(January 2010 - The contest is still going, though we're pretty sure the books have been pulped by now. Who knows, maybe on a remainder table in a discount bookstore . . . )

We are giving away 100 subscriptions. But there's a catch: You have to find them.

It's actually quite simple: We printed off 100 business cards. Each card has a picture of our typewriter on one side and an Internet address and random code on the back. Using our network of writers, subscribers, and friends, we've put two cards in one (or two) bookstores in every state*. Each card can be found in a copy of a particular book (see hints below). Once you find a card, log on to the site, send in the code, and we will start your free subscription (one subscription per household). We're pretty sure this is the largest literary treasure hunt ever.

Okay, so here are the hints:

1. The cards may be found in only two series of books:

Bad Poetry Clue 1:
O, how we love his works
A truth we can't deny.
But to say that he represents the Best,
well, that we cannot buy.

Bad Poetry Clue 2:
The name on the cover
...........gave us a fright.
But when we broke the spine
we were disappointed to find
not a horror story in sight.

2. The books can be found in the fiction anthologies section of a national chain of bookstores. You have one of two choices (and if you're thinking about 'making a trip to the border,' you would be wrong).

That's it. No more hints. Don't even ask.

The contest will run until all cards are found. We will keep track of the cards that are found on the map below.

Good luck!

* Offer not valid in Hawaii. Not that we have anything against Hawaii - we hear it's a great place - we just couldn't find a friend on the islands to help out. But we do have friends in DC (which should be a state, or at least have representation in Congress, but that's a discussion for another time), so for this game, that's our fiftieth state. UPDATE: April 15 - Aloha, Hawaii!! (I said that right, didn't I?) Hawaii is on the map; however, the store in hint number two does not apply. You can make a run for the border.

(Oh yeah. We're not sure, but we think Idahoans may be out of luck. If so, we'll figure something out for the residents of the Gem State. UPDATE: Dec 10 - Idaho is back on the board.)