Exciting Contest for Unpublished Romance Writers!

Hello everyone!

Thought I would share a link to the Great Beginnings Contest, which I submitted an entry to this very afternoon. Sponsored by the Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America, this is a nice opportunity for both published and unpublished writers.

For a fee of $10, writers can submit up to the first 5 pages of their novel. The categories include: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense, and Young Adult. Hurry over and check out all the details--the entry deadline is March 1st!

2011 Hillerman Mystery Short Story and Novel Competitions

Hello all! After a long holiday break (and some major procrastinating) the Paper Doll is back to scope out more writing news and information. And for this week's post, she's found some pretty cool writing contests for wannabe mystery writers.

For you short story writers, the Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest is open to submissions from now until August 15th, 2011 (this goes by snail mail, so the earlier the better). Stories must be previously unpublished, 2,500 words or less, and must be set primarily in New Mexico. There is a $20 entry fee. The winning entry gets these super cool prizes: publication in an issue of New Mexico Magazine, $1,000, and two tickets to the awards ceremony at the Tony Hillerman Writer's Weekend.

For the more ambitious among us, there is the Hillerman Mystery Novel Competition. This one requires a manuscript approximately 60, 000 words that is set primarily in the Southwestern US. The complete manuscript goes by snail mail and must be received/postmarked no later than June 1, 2011. The winning entry receives a standard publishing contract from St. Martin's Press, as well as an advance of $10,000.

Whew! Those are some hefty requirements right? But the opportunities are great for the truly serious writer. Be sure to check out the above links for the full contest guidelines and entry forms.

And if you're a mystery lover who's not familar with Tony Hillerman's critically acclaimed and award winning detective novels, be sure to check those out as well. Set in the Four Corners region of the US, these complex and often chilling stories feature Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, two members of the Navajo tribal police.

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Donna B! You've won a pdf copy of Only in Novels. I'll be emailing it to you shortly. Thanks so much to everyone who entered their name in the drawing.

Romance eBook Giveaway!

Hi everyone,

I thought it would be fun to do an eBook giveaway for the Christmas season. My story Only in Novels is an inspirational romance from White Rose Publishing. Here's a blurb:

When a simple mistake lands bookstore owner Lannie Maxwell with the wrong author for her book signing, she wonders if her tiny business is destined to fail. Instead of Ms. Modern Homemaker--an author sure to multiply the bookstore's gross revenue--Lannie finds herself stuck with D.E. Hensen, an unorthodox and infuriating adventure novelist. The dashing D.E. is determined to help Lannie rescue her struggling business, but his outlandish ideas threaten to turn her world upside down. Can the two put aside their differences to save the store...and find their own version of happily-ever-after?

If you would like to sign up for a chance to win a free pdf copy of Only in Novels, then leave a comment below. And if you also visit Writing in a Cordwood Cabin and leave a comment there, your name will be entered twice. The giveaway starts on Monday Dec 6th. You must be signed up by midnight on Thursday Dec 9th. The winning name will be drawn randomly and the winner announced on Friday Dec 10th.

Thanks much and Merry Christmas!

A Great Blog For Wannabe Authors!

I had to do a post on this fun, super helpful writing blog---Miss Snark's First Victim. The creative and clever blog runner is an aspiring authoress who writes children/young adult fiction. And she gives other wannabe writers a fantastic opportunity once every month or so: the chance to have an excerpt of their completed manuscript critiqued (and maybe even requested) by a literary agent!

Pretty cool, right? Especially if you've already been thinking of submitting your polished manuscript to the agenting world. The blog explains the process way better than I could, so head over and check it out. Good luck!

Helping Our Furry Friends

I've been meaning to post this link for awhile. It's a great way to help animals that are living in shelters---and all it takes is one simple click of the computer mouse!

Just visit the Animal Rescue Site once a day and click on the button to give free food and care (sponsors cover the cost, all you have to do is visit and click). So be sure to add the animal rescue site to your favorites list---our furry friends appreciate it!

Contest Alert!

Just a quick note on an upcoming contest for writers of inspirational romance. Rose and Crown, an imprint of Sunpenny Publishing, is now open to submissions for its exciting New Novels Competiton. This UK publisher welcomes entries from around the world and guarantees a publishing contract to first, second, and third place winners!


For the contest guidelines, submission info, and entry fee payment methods, visit the Rose and Crown Books Website. Deadline is October 31st , so hurry over and check it out!