"Dream of a world where we measure character by how much we share and care, not by how much we take and consume." - Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader

Hello Writers and Readers,

Another year is drawing to a close. It is a time for seasonal celebrations with our families and a time to look towards our goals for 2009. This year seems to have been a challenging one for everyone. We are often so busy living our daily lives that we forget to reward ourselves. Take a moment to promise yourself at least one special thing in 2009.

Together with all of the staff at the Windshift Press Group I would like to wish you and your loved ones the best of the season and much prosperity in 2009.

I would like to extend a large thank you to everyone for making this newsletter a continued monthly connection to the writing and reading community for me.

Best wishes,

Sandra

Markets:

Gulf Coast seeks submissions for the First Annual Donald Barthelme Prize for Short Prose. Submission guidelines:http://gulfcoastmag.org/

The Chelsea seeks submissions of poetry & short fiction. Submission guidelines:http://www.chelseamag.org/awards/guidelines.asp

Writers Journals seeks submissions for it forthcoming poetry competition. Submission guidelines:http://www.writersjournal.com/CalendarofContests.htm

Freefall Magazine seeks submissions for non-themed poetry and fiction. Submission guidelines:http://www.freefallmagazine.ca/contest.html

The Litchfield Review seeks poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction submissions. Submission guidelines:http://www.thelitchfieldreview.com/submissions.html

Perigee Magazine seeks submissions. Submission guidelines:http://www.perigee-art.com/

Press53 sees submissions. Submission guidelines:http://www.press53.com/OpenAwards_2009.html

Southern California Review seeks submissions. Submission guidelines:http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/mpw/students/SCR_Contests.php

Wild Violet seeks poetry submissions. Submission guidelines:http://www.wildviolet.net/

Silent Voices is holding a contest for the best short story. Submission guidelines:http://www.exmachinapress.com/sv/contest.htm

PRISM international seeks submissions. Submission guidelines:http://prism.arts.ubc.ca/contests.php

The Chattahoochee Review seeks submissions. Submission guidelines:http://www.gpc.edu/~gpccr/contests.php

December discount of 25% to all newsletter subscribers

Manuscript Evaluation -Treat yourself or a writing friend/relative to a manuscript evaluation from a publishing professional. This could include advice on a short story before submitting it to publishers or an evaluation of your novel or non-fiction book. Ask for details by e-mailing info@windshift.bc.ca. Please put 'manuscript critique' in the subject line.

Publishing News

Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt announced that the Christian publishing house has laid off 54 employees, or 10% of its workforce. He explained that the cuts affect almost all departments and were necessary because of the slumping economy.

Interviews with a dozen US independent booksellers found business during Thanksgiving week ranging from surprisingly good to dismal. The runaway hit of the week, in the words of more than one bookseller, was “anything by Stephenie Meyer,” and several stores reported having trouble keeping her titles in stock.

Sales overall, however, are down. “The economic crisis hit us very hard. We could see it in September, and we’ve been severely down since then. November is a little better than September and October. It’s coming back a little bit. But I didn’t expect to be up last weekend,” Kathy Simoneaux, co-owner of Chester County Book Company in West Chester, Pa said.

“Usually we don’t make returns this time of year, but we are this year,” Simoneaux noted. “We are getting rid of some spring and summer and even some fall books that aren’t doing anything. We’re being much more aggressive this fall about returns. And reorders are conservative.”

Patrick King of The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Ariz. said Clive Cussler's Arctic Drift is selling like hot cakes, as is Gregory Maguire's Lion Among Men, and Michael Connelly's The Brass Verdict. And since The Poisoned Pen is author Diane Gabaldon’s local store and handles all of her mail orders, anything by her does well at this time of the year, King said.

Home News:

We have had a much stronger 2008 than expected. We published five new titles for a total twenty-five books across the Windshift Press Group. We have six titles in production for 2009 with more to come. We represent at least twelve titles of independent authors with further titles under consideration. Our books went to the London Book Fair in the Spring and the Frankfurt Book Fair in October and found increased interest.

Windshift Press authors did book events and tours across the country with great successes in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon. This month we are celebrating seasonal events and attending Christmas Craft Fairs.

Throughout the year, we attended a number of local and regional book events meeting a wide range of old friends and new acquaintances. We sent books to a variety of North American academic conferences and meetings.

We look forward to a terrific 2009 in our new office in Qualicum Beach. Moves are never easy and November proved exceptionally busy as we settled into our new warehouse and our new office space. Pleas make a note of our new contact details if you have not already done so.

Please note that the Windshift Press Group offices will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th at 3:00 until Monday, January 5th at 9:00 to allow for staff holidays. All urgent administrative requests will be handled and all book orders will be filled.

Note: While every effort is made to check the markets suggested in this newsletter, writers must use their own judgment when submitting their work.

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