Thought for the Month

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." - Agatha Christie - novelist

Hello Writers and Readers,

These are challenging times in which we live. It is comforting to realize that others before us have persevered and triumphed. It is the finding of a prosperity for living which is as important if not more so than our financial prosperity. In 2008, I wish you all much prosperity of life. I am grateful to have my writing as a vehicle to explore this path.

Happy New Year,

Sandra

Markets:

Literal Latte seeks submissions for their Food Verse Awards. Submission deadline: January 15, 2008. Submission guidelines:http://www.literal-latte.com/contest_new.html#fiction

WRITERS' Journal seeks submissions for their annual fiction contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.writersjournal.com/FictionContest.htm

The Chattahoochee Review seeks submissions for the annual Lamar York Prize for Nonfiction. Submission guidelines:http://www.gpc.edu/~gpccr/contests.php

Dislocate, the literary journal of the University of Minnesota, seeks submissions for its first Dislocated Poetry Contest: Poems on the theme of Dislocation. Submission guidelines:http://dislocatemagazine.blogspot.com/2007/10/exclusive-dislocate-poetry-contest_30.html

Per Contra seeks entries for their second annual fiction prize. Submission guidelines:http://www.percontra.net/8pcprize2guidelines.htm

Press 53 seeks submissions for their Open Awards Writing Contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.press53.com/Contests.html

Transitions Abroad seeks entries for its 2008 Expatriate Travel Writing Contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/expatriate_writing_contest.shtml

Mad Hatters' Review seeks entries for their INTERIOR DESIGN Contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.madhattersreview.com/contest.shtml

The Malahat Review invites entries for their 2008 Novella Prize. Submission guidelines: http://www.malahatreview.ca/novella_contest/info.html

Potomac Review announces their Annual Poetry Contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Orgs/humanities/PotomacReview/pcsubmissionguidelines.html

Fourth Genre is seeking creative nonfiction essay/memoirs for its Fourth Annual Editors' Prize. Submission guidelines:http://www.msupress.msu.edu/journals/fg/index.php?Page=prize

Passager seeks entries from writers over 50 for its Poetry Contest. Submission guidelines:http://raven.ubalt.edu/features/passager/guidelines.htm#contest

Spout Press seeks submissions for their "Story of the Year" Contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.spoutpress.org/news.html#fiction

January 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 Windshift. Please put 'manuscript critique' in the subject line.

Publishing News:

Here are notes on the recent choices of books from big non-traditional book buyers and some of the books that have become movies. If you have written a similar book perhaps you have an untapped market here.

Starbucks has chosen Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff (Houghton Mifflin, $24,9780618683352/0618683356) as the next title in its book program. The book, which Starbucks described as "a compelling true story examining addiction, trust, and renewal told by the parent of a meth addicted teenager," goes on sale at more than 6,500 Starbucks in the U.S. on February 26, 2008.

Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco's book buyer, chose Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565125605/1565125606) as her pick for December. In Costco Connection, which goes to many members of the wholesale club, she writes:

"I know I have used this space to declare my love for my dogs, but there's another animal that captured my heart from an early age. Most girls wanted a pony; I begged for an elephant. Naturally, I was drawn to Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Atonement, based on the novel by Ian McEwan and directed by Joe Wright, opened in December. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy star as
lovers whose lives are changed by a false accusation. The movie tie-in edition is available from Anchor ($14.95, 9780307387158/0307387151).

The Golden Compass, the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy, also opened in December. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig star in this adaptation of Philip Pullman's sometimes dark and philosophical
children's tale. In addition to a range of titles related to the movie, there is a tie-in edition of the book (Knopf Books for Young Readers, $11.95, 9780375842375/0375842373).

Home News:

The new year has opened a busy season of book events and new book publications. We have begun January making approaches to non-traditional and international market sources. This is always an exciting challenge and kick starts the year. We are in the process of firming up our publishng schedule for 2008.

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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