Welcome to the Contests section of my website! Here, you will have a chance to win a FREE, PERSONALLY-AUTOGRAPHED copy of my Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights book! To win this super-special prize, all you have to do is to e-mail me — Kevin Wong, the author of Heroes of Destiny — by (there is no contest currently running) at contests@kevinwong.ca and tell me why you would like to win and / or why you deserve to win a copy of my Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights book! That's it! Alternatively, if you cannot e-mail me, or if you would prefer to use regular mail to submit your letter / entry to me, please send your letter / entry to my mailing address at:
Kevin Wong
Please Note: when writing your letter / entry, please include the exact mailing address to which to send the book if you are chosen as the winner, as well as the name(s) to whom you would like me to make out the autograph. Thanks! After I receive all the letters / entries, I will select the best letter / entry accordingly, and the person who wrote that letter / entry will win my book! It's that simple! And remember, there are no bonuses for brevity or for verbosity — what I am looking for is heart. As such, if you write and subsequently send to me a genuine, heartfelt letter that tells me why you would like to and / or why you deserve to win a copy of my book for yourself or for a friend, family member, or loved one, I guarantee that you will have a good chance of winning it. By the way, any personal or private / privileged content that is meant for my eyes only, or that is too sensitive or personal to share with anyone else, I would and will NEVER post on my website. I thought that this fact went without saying (and it probably does), but just to state it formally here, please always know and remember: I will always protect you and your information; I only share what is sharable with the world. And so, now that you know how to win my book (and probably my heart at the same time!), I look forward to reading your letters!
Your friend,
Winners and Winning Entries for July / August 2007: I gave, in person, several copies of my Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights book to several good, smart, special, and talented people during the course of the summer. These were and are the winners and winning entries for the final contest to win free, autographed copies of my Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights book. These people know who they are, and you should all know, once again, what I told you in person: you are going to do good and great things in life, because you are good and great people. Don't ever forget that. Ever.
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for May / June 2007:
From: Kathleen C. (last name withheld by request)
Dear Kevin, Hi there! My name is Kathleen and I'm a huge fan of your work! I have felt this way ever since I first discovered you, quite by accident, doing your live reading at Just Us Cafe last fall. I was very upset, that first day I saw you, because I did not have time to stay for the entirety of your reading, nor was I brave enough to approach you to talk about your wonderful book! However I do believe that it was meant to be that I happened to walk in and hear the small portion of your reading that I did, for it set me on the path to eventually discovering your website- and, following that, this contest! You see, Kevin, I am a university student who has had a great love of fantasy for many years. Unfortunately, the majority of my peers here seem to feel that they have "grown out" of fantasy- if they ever even enjoyed it to begin with!! For some reason, all of my friends my age seem to think that there is a certain time past which fantasy is no longer "cool"- and that we, being almost 20 years old now, are past that point!! This is the reason, Kevin, why your book is so important to me. Your story is indeed fantasy- yet, within the imaginative framework that you have so skillfully created, you have also written in true values and important lessons that show a level of maturity applicable to all ages. I believe that your book is the proof that this is possible- a fantasy novel that spans beyond any specific age group, that is appropriate for children and adults alike! Were I to win a copy of your novel, I would be sure to share it with my peers, and perhaps change their perceptions of fantasy a little, for the better! The truth is, Kevin, that it has been my personal dream for many years to write a successful fantasy novel. Unfortunately- and I am ashamed to admit this- due to these negative perceptions of people my age, who believe that fantasy is "just for kids", I have become embarrassed about my ambitions and do not often share them with others anymore. I have allowed myself to be convinced, for some time, that I will not be successful writing a fantasy novel, and that it is not an admirable goal. Just seeing you, Kevin, has changed my mind on that front entirely. You have seized your dream, and are pursuing it with all of your energy! Such a level of commitment is truly inspiring, and I must admit, has completely revitalized my own drive to do the same. When I saw how fulfilled you have become in expressing yourself through Heroes of Destiny, I knew that I must continue on my own path as well. Even if when I do finish writing my own stories, they do NOT become successful as yours have, I know now that it will still have been worth it, if only to have sent out to the world what messages I have in me to give!! Since receiving this revelation from your work, I am proud to say that I have begun my own novel again from scratch, this time with a new, optimistic outlook. I must truly and sincerely thank you for the motivation you have passed on to me that has allowed me to become strong again in my own humble ambitions. This is the truest reason why I would like to win your book- so I can share with my friends the work that has so greatly inspired me, and hope with all my heart that it is similarly able to inspire them. Thank you so much for your consideration, and THANK YOU most of all for choosing to share your wonderful story with the world!!!
