can even send us a link to footage you have shot previously.

All we need from you is a link to the footage which has to be hosted on YouTube. You simply email the link to Ciscovideo2@gmail.com.

Judges from Shiny and Cisco will be looking for videos that are original, interesting, thought provoking, creative and fun too.

So what are you waiting for? Email the links to Ciscovideo2@gmail.com and you could win our fantastic prize, or one of those £50 Topshop vouchers.

Competition Notice
This competition is organized by Shiny Media. (The Promoter).
Entry to the competition is free. Entries must be made via the email address Ciscovideo2@gmail.com.
The Judging Panel will be made up of representatives of Shiny Media and Cisco.
The competition is only open to people over 16 and residing in the UK.
Winner responsible for travel costs for travel to Cisco filming location.
No purchase is necessary but entrants should be aware that they may be subject to local call charges depending on their own individual arrangements for Internet access.
All entries are eligible for the grand prize of £500 of shopping vouchers and the chance to create your own video with the Cisco team. Entrants from each category (Tech, Fashion, Sport) will also be eligible for one of 8 runners up prizes per sector. Fashion entrants can win one of 8 £50 Top Shop Vouchers, Tech entrants can win one of 8 £50 dabs.com Vouchers; Sport entrants can win one of 8 £50 NikeTown Vouchers
The competition is open from 17th April 2008 and entries must be received on or before 9th May 2008. The Promoter reserves the right to revise this date and extend the period for accepting entries to the competition.
The finalists will be announced on www.shinymedia.com and notified via email or their You Tube account within five [5] days of the Closing Date.
The winner consents and agrees to participate in publicity accompanying or resulting from the promotion. No additional compensation will be awarded for such promotional activities. Shiny Media and Cisco reserve the right to use the names and video entries of winners, their photographs and audio and/or visual recordings of them.
Shiny Media will moderate every entry it receives and reserves the right to disqualify any entrant.
By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to be bound by and have accepted the terms and conditions www.shinymedia.com/tandc including the terms of use http://www.youtube.com/t/terms and Community Guidelines http://www.youtube.com/t/community_guidelines for uploading videos to You Tube.
The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant deemed to have breached the Terms and Conditions.
All data collected will be shared between Shiny Media and Cisco. Personal data will be processed in accordance with Cisco's Privacy Statement which can be located by clicking here and Shiny Media's Privacy Statement which can be located by clicking here.

COMPETITION: Rules for Saying Goodbye

So today's the last day of April and therefore the last day of Big Giveaway Month! Don't worry, we've actually got some really cool competitions coming up in May too ... just not every day.

The final book is Katherine Taylor's Rules for Saying Goodbye. To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Rules of Saying Goodbye" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address and the competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

And Kristin Pedroja, Sue Goodyear and Jessie Hwang - look out for a very heavy copy of Cosmo's Guide to Red-Hot Sex dropping through your letterbox in the near future!

COMPETITION: Lullaby

The winner of Pretty Little Mistakes is Asma F of Selangor, Malaysia.

If you read about my reading deal-breakers, you will know there was no way I was going to read Lullaby by Claire Seeber - but that's no reason someone else shouldn't have the chance!

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Lullaby" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address and the competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION & EXTRACT: Cosmo's Guide to Red-Hot Sex

The winner of The Automatic Detective was Annette Thomas of Norwich.

Today's book is Cosmo's Guide to Red-Hot Sex and I've got three copies to give away, but it's going to have to be UK only because they're really heavy. And I mean really heavy - I can barely lift the three at once.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Cosmo's Guide" in the subject line (I thought putting "Red Hot Sex" in the subject line might send all your emails to the spam bin). Don't forget to include your name and address and the competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

If you can't enter then swallow your disappointment because there's a treat over the cut. An extract on how to generate a sexy story line. Enjoy!

(I tried to write this without any double entendres, but I couldn't keep it up.)

From Cosmo’s Guide to Red-Hot Sex (Feb. 2008, Hearst books/Sterling Publishing)

How to Generate a Sexy Story Line

Frisky thoughts beget more frisky thoughts, meaning once you tap into a fantasy that makes your pulse race, naughty scenes will flood your brain. Here, ideas for how to start manufacturing those visions.

Think With Your Panties All Day

Start tracking what excites you. Let’s say you’re cruising to work when you suddenly find yourself drooling over a hot highway billboard of a guy whose manhood looks as though it’s trying to break free of his jeans. Or you spot a sexy couple making out and envision what they’ll be doing to each other later that night. Be aware of images that you find sexy or arousing and let your imagi­nation begin to percolate.

Take a Star Turn

Fantasies are like finger­prints—no two are identical. But there is one universal component: You have to be the focus of the action, whether that puts you at the center of a sizzling three­some or in full view of a sex­ual encounter being acted out for your eyes only.

“Many women like to watch and be watched,” explains Melinda Gallagher, founder of CAKE, an enter­tainment and educational company that promotes female sexual empowerment. “Start your fantasy scene simply: Think about some­one watching you undress and see where that idea leads you.”

