Congratulations!

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.

241 Comments

  1. Eve
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 18:15:07

    Found the manekineko! 🙂

  2. Elz Rose
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 19:03:00

    found it, YAY =))

  3. Anna
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 20:09:06

    Found it! 🙂

  4. Beverley Marsh
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 20:09:15

    “Voila”

  5. Daz
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 20:37:31

    Here it is!

  6. Jennifer L.
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 21:28:10

    Yay! I found it after some time, but the journey was fun. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading your books yet, but now I’m excited to learn more!

  7. Sara M.
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 21:57:40

    Yay! Such a cute little neko!

    freodwyn @ gmail . com

  8. Renee
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 22:17:44

    There you go. I found it.

    reneesingleton84@yahoo.com

  9. D.L.
    Dec 03, 2010 @ 23:47:00

    Found it 🙂

  10. May
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 00:02:25

    Found it. 🙂

  11. Trina Chase
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 00:12:53

    Found it!

  12. Cindy L
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 00:47:40

    Love the giveaway!

    cbandy10 (at) hotmail (dotcom)

  13. Susan Kuchta
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 01:07:01

    Found it!

  14. Megs
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 01:15:39

    Found it!

  15. Julie Steele
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 01:43:59

    Love the website! And the whole contest is such fun.

  16. RobynL
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 01:45:07

    here Kitty Kitty, come to me!
    he’s cute.

  17. Anna Lee
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 02:04:07

    Awww such a cut pussy cat 🙂 Found it!

    annalee at romancingthepage dot com

  18. Karen Newlands
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 02:05:57

    Thank you for this

  19. Karen Newlands
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 02:07:56

    Thank you

  20. Sally
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 02:10:50

    Oooh, a secret page. I like this. 😀

  21. Linda Henderson
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 02:11:44

    Found it, and thanks for the trivia.

    seriousreader at live dot com

  22. Laurie Faelan
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:04:35

    Fun contest! Thanks for the entry!

    laurieire at hotmail dot com

  23. Jill Dawson
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:28:20

    Good way of getting my interest now I am going to have get your books!!!

  24. Jane
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:30:39

    Cute prize. Thanks for entering me.

    janie1215 AT excite DOT com

  25. Jacqueline C.
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:47:16

    The cat is adorable!

    Cook.Jacqueline[at]gmail[dot]com

  26. Keith C
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:50:24

    Aww cute!

  27. Laurie Rae Smith
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:57:18

    originalwickedgirl (at) yahoo (dot) com

  28. Jayne Hall
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 04:12:58

    Fingers crossed

  29. Sue Ahn
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 04:22:05

    Thanks for entry!

  30. Margaret Luvisi
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 04:26:36

    Found it!!!
    Like your book covers

  31. Annie Martin
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 04:30:52

    *waves*
    Made it 🙂
    Thanks Jeannie for the opportunity to enter!

    Annie

  32. Sheila
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 04:45:26

    Enjoyed looking for it Learned a lot.

  33. Irene Jackson
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 05:17:10

    read a lot while I was looking 🙂
    irgl7@bonzo15(dot)plus(dot)com

  34. FARIDAH BROOKER
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 05:42:32

    I’m in!

  35. Kaetrin
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 06:12:08

    Found it!

  36. Jennifer W
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 06:17:35

    Fab site, Jeannie! Loved the trivia on the ‘Butterfly Swords’ title; congrats on the Golden Heart! Happy Holidays to you!

  37. Maureen
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 06:48:51

    Thanks for the info! It’s a lovely prize.

  38. Melvis
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:08:07

    Found it 😀 Thanks for getting involved with the fantastic festive giveaway! Good Luck everybody xxx

  39. Julie
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:09:59

    Thanks for the bit of trivia! 😀

  40. Sue Bell
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:12:59

    Woo hoo found it, that was fun, had a good read, looking forward to reading your next book 🙂

  41. RK Charron
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:20:57

    Hi Jeannie 🙂
    That cat is adorable.
    Thank you for the fun scavenger hunt.
    All the best,
    Rob

  42. Alan Downie
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:27:11

    Found it thanks for the hunt

  43. Angela Eldershaw
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:36:32

    Found it.

  44. Mel K.
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:43:09

    YAY! I found the ornament. I lived in Hawaii for two years so I know about the cat. I have two of them! I was told to face the cat towards your door. The cat greets visitors. Would love the gold one. I didn’t know about the color red. Enjoyed the trivia. I want to read “Butterfly Swords”.
    Happy Holidays, Jeannie!

    Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

  45. Virginia C
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:43:45

    Hi, Jeannie! I enjoyed exploring your website to find the holiday ornament. I am a dog person owned by cats, and I’d love to win Maneki Neko! My cats would approve >^,,^<

  46. Carol Luciano
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:44:48

    Yeah, found it and some interesting trivia. The prize is very nice and who couldn’t use a little good luck. 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win.
    Carol L.
    Lucky4750@aol.com

  47. Cherish
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:48:00

    Yes, I found it!

  48. Karen B
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 07:48:38

    Good morning! Found it!

  49. Angela Erika Kubo
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 08:09:42

    Thanks for holding this giveaway!

  50. Katrina
    Dec 04, 2010 @ 08:10:15

    Looks beautiful, and I love the historical tidbits. When i was in Japan a few weeks ago, I learned about the first missionaries there – they were Portuguese, and I went to a castle which one of the first (if not the first) convert lived. He had a cross etched into a stone in the castle wall, even though he could’ve been killed for it. Really interesting.

    Thanks for entering me in the giveaways!

    @KatrinaLatham