May, 2010

Pitch Purgatory

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worked on this thing, but here’s my current pitch for the upcoming Crested Butte Writer’s Conference. Any suggestions?

I’ve created a land where ghosts are guides and heroes are traitors, where Liu Jie fights to free his country from the Imperial Chancellor’s civil war, but when the Chancellor captures Jie’s brother, how can Jie choose between sacrificing his family or his country?

Giveaway at Evening Fades

To celebrate her book’s arrival, TK Richardson will give away all sorts of wonderful goodies this weekend. Make sure to check out the blog and get a pick at Return the Heart while you’re at it!

Contests, Publishing Links and Auctions of Interest

Here’s a site with lots of contests for you romance writers. Just so you know, some of the links are dysfunctional.

The magazines listed at this site are open to submissions from new or experienced fantasy writers, and offer payment for publication.

Here’s an altruistic and unique way to get writing help: bid on a writing mentor in this online auction for diabetes research. Author Brenda Novak has an auction for Diabetes every May. Her son has the disease and as of today, she has raised over $770,000 this year. Make a bid, find a mentor, help save lives.

Here are just some of the auction items:

NYTimes bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, and Mary Buckham once again offer their Extravaganza for readers and writers alike. From autographed books, to critiques, to packages for writing organizations, these ladies never let us down!

NYTimes bestselling author Susan Mallery offers a double whammy critique (one from her and one from her editor Tara Parsons of HQN) along with a book dedicated to you in 2011!

NYTimes bestselling author Susan Andersen is donating a weekend stay in her wonderful cabin in the Cascade Mountains! What a wonderful romantic or family getaway!

NYTimes bestselling author Allison Brennan is donating some of her late grandmother’s collectible porcelain dolls to the cause! Thank you, Allison!

Bestselling and Award Winning Author Anna DeStefano

One of Anna’s loves is shopping, and finding treasures at great prices—so she can share them with friends. Especially purses.

Okay, I was going to make this a blog award page, too, but that would make the post WAY too long, so I’ll put that off until later this week. Until then, zai jian!

Contests and Critiques

There are a couple of contests with COOL prizes available. The first is at the Alliterative Allomorph’s blog. Head over there as she’s posted the competition to honor her first 200 followers and the competition will close when she reaches that milestone.  Her prizes include a free critique of your first chapter, up to 20% off of an entire ms edit by a professional editior, critiques of queries or synopsis, or a gift card.

The second contest was announced at Query Tracker.net and if you’re not following them, you might want to check and see if you’re alive. (Have you recently been bitten by anyone with a thirst for blood or brains?) Seriously, follow them and get their newsletters. You won’t regret it. This is yet another “Dear Lucky Agent” contest and this time, it’s for writers of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Winners will receive an agent’s comments on their first ten pages plus a year’s subscription of Writer’s Market. WELL worth the effort.

Good luck in all your efforts!

Cover Contest Results Are In