Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Poetry Corner March 2011




Rainbow Rider


By Dennis S. Martin

Wistful, waxing rainbow rider
Chasing after stormy weather
Wrangling the hope that follows,
Kissing every childhood dream.

Saddled upon colored horses,
Rising from a distant land
From horizon to horizon
Spreading joy to every corner.

Leaping color upon color
Sweet magenta fades to blue
In disappearing majesty
To find the hue of sunlight’s glow.

Sweet, the arc of your bright bow
Quickly fades from mortal view.
Happiness is in your mount
Touching hearts in your brief time.

Until Tomorrow is Today

By Dennis S Martin

Each reality of today
Was someone’s dream of yesterday.
Perhaps unknown,
Unfelt,
Unseen,
A feathered angel lost in sleep.
Stealth shadows from another world
That slowly seep into the mind
And brighten with the daylight’s touch
Until tomorrow is today
And we can see her rosy cheeks,
Feel her warming gentle touch,
Hold the hope that she inspires
And taste the nectar
In her kiss.


I Dreamed an Angel

By Dennis S Martin

Some believe,

Some deny,
Some have reservations
Having never touched or even seen
And wouldn’t even recognize
The flow,
The glow,
The haunting brilliance
Dancing in her eyes.
But I believe,
Can conceive
The sweet soft features in her face
As she appears,
Consoles my fears
And disappears without a trace.




Whose Dream Is This?

by Dennis S. Martin

I won’t hear of world unrest today,

Even though I know that it exists.
Can’t let anger penetrate
The wall that I have built,
Nothing to disturb this restful bliss.

I’ll be turning off the evening news before it starts.
Nothing there but torment and unrest.
Nothing of the goodness
And the healing that I crave,
Puts my patient nurturing to test.

Don’t think for a moment I am callous,
Hardened and unfeeling to the plight.
Quite contrary. I have hope for all humanity.
I just don’t want to think of it
Or dwell on it tonight.

Give me just one moment of good graces.
Give me peace to close a hectic day.
Let serenity flood every corner of my mind.

Really,
Whose dream is this anyway?
Website: http://www.iwritesome.com/
Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Plays: http://sites.google.com/site/playsbydennissmartin/





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Friday, March 18, 2011

Using PR and Social Media

By Vonnie Faroqui
Obtaining coverage in media publications (TV, radio, podcasts, online video, newspapers, magazines, online news sites, blogs, etc.) is every author's goal for spread the word about their book. PR coverage is free, third-party validation, which often results in more credibility for you and your book. So how does one secure coverage in these publications and media, and how can social media help?

If you have been reluctant to launch yourself into the Tweet-o-sphere, here is another reason to get yourself out there.

Social media is not just a way for you to spread the word about your activities or book release. It is a way to connect with what the social media gurus call "influencers."

An influencer: is someone who is connected with and able to influence the public through the media, such as a journalist, reporter or blogger.

Many journalists, reporters, and bloggers make themselves available on Twitter. Oh, it's true, I promise, and using Twitter is a great way to introduce yourself to them.

First you have to find them and one way to do this is to look for influential blogs (use blog search engines like Technorati), subscribe to them, and start following their authors on Twitter. Another way is to start following journalists who target our industry. Then start tweeting with them, but don't oversell yourself or your book. Get to know their work and site themes first and make sure that you have something to offer them before making your approach. Develop relationships by tweeting about an article of theirs that you enjoyed or by asking a question. (You can also use the comment section on a blog in much the same way.)

The web and social media give access to a whole slew of influencers with which you can easily interact and develop relationships. Building relationships and networking through social media connects you with these influencers who have the ability to place stories about you and your book in front of the reading public.
Vonnie Faroqui is WITS’s marketing assistant in charge of helping authors with online book promotion such as arranging virtual book tours and writing book reviews, author bios, media kits, and sell sheets. She also provides project management for online book publicity campaigns and virtual blog tours. As the WITS Podcast coordinator, Vonnie schedules guests interviews for our writing show, creates promotional pieces to feature authors on our blog, writes articles and media releases, and serves as one of our podcast hosts.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Book with a View March 2011

In an age when everything is whitewashed for political correctness or proclaimed as abusive then psychoanalyzed sagely by folk of privilege, Evidence of Insanity is an unapologetic, knock-down-drag-out hilarious romp through the author, Carol Piner’s, memory of life in Morehead, Carteret County, North Carolina and beyond. She begins by setting the scene of those early years in Morehead by sharing that, “Talk . . . was our biggest industry . . . Low down, dirty, mean mouth kind of talking. Of course, it was all true, but let’s forget that for a moment and move on.” Piner isn’t shy about spinning the yarn of her life, boldly exposing herself, her neighbors, family and relationships for their inglorious humanity. She does so by washing laughter over all, as she out-truths the gossip mongers in this “tell all” book.

