two contest deadlines approaching

Spring is flying by so fast, be sure to make a note of the submission deadline dates if you plan on sending your work out for these two fantastic opportunities:

*****

Stephen F. Austin State University Press Fiction & Poetry Prizes
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2010
One winner and up to three finalists in each category will be published in 2011.

Stephen F. Austin State University Press invites submissions of manuscripts each year for its fiction and poetry series. We are committed to publishing diverse kinds of fiction and poetry by a diversity of writers. The only criterion is excellence.

Submission Requirements:
1. The series is open to all book-length manuscripts by a single author of at least 150 pages of fiction or 60 pages of poetry. Stories or poems previously published in periodicals or anthologies are eligible for inclusion.
2. The editor requests that faculty, staff, and current or former students refrain from submitting to the series.
3. Submissions will be accepted from January 1 through March 31, 2010. Please do not send revisions once you have sent a manuscript. Up to four manuscripts will be chosen in each category by July 31, 2010, one of which (in each category) will win the $1000 prize.

Visit the Stephen F. Austin State University Press website for complete guidelines.
http://sfapress.sfasu.edu

*****

2010 Hudson Prize – Black Lawrence Press
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2010

Black Lawrence Press is now accepting submissions for the 2010 Hudson Prize, an annual award that is given for an unpublished collection of short stories or poems. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $1,000 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication.

The entry fee for the prize is $25 and the deadline is March 31, 2010.

Visit the Black Lawrence Press website for complete guidelines.
www.blacklawrencepress.com

*****

Good luck!

Sawtooth Poetry Prize

Just a quick post from me today as I continue to unpack from my teaching trip on Whidbey Island (aka: complete writing deadlines prior to unpacking like a sane person). Hopefully by Monday life will be back to its unusual self and I can share some of the great experiences I had at the MFA residency for Northwest Institute of Literary Arts.

For now, I’m just sharing some author love and opportunity:

Call for Manuscripts

January 1, 2010 through March 1, 2010

$1,500 for a book of poems

Final Judge: Terrance Hayes

The winning volume will be published
in January 2011 by Ahsahta Press.

Full guidelines:

http://ahsahtapress.boisestate.edu/

Ahsahta Press is a member of the
Council of Literary Magazines and Presses and

conforms to the CLMP Code of Ethics.

Sign up for their monthly newsletter:

http://ahsahtapress.boisestate.edu/

2010 Omnidawn Poetry Chapbook Contest

The 2010 Omnidawn Poetry Chapbook Contest
Judged by Elizabeth Robinson
is Omnidawn Publishing's first annual
chapbook contest
open to all poets writing in English.

Prize includes $1,000,
Fall 2010 publication by Omnidawn &
100 complimentary copies of the chapbook.

The entry fee of $15 entitles you to a copy of
the winning chapbook if you send an SASE.

Submission period: 1/1/10 - 2/28/10.
Accepting both electronic
and postal submissions.

