American Gods Audiobook Contest Leaderboard

For those of you paying any attention to the Neil Gaiman "American Gods" Audiobook contest (that I happen to be a contestant in) here's the leader board starting 4/17/11. I will try to update this list daily, if time permits.

*Updated 10:30am 4/19 I wouldn't complain if you guys threw me a sympathy vote now and again for my hard work... ;)
*Updated 5:45pm 4/19
*Updated 10:40am 4/20 (Removed anyone that wasn't at at least 75)
Updated 12:35pm 4/21 (Removed Honorable Mentions) With the list being as accurate as it has been, people can check that for their viewing pleasure. All people noted with "Congrats" made a leap of 100 votes or more since yesterday. Well done, guys! I will post a separate blog post at the end of the competition of Honorable Mentions. Good luck, everyone!


TOP 20
1) rpincus-525
2) joeysghost-516 Huge jump in votes from yesterday! Congrats!
3) mzaudiogrl-452
4) akoski-433 Huge jump in votes from yesterday! Congrats!
5) bradfromga-419
6) mormolyke-416 Another huge jump in votes! Congrats!
7) nicoconut-391
8) nhouser-376
    bwalton-376
9) natheyde-374 Congrats on a huge jump in votes!
10) emilyesse-370
11) goldenally-369
12) Bohanski-366
13) mt1848-358
14) cnovales-357
      rhemiel-357
15) angel_VO- 350
16) skpeed101-347
17) Lbottom33-335
18) bigjerbear- 330



Thanks go to Aneel for coming up with an automated system! If for some reason I am not updating fast enough, you can check the list below (which contains ALL submissions and updates almost hourly) and if that list doesn't seem right, you can keep an eye on the numbers above. Because the list below is not a thinking person, it can be faulty, so I will keep manually updating as well. Thanks again Aneel!



*- No change as of latest update


**Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with this contest except that I am a contestant in it. This update is for personal use, and has been shared with the top 20 contestants. Any and all mistakes on here are mine, and numbers are subject to change during the updating process. This website does not determine the winners, and the numbers may not indicate the winners. 

Please report any broken links in the comments section.

Busy, busy, busy!

Because spring has finally sprung, so to speak, I am on to even more adventures than before. I have so many projects that I am working on now, and that's an exciting thing for me. Winter has always felt like a kind of stasis I find myself in, and Spring has always been the time that I renew and grow. Winter is reflection and Spring is rejuvenation.

As I did last year, I'll be joining the Bristol Buskin Frolic at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin only this year I will be returning as the Assistant Director of the troupe. I am honored to be in this position because it's only my second year at the Faire, and I didn't have a lot of experience to begin with but I must have had something that they were looking for. I know there are better people for the job, there always are, but none can do it the way I can. I'd like to think that I bring a little something extra to the table, with my energy, my creativity, my excitement, and my laughter. This spring, I have sort of taken charge of the group while the Director gets his feet under him, but by the start of Faire I will be able to relax and just take on the role of Assistant. I know, I know... I really wanted to be a Fantastikal this year. And I did, it's just that the offer of Assistant Director came up and I thought I would be really foolish to turn it down. I can't imagine many people start their second year at a job like this one as a director, so I took the job. I am a bit sad, but at the same time excited about the task ahead of me. We'll also be performing May 14th and 15th at the Janesville Ren Faire if you have the chance to get out to it. The Bristol Faire begins July 9th and goes every weekend up to and including Labor Day. We're a rain or shine faire, and it is always worth a trip.

I have also been working on writing and editing, as per usual. Still working on the New Sun Project, editing for a good friend over at House Key Productions, and trying to find an illustrator for a children's book I'd like to write that I told to my daughter at bed time the other night. Still picking at Cherry from time to time, and writing lengthy informative emails to new cast members in my troupe. All in all, the writing and editing business, while unpaid at the moment, is very time consuming and fun.

I have recently submitted an entry for a role in the audiobook version of Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I recorded it on a crappy microphone but I am hoping that doesn't detract from the storytelling part of it. I only need to make it into the top 20 to be considered for a part, so I have fingers, eyes, and all applicable body parts crossed. Right now it's a bit of a popularity contest, so I have been begging off my friends to repost the link and a small bit of info to get more votes. If you'd like to help out, please attach the following link (and add the info if you can) to your favorite social media outlet and get the word out for me;

Neil Gaiman Audio Contest

Please vote for Naomi Houser (nhouser) to give her a chance to win a role in Random House Publishing's Neil Gaiman Audio Contest. You may vote only once per day per person, and each vote must be a unique vote. (This means no logging in as four different users and voting from the same IP address, violators will be disqualified.) If you vote daily, you could help Naomi live her dream! Thanks to you in advance for your vote!

New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan

It's a typical Sunday afternoon for me, except it isn't typical. I have spent the last couple of days editing and writing for a project I am involved in that I would like to share with you all.

Wisconsin has surely been through what can only be known as a democracy mess as of late, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight for some time yet. Through all of this hustle and bustle, tragedy struck in the eastern hemisphere and devastated an entire nation. Unless you have been under a rock the last month, you already know what I am talking about; Japan.

I still had my concerns about the goings-on here in Wisconsin, I have donated time to the cause because it's all I have to donate, but I sat wondering what I could do to help Japan. I have no money, and the skills I have do not really translate into cash. That was, until my friend Solange told me about a project put together by Frankie Sachs called New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan. She said that they were still looking for submissions and volunteer editors on the project. Finally! Something I am good at that would be of help!

New Sun Rising is still (until the 11th of April) taking submissions in the form of photos, art, haiku, haibun, flash fiction, short stories and poems as a collaborative effort to help Japan in their time of need. All proceeds from the book (I believe it will be available in both e-book form and physical copy) will go to helping Japan. Maybe you're not a writer, artist or photographer... you can still help by spreading the word on this project to your friends and family who are, or you can buy a copy of the book and ask your friends to do the same. This project won't really get off the ground unless we have people to buy it, so any help you can offer is appreciated.

Now that I am doing something to help I don't feel powerless anymore. I know it's not the same as being out there with my protest sign and walking with my fellow Americans, but it's what I can do to help. I am not a wealthy person and I don't have a cell phone to text HELP to *90999* to the Red Cross (but you are welcome to). I am doing what I am good at, and using it to help.

If you would like to help in any way on this project, please visit the website www.booksthathelp.org for more information. Spread the word, spread the love.