Peruse Erotica

If you find yourself in short supply of real-world inspira­tion, try reading an erotic short story or popping in a dirty DVD. “Pornographic films serve as visual valida­tion of things we might only dream of trying,” says Gallagher. And sexy movies come in different degrees—from very tame to hard-core skin flicks. “Watch one by yourself to see what stirs you,” says Ava Cadell, PhD, author of The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Oral Sex.

“Fantasies are about losing your inhibitions, so don’t censor your thoughts.” Let each scene wash over you, paying attention to what, in particular, pushes your hot buttons. Then put yourself in the flick, casting the guy of your choice as the male lead, says Cadell.

COMPETITION: Pretty Little Mistakes

The winner of The French Gardener is Kerrys Chapman of Milton Keynes.

Glossing over the fact that you might not want it after reading my review, today's book is Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton and this one is open to all.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Pretty Little Mistakes" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address and, because it's Friday, the competition is open until midnight GMT Sunday.

COMPETITION: The Automatic Detective

Brandi Bradley, of Norco, Louisiana wins a copy of Green Chic.

Today's book is something a little bit different: The Automatic Detective by A Lee Martinez, which is described as a "fast-paced mishmash of SF and hard-boiled detective story".

Today's comp is open to all and the usual details apply: email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "The Automatic Detective" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address and the competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: The French Gardener

The winner of Split by a Kiss was Karin Andersson of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Today's book is The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore (has there ever been a more glamorous name?). This one's UK only, I'm afraid, because it's a hardback.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "The French Gardener" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address and the competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: Green Chic

Tara O'Boyle of Larne - a copy of It Must Be Love will be on its way to you, once I can hire a small truck to take me to the post office...

To celebrate Earth Day, today's book is Green Chic: Saving the Earth In Style by Christie Matheson. And this one's open to all!

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Green Chic" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address and the competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: Split by a Kiss

The winner of Tanya Lee Stone's A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl was Kira Green of Kansas City, Missouri and we've got another YA for y'all today.

I know, I know, we're always going on about Luisa Plaja's YA debut, Split by a Kiss, but that's because it's wonderful.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Split by a Kiss" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Today's competition is open to everyone  and closes at noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: It Must Be Love

The winner of the two Suzanne Macpherson books was K Simpson of Ryton, Tyne & Wear. Congrats!

Today's book is Sharon Owens' It Must Be Love.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "It Must Be Love" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Today's competition is for UK only, I'm afraid, but it *is* open until midnight GMT Sunday. Good luck!

COMPETITION: A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl

The winner of The Last to Know was Sarah Barnaby of Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. Congratulations!

Today's book is Tanya Lee Stone's wonderful A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl.To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Bad Boy" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Today's competition is open to everyone  and closes at noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: Suzanne Macpherson

The winner of Kristin Harmel's The Art of French Kissing was Sirina Zeimpari of Manama, Bahrain. Yes, Bahrain!

For today's competition I'm doubling up, so I'm afraid it's only open to UK entrants. As you can see, it's for two Suzanne Macpherson books: The Forever Summer and She Woke Up Married.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Suzanne Macpherson" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address. Competition closes at 12 noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: The Last to Know

I'll announce yesterday's winner tomorrow, but today's book is Melissa Hill's The Last to Know.

To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Last to Know" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Today's competition is again open to everyone  and closes at noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: The Art of French Kissing by Kristin Harmel

Stacy Kamman of St. Louis, Missouri, you won The Shoe Queen. Helen Crowe of Cullompton, Devon - Mummy Said the F-Word will be winging it's way to you! Congratulations, both of you.

Today's book is Kristin Harmel's The Art of French Kissing. To be in with a chance of winning, simply email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "French Kissing" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Today's competition is open to everyone  and closes at noon GMT tomorrow.

COMPETITION: Mummy Said the F-word

Of course when I extended the deadline of the competition, I didn't think about the fact that I wouldn't have time to see who won the previous one before announcing the new one ... so I'll have to do that on Monday.

Today's competition is for Fiona Gibson's Mummy Said the F-word. To be in with a chance of winning, email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Mummy Said the F-word" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Today's competition is for UK only, I'm afraid, but it *is* open until midnight GMT Sunday. Good luck!

COMPETITION: The Shoe Queen

Carrie Jenkins of Ames, Iowa - you won yesterday's book!

Today's book is The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis and there's going to be a slight change in the rules, so make sure you read on. (Sorry to sound so bossy.)

Due to problems with time difference and also blog readers being slow (and demanding bosses), I'm increasing the entry time to 24 hours. So you've got from now until the next competition goes up tomorrow, i.e. at GMT 12.01pm (that's in the afternoon - I know, it confuses me too ... or perhaps you're fine with it and it *just* confuses me!) to enter.

Apart from that it's the same deal: email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "The Shoe Queen" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

COMPETITION: Garden Spells

Yesterday's winner was Lesley Robinson of Sunderland. Congrats!

Today's competition - open to all - is for Sarah Addison Allen's Garden Spells. Send an email to editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) before midnight GMT with "Garden Spells" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address. Good luck!

(Incidentally, what do you think of the new cover? I love it.)

COMPETITION: Forget About It

The winner of yesterday's competition (which had the most entries - evah!) is Nicola Saxton from Glasgow. Congratulations!