For details visit www.omnidawn.com/contest
~~~~~~~~~~~

Also Coming:
Omnidawn's 2010 Full Poetry Book Contest
for first or second books.
Judged by Rae Armantrout.
Prize includes $3,000.,
Fall 2011 publication by Omnidawn,
& 100 complimentary copies of the book.
Electronic & postalsubmission period: 3/1/10 - 6/30/10.

reading, contest, scholarship

Don’t you just love fall? For writers, there seems to be so much activity in the cozy months between flip-flops and twinkle lights. Maybe it’s that ‘back-to-school’ tradition of sharpened pencils and an eagerness to be productive. Or maybe it’s just a universal time for getting down to business. Whatever the reason, I am pleased to share a few activities of interest that just might make it to your to-do list.

First up, Marick Press has a wonderful Poetry Reading on Tues Oct 20 featuring Dawn Paul and Matthew Olzmann. This is a free event and there’s also an Open Mic for brave voices.

Matthew Olzmann is a graduate of The MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson. He has received a poetry fellowship from Kundiman, a work-study scholarship from the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference, and the Oboh Prize from Boxcar Poetry Review. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in American Poetry Journal, Atlanta Review, Margie, Salt Hill, Cranky, H_NGM_N, Minnesota Review and elsewhere. Currently, he teaches composition at Oakland Community College and is the poetry editor for The Collagist.

Dawn Paul’s short fiction has appeared in Junctures (New Zealand), The Sun Magazine, 14 Hills and The Redwood Coast Review, and online at Blithe House Quarterly, Hiss Quarterly and Storyglossia. She has created collaborative works with actors, dancers and visual artists. She was a writing resident at the Ragdale Foundation, Vermont Studio Center and the Spring Creek Project and is a graduate of the creative writing MFA program at Goddard College. She is the editor of Corvid Press, a small, independent press. She lives in Massachusetts. She will be reading from her novel The Country of Loneliness published by Marick Press.

Event Details
Ewald Branch Library in Grosse Pointe Park
15175 East Jefferson, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230
6:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

Next....

Renaissance City, an online journal backed by poet and novelist John Jeffire, is now online and accepting submissions. There is also a short fiction contest for works up to 4,000 words with a January 1 deadline. The nice part? Low contest entry fees! It’s a mere $10 for one submission, or $12 to submit two stories. Not bad. Be sure to check out the contents of the first issue and consider submitting your own creative works.

For Undergrads....
Are you a full-time college student? Then you should consider entering the 2010 Sylvia K. Burack Scholarship competition, sponsored by The Writer. It has a deadline of March 1 2010 and you must be 18 or older and a full-time undergraduate student at a university or college in the U.S. or Canada at the time of entry. The award is made in memory of Sylvia K. Burack, longtime editor-in-chief and publisher of The Writer. Burack was known for her dedication to helping writers and editors. Get more info here.

Finally, I’ve updated my own event listings on my website and added a few new readings and workshops to the mix. If you plan on attending any of my events, let me know so I know to keep my eye out for you!

It’s time to get back to writing. Have a great weekend and see you on Monday!

and the winner is…

I’m still catching up on scheduling and conducting additional author interviews for the Wednesday Q&A series. Since I know that’s a favorite amongst the blog readers, I hate to disappoint with no interview today.

The only thing I can think of to make it up to you is to give stuff away!

But... you already knew I was planning on giving away a book at the end of September, so how about I make it more interesting?

First, I’d like to announce the randomly drawn winner from the current list of blog-followers is… (drum roll, please)….. Kaitlyn Stone.

Congrats, Kaitlyn! Please email me to a) let me know if you prefer to receive my new poetry book, stains: early poems, or perhaps one of my fiction titles (The Profiler or Moving Target). Also be sure to tell me your postal address so I know where to send it!

Second, I’m happy to announce I will again be doing a random draw during the month of October. So if you’re listed as a ‘follower’ on this blog (you can click to sign up now, if you haven’t done so already), you are automatically entered into October’s draw for a signed copy of one of my books. Follow the blog, get a chance to win. It’s really that simple.

But… I’m feeling generous today, so how about….

One more chance to win! The first person to email me today will receive a signed copy of stains: early poems. Just ‘cause. Yup. In your email, let me know your postal address and I’ll get a signed copy of stains out and on its way to you immediately.

