Cheerios® New Author Contest
Cheerios® is searching for the next great children's book author. It could be you!
Just enter your original children's book story by July 15, 2010. See contest rules below.
Meet Laurie Isop. Her story, How Do You Hug a Porcupine?, won the Grand prize in the 2009 Cheerios® New Author Contest. She won $5,000 from Cheerios®, and will have her book published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
You can see her book come to life on www.SpoonfulsofStories.com
How Do You Hug a Porcupine? will be featured inside specially marked boxes of Cheerios® in 2011.
Look for the 2008 Grand Prize story, 1 Zany Zoo by Lori Degman, inside specially-marked boxes of Cheerios beginning March 2010.
_________________________
WHAT IS THE CONTEST?
The Cheerios® New Author Contest encourages aspiring authors to write and submit an original story for a book for children ages 3 to 8.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
What can I win?
Grand Prize
One (1) Grand Prize of $5000 cash will be awarded. In addition to the cash prize, the Grand Prize winning story submission will be offered to Simon & Schuster, Inc. for future publication. The $5000 will be awarded as a check made payable to the Grand Prize winner. Approximate value of the Grand Prize is $5000. Publishing terms and contract will be handled independently by Simon & Schuster; if there is any additional compensation it will be negotiated between the author and the publisher.
First Runner-Up Prizes
Two (2) First Runner-Up Prizes of $1000 each will be awarded. The $1000 First Runner-Up Prizes will be awarded as checks made payable to each of the two (2) First Runner-Up Prize winners. Approximate value of each First Runner-Up Prize is $1000.
The stories of the First Runner-Up Prize winners will appear on www.SpoonfulsofStories.com.
All contest prizes are not substitutable or transferable, except at the sole discretion of General Mills. One prize per person. All taxes and other expenses, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winners. This contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated. All federal, state and local laws apply.
Who can enter?
You are eligible if you are 18 years of age or older as of the date you enter and are a legal United States resident residing in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia during the competition. Entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry. This contest is governed exclusively by the laws of the United States.
You are not eligible to enter and will be disqualified if:
* You are a professional writer, such as a novelist, magazine, blogger or newspaper writer who writes books or articles for pay.
* You have authored any work of fiction that has been published or is about to be published in exchange for payment.
* You are a volunteer of the First Book Advisory Board or an employee of General Mills, Skybridge Marketing Group, Simon & Schuster, Inc., First Book or any of their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, or a member of the immediate family (parent, children, siblings, spouse, regardless of where they live) or same household of such employees (whether related or not).
How do I enter?
Online entry only. Go to www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com and submit your story using the online entry form, filling in all requested information completely. Story must be 500 words or less, submitted in readable font (e.g.Times New Roman or Arial) in the English or Spanish language. Please note, stories submitted in Spanish will be translated into English and judged in English. Rhyming and other rhythmic writing may be lost when the story is translated into English for judging. All electronic entries must be received between 12:00 a.m. (Central Time) on March 15, 2010 and 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) on July 15, 2010. Each electronic entry should be submitted only once. No limit on number of entries per person. Use of automated processes and devices to submit electronic entries are not permitted. Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any changes or effects caused to the entrant's computer system as a result of submitting electronic entries.
Only entries submitted via the website electronic form will be accepted. Entries submitted via facsimile or other express delivery services will NOT be accepted. Not responsible for lost, late, misdirected or otherwise undeliverable mail, or entries that cannot be processed due to phone, network, electronic or computer hardware or software failure, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause), failed, incomplete, garbles, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, or technical failures of any kind, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. General Mills reserves the right, in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, General Mills will select the winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by General Mills. General Mills reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the contest or website or violates the Official Rules.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, GENERAL MILLS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
By submitting your story, you accept all contest rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which will be final. You also agree that if you are a Grand Prize or First Prize Winner, your story becomes the sole property of General Mills, and General Mills reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish, transfer and use all or a part of your entry without further compensation. If you are not a winner, you retain the rights to your story.
General Mills will be collecting personal data about participants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review General Mills' privacy policy at www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com. By participating in the contest, entrants agree to General Mills collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted General Mills' privacy policy.
How will ENTRIES be judged?