Your friend and fan,
Congratulations Kathleen!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for April 2007:
From: Eric Snow
Dear Kevin Wong, It is with the utmost pleasure that I e-mail you today. I have been a huge fan of Heroes of Destiny since I first heard of its existence. Your writing style is unlike anything I have ever read, and it brings a unique and wonderful perspective to the realm of fantasy writing. Your characters are so tangible and real that I feel as if I know them personally. It's as if you poured your very soul into the book. It's beyond words for me, and it has become one of my favorites. I can't wait until your next installment; one Heroes of Destiny book is not nearly enough to satisfy my insatiable thirst! As a fellow Christian, I am particularly in admiration of your sense of morality and goodness. For a genre that is often directed at our children, I feel it is extremely important to build a strong set of moral values, and this is something I fail to see in the writing of any other author of your genre. There is a passion in your writing; a passion that, from I have been able to find out, permeates and pervades everything you do in life. You are an inspiration, Mr. Wong, and you have my admiration and thanks! It seems appropriate that I send you this e-mail on Easter Sunday, this holiest of days. I'm very involved in the residence community at the University of King's College where writing, be it academic, journalistic or creative, plays a central role in education. If you were interested, I would love to have you come down and give a special guest lecture workshop on writing. As a born and raised Haligonian, I feel so honoured when I hear about and see such incredible local talent, and I feel it's important to help pass those talents on to aspiring future generations. I'm sure you're an extremely busy man (ah, such is the life of a celebrity! (= ) but if you were ever to find time, please let me know. All the best!
--
Congratulations Eric!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for March 2007:
From: Stephanie Robertson
Dearest Kevin; My name is Stephanie and I would be very happy to win your March contest for Heroes of Destiny Episode I: Eternal Knights. I haven't actually managed to read the whole thing yet! Only parts of the preview up on Google, but as soon as I found it I was hooked! Your writing is so personal and engaging I could not stop clicking to find out what happens next. When I visited your site and came across this contest I just had to try and win, even though it's the last day of the month - I'm sorry if this is late in that case, but I really do want to still try! Your story speaks to me, Kevin; I was a fan (and will continue to be a future fan) the moment I started reading. The purity behind your words and the message they hold inspires me to continue living a better life! I've always believed in the sanctity of things such as marriage and purity, and keeping my body clean for as long as I can live. I grew up in a small town in Alberta, and having only recently moved to a large city I've been finding the pressure to do things I just don't want to do very hard to manage sometimes. It's all so overwhelming. I've been finding it hard not to give into the temptation of some things, but so far I've prevailed! I was so pleased to come across a story that speaks of the same things I so adamantly believe in, and so easily! I would love to win a copy of your book so that I could have it with me, not only for the fantastic story it tells but also as a reminder that there are good people like you, Kevin, willing to spread the same message of good using your wondrous talent! Fondly (and hopefully!), Stephanie Congratulations Stephanie!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for February 2007:
From: Phil Duffenais
hey kevin, this is phil. incase u forgot i am a student from astral drive junior high school. I really want to thank u for that speech. U probably will never know how u have helped me and motivated me to pursue. When u gave that speech and described yourself when you were a kid it was really inspirational to me, because everything u said then taht u would do, i do now. I have big dreams in life and tell peopel about them. WHen i am bored i rearrange stuff and i enter contests. i am in Two drawing contests at the moment and a regional spelling bee. u do not know how lucky u are taht ur parents are supportive and helpful to u. My parents beleive in me but they do not think most of my ideas will ever happen. Everyone around me is so negative and i can't beleive the negativity of some people that they have inside of them. All i ever hear is "u can't do that, u will never make it, u arn't good enoguh, in your dreams, etc.." but hearing your speech made up for all that negativity and really made me feel good. Alot of peopel critise me about my creativity and about what i do and how i thikn but i try to remember that one day they will get their share of critisism and i will accomplish my life long goals. in my mind i have a unique brain. i do not see stuff normal beleive it or not. i see everything as if it were on paper, as if it were a sculpture, i see everything like it is art. Just to see a sunset in the evening or the way water pours into lakes or how snow drops so lightly makes me feel great, like anything is possible. I beleive in myself taht i have an artists mind. Well to conclude this very long letter i just wanna say thank you for an excellent presentation and i really hope u can change the lives of many more becasue i think u are what every child needs to hear.