Phew. Talk about freebies. Who knows what I’ll do next? Actually, I do! Friday’s blog is coming up and I have some events and news to share with you, some new writing links and tips, and yes… I’ll be posting the updated author interview schedule shortly, so please do check back on future Wednesdays for the latest Q&As.

Thanks, and congrats to all the winners!

rolling out the well-read carpet

You may recall I mentioned August is going to be a particularly busy month for me. Rather than take my chances that I may or may not be able to commit to my thrice-weekly blog posts I am pleased to announce I have recruited some fantastic guest bloggers and interviews for the entire month. Not only does that give you a break from me (ahhhh), but you’ll also have an opportunity to meet and interact with some very cool authors.

You may have noticed Kiersten White in the comment sections before and you’ll certainly notice her now; she’ll be a guest blogger on August 10th and 17th and will also be my interview subject for the author Q&A on August 26th. Perhaps you’ll recall the Q&A with mega-talented Erica Orloff? She’s contributed a guest blog scheduled to appear August 24th. Author Jude Hardin will be guest blogging on August 28th. In addition to these guest posts, the regularly scheduled Q&As will be appearing, featuring interviews with authors Daphne Uviller, Lydia R. LeRoy-Williams, Abby McDonald, and Renee Miller-Johnston. So while I may not be here all the time, you shouldn’t notice an absence in activity this month. Plus, I’ll try my darndest to come by and check on your comments and questions, so don’t feel like you’re being left in the dark!

What the heck is keeping me so busy this month, anyways? Well, I am wrapping up some edits on my work-in-progress. I’m also knee-deep in promoting and marketing my latest book, stains: early poems, which is out now and at a really great discount at Barnes & Noble. There are a few editorial meetings I need to hit out of town in addition to meeting with some venues for future readings and signing events. Plus, I’m doing some behind-the-scenes work that is a bit consuming (but fun!), since I have recently been recruited to act as Managing Editor of Marick Press, a not-for-profit publisher of literary non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. So… it’s a busy month and I want to make sure I take care of what I need to take care of, but not let this blog gather dust. Thus, I hope you will enjoy the bounty of authors I am leaving in your care and I’ll look forward to sharing all sorts of news upon the return to my usual ‘schedule.’

Remember, while I am running around this month, I’m not that far away. So you can still feel free to email me, find me on twitter, leave comments in the blog, or find me on facebook. I’ll be sure to check in any moment I can spare. Oh, and the contest for a personally signed copy of one of my books is still on, so if you haven’t yet clicked to ‘follow this blog’ go ahead and do so now. I’ll be randomly drawing a winner from the list of followers at the end of September.

Until later… happy reading!

Q&A with author Erica Orloff

As part of the weekly author Q&A series, I am proud to present the multi-published, multi-talented Erica Orloff. I have known Erica for years and am constantly amazed at her talent, creativity, and productivity. I think she’s published something like 20 books now? At any rate, she’s prolific and generous and a gem to chat with. She’s the author of Spanish Disco, The Roofer, Mafia Chic and more… please join me in welcoming author Erica Orloff.

Hi Erica. Can you tell us about Freudian Slip?
Well . . . it's a romantic comedy about angels and demons intervening in the lives of mortals. But it's very quirky. God is a woman, Albert Einstein is an angel . . . and the hero is a raunchy, porn-obsessed radio DJ; the heroine is a woman still grieving her father's death, who has just walked in on her boyfriend cheating on her. Hilarity (hopefully) ensues.

What are some of the difficulties in writing a comedy that deals with death?
I think it's tricky because people can obviously just have a strong initial reaction to the idea of a comedy about something traditionally darker. But right from the outset of this book, readers will know it's quirky and humorous.

How will fans find Freudian Slip different from your recent titles?
It's edgy but in a much quirkier, hopeful, sweet way. It's more of a real romance in that sense. But really? It's still my sense of humor and my characters.

Tell us a bit about your journey as an author.
You know, I started out in chick lit, which is SO tough to sell these days. But I also always wrote some darker fiction. I eventually, because I have four kids, also wanted to venture into YA and middle-grade fiction just to have my own kids share in the process. I think as a writer, I've grown . . . and I still love that I wake up and get to work in my pjs all day.

What have been some of the challenges in your career as a writer? How did you overcome these?
