For the Guys Who Write YA

A heads up from young adult agent Kristin Nelson. Her agency's list is short on male clients who write for young adults, and they're looking for more guys to rep. So run your stuff through your critique group and shine it until it squeaks; then submit for your chance. Don't waste an engraved invitation, people.

Open-Mic Coffeehouse Next Week at St. Charles Community College

The next open-mic coffee house for St. Charles Community College will be Thursday, February 18, 2010.

One of these days I'm actually going to make it to one of these. And read something. Out loud.

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.