keep doin what your doin
Phil Duffenais Congratulations Phil!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for January 2007:
From: Andrew L. (last name withheld by request)
hey kevin my man whats up this is andy writing to you from ontario! im 28 years old and a single father of a little guy, hes going to be 9 years old this year. his name is jeremy. im a big fan of fantasy books, i have been ever since i read the drizzit dourden books in high school. i like to do google searches to find new fantasy stuff thats coming out. my son jeremy is at the age now where i can read some of it with him, and hes starting to get pretty exited about it. he takes after his old man i guess! i found your book hero's of destiny on line at your website. its totally awesome man! your a great writer. how do you get your ideas? how do you write them down? i really like the relationship between kevin and launa. i wish i had a woman in my life like her. i guess kevin is probably based on yourself, but is launa based on anyone real in your life? do you have real freinds like launa and gray that you can talk to like kevin talks to those guys in the book? when i read about your contest, i decided i had to enter. not for myself, but for my son jeremy. i want a copy that i can read with him at bed time. but im a single dad and im a janitor, i have a pretty tight budget and i cant always afford the best gifts for my son. your book has good values and teaches people about friendship and about believing in yourself and having respect for yourself. i know he will love it because he loves fantasy, (and i will love reading it with him because it has lots of action and romance), but also i know it will teach him important things i wish someone had taught me at that age. i wish i had had more respect for myself when i was a teenager, i made a lot of mistakes and did some things i regret. i know that other people wont always believe in jeremy because he doesnt have a lot of money or priviliges, but i want him to know that he can always believe in himself and in his friends, and in his mom and dad. i want him to know he can achieve something, like kevin. i think it would mean a lot to him, and i know it would mean a lot to me!
your fan in ontario,
Congratulations Andrew!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for December 2006:
From: Emma Rumsey
Dear Kevin Wong. I think I should win a copy of Heroes of Destiny because... I keep reading your novel over and over again on the internet; I can't get enough. It's like nothing I've ever read before, I find myself on the jorney alongside Kevin swept into Eterium myself. I've read a lot of fiction in my time but nothing like this, every chapter brings forth a new breathtaking adventure - and I've only read the stuff on the internet! Furthermore, I want to prove to my parents how amazing it is. They strongly dislike fantasy because they believe it to be immensly immoral, but you endorse all the glorious true opinions of how we should live our lives; I asked for it for Christmas but again my parents and relationsions were reluctant, and I can't really buy anything from the internet since I'm not old enough.
You seem lovely and friendly Kevin, and I just think it's so fantastic that your allowing your creativity to flow this way; personally I try and do a little writing and I truely hope I can be a genious and innovative person like you someday.
Who knows! Maybe one day I can meet you and shake your hand.
Please Kevin, this is my only chance of reading this marvel, and unless, from the bottom of your heart, you feel there is someone who deserves and wants it more than me; that is fine. I shall still be your fan and friend :-) I love you! Emma Kate Rumsey x x x x x x ps. I'm sorry but I do live in Ireland, and I hope that the postage will be okay? I'm sorry Kevin :-( Congratulations Emma!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for November 2006:
From: Gwyndyn Alexander
Hi,Kevin!
I don't know if you remember me, but I entered the contest last month, but unfortunately didn't win. :( Is it okay to enter the contest this month, even though I've entered before? I do so want to win! I'd love to have a copy of your book, of course, but, even more, I would cherish a personal signed message from you. I saw the poster you posed for on your web site...I am so impressed that you would take time away from your writing to do this! How wonderful that you care about the homeless! I was homeless for over a year, and it was a terrible experience...so hard to overcome, but thanks to my faith and help from caring people like you, I was able to do so. I know you're probably way too busy with your writing to reply to me, but I wanted you to know how much you inspire me, Kevin, and how much you mean to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you'll let me enter the contest!! Love, always, Gwyndyn Congratulations Gwyndyn!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Winner and Winning Entry for October 2006:
From: Christopher (Topher) Caldwell
Dear Kevin, Hi, my name is Topher (it's short for Christopher, really. But when I was a kid my mom said I was tougher then the rest and the nickname stuck). I'm sixteen years old and I live near Denver, Colorado in the United States. I am a junior in High School, and I found your site because I like to read things at everything2.com where I came across a review by bewilderbeast. I love to read. My mom says reading fantasy is a waste of time because I should be learning about science and stuff to become a doctor or an engineer, but I think literature is the best way we have of communicating ideas and beliefs as well as entertaining each other. I read the first chapter of your book on your website and I was hooked from the beginning! I wanted to know more about Kevin and Launa and I thought it was great that they were saving themselves for each other until marriage. I believe in keeping myself pure, and a lot of the other guys at schools laugh at me for being proud that I'm a virgin. I really respect women and don't want to contaminate