Today's giveaway is Caprice Crane's Forget About It. UK only today, I'm afraid, but the regular rules apply: email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) before midnight GMT with "Forget About It" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address. Good luck!

COMPETITION: Rainy Days & Tuesdays

The winner of Friday's competition was Kerry Grindinger of Washington, USA. Congratulations, Kerry!

Today's competition is to win a copy of Claire Allan's fabulous debut, Rainy Days & Tuesdays.

The rules? Simply email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) before midnight GMT (that's tonight - those of you who were still entering Friday's competition over the weekend!) with "Rainy Days & Tuesdays" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address. Good luck!

COMPETITION: This Is How It Happened

The winner of yesterday's competition was Lesley Burke of Dunfermline. Congratultions, Lesley!

Today's book is Jo Barrett's This Is How It Happened and you'll be thrilled to hear today's competition is open to all!

The rules? (If I had any sense I'd copy this so I could stop retyping it every day, but no...) Simply email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) before midnight GMT with "This is how it happened" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address. Good luck!

COMPETITION: Motherland

Yesterday's winner is Petra Gänsicke of Germany. Congratulations, Petra.

Today we have Maria Beaumont's Motherland. Same rules apply ... oh, okay, I suppose I'd better type them out again. Competition closes at midnight GMT. Email your name and address to editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) and "Motherland" in the subject line.

Today's comp is only open to UK residents, I'm afraid. (There will be more international comps coming, I promise.)

COMPETITION: The Stepmother

Okay, first of all thank you for all the entries to yesterday's competition. Almost all of you managed to make it before the deadline. For those of you who didn't - you've got another twelve emailing hours today! Oh and the winner of yesterday's book was *drumroll* Keri Mercer of Iowa. Your book will be in the post ... as soon as I get to the post office!

So today! Same rules as yesterday. You've got until midnight GMT* to email me at editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with your name and address and "The Stepmother" in the subject line. Today's comp is also open to international entrants. Good luck!

* Sorry I can't tell you what that time is wherever you are, but we've got so many international readers it would take me all day (plus I'm really bad at it!). Try here.

COMPETITION: I Did A Bad Thing

So it's the first of Trashionista's daily - daily! - April competitions.

But first, let me explain the rules. Each day there will be a book on offer, but the competition will only run for 12 hours. I will post the competition at 12 noon GMT and the closing "date" will be 12 midnight GMT that very same day. (Don't worry if you miss out, there'll be another one along tomorrow!)

Carry on over the cut for entry details.

Entry will be the same each day - email your name and address to editor @ trashionista . com (removing the spaces or it won't work) with the title of the book in the subject line.

What won't be the same is whether the comp is open to international readers or not. I'm posting the book out myself so it will depend on a number of factors (like how much money I've got and how heavy the book is...).

Today's book - I Did A Bad Thing by Linda Green - is open to all entrants so get emailing. Quick! You've only got 12 hours!

Book Video Awards 2008

We've been banging on about book trailers for a while now and they've certainly been growing in both popularity and quality, but the new Book Video Awards should up the ante across the board.

The awards are a new scheme between the National Film and Television School (NFTS), Random House, The Bookseller and Play.com. Students at the NFTS were challenged to make a book video for Matt Beaumont's Small World, Lauren Groff's Monsters of Templeton and The Outcast by Sadie Jones. Hop over here to see the winning trailers.

Related posts: Book Trailerpark | The Manny's trailer

COMPETITION: Good in Bed

Certain Girls, the long-awaited sequel to Jennifer Weiner's debut, Good in Bed, is out next month and to celebrate we've got five copies of Good in Bed (complete with lovely new cover) to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning, just email us with your name and address and "Good in Bed" in the subject line before midnight GMT on 25 March (2008!).

Related posts: First chapter of Certain Girls! | Certain Girls cover | Good in Bed review

World Book Day 2008

It's World Book Day today (in the UK) and hurrah for that! In addition to free £1 book tokens for school children, there are special edition £1 books to buy (one of which is by the wonderful Neil Gaiman).

The organisers also held a Spread The Word competition, and today the winner has been announced. Boy A by Jonathan Trigell, a controversial novel about a child offender, was crowned the Book To Talk About.

Related posts: World Book Day's Quick Reads | Ten books you can't live without

COMPETITION: Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2008

If you're an aspiring author, the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook might well be invaluable. Not just a useful directory of media contacts, including publishers, agents, magazines and newspapers, it also features advice from authors including Jane Green, Isabel Losada and a little-known children's author called JK Rowling.

And we've got one to give away!

To be in with a chance of winning, please email us at the usual address (you'll find it on the right side of this page under "Site Info"), subject line "Yearbook" before the 29th February. Please include your name and address otherwise, if you win, we won't be able to send you the book!

Ebury's Room to Read competition

Katie at Ebury Publishing has just bought a new house and is looking for inspiration for a reading room of her own, but don't worry, there's something in it for you too!

Email a photo of your reading space before the closing date of midnight GMT February 15th 2008 (that's this Friday) for the chance to win a hamper of fifteen books from Ebury. More info (plus the obligatory terms and conditions) here.

Related posts: How do you arrange your bookshelves? | How do you treat your books?

