Technical Difficulties

First, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE who suggested a name. You are all awesome, and I love all your suggestions.

In fact, not only was I not able to choose ONE correct name and ONE favorite, I couldn't even manage to choose TWO.

THEREFORE.

The sock elephant's name is Eleftheria Ada Lavanda Snodgrass, and her nickname is Elsu.

Eleftheria Snodgrass was suggested by Zafar (who does not have an LJ account), and I combined it with Ada Lavanda from aerinha, because (a) I loved both names and (b) she just seems to need a ridiculously long dactylic name. On the other hand, you can't call somebody Eleftheria Ada Lavanda Snodgrass all the time. The nickname Elsu was suggested by nipernaadiagain.

My three favorite names, in no particular order, are:
1. Aerandir (@MollyKanHas)
2. Galahadral (ejmam)
3. Madame Socky-Trunk (neko_san)

SO. Zafar, aerinha, nipernaadiagain, @MollyKanHas, ejmam, and neko_san, you have each won a copy of The Goblin Emperor! Email me at semonette (at) gmail (dot) com. Put "sock elephant" in the subject line so I know what it's about. Then tell me:

1. Name and shipping address. (I will ship anywhere in the world, no need to worry.)
2. Do you want the book personalized? (If you don't, no harm, no foul.)
3. IF YOU DO, to whom? (If there's a particular version of your name that makes you happier, please specify it.)

Once I have your information, I will send your book to you as quickly as I can.

Again, thank you to the winners, and thank you to everyone who made a suggestion. You have all brightened my life considerably, and I appreciate it.

Eleftheria Ada Lavanda Snodgrass thanks you, too.

Reminder the first: You can still help me NAME MY SOCK ELEPHANT. I have had many fabulous suggestions, and I would love to get many more!

Reminder the second: The only thing I published in 2013 is "To Die for Moonlight."

It has become weirdly traditional for writers to post their lists of Things Eligible for Awards in January, and I was debating with myself how I felt about that this year when a couple people on Twitter remarked that the January lists were how they found stories they'd missed the previous year. And regardless of how I'm feeling about self-promotion and awards on any given day, pointing people towards stories they might want to read is a good reason to make the post. So. "To Die for Moonlight." Kyle Murchison Booth, "The Fall of the House of Usher," and werewolves.

I have a sock elephant in need of a name.

[ETA(1): I am compiling a list of suggested names here.]

[ETA(2): The contest ends Monday, March 24, at 5:00 p.m. CDT.]

( cut for explanation and pictures of a sock elephant )

I have a novel coming out in April, my first new novel in five years. I am proposing a contest to name the sock elephant, winners to receive signed copies of The Goblin Emperor as soon as I get my author's copies.

GUIDELINES

0. This contest is open to anyone who wants to suggest a name.

1. The sock elephant is female. She has a ribbon around her neck and everything! Unisex names are also acceptable, and you know, if you tell me her name is Henry and it turns out I agree with you, you can win that way, too.

2. All decisions are mine: entirely subjective, finicky, irrational, and not up for discussion.

3. All entries are to be made in comments to this post. I am enabling anonymous comments.

4. You may suggest as many names as you like, in as many different comments as you like.

5. There will be two winners, one for the name I choose and one for the name I like the best. (For example, if you suggest Bombalurina, I think it is a fabulous name, but it is not my sock elephant's name. Ditto Tinuviel.)

6. The contest will close the day I receive my author's copies MONDAY, MARCH 24, 5:00 CDT. I will then make a post announcing the winners (tagged "sock elephant" as this one is) and telling them how to contact me with their addresses so I can send them their books.

7. Please spread the word widely. My sock elephant needs a name!