myself with meaningless sex before I find my one true love. You're kind of a role model to me, because it seems like you believe the same things, only you also wrote about it in a piece of art. Have you ever heard about Eragon? It's really famous here now. It's a book by this guy named Christopher Paolini (we have the same first name!) and he started out like you, publishing it by himself and later got a deal with a big publisher and sold tons of copies. They're making a movie out of his book. From what I read so far and the review on E2 makes me think that you're even better a writer than he is. Anyway, sorry to go on so long. This was supposed to be an entry for the contest on your site. The reasons why I really want to win (I don't know if I deserve to win) is because my mom won't give me any money for Fantasy books but I think if she read your book it would really change her mind about some things. I loved the first chapter that I read on your website and I am DYING to find out what happens next. I think it would be really cool if I could get my friends to read your book and they'd see that you could be a virgin AND a hero. And I think it's really really important for as many people as possible to read a book with POSITIVE morals and values. I think people need to see more caracters like Kevin and Launa who are good and kind. I hope you'll write me back even if you don't choose me to win your contest. I've never written a fan letter to anyone before, and maybe you're too busy to write people like me back, but it would really make my day if we could talk to each other a little bit. Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers. Thank you! Topher C. Congratulations Christopher (Topher)!!!!! Your contest-winning book is on its way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
Co-Winners and Winning Entries for September 2006:
From: Rebecca Smith
Dear Kevin, I was very excited to see your contest! I read your book Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights after my friend bought a copy at one of your book signings. I wanted to read it again but had to give it back. I want to win an autographed copy of Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights because the characters' values are the same as my values and I can identify with them. In this culture, it is hard to find kids my age who share my values--things like saying "no" to drugs and alcohol and saving your virginity for after marriage--and it is even harder to convince people that these are values worth holding onto. It helps when we have positive role models like you: Kevin Wong, the author of the Heroes of Destiny books, and your characters: especially the character Kevin. If I won the contest I would first of all read the book again, because it is one of my favourite books ever! And then I would find someone who I thought needed a positive role model to put them on the right track in life, and I would give them the book, with instructions to read it and then pass it on to someone else who needed a role model. That way I could help touch many more lives, and so could you, and so could your book: Heroes of Destiny, Episode I: Eternal Knights.
Your friend,
From: Olivia D'Souza
Dear Kevin, My name is Olivia, and I am a fan and future fan of yours! I do hope you are well. I feel that I must write to you, to tell you how much you mean to me, both as yourself, Kevin Wong, and as Kevin, the Knight of Eternia, for these two are one, are they not? Kevin, you share so much of yourself in your internet site, that I feel I know you. I, just one of your many many fans and future fans, could know you !!!!! Kevin, I have to tell you what you have done for me, that you do not even know! I was so lost, Kevin. I am so ashamed to tell you, that all the things you say you have never done, and never will, I have made all of those mistakes. I let the other kids pressure me into trying wine, and cigarettes, and even, oh Kevin, I am too ashamed to say. I became someone else, not myself, just a blank slate for other people to write upon. My poor mother was so grieved, and you must believe me Kevin, my mother is a good woman, like your own wonderful mother. The one part of myself that I kept, was my love of reading fantasy. I did not talk about this with my so-called "friends", because it would not have been "cool", and I longed to be accepted by the cool group. But I continued to read fantasy in secret, and that was how I found your wonderful book. Kevin, you explain so heartrendingly in your book, how good will win out, and virtue grants strength. The characters, though all different share goodness, and can work together to battle their demons. Reading you book helped me battle my demons, Kevin. Now it is with both pride and with deep humility, that I can say I have changed. I am not perfect, no-one is, though you come close Kevin!! But at the very least, I am on what I humbly and sincerely hope is the right track. I hesitate to say this, it sounds so forward, but I actually hope I have some small chance of winning the book in your contest. It would mean so much to me to know that you had thought of me while autographing the book. I could never be your Launa, I am fallen too far, but perhaps if I had this to remind me of the power of good, I could stay strong. Also, I can't afford to come to Nova Scotia, but this is where all your appearances seem to have been. But if I could have this from you, it would be as if I had been right there before you Kevin, admiring a great author and a great Knight in his own very person!!! If this great thing happens, that you choose me to recieve your prize, please make out the autograph to me, Olivia. Perhaps you could include some message of hope for a strayed and lonely woman? Thank you Kevin, for taking the time to read this silly letter. I remain firm in the faith of our Lord, and commend you ever to His protection.
With deepest regards,
Congratulations Rebecca and Olivia!!!!! Your contest-winning books are on their way!!!!! :-)
Your friend,
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