Contest for best self-published book

Shelf Unbound Writing Competition; entry fee is $10; deadline is October 1, 2012; details HERE:

http://www.shelfmediagroup.com/pages/competition.html

Sorcerous Press seeks adult and YA manuscripts

Sorcerous Press pays royalties. They want:

• Sword and Sorcery
• Epic Fantasy
• Military Fantasy
• New Weird
• Weird Western
• Dark Fantasy
• Steampunk

For details, go HERE: http://www.sorcerouspress.com/

Pill Hill (publisher) seeking submissions for books/anthologies

Open to submissions for several books, including a family cookbook and several flash fiction anthologies; details HERE:

http://www.pillhillpress.com/open-submissions.html

Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards

deadline extended to April 30, 2012; 75+ categories; book must have been released on or before 3/11/2012; details HERE:

http://globalbookawards.com

Launch Pad contest for unpublished novelists

deadlines vary by category: historical fiction is May 10, 2012, suspense/crime/mystery/thriller is June 10, contemporary fiction/women’s fiction is July 10, middle grade, YA fiction is August 10, contemporary romance is September 10, Speculative is October 10. entry fee is $35; details HERE:

http://www.novelrocket.com/p/launch-pad-contest.html

book contest for unpublished mystery writers

Poisoned Pen Press Announces the First Annual Discover Mystery Award:

This Spring, Poisoned Pen Press will award a $1000 cash prize and publishing contract

to the winner of the inaugural Discover Mystery Award

Scottsdale, Arizona– Poisoned Pen Press announces the first annual Discover Mystery Award. A first book contest specifically for unpublished writers trying to break into the mystery genre, the Discover Mystery Award will include a $1000 cash prize, the Discover Mystery title, and a publishing contract from Poisoned Pen Press. The Discover Mystery Award is now open for submissions. Entries must be received by 11:59 PM Pacific on April 30, 2012, and the Discover Mystery Award will be presented on May 31, 2012.

Founded in 1997, Poisoned Pen Press is one of the country’s leading independent mystery book publishers.  For the first time in its history, Poisoned Pen Press is opening their submissions to previously unpublished writers through the Discover Mystery Awards Program. Writers now have the opportunity to submit their manuscripts to Poisoned Pen Press without the need for a query letter—or the worry of having a manuscript rejected outright.

Writers unpublished within the mystery genre are invited to submit their original mystery fiction manuscripts of between 60,000 and 90,000 words. A $20 entry fee applies for all submissions. For full details, eligibility requirements, and manuscript submission instructions, visit: http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/contest

Entries submitted for the Discover Mystery Award will be judged by members of the Poisoned Pen Press editorial staff, along with celebrity guest judge, Edgar® Award-winning novelist Dana Stabenow.

Jessica Tribble, Publisher at Poisoned Pen Press, stated, “At Poisoned Pen Press, we take our mission to discover mystery very seriously and pride ourselves on finding great new voices in the world of mystery fiction. We are looking for fresh, new voices and created the Discover Mystery Award as a means of giving unpublished mystery writers an open invitation to submit their manuscripts to Poisoned Pen Press. We would like to encourage writers to pull out that manuscript they’ve had hidden in their desks, dust off the keyboard, and finish that mystery, or finally do something about that novel idea that has been bouncing around in their heads. We can’t wait to see what we’ll discover.”

In addition to the grand prizes, Poisoned Pen Press will also provide support in publicizing the winning work, and sharing information with prominent booksellers. However, should no entry meet the standards of the editorial team, Poisoned Pen Press reserves the right not to declare a winner, or to offer the cash prize without publication.

Poisoned Pen Press is an independent publisher specializing in the highest quality mystery books. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Poisoned Pen Press is one of the largest publishers of hardcover mysteries in the world.  Visit the new Poisoned Pen Press author blog and Discover Mystery™ at: www.poisonedpenpress.com.

Members of the news media wishing to request additional information about the Discover Mystery Award or Poisoned Pen Press are asked to contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone – (615) 297-9875, or by email – maryglenn@maryglenn.com.

Interview about being an author/freelance writer

Jennifer Brown Banks interviewed me about my life as a writer:

http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/2012/01/q-with-author-wendy-burt.html

Need a gift for a writer?

My good friend Christina Katz has just released “The Writer’s Workout” through Writers Digest.

Put it on YOUR wish list or buy it here for the writer in your life!:

http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/the-writers-workout/?icid=swdhpss120611s1

Here’s a summary of the book:

Inspiration, stamina, power to take charge your writing life—every day.

Get the daily jolt of energy your writing life needs from The Writer’s Workout. Inside you’ll learn manageable, no-nonsense techniques for every aspect of your writing career from getting organized to connecting with your audience to relationship building.

Veteran writing coach Christina Katz draws on her knowledge from more than a decade in the business to give you tips, exercises, and insider strategies to build your skills.

• Make your writing as strong and powerful as possible.
• Pitch and sell your work at every opportunity.
• Overcome rejection to come back better than ever.
• Promote your work and build an audience.
• Learn how to balance your creative life with your daily life.

By training daily, you’ll develop skill, strength, and confidence – everything your writing career needs to grow and adapt over the long haul. The Writer’s Workout shows you how and gives you something new every day so you can build a robust, unique writing career that’s built to last.

Bonus online exclusive: Download a free motivational poster to keep you moving as your build your writing career at writersdigest.com/writers-workout.

Be sure to check out Christina’s OTHER books:

Writer Mama

http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/writer-mama

and

Get Known Before the Book Deal

http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/get-known-before-the-book-deal

$1,000 prize for book-length literary nonfiction work

150-400 pages long; deadline is Dec. 1, 2011; $25 entry fee; details HERE:

http://static.ashland.edu/riverteeth/guidelines.htm

contest for unpublished romance novelists

Enter the first chapter of your romance novel. Prizes include: publication of your book, a Mills & Boon editor for a year, an ipad and more; Details HERE:

http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/