Remember how I got that ARC of Paranormalcy a couple of weeks ago? Remember how I said my super-awesome friend Debbie gave it to me? Well here she is! Tada! Debbie wrote a GREAT guest post for us today and she wanted to clarify that this is a work of FICTION. (did you know she's an aspiring author? And a good one, too!) And she's hosting today's contest! You'll want to win this, so check it out:


All content is (c) Debbie Barr!

For my birthday, my boyfriend decided to take me out for a nice meal. He promised me that it would be a great restaurant, that I would have a wonderful time, and maybe there'd be something special there waiting for me at the end of it.

Let me tell you, I was excited. Josh and I had been dating for almost two years and I'd been seriously hinting about a rock for my finger. Josh wasn't perfect, but I was getting too old to be picky. My internal clock was ticking, and I decided it'd be better to settle than spend the next fifty years alone, collecting cats.

I wore my best dress, red and sexy, and slipped out the door at the honk of Josh's truck. Things didn't look too good in the car, though. Josh was still in his work clothes, and it definitely smelled like he hadn't showered since then, either .

"You look hot" he said, and came in for a sloppy kiss that didn't make me feel any better.

I pushed him back. "Where are we going?" I asked.

He grinned. "You'll see. It's someplace great."

My fears were calm for the rest of the drive. That is, until we pulled into the parking lot of the local sports bar and grill. For a moment I thought he was messing with me, but he turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.

"You brought me to Iggy's?" I asked.

"Sure. They've got good burgers here." He walked inside, without even offering to take my arm.

The restaurant was noisy, and Josh made sure that he was seated so he had a perfect view of the football game. Even after our food came he was still staring at the screen, memorized by Man's Favorite Pastime while I glowered over my wilted salad. I'd barely spoken a word, but he didn't seem to notice.

"So... you had a surprise for me?" I asked, still hoping that this night could be salvaged.

He roused from his stupor, and gave me a smile that was almost enough to win me back. He did have great teeth, if nothing else.

"Yeah," he said. "Let me go get it for you."

He darted off to go grab the waitress. My heart fluttered. Maybe she'd bring in a chocolate cheesecake with Will You Marry Me? written in chocolate around the edge of the plate, like I'd seen on a TV show. Chocolate would definitely make me feel better. And, you know, a proposal.

Josh returned, trailing a string of waiters behind him. My heart sunk as they brought in a vanilla Sunday, placed it on the table, then began to sing the birthday song. All of them. Everyone in the restaurant was staring, and as I looked down at the vanilla ice cream, I realized that Josh had no intention of marrying me. His eyes were back on the game, even as the waiters finished their song and began clapping, like they'd done something truly amazing.

"We're through" I said, throwing the Sunday in Josh's face. He barely noticed. His team had just scored a touch down.

I spent the taxi ride home thinking up names for the cats I'd be adopting shortly. At least that was a future I could count on. Even if they didn't do anything special on my birthday, either.

Ouch. I've had a few birthday's like that. Well... maybe not THAT bad, but close. Anyway:


So, aside from being a PHENOMENALY creative writer, Debbie also has an etsy store where she sells the cutest jewelry! Seriously, this stuff would melt any nerds heart. I personally own a pair of her quotation mark earrings, and pi earrings. And Debbie has agreed to make THREE sets of earrings! One for THREE winners, you can choose from quotation, semicolon, or question mark. You can only enter to win one, so be sure to choose your favorite!