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23 creative works found

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• Book Cover
  by BySilent

  Well I just was notified that my second book cover has happened. A variant (different hue and tones) of Nassam...

  Well I just was notified that my second book cover has happened. A variant (different hue and tones) of Nassam has been selected to be a book cover for a book. More will follow as more details become available.

• Call for artists and authors by The Deepening.
  by DLKeur

  January 1, 2008, The Deepening is open to: Poetry, fiction, and essay submissions, limit one per author, payment, royalities based o…

  January 1, 2008, The Deepening is open to: Poetry, fiction, and essay submissions, limit one per author, payment, royalities based on sales (see below). Send us only your best. Word length limitations: 30,000 words, preferred 500 to 2000 words. Flash fiction, short-shorts, vignettes, slice-of-life, memorials, okay, but they MUST be riveting. GENRES INCLUDE ALL EXCEPT EROTICA, PORN, CHILDRENS AND YOUNG ADULT. art submissions to illustrate the accepted poems, essays, and stories, payment royalties based on sales (see below) with full bio and promotional pages dedicated to that artist. Send portfolio to us, and, if you are accepted, when we have a final list of stories, assignments will be distributed. See genre list above. art submissions by artists as stand-alone presentations. Work must be unique, visually stimulating and unerringly executed for print publication. Composites, mixed media and article presentations accepted. Payment: royalties based on sales (see below) Mixed media and collaborative projects accepted. (Authors and artists working together, author/artist are one individual, art telling a story without words…. Payment: royalties based on sales (see below) Think of this as hard-bound, book-sized “fun” and get creative! “Intrigue me. Mystify me. Enthrall me,” as our editor-in-chief is so fond of saying. I add: do that both visually and in your prose. Be BRILLIANT! Deadline for submissions is April 30, 2008. Response in July 2008. Previously published submissions, okay. Simultaneous submissions are NOT okay. Exclusive submission of your work from time of submission to response deadline is mandatory. Withdrawal of any submission will be noted for future reference. We are anticipating book release in September, 2008. The book will be listed in the Ingrams, Amazon.com, and will be made available for distribution through Barnes and Nobles, their right and prerogative to stock inherent. If we do not receive enough quality entries or if life circumstances prevent fulfillment of this project…like I get run over by a truck (let’s hope not), all accepted submissions will be returned, their rights fully reverting to their creators. MORE ABOUT PAYMENT: POD will most likely be LuLu.com unless we find someone we like better with the same or better service. Net profit will be calculated as of June 1 2009, whereupon we will decide if the book’s sales warrant continuing its publication and distribution. Net profit at that time will be calculated, then distributed within 30 days or by July 1, 2009, through PayPal at the following rates: 10% for The Deepening, 90% distributed to contributors calculated on a per page basis. You must accept payment upon distribution through PayPal AT THE TIME OF DISTRIBUTION or forfeit such payment forever, so keep your PayPal account active, verified, and in good standing, please. All editorial decisions are the right of The Deepening and its agents, editors, and owners. SUBMISSIONS ADDRESS AVAILABLE on January 1, 2008. E-submissions ONLY.

• GOOD BOOKS
  by Karin Taylor

  I would like to recommend a couple of GOOD BOOKs 1. Transformation Soup by Sark...

  I would like to recommend a couple of GOOD BOOKs 1. Transformation Soup by Sark / (Healing for the Splendidly Imperfect) 2. the Van Gogh Blues / the Creative Person’s Path Through Depression / Successfully Manage the Anxieties of th Creative Process / Eric Maisel, PhD / Author of ‘Coaching the Artist Within’ both available through Amazon Books (see below for links) 1. Van Gogh Blues / 2. Transformation Soup by Sark

• Pakenham CFA
  by Samantha Cole-Surjan

  Yesterday (Sunday 25th May, 2008) the Pakenham Camera Club were invited to attend the offical opening of the new Pakenham Fire Station. ...

  Yesterday (Sunday 25th May, 2008) the Pakenham Camera Club were invited to attend the offical opening of the new Pakenham Fire Station. / The Pakenham CFA, which is fully manned by volunteers, marched out of their old station at John Street, Pakenham to march into their new station on the Princess Hwy in Pakenham. / Normally our President of the PCC, takes the CFA’s group photo’s, but due to him being away in the UK, I was asked to take them, with my partner in crime Mary Broome. / It was a wonderful day, fun for all that attended! Here are a few pics from the day…mostly their group shots. I have included some fun stuff also.