The challenges have at times been those things you never anticipate when you sell your first book. An editor leaving and your book being somewhat orphaned. Personnel changes at publishing houses . . . imprints closing. The market changing. And then recently, the recessionary blues. But . . . I try to keep my head down and keep on writing.

What advice do you have for writers starting out?
I firmly believe in writers' groups. Solid critique partners. That has worked very well for me. I've worked as a book editor myself, and over the years have been asked to read submissions here or there. What I saw VERY CLEARLY is a lot of people think "they're ready" to submit. And they're not. Really take time to learn craft. Network. And recently, I've been thinking a lot about developing your own voice. That's tricky advice, since voice can be elusive, but I also realize now when I don't care for a piece of fiction, it's a lot of times because it's just a "meh" to me. There's nothing absolutely unique about it.

How has social media and technology enabled you to connect with readers?
I've been amazed at how much more I hear from readers now on Facebook, for example, or my blogs. That's been a lot of fun. I think it's important--my editors do, too.

What’s up next for you? What can readers look forward to?
I have the next in my middle grade fantasy series, The Magickeepers, coming out next spring. I have a YA for Penguin coming out after that (called Star-crossed). I am just pulling together proposals for new ideas now.

How can readers learn more about you and your books?
My website is the best place: http://www.ericaorloff.com/. And for writers, the blog there is a pretty active place with writers offering advice, support, and discussing writing.

Thanks, Erica! I appreciate you taking the time to talk about Freudian Slip and your latest news.

****

If you enjoyed Erica’s comments, let her know. Leave you questions and comments here, or visit her at her blog.

Also, as a special feature during the month of August, I will have a number of authors posting guest blogs here. Erica happens to be one of them, scheduled for August 24th so mark down that date, as Erica Orloff will be giver her take on “how to be a writer.”

Since this is interview day, I wanted to send out some thanks to Lorna Suzuki who recently interviewed me on her blog at Authors Den. Lorna was very generous and had some great questions for me, so be sure to check it out. Thanks, Lorna!

Don’t forget – there’s a book giveaway coming up in September. I’ll be randomly selecting a name from the group of followers listed on the right, so if you haven’t clicked to follow yet, do it now to be entered for your chance to win a signed copy of one of my titles.

And while I usually post Mon, Weds, and Fri… I’ll be posting a special piece on Thursday, so please check back in to leave your comments for a special project I’m working on. Oooh, the mystery of it all.

Until tomorrow, happy reading!

interview with author Lorna Suzuki

As promised, one of the new features of this blog will be interviews with emerging and established authors (and other industry types). To help you keep track of who’s on deck, I have added an interview schedule. If you look to the right menu panel of the blog, you’ll see a list of upcoming guest authors. Keep in mind the list is growing! From now on, we’ll have an interview every Wednesday, so be sure to visit often to see who our special guest is.

I am pleased to kick off the author Q&A series with a wonderful Canadian author who has a real knack for fantasy. Lorna Suzuki, author of the Imago series, features a strong female protagonist in her writing and it’s a delight to have her with us on this blog. Lorna was kind enough to respond to a number of questions I had regarding her fantastic Imago series. Please join me in welcoming Lorna as she shares more about her books and writing.

Lorna, can you tell us about the Imago series?
LS: There is a total of seven books in the series if you include the prequels, Imago Prophecy and Legacy. These two titles chronicle 1000 years of events leading up to Book 1: Tales From the West. Imago is set in an imaginary time and place. There is an ensemble cast of characters, but the central protagonist is Nayla Treeborn. A product of an ill-fated affair between a mortal woman and an elf, she is shunned by one race and denied by the other. To make matter worse, she steps into the male-dominated arena of warriorship to become a respected captain and a skilled assassin. And all without supernatural powers! Each adventure is quite different, but the characters remain true to their personality as they face each new situation.

What was your inspiration?
LS: Being a martial arts practitioner/instructor I was bothered by the fact women attending training seminars never thought they could really be taught to fight until they saw puny me throwing guys around. They said it was in their upbringing, culture and the books they read: Women don’t fight back; they wait to be rescued. I didn’t want my daughter reading about helpless women waiting for a hero to rescue them. I wanted her to read about women who could do the rescuing, but in a realistic way, not with magic and super powers. Please note: Imago is not a child’s fantasy. It has graphic violence and adult content, so be warned.