Global Short Story

The Global Short Story Competition is a new monthly competition designed to appeal to writers everywhere, "from the arid outback of Australia to the baking deserts of Africa, the towering skyscrapers of the United States to the humid cities of Asia, the bustling capitals of Europe to the steamy villages of South America". Just that sentence makes me wish I wasn't in drizzly Lancashire...

Each month, a winning story will receive a cash prize and will also be posted on the website. At the end of twelve months, each winning story will be considered for an annual cash prize.

Find out more on the rather smart website. [via blog eclectic]

Related: Short Story Collections archives

COVER COMPETITION: Confessions of a Beauty Addict

You know how obsessed I am with book covers? Well, the publishers of Nadine Haobsh's second book (and first novel), Confessions of a Beauty Addict, have asked Trashionista readers to help them choose the cover!

As if that wasn't exciting enough, if you leave a comment explaining your choice (making sure you include your email address so we can get your details if you win), you could win an advance copy of the book (one commenter will be chosen at random).

Read more about the book and cast your vote over the cut.

When Bella Hunter, Beauty Expert and all around magazine editor wunderkind, loses her job for spilling top industry secrets to Page 6 she thinks her life is over. And, to top it all off, she's managed to dye her hair bright orange. At her wits end and desperate not to return home with her tail between her legs, Bella accepts a job a Womanly Wear: a magazine her mom reads. But how can she face her glamorous ex-co-workers now that she works in an office where khaki (not Cavalli) is the way of life?

Bella is out to wage war on the beauty world one bad makeover at a time, armed with only her Marc Jacobs shoes, three meddling best friends, and a flighty supermodel boyfriend. At odds with her stuffy (and undeniably gorgeous) publisher, Bella begins to realize that she may be fighting the wrong battle.

more at twiigs.com...

MORE ON MONDAY & COMPETITION: The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World by Linda Jones

Full disclosure: Linda Jones has been one of my mentors as I changed career from administrator in corporate recovery and personal insolvency (hello? still awake?) to freelance journalist, so I knew in advance just how straight-talking, down to earth and exceedingly useful this book was going to be.

Linda's been a journalist for 20 years and has not only worked as a freelance, but also in newspapers, magazines, online media and PR, so these tips cover writing across the board and from both sides of the fence (I don't think there's a chapter about mixing metaphors, unfortunately).

Find out how you can win a copy over the cut.

This book covers everything you could need to know - from the business side of freelancing (invoicing, copyright and legal matters) to the fun stuff (interviewing, researching and actually writing).

Linda is generous with her advice, but at the same time she doesn't mollycoddle and that's what I liked the most about this book. Yes, it's encouraging and enlightening, but it's also realistic about your chances of making it as a freelancer, which, as I know from experience, will be vastly increased by learning from Linda.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Career Helium by David Thompson

For your chance to win a copy of The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, please email us at editor @ trashionista . com (take out the spaces) with "Tips" in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the email (so we can send you the book!). Closing date 4 February 2008.

COMPETITION: Princess Diaries To the Nines

Last week we were lucky enough to have a Guest Blog by Meg Cabot and this week we've got four copies of the latest Princess Diaries (To the Nines) to give away. (I know I said we had five, but one of them was for me. I finished it yesterday and it was fabulous. I'll be reviewing it next week.)

For your chance to win a copy, please email us your name and address (UK only, I'm afraid) with Princess Diaries in the subject line and the answer to the question you'll find over the cut. 

Question: What's the name of Princess Mia's cat?

Good luck!

Related posts: Princess Diaries Seventh Heaven review | Princess Diaries After Eight review

COMPETITION: Romantic Novel of the Year 2008

The shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2008 has been announced. The six books are:

One Last Summer – Catrin Collier
Silk and Steel – Catherine King
The Leaving of Liverpool – Maureen Lee
Silver Bay – Jojo Moyes
Pillow Talk – Freya North
Young Wives’ Tales – Adele Parks

Carry on over the cut to find out how you can win signed copies of all six shortlisted titles!

Simply email your name and address to editor@trashionista.com (subject line: "Romantic") before the winner is announced on 4 February. Good luck!

UK entrants only, I'm afraid.

Win an iPod Touch in our reader survey!

We know you're busy (reading recommended books, if nothing else), but we'd very much like you to take five minutes to complete our reader survey.

Not only will we then know more about you which will help us tailor our blogs to you (yes, you!), but, thanks to our friends at Play.com, you can also win a lovely shiny iPod Touch.

Click Here to take the survey

Terms & Conditions apply (don't they always?)

LG Video Media Talent Award: Still time to enter!

There's still time to enter the competition to win one of two internships with Shiny Media. We’ve received feedback that people would like a little longer to enter and so the deadline's been extended to 1 January 2008. (2008? Shouldn't we all be using flying cars by now?)

If you fancy your chances, then use this handy button

and show us what you've got.

The standard of entries received so far has been very high as you can see:

After the closing date, three people will be shortlisted from each of the two categories (presenting and production) and these six people will need to be able to attend a judging date on week commencing 14^th January at the Shiny Media office in London. Good luck!