• The Kiss of Lily
  by Kate Smith

  Calling for submissions: / The Kiss of Lily edited by Donna Maree Hanson and Nicole R Murphy. (ASF). Expected publishing date early…

  Calling for submissions: / The Kiss of Lily edited by Donna Maree Hanson and Nicole R Murphy. (ASF). Expected publishing date early to mid 2008. / The Kiss of the Lily is an anthology of speculative fiction romance stories. The focus of the stories should be on what one sacrifices for love. The editors want to combine their favourite elements of romance and speculative fiction, eg world-building, fantastical concepts and the strong relationship between the characters. Ideal word length is up to 5000 words but longer works up 10 000 words are acceptable. / What the editors are looking for: / Strong romantic stories that involve sacrifice for love. For example, the risk of, or the actual giving up of, one’s humanity, life, soul and way of life for love or for a sexual encounter. Sexual content is allowable as long as it is integral to the story. The story does not have to have a happy ending. We are looking for passion and love that transcends one’s sense of self. It can also be about jealously, which is the negative side of love, and how it can seize hold of the mind and soul. For example, Shakespeare’s Othello. / We have no problem with same sex relationships (human to human relationships) provided there is a speculative element. Human to alien or magical beast* relationships preferred. Stories should be logical ie forty ton dragons cannot physically mate with a 16 year old virgin (unless he can transform into a human like form or it is the ultimate sacrifice for love). / The stories must be original characters and settings – no use of franchised worlds or characters. / Submission opening 1 October 2007 through to 31 December 2007. / We accept email submissions only. Stories should be double spaced 12 point courier new or times new roman font with one inch margins or similar. Story should be sent as an attachment to an email in a RFT or word format. / Submissions should not contain personal details in the story as we are reading blind (that includes the header and footer) but we require name, address and phone number in the body of the email for contact. / Email address is donna@austspeculativefiction.com.au and subject line should be “Submission – Story title”. / Eligible submissions from Australians and Australian residents only. Original stories only (no reprints). Payment is one cent a word, which equates to $50 for a 5000 word story. / Acceptance of story is subject to editing. / Happy writing / Donna and Nicole. / magical beasts include werewolves, were-creatures including teddy bears, vampires, ghosts, supernatural beings, demons, gargoyles (not stone ones!), elves and any other weird creature.

• Mslexia
  by Kate Smith

  Mslexia for women who write There is nothing like Mslexia / Mslexia tells you all you …

  Mslexia for women who write There is nothing like Mslexia / Mslexia tells you all you need to know about exploring your creativity and getting into print. No other magazine provides Mslexia’s unique mix of debate and analysis, advice and inspiration; news, reviews, interviews; competitions, events, courses, grants. All served up with a challenging selection of new poetry and prose. Mslexia is read by top authors and absolute beginners. A quarterly masterclass in the business and psychology of writing, it’s the essential magazine for women who write. Critically acclaimed / ‘diverse and brilliant’ Fay Weldon / ‘intelligent and creative’ Time Out / ‘my favourite women’s magazine’ Wendy Cope / ‘the best I’ve read on the subject’ Independent / ‘full of essential information’ Daily Mail / ‘astute, invigorating and above all an excellent read’ Helen Dunmore Information and inspiration / • what agents and publishers are looking for / • latest research into the psychology of creativity / • how to turn your own life into literature / • exercises to stretch your imagination / • analysis of publishing trends / • interviews with top authors about their writing methods / • masterclasses in prose and poetry / • the anatomy of a bestseller / • professional primers in copy editing and manuscript presentation / • tips for coping with rejection / • getting started as a freelance journalist / • how hormones affect your writing / • reviews of the best new books by women / • the perfect cover letter that gets your work read / • how to use dreams in your writing Featuring Margaret Atwood, Pat Barker, Rosie Boycott, Julie Burchill, Bea Campbell, Edwina Currie, Sarah Dunant, Helen Dunmore, Carol Ann Duffy, Germaine Greer, Selima Hill, Glenda Jackson, A L Kennedy, Val McDermid, Jenni Murray, Julie Myerson, Susie Orbach, Michèle Roberts, Meera Syal, Kirsty Wark, Fay Weldon and more… read Interviews and Author Methods Mslexia will get you noticed / We commission work by prominent authors as well as talented newcomers. We aim to publish some new voices in every copy of the magazine. Literary agents and BBC producers scan Mslexia every quarter on the lookout for fresh talent. In the seven years since the magazine was launched, Mslexia has become the magazine for women writers to submit to. Many women have launched their writing careers in the pages of the magazine. If you want to take your writing more seriously – or have some serious fun with your creativity – subscribe to Mslexia. More than just a magazine / Mslexia is a vibrant and growing organisation committed to furthering women’s creativity. Our independent research into the biases in book reviewing, book buying and poetry publishing have been featured on BBC2’s Newsnight, Radio 4’s Today programme, in the Independent and elsewhere. The facts / Mslexia is a national magazine for woman writers that was launched in March 1999 with start-up funding from the National Lottery and Northern Arts. Based in Newcastle, its intention is to ‘provide information, guidance and inspiration to published and unpublished authors and improve the quality and standing of women’s literature’. Mslexia’s subscribers are 12,000 woman writers – from absolute beginners to established authors like Helen Dunmore, Deborah Moggach and Hilary Mantel. Why ‘Mslexia’? Mslexia means women’s writing (ms = woman lexia = words). Its association with dyslexia is intentional. Dyslexia is a difficulty, more prevalent in men, with reading and spelling. Mslexia is a difficulty, more prevalent in women, with getting into print. Mslexia is the complex set of conditions and expectations that prevents women, who as girls so outshine boys in verbal skills, from becoming successful authors. The magazine Mslexia aims to define, explore and help overcome the condition of mslexia and provide a platform and playground for women writers. Its intention is to provide information, guidance and inspiration for published and unpublished authors, and improve the quality and standing of women’s literature.

