A famous author offered her $1.25 million mansion in Ocala, Florida as top prize for a pet essay writing contest.
The generous donor is Clementina Marie Giovannetti, who has several bestsellers including "Clementina's Love Story: Diary of a Healer", "Caesar: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told By A Dog," "Oh Fair Maiden" and "The Best-Selling Guide To Dream Interpretation."
Giovannetti purchased the five-bedroom mansion sitting on 5,200 square feet of living space in February 2006 for $895,000. Today, it's value has gone up to $1.25 million. She explained in her website the mansion was originally intended as her retirement home.
"But sometimes, no matter how carefully you plan out the details of your life or make decisions, things change, and that's exactly what happened," Giovannetti wrote. "My entire life changed both professionally and personally while I was living there, and I am no longer retired. So to support my new lifestyle and career change, I purchased a smaller home in The Villages."
The winning entry must be a 100- to 300-word article that recounts a pet story. It could be funny, sad, heroic or inspirational. Selection of the winner by a panel of judges would be based on "honest and sincere expressions of thought and emotions about a pet that is heartfelt and one that truly touches the hearts of the judges," the author said.
A minimum of 6,250 entries would be accepted. Each entry must be accompanied by a cover letter, 4 x 6 color photo of the pet and a $200 entry fee. Even minors may join if they could show written proof of parental or guardian approval. Deadline for submission is July 23, 2008.
Giovannetti added that the essay contest is a way to provide a relief from a spate of bad news in media about America's economic slump, murders, indicted politicians, soaring gas prices and the real estate market crash. "I believe in miracles and sincerely want to bless someone else's life with this magnificent home. I need to fund a very special family, individual or organization that could truly be happy there, and perhaps it would make his or her dreams come true," said Giovannetti, whose latest book on her golden retriever will hit bookstores in July.