Win a 6-month internship with the UK's leading video blogging team

The LG Video Media Talent Award - the competition to win an internship with Shiny Media, either as a video presenter or in video production - is still open. Here's another presenting hopeful:

If you think you can do better, you can submit your own video via this button

or vote on other people's efforts here.

Tell us what you think of us and win an iPod Touch!

You know we love you, right? Yes, you. All of you. And we think you love us too, but we're not sure. And we're needy. So if you could take three minutes out of your Christmas panicking to complete a survey, we'll love you even more.

Click Here to take survey

But a toasty glow isn't all that's in it for you, oh no. Thanks to our lovely friends at Play.com, one respondent will win a 16GB iPod Touch, which usually retails for £249.99. Have you seen them? They're beautiful. iPods, I mean, not our friends at Play.com, although I expect they're pretty too.

Terms & Conditions apply (don't they always?)

Fancy working at Shiny Media?

You haven't forgotten that Shiny Media has two fantastic internships available, have you? In case you have (or if you weren't paying attention the first time I told you), you can win an internship, either as a video presenter or in video production, via the LG Video Media Talent Award. Here's a presenting hopeful:

Yes, she has got pretty hair. But what about her presenting skills? Think you can do better? Then submit your own video to our YouTube channel via this lovely smart button

If you don't fancy presenting or producing then click here instead and vote on other people's videos. You know, so you don't feel left out.

Penguin's Great Big Christmas Giveaway

Penguin Books is giving new subscribers to their newsletter the chance to win one of 1,000 advanced proof copies of Crossed Bones by Jane Johnson, which is described as a romantic Labyrinth crossed with Pirates of the Caribbean. Sounds great!

All you have to do is log onto www.penguin.co.uk/crossedbones and sign up to the Penguin newsletter before  7th January 2008.

Related posts: Penguin book bags | Penguin Celebrations' bestsellers | Lovely Penguin pencils and more

Win a 6-month internship with the UK's leading video blogging team

The LG Video Media Talent Award is a competition to find two interns to train with Shiny Media’s top video blogging team and develop skills in presenting or filming/editing.

Hoping to start a career in the video media industry? Fancy an all expenses paid trip to Barcelona to cover the 3GSM World Congress? How about a brand new LG Viewty mobile phone to help you on your path to shooting video on the go?

Then enter now! You've got until 14 December. Good luck!

Even if you don't fancy entering, you can still get involved by voting and commenting on the entries in the YouTube group.

Help capture the spirit and style of the UK and win an LG Viewty Mobile Phone!

I'm a complete spod where mobile phones are concerned, but I love the name of the new phone from LG - the Viewty. If you know more about phones than me (and it probably wouldn't be possible to know less) then here's your chance to win one.

We've teamed up with  www.cityclickers.eu - a moblog about capturing the style of five European countries with mobile phone cameras.

We’re looking for two UK photo bloggers to take portrait snaps of people you think best reflect the true essence and style of the UK. Send us a photo before 25 November for the chance to become one of the 10 bloggers who will be contributing to the site. If you're one of the snappers chosen, a brand new LG Viewty phone will be yours. Plus your phone bill will be paid for two months.

To find out how to enter and to see what other people have photographed, click here.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW & COMPETITION: Sophie King

Sophie King is the pen name for journalist Jane Bidder. She is the author of the best-selling novels The School Run and Mums @ Home. As Jane Bidder, she has written for numerous national publications. Her latest book is Second Time Lucky and you can win one of the four copies we've got to give away (see the end of the interview to find out how).

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Second Time Lucky is about four people starting again after life-changing experiences. They're neighbours so they help (and hinder) each other.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

In my summer house at the bottom of the garden, which had to be sawn in half to get through my side gate. (I moved it from the bigger house I used to live in, before my husband and I split up.) In the winter, I have a tiny study which is next to my teenage son's bedroom so is very noisy...

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Catherine Alliott's A Crowded Marriage, because she's a great friend of mine.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Jane Eyre. I identified with her at the age of 13 when I sat in the window on the top floor at school and discovered another world (more meaningful than the real one).

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

Write every day about something you feel passionate about. Draw real characters which dictate the plot.

What are you reading at the moment?

Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

My new book (due out next year) which is called The Supper Club. It's about four friends who have regular supper parties. As the year progresses, their lives change.

Do you have a theme song?

I Will Survive.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

Q: Where would you like to be in ten years time?

A: Number one with someone with I love.

Thanks, Jane.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of Second Time Lucky, email us (editor @ trashionista . com [remove spaces]) with your name and address (subject line: "Second Time Lucky") before midnight GMT on Tuesday, 13 November.

COMPETITION: Mslexia Diary

A bit of a difference for this week's competition, in that it's not for a novel. No, it's for a rather fabulous diary from Mslexia magazine.

I love Mslexia and not just because I've written for it (Like Daughter, Like Mother about young adult fiction in the current issue, if you're interested) and so has former co-editor Diane.

Full of facts, information, recommendations from authors and, you know, spaces to write your appointments in, we've got 3 to give away. Carry on over the cut to find out how one of them can be yours and how, even if you're not lucky enough to win one, you can buy one at a discount.

Blimey, we're good to you, aren't we.

