FundsforWriters - April 1 - Lessons Learned from a Private Investigator

Published: Fri, 04/01/16

FundsForWriters: Tips and Tools for serious writers to advance their careers!
  Volume 16, Issue 14, APRIL 1, 2016  
 
     
       
  Message from the Editor

Emily Grace is the resident kitty at the Edisto Bookstore. She's been there as long as I've been visiting that store, sleeping in the back at night, lounging on the tables of signing authors, slipping away from boisterous children and hiding among the books. She'll nip at my pen as I'm attempting to sign a book, rub against me as I'm talking to guests . . . she owns the place. I miss Edisto already and it's only been ten days since I left.


Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
FFW has proudly been on the Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers list every year since 2001

Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. Use information listed at your own risk. FundsforWriters gives no warranty to completeness, accuracy, or fitness of the markets, contests and grants although research is done to the best of our ability.
 
 

 
 
  Read this isue online
   
  Read past issues
 
       
     
 
     
 

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SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
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Get feedback for your writing at FanStory.comEnter writing contests with cash prizes. Find out more:

UPCOMING CONTESTS AT FANSTORY.COM

Political Flash Fiction
Do you support Trump? Clinton? Feeling the Bern? What are your political thoughts? Wwrite about politics for this writing contest. Deadline In 4 Days.  April 5th

3 Line Poem
Write a three-lined Katauta poem. A Katauta is an unrhymed poem of 17 or 19 syllables. It has the following syllable counts: 5/7/5 or 5/7/7.  See an example in the announcement.
Deadline April 18th

Acrostic Poetry
An acrostic poem is a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word. View an example in the announcement. Enter for your chance at the cash prize. 
Deadline April 24th

Character
Write a short story that includes a character that is part of the scene in the contest announcement. View the announcement for details.
Deadline April 29th

Just four out of over 50 contests available every month. All contests are free with a membership fee of only $9.95 each month. Get a discount if you choose our one year or two year membership. Find out more.
 


 
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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LESSONS LEARNED FROM A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

I write mystery, so that means I'm reading and researching sites, blogs, and books by cops, agents, and private investigators to make my work more authentic. However, in reading a PI site (Diligentia Group), I found the following post about lessons learned over the years as an investigator. I wasn't three items into it before I saw these lessons could be applicable to writers. 

http://www.diligentiagroup.com/legal-investigation/17-lessons-i-learned-from-15-years-as-a-private-investigator/

1) Always be learning. Learn by doing and observing others. 
2) Know thyself. Know your strengths and where you need help, and don't be shy about either.
3) Differentiate yourself. Don't be ordinary. Create a brand.
4) Authenticity. Being genuine and authentic is very attractive these days when the world is wrought with fake and "Buy my book."
5) Stick to your principles. Be honest and straightforward. Protect your reputation.
6) Be helpful. Good things happen when you lend a helping hand.
7) Don't be everything to everyone. Pick your genre, find your readership base, and avoid trying to write for every reader out there.
8) Do work you are proud of. If you write slow, so be it. If you write Christian, erotica, YA; whatever the style, voice and genre, own it.
9) You are never the smartest or dumbest person in the room. Ask questions. Learn more. Help others do the same.
10) Don't stop thinking of new ideas. You're in a creative environment, and change is happening all around you. Be constantly seeking ways to be unique.
11) Adapt. This industry changes fast. Roll with that change.
12) Embrace technology. Yes, that means learning ways to publish, brand, and network, whether you like it or not.
13) Follow the facts. Make decisions or form opinions based upon fact, not rumors, gossip, innuendos, or half-truths.
14) Be inspired. Be aware of the world around you.
15) Do great work. Don't shortchange the quality of your writing.
16) Be skeptical. Operate with a critical eye. Don't fall for the latest class, how-to, software, or book that claims to teach you the perfect way to [fill in the blank].
17) Persistence. Probably the most important of the list, persistence carries you through those times when you think you should not be writing. 

Amazing the similarity, huh?




Thanks
- Hope

TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark 
BOOKBUB - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-hope-clark


 


C. HOPE CLARK AND BRYAN COHEN PRESENT...

"5 Steps to Selling More Books For the Rest of Your Career through Better Author Copywriting"
April 6, 2016 - 2 PM Eastern (11 AM Pacific) - LIVE WEBINAR!