Will we see more Imago books?
LS: Originally, I was only going to write three books at the most, but those following Nayla’s adventures kept asking for the next adventure. Book 6: The Spell Binder will be released this October and the final installment, Book 7: The Broken Covenant will follow. Will there be a tenth book in the series? All I can say is that fans were outraged when I revealed my plans to kill off Nayla! In the end, she lives, but many fall in her place. As for more, I’ll see what the fans want.

What other writing plans do you have?
LS: I just wrote my first YA Fantasy, book one in a trilogy, but the ultimate goal? To write a historical fiction about one of Egypt’s most prominent female figures, someone I consider more powerful and fascinating than Cleopatra. It’ll require a lot of research and guesswork as those in power that succeeded her attempted to erase her from Egypt’s history. Now this would be a major feat.

Tell us about your writing routine.
LS: After I walk my daughter to school or wait until she’s in bed asleep, then I begin my work. Lately, I’ll listen to Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” first as the theme of the song primes me for immersing myself in this imaginary world where I pull the all the strings (yes, I rule Imago). Get into some comfy clothes, grab a cup of coffee, and then I get typing on my laptop until I’m too exhausted to write anymore.

You also write freelance. What appeals to you as a writer?
LS: In the last while, I’ve been writing biographies for a company called Life & Times Production. One was made into a documentary that aired on The Biography Channel, but I have a love for natural history and to write a wildlife documentary in the style of David Attenborough’s Life on Earth would be wonderful!

Tell us about what you're working on right now.
LS: Currently, I’m working on edits to my debut YA novel. Working title: The Magic Crystal, Book One of the Dream Merchant Saga. Right now, I’m considering a 3-book deal with an indie publishing house interested in this trilogy, so I’m racing to polish up the manuscript and edit it down to at least 150,000 words.

How can readers contact you?
LS: Through my official website or through my page on Authorsden.com. Also on twitter @LornaSuzuki.

****
Thanks, Lorna! I really appreciate you sharing all your great news. Best of luck with the Imago series and with the debut of your YA fiction.

Readers, remember there are more interviews to come. Next up is Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of Crazy Beautiful. From Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Crazy Beautiful will be available in September 2009. Lauren will be here on Wednesday, July 8th, so mark it in your calendar!

Why miss an author Q&A? Don’t forget to enter the contest for a signed copy of one of my books by clicking ‘follow this blog’ on the panel to the right. Plus, you'll be able to stay up to date with what's happening, what guests are coming up, book reviews and so much more.


Until next time, happy reading!

upcoming interviews, reviews, and contest

In my last post, I mentioned a few exciting things coming this way and I am pleased to announce there are some really great interviews and reviews on the horizon.

This Thursday, July 2nd, I’ll be hosting an interview with fantasy author Lorna Suzuki. She’ll be chatting about her Imago series as well as her debut YA novel. Author Melissa Senate will also be sharing news about her latest book, The Secret of Joy, in an upcoming interview. Zoe Winters, author of Kept, will also be making an appearance soon.

In addition to this, I have a few book reviews coming up including Twitterville by Shel Israel and Absolute Knowledge: Stories by Ian Randall Wilson. Check back for updates on more forthcoming reviews and interviews. If you are interested in sharing your latest release with readers of this blog, please email me for more info.

I look forward to including new features with you on this blog. One of the things I enjoy is passing along great finds I’ve come across on other blogs and in news articles. This week, I found an interesting blog post by Mike Shatzkin about how the role of an agent adapts along with the changing landscape in publishing. He raises some interesting points. Another blog by Helen Ginger talks about how writers can try to overcome roadblocks. Helen gives some great tips on making the best of a blocked situation, so if you’ve ever cornered yourself while writing, be sure to read her post.

In my own writing world, I am pleased to report having mailed out a number of submissions to periodicals this week. I feel wildly productive as of late and it’s so great to share my progress and process with readers of this blog. One thing I am excited (and slightly anxious!) about is my voluntary participation in a writing challenge. YA Edge, a highly recommended blog about writing for teens, is hosting the ‘1K-a-day’ challenge. I’ve signed on as a participant for one of my YA works-in-progress, and have thus committed myself to a month of fun, frenzy, and following others in their path to completion. Wish me luck!