To be in with a chance of winning, email us (editor @ trashionista.com [remove spaces]) your name and address and complete the following sentence:

Mslexia is the magazine for women who ... ? What?

Closing date: 30 November 2007

Special offer: £12.99 for a diary at Mslexia's website. Simply enter the code 'd8' to get your discount.

Win a copy of Nick Hornby's Slam

I wrote about Nick Hornby's young adult debut, Slam, last week and it turns out that our sister site, Nollie (dedicated to extreme sports for women), has actually read it ... and has five copies to give away. They said:

Whether you're a teen or not, this novel has themes that we can all identify with (not least fear of smashing your teeth out in a skate park) and will have you have you page-turning for hours to find out how Sam (one of the most believable characters I've ever had the pleasure of meeting) copes with fatherhood, and what sage advice the Tony Hawk poster will impart next.

Why not skate on over to Nollie and see if you can win a copy.

COMPETITION: Dangerous Admissions

Yes, first there was the guest blog. Then came the interview and now - duh duh duhhhhhh (I may have had too much tea...) - the competition. But first the blurb. Because it made me laugh.

Miranda "Rannie" Bookman - 43, divorced mother of two, with a recent love life consisting of a long string of embarrassingly brief encounters - is beginning to feel like a dangling participle: connected to nothing. Her career as a copyeditor is down the toilet (she makes one little slip-a missing "l" from the last word in the title of the Nancy Drew classic The Secret of the Old Clock - and suddenly she's Publishing Enemy #1!), so she's been forced to take any gig she can get. And that means giving tours at the Chapel School, the ultra-exclusive, ultra-expensive, private academy that her children attend.

Certainly not the most interesting of employments . . . at least until someone stumbles across the dead body of the Director of College Admissions.

Investigating a murder was never in her job description, but with her soon-to-be-college-bound boy Nate a prime suspect, Rannie has little choice. Besides, who better to dot all the "i"s and cross all the "t"s than a self-proclaimed "language cop"? Her diligence might even lead her to a brand-new love. Or to a killer. Or to another corpse-hopefully not her own.

Okay, so I bet now you really want to read it, right? Carry on over the cut to find out how you can win a copy.

We've got three copies to give away. US entrants only, I'm afraid. Just email us at the usual address, subject line "Dangerous" and your name and address in the body of the email. You've got two weeks - until Friday 2nd November - to enter. Good luck!

COMPETITION: Harper Perennial books for a year

Harper Perennial are offering the chance to win free books for a year to one reading group. All you have to do is email them with your experience of reading Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook and you’ll be entered into a competition which could see your group getting free books for 365 days.

Harper Perennial competition details are here

Related Posts: For One More Day

COMPETITION: For One More Day

No, it's not chick lit, but it's so fabulous I had to feature it. Tuesdays With Morrie author Mitch Albom's latest book, For One More Day, is the story of a man who loses everything and decides to end his life. But before he does he makes one last trip to his hometown only to find his mother who has been dead for eight years waiting for him. He gets the chance many of us yearn for – to ask the questions never asked while our parents are alive.

Yep, I've already filled up. The website is incredible - a 3D galaxy of stars dedicated to friends and loved ones.  Not only can you send a message to a friend but you design the star yourself using whatever colour or pattern you want. Once you've created your star you can email it to a friend and you can even display it on your blog, MySpace page or website. I've done mine, now go and do yours.

Anyway, weeping, stars and galaxies aside, we've got ten - 10! - copies to give away. Carry on over the cut to find out how you can win one (you'll have to buy your own tissues, sorry).

Send us an email with the subject line "Mitch" and tell us who you'd dedicate your star to and why. Don't forget to include your name and address in the body of the email and get it to us before midnight GMT on Friday, 26 October. Good luck!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW & COMPETITION: Isabel Wolff

Isabel Wolff is one of the earliest chick lit writers, with The Trials of Tiffany Trott being published way back in 1999 so we're excited that she agreed to answer our questions. Her latest novel is Forget Me Not ... read on after Isabel's interview to find our how you can win one of 10 - 10! - copies.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Garden designer Anna has a baby,  an ex, a peculiar au pair and a huge family mystery.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee  shop, an office)?

In the basement of our house with my earplugs in so that I'm not too tempted to go upstairs and play with my children.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Rachel's Holiday. Not just because it's good, but because it was the first chick lit book I ever read, as I was asked to interview Marian Keyes about if for the Telegraph. I loved the novel's combination of pathos and humour which is something I aim for in my own books.

Carry on over the cut for Isabel's excellent writing tips and more ... including a chance to win a copy of her latest book, Forget Me Not.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair. Although she's  ruthless and sometimes heartless, at the same time I admire her for using her brains and wit to advance herself in a society that cares only for money and connections.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want  to become writers?

