It's the chance to live on in infinity, right? Sixty years from now when your books are being studied in "Criminal Smartasses 101", some young, naive coed will wonder who was the real Sheila Smackbottom and why she was so important to you that you included her in your book.

Or, it's the person's chance to send a publication containing their name in print, other than the local police report, to their Granny Mabel. Having their name bound in print will prove to dear old Granny that the person is indeed worthy of being included in the will after all.

Shelly and I were just talking about this the other day----that if a couple of slightly crazy housewives with our names show up in one of your books, we'll know where you got the inspiration. Because it's all about us, you know.

I'll bet a lot of people would like to think that their literary doppelganger would do something cooler and more interesting than they do in real life. As a stay-at-home-mom I do a lot of housecleaning, cooking and argument-refereeing, but in a book I could be a witness to a crime, a scheming con artist, even a stripper (with the requisite heart of gold, of course).

There's a fairly good chance I won't amount to much in life. I've got high goals and the odds are really not in my favor. It's just plain statistics mixed in with my own laziness. But to be immortalized as a character in any book, let alone one of such grand quality as a Marshall Karp novel (unabashedly sucking up), even as a one-legged, gay dwarf, with a bad stutter and a severe case of rectal bleeding, would be like the icing coating my lifecake of shame. I think the big pull is the simplicity of it. You had to write for a year to get your name on those books. Now you're giving us the opportunity to do it in a few minutes. We get to ride your coattails into our fifteen minutes in the spotlight (though I imagine the one-legged dwarf character would have to concede at least thirteen of those minutes for the sake of your intentions to continue selling books) after somewhat minimal personal creative effort. It's the American dream at its personal best. I feel Terry Biggs would be most proud. Anyway, in conclusion, Batman and Robin: American heroes. I know it, Mr. Marshall Karp knows it, Terry Biggs is fully aware, I can assume Mike Lomax agrees, even Spider-Man knows his place on the second tier. Also any pictures of Batman and Robin cavorting or otherwise engaging in activities of the kissing nature have clearly been severely doctored or are being taken out of context (one of them may have been poisoned in the face!). In real conclusion, I've just made myself look absolutely crazy. I hope it works out for me. Thank yous and apologies.

...because waving a big wad of cash that I got for filling a hole is still considered crass (in most hole-filling circles)

It's celebrity status! Notoriety. You got something your friends don't have. And you really didn't work at it. It's like winning at slots or the lottery or even a silly unimaginative "name the cats contest". It's a rush, a thrill.... Having said that, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I am a past winner of one of Karp's contests and therefore have a cameo role in Flippin so maybe I'm just pimpin' for the man.... Patrolman Tim

When I read a book no matter if it is a Marshall Karp novel, or a book by some lesser author, my goal is immersion. I want to live in the world of the book, to feel like I am there, a silent observer. Total escapism, I want to leave where I am and be somewhere else, to be someone else. To actually become a character, be it a rectal bleeding dwarf, or stripper with a heart of gold means you will always be a part of a world you spent time in. Call it the Ultimate Souvenir. One person who has spent time in the world created by your mind, will get a permanent place to live in your story. Immortality sounds pretty cool to me. Unless it involves rectal discomfort, then I might want to rethink things.
Thanks,
Cullin

Well, what will this character do?? Do I get to kill someone and get away with it? Do I get to save the hero's life? Will I be kissed into a coma? (That sounds fun, but my husband's already trying to collect the life insurance by killing me in a similar way.) My character can do something I can't do or won't do, but would love to tell my friends about! (And hey, THAT'll sell you another 5 copies!)

Will I be a "red shirt" killed off in the most unlikely circumstance? Will I take a bullet for one of the heroes? Will I save someone's life using CPR, crack a rib, and NOT get sued? I'd love to be in a book and do something I can't do in my real life! Woo-hooo!!!

What a great idea! Next time someone is making my life difficult, I'm going to offer them a role in my next book. Saves all that bother of having to think up names for minor characters, too!
Abby

What's the big deal, you ask? Why not find out? Tell you what, Mr. Karp...pick me as the winner, and I'll put YOU in MY next book!
Glynnis Campbell, aka Sarah McKerrigan

We all want our 15 minutes of fame, be it fact or fiction. (The exception to the rule could be the authors who use an aka to author their books.) If some fame comes knocking on our door in the pages of your book with our name being the moniker of a minor or major character - we'll take it. Plus, who doesn't love bragging rights - right?

It's for the sex, because nothing says chick magnet more than "Hello beautiful. Bet you didn't know I won a contest so that my name was used for a character in a Marshall Karp novel."

If you don't believe me, ask Dave.