Writers Hodge Podge

I have a little bit of everything posted here today.  I hope you find something useful.

Happy Writing!

Ø RomanceUniversity.org

Today, Brooke Borneman, Director of Sales and Marketing at Dorchester Publishing,  is at RomanceUniversity.org talking about Dorchester’s Next Best Celler contest.  Go here to check it out.

Here’s this weeks Romance University line up:

7/06 - Monday - Crafting Your Career: Brooke Borneman, Director of Sales and Marketing at Dorchester Publishing, will share the scoop on Dorchester's exciting new America's Next Best Caller contest co-sponsored with TextNovel.

7/08 - Wednesday - Anatomy of a Male Mind: Evan offers a gay man's perspective on women, sex and straight relationships.

7/10 – Friday – Chaos Theory of Writing: Author Victoria Gray guides us through the fascinating process of weaving historical facts into our fiction writing.

www.RomanceUniversity.org

Dorchester Contest Guidelines and Rules

Ø Lisa Logan’s Free Book Trailer Workshop

If you’re interested in making a book trailer, Author Lisa Logan offer’s a free basic course on her website. 

Check it out here:

Lisa Logan Website

Ø Susan Meier’s Free Workshop

Harlequin Author Susan Meier posted a condensed version of her CAN THIS MANUSCRIPT BE SAVED WORKSHOP on her blog.

Check it out at:
http://fivescribes.blogspot.com/

Also,  see her HOW TO ANALYZE THE BOOKS YOU READ workshop on her website.

Susan Meier Website

Ø Author Survey(s)

So, you are an author or aspiring author? Where are you now? Where do you want to be? What is your wish list? What do you consider when choosing a publisher? No personal information taken. Please pass along.

To participate,  go here.

And here’s another one…

How low does the  price of ebook readers have to go  before you will make that all important purchase?

If you haven't done so already, please take this survey and pass it on to any other interested parties.

You don't have to register, nor does this survey require your email address or any other personal data. A simple response is all that's required. The survey will be available until July 11th. 

Go here to participate.

*Permission is granted to pass the survey details on to any/all interested parties.

Ø 1^st Turning Point

1st Turning Point has a great article by Romance Author Rowena Cherry on eBook Piracy. There’s even a sample take down notice.

What is 1st Turning Point?

1st Turning Point is All About Promotion and is also A  Place Where Authors Teach, Share, & Learn.  We’re hoping this will be a pay-it-forward site, where those who learn today will teach tomorrow.

This is a fairly new site, and it  looks like it’s going to be a great resource.  Sign up to the newsletter for a chance to win an awesome bunch of prizes!

Contest drawing will take place July 31 at 11pm Pacific Time. All 1st Turning Point Subscribers are eligible to Win!

Learn more at the 1st Turning Point Website 

Ø HOUSTON WRITERS GUILD WRITING CONTEST

Snipped From Hope Clarks FundsforWriters Newsletter - 06/28/09 Issue

Novel Category - First 10 pages of your Novel, Book, or
Screenplay + Synopsis. Contest entries in English only.
Open to all unpublished and not under contract novelists
and screenwriters anywhere in the world. $500 first prize.

Short Story - Any Genre - $50 first place. Limit: 2,500 words.

Personal Essay - Something Personal -- your opinion on any
subject or a character study or a slice of life piece. Limit:
1,500 words. $30 first place.

Poetry - $30 first place. Three poems or six poems.

Lifetime Award Novel - Any genre - $100 first place.
Previously published novelists may enter.

ENTRY FEE $10 - $20. Deadline July 30, 2009.

Rules and guidelines at:
http://www.houstonwritersguild.org/Contests.htm

For more contests, writing tips and resources, sign up for Hope Clark’s FundsForWriters Newsletter.

Ø Submission Call: Working Mother Magazine

Working Mother magazine seeks freelance submissions for the following areas: You, Work and Family.  Writers can download
editorial calendar to enable them to pitch articles in advance.
See site for full guidelines.

Working Mother Magazine

Ø Stephanie Maclean, Literary Agent Looking For Submissions

PW announced that Stephanie Maclean has been promoted to Literary Agent at Trident.  She is actively seeking romance, women’s fiction and young adult.  But as with any agent, check the submission guidelines before sending.

Trident Media Group, LLC

Stephanie Maclean

Happy 4th of July!

Submission Calls

Below are a few submission calls/resources I gathered this past week.  I hope you find them helpful.

Happy Writing!

Snipped from Agent in the Middle Blog:

Sandy Lu, an associate agents at Lori Perkins Literary Agency, has announced that she is earnestly looking for romantic suspense, so send her your stuff. Tell your friends.
Sandy at lperkinsagency dot com.

