Rules for The 5th Annual Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy Sweepstakes

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Purchase does not increase chances of winning. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void wherever prohibited or restricted by law.

Sweepstakes dates: 12 a.m. ET September 15, 2007 through 11:59 p.m. ET May 30, 2008.

How to Play: Fill out the form. Provide your contact information, then the name of the person you are nominating. You can only enter the sweepstakes once; however, if you have someone you really want to see dead, you can have multiple people—friends, family, coworkers—enter the same name and increase the chances of that person becoming the Lucky Stiff. Please don't provide a physical description of the proposed Lucky Stiff or details about the manner in which you'd like to see the person die. This is supposed to be a harmless bit of fun, not the beginnings of couple's therapy. If there's a dispute as to who submitted the form, I'll treat the form as having been submitted by the holder of the email account provided. I will not return your entries, and I will not be responsible for late, incomplete, or misdirected entries, or for any computer, online or technical malfunctions or delays, or for inaccurate transcription of entry information, or for any human error. I reserve the right to cancel, modify or suspend the sweepstakes if it is not capable of being conducted as planned for any reason.

Eligibility: You can enter this sweepstakes so long as you are a legal resident of any of the 50 United States or D.C., and if you are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry. (If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, please check out Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy's sister contest, Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate.) Neither myself nor the employees of my publisher, Random House, Inc., and its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, and advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies, or our immediate family members, can participate.

Winner and Prize: After May 30, 2008, a winning entry will be randomly selected, with the name of the Lucky Stiff meeting a grand end in my 2009 hardcover release (cleverly titled Book 11, but she knows it will be a Detective D.D. Warren story and lots of characters will die). Odds of your winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. If you win, you will be notified by e-mail and will be required to confirm your address, as well as Lucky Stiff's. If you do not confirm this information within seven (7) days of notification, I reserve the right to select an alternate winner. Both the winner and Lucky Stiff will receive signed copies of the novel, plus mention in the acknowledgments (assuming they want to be acknowledged) (ARV $26 per book). Neither myself nor Random House is responsible for lost, delayed or undeliverable prizes. The winner and Lucky Stiff may be required to sign a disclaimer or affidavit. If for any reason the prize cannot be fulfilled, I reserve the right to substitute the prize with another prize I deem appropriate. Prizes are not transferable, assignable or redeemable for cash.

Conditions: By entering, you agree to be bound by these rules and agree that myself and Random House, Inc. and its parent company, subsidiaries or affiliates, and advertising promotion and fulfillment agencies will have no liability whatsoever, and will be held harmless by the winner for any liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in this sweepstakes. 

So play nice, have fun, and good luck winning a grand death.

Winner's List: For the name of the winner and Lucky Stiff, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope by June 30, 2008 to me at Lisa Gardner/KAF,MAB, P.O. Box 604, Intervale, NH 03845.