Trouble At Possum Ranch

So, in addition to getting me an important collection of things for my birthday, including a macaw key chain and a diary with important things marked in it like this -- 

-- J.A. Rock also got me the best birthday present ever. And this is its cover: 

And, you guys, it was illustrated! 

So thanks so much to JA Rock for the best birthday present ever. And thanks to everyone who provided quotes for the inside cover -- you guys rock. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to read it again! 

Pledging at Prescott - win a copy of Mark Cooper versus America!

Want another chance to win a copy of Mark Cooper versus America? All you need to do is take the quiz below, and let me know in the comments which Prescott student you're most like. 

JA Rock and I will draw a winner in a week! Good luck! 

Happy Belated Australia Day!

It's Australia Day! Well, not any more here, but maybe still in some parts of America. Or it would be, if they took any notice of it. 

But yay! 

First up, let's get down to business and announce the winner of the J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry Joint Mark Cooper Versus America Happy Birthday Giveaway Multi Hemisphere Blogapalooza. Or, as it is more sensibly known, The Thing. 

Congratulations to Will who successfully answered that Deacon's middle name is Andrew. Will wins a copy of Mark Cooper versus America! 

And for everyone else, here is a recipe for lamingtons. If you've never tried one, trust me, do it. Please note the oven temperatures are in Celsius and I think we also use different measurements than you guys. Good luck! 

Cake: 

• 125g butter, softened

• 1 cup caster sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 eggs

• 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour, sifted

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 cups desiccated coconut

Icing: 

• 3 1/2 cups icing sugar mixture

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

• 1 tablespoon butter, softened

• 1/2 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 3cm-deep, 20cm x 30cm (base) lamington pan. Line with baking paper, leaving a 2cm overhang on all sides. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition

Sift half the flour over butter mixture. Stir to combine. Add half the milk. Stir to combine. Repeat with remaining flour and milk. Spoon into prepared pan. Smooth top. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack. Cover with a clean tea towel. Set aside overnight.

Make icing: Sift icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl. Add butter and boiling water. Stir until smooth.

Cut cake into 15 pieces. Place coconut in a dish. Using a fork, dip 1 piece of cake in icing. Shake off excess. Toss in coconut. Place on a wire rack over a baking tray. Repeat with remaining cake, icing and coconut. Stand for 2 hours or until set. Serve.

Party tonight at Alpha Delta!

If you guys have been following my blog, or J.A. Rock's, for a while, you might remember the awesome Taco Hub posters for The Good Boy and The Boy Who Belonged. They were done by the incredibly talented MC Blackman, who is awesome. And look what she made for Mark Cooper versus America! 

And you'd better believe that there's a Kissin' Shack, and that stuff happens in it. Oh, and the mechanical bull? I doubt the Alpha Delts are going to get their security deposit back. Not after the stains our boys left on it. :) 

Please go to J.A. Rock's website and check out more of MC Blackman's designs. It is fantastic stuff! 

Mark Cooper versus America is out from Loose Id on January 28.

The End of The Thing is Nigh - Question Time!

Thanks to everyone who’s been following our blogs for the past week, here it is -- the question we’ve all been waiting for! The easiest way to find the answer is to backtrack through our blogs. The answer might be on either J.A.’s blog or Lisa’s blog.

What is Deacon’s middle name?

Answer correctly. and you can win a copy of MARK COOPER VERSUS AMERICA.

To answer, send either of us a PM on Facebook, or via Twitter, or email either of us!

At some point we’ll synchronise our watches, throw all the names in a hat, and draw a winner!

Watch this space and we’ll announce the winner on Australia Day.

(For those of you playing from the northern hemisphere -- that’s on January 26.)

The Thing: Texts between Mark and his Mum

Welcome back to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

Today it's all about Mark and Clare, his mum. And it's no surprise where Mark gets his attitude from. 

When a boy's bored and lonely and far from home, who does he text? 

And what's the one thing worse than a drunk text? A text sent to the wrong recipient. 

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America.

The Thing: Mark's Mum

Welcome back to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the character related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

Today it's time to introduce Mark's mum Clare. Clare is the reason Mark is in America in the first place. She married Jim Phillips, an American, and forced Mark to find out what the words "wind chill factor" mean. 

Click on the image to enlarge! 

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America.

The Thing: Texts from Jackson

Welcome back to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

Today it's more from Jackson, Mark's step-cousin and member of Alpha Delta. First up is a text he sends Bengal, the Alpha Delta pledge trainer and, I think we've already established, a dick: 

And here is a group text. It's a hazard of living in the Alpha Delta fraternity house. 

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America.

The Thing - Meet Bengal

Welcome back to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

Today it's time to meet Bengal, proud member of Alpha Delta and the guy in charge of this year's pledges. Take it away, Simon. 

Student Snapshot - by Simon d’Angelo, Sophomore Staff Reporter.