White Rose Publishing Short Story Contest

***PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED***
What's missing from this cover?
Your Name!

Introducing a new contest from White Rose Publishing.
"HEARTS CROSSING"
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, we're giving you a picture plus a synopsis---and that's worth 20,000-25,000 words plus a publishing contract.

All you have to do is fill in the synopsis blanks to create your own
unique plot, and then write the story to go with it.

For Rules and Entry information, visit White Rose Publishing at:
http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167:story-contest-hearts-crossing&catid=48:minifrontusr17
Or if the long URL won't work, try: http://digg.com/u13f4q
Official Rules in PDF at:
http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/images/stories/WRP_HeartsCrossing_ContestRules.pdf

New Market: Divine Destinies From EREC Blog

Canada-based all-genre imprint seeking romance:
"We accept submissions in all the sub-genres, including romance, as long as it isn't formula and preferably contains paranormal elements, and any and all combinations thereof." [Website]
"Devine Destinies is the mainstream imprint of eXtasy Books, a publishing company specializing in 'out of the box' reading." [Myspace]

Call for Submissions at Total-e-Bound

Call for submissions for the "Over the Moon Anthology".
Total-e-bound is a British publisher of erotic romance. At this time we are putting together an anthology of six stories with a paranormal element. If you are currently working on a story you think might be suitable, send your submission directly to me at janice@total-e-bound.com . I'll be editing this anthology. If you have trouble with this email address, you can use my novelsisterhood one -- elyssalynne@gmail.com

Over the Moon – paranormal anthology Guidelines:

• 15K to 20K word count per short story/novella
• Paranormal - Werewolves, MF or MFM only
• Heat Rating: Burning/Melting (see our book rating info)
The Submission deadline is June 10th 2009 for release in November 2009. Submit the full story plus a short (1 - 2 page) synopsis.

When submitting, please enter "Paranormal Submission" in the email subject line.

If you have any questions, please email me.
Janice Bennett
Editor

Snipped from Cynthia Sterling Market News Newsletter:

Anne Sowards, Senior Editor at Roc and Ace, sent a Tweet that she is looking for Steampunk science fiction and fantasy. Romantic elements are okay, but this shouldn't be a romance. http://twitter.com/AnneSowards  (Steampunk is a sub-genre of fantasy/speculative fiction that combines historical elements of a time when steam power was prevalent -- often Victorian England -- with other technological elements.)

(Thanks for Marilyn Byerly for the heads up on this.)

Also From Cindy Myers/Cynthia Sterling Market News:

Grassroots Publishing produces several special interest magazines, including I Love Cats and Quick and Easy Crochet. The editors are soliciting contributions for a new venture, New Love Stories. They're looking for romantic stories between 3000 and 5000 words in any sub-genre -- contemporary, historical, inspirational or paranormal. From their guidelines: "While we will accept any story having to do with love and romance, we are currently seeking stories with some sexuality incorporated into the plot to stimulate interest and allow the reader to live vicariously. However, stories should not be overtly graphic or pornographic in nature. Suggestive phrases should be used in the place of reference to body parts and inappropriate language. " Payment is $300 on publication. For all the details, go to http://grassrootsmag.com/submissions.html

From Cynthia Sterling Market Newsletter. Anyone can sign up for the newsletter by sending a blank email to CynthiaSterling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Harlequin to Launch A YA/Teen Imprint/Line

Harlequin Teen will publish novels in several genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. The program will kick off with three urban fantasy novels: My Soul to Take, which launches in August; Gena Showalter’s Intertwined in September; and a reprint of a 2004 Harlequin Luna novel by P.C. Cast called Elphame’s Choice in October. Print runs have not yet been determined. Going forward, Wilson says she is currently planning 17 books for 2010, and 18 to 20 books for 2011.

Go here (The Quill & Quire) http://www.quillandquire.com/google/article.cfm?article_id=10742 to read more.

Call For Submissions For Cactus Rose Line At Wild Rose Press

*Snipped from the Cactus Rose Blog*

The Cactus Rose Line at Wild Rose Press is looking to put together another Lawmen and Outlaws anthology. Only this time it will be Christmas themed stories to be released for Christmas 2010. The stories need to be no longer than 25,000 words with either a lawman or outlaw as the hero.

Send a synopsis to paty@thewildrosepress.com with Christmas Anthology in the subject line by November 1, 2009. We'll pick four stories and contact those authors by November 15, 2009. The completed story must be turned in by February 1, 2010.