Piner describes her early self best when she writes “Think of me as a small Scarlet O’Hara. A grimy at all times Scarlet, but her nonetheless.” An apt description as time and again she faces the cruelties of life with stubborn determination and tenacity but above all else, humor. Evenhanded but merciless in her commentary, she holds nothing back when it comes to self analysis or her assessment of people and circumstances.
Evidence of Insanity, reveals as much about the strength and courage, pride and perseverance to be found in womankind as it does about Piner’s life. If you have painful memories of childhood or traumas that you just can’t seem to let go of, an hour reading Evidence of Insanity will slap the self pity right out of you, and leave you humbled but ready to go on living, a little freer for the reality check.

The colorful goings-on related in the pages of her memoirs paint, with all the soul and rich southern flavor a body could desire, one of the best depictions of rural life America that I have ever read.  Evidence of Insanity is surely aptly named. Fried Green Tomatoes and the Ya-Ya Sisterhood have nothing on the Yee-HAs of Carteret County.

Book Title: Living the Difference: an enlightening story revealed for people of all ages straight or gay
Author: J.C. Knudson
ISBN-10: 0578062712
ISBN-13: 978-0578062716
Publisher:    Espresso House Publishing & Distribution, LLC (August 25, 2010) Link to purchase:  http://amzn.to/hyQvOn
Reviewer:
Vonnie Faroqui

Inside Living the Difference

J.C. Knudson has done what few other people have dared to do. He has written a book detailing the story of his life. I know tons of people write about their lives –too many to count and within every life is a story or lesson worth finding. What makes this book noteworthy is that J.C. has written with the intent of revealing his earliest memories of same sex attraction. His book details his early sexual development and goes on to outline the events of his life as affected and shaped by his sexual orientation. In writing, he has avoided much of the self pity or self aggrandizement that often characterize biographies, instead choosing to relate his story in a way that allows others to form their own opinions –to reject or to embrace the message he has to share.  The resulting book is remarkably under-sensationalized.

J.C. doesn’t try to convince you of what being gay is or is not. He believes that being gay is as natural as being straight and so he doesn’t waste time defending that position. He simply and neatly opens the doors and lets you look inside his life. He is respectful. He doesn’t impose on the reader or force intimacy. His story explores the wasted moments and the misery created through self denial and ignorance, showing clearly that living a lie leads to a life full of regret and self judgment. By embracing himself and his natural desires J.C. opened himself and his life for self respect, for true loving, lasting relationships, and to mutual appreciation.   He shares his confusion and desires without being explicit, and in so doing makes it possible for others to learn from his life, offering as much in the way of comfort and hope as he does to dispel fear and ignorance.
Living the Difference reveals in its pages a man with high standards, ethics, dedication, love, and loyalty. The life he has led could easily be any of our lives, at the best and worst of times and yet the difference is there, imposed by the perceptions and culture around him.  What did Living the Difference reveal to me?  It revealed a human story of triumph and humility that offers hope and a measure of normalcy to counter the misperception of irresponsibility and flamboyant decadency which veils the “gay life.”

There is much in this book that may be helpful in dispelling prejudice and fear about gay men in particular. However, the most benefit will be gained by those who will read between the lines and notice that J.C. is no different in his humanity than they are. I recommend this book for those who are struggling to suppress homosexual attractions or who are in confusion about their sexual orientation. This book will be especially helpful to those men who like J.C. have lived or are living double lives.  Many gay men would like to embrace themselves but are afraid that doing so will remove them from having full lives; from the possibility of finding happiness, meaningful relationship, success, and achievement.  J.C.’s story reveals that being gay does not condemn anyone to an empty or frivolous life, devoid of relationship, and doomed to rejection. If nothing else J.C’s story offers hope to those who otherwise might have only the fear and self loathing. The real difference between gay and straight life comes from having the sanction to love fully by embracing one’s self. Living well being the only choice one has to make.




