Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!

In honor of the release of the graphic novel Smile by Raina Telgemeier, we've got a giveaway!

What has been your most own embarrassing experience at the dentist's office? Share your story in words, in pictures, or in video, and you could win a copy of SMILE! We will accept true stories as well as fiction, with one winner in each category, so please make sure mark your entry as non-fiction (it really happened to you) or fiction (you totally made it up!) Here's the scoop:

WORDS: 500 words or less, in any style or tense you choose.
PICTURES: A one- to two-page spread. It can be one image, multiple images, or multiple panels, like a comic book, but please limit it to a maximum of two pages. Use your pens, pencils, pastels, paints, PhotoShop - get creative!
VIDEO: Keep it under two minutes in length. Upload it to a site where the judges can see it, like YouTube or Vimeo.

CONTENT: All submissions should be appropriate for all ages. Keep it G-rated.

SUBMISSIONS: Leave a comment at the giveaway post at Bildungsroman with your name, your email address, and your submission (full text, all images, or embedded video) OR a link to your file. If you have difficulty leaving a comment, email your submission to littlewillow@slayground.net

ELIGIBILITY: All ages may enter. Winners must provide a U.S. mailing address where the book will be shipped.

DEADLINE: All submissions must be received by 11:59 PM PST on February 28th, 2010.
Entries will be judged by Raina Telgemeier and Little Willow.
One winner will be selected per category.
Winners will be announced in March 2010.

About the Book
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.

Sneak a peek at Smile!Click here to preview some pages from the book.

About the Author
Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Francisco, but made her way to New York City when she was 22 to attend the School of Visual Arts as an Illustration and Cartooning student. She received her BFA in 2002, and has worked as a freelance artist ever since. Her comics have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Eisner, Ignatz, Cybil, and Web Cartoonists' Choice awards. Raina lives in Queens, NY, with her husband, Dave Roman.