One of my favorite things to give and get is mail, and I’m not talking about the virtual variety. “Real” mail is a joy, which may be why I gave Ian Johns of the Byways books the role of Postmaster. As the brothers race across their homeland, their waypoints are located in post offices. At each stop along the way, they must use their personal seals to confirm their progress. Readers will get to see the postcards Ewan, Zane, and Ganix send home. And the stamp images that serve as official signatures in Liberty.

This series detail is the basis for the Hometown Challenge. Readers who send CJ a postcard from their hometown will receive one in return … from the brothers! Complete with the signature stamp from their personal seals:

FIRST! I received my first Hometown Challenge postcard this week from Augusta, Maine! Will my next card be from your hometown? I hope so!

Hometown Challenge

CJ has issued a special challenge to Byways readers everywhere. When you mail her a postcard from your hometown, she’ll send back a postcard from the brothers. If your hometown doesn’t have their own postcards, one from your home state, nearby city, or local historical site is fine and dandy. [International readers can play along, too.]

1) For this to work, you’ll need to include a return address on your postcard.
2) If you tell CJ which brother you hope will win the race, she’ll add his stamp to your postcard.
3) Your postcard may be featured on a future “Mailbag” blog post.
4) CJ will add a pin for your hometown to the big map that hangs near her favorite writing spot.

 The postcard you’ll get back in the mail is special. You can only get one by taking part in the Hometown Challenge. To claim yours, send your postcard to…

C. J. Milbrandt
P. O. Box 23053
San Diego, CA 92193

The Hometown Challenge page includes shout-outs by state >>
Have you stamped into the Waypoint Log? >>