Monday, October 24, 2011

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

 

This blog hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm.

In honor of the spooktacular nature of this blog hop, I am giving away this creepy book:

The Countess by Rebecca Johns
Published: October 10, 2010
Publisher: Crown
Pages:284
Format: Paperback

From Goodreads:
Was the “Blood Countess” history’s first and perhaps worst female serial killer? Or did her accusers create a violent fiction in order to remove this beautiful, intelligent, ambitious foe from the male-dominated world of Hungarian politics?
 
In 1611, Countess Erzsébet Báthory, a powerful Hungarian noblewoman, stood helpless as masons walled her inside her castle tower, dooming her to spend her final years in solitary confinement. Her crime—the gruesome murders of dozens of female servants, mostly young girls tortured to death for displeasing their ruthless mistress. Her opponents painted her as a bloodthirsty škrata—a witch—a portrayal that would expand to grotesque proportions through the centuries.


In this riveting dramatization of Erzsébet Báthory’s life, the countess tells her story in her own words, writing to her only son—a final reckoning from his mother in an attempt to reveal the truth behind her downfall. Countess Báthory describes her upbringing in one of the most powerful noble houses in Hungary, recounting in loving detail her devotion to her parents and siblings as well as the heartbreak of losing her father at a young age. She soon discovers the price of being a woman in sixteenth-century Hungary as her mother arranges her marriage to Ferenc Nádasdy, a union made with the cold calculation of a financial transaction. Young Erzsébet knows she has no choice but to accept this marriage even as she laments its loveless nature and ultimately turns to the illicit affections of another man. 

Seemingly resigned to a marriage of convenience and a life of surreptitious pleasure, the countess surprises even herself as she ignites a marital spark with Ferenc through the most unromantic of acts: the violent punishment of an insolent female servant. The event shows Ferenc that his wife is no trophy but a strong, determined woman more than capable of managing their vast estates during Ferenc’s extensive military campaigns against the Turks. Her naked assertion of power accomplishes what her famed beauty could not: capturing the love of her husband. 

The countess embraces this new role of loving wife and mother, doing everything she can to expand her husband’s power and secure her family’s future. But a darker side surfaces as Countess Báthory’s demand for virtue, obedience, and, above all, respect from her servants takes a sinister turn. What emerges is not only a disturbing, unflinching portrait of the deeds that gave Báthory the moniker “Blood Countess,” but an intimate look at the woman who became a monster.

To visit other blogs in this hop, click here

Contest Rules:
  • Must be 13 years or older to enter
  • Open only to US residents
  • You are not required to be a follower to enter but it is greatly appreciated
  • Contest ends October 31, 2011 at 11:59 EST
  • Winner chosen at random using Random.org 
  • To enter, fill out this form
  • For an extra entry, leave a comment telling me your best-ever Halloween costume 
My best-ever Halloween costume was when I was a Freshman in high school and my friend Renee and I dressed up as Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World. We used to quote lines from that movie all the time so it was only fitting that we'd dress up as them for Halloween. I was Garth and I wish I still had a picture of it because everyone told me I looked exactly like him.

40 comments:

  1. Mary DeBorde [M.A.D.]

    Coolio! My best Halloween costume was dressing up as a zombie - with lots of moaning and shuffling going on, it was so much fun!! :D

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  2. Best Halloween costume was Sue from Glee. Super fun impersonating her all night.

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  3. I dressed up like catwoman (back when I had the figure for it!) was the most fun costume ever!

    must.read.faster@gmail.com

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  4. My best Halloween costume was a demon

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  5. I don't dress up often but last year me and my boyfriend went as Ketchup and Mustard. :)

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  6. My Favorite Halloween costume was a fairy.

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  7. My favorite was when I was a Hollywood ghost.

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  8. HI my face book and then twtter is full with the contest for the last two days
    desitheblonde on twtitter
    and desiree reilly face book
    desthtblonde@msn.com

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  9. When I was a kid I loved when I dressed up as a hobo because I got to carry a pillowcase to put my candy in...and I was loaded by the end of the night! lol
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

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  10. My favorite costume was 80's punk girl

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  11. My best ever costume was 'Snoopy'.

    Thanks for participating in the hop and for the giveaway opportunity.

    sundee94@comcast.net

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  12. Probably my favorite was the year I dressed as a scarecrow. It was fun putting the costume together.

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  13. A bunch of us girls dressed up as Candy Stripers!! We were really cute:)


    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

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  14. My best would have to be a hand made giesha kimono/costume. So much love went into it I wish I hadn't lost it in a move

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  15. My favorite was when I was a princess
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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  16. I LOVE vampire costumes and Pirates. lol...
    april@pinebelt.net

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  17. A giant pumpkin then my daughter wore the outfit it was so cute!
    trinityblacio12@gmail.com
    trinity blacio

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  18. A 20's flapper!
    Best wishes and thanks for a chance to win this Spooktacular Giveaway!
    Chanticlear1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. my favorite costume was Erato the muse of love and erotic poetry.

    trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com

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  20. I dressed up as Elvira one year. I do not recommend high heals and trick or treating. LOL

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  21. my best costume was a murdered prom date.
    good luck to all!!

    terri_dion@hotmail.com

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  22. The last time I went trick-or-treating, I went as a gypsy.

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  23. gypsy when i was 7
    jessicawedwards@gmail.com

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  24. My best Halloween costume was my flapper year. Boy that was a fun year- snicker snicker.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    GFC- Christine A.
    your1chef at aol dot com

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  25. Gonna be Sailor Moon for halloween this year! : D

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  26. My favorite Halloween costume was the one I wore in grade school and won first place with -- a hobo -- which I threw together with some old clothes of my parents.

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  27. My favorite costume was a genie. I loved that costume.

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  28. I dressed up as the Goodyear Blimp the year I was8 3/4 months pregnant with my son.

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  29. My favorite costume is what I have my 3 girls wearing this year: Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet!
    ashleylittlehandprintsdaycare

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  30. I was a pretty awesome vampire when I was in high school :)

    Kelsey d

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  31. My best costume was probably when I was Belle. I found a Belle-esque wedding dress on sale for 100$. It was perfect!

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  32. I'm going to be a flapper this year!

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  33. I was a pirate complete w/parrot for a school carnival. contestd(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  34. My best ever Halloween costume: undead prom queen! I even had a tiara and homemade sash. :) Thanks for the giveaway.

    germaine.dulac(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. When I was about 11 (many years ago) my aunt made me a devil costume - complete with horns, tail and tinfoil pitchfork!

    kherbrand at comcast dot net

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  36. best ive had would of had to of been when i went as a ghoul the whole half dead rotted corpse is just well awesome

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  37. My favorite costume was Snow White.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  38. Best halloween costume was a college thing. I was one of 6 in a 6/pack of beer

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  39. Best halloween costume was a witch

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