Harry Potter: Sweepstakes, Contests, and Competitions

Sweepstakes can be found anywhere from TV shows to cereal boxes. They add excitement to any product, captivating audiences with dreams of sports cars, luxury cruises, or even a "moonlight signing."

After reviewing more than 40,000 entries, Scholastic recently announced the winners of their Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows competition. Muggles Andrew Lee, Paige Raudenbush, Ayoluwa Hill, Sophie DeGroot, Joseph Walsh, Anne Harbaugh, and Yanira Rodriguez will be flown to London's celebrated Natural History Museum to attend "J.K. Rowling and the Midnight Signing."

"Just like millions of other fans in the U.S. and around the world," said Lisa Holton, President of Scholastic Trade and Book Fairs, "our sweepstakes winners have been inspired and touched by Rowling's genius work, and this is sure to be an unforgettable experience." (See Earthtimes.org)

According to Abe Books, 1,700 fans will receive a signed copy of Deathly Hallows at the event, and a randomly-chosen 500 will be invited to the midnight reading.

But wait, there's more.

For fans under 18, Amazon.com is hosting a contest of its own. To enter, children must submit a 300 word essay on their favorite Harry Potter character, and if chosen as one of the nine winners, they will receive a free copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The deadline is June 27, and the official rules can be found here.

Most novelists and publishers can't offer all-expense paid trips to London, but give-aways of any kind, if widely publicized, can work wonders for a book's marketing plan.