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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Get 40 gifts celebrate a new Hay House book by Dr Roy Martina today

Today (Tuesday, March 15) is the big launch day of the new English translation of the bestselling book Emotional Balance: the path to inner peace and harmony by Dr Roy Martina. Listen to an interview with Dr. Martina and Yvonne Perry on We Are One in Spirit Podcast

Roy Martina is a holistic medical doctor with over 30 years experience helping people tap into their true selves and "cure the incurable" by understanding the connection between emotional balance and dis-ease. He is the author of over 40 books in Dutch and other languages. He has spent the last 25 years studying acupuncture and numerous holistic techniques in order to offer people a profound level of healing, and he has been tireless in his pursuit of methods that work swiftly and effectively to aid the healing process. This work has put him at the leading edge of the holistic and self-help world. A long-time bestseller in Dutch and other languages, a new English translation of the book has just been released through Hay House Publishers, and is coming to Amazon US on March 15th. You can buy the book and receive a complete library of free gifts at http://emotionalbalance.com/book.html
 
Emotional Balance is the result of years of empirical research. Dr Martina conducted to discover why some people heal from illness and chronic conditions while others do not, in spite of having received the best holistic medical treatments he could offer them. As he embarked on a journey to unravel the secrets of the subconscious mind and how we sabotage ourselves, he says he discovered that our unresolved emotions and conflicts in the first seven years of our lives create deeply-rooted behavioral patterns and negative beliefs that cause us to sabotage ourselves, and that these can lead to long-term patterns of rocky relationships, financial hardship and, of course, ill health.

The end product of those years of experience and research is a method Roy developed called "Emotional Balance." Roy explains, "Emotional Balance is a technique that allows us to return to what I call the 'Still Point'. The Still Point is that place within us where we are in our power and are no longer governed by our egos or our past." Roy's book, Emotional Balance: the path to inner peace and harmony, represents a culmination of his years of research, holistic practice and teaching, and is a substantial, comprehensive manual that teaches us how to deal with our self sabotaging mechanisms and return to our still point rapidly and easily when life knocks us off balance.

I am delighted to be joining Roy in celebrating the big launch of his book. You can receive over 40 free personal development gifts when you buy the book during the launch, including one from me: The first chapter of my new book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You.

Also, as a special gift to everyone who buys the book during the launch celebration, Dr Martina will be delivering a fr*ee 2-Day course on how to use the book (to be delivered in April over the Internet), which will include time for people to ask questions directly to Roy. He is doing this because he doesn't want his book to be just another self-help book that ends up sitting on your bookshelf. He wishes everyone who buys Emotional Balance to understand how to use the tools in the book, and feel supported as they start to apply these techniques in their lives. You can buy the book and get these gifts including the free classes from Dr Roy Martina Tuesday March 15th at http://emotionalbalance.com/book.html
 
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Friday, March 11, 2011

Nashville Writing Event

Author and Metaphysical Life Coach Carol S. Batey will be holding a workshop titled "Unleashing Yourself to Write Books" at The Center of Symmetry on Saturday, March 12.

Unleashing Yourself to Write Books 
Sat, Mar 12
11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The Center of Symmetry, Nashville, TN, US
Cost is $15.

See http://events.linkedin.com/Unleashing-Yourself-Write-Books/pub/587922 for details.

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Musings from the Edge of Freelancia

By Dana Micheli
When Yvonne Perry asked me to join the Writers in the Sky team, I was thrilled. As a freelance writer and editor, anything that leads to more work is, of course, always welcome. But as the days went on, I realized that what I was feeling was not just about ambition; it was about being part of a community, something I hadn’t experienced in some time.

The world was a different place when I decided to leave my job in the summer of 2008. The housing market had not yet imploded, Lehman Brothers was open for business, and no one had heard of Justin Bieber. My world was also different. I had a full-time job at a non-profit, a circle of close friends who I’d known since moving to New York, and I had never been on Facebook. Each day I dragged myself to work, unable to shake the feeling that I was supposed to be doing something else. Each week had two highlights: the new episode of Mad Men, and the novel I was editing “on the side.”

Then, one day, “on the side” was no longer good enough. For years I had flirted with the idea of a full-time writing career, and I decided to seize the moment while I had the courage. I gave my notice at work and set to building my freelance business. This began two of the most transformative years of my life—not only professionally, but personally as well. They have forced me to reevaluate my priorities and my relationships as well.

I am blessed with a wonderful family, so perhaps I took that kind of unconditional support for granted. For when I left my job, some of my friends were anything but supportive. Suddenly I was an irresponsible dreamer, and when was I going to get a “real job,” anyway? It wouldn’t have done me any good to tell them I was working harder than ever, and loving every minute of it. So I stopped trying to explain myself and started seeking out folks who needed no explanation.

Writing is a solitary business, and I am just fine with that. But it’s also good to know that there are others out there too. Doing their thing—alone, yet somehow together.

Dana Micheli is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader and journalist. She has written and edited works of fiction and nonfiction, including novels (ghostwritten), news articles, resumes, business plans, and restaurant reviews. She also researched and wrote the legal and housing sections of New York: The Complete Resident’s Guide (Explorer Publishing). Dana has a B.A. in English from Southern Connecticut University and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. She lives in New York City.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Yvonne Perry's Virtual Book Tour - Week 1

Things are going quite well on my virtual tour for Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You. Traveling with a touring author is a great way to glean ideas about how to set up a tour and what items to include on your own online book tour. I hope you will join me and spread the word to other authors and readers. Feel free to leave a comment or ask questions at any of the stops.