(And if you miss it, sign up and get access to the recorded version afterwards...)

 

We're Going To Show You...

  • How to get more visibility for your books and qualify for major promotions

  • Where to find potential customers and how to get them to your website

  • What emails to send your new readers to make them fans for life

  • Plus... Live Q&A with Hope and Bryan and much more!






WE HAVE 2 NEWSLETTERS - THE FREEBIE and THE PAID SUBSCRIPTION . . . 

Remember that FundsforWriters, this newsletter, is free. Send it to whomever you like and share it liberally. But if you are serious about writing income resources, and your time is limited, consider subscribing to TOTAL FundsforWriters. It comes out biweekly, with 70 contests, markets, grants, retreats, publishers, freelance gigs, magazines and more, It's huge, but it saves you a lot of time searching. It's $18.75 for a year, or 26 issues. To subscribe, simply go to www.paypal.me/chopeclark/18.75 . It will be sent to the email you used unless you specify otherwise.

(NOTE TO THE WISE: Send a receipt for one of Hope's books at other than a $1.99 or $2.99 price, and receive TOTAL for free.)    (**and feel free to steal this graphic for your own site!)

 


 
  Upcoming Book Signings and Classes! (All times in Eastern.)
  
  Apr 4 - Night Harbor Book Club - 824 Yacht Club Pointe, Chapin, SC - 7 PM
  Apr 6 - Co-host with Bryan Cohen - live webinar - 2 PM - 5 Steps to Selling More Books for the Rest of Your Career through Better Author Copywriting
  Apr 7 - McCormick County Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  Apr 14 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  Apr 26 - Darlington Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  Apr 28 - Anderson County Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  May 2 - St. Stephen's Library, SC - Habits of Successful Writer - 5:00 PM
  May 3 - Daniel Island Library, SC - Plotting - 5:00 PM
  May 4 - Timberlake Book Club, Chapin, SC - 1:00 PM
  May 5 - McCormick County Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  May 9  - Goose Creek Library - Characters - 5:30 PM
  May 10 - Hanahan Library - Editing - 6:30 PM
  May 12 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  May 16 - Moncks Corner LIbrary, SC - Publishing/Marketing - 6:00 PM
  May 17 - Sangaree Library, SC - 5:30 PM
  May 24 - Darlington Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  May 26 - Anderson County Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  Jun 7 - Ida McCaskill Book Club - St Andrews Shepherd Ctr, Cola, SC - 9:30 AM
  Jun 11 - Hartsville Book Fair, Darlington, SC
  Jun 23-25 - Midwest Writers Center Conference - Davenport, IA
  Aug 1 - Batesburg Library Mystery Club, Batesburg/Leesville, SC - 6 PM
  Aug 18-21 -Killer Nashville Conference, Franklin, TN
  Sept 18 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  Sept 25 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  Oct 2 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  Oct 9 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  

  Check out all of Hope's books

For the most up-to-date information about Hope, contests, writing industry information and giveaways, keep up with Hope on Twitter and Facebook. Things get more interesting in real time!

 
 
 

WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
“To me, the point of a novel is to take you to a still place. You can multitask with a lot of things, but you can’t really multitask reading a book. To me, the world of books is the quiet alternative—an ever more desperately needed alternative.”

~Jonathan Franzen


 
       
       
 

Is it a flesh and blood killer -
or restless spirits?
 
According to Sophie, the resident yoga mistress and psychic, beautiful Edisto Beach becomes a hotbed of troublemaking spirits every August. But when a visitor dies mysteriously during a beach house party, former big-city detective Callie Morgan and Edisto Beach police chief Mike Seabrook hunt for motives and suspects among the living. With tourists filling the beaches and local business owners anxious to squelch rumors of a murderer on the loose, Callie will need all the help she can get - especially once the killer's attention turns toward her.

http://www.chopeclark.com/
 
Purchase any of Hope's books (at other than $1.99 or $2.99 rates) and receive a one-year subscription to TOTAL FFW free. Send receipt to [email protected].

For an autographed version, click here. Email or leave comment in order on preference for autograph. 
 