Contest
Don’t forget to enter the contest! At the end of September, I’ll be randomly drawing a name from the list of those following this blog. If you haven’t yet clicked to ‘follow this blog’ do so over on the right side panel to enter for your chance to win a signed copy of one of my titles. Best of luck to all.

Be sure to come back on Thursday for my interview with Lorna Suzuki. Until then, happy reading!

e-connecting with the world

I’ve never considered myself slow to adapt to technology, but with the speed of e-evolution it’s admittedly difficult, at times, to keep up with the latest wave. As an author, I aim to keep connected to readers and industry news and discussions, but things change so quickly, a writer really has to be on her toes.

When my first book, The Profiler, was released in 2005 this wasn’t so hard. At the time – and it seems so archaic now – most of my online socializing comprised of emails, posting in online community discussions, and occasionally being a part of a chatroom discussion or IM. Now, 2005 wasn’t that long ago and using those mediums to communicate with readers and editors was a very valuable resource. Undoubtedly I met and established relationships with several great people. The times, though, they are a changing.

Since my first book debuted, there has been an avalanche of social networks that have debuted and succeeded (some more so than others) and changed the way authors interact online. Facebook opened its doors to the public sphere in 2006 and gradually authors gravitated toward that phenomenon. Now, though, a writer can interact with others through networks such as myspace, twitter, personal and industry blogs, you name it. There are a great many social networks out there and an author really has to pick and choose to truly make a connection. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with absolutely everything, all the time.

The other day I mentioned a blog post I read by author Allison Winn Scotch, who argued all the right reasons why a writer should use twitter. That was barely more than a week ago but since then I have become convinced. Over and over I hear from authors, agents, editors, and readers how great twitter is and how valuable it is to them in staying connected. After following a few tweets, as they say, I finally caved. I now have a twitter account and, my goodness, it’s brilliant.

It’s super user friendly, not time consuming (unless you want it to be), and it’s a lightning fast way to keep abreast of what’s happening in the world of books. Of course, people use twitter to chat about any number of topics but I have set myself limits to focus on book discussions, primarily. Each day, I am greeted with a number of industry news, book releases, author event announcements, and so forth and I am thus far finding it quite useful. I’ll keep you posted. Feel free to find me on twitter @ loriamay.

In addition to blogging and twittering, I try to post on online discussions about books and publishing news. Also, I’ve joined reader discussions on goodreads.com and also have a shelf over at shelfari. This allows me to keep in tune with what others are reading while talking about books and authors I love to read. These groups are a great way to learn about new titles and hot trends, and –most importantly – it’s a great way to meet and interact with others who have similar tastes.

Now, all of this is 100% more than I used to do online, going back to The Profiler days. But times change. Technology changes. And if I can’t keep up with where people meet to talk about books, I risk falling behind. It’s important for an author to have a connection with others. It doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment, but one should dress up and go to the party from time to time.

For this blog, I’m hoping to include some additional perks I hope you’ll enjoy. Occasionally, I will provide an interview with an author, agent, or other booklover. I hope that will be a nice complement to the reviews and other news I share on here. If you know of any authors, agents, editors, booksellers, or other interested parties, send them my way so we can chat about setting up a blog interview date.

By the way, this week I updated my website with new content: past interviews with authors such as Melissa Senate, Cathy Yardley, and Suzanne North. More white space was added to improve readability and I’ve increased the overall content. Check it out and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Also, I just sent out the quarterly LoriAMay.com newsletter. If you haven't yet subscribed, check the most recent one here and sign-up today for occasional e-blast.

I’m signing off with a new contest! In September I’ll be giving away a signed copy of one of my books to a randomly selected “follower” of this blog. Follow this blog by clicking on the link in the right-hand panel and you could be the lucky winner!

Don't forget to let me know how you, as an author or reader, like to stay connected online.