All entries must meet the contest requirements. All entries must be the fully original creations of the entrants. Judging will be conducted using the following criteria (weighted on an equal basis):
* Appropriate story/content for children
ages 3 to 8
* Emotional connection
* Writing quality
* Uniqueness
* Read-aloud potential
Please note, stories submitted in Spanish will be translated into English and judged in English. Rhyming and other rhythmic writing may be lost when the story is translated into English for judging. Judges will disqualify previously published stories, such as, but not limited to, those in publication, in magazines, from publishing companies, on major book or children’s story websites and winners in national contests, unless the story features changes considered significant by the judges. Entrants will be required to certify, on information or belief, that the story is their own creation and has not been published or publicized and has not won a national contest. Final judging will be done by a panel of literary experts and representatives of Simon & Schuster, Inc., General Mills and a mother selected by General Mills. Decision of the judges is final in all matters relating to this Contest.
By entering, all entrants warrant and represent that their respective entries are their own fully original creations, and their respective entries (including but not limited to any materials integrated into their entries) will not infringe or violate the rights of any third parties, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks and/or rights of publicity/privacy. If General Mills, in its sole discretion, has reason to believe that any entry contains any material that may infringe or violate the rights of a third party, General Mills may disqualify such entry and take all other measures General Mills may deem appropriate to protect its interests.
By participating, entrants and winners agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, the book publisher, their respective advertising and promotion agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery. In case of dispute as to the identity of any entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Any potential winner may be requested to provide Sponsor with proof that such winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.
What happens if I win?
If you are one of the winners, you will be notified on or about October 15, 2010 via phone. Winners will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and a liability release/assignment of rights and return it within 5 days of receipt of notification. Any winner who does not comply with this requirement or cannot be easily located at the phone number provided may forfeit prize and an alternate winner may be selected. Except where prohibited by law, each winner will be required to sign a release giving General Mills, the book publisher and their respective advertising and promotion agencies full rights to use the winner’s name, likeness, image and voice for Contest related advertising and publicity, including such usage on the Internet. After accepting prize, the Grand Prize winner will not be eligible to win another Grand Prize in subsequent Cheerios® New Author Contests. General Mills reserves the right to cancel this promotion at its sole discretion. Winners will be posted on the Internet at www.spoonfulsofstories.com by March 30, 2011, following the contest end date and after the winners have been notified.
The Cheerios® New Author Contest is sponsored by General Mills Sales, Inc., One General Mills Blvd. Minneapolis, MN 55440.
http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/
The Cheerios® New Author Contest encourages aspiring authors to write and submit an original story for a book for children ages 3 to 8.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
What can I win?
Grand Prize
One (1) Grand Prize of $5000 cash will be awarded. In addition to the cash prize, the Grand Prize winning story submission will be offered to Simon & Schuster, Inc. for future publication. The $5000 will be awarded as a check made payable to the Grand Prize winner. Approximate value of the Grand Prize is $5000. Publishing terms and contract will be handled independently by Simon & Schuster; if there is any additional compensation it will be negotiated between the author and the publisher.
First Runner-Up Prizes
Two (2) First Runner-Up Prizes of $1000 each will be awarded. The $1000 First Runner-Up Prizes will be awarded as checks made payable to each of the two (2) First Runner-Up Prize winners. Approximate value of each First Runner-Up Prize is $1000.
The stories of the First Runner-Up Prize winners will appear on www.SpoonfulsofStories.com.
All contest prizes are not substitutable or transferable, except at the sole discretion of General Mills. One prize per person. All taxes and other expenses, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winners. This contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated. All federal, state and local laws apply.
Who can enter?
You are eligible if you are 18 years of age or older as of the date you enter and are a legal United States resident residing in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia during the competition. Entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry. This contest is governed exclusively by the laws of the United States.
You are not eligible to enter and will be disqualified if:
* You are a professional writer, such as a novelist, magazine, blogger or newspaper writer who writes books or articles for pay.
* You have authored any work of fiction that has been published or is about to be published in exchange for payment.
* You are a volunteer of the First Book Advisory Board or an employee of General Mills, Skybridge Marketing Group, Simon & Schuster, Inc., First Book or any of their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, or a member of the immediate family (parent, children, siblings, spouse, regardless of where they live) or same household of such employees (whether related or not).