• New Interviews at 1stAngel
  by 1stAngel

  PLEASE READ HERE to learn if you fit in our criteria and can be one of the growing number of artists. p…

  PLEASE READ HERE to learn if you fit in our criteria and can be one of the growing number of artists. photographers and authors joining 1stAngel.co.uk now The first book collaboration of the already interviewed artists is nearly finished and the book will be available for purchase shortly. News about that will be put up as soon as we have finished it. So, if you are a RedBubble author or artist or photographer, get your name down for a place on the new one by applying for an interview at the above link. (We will be accepting gallery owners and publishers shortly along with designers exterior and interior. Watch 1stAngel for more news on this)

• Writers read this
  by Arletta

  If you are an unpublished writer that is hoping to be an author, or just a person with a yen to see their poems all bound together in one…

  If you are an unpublished writer that is hoping to be an author, or just a person with a yen to see their poems all bound together in one collection (you kinky beast) then it may make you glad to know that for a limited time only Lulu.com is offering their Published by Lulu service for free. Now, Published by Lulu means that there will be an ISBN, you can sell in stores,but they will definitely own the ISBN as all publishers do. It’s a great deal for someone just wanting to get their foot in the door. And, no! I get nothing for telling you this. I am not referring you, just sharing good news that I am taking advantage of myself. I already had one book fully published through them and now I have two more, soon to be three. .. or four Depends on how long the deal goes on. Do with the information what you will!

• "Daintree Daughters" - Authors Note
  by adgray

  My first completed novel, that is I have an ending to it (lol), is rather unique. The story about why I wrote it is almost as long as it …