Wild Rose Press

Cactus Rose Blog

Back In Business

Just a quick note to let you know I'm back online. If you've sent me an email and have not received a response, please resend your message, as one of two things may have happened to it. One) I've most likely missed it and/or mistakenly deleted it or two) it's one of many that has mysteriously disappeared into a black cyber hole and is floating around in cyberspace somewhere, never to be seen again. :)

Don't you just love the Internet?

Happy Writing!

My ISP Dilemma

I'm sooo frustrated with my ISP right now I could scream! I've been without Internet/email service since last week (Wednesday) and I'm literally going crazy. Not only am I without email and Internet, I have no cable or land line phone service, either, because I thought having the whole package at a lower rate was such an awesome deal. Not! Grrrrrr!

Talk about withdrawal symptoms. Thank goodness my sister lives near by so I can go to her house and use her computer to get my fix (when she's not working, that is), or I'd really be in trouble. :)

There is some good news, however. My ISP says I should hopefully be back online within the next couple of days. Woo-hoo! Talk about service!

I am so getting a new Internet/cable/phone provider.

Wish me luck!

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition

Received this yesterday and thought someone might be interested. Nice grand prize. :)

The 10th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries! We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant ... but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or less. But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2009.

The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that's $2—or more—per word). For guidelines, prizes and to enter online, click here.

Plus, the 1st- through 25th-place manuscripts will be printed in the 10th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection.

PRIZES

First Place: $3,000

Second Place: $1,500

Third Place: $500

Fourth Through Tenth Place: $100

Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer's Digest Books

* The names and story titles of the First-through Tenth-Place winners will be printed in the May/June 2010 Writer's Digest, and winners will receive the 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. Plus, all winners will receive a free copy of the 10th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection.

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition

Wicked Thorn and Roses Cover Contest Award

I didn't win the Wicked Thorn and Roses Cover Contest, but I did receive this awesome award for being a finalist.

I do love my Dangerous Desires cover. Apparently other's like it, too, as I've received quite a few compliments on it. I'm thrilled I got an award, but the award really belongs to Renee Rocco, my publisher at Lyrical Press, as she did the artwork for my cover as well as many other wonderful LPI covers.

So, Thank you, Renee, for such a great design! And thanks to everyone who voted!

Happy Writing!

Dangerous Desires Finals in Cover Contest

I received a Google Alert this morning and it seems the cover of my Historical Western Romance Novel, Dangerous Desires, finaled in the Wicked Thorns and Roses Blog Cover Contest . Woo-Hoo! I don't remember entering or sending my cover in, but there it is.

Today is the last day to vote and I'm not doing too good. I wish I'd have known about this a few days ago (darn Google alerts).

If you could pop on over and cast your vote, I'd really appreciate it. :) You can do so by going here.

Wish me luck!

~Carol

Agent Pitch Blog

Musetrackers Agent Pitch Shop

Musetrackers would like to invite you all to participate in our newest venture. 'Agent Shop'

What's 'Agent Shop'?

Well, how many of us wish we could pitch to an agent? That is, without the frills? No parties, no travel, no conference costs, no hectic schedules? Don’t get me wrong, the conferences, promos, signings and parties have their place and time, but what about in between?

Here’s what we’re going to do.

This isn’t a contest… there aren’t any winners… just a chance to put your pitch in front of agents who are interested in shopping a bit. They’ll read them and request more - IF – your pitch grabs their attention. What they request is up to them. We'll host 3 or more agents for each session and a few agents who couldn't commit mentioned stopping by from time to time.

If you're interested in pitching, visit the link below to read the rules. First date to submit is May 30th, and only the first thirty e-mails get in!

http://musetracks.wordpress.com/agent-shop

(Please feel free to forward to anyone you think may be interested, with credit given to Musetracks.wordpress.com)

One Line Pitch Contest At QueryTracker

QueryTracker is having a one line pitch contest for those of you who write in any of the genre's below.

• Young Adult Thriller
• Young Adult Horror
• Young Adult Fantasy
• Young Adult Science Fiction
• Adult Science Fiction

To enter, submit a one sentence pitch for your novel. QT recommends you read agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe's article on how to write a pitch before entering.

Read Article

Entries will be accepted Monday, May 11th (12:01 am to 11:59 pm Mountain Time). Winners will be announced May 18th on the QT Blog . Literary agent Brendan Deneen of FinePrint Literary Management will be judging.

You must be a QueryTracker member to enter the contest. Membership is free, you can register at the QT site.

Good Luck!

QueryTracker
QT Contest Page
Fine Print Literary Agency

Happy Mother's Day!