Here is a list of the places I have been on my virtual tour so far:

To learn where we are going this coming week and what items will be featured, see http://tinyurl.com/empathtour.

 If you haven't gotten your copy of my book yet, now is a great time to do so while I have copies on hand to sign for you or your loved one. Go to http://tinyurl.com/EmpathAmazon and look for writersinthesky's storefront.

PURCHASE the paperback book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings,and Energy of Those Around You, on Amazon.com or CreateSpace.com.


The e-book version is available on Amazon.com for Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and other digital reading devices.

If you do not have a reader but would like the digital version of this book, it is available through PayPal. Click the Buy Now button (below) and add the PDF version it to your cart. You will then log in to your PayPal account and receive instructions for downloading the e-book to your computer.



Yvonne Perry,
Author of Whose Stuff Is This?
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Editor's Corner March 2011

Author promotions coach Lynn Serafinn (http://spiritauthorscoach.com/) and I have networked together on several campaigns for prominent authors bringing books to the market through Amazon launches. I am thankful for her friendship and the role model she provides as a book marketer and spiritual mentor. Lynn interviewed Dr. Caron Goode and me on Garden of the Soul Radio Show in a discussion about how we pick up unwanted energy from people we love as well as from those we don’t even know. I complied when Lynn asked me to lead her listeners in a meditation to ground and center our energy as a way to raise our personal vibration. This demonstration inspired me to create more audios to help energy-sensitive people clear the energy fields and balance their chakras. The first audio is complete and you may listen to it here: http://tinyurl.com/48sn75p

Through Lynn, I’m involved in the Amazon book launch for Hay House author Dr. Roy Martina (http://emotionalbalance.com/book-launch/pre-launch.html). I’m giving 25 sample pages of my new book as a bonus gift to those who buy Roy’s book, Emotional Balance: the path to inner peace and harmony, on March 15. His book reveals a new way to deal with our self-sabotaging mechanisms, and teaches us how to return to our still point rapidly and easily when life knocks us off balance. This networking effort has not only given me exposure to literally thousands of people I would never have reached, it also put me in direct connection with another Hay House author, Dr. Eric Pearle, the legendary author of The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself. Dr. Pearle will be my guest on We Are One in Spirit Podcast April 28.

You are cordially invited to caravan as part of a virtual tour for my new book, Whose Stuff Is This? ~ Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You. From audios to articles, there’s something for everyone! Here is the tour schedule.

Sunday, February 27 Michael David Lawrience interviews Yvonne Perry who shares methods to help highly-sensitive people shield themselves from detrimental energy http://www.emotionalhealthtips.com/

Monday, February 28 - The Shift Guru Barbara Joye will host an article by Yvonne titled "5 Steps for Developing your Intuition" http://shiftguru.wordpress.com/.

Tuesday, March 1 - Joanne Sprott will host Yvonne on Beyond Words Radio Show at Believe in the Moment radio http://www.believeinthemoment.com/bitm-radio.html.

Wednesday, March 2 - Carol Denbow will share an article titled “Why Yvonne wrote the book” on her blog, A Book Inside http://abookinside.blogspot.com/.

Thursday, March 3- @positivepresent Dani will post an article: "Psychology of Empathy" on her blog, Positively Present http://www.positivelypresent.com/.

Friday, March 4 - Irene Conlan @ieconlan has an article: "Setting Boundaries with People" to share on The Self Improvement Blog.

Saturday, March 5 - Shelagh Jones will be hosting an audio interview with Yvonne for her Spiritus blog.

Sunday, March 6 - Penny Ehrenkranz shares an article: "How Yvonne Published the Book" on One Writer's Journey http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 7 - Doreen Pendgracs will be sharing an article from Yvonne titled: "Why I Chose to Self-publish My Book About Empathic Overload." See http://doreenisthewizardofwords.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 8 - Nickolove Lovemore Skyline Coaching Blog http://www.skylinecoachingblog.com/ has a video clip, an excerpt from the book, an article “Clearing Your Energy Field,” and a book review.

Wednesday, March 9 - Callie Carling shares a video, book review, and article on her blog, Empowered Healer http://www.empoweredhealer.co.uk/

Thursday, March 10 - Irene Conlan hosts Yvonne on The Self Improvement Radio Show.

Friday, March 11 - Dr. Caron Goode shares an interview with Yvonne & a video on the Academy for Coaching Parents International http://academyforcoachingparents.com/blog/

Saturday, March 12 - Dr. Caron Goode will be joining Shelagh Jones for an audio interview about the psychology of empathy. See Spiritus blog.