1. Make sure you truly want to write - it's a very hard and solitary life.
2. Read a lot and go to films a lot so that you immerse yourself in your chosen genre.
3. Plan your novel in as much detail as you can otherwise it's like trying to build a house without architectural  plans.
4. Get one good friend whose opinion you value to read it as you write.
5. Aim to do at least a little each day so that you see the book grow.
6. Don't talk about it - do it.
7. Never give up.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Memory Garden by Rachel Hore, author of The Dream House. It's her second novel and is set in Lamorna Cove in Cornwall - I'm loving it.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

It'll be called One of a Kind, and it's about a girl who runs a vintage dress shop; she loves restoring the clothes so that they get to live another day, but there's something in her own life, sadly, that she's unable to restore and which, ultimately, she must come to terms with.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

Q.  What do you think makes a good writer? 

A.  I believe that to be a good writer you need to have two things: firstly, a sharp eye so that the book is filled with the detail needed to it vivid and real. The second thing you need is an understanding heart - not necessarily a kind heart, otherwise you couldn't make the moral judgements that you have to make about your characters, but you need to understand their foibles and failings so that the book has subtlety, humanity and depth.

Thanks, Isabel!

For a chance to win one of 10 copies of Forget Me Not, email us (subject line "Forget Me Not") with your name and address (so we can send you the book if you win) before midnight GMT on Tuesday 9th October. Good luck!

COMPETITION: The Sunday Times/Faber Literary Quiz

There seems to be a lot of *win a bunch of books* competitions at the moment, but this has got to beat the rest hands down. Answer 45 literary questions with The Sunday Times and you could win £10,000 worth of Faber & Faber books.

Wow - I don't think I could fit £10,000 worth of books in my flat!

Entries must be in by 28th September and the first prize is UK only.

Related Posts: COMPETITION: The Sleeping Beauty Proposal | Win 21 Bloomsbury books | Books at Transworld

COMPETITION: The Sleeping Beauty Proposal

Diane enjoyed Sarah Strohmeyer's The Sleeping Beauty Proposal back in May.

It's the story of Genie Michaels, who has been dating university professor and newly successful author Hugh for four years. So when he proposes to her live on TV during a talk show interview, she's amazed but gratified, and can't wait to start planning her wedding. Until... she rings Hugh and he says he's sorry, he was proposing to the love of his life, but it's not Genie!

Eep. How do you deal with that? Well you can find out if you enter this week's competition to win a copy. Learn how over the cut.

Simply email your name and address to the usual address - subject line Sleeping Beauty - before midnight GMT on Tuesday, 2nd October and the winner will be picked at random.

Good luck!

COMPETITION: Win 21 Bloomsbury books

Bloomsbury are celebrating their 21st birthday by offering you a chance to win their top 21 reads (which is a bit more sophisticated than my 21st birthday celebrations).

All you have to do is pop along to the Bloomsbury 21 website and cast your vote to find the top read (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is currently winning) and remember to enter your email address for a chance to win.

Related Posts:  WIN Carole Matthews books  | WIN I Married A Pirate |  Books at Transworld  

GUEST BLOG & COMPETITION: Carole Matthews

Carole Matthews is a chick lit superstar, so we're *thrilled* to have a guest blog from her. But that's not all. Oh no. Read on to find out how you can win one of three signed copies of The Chocolate Lovers' Club PLUS a special colour-change promotional mug. Over to Carole...

When I started work on my latest novel, The Chocolate Lovers' Club, naturally, I had to do lots and lots of research into my subject.  This mainly involved eating all kinds of lovely chocolate – delicious single plantation bars from some of the world’s most exotic locations – Cuba, Ecuador, Madagascar - exquisite handmade truffles, dark, milk, white, organic - you name it, I tried it!  I even went along to a health spa specialising in chocolate treatments to be dipped in it.  Strangely, the more I tasted, the more I became addicted to this wonderful substance. 

My passion increased and soon, as well as devouring chocolate itself, I was devouring as much other information as I could about this fascinating subject and my passing interest became a full-blown addiction.  I hold my hands up – I’m now a chocolate anorak!  That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy a good old Mars bar or the occasional Twix, but I’ve now gone over to the dark side and like my chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa solids.  Once you get into good chocolate it’s like appreciating fine wines or a malt whiskey. Thankfully, in the last couple of years decent chocolate is now more readily available on the high street plus the health benefits of a couple of squares of dark chocolate every day are now well documented. So, there’s really no excuse not to indulge yourself!

What I didn’t realise was that I’d also become addicted to my characters as I wrote the book, led by the lovely, irrepressible Lucy Lombard.  I’m a big fan of Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives and wanted to create my own series featuring four feisty women who are joined in friendship by their passion for chocolate.  Lucy and her friends Autumn, Nadia and Chantal, all turn to each other and to chocolate in times of crisis.  Reminds me of someone else I know!

The Chocolate Lovers' Club and its sequel, The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet, is out now and I think there may well be a third instalment on the way.  But I didn’t want all the knowledge that I’d accrued about chocolate to go to waste so I’ve also set up a website for chocolate lovers’ everywhere – The Chocolate Lovers' Club.  There are some useful facts, some completely useless chocolate trivia – did you know that 50% of women say that they prefer chocolate to sex? - exclusive short stories that I've written especially and some of my favourite recipes which are tried and tested by my own fair hands.

So I hope you enjoy the books, take a look at the website and remember this – forget diamonds, chocolate is a girl’s best friend!