  My first completed novel, that is I have an ending to it (lol), is rather unique. The story about why I wrote it is almost as long as it lol but I think needed to be told in order to find the solution of whether to push on and have it published or not. 2003 I was assisting my son’s high school production of “West Side Story”, and the two principals I was coaching finally got their song right! So I, in my silly over the top way, did a small victory dance and managed to roll my ankle severely tearing every ligament in it! Rendering my next 8 months heavily dependent on crutches having physio and hydro therapy twice a week, and incapable of returning to my University Double degree [Arts/ Education] / So here I am house bound and mostly alone and without a book to read! I couldn’t get to a book store or even the library, I hate TV – hate adds! – and wasn’t connected to the net so what did I do?? Well there was a perfectly good PC sitting there doing nothing and I was sitting on the couch doing nothing so I moved my butt made a nest for my foot under the desk and sat there and began a book! / I wanted to write a fun book about a girl knocking the system and fulfilling my dreams. So I created Amanda and set her in 1850’s Melbourne Australia and started writing……. Synopsis ... and so did I !! lol Ah for the magic of computers! So I pull up a page and begin on Mary’s story, the older sister, in one font colour and on another page in another font colour I begin on Molly’s, the younger sister. And now I’m writing 3 consecutive tails. Towards the end of these 3 tales I discover the way to weave them all back together and solve a mystery. So the end of these three tales is the same scene but viewed from the three perspectives. I posted these three in hopes I could have feed back of their caliber but alas as yet none. So there are 3 sisters and subsequent collected love interests – although I must state here that my preference is for action and comedy over romance so don’t expect too much lovey dovey stuff! – and they manage to trick the villain into being captured . So all’s well that ends well?? I need to give them a happy ever after ending?? So I begin an epilogue to get them home to the property ….. and that’s when the book started writing by itself! I could not type fast enough. I only use 3 fingers and a thumb at the best of times and my poor hands were flying almost 24/7. I left the PC when nature called. Would throw food at my animals grab sustenance for myself [I have a mug a pint deep and I can exist on cold tea or coffee! lol] and return to “catch up” on the story raging in my head! I would be introducing characters thinking saying aloud to myself “why am I introducing you this is the epilogue why am I bothering with a name for you???” and then 4 pages later “Ooh THAT’s why!!!” I couldn’t put it down and I was writing it! I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! It was the “Never Ending Story” being written! And I solved a mystery I didn’t even realise I had included! Three weeks & 275 A4 pages later I wrote a line and it seemed there was no more to write. I did my ritual refreshment pit stop and returned … nup, still no more. I reread the paragraph … the page … the chapter but still no more. I must have come to the end! Now what do I do with myself? / I reintroduced myself to my pets, to the neighbours, to driving! I emptied the mailbox, paid my rent and overdue bills and got on with living. / A week later I sat bolt upright in bed at 5am and then in 2 hours had another epilogue written – 2 chapters long and with 2 new characters introduced! Life goes on…. And in my mind brewing in the back recesses are the next generation where the children of the 3 sisters have a collection per immediate family. But being cousins and as was the way in that age they intermingled; assisting the second half of the 19th century to progress and the emerging city of Melbourne to be developed; and the correspondence may or may not match up with reality. And if anyone complains about the possible cast of thousands, all I can say is “Neighbours”, “Home & Away”, “Days of our Lives”, Coronation Street” !!!!! But now what to do with it? I mean I’d love it to be published, in that I’d love it to be published in a set of 6 vignettes and a novel, as I have the 3 heroines and I don’t want to dictate which order the parts should be read in. Each part reads as it’s own book and yet entices you to go read the other parts – so the theory is “You won’t know the whole story till you’ve heard every side!” I printed it out in a book-like layout just to see what it would look like …. Wa-a-ay too big!!!! lol one of those huge A4 document folders absolutely filled! I tried asking my mother to read it. She ignored it. I asked my sister to critique it – she has always been my leveler – “What did you do that for you fool?” rolls off her tongue faster than a smile could crease her eyes. It sat for two months in the same position on her lounge-room floor so I took it home. I tried giving it to my father and there I received the best encouragement. He didn’t even open the cover didn’t even read the title he just handed it back and sad – “Give me the first copy” So I started to hunt for professional help. I asked a friend who proof reads she loved it and could find no flaws that I would allow her to change lol but it went no further / I found another friend put me on to a published author and she loved the pieces I’ve emailed her to read …but she advised me not to present this to be published as my first piece or they will hack it to death and turn it into one book. So I’ve attempted writing other novels to be presented as my first book / I tried to tell the story of the two new characters introduced in the epilogue but it became 3 parts long / Perhaps I could tell Robby’s tale … but that would ruin the mystery of the big book – after all really the big book was the discovery of Robby’s tale. So I look at a second alternative – Isabel Maude the unofficial tale of my great grandmother – what a character she was! But that’s only a whimsical plot as yet I’ve only just thought of a third that is brewing merrily but it’s very controversial and I don’t think I have the guts to attempt it lol / And then last night coming to my fiancé’s place on the train, another plot emerged in my head and I can’t wait to get home to start on that either! I have tried with the 2 children’s books and received letters of encouragement but no pick ups – have faith Mem Fox took 11 years to get “Magic Pudding” out ….. / But then if my poetry seems to be widely accepted and liked perhaps my first book could, should, would be a collection of them? / Know any literary agents? Oh and the 1st paragraphs??? Well at the beginning of each part [and yes it carried into the spin off trilogy] I had an unquenchable urge to write a passage of descriptive prose for some unknown reason. Later when I needed to read something at an open mic night – my first ever public reading of my writing and the first time I had ever shown anyone what I could do with words outside of school – I collected these prose and put them together. Reading it I realised each piece encapsulates the theme of the part and all together they encapsulate the whole saga. You can read more about this in the / 1st Paragraphs or excerpts of / “Mary”:http://www.redbubble.com/people/adgray/writing/785061-the-daintrees-excerpt—ride-up-action-myrtle-creek-1851-mary “Mandy”:http://www.redbubble.com/people/adgray/writing/785038-the-daintrees-excerpt—ride-up-action-myrtle-creek-1851-mandy “Molly”:http://www.redbubble.com/people/adgray/writing/785048-the-daintrees-excerpt—ride-up-action-myrtle-creek-1851-molly I aim to entertain and I hope that’s what I have accomplished. / Thank you for your courage to read my words! / Have a great day wherever you are! / Keep Happy! ~ adg

