LaChance Publishing Seeking Stories

LaChance publishing is a non-fiction publisher that publishes books about health topics and fitness. Their "Voices Of" series of anthologies is seeking 500-3,000 word personal essays on the following topics:

Alzheimer’s Disease
Anorexia/Bulimia
Breast Cancer
Depression
Epilepsy

They are also seeking stories about dogs who've made a difference in people's lives. From the website:

MORE Good Dogs Doing Good


"Following on the success of Good Dogs Doing Good, we’re planning a second volume of uplifting, true stories of dogs that have transformed people’s lives.

What we need: True stories of literary merit that show the real, positive and transformative impact a dog has had in your life or the lives of your family or loved ones. For example, has a dog aided you through an illness or given you new insights on yourself or your life? Good Dogs Doing Good itself is the best reference. Your story should be 500-3,000 words.

What we do NOT need: Stories that focus primarily on a dog’s adorable characteristics."

There is no information listed on payment.

Mid Rivers Review Seeking Submissions

The Mid Rivers Review, the literary magazine of St. Charles Community College, is open for submissions through January 31, 2010. So if you have something you've been meaning to send out, here is a place for it.

Check out their submissions guidelines and excerpts from past journals. The poetry is quiet good. I especially like Heather Treseler's Atomic Chicken Dance. Besides poetry, they also accept short fiction, non-fiction essays, photographs, and art work.

Friday Fun: Bo's Cafe Life

Check out Bo's Cafe Life by Wayne E. Pollard, a comic strip about aspiring writer and cafe addict, Bo. Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird is one of my favorite writing books, and he's doing a series of strips about it this week. So if you're a fan like I am, check them out.

This one about query letters made me grin.

Middle Grade Books Giveaway

Margo Dill's blog, Read These Books and Use Them, is giving away three middle grade books by Clara Gillow Clark. Just stop by and leave on comment on her contest blog post by 8 p.m. CST on January 21 for your chance to win.

Book Giveaway at Becky Povich's Blog

Writer Becky Povich is giving away a book this week on her blog. Just leave a comment about a book you discovered by accident that turned out to be a hidden gem. The contest deadline is Saturday, January 23 at midnight CST.

I'll be trolling it for books to read, especially series. Don't you adore it when you love the first book in a series and then find out it already has about 5 or 6 currently published. A delicious banquet then lies ahead. Ummmm.

New Market - Mom Magazine

From the editor's of Pregnancy and Hot Mom's Club comes Mom magazine.

Here's some info on the launch of this new magazine that's focused on mothers rather than just on their progeny problems. Mom magazine is here.

Round Up of Cool Blog Posts This Week

Here are some of this week's neat blog posts from the universe in which I read blogs.

Kristin Nelson's Example Novel Query Letters:
Megan Crewe's Query Letter
Gail Carrigar's Query Letter Part I
Gail Carrigar's Query Letter Part II

Donna's Book Pub - Flash Fiction Contest Info

A Peaceful Sunday Afternoon at a Teaching Life - Put one of those in my virtual shopping bag, please.

Here's hoping we all have a great weekend.

Agent Nathan Bransford's Blog Contest

Here is great brain exercise for the new year. Enter literary agent Nathan Bransford's The Secret Year Teen Diary Extravaganza. Write a diary entry a la teenage angst (not to exceed 500 words), and you may be a winner. You have until 4:00 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday January 6th.

From the website: The GRAND PRIZE ULTIMATE WINNER of the THE SECRET YEAR Teen Diary Writing Contest Extravaganza will win:


- A signed copy of THE SECRET YEAR (pending winner's proximity to the US of A)
- Their choice of a query critique, partial critique, or 10 minute phone conversation/consultation/dish session
- The pride of knowing OMG you are like the greatest writer for teens ever.

Runners up may get a critique as well.

Chase The Dream Romance Novel/Novella Contest

The annual Chase The Dream Romance Novella Contest is up and running for the new year. Romance authors Rachelle Chase and Leigh Michaels sponsor the contest and ask for the first 1000 words of your romance novel/novella.

Entries are judged weekly, some receive mini critiques, and many are reviewed by agents. You can see a complete list of rules and the Q&A on their website for more information.

It has lots of great feedback about romance writing, regardless of whether you win or not.

Good luck to everyone.