Once Upon A Fan

Once Upon A Fan turns 1 on Friday November 9th. Hard to believe it has only been a year since we began covering the show as a single page blog! As you can see, times have changed considerably. Once Upon A Fan has gone on be the #1 fan community for Once Upon A Time around the world, spawning social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, You Tube and Pinterest.

With over 30000 followers and daily visits now close to 10000, I never envisioned 1 year ago that staff would be interviewing the likes of Robert Carlyle and Lana Parilla, not to mention scoring an exclusive with the creators of the show themselves, Eddy Kitsis & Adam Horowitz. Who would have believed back then that we would hold an auction for the coveted chipped cup and raise over $14000 dollars for With Kids Glasgow. That even the term "Once Upon A Fan" would become a brand constantly searched for on Google!

What we have achieved as a community already is amazing. We have brought together an incredible group of talented people who work tirelessly, and for free, to ensure you Oncers are kept contantly entertained and up to date. However I am constantly reminded that this is just the beginning. The site, just like the show, is in its infancy. Bigger and better things await us. 

As part of our birthday week running from the 5th-11th November, we have a whole host of surprises. We will be looking back with a retrospective of our first year, we have some amazing interviews planned as well as some great "origins" articles, which have proven to be tremendously popular and are a huge part of the site's massive success.

We will also be running a final charity auction/competition on Friday November 9th to raise more money for With Kids Glasgow. Eduardo Castro, the costume designer for the show, has kindly donated 3 beautiful sketches from his personal archive. The sketches are originals from the OUAT design studio and measure 11"x15". They are mounted on textured sketch paper and are truly works of art.

Two of the sketches will be auctioned off on November 9th. The final sketch will be given away as part of a very special Once Upon A Fan birthday competition. We realise that these sketches will sell for large amounts so we wanted to have 1 piece to give away as part of a competition so that all fans have an opportunity to enter and a chance of winning such a rare piece of memorabilia.  We will also be auctioning off the signed photos from Team 7 during birthday week. 1 of the Team 7 signed photos will also be given away as part of the competition. 

To take part in the competition, we would love to hear why you love Once Upon A Time? Your entries can be as inventive as you want. Essays, fan fiction, videos, artwork and poetry are all welcome. The key is to get your message across clearly of what Once Upon A Time means to you via whichever medium you choose. Be brave, inventive and original, just like Eduardo!

The winner will receive one of the signed Eduardo Castro sketches, while a runner up will recieve one of the signed 10"x8" Team 7 photos. Winning entries will also be featured on the fan site. 

All competition entries must be sent to gareth@onceuponatimefans.co.uk

Please mark your entries "OUAF Birthday Competition" in the subject line.

Entries will be judged by all OUAF staff.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday 6th November. Winners will be announced on the 9th November.

Auctions for remaining items will take place 9th-11th November. 

Good luck Oncers. Enjoy our forthcoming birthday celebrations. And let's wish upon a star for continued success for both the show and the fan site. It's been one hell of a ride so far!