SacMomsClub.com

2008 Children's Book Writing Contest Official Rules

The Sacramento Bee/SacMomsClub.com 2008 Children's Book Writing Contest

OFFICIAL RULES

1. General Rules:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest void where prohibited. Contest open to California residents 18 years old and older. All entries must be received by 11:59PM on August 29, 2008. Not open to employees, judges and immediate families of its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, owners, employees and agents. The winning prizes are non-transferable to any other person, including relatives or friends. Winners are solely responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and any expenses associated with the game, unless otherwise indicated.

By entering, contestants agree to follow the Official Rules and hold harmless and indemnify The Sacramento Bee, SacMomsClub.com, Fairytale Town and its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents against any and all liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described), with respect to or arising out of either entrant's participation; or the receipt or use of the prizes awarded in the promotion.

Anticipated number of contestants is unknown as it is dependent on the number of submissions received.

2. Submission Requirements:

Registered SacMomsClub.com users may enter by submitting their original, unpublished children's story between August 5 and August 29, 2008. Previously published stories will not be accepted. Paper, mailed, photocopies, handwritten or faxed submissions will not be accepted. Only submissions appearing on the designated entry page on SacMomsClub.com will be accepted. All entries will be accepted during the contest entry period only - August 5 - August 29, 2008. Stories must be a minimum of 200 words and should not exceed 500 words and must be appropriate for children between the ages of 2 years old and up to 8 years old. The Sacramento Bee will not knowingly disclose personal information about contestants without prior consent, except as required by law. Entries upon submission become property of The Sacramento Bee. Entries may be posted on our Web site and/or used for promotional purposes. All contestants submitting an entry hereby agree and consent, without further authorization, compensation or remuneration of any kind, to the use of their name and/or likeness and their entry in any and all advertising, promotions and other publicity conducted by The Sacramento Bee and its respective parent, subsidiaries and affiliates, except where prohibited by law.

The Sacramento Bee will not be responsible for incomplete, lost, late, misdirected or illegible entries, or for failure to receive entries for any reason. Any questions regarding the number of entries submitted shall be determined by The Sacramento Bee in its sole discretion, and The Sacramento Bee reserves the right to disqualify any entries by persons determined to be tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Contest.

3. Judging of Submissions:

A contest selection committee including staff from The Sacramento Bee will review all entries received during the entry period. Decisions of the selection committee are final. Received entries will be judged for creativity and originality. At the conclusion of the entry period, the contest selection committee will select five finalists. Of the five finalists, one grand prize winner will be determined by total percentage of votes received from SacMomsClub.com users. The Sacramento Bee reserves the right to reject any entry determined in its sole discretion not to be appropriate for viewing by the general public or the intended audience. Contestant represents and warrants that he or she has full ownership rights to the entry submitted to The Sacramento Bee and that publishing of that entry shall not be in violation of any trademark, copyright, proprietary or other right of any person, firm or corporation.

Each finalist will be required to execute & return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release within 5 days of issuance of notification. Non-compliance with any of the foregoing may result in disqualification & awarding of prize to an alternate winner at The Sacramento Bee's sole discretion. The five finalists will be selected and announced by September 3, 2008. The grand prize winner will be determined and announced on September 15, 2008.

4. Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded to the five finalists who will receive a "goodie bag" filled with SacMomsClub.com and Fairytale Town promotional items including bookmarks, t-shirts and other items. Total estimated retail value of prizes ranges from $25 - $100.

The grand prize winner will win receive the opportunity to have her book illustrated by a local illustrator and published in a printed copy.

No substitution, cash equivalent or transfer of prizes permitted except at The Sacramento Bee's option for prizes of comparable or greater value.

5. Prize Acceptance:

All federal state and local laws and regulations apply. By participating in this promotion, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the judges.

6. Contest Cancellation: The Sacramento Bee reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the Contest.

7. Limitations of Liability:

By entering the contest, entrant agrees that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action, and entrant waives his or her right to a jury trial for such disputes, claims, and causes of action; (2) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses.

8. General Release:

By entering the Contest, contestants release The Sacramento Bee, SacMomsClub.com, Fairytale Town and its parent company and respective affiliated companies, directors, officers, employees, representatives, partners and agents from any liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light).

9. Winners List:

To obtain a winners list after September 15, 2008, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Children's Book Writing Contest - Winners List, The Sacramento Bee, PO Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852.

10. Inquiries:

Any questions should be directed to: Katherine Elorduy, The Sacramento Bee, 2100 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 or (916) 321-1793 or kelorduy@sacbee.com.