Casey and BellaTMStory Contest  Click to Print Official Rules    Entry Form  Where will Casey and Bella go next? Video on The Casey and Bella Writing Contest Casey and BellaTM is a brand and book series based on two real canine characters: Casey, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Bella, a Tea Cup Yorkie. What makes the Casey and BellaTM brand unique is each book in the series donates a portion of the proceeds to not-for-profit charities that help children or animals. The Casey and BellaTM Story contest was created to foster creativity in 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The idea for the Casey and BellaTM Story contest came about when the author, Jane Lovascio, visited schools and saw how excited children were to share their own Casey and Bella story ideas. Jane decided to create a contest that would give a child the opportunity to have his/her story idea professionally published as the next book in the Casey and BellaTM book series!     What Will I Win? Grand Prize -          $500.00 CASH -          DEDICATION PAGE WITH CHILD’S NAME AND PICTURE INSIDE -    PUBLISHED BOOK (PENDING PARENTAL/LEGAL GUARDIAN APPROVAL) -          PLAQUE & CERTIFICATE -          MEET THE AUTHOR -          AUTOGRAPHED BOOK & PHOTO DETAILS…   The Grand Prize Winner: receives a $500.00 cash prize, plaque, certificate, and his/her story idea will be developed and written by the author, then professionally illustrated and published by Big Tent Books the following year as the next book in the Casey and BellaTM book series! The grand prize winner will be credited for his/her story idea on the dedication page inside the book. The winner's story will also be published inside the book. The author will travel to the winner’s school to present the award and read the finished story. Winner will also receive a personalized signed book and photo with the author. First Place : Winner will receive an engraved plaque with the child’s name and certificate to honor his/her work. The author will travel to the winner’s school to present the award. Winner will also receive a personalized signed book and photo with the author. Second and Third Place : Winner will receive a certificate to honor his/her work. The author will travel to the winner’s school to present the award. Winner will also receive a personalized signed book and photo with the author. *All Finalists will receive a certificate to honor his/her work.  How Do I Win? How Will Entries be Judged?                     Contest begins September 1, 2009 and ends April 15, 2010.. The 10 Finalists will be announced on May 15, 2010, and notified by phone and e-mail.  Winners will be selected and notified beginning June 15, 2010.  Finalists and winners will also be announced on www.cuddlybooks.com. The Casey and BellaTM Story contest was created to foster creativity in 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Therefore, entries will be judged on the following criteria: Creativity and originality of title and adventure. Creativity and originality of the 3 new characters introduced in the story. The moral or lessons learned in the story. Questions as a guide ·         Where, when, or how do Casey and Bella travel? ·         Whom do they meet on their journey? ·         What lessons do they learn? *Casey and Bella must be the main characters in the story. ·         No rhyming. ·         Describe your idea in 1000 words or less. ·         Full page format or page breaks accepted. ·         All entries must be the fully original creations of the entrants. *Final judging will be done by a panel of literary experts. Decision of the judges is final in all matters relating to this contest.  How Do I Enter?  Official Entry Rules                                                                                            NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN         Entries can be submitted by mail or e-mail, and must be postmarked by APRIL 15, 2010 to be eligible. All entries must be accompanied by an official entry form, complete with all requested information. Entry forms can be found on www.cuddlybooks.com or requested by e-mail at CaseyandBella@gmail.com. All entries must be typed or computer-printed and double-spaced on one side. (8 ½ x11 white paper). If you are submitting your entry via regular mail please send to:  Cuddlybooks, Inc. E-mail entries must be submitted with an official entry form attached and contains a valid email address. Each electronic entry should be submitted only once. Express your story idea in 1000 words or less, in the English language, submitted in readable font, double-spaced. One entry per student. Every entry will be read by judges. Judges' decisions are final. Entries will not be returned and become sole property of author. Finalists will be notified by e-mail May 15, 2010, after judging is complete. A valid e-mail address is essential to enter and receive notices regarding the contest, even if your entry was mailed in. Not responsible for lost, late, misdirected or otherwise undeliverable mail/e-mail. Please e-mail entries CaseyandBella@gmail.com or mail to: CuddlyBooks, Inc. P.O. Box 524 Edgewater, NJ 07020 WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Third, fourth, and fifth graders who are residents of the United States or Canada submitting original, unpublished work are eligible.        PUBLISHER INFORMATION The publisher of the winning Casey and Bella adventure will be Big Tent Books www.BigTentBooks.com.  Big Tent Books has national distribution in place to make the books available to all bookstores as well as libraries throughout the US . SCHOOL BOOK PURCHASING INFORMATION Bulk Purchase: School bulk purchases of Casey and BellaTM books available upon request. Please contact: Baker & Taylor, Ingram, or Big Tent Books,                            115 Bluebill Drive, Savannah, GA 31419                            Phone: (888) 300-1961 Fax: (888) 300-1961.   SCHOOL BOOK READINGS For information on school book readings, library events, or book signings, please contact CaseyandBella@gmail.com QUESTIONS? Educators or parents please contact: CaseyandBella@gmail.com                    Q: When will the winners be notified and how?    A: Finalists will be selected by May 15, 2010, and notified by e-mail. The 4 Winners will be selected and notified starting June 15, 2010 by e-mail, and also listed on the website www.cuddlybooks.com.  Q: How can I order a Casey and Bella book?   A: You can purchase books through retail stores and online www.CaseyandBella.com.    Contest Sponsored by CuddlyBooks, Inc.      LEGAL RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES  1. SPONSOR RIGHTS: Cuddlybooks, Inc. (hereinafter, the “Sponsor”) retains all rights and sub rights to entries submitted in the contest (hereinafter, the “Contest”).  Submitted stories and/or story ideas become the sole property of the Sponsor. The Sponsor reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish, transfer and use all or a part of Contestants entry without further compensation.  All distribution to bookstores and libraries is retained by the Sponsor.         2. RESPONSIBILITY: All legal responsibilities of a contestant under these official rules (hereinafter, the “Contest Rules”) will be assumed by the contestant's parent or legal guardian, who must sign the official entry form and an additional release form if winners’ photos are to be used. 3. CONTESTANT’S CERTIFICATION: By entering this Contest, you explicitly (i) certify that you meet the eligibility requirements as set forth in these Contest Rules; (ii) grant to the Sponsor the right to use and publish excerpts from your Submission and the biographical information you provide (except street address, telephone number, and email address) during the Competition; iii) represent and warrant that you own or have  exclusive rights to the entirety of your Submission and have the right to grant to Sponsor temporary rights to post excerpts of your Submission; (iv) represent and warrant that you have not used licensed material or any material owned by someone other than you and that your Submission will not be libelous, or infringe or violate the rights of any third parties, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, or rights of publicity/privacy; and (v) represent and warrant that your Submission is original and you have not copied or plagiarized the content or portions of text for your Submission from other material.   4. LIMITATIONS: By submitting a story or story idea, Contestants accept all Contest Rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which will be final.       5: PROTECTION AND PRIVACY: Privacy will be protected on www.cuddlybooks.com and in published book. First name, city, and state will appear unless otherwise specified. Release forms must be completed by parent/legal guardian for winner’s photograph to be displayed.         This Contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated. All federal, state and local laws apply.  All Rights Reserved. Cuddlybooks, Inc. takes your online privacy seriously and will never share your e-mail address with third parties. We will not disclose any of your information to the public without written consent. Privacy for each entrant will be protected. Please review our privacy policy at www.cuddlybooks.com.   Copyrighted designs ©2009 Casey and Bella, Cuddlybooks, Inc. All Rights Reserved.