• Yeah 2nd Book published...
  by Bevsimages

  Just a quick note to say my creativity knows no bounds…. Would like to share the news with my red bubblers…”Poems of a child” my 2…

  Just a quick note to say my creativity knows no bounds…. Would like to share the news with my red bubblers…”Poems of a child” my 2nd book is now ready to pre order via email: bev@bevsbook.co.uk & will soon be available directly from my website: www.bevsbook.co.uk….Priced at £6.99 & p+p ( contact me for p+p outside of UK ) My 1st book “Bev’s Book” Trials, Tribulations & Pleasures is a true life story see my website for more details….2nd book is concentrating on poems written from my childhood to date with a little more information… If you fancy taking a look & having a preview go to www.lulu.com & search under “Beverly Unwin” it will be on there to preview & leave reviews on from hopefully next week…. Cheers guys & Gals for all your support & for keeping me sane on here with my other creative juices of image & photography…. Thanks, Bev x ;))

• Memories...
  by Bevsimages

  I’ve written poems since I was very young,grew up in Bolton Lancs & felt this was precious time spent in my room thinking & putting thoug…

  I’ve written poems since I was very young,grew up in Bolton Lancs & felt this was precious time spent in my room thinking & putting thoughts on paper. I loved working in a local cafe washing up,Cafe Boulevard in the Market hall.Then doing the coffee machine (I made a great frothy coffee we never called them latte’s back then) this was inbetween school at Smithills,which was a great school. At school I’d make apple crumble in Home Ec & taking it home to share with my mum.I’d a great French teacher,called Mrs Blatchley she stuck up for me when a boy bullied me over my chest scar; I later broke a finger giving him a bop on the nose,he would not relent his name calling (I don’t abide violence but at the time was what I knew,he didn’t call me names again) Many good & bad memories from my childhood so that’s what prompted me to finally write my own book to share my story,to inspire & relate to others.Rivington near Bolton,with it’s trees,open grounds & ducks.The ice cream,the motorbikes we would see out on day trips off to somewhere exciting just passing through.I wanted to feel free like that.That’s why I love being creative even now at 34 yrs old It let’s me escape for a while.Things have changed in Bolton,Ritzy has gone new nightclubs have opened,more restaurants now in this small town.I go back to visit my mum & sister,all my friends have grown up moved on,most with children.It was a great place & parts still are… The innocence has gone,but the memories remain.

• I am an author/writer by de - fault.....
  by Thomas Josiah Chappelle

  .......of no one but my own dream to have published literary works that are enjoyed by folks of all ages (be it that they are literate of…

  .......of no one but my own dream to have published literary works that are enjoyed by folks of all ages (be it that they are literate of course) and walks of life; that others can relate and identify only because I have strove to reciprocate in kind. It is my desire and hope that the 50 + years that I have dwelt upon this world, that I give in return for the many who have given to me of their time, patience, instruction, wisdom, sorrow and humor. It is with expectant elation that I write upon this “script” to convey blessings at every turn. If not, what then, are we occupying this space at this time with this so short a span o’ years? This my legacy – that should my name live beyond this so short a span – that I have come and gone to press hope, peace of heart, endearment, inspiration, aspiration to live as Christ has taught us, firmly and gently into the hearts of my readers. / Zack Leon Slaughter / Thomas Josiah Chappelle

• Thoughts of a would-be author
  by Thomas Josiah Chappelle

  I perceive that excellent writing is naught but an artistry of language. In order for this artisan to become adebt , he must not only stu…

