Demand Studios Blog Archive June, 2011 | Demand Media Studios Blog

We asked, and you answered! What is your favorite genre for summer reading?

Here is what you told us!

Drama: 12.9 %
Historical Non-Fiction: 8.1 %
Suspense: 16.1 %
Chick Lit: 14.5 %

And the winner by a landslide!
Other: 48.4 %

Based on the earlier blog post featuring the Studio editors' books of the season, we're guessing lots of you are reading "Game of Thrones." Are we right?

Let us know!

Q&U: Beach Reads!

Posted by KendraO | June 29, 2011 | Comments (6)

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Starting tomorrow, Tuesday June 28th, DMS contributors eligible to participate in Demand Deals can purchase a $100 gift card to the store of their choice for just $50! Some of the top vendors available are Best Buy, Amazon, iTunes, Home Depot, and many more. There are a limited number of gift cards available at this discounted rate so be sure to act fast!

More details on this exclusive offer in the forums.

Truth & Dare

Posted by KendraO | June 22, 2011 | Comments (3)

editors note:

Q&U: Happy Summer

Posted by KendraO | June 22, 2011 | Comments (3)

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We recognize that many of you are working on various creative projects and we hope to help you with those endeavors. With this in mind we are starting the Demand ‘All Access’ Program to help connect you with new opportunities and support your professional goals. Whether it’s attending a convention or new media expo- we want to connect you with the right people and events.

If there is an upcoming event you would like to attend we want to help get you there! Winners will be given all-access passes to the convention of their choice and we'll accept applications and announce winners on a rolling basis. If there is an upcoming event you’d like to attend, please let us know. Head to the forums for more details on how to apply!

Additionally, we invite you to take advantage of our partnership with Booklr, a new social media and promotion platform for published authors. With Booklr you can Tweet and post to Facebook, run promotions and giveaways, track your sales, and review data all in one place. Learn more about the platform and get free access to their premium plan here!

June Grant Winners

Posted by EmilyNF | June 21, 2011 | Comments (5)

We are excited to announce this month’s Grant winners!

To celebrate the season of beach trips and family reunions, our theme for this month’s grant awards focuses on summer travel.

Our Professional Resources grant goes to writer Dave Schonfeld. After Dave and his wife moved to Oregon a few years ago, Dave promised his wife they’d return to her native Vermont every summer. Due to his hectic freelancing schedule (and immovable PC), he couldn’t go with her last year – and can’t this year, either. Dave will use the new laptop to return to Vermont with his wife, as well as other travel adventures in the near future.

Our first Work/Life Balance grant goes to writer and blogger Tiffany Norquest. Tiffany is having a son on June 30, the first boy in her family. Her great-grandmother lives 14 hours away and wants to see the first (and probably only) boy, but can’t travel due to illness. Tiffany will use the funds to take her new son to visit her great-grandmother this summer.

The second Work/Life Balance award goes to writer and titler Jill Liphart, who recently acquired guardianship of a fifth child. Due to her family’s hectic work schedule, she can’t take the family camping as she and her husband have wanted to do for years. Jill will use the grant to purchase camping gear and take the family to spend some time in the great outdoors.

Our third Work/Life Balance award goes to writer Linda Kaban. The recession hasn’t been kind to Linda’s small business and she’s had to move home with her family. Over the past 6 months, she’s missed her friends back in Toronto dearly. Linda will use the grant to make the trek back to Toronto for a few days of friends and fun.

The final Work/Life Balance award will go to writer Cynthia Phillips. About a year ago, Cynthia moved from Vermont to South Carolina in order to be closer to her daughter and new grandson. Unfortunately, she also left behind her “soul mate,” Billy. After only four visits over the past year, Cynthia and Billy will now have the funds to spend three weeks together.

Cynthia's grandson and Billy

Finally, our Short Film grant goes to filmmaker Nicholas Miles for his short film, “Los Zapatos de Juan,” a dramatic tale of a boy rising above gang influences and embarking on a journey for personal freedom.

Remember, if you didn’t win this time, you can apply twice more with the same application. It was a tough decision to select just six applications, so don’t get discouraged.

Please join us in congratulating the winners!