Announcing Betsy-Tacy Convert Week! SIGN UP DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 9/4!

On the off chance that you haven't heard from me via Facebook, Twitter or Maud L, or happen to be a Betsy-Tacy fan I have not yet found and stalked on numerous social media, I wanted to announce here that the week of 9/28, the week the reissued high school Betsy-Tacy books go on sale is also, officially, BETSY-TACY CONVERT WEEK!

What is this you ask? Well, inspired by the passion that so many Betsy-Tacy fans have for the series (I mean, seriously, more than 200 of us traveled to Mankato, MN for the weekend to visit the houses, dress up in character and play games!), I decided we should put it to work, so to speak, and deploy a BT Army of sorts to convert readers everywhere into Betsy-Tacy fans.

Here's how it will work.
1) You sign up by commenting to this post that you want to find and convert someone into a Betsy-Tacy fan (comment by end of day Friday Aug 28th -- DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4th!).
2) We'll split everyone into Deep Valley High School's rival student societies: Zetamathians and Philomathians, to tap into your competitive natures
3) We will send everyone who signs up a copy of Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself
4) You will then give that copy away to someone who doesn't know about the series who should - ideally a young girl who will grow up with the series, but it can be a mom, an aunt, or anyone really!
5) You post a comment here about who you gave it to, what you said, what they said, etc. and identify yourself as a Zet or a Philo (we'll let you know which one you are when you get the book)

I'll keep a sticky post at the top of Book Club Girl that entire week (or two) so that all the comments will be front and center and the first thing people see.

6) If you have other online platforms you ALSO:
- Tell your convert story on Facebook, and share it with the Betsy-Tacy Groups on Facebook
- Tweet your story
- Put it on Flickr
- Make a video and we'll help you put it on YouTube
- Blog about it on your blog
- The sky's the limit!
7) At the end of the conversion week, or two weeks, we'll tally how many Zets made converts and how many Philos made converts (I'll tally from commnts made here on BCG since it may be hard for me to find links to everything online).
8) The winning society will get a paver stone in their name, ala "For the Zetamathians Who Converted the Most Betsy-Tacy Fans Fall 2009" placed outside of Maud Hart Lovelace's childhood home in Mankato, MN

So what do you think? Can we all pretend that the on-sale week is like the Social Room the first week of school at Deep Valley High? Go up to the new kids and convert them! The most orange or blue bows at the end of the week win!

Comments

[Julie P.]

What a fabulous idea! My daughter already loves the books and can't wait to share them with some of her friends!!! Maybe even our Mother-Daughter bookclub?????

[Just Mom]

I just discovered yoru blog very recently and am an old Betsy-Tscy fan - I can't wait to try to convert somebody and have a few possibilties in mind!

[Carolina Gal's Literary Cafe]

I already know a perfect fit for the book. What a great idea.

[Emmie]

My sister and I love all the "Betsy" books and send each other notes with photocopied Vera Neville illustrations on them. . . (We are 18 and 21 yrs old ;)
Combined we will have at least 2 converts! Very lovely idea.

[Rachel]

I'm from Puerto Rico and I have to confess I didn't know about these books (yes I know; pleas forgive me) But your ever growing enthusiasm has finale makes me wonder…So I'm waiting for the new edition to come to the bookstore. It’s kind of exciting ….

[Amanda]

Okay, Okay...a series of books you are so die-hard about must be wonderful! I haven't read any in the series yet. Are they widely available?

-Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

[Mary-Frances Main]

I'm happy to be the first to offer to be converted - I have never read the series, but since reading your posts was thinking about going to the library to get started! Then, maybe I can convert folks on the next go around?

[anne]

Thanks for this lovely opportunity. It will be a pleasure to learn about this series and be converted.

[Darby Lohrding]

Hey Jen,
Count me in! This sounds like fun and I have the perfect little girl to inspire with these books.....my niece! In fact I am going to go ahead and order from Maud's site the first couple to get her started.....well after I reread them!!! ;-*
Great Idea! I Love IT!!!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

[Kelly]

What a neat idea! My niece loves to read and would love to get involved, I will have to "convert" her.

[Melissa Wiley]

I'm in, and I know just the person!

[Claire Mysko]

I'm in and ready to talk up one of my favorite series!

[Beck]

I have the PERFECT little girl in mind for the Betsy books! What a fun idea!

[Andrea]

I'm in and I know just who to give it to!

[Chari Bryan]

I was "converted" this summer and have been reading all things Maud Hart Lovelace! I have been trying to convert people all summer. :) My daughters think I am nuts! :)

This sounds like great fun!!

[Kay]

Hope you got my post through whatever channel I could make it through.
We are interested in helping spread the word

[Leslie Hofbauer]

Bring it on! We have not read all of them here since they have been unobtainable but we are very excited for the opportunity. With six girls in the house, there is lots of room for love of Betsy! We know just the person to introduce these fantastic books to!

[Kay]

Yes I calmed down and got in thanks.....

Re: BetsyTacy excitement
"Thanks Kay for getting in touch with me here, and I'm sorry you weren't able to post on the blog. I love Melissa's Bonny Glen. Please send me your address, and your email address and we'll add you to the convert database!"

[Suzanne]

As a recent convert myself (thanks to Melissa), I so want in on this. I know just the person I want to convert.

[Jenn Anderson]

OOO sign me up!!!I have already converted a few but there are so many more to convert!!!