  Amazon / Kindle
Google
Kobo
B&N / Nook
Paperback
 
  Learn more and order
 
       
     


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SUCCESS STORY
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Dear Hope,

I haven't the faintest clue how long I've been receiving your newsletters. All I know is that your weekly email has been an inspiration, that little reminder that I need to keep writing. So, after a decade of research and writing (and after years of reading "FundsForWriters") I reached the point of satisfaction when I read my last line, smiled a giddy grin, and literally closed the book with a sense of pride. I went the self-publishing route, and even though I was confident with my story, had learned about the process, made countless edits and cuts and revisions, and sent the book through two rounds of readers (which included an editor, copyeditor, librarian, writer, and avid readers), I still worried about how the book would be received. If it didn't go through the traditional publishing steps, would my audience consider it legitimate?  My book release celebration answered that question. The event was a huge success with nearly seventy people stopping in and word spreading about the story. Meanwhile, my local library sponsored the novel for the Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Project, and this week, the semi-finalists were announced. (Drum roll....) My book is on the list!  
Hope, your messages and thoughts and guidance, along with your continual encouragement, helped me to press on with my writing journey, and now I've got a handful of online publications and LINES—, my first book. You, my friend, are greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

Geralyn Hesslau Magrady 
Website:  http://www.ghesslaumagrady.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/writer.ghesslaumagrady
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/author/geralynhesslaumagrady
 
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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I'm with the Band

By Jaimie M. Engle

With today's competitive market, I think many authors are failing to make an income because they haven't decided what kind of author they are. Knowing what level you're willing to work, how much time you have, and your goals determine your success. Like rock bands, authors need to know where they stand:
 
Garage bands 

For as long as I can remember, musicians have been trying to break into the industry. They start out as garage bands, to which I liken a writer who writes to publish. Someone who likes to share their work with their few followers of friends and family. They are content here or they wish to grow. But this is the type of writer who doesn't work their business as an author. They do it more for fun.

Cover artists 

This group of musicians has established a following and has proven talented enough to be booked by a restaurant or club for regular performances. They may be just as good as the original band, they just haven't put in enough time and effort to be noticed by a producer or record label. To this, I liken those authors who write to the trend. They write what sells. Some ghost write, blog, write web content, or workbooks. The point is, they write to get paid.

Local bands 

This group writes their own music, they practice on a regular basis, and are serious about their music, but many of them still hold a day job. A local band that plays its own songs stands out and builds a following. They may record their own music and submit to various venues or record labels, hoping to really break in to the music industry. And you know what? Some of them eventually do. They work hard, get better, get discovered, and get their big break. In the publishing world, this is that indie press that takes a chance on an unknown author. They front the cost, help publicize the book, and encourage their author to study and improve their craft. Or that self-published author who knows how to work their business. Some of these authors work hard to build their brand through marketing. Some may even get to quit their day jobs.

Superstar 

The superstar is the musician who has proven their worth, can sell out shows, and produce new and relevant music on a continual basis. They treat their music career like a job, not relying on inspiration to motivate their record release or song writing, and they are constantly improving their skills. They've made it! An author reaching superstar status doesn't have to be equated with J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. To me, superstar status is when people beyond your scope of friends and family are buying your books, and when that day job moves farther in the background or becomes non-existent. They work hard and know that they have a show to put on regardless of whether or not they feel like being creative.

Think of it this way: You may invest a year or two writing, editing, and publishing your book. That's two years salary, and you should expect to make $20-$50K, right, depending on what you currently do for work, of course. So, my question is: Are you worth it? Is your manuscript polished enough to be worth that sort of an investment? Is your story original enough to gain a fan base? Are you working your book career as if it were a business to earn that salary? These are questions every author should ask; and if the answer is no, then it's time to start taking those steps to perfect your craft in order to answer, "YES!"