  I perceive that excellent writing is naught but an artistry of language. In order for this artisan to become adebt , he must not only study his mother ‘tongue’ but be ever so desirous to seek out its etymology – from whence it came to find -even as a linguistic archeologist the fossils of a ‘Babel’ token…. a language now extinct but not without lending its form to a hybrid in yet a living tongue spoken now as of late. A word rightly fit is received with joy of one who searches through a puzzle of 1000 intricate pieces to lay his fingers upon the very form that brings “new life to a sentence that is missing an essential modifier. It is not enough for a ‘scribe’ to write it…he or she must feel it in his marrow…it must take form and symmetry, sharp and crisp….denying any question as to what the mind of the author intended….He or she must be like unto the very Creator who breathed out the words “Let there be lumini (light) For without the light of the Logos…naught can be revealed or become manifest in the form of what else that shall follow… Thomas Josiah Chappelle

• The greatest writer in the world has returned ...
  by Arletta

  No, not me! I’ve been here for some time now. And, come to think of it, he isn’t here and that isn’t what I meant. I mean, I’ve heard …

  No, not me! I’ve been here for some time now. And, come to think of it, he isn’t here and that isn’t what I meant. I mean, I’ve heard from him, more than once in the same day. Probably you won’t have heard of him, yet, but I assure you that you shall for, not only is he Founder of some of the most inspirational moments in my literary life, but, he is darned tootin’ fine on a page all to himself. Anyway, I’m truly happy to have heard from him as .. now that I’ve been spoiled by writing with him as co-author, at times, and as impromptu editor, writing without him is just not as interesting of a journey as it used to be. Well, I can still do it, and there are still moments, but not quite so many moments. He helps me break into that world even through pain and sickness. Which, otherwise, I have to wait until some of the gremlins of the world have taken the day off and my immune system has finally reported for duty. Christopher Augustus Robin Augles Stonehenge Stone, I missed you!

• To All Mothers (author unknown)
  by Danae Leach

  Mothers If you send this to just one person, it should make it all the way around the world by Mother’s Day. This is f…

  Mothers If you send this to just one person, it should make it all the way around the world by Mother’s Day. This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, ‘It’s okay honey, Mommy’s here.’ Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can’t be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON’T. This for the mothers who gave birth to babies they’ll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes. This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars. And that when their kids asked, ‘Did you see me, Mom?’ they could say, ‘Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ and mean it. This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens. This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read ‘Goodnight, Moon’ twice a night for a year.. And then read it again. ‘Just one more time.’ This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot. This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls ‘Mom?’ in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home—or even away at college ~or have their own families. This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomac h aches, assuring them they’d be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away. This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can’t find the words to reach them. For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green. For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely. This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war. What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear do wn the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying? The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through d iaper changes and sleep deprivation… And mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without. This is for you all. For all of us… Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them ever y day that we love them. And pray and never stop being a mom.. Please pass along to all the Moms in your life. ‘Home is what catches you when you fall – and we all fall.’ Please pass this to a wonderful mother or mother figure you know.

• Wait ! Burn MY Book!
  by Arletta

  Rahhahahha .. err.. which is to say, that I just read this, on a site about censorship and book burning: Thousands of churches in Americ…

  Rahhahahha .. err.. which is to say, that I just read this, on a site about censorship and book burning: Thousands of churches in America have collected millions of Harry Potter books to be burned that very night. Guess we know, now, why Harry Potter books sold so well, eh? I mean, it wasn’t because the good, loving, “Christian” persons ran into the store and stole them in an even more hypocritical fashion than they often act, was it? No! They went and bought the books for the purpose of burning them. Well, go ahead you thousands of book burners! Go and buy my book and burn it to pieces! Hey, I’ve got my copy! It’s print on demand. It’ll never run out and the controversy could do me good with getting the word out, eh? Burn it! Burn it! I’ve got children to support! Which makes my point, in more than one way, if in a slightly obscure fashion.

• Special Offered Sale Price on my books
  by Arletta

  This is the URL where you can read a preview of the books in question and order them if you wish to do so: http://stores.lulu.com/store.p…

  This is the URL where you can read a preview of the books in question and order them if you wish to do so: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=719985 However, if you want to take advantage of the special offer, do not order them in that fashion! I am selling either book, Chronicles of Ordine or Sweet Surrender, at a reduced price to the people on this site, who are persons that can make payments through Pay Pal (which means Mastercard or Visa are also options) and whom will trust me with their mailing address. $11.00 for either softcover and $21.00 for either hardcover; plus either $3.95 or $6.95 shipping and handling for each book, depending on how quickly you want to receive them! Now, I am not going to ask or pressure anyone to buy or think any more or less of them based on whether they do or not. But, I did want to make the offer to people of this site who might be interested as you have certainly given me a lot of enjoyment and entertainment since I’ve been here. Thanks!