This week’s featured student is Rob Stowe. If you’re a fan of Greek Life, you probably know him as Bengal, member of Alpha Delta Phi and this year’s pledge trainer. I asked him to describe to me what he thinks is the best thing about fraternity life, and why he thinks such an archaic institution is still relevant at today’s Prescott.

RS: It’s all about the word. “Fraternity”. It means brotherhood. A lot of people don’t get that. For most people, moving away to college is the first time they’re living away from their family. So that’s what a fraternity is. Your new family.

Sd’A: As the pledge trainer of Alpha Delta Phi, where do you stand on hazing?

RS: We don’t haze. We have group bonding exercises instead.

Sd’A: Like what?

RS: Like nature walks, and um, trust falls and stuff.

Sd’A: You don’t sound too sure.

RS: Well it’s supposed to be a secret, dude. I mean, I don’t want any potential pledges finding out what happens by reading the school paper. I mean, if anyone still reads the school paper, you know. You guys should have a Facebook group or something instead. Or Twitter.

Sd’A: Alpha Delta Phi has a reputation as a party house. Is that something that you’re proud of?

RS: We’ve been known to party hard, sure, but so does every house on Fraternity Row. If the worst thing you can say of us is that we party—

Sd’A: Well, that’s not the worst thing anyone’s said of you, is it?

RS: Hold on. Are you the same kid who wrote those stories about us last year? “Frat’s enough!” or something?

Sd’A: “Frat’s Enough! The dark world of college hazing” and “Banned of Brothers: why abolishing Greek life would be the best thing for Prescott”.

RS: Dude, good luck winning the Pulitzer with those titles.

***

And here Bengal strikes out with the ladies.

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America.

The Thing - Introducing Brandon

Welcome back to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

Today we're introducing Brandon, an earnest, naive and incredibly smart freshman who becomes friends with crazy irresponsible Mark. And for some reason it works. 

Student Snapshot - by Simon d’Angelo, Sophomore Staff Reporter.

This week’s Student Snapshot is Brandon Mills. Brandon is a Freshman. He hopes to graduate with a BA in Economics. I asked Brandon why he chose Prescott.

Sd’A: Are you from Pennsylvania?

BM: No, I’m from Michigan.

Sd’A: So what made you chose to come to Prescott?

BM: Prescott has a great program. Over ninety percent of graduates of the business school go on to work in their chosen field. Also, it’s nice here. Some of the other places I checked out had dorms that were kind of crowded, or gross.

Sd’A: Why Economics? Isn’t it Economists who got us into the whole GFC mess?

BM: Well, that’s exactly why Economics is interesting right now. There are obviously major flaws in the prevailing Economic theory, and the way that it was applied leading up to the GFC.

Sd’A: How do you Prescott so far?  

BM: Everyone seems really nice. I can’t wait for classes to start.

Sd’A: It looks like you’ve picked up a few flyers from some of the fraternities. Are you thinking of rushing?

BM: Yeah. There are a lot of different fraternities to choose from, so I’m going to go to some of the mixers and check them out.

Sd’A: What are your reasons for wanting to join a fraternity? There are plenty of other social or academic groups you could join at Prescott.

BM: I think it’s nice to have a sense of tradition. Plus, the bonds you make in a fraternity last your whole life. That’s what my dad says. I think it’s a really cool idea.

Sd’A: Well, good luck with everything, Brandon, and welcome to Prescott.

***

And here, in this text to Brandon, Mark is too lazy to use Google. 

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America.

The Thing: Mark and Deacon's Emails

Welcome back to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

In the latest thing from The Thing, J.A. and I have tracked down Mark and Deacon's emails. Check it out: 

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America

The Thing - More texts between Deacon and Mark

Welcome to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

First up today, Mark has difficulty concentrating in class. 

Then, when Deacon invites him to lunch, he reveals his difficulties with a local barista. More on that in the book! 

You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America

The Thing: Texts from Deacon and Mark

Welcome to The Thing, where J.A. Rock and I give away a copy of Mark Cooper versus America (available January 28) to one astute reader who keeps abreast of all the Prescott College related stuff we post on our blogs and answers a tricky question on January 24. You can find details here. We'll be posting texts between the characters, excerpts from Prescott's student newspaper, characters' homework assignments and more!

Yesterday on our blogs we introduced met Mark and Deacon, our two main characters. Mark: Australian, less-than-fond of small town Pennsylvania, and way more concerned with sex than academics. Deacon: studious, responsible, and rather fond of angry bunny Mark.

J.A. and I have NSA'd our way into Mark and Deacon's private text conversations, and this is what we've found. In the first one, Deacon wants Mark to sneak into his fraternity house -- Phi Sigma -- without getting spotted by the rival fraternity next door -- Alpha Delta, where Mark is a pledge. 

And here Mark sends Deacon a heartfelt text, after being sent on a pledge retreat in the woods and drinking a few too many beers.  

 You guys, check out J.A. Rock's blog for more texts and fun stuff, and remember to check back here between now and the 24th, since we'll be introducing more characters from Mark Cooper versus America.