How do I enter?
Online entry only. Go to www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com and submit your story using the online entry form, filling in all requested information completely. Story must be 500 words or less, submitted in readable font (e.g.Times New Roman or Arial) in the English or Spanish language. Please note, stories submitted in Spanish will be translated into English and judged in English. Rhyming and other rhythmic writing may be lost when the story is translated into English for judging. All electronic entries must be received between 12:00 a.m. (Central Time) on March 15, 2010 and 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) on July 15, 2010. Each electronic entry should be submitted only once. No limit on number of entries per person. Use of automated processes and devices to submit electronic entries are not permitted. Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any changes or effects caused to the entrant's computer system as a result of submitting electronic entries.
Only entries submitted via the website electronic form will be accepted. Entries submitted via facsimile or other express delivery services will NOT be accepted. Not responsible for lost, late, misdirected or otherwise undeliverable mail, or entries that cannot be processed due to phone, network, electronic or computer hardware or software failure, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause), failed, incomplete, garbles, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, or technical failures of any kind, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. General Mills reserves the right, in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, General Mills will select the winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by General Mills. General Mills reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the contest or website or violates the Official Rules.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, GENERAL MILLS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
By submitting your story, you accept all contest rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which will be final. You also agree that if you are a Grand Prize or First Prize Winner, your story becomes the sole property of General Mills, and General Mills reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish, transfer and use all or a part of your entry without further compensation. If you are not a winner, you retain the rights to your story.
General Mills will be collecting personal data about participants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review General Mills' privacy policy at www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com. By participating in the contest, entrants agree to General Mills collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted General Mills' privacy policy.
How will ENTRIES be judged?
All entries must meet the contest requirements. All entries must be the fully original creations of the entrants. Judging will be conducted using the following criteria (weighted on an equal basis):
* Appropriate story/content for children
ages 3 to 8
* Emotional connection
* Writing quality
* Uniqueness
* Read-aloud potential
Please note, stories submitted in Spanish will be translated into English and judged in English. Rhyming and other rhythmic writing may be lost when the story is translated into English for judging. Judges will disqualify previously published stories, such as, but not limited to, those in publication, in magazines, from publishing companies, on major book or children’s story websites and winners in national contests, unless the story features changes considered significant by the judges. Entrants will be required to certify, on information or belief, that the story is their own creation and has not been published or publicized and has not won a national contest. Final judging will be done by a panel of literary experts and representatives of Simon & Schuster, Inc., General Mills and a mother selected by General Mills. Decision of the judges is final in all matters relating to this Contest.
By entering, all entrants warrant and represent that their respective entries are their own fully original creations, and their respective entries (including but not limited to any materials integrated into their entries) will not infringe or violate the rights of any third parties, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks and/or rights of publicity/privacy. If General Mills, in its sole discretion, has reason to believe that any entry contains any material that may infringe or violate the rights of a third party, General Mills may disqualify such entry and take all other measures General Mills may deem appropriate to protect its interests.
By participating, entrants and winners agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, the book publisher, their respective advertising and promotion agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery. In case of dispute as to the identity of any entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Any potential winner may be requested to provide Sponsor with proof that such winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.
What happens if I win?
If you are one of the winners, you will be notified on or about October 15, 2010 via phone. Winners will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and a liability release/assignment of rights and return it within 5 days of receipt of notification. Any winner who does not comply with this requirement or cannot be easily located at the phone number provided may forfeit prize and an alternate winner may be selected. Except where prohibited by law, each winner will be required to sign a release giving General Mills, the book publisher and their respective advertising and promotion agencies full rights to use the winner’s name, likeness, image and voice for Contest related advertising and publicity, including such usage on the Internet. After accepting prize, the Grand Prize winner will not be eligible to win another Grand Prize in subsequent Cheerios® New Author Contests. General Mills reserves the right to cancel this promotion at its sole discretion. Winners will be posted on the Internet at www.spoonfulsofstories.com by March 30, 2011, following the contest end date and after the winners have been notified.
The Cheerios® New Author Contest is sponsored by General Mills Sales, Inc., One General Mills Blvd. Minneapolis, MN 55440.
http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/
Click on the link above and go to the contest official site