• Sci Fi Master Class
  by Limelight

  Keeper of Dreams / / By Orson Scott Card / / Excerpted from the forward in Keeper of Dreams / ...

  Keeper of Dreams / / By Orson Scott Card / / Excerpted from the forward in Keeper of Dreams / / What’s the inducement for an established writer to return to the short / story market? While it’s true that short stories require less typing / than novels, they don’t take much less in the way of development. That / is, to get any story ready to be written, to bring it to ripeness, takes / about as much time and effort no matter how long the finished work / turns out to be. / / So why would I devote any time to writing short stories, for a few / hundred or, sometimes, a few thousand dollars, when I can get many times / more if I turn that idea into a book? / / Believe me, that’s not a rhetorical question. Sometimes, when I’m late / on a book deadline which will actually pay the bills, and I stop to / write a short story that I promised to an anthology editor, my wife looks / at me and says (only more nicely), ‘What were you thinking?’ / / Good question. / / How does a serious novelist end up with more than 200,000 words of / short stories, novelettes, and novellas? / / One answer is: I get invited to take part in some really cool / anthologies. Robert Silverberg tells me about a series of big-name-only science / fiction and fantasy anthologies he’s editing, and invites me to / contribute a story to the sci-fi volume. Sure, I say - are you kidding? He’s / not just a friend, he’s a legend in the field, and it’s going to be a / great book. / / Or a total stranger says, We’re doing an anthology of stories about the / Vietnam War, and I say, I didn’t fight in that war, and I didn’t fight / against it, I don’t see what I could contribute … but then my mind / starts ticking over the problem and I realize there is a story for / somebody like me to write and so I write it. / / Or they’re putting together a book for the World Fantasy Convention / just at the time that I’m developing this cool concept of the source of / all the stories of the Flood, and so instead of waiting till I’m ready to / write the novel, I write a very long story that gets it down on paper. / It’s a trial run. I’m still going to write the novel … someday. / / Or I go to another country and see a plaza that is so fascinating I / have to set a story there, and just at that moment I’m reading a / fascinating book about elephants, and those two things come together and I have / to write the story. / / Or Christmas is coming, and on a lark I decide to whip out a whimsical / little Christmas story. / / So it comes to four things driving this novelist, at least, to write / short stories: / / 1. The irresistible anthology. / 2. Stories for a particular occasion. / 3. The big idea that has to get down on paper so I might as well try it / out as a short story first and see if it’s good enough to grow into a / book. / 4. The jewel of an idea that is fully formed and simply has to exist as / a short story, even if it doesn’t make me any money. / / I appreciate your being willing to look at my shorter pieces, and I / hope you find them worth the time you devote to them. / / But I hope you’ll also remember that there are new writers out there, / trying to be part of the conversation. Look for magazines - online or / in print - and anthologies and collections. Give them a try. I can / promise you that now and then - more often than you might suppose— / you’ll find something and somebody wonderful. / / Because if sci-fi is to survive as a genre, it won’t be because readers / stick to books with familiar names on the cover. I grew up in the era / when the great triumvirate of Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke ruled the / field. But they aren’t producing much any more. If there is no new / generation to take their place, then the genre becomes a part of literary / history, no longer able to produce great new work. And if a new generation / is to take flight, it will fledge in the nest of short fiction. / / Orson Scott Cards’ Keeper of Dreams / (0-7653-0497-X; $27.95 / $30.95 CAN) was released by Tor in April. The / author’s website is hatrack.com

• Waynesboro, VA 2008
  by bonbon3272

  This year I will be attending the Book ‘Em Foundation convention. I will be selling prints of my artwork, puzzles, and various other item…

  This year I will be attending the Book ‘Em Foundation convention. I will be selling prints of my artwork, puzzles, and various other items. I will also be giving away postcards and brochures, which contains an excerpt from the prologue of my first book. I may have other giveaways. The event’s not until October, so there’s still time. Book ‘Em Website

• Promotion: Winged Dreams
  by Limelight

  Available in both print and ebook format is an anthology of short stories and poems of a sci fi/fantasy nature from the always delightful…

  Available in both print and ebook format is an anthology of short stories and poems of a sci fi/fantasy nature from the always delightful Sharon Partington aka elandryn Winged Dreams Sharon guest judged the Zodiac13 competition.

