You’ve found the holiday ornament! (The winners have been selected as of Dec. 23, 2010. Thank you for participating!)
Christmas in the Tang Dynasty
Did you know that the first recorded Christian mission to China took place during the Tang Dynasty? The visit is documented on the Nestorian Stele which was erected in the 8th century. The tablet details the arrival of a group of Christians led by a man named Alopen. The missionaries arrived in 635 A.D. to the capital city of Changan. Subsequently, several Christian places of worship were erected in China.
The Nestorian Stele – Notice the cross at the top?
So even if you don’t win the giveaway, you received a little trivia for your efforts, n’est-ce pas?
Here’s the lovely prize:
If you know me, you know I love cats. The “Lucky Cat” is actually not Chinese. Maneki Neko is a Japanese icon and he’s beckoning with one paw. He’s believed to bring the owner luck. I’ll be sending the lucky winner the Maneki Neko cat in in an ornate red “take out” box along with a Butterfly Swords souvenir charm. Red is a color of celebration, happiness, and good fortune in Chinese culture, which is why you see it everywhere.
Along with the takeout box, I’ll also be sending an autographed copy of Butterfly Swords. If the winner has already read it, they can give it to someone they love as a gift for Christmas. 🙂
For the Grand Prize giveaway: I LOVE my new Kindle, so I’ll also be adding a Kindle copy of Butterfly Swords and The Taming of Mei Lin to the Grand Prize.
Thanks for visiting. Add a comment below to be entered for both giveaways!
If you would like to be added to my newsletter for news and updates on releases, please use the link on the sidebar. E-mails for this contest will not be automatically added to the newsletter.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 12:35:44
Found it! Thanks for such a fun hunt!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 12:50:44
What a wonderful way to check out your site! Thanks so much for hosting this contest!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:04:13
Thanks for the contest. I’m so happy someone is writing romances set in places other than the same-old, same-old settings.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:04:40
Love it!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:10:00
Thank you!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:22:08
Great fun!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:31:35
Wayhey! I found it. 🙂
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:41:06
Great contest and I love that you bring something different to historicals.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:41:52
😀 That was fun!!!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:43:24
I’m happy I’ve found the ornament! I should like to be entered in both giveaways. Thank you very much for your generous contribution to this event.
catalina(underscore)khalaj(at)yahoo(dot)com
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:44:14
Whee! Found it! I feel like I knew about the Christians visiting China pretty early but never remember the date. What generally sticks out in my mind is that one area in China that’s all Jewish… (why yes I actually *could* be more vague ;P)
And… now I’m thinking about Chinese characters… I could actually read some. Sadly not all – so much for that degree… Thanks for having the giveaways – and to all the Harlequin Historical authors for your generosity!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:45:02
I love trivia so even if I don’t win the lucky cat I am happy with my new knowledge 😀
Dec 04, 2010 @ 13:48:09
It was fun finding the ornament.
Great prize as I am also a cat lover.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 14:39:56
Great way to read about your books – I’m looking forward to reading more!! 🙂
Dec 04, 2010 @ 14:40:37
Thankyou very enjoyable
Dec 04, 2010 @ 14:42:50
Thanks for giving us Asians a touch of culture in our guilty pleasure of reading.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
Dec 04, 2010 @ 14:43:18
Great contest. Thanks for hosting.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 15:06:38
This is a fun way of discovering a new book. Heading of to Amazon now to search for it.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 15:07:49
A good friend whose taste in books is impeccable recommended Butterfly Swords to me, so while my book budget remains tight I’ll be hoping to win this. Thank you for writing romance novels set somewhere other than England.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 15:10:23
Great contest. The cat is lovely.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 15:20:21
What fun!!!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 15:39:54
Shiny! I’m oddly enchanted by the takeout box. <3
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:08:43
Oh, need I even say how much I love cats lol. What a lovely prize!!! My husband’s family lived in Japan and Okinawa (service) for a while and we have inheirited some of their lovely ornamental furniture and belongings. Your book sounds fascinating!!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:12:28
great contest and fun too
meandi09@yahoo.com
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:13:50
what a lovely story and gift
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:29:24
Great Fun!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:37:09
You hid the ornament well Jennie! I hadn’t had my first cup of coffee when I did this, so missed the instruction to click on the ornament.
Thanks for emailing me back!
Lynne
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:38:04
I would like to be enter in your contest–I found the ornament. The prize sounds great.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:40:37
I love cats too, very nice prize!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:42:02
Very excited that I found the ornament! Cool trivia on the first Christian mission to China too. Thanks for the contest!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:45:32
Love this contest and intresting trivia. Please enter me in the contest, thanks… Happy Holidays!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:54:36
Interesting trivia. Thanks for the chance to win!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 16:54:53
I really love this trivia contest. Please enter me in the contest, thank you. I love searching for items on these sites. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:00:07
Great way to check out your site, interesting trivia.
Thanks for the fun contest.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:09:46
Wonderful contest! Thanks so much for the opportunity.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:17:19
How fascinating, Jeannie! Thanks for the mini history lesson! And gorgeous cat 😉 Thanks for the fun today!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:34:45
Great scavenger hunt, Jeannie!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:46:56
I enjoyed reading about your books. Again, my TBR pile grows. 🙂
Thanks for a fun scavenger hunt!
Robyn
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:48:44
I love trivia!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 17:50:14
What a fun scavenger hunt! And what lovely prizes! Thanks,
B
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:00:38
Thanks. I found it.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:02:03
Thanks very much for the giveaway!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:09:37
Thanks for the fun scavenger hunt!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:18:09
Thank you for the giveaway, great bit of trivia too!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:23:41
I’m glad the ornament was on the Taming of Mei Lin page. I just bought that story in the 12 Days of Christmas sale on 50% off ebook day and LOVED it.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:26:51
I enjoyed reading Butterfly Swords and look forward to your next book. The scavenger hunt was fun!
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:28:28
As a parent of an Asian child I am happy to see that Harlequin is willing to publish a romance set in an nontraditional setting. Your covers are works of art.
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:43:48
Thanks for a fun contest xx
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:45:34
That was fun!!! Thanks for this opportunity. 🙂
Dec 04, 2010 @ 18:55:41
Your book sounds interesting! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to check out your website!