Monday, March 14 - Soulmate Coach Crystal shares an article about detaching politely http://www.soulmatecoachcrystal.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 15 - Lisa Jackson shares her question & answer interview on Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 16 - Pat Bertram has an article, “ Stories from an Empath,” on Dragon My Feet: http://dragonmyfeet.wordpress.com/

Thursday, March 17 has two stops: Elizabeth Bennett will post an article: “Empathy in Children and Teens” on http://www.peerabuse.blogspot.com/ AND Barbara Techel shares a YouTube video on Joyful Paws http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com/

Friday, March 18 - Barbara Joye will share her interview with Yvonne on her Creative Cafe Radio Show: www.blogtalkradio.com/shiftguru.

Monday, March 21 - Reno Lovison Marketing Communications Services presents an article “Authors Must Learn to Sell What They Write” on his Business Card to Business Blog: http://businesscardtobusiness.com/blog.

Tuesday, March 22 - Anne Lyken-Garner has a media release on http://www.abloggersbooks.com/

Wednesday, March 23 - Dr. Caron Goode presents a book excerpt and press release on her blog, Kids Who See Ghosts http://kidswhoseeghosts.com/blog/.

Thursday, March 24 - Faith Ranoli interviews Yvonne on Heart and Home Radio Show http://healthylife.net/RadioShow/archiveHH.htm

Friday, March 25 - Vonnie Faroqui has an article on Ink Slinger's Whimsey blog http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 28 - Dr. Caron Goode shares a book excerpt on Raising Intuitive Children blog http://raisingintuitivechildren.com/blog/.



Yvonne Perry, Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com/
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Monday, March 7, 2011

List of Writing Contests

Mike Turner, director of The Nashville Writers Meetup Group sent me the following information about writing contests. I’ve never participated in any of these, so I can’t vouch for them. Anyway, I’m posting it here in case any of these interest you. Let us know if you win and we’ll post your award announcement here on our blog.

Good luck to all who enter! 

Yvonne Perry

CONTESTS (Fiction)

*WABASH PRIZE FOR FICTION
Deadline: March 8 Reading fee: $10.  Short Fiction. Length: 10,000 words max. Prize: $1000, publication. Sponsor: The Sycamore Review, Department of English, 500 Oval Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Details at http://sycamorereview.com/contest

*CNW WRITING COMPETITION
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $5/ $10, members/ non-members for entries of 3,000 words or less. $10/ $20, members/ non-members. Prize: $100/75/50. Fiction. Sponsor Writers-Editors Network, P.O. Box A, North Stratford, New Hampshire 03590-0167. Details at http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm

*TOBIAS WOLFF AWARD FOR FICTION
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $18 for first story, $10 each additional prose piece. 8,000 word max. Prize: $1000. Short fiction, creative nonfiction. Sponsor: Bellingham Review, Mail Stop 9053, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225. Details: http://www.wwu.edu/bhreview/contests.shtml

*WESTMORELAND ARTS & HERITAGE FESTIVAL SHORT STORY CONTEST
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $10 for one story. 4,000 words max.  Prize: $125/100/75. Short fiction. Application needed. Sponsor: Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, Short Story Contest,  252 Twin Lakes Road, Latrobe, PA 15650. Details:
http://www.artsandheritage.com/poetry-short-stories.htm


*PRAIRIE SCHOONER PRIZE BOOK SERIES: SHORT FICTION
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $25 per entry. Collection of Short Fiction. Prize: $3000. Manuscript at least 150 pages long. Sponsor: University of Nebraska Press, 201 Andrews Hall, PO Box 880334, Lincoln, NE 68588-0334. http://prairieschooner.unl.edu/prizes/index.html#Anchor-GUIDELINES-5055

*THE PINCH LITERARY AWARD IN FICTION
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $20 for first, $10 for each additional. 5000 words or less. Prize: $1500. Sponsor: Fiction Contest, The Pinch, Department of English, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-6176. Details: http://www.thepinchjournal.com/

*SO TO SPEAK ANNUAL FICTION CONTEST
Deadline: March 15 Reading fee: $15.  Short Fiction. Length: 4,500 words max. Prize: $500, publication. Sponsor: So To Speak, George Mason University, MSN 2C5, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA  22030. Details:
http://www.gmu.edu/org/sts/contests.htm


*ARTS & LETTERS PRIZE IN FICTION
Deadline: March 15 Reading fee: $15 (includes subscription). Short Fiction. Length: 25 pages maximum. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Sponsor: Arts & Letters Prizes, Campus Box 89, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA  http://al.gcsu.edu/prizes.php

