Mid Michigan RWA Contest...A real goodie!

I know, I know. Anytime I use "Michigan" and "goodie" in the sentence, I run the risk of being run out of Columbus by an angry mob of crazy Buckeyes. But since I am one, I'm deferring the mention of the state up north to let you romance writers know about a great contest with a very near deadline.

All romance writing contests are cool but this one is super-cool: it's a final chapter contest as opposed to a first chapter contest. So if you've finished that novel, here's your chance to get a foot in the door!
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The Best Part: You can enter electronically---now, if you're ready. Visit the Mid Michigan RWA website (opens as a PDF) for all the details.

The cool stuff:

Contest Rules & Guidelines:

The Happily Ever After Contest is a last chapter contest. Enter the last chapter (and
epilogue, if applicable) up to twenty-seven pages of your manuscript, and a 1 to 3 page
judged synopsis of the entire novel, for a maximum of thirty pages. The entry must
include the final scene in its entirety. The same manuscript may not be entered in more
than one category. Choose the category that best fits your manuscript. All entries
must be uncontracted at the time of the contest entry Postmark/E-Deadline of
Saturday, November 1, 2008.

Whaddya win?

Categories & Final Round Judges:

Both an editor and an agent will judge each category. The partial list of judges is shown
below and will be updated on our website as we fill the remaining judges’ slots.

Short/Long Contemporary Series – Johanna Raisanen, Harlequin & Melissa
Jeglinski, Knight Literary Agency.

Single Title/Mainstream with Romantic Elements (young adult, women’s fiction,
etc.) – Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense – Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary Agency

Historical – Victoria Horn, Liza Dawson Associates Literary Agency

Paranormal (shape shifters, fantasy, sci-fi, time travel, etc.) – Chris Keeslar, Dorchester Publishing

Inspirational – Emily Rodmell, Steeple Hill Love Inspired

Erotica/Sensual Romance – Hilary Sares, Kensington Publishing & Laura Bradford,
Bradford Literary Agency

Excited now? Go visit the Mid-Michigan page for all the details. Good luck!!

Off to Camp...

Wow, hard to believe it's been an entire year since I was at camp, but it's true. And now it's time to go back!

I've worked with this camp for diabetic teengers since my brother (a diabetic diagnosed at age 18 mos) invited me 15 years ago, and it's truly the highlight of my summer. Just ask any of my friends from camp. I have an official countdown, and I usually start packing in June.

Camp is an amazing place full of super-wonderful-kids and staff and I am honored they keep letting me come back and help run the program. It's so fantastic to be a part of something that changes the lives of so many kids.

I'll be without the internet all week (I think I can survive), but I've lined up a blog post for you every day using Blogger's advance post option. Hope it works...lol. If not, have a productive, creative week and stop by the first week of August when life resumes again.

Oh, and I didn't forget about the contest. I'm going to keep it going during this week since I haven't had time to do anything with it. Every comment is an entry, and when I get back, I'll have Jason the Boy Genius choose one. Lots of goodies for the winner....

Til then, happy writing!

Beth

Love Tarot? Check out this contest!

I've been raving to my writing girls about an online course I'm taking which integrates tarot reading with plotting via the Hero's Journey. I was a bit wary because I have ZERO tarot experience (except for being fascinated by it), and, well, let's just say my plotting stamina has something to be desired.

The course has been an absolute godsend. I have never in my life plotted more deeply into a book than I have, and we're only halfway through (but I digress).

Key to my understanding has been the excellent teacher, Stephanie Arwen Lynch. So imagine my surprise when I found out she's going to be not only chatting on a radio show about the Tarot (she *is* the current president of the American Tarot Association), but also hosting a contest for a free reading....:) I'm posting here to get myself into the drawing (definitely check out her blog if you're even remotely interested. Really fab stuff she's got going on!). You won't be sorry....


Let's Talk Tarot & Readings

Do you want to learn more about Tarot? Want to listen in as a professional Tarot consultant gives free readings? Want to be one of the people who gets a reading? Come join Stephanie Arwen Lynch, president of the American Tarot Association and professional Tarot consultant, as she chats with authors Mandy M Roth and Michelle Pillow Wednesday July 16th from 11pm to 12 midnight EST.

And you can win a free reading by posting this notice somewhere it hasn't been posted and leaving the link here. Have to leave it there or it doesn't count.

Oooh, Goody! A Contest!

Yeah, it's been a while. I've been cruising around my favorite blogs and realized I haven't done much to reward you loyal readers (and lord knows, you need a reason to read this drivel!)

For the next three (or so) weeks, I'm gonna host a contest. Lucky for you, there's no writing to this one. Every comment you post will constitute an entry, and on July 23rd, I'll have Jason, the boy genius, pick his favorite for a nice little summer door prize. Don't start looking into vacay properties just yet--there's no cash involved. (I am a struggling writer just like you!). But I do have a nice assortment of writing toys for your pleasure, maybe a craft book or two. I'll see what I can dig up and will post that list later.

In the meantime, I'm on my way to a post about my newest (simpleminded) discovery: pens. Try not to have too much fun with that one....

Contest....Contest....Contest.....

Um, really, do I need to say more than that?

While I work on updating with today's resource and whatever else I find to post, check out the requirements for my January contest



--------------------------->>> OVER THERE!

I've gotten a handful entries thus far--you all really blow me away with the quality of your 100-word stories. I've written sentences longer than 100 words so being able to say a lot in a little bit of time is a real talent I admire.

The book up for grabs--Eric Maisel's "The Van Gogh Blues" is a very insightful read. I somehow ended up with two copies and know every writer should check it out--here's your chance for free! (not to mention Eric will be visiting us here on Saturday on his Van Gogh Blues virtual book tour...)

Get in while the gettin' is good!

What are you waiting for? Start writing....