• 'Unpublished Author needs your advice'
  by Leinad

  Greetings, I am an up-coming fantasy author; I am not published, so to receive comments on my work would not profit me in anyway other th…

  Greetings, I am an up-coming fantasy author; I am not published, so to receive comments on my work would not profit me in anyway other than in terms of advice and feedback. This is ground roots stuff. I have always been an avid fan of all things Fantasy. It has inspired me, touched me, and shaped my life. It has always been my lifelong ambition to be part of this great, creative movement. The most recent and vibrant movement of this age… For the last seven years I have been writing a fantasy series I believe extends the boundaries of the genre whilst maintaining the traditions that have made it great… If you are interested in reviewing the first five chapters of my debut fantasy novel then keep reading. Magician, Man and Beast is the first book in a new Fantasy series aimed at successfully blending the suspense and melodrama of modern thrillers with the sheer scope and originality of Epic Fantasy. All these contempory elements woven around an enduring tale of magic, mystery and adventure, that will appeal to all ages. To read a sample of it click on this link – www.worthyofpublishing.com

• Online Networking Divas Meet in Person at Southern Festival of Books
  by mssphoto

  October 20, 2007—NASHVILLE, TN — It was a match made in Cyber heaven for two female business entrepreneurs when they connected via th…

  October 20, 2007—NASHVILLE, TN — It was a match made in Cyber heaven for two female business entrepreneurs when they connected via the Internet this spring. Soon after they met online, authors Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Yvonne Perry began assisting one another with business endeavors. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the two women met for the first time in person at the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word at Legislative Plaza in Nashville. At the Southern Festival of Books Carolyn Howard-Johnson presented “Realize Your Dream: From Query Letter to Bestseller—Frugally!” After speaking to fellow writers, editors, and authors about her recently released tome The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, Ms. Howard-Johnson signed her books as those eager to meet her in person chatted as they waited in line. Readers of Carolyn’s books obviously “get” the message of her books. Many were helping one another connect with local writing groups by sharing business cards, flyers and information about writing, editing and book marketing. “My publisher, Valerie Connelly, asked Carolyn to appear as a guest on her radio show Calling All Authors,” says Perry. “After hearing the archived interview, I immediately signed up for Carolyn’s newsletter, Sharing with Writers. Carolyn and I hit it off easily and have been helping one another ever since.” In her book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/), Carolyn teaches writers how to save money by helping one another with book promotion. And, she diligently practices what she preaches. Shortly after making online acquaintance with Yvonne, the two authors began cross-promoting one another. Each published announcements in the other’s newsletter and participated in a blog chain as a frugal marketing tool to create a stronger online presence. In July, Yvonne interviewed Carolyn for her weekly podcast on the craft and business of writing and publishing. Carolyn gave tips on writing, editing and book promotion and shared her career path as a writer with listeners. Writers in the Sky Podcast is available at no cost through her blog (http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com). Howard-Johnson says, “Word-of-mouth is, of course, the best kind of promotion. Yvonne and Valerie are two writerpreneurs who understand how that works. It isn’t about getting. It’s about giving and then watching how success comes back to you. Sort of a zen thing.” Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, has won eight awards. Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, a book of short creative nonfiction, has won two awards. For more information about writing, editing, publishing and book promotion, visit Yvonne (www.yvonneperry.net) and Carolyn (http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/) on their respective Web sites.

• Enter a World of magic
  by Leinad

  Take a leap of imagination and “enter a world beyond time>>>” _‘For in the shadow of death, the seed of a new soul shall fall. / And a…

  Take a leap of imagination and “enter a world beyond time>>>” ‘For in the shadow of death, the seed of a new soul shall fall. / And a new hero will rise with the power to unlock the secrets of the Universe’ These are the sacred words of an ancient prophecy passed down through time to instruct you, the brave adventurer on your fabled quest. If you possess an adventurous spirit, then take the secret path now revealed to you – the way is open… Click on this spiritual link to go straight there – your “spirit guide”.http://worthyofpublishing.com/ In this enchanted realm, you will discover the grand library. Hidden there is a book, a secret book… I reveal its name to you – the chosen one, in order to divine its mysteries. Its chosen name of power is ‘Magician, Man and Beast’ The power is yours… Take the path… Become the hero you were meant to be…