*GLASS WOMAN PRIZE
Deadline: March 21 Reading fee: FREE. Short Fiction. Length: 5000 words  maximum. Prize: $500. Sponsor: Beate Sigriddaughter, 333 East 16th Avenue, #517, Denver, Colorado 80203. http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm

*GEMINI MAGAZINE SHORT STORY CONTEST
Deadline: March 31 Reading fee: $4. Short Fiction. Length: no restrictions. Prize: $1000/$100. Sponsor: Gemini Magazine, P.O. Box 1485, Onset, Massachusetts 02558.  http://www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html

*GLIMMER TRAIN PRESS FICTION OPEN.
Deadline: March 31 Reading fee: $20. Short story. Length: 20,000 word maximum. Online submission preferred. Prize: $2000 and publication, $1000, $600. http://www.glimmertrain.com/fictionopen.html

*TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID SHORT STORY CONTEST
Deadline: March 31. Reading fee: $15. Prizes: 1200/800/400.  Short Story/essay/prose. Length: up to 5000 words. Prize: $3,000. Sponsor:  Winning Writers, Attn: Tom Howard Short Story Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Details: http://www.winningwriters.com/tomstory

*BEVEL SUMMERS PRIZE FOR SHORT STORY
Deadline:  March 31. Reading fee: free. Prize: $250. Short stories up to 1,000 words. Sponsor: Bevel Summers/Shenandoah, Mattingly House, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450-0303. Details: http://www.wlu.edu/x32988.xml

*DIAGRAM CHAPBOOK CONTEST
Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: $16. Prize: $1000. Length: 18-44 pages. Prose, Poetry, or a combination. Sponsor: New Michigan Press, 648 Crescent NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. Details: http://thediagram.com/contest.html

*PATERSON FICTION PRIZE
Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: None. Novel or short story collection published in 2010. Prize: $1000. Sponsor:  Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, One College Boulevard, Paterson, New Jersey 07505-1179. Details: http://www.pccc.edu/home/cultural-affairs/poetry-center/prizes

 
*THURBER PRIZE FOR AMERICAN HUMOR Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: $65. Prizes: $5000.  Published prose book. Sponsor Thurber House 77 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215 http://www.thurberhouse.org/program/adlt_prize.html

 
*TIFERET WRITING CONTEST Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: $20. Short Ficiton. Prize: $500. Sponsor: Tiferet: A Journal of Spiritual Literature, 211 Dryden Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924-1108.  Details: http://www.tiferetjournal.com

*CONTESTS (Poetry)*

*49TH PARALLEL POETRY AWARD
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $18 for first set of 3 poems, $10 each additional entry. Prize: $1000. Sponsor: Bellingham Review, Mail Stop 9053, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225. Details: http://www.wwu.edu/bhreview/contests.shtml

*CAMPBELL CORNER POETRY PRIZE
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $25. Prize: $3000. 20 pages of poetry. Sponsor: The Language Exchange, Campbell Corner Poetry Prize, Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way, Bronxville, NY 10708-5999.
http://pages.slc.edu/~eraymond/ccorner/pcontest/submit.html

 
*CNW WRITING COMPETITION Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $3 per poem (CNW members), $5 (non-members). Prize: $100/75/50. Ind. Poems. Sponsor: Writers-Editors Network, P.O. Box A, North Stratford, New Hampshire 03590-0167. http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm

 
*ARTS & LETTERS PRIZES Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $15. Prize: $1,000. Ind. Poems. Sponsor: Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 89, Milledgeville, GA 31061. Details: http://al.gcsu.edu/prizes.php

 
*WESTMORELAND ARTS & HERITAGE FESTIVAL POETRY CONTEST Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $10 for 2 poems. Prize: $125/100/75.Poetry. Application needed. Sponsor: Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, Short Story Contest,  252 Twin Lakes Road, Latrobe, PA 15650. Details: http://www.artsandheritage.com/poetry-short-stories.htm

 
*PRAIRIE SCHOONER PRIZE BOOK SERIES: POETRY Deadline: March 16. Reading fee: $25 per entry. Collection of Poetry. Prize: $3000. Manuscript at least 50 pages long. Sponsor: University of Nebraska Press, 201 Andrews Hall, PO Box 880334, Lincoln, NE 68588-0334. http://prairieschooner.unl.edu/prizes/index.html#Anchor-GUIDELINES-5055

*ROBINSON JEFFERS TOR HOUSE PRIZE FOR POETRY
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $10 for 1-3 poems, $15 for 3-6, $2.50 each addt’l. Ind. Poems. Prize: $1000. Sponsor: Tor House Foundation P.O. Box 223240 Carmel, California 93922. Details: http://www.torhouse.org/prize.htm

*NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE POETRY SOCIETIES AWARDS
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: Multiple contests, multiple fees, (too numerous to list here -see website). Prize: $25-1500 depending on contest. Ind. Poems. Sponsor: National Federation of State Poetry Societies http://www.nfsps.com/poetry_contests1.htm

 
*THE PINCH WRITING AWARDS IN POETRY Deadline: March 15 Reading fee: $20. Individual Poems. 1-3 poems. Prize: $1,000. Sponsor: The Pinch, Department of English, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152. Details: http://www.thepinchjournal.com

 
*SLOPE EDITIONS: ANNUAL BOOK PRIZE Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $20 per entry. Prize: $1000. Manuscript (40-90 pages). Sponsor: Slope Editions, Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214. http://www.slopeeditions.org/index.cfm?p=p.24&title=Book+Prize

 
*THE SOUTH CAROLINA REVIEW POETRY CONTEST Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $20 for 1-4 poems. Prize: $500/100/50 and publication. Sponsor: The South Carolina Review, 611 Strode Tower, Box 340522, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0522. http://www.clemson.edu/caah/cedp/cudp/scr/poetry_contest.pdf

*DEANE RITCH LOMAX POETRY PRIZE
Deadline: March 15. Reading fee: $5 per poem (CWC members), $10 (non-members). 50 lines max. To become a member, attach $30 check (payable to Charlotte Writers Club) to entry. Prize: $100/50/25. Ind. poems. Sponsor: Charlotte
Writers Club, Poetry Prize, 616 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203. 
http://www.charlottewritersclub.org/Deane%20Ritch%20Lomas%20Poetry%20Prize.htm

 
*ANTIVENOM POETRY AWARD Deadline:  March 31. Reading fee: $25. Prize: $1000. Manuscript. Sponsor: Elixir Press, P.O. Box 27029, Denver, CO 80227. Details: http://www.elixirpress.com/guidelines.html

 
*THE FOLEY POETRY CONTEST Deadline:  March 31. Reading fee: FREE. Prize: $1000 and publication. Individual poems. 30 lines max. Sponsor: America, 106 West 56th Street, New York, New York 10019-3803. Details: http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10540

 
*FOUR WAY BOOKS LEVIS POETRY PRIZE Deadline:  March 31. Reading fee: $28. Prize: $1000. Manuscript. Online submission preferred. Sponsor: Four Way Books, P.O. Box 535, Village Station, New York, New York 10014, United States. Details: http://www.fourwaybooks.com/contest.php

 
*WRITECORNER PRESS ANNUAL POETRY AWARD Deadline:  March 31. Reading fee: $5, $3 each additional. Prize: $500/$100. Individual poems. Sponsor: Writecorner Press, P.O. Box 140310, Gainesville, FL 32614. http://www.writecorner.com/poetry_guidelines.asp

 
*AGHA SHAHID ALI PRIZE IN POETRY Deadline: March 31. Reading fee: $25. Prize: $1000 . Book length 48-64 pgs. Sponsor: The University of Utah Press, c/o The Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry, J. Willard Marriott Library, Suite 5400, University of Utah, 295 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0860  http://dld.bz/QYV3
 

*DIAGRAM CHAPBOOK CONTEST Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: $16. Prize: $1000. Length: 18-44 pages. Prose, Poetry, or a combination. Sponsor: New Michigan Press, 648 Crescent
NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. http://thediagram.com/contest.html

 
*ALLEN GINSBERG POETRY AWARDS Deadline:  April 1. Reading fee: $18, includes subscription. Prize:$1000/200/100. Up to 5 individual poems. Sponsor: Passaic County Community College, The Poetry Center, One College Boulevard, Paterson, NJ 07505-1179. http://www.pccc.edu/home/cultural-affairs/poetry-center/prizes

*SATURNALIA BOOKS POETRY PRIZE
Deadline:  April 1. Reading fee: $25. Prize: $1500. Manuscript. Sponsor: Saturnalia Books, 105 Woodside Road, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003.  http://saturnaliabooks.com/?q=node/12

*WERGLE FLOMP HUMOR POETRY CONTEST
Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: FREE. Prizes:  $1500/800/400/75. Humor—Indiv. Poems, one only. Sponsor: Winning Writers, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Submit online at: http://www.winningwriters.com/wergle

*TIFERET WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: $20. Individual Poems. Prize: $500. Sponsor: Tiferet: A Journal of Spiritual Literature, 211 Dryden Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924-1108.  Details: http://www.tiferetjournal.com/

 
*INDIANA REVIEW POETRY PRIZE Deadline:  April 16. Reading fee: $15 for 3 poems, includes subscription. Prize: $1000 plus publication. Sponsor: Indiana Review, Ballantine Hall 465, 1020 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405-7103.
http://indianareview.org/general/prizes/poetprizeguidelines10.html

