Where You Buy Books and My First Giveaway

I recently took a poll asking where you buy your books. I wanted to know where many of my readers purchased books: online, at chain bookstores, at college or independent bookstores or other retailers. Here are the rankings:
Barnes and Noble Amazon.com Other Retailers Borders Books-a-Million Independent Bookstores College/University Bookstores The results were pretty much as I expected as I buy most of my books at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon too. There were only 4 responses of readers who shop at independent bookstores. There is no judgment here, I don't do it either. But I want to shop at more independent bookstores and I will even if have to drive 25, 50, a hundred miles to find them (thankfully some do have online ordering). One would think living between two college towns there would be more indie bookstores, but no, not so much. A couple of weekends ago, I did go to a not-so local, independent bookstore, noteBooks.  It is a small new and used bookstore that also carries music and art supplies and has a terrific cafe attached to it. (I'd hoped to have some pictures to post, but of course, I forgot to take my camera). You can check out noteBooks for yourself here. While I was there, I purchased one of my favorite books, Looking for Alaska by John Green, specifically for this giveaway. Synopsis: Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave "the Great Perhaps" even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then . . . After. Nothing is ever the same.(from Goodreads) It was important to me that the first book I gave away on Actin' Up with books came from an independent bookstore (there is a lot of back story to this reasoning, but since the post is already becoming too long, I will spare you the details) and I wanted it be a book that I love and want to read over and over again. Now for the Giveaway! If you would like to win a copy of Looking for Alaska, please fill out the form below. You can include the name of your favorite independent bookstore. (It is not required to be eligible) One winner will be chosen by using random.org Good Luck and Thanks for visiting! Contest has ended 10/30/2010