DROWN 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

IMPORTANT: Please read these Official Rules before entering the Drown 20^th Anniversary Contest (the “Contest”), presented by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC (“Sponsor”). By entering the Contest, you agree to the terms of these Official Rules.  These Official Rules shall govern in the event of any inconsistency with other Contest-related materials.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

ELIGIBILITY:  The Contest is open to residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. All federal, state, and local regulations apply. LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED. Employees of Sponsor its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, and agencies, and their immediate family members and persons living in their household are not eligible to enter the Contest.

ENTRY PERIOD: The Contest begins at 12:01 AM (Eastern Time) on June 15, 2016, and ends at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on July 20, 2016. 

HOW TO ENTER:  To enter the Contest, write an essay of no more than 250 words on how Drown, by Junot Diaz, has impacted your life. Then enter your name, full mailing address and email address on the entry form, upload your essay and submit your entry. You may also opt in to receive updates on Junot Diaz. By entering the Contest, contestants agree to abide by these Official Rules and represent and warrant that the entries are their own and original creations, and do not violate or infringe the rights, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademark rights or rights of publicity/privacy, of any third party.

In the event of a dispute, entries will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the email address used for entry. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of automated devices will result in disqualification. Sponsor is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry of information by entrants; lost or late entries or transmissions; interrupted or unavailable network, server, or other connections; scrambled transmissions or other errors or problems of any kind whether mechanical, human, or electronic, technical malfunctions of any computer hardware, software, or any combinations thereof; or problems associated with any virus or any other damage caused to entrants’ systems. Incomplete or illegible entries will be voided. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsor shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.

PRIVACY POLICY: All information submitted in connection with entry to this Contest shall be governed by Sponsor’s privacy policy (at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/privacy/). By entering this Contest, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this privacy policy.

JUDGING: On or about July 27, 2016, five to seven (5-7) winners will be chosen from all eligible entries received by the entry deadline. Entries will be judged on emotional impact and narrative. Winners will be notified via email and must respond to email notification within ten (10) days of receipt. Winners may also be required to complete, execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release. Noncompliance with these conditions may result in forfeiture of the Prize, and Sponsor reserves the right to select alternate winners (in random drawing from other eligible entries received before the deadline) in such circumstance. If winner notification is returned as undeliverable, Sponsor may, at its discretion, select an alternate winner.

PRIZE:  Five to seven (5-7) winners will each have their essays published on Sponsor’s social media channels.  In the event that there is an insufficient number of eligible entries, Sponsor reserves the right not to award the prizes.

DISCLAIMERS:  By competing in this Contest and/or accepting the prize, contestants agree that Sponsor, and its respective parent companies, assigns, subsidiaries and affiliates, and advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies and all of their respective employees, officers and directors will have no liability whatsoever, and will be held harmless by entrants for any liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind to person and property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the prizes, or participation in this Contest. By accepting a prize, each winner consents to the use of his/her name for publicity and promotional purposes on behalf of Sponsor with no additional compensation or further permission (except where prohibited by law).

Any dispute arising from this Contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and by entering the entrants consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.

WINNERS LIST:  For a list of the winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope by January 22, 2017 to Michelle Giuseffi, Riverhead Books, Attn: Drown 20^th Anniversary Contest, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

SPONSOR:  Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

Enter your submission here.