 
*ANNIE DILLARD AWARD FOR CREATIVE NON-FICITON Deadline: March 15. *Reading fee: $18 for first essay, $10 each additional entry. Prize: $1000. Creative nonfiction. 8,000 words max. Sponsor: Bellingham Review, Mail Stop 9053, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225. http://www.wwu.edu/bhreview/contests.shtml

 
*CNW WRITING COMPETITION Deadline: March 15. *Reading fee: $5/ $10, members/ non-members for entries of 3,000 words or less. Prize: $100/75/50. Non- Fiction. Sponsor Writers-Editors Network, P.O. Box A, North Stratford, New Hampshire 03590-0167. http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm

*ARTS & LETTERS PRIZE IN CREATIVE NONFICTION
Deadline: March 15 Reading fee: $15 (includes subscription). Essay. Length: 25 pages maximum. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Sponsor: Arts & Letters Prizes, Campus Box 89, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA  Details: http://al.gcsu.edu/prizes.php

 
*WATERMAN FUND ALPINE ESSAY CONTEST Deadline: March 15. *Reading fee: FREE. Prize: $1500 and publication, $500. Essay. Sponsor: The Waterman Fund, Box 1064, East Corinth, VT 05040-1064.
http://www.watermanfund.org/categories/essay_contest/2010_contest.php


*GLASS WOMAN PRIZE
Deadline:** March 21* Reading fee: FREE. Nonfiction. Length: 5000 words  maximum. Prize: $600. Sponsor: Beate Sigriddaughter, 333 East 16th Avenue, #517, Denver, Colorado 80203. http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm

*TIFERET WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: April 1. Reading fee: $20. Nonfiction. Prize: $500. Sponsor: Tiferet: A Journal of Spiritual Literature, 211 Dryden Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924-1108. http://www.tiferetjournal.com

Friday, March 4, 2011

The Great WITS World Spins

by Barbara Sharp Milbourn

It’s no secret that giving clients our very best work, honoring their efforts, and seeing them as the fine human beings they are builds relationships that deepen, sweeten, and branch out in time. One day you see a way to connect your clients, one to the other in mutual benefit, and you experience the thrill of the great world spinning perfectly on its axis. I’ve recently enjoyed that day.

In 2008, Yvonne and I were copyediting and proofreading for a number of authors associated with Hal Leonard, a New York publisher. One of my clients was Jeff Rona, a talented musician in Southern California who composes soundtrack music for television and film and other things (see Jeffrona.com).

Out of the blue this year, he contacted me after reading my review on Amazon of WITS’ client Cherie Burbach’s 21 Simple Things You Can Do to Help Someone with Diabetes. His mother had contracted diabetes and there were questions.

Through our e-mail exchange, Jeff shared that he was recently remarried and his wife, a PR executive, was writing a book and might need a little help. I connected directly with her and invited her to share a few pages for evaluation at no charge. She did, and now I will work with her on her completed book proposal before it goes out. (Google Kelly Seal writer and former speed dating host.)

The relationship with the Ronas continued when I asked Jeff to recommend a screenplay writer for one of my non-WITS clients whose poorly ghostwritten book I recently edited and rewrote. (Google Jimmy Eugene On the Journey Back.) Jeff referred an accomplished screenplay writer, complete with bio and list of achievements, which I forwarded to my client’s team. Yesterday I heard things were in forward motion.

As if that were not enough, long-time WITS client, author, adventure travel writer, and nature photographer Linda Ballou (see Lindaballouauthor.com) and I have maintained our author/editor relationship over the years. We began on her historical novel Wainani High Cheifess of Hawaii and met in person after a year or so of working together. We discovered we were soul sisters in our reverence for beauty and the great outdoors. We’ve since completed her Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales and continue our relationship on day-trip articles she submits regularly to the L.A. Examiner. Recently she dragged from her drawer a novel she wrote years ago for a young adult market. I have read it and we will discuss it when I travel to Southern California in March. On this trip, Linda and the Ronas will meet. Together Jeff, his wife Kelly, Linda, and I will hike Temescal Canyon.

Kelly’s book proposal will fly forth, Linda’s novel will come to fruition, Jimmy Eugene’s (Dr. Jimmy Pollard) book will become of movie, Jeff’s mother will get a handle on her diabetes, and the circle will expand and continue. I extend my special thanks to Yvonne Perry for her early vision of Writers in the Sky.

Barbara Milbourn is a Nashville-based freelance writer and Grammatika-certified editor focused on developmental and copy editing and proofreading. She is a member of Tennessee Writers Alliance, Toastmasters International, Tennessee Native Plants Society, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cheekwood, and a local book club. Barbara serves as copy editor, proofreader, or book shepherd to those needing assistance with a preparing a book to be published.