Thought for the Month

"Out of clutter, find simplicity." - Albert Einstein

Hello Writers and Readers,

Spring is late coming to the BC coast this year. We have had several recent storms that have necessitated the clearing of broken branches and ravaged garden plants. This has caused me to look at some of my recent writings and recognize where they also needed pruning.

May spring be with you this month both in your garden and in your writing.

Sandra

Markets:

The Literary Bird Journal is a biannual publication dedicated to birds and creative writing. Submission deadline: May 15, 2008. Submission guidelines: http://www.literarybirdjournal.org/home

Boulevard seeks submissions from emerging poets. Submission deadline: May 15, 2008. Submission guidelines: http://www.richardburgin.net/1boulevardpcontest.htm

Artists Embassy International's Fourteenth Annual Dancing Poetry Contest seeks submissions. Submission deadline: May 15, 2008. Submission guidelines: http://www.dancingpoetry.com/poetrycontestrules.html

Room Magazine Annual 2008 Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Non-fiction Contest seeks submissions. Submission deadline: May 15, 2008. Submission guidelines: http://www.roommagazine.com/news.html

New Letters Awards for Writers seeks submissions. Submission deadline: May 18, 2008. Submission guidelines: http://www.newletters.org/awards.asp

The Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest seeks submissions. Submission guidelines: http://www.vocabula.com/popupads/VRWritingContest.asp

The Antigonish Review seeks submissions for their 8th Annual GREAT BLUE HERON POETRY CONTEST and 4th Annual SHELDON CURRIE FICTION PRIZE. Submission guidelines: http://www.antigonishreview.com/contest.html

Carve Magazine is accepting submissions for its annual Raymond Carver Short Story Contest. Submission guidelines:http://www.carvezine.com/contest.htm

Knockout Literary Magazine announces its inaugural poetry contest. Submission guidelines: http://www.knockoutlit.org/contest.htm

The Boston Review seeks submissions for their Eleventh Annual Poetry Contest. Submission guidelines:http://bostonreview.net/about/contest/

Hunger Mountain seeks submissions for their HOWARD FRANK MOSHER SHORT FICTION PRIZE. Submission guidelines:http://www.tui.edu/hungermtn/hfm.asp

Kennesaw Review proudly announces its 2008 Flash Fiction Prize. Submission guidelines: http://www.kennesawreview.org/artman2/publish/contests/Flash_Fiction_Prize_2006.php

Mid-American Review Fineline Competition seeks submissions of Prose Poems, Short Shorts, and Anything In Between. Submission guidelines: http://www.bgsu.edu/studentlife/organizations/midamericanreview/index2.html

May 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:

Starbucks's next book selection is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Harper, $23.95, 9780061537936/0061537934). Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, reports that the novel, narrated by a dog, is "an inspirational story told from such a unique perspective." The book will be published May 13.

Other Starbucks book selections in the past two years have included For One More Day by Mitch Albom, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah and Beautiful Boy by David Sheff.

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London Book Fair 2008

All book shows are not created equal and the 2008 London Book Fair, of manageable size and easily reachable via London's superb underground and bus system, is a delightful contrast to Frankfurt and BookExpo America, the book industry's other major events. But the London experience benefits from many other tangibles--namely, the UK's rich literary history and fascination with the written word; close proximity to Europe; longstanding cultural ties to the near and far East, Africa, and Austral-Asia; and good Brit sensibility--all of which serve to attract a wonderfully diverse attendee and exhibitor base.

A sad but true reality of the post-9/11 world is the fact that BookExpo America no longer appeals to a substantial portion of book industry professionals, most of whom find the poking, prodding, and patdowns of Homeland Security officials at US airports a business buzzkiller. Much of their business is being conducted at London and Frankfurt instead. All told, the unfortunate circumstance affects many hundreds if not thousands of authors, publishers, agents, printers, shippers, and booksellers.

Home News:

Despite the cold damp weather the WP office is buzzing with new books being published and new authors joining the Windshfit Press family of authors. Work has already begun on the Autumn catalogue. Summer bookfairs and events are in the calendar. Look for news of summer events in the next several newsletters.

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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