Skip to main content

Rules, rules, rules

Captain's Log, Stardate 09.09.2009

Well, I have discovered that I need to comply with California law in order to do my book giveaways. Who knew there were so many rules?

It doesn’t really affect you guys much, except that I can no longer mail the books internationally. Sorry, guys, but I really don’t relish spending any time in prison.

Here’s the new rules, effective for any give away on this blog, in my newsletter, or on my website after September 9th, 2009:

Disclaimer:
1. No purchase necessary to enter any give aways given on this blog (http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/), in my newsletter (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Camys_Loft), or on my website (http://www.camytang.com/). The give away will end on the date stated in the posting. The opportunity to play may be affected by local ability to access the Internet at any particular time. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.
2. Open to all readers, 18 years or older who are legally allowed to participate in such a give away as allowed by their local laws. The give aways are limited to United States mailing addresses only.
3. Players must submit the required information for each give away which will allow the entrant a chance to win. Entrants will be informed if they are a winner on or after the give away end date. Limit one entry per person. Camy Tang is not responsible for: incomplete, lost, late, damaged, scrambled or misdirected entries or other errors of any kind whether human, mechanical or electronic, which may limit a user’s ability to participate in the giveaway.
4. Camy Tang and members of her family are not allowed to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited by law. All Federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
5. Prize(s) will be assigned to those who have been identified as winners.
6. Entrants will be informed at the close of the give away if they are a winner, and if a player is identified as a winner, what prize has been won. Winners will receive their prizes via mail after the give away has completed and winners have been verified. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Camy Tang assumes no responsibility or liability for any damages, losses, or injury resulting from the acceptance or use of any prize. All prizes are mailed out within 6-8 weeks of announcement of winner.
7. Entering the give away is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

Comments

Unknown said…
Camy, I neglected to email you that I posted my review of Deadly Intent on Blogger & Xanga - really enjoyed it!
SecretAgent said…
Oh man, that stinks! Poor Camy!
Anonymous said…
Rats! Well, then, I withdraw my entry for 'Flee the Night.' According to the rules, I'm not eligible 'cause I'm not eighteen quite yet. [One more year, Sasafras, one more year!] But, I guess that means everyone else who entered will have a 1% better chance of winning!

~Sasafras
Sheila Deeth said…
Aghghgh. Whatever happened to laws were made for people not people for laws? But the daftest ones I've met yet are the ones where kids mowing neighbors lawns are supposed to register as businesses first. Just weird.
tricia said…
Wow. Who knew? Ugh. They take away all the fun, eh?
Amy said…
So, let me get this straight: If I'm reading along in the book you were generous enough to give me and suddenly I get a paper cut while turning the page, I'm not supposed to hold you responsible for the attendant pain and suffering I endure? :P

*dizzy*

Seriously, though, what does the State of California care where you're mailing prizes? It's not like you're charging the postage to them (or are you???).
Camy Tang said…
Yeah, sorry to disappoint you guys!

Ruth--thanks for the review! You rock!

Sheila, are you serious??? OMG that's just pathetic.

Amy--Um....don't get a paper cut, okay??? :)

Camy
TDM Wendy said…
Did the FBI come and hunt you down or something? How did you find out about these "laws" in Cali? Cuz I live in Cali and have a HUGE contest/giveaway going on right now on my blog. Okay, it's not really huge and the prizes are kind of ... wanting. But still - I like visiting Alcatraz. I don't want to live there.
Camy Tang said…
They were in the latest issue of the RWR (Romance Writers Report) issued by RWA. It was written by a lawyer-turned-writer, so I have a tendency to believe what she says. Also, I read a couple other websites that list the actual California law.
Camy
TDM Wendy said…
Thanks Camy. Man, this world is complicated.
Tina said…
Awww. :( If I join and win and have the prize shipped to my dad who's in the US, would that still make me qualify? ;)
Mimi N said…
This is soooo crazy. I mean, we're giving away free books. That we have to put these disclaimers in our posts is goofy. What's this world coming to when we have to have rules to give something away for free?

The other day I put the info, very truncated, on my blog, but I think I'll grab some of yours just to cover my toosh!

Thanks Camy.

~Mimi B
Annette W. said…
Wow. Sad, but understandable in this day, I guess.
Cheryl said…
As a book blogger, I was perturbed enough when I had to start listing disclaimers for every book I reviewed. If I have to start doing this I might just throw something. Stupid laws from...

Oh never mind, I wouldn't want to get arrested for that.

Cheryl
Camy Tang said…
Totally Desperate Mom--you're welcome!

Tina--I emailed you!

Mimi--go ahead!

Annette--that's what I was thinking...

Cheryl--You only need these kinds of rules if you give the books away, apparently, plus it varies by state, and mine has some pretty strict raffle/giveaway/sweepstakes rules.

Camy

Popular Posts

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...

Excerpt - A HUNDRED YEARS OF HAPPINESS by Nicole Seitz

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.05.2009 Update: Sorry, this giveaway is closed. A Hundred Years of Happiness by Nicole Seitz A beautiful young woman. An American soldier. A war-torn country. Nearly forty years of silence. Now, two daughters search for the truth they hope will set them free and the elusive peace their parents have never found. In the South Carolina Lowcountry, a young mother named Katherine Ann is struggling to help her tempestuous father, by plunging into a world of secrets he never talks about. A fry cook named Lisa is trying desperately to reach her grieving Vietnamese mother, who has never fully adjusted to life in the States. And somewhere far away, a lost soul named Ernest is drifting, treading water, searching for what he lost on a long-ago mountain. They're all longing for connection. For the war that touched them to finally end. For their hundred years of happiness at long last to begin. From the beloved author of The Spirit of Sweetgrass...

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...