‘One word of advice before you start this book – make sure you’ve got a big bar of chocolate next to you… This is serious chick-lit and it will make you believe in friendship and love all over again.’  News of the World

To be in with a chance of winning the fantastic prize - one of three signed copies of The Chocolate Lovers' Club PLUS colour-change promotional mug - go to the special Trashionista page (Special Trashionista page! Get us!) on Carole's website. Good luck!

COMPETITION: Books at Transworld

Books at Transworld are offering six books of the month to one lucky winner. All you have to do is go to the website and fill in your details. Easy.

The books include ‘Before I Die’, Jenny Downham’s debut novel about a woman with a *things to do before I die* list, and ‘Remind Me Again why I Need a Man’ by Claudia Carroll about a woman who has to revisit all her ex-boyfriends.

There’s also Paul McKenna’s ‘I Can Make You Rich’ (who couldn’t do with that?) and some books about soldiers (give them to your dad).

Related Posts:  Working for Borders could be your chance to become an author!  |  COMPETITION: Rules for Saying Goodbye  |  GIVEAWAY: I Married A Pirate

GIVEAWAY: I Married A Pirate

A few weeks ago we featured an interview with journalist and debut novelist Samantha David, as part of our Summer Special.

Today: the chance to win not just a copy of her book, I Married a Pirate, but a signed copy! (UK only I'm afraid)

Carry on over the cut to find out how to be in with a chance to win...

Entries should be sent to our usual address - subject line: PIRATE - and please include your name and address (so we can send you the book if you're picked at random). Closing date is midnight GMT next Friday, 14 September. Good luck!

COMPETITION: Rules for Saying Goodbye

This week's competition is to win a copy of Katherine Taylor's Rules for Saying Goodbye.

Taylor actually caused a bit of a fuss before the book was even published, both by requesting a non chick lit cover (bad luck, Katherine) and by falling out with another author. To win a copy of Rules for Saying Goodbye ... name that author (clue: his book is titled Indecision).

Carry on over the cut for more info.

Entries should be sent to our usual address - subject line: RULES - and please include the answer, plus your name and address (so we can send you the book).

Closing date is midnight GMT next Tuesday, 11 September. Good luck!

COMPETITION: Frenemies

I loved Megan Crane's Frenemies and - guess what? - we've got one to give away (but just one this week, sorry).

Usual rules apply. Email us with your name and address, with "Frenemies" in the subject line, and the answer to the question over the cut. 

Who is Megan Crane's favourite female heroine? (You'll find the answer somewhere on this site.) 

Closing date is next Tuesday, 4 September, at midnight GMT. In the meantime, you can read Megan's guest blog on "The Concept of the Frenemy" here.

Win a trip to Paradise with Harper Collins

While Summer Special rumbles on, summer itself, er, doesn't. But HarperCollins Publishers have a fabulous competition (but only if you are US or Canadian) to win a holiday to the British Virgin Islands.

Called the Love in Paradise Sweepstakes, all you need to do is sign up for one of the company's email newsletters and you'll be entered into the draw. The prize includes a cabin for two on a luxurious spacious 65-foot multihull* to "cruise the waters of the British Virgin Islands".

*I'm guessing this is some sort of yacht. I did say I didn't know anything about sailing, didn't I?

Related: Writers Revealed podcast

COMPETITION: Scot on the Rocks

Yes, it's competition time again and - yes! - at last the sun is shining!

This week we've got six - six! - copies of the highly entertaining Scot on the Rocks to give away.

If you fancy a chance of winning one, email us with your name and address and the subject line "Rocks" before midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 28 August. Good luck!

COMPETITION: All I Want Is You

Do you think one week the sun will actually be shining as I write about the latest Summer Special competition?

This week's book is Martina Reilly's All I Want Is You (which we really will be reviewing one day, honest - so many books to review!).

In the author's own words, it's the story of "Poppy Shannon - a woman who had it all to lose and did!" and you can win a copy.

All you need to do is email us your name and address, subject line "Reilly" and with the answer to the question you'll find over the cut.

Question: What did Martina Reilly tell us was her favourite chick lit book? (You'll find the answer somewhere on this site.)

Closing date is Tuesday 21st August at midnight GMT. Good luck!

Working for Borders could be your chance to become an author!

The book chain has launched a search for the next big thing in the literary world amongst Borders staff (yeah, I'm guessing it's too late to request an application...) The chain's 30,000 employees are all eligible to submit manuscripts for consideration - closing date January 31, 2008. [Via Galleycat].

It will be interesting to see if this results in a great find, or a damp squib. I'm betting at least some of those 30K book fans can write, right?

What do you think?

Competition archives | Book news archives.

COMPETITION: The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes

Is this our fourth Summer Special competition already? Where's the summer going? (Now that it finally seems to have arrived!)

This week's is a doozy - the latest collaborative novel from Jennifer Crusie, this time with Anne Stuart and Eileen Dreyer. I absolutely loved it and it would make a fabulous plane (or airport delay) book.

Usual rules apply. Closing date is midnight GMT next Tuesday (14th). Entries to be sent to the usual address with "Miss Fortunes" as the subject line and the answer (along with your name and address) in the body of the email.

Hop over the cut for the question.

Jennifer Crusie wrote Don't Look Down (and the forthcoming Agnes & the Hitman) with another (male) author. Name that (male) author!