Bio:
Jaimie M. Engle is an award-winning author and the owner of A Writer For Life, an editing and coaching service for aspiring writers. She has written professionally since 2003 with publications in Space Coast Living Magazine and Florida Today Newspaper along with Writer's Digest and the Dr. Laura Program. She independently published her anti-bullying children's book Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light in 2013, which won a BRAG Medallion in 2015, and she published The Dredge in 2014, an L. Ron Hubbard Writer's of the Future honorable mentions. Engle ran the PR department for an independent publishing house and lectures regularly at colleges, conferences, schools, and libraries. Her passion is to educate authors on marketing and publicity. www.jaimiengle.com


 

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COMPETITIONS
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EMERALD THEATRE COMPANY 10-MINUTE PLAY CONTEST
http://www.etcmemphistheater.com/10-minute-play-fest-2016.html
$10 ENTRY FEE.
Scripts are being accepted in two categories. Category 1: An LGBT individual’s self-disclosure about their sexual orientation; and Category 2: Any interpretation of “Out of the Closet” literal or figurative. Plays may be comedy or drama. Both individual authors and collaborative teams are eligible. Grand Prize Winner will receive $200, a trophy and production of their play. First Prize winner will receive $150 and production of their play. An additional four to six runner-up scripts will also be produced. Submissions must be original, unproduced plays. Contestants must be 18 years of age or older. Running time must be between five and ten minutes. No monologues, musicals or children’s plays. Playwrights may submit one play in each category. Deadline June 30, 2016. 



2016 NEW WOMEN'S VOICES SERIES CHAPBOOK COMPETITION
https://finishinglinepress.submittable.com/submit/51833
$16 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline April 16, 2016. A prize of $1,000 and publication for a chapbook-length poetry collection in perfect-bound print edition. Open to women who have never before published a full-length poetry collection. Previous chapbook publication does not disqualify. International entries are welcome. Multiple submissions are accepted. All entries will be considered for publication. The top-ten finalists will be offered publication in the New Women's Voices Series.



PLOUGHSHARE'S EMERGING WRITERS CONTEST
https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines
$24 ENTRY FEE.
The Emerging Writer's Contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. The winner in each genre will be awarded $1,000. Deadline May 15, 2016. You are eligible if you: Have yet to publish a book (including chapbooks, eBooks, translations, books in other languages/countries, and self-published works); and have no book forthcoming before April 15, 2017. Fiction and Nonfiction: Under 6,000 words. Poetry: 3-5 pages.



MAY SARTON CONTEST
http://www.bauhanpublishing.com/may-sarton-prize/
$25 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline June 30, 2016. The award goes to a book-length collection of poetry (50-80 pages). The winning poet will receive $1,000, publication of their collection, and 100 copies of the published book along with distribution through the University Press of New England (UPNE). 
 
 
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GRANTS
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BELT MAGAZINE FELLOWSHIP
http://beltmag.com/belt-magazine-fellowship-cover-rnc-2016/
Belt Magazine, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is offering a one week fellowship for a freelance journalist interested in covering the Republican National Convention from July 18-21. The writer will write one post per day, to be published on Belt Magazine. We will cover costs for the writer's time while in Cleveland (accommodations and food) and offer a $1,000 stipend. The fellowship is offered for one full week but the fellow only need be in residence during the days for the convention. The writer will not report on delegate counts or speeches by candidates (other major media outlets will be doing plenty of that) but instead cover the scene surrounding the convention: the other media in Cleveland for the event, the local business owners affected by the convention, the logistics of getting around, police presence, activists and other groups attending the convention to protest.



STORYKNIFE WRITERS RETREAT RESIDENCY
https://storyknife.org/2016/03/25/storyknife-fellow-residency-announced/
The first official Storyknife Writers Residency will be awarded this spring for a residency during the month of September. On ten acres of view property just outside Homer, Alaska, Storyknife will be one of the very few residencies for women writers in the English-speaking world. Eventually, the facility will include six private cabins, a main house, and a garden. Currently, one fully-equipped writer’s cabin has been built with a stunning view overlooking Cook Inlet, Mount Iliamma, Mount Douglas, and Mount Augustine. Starting on April 15, women writers over 21 years of age will be able to apply for a September residency in the Storyknife cabin. This residency will can be 2-4 weeks, and for each week she is in residency, the inaugural fellow will receive a $250 stipend to cover food and transportation costs. Applications will be accepted starting on April 15 until May 15, 2016. 



VERMONT CREATION GRANTS
http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants-and-services/artists/creation
Creation Grants support the creation of new work by Vermont artists. Creation Grants can fund time, materials, and space rental for artists and artist groups. New: Creation Grants will be evaluated in two rounds. All artists may apply in the first round with applicant and project information, a project summary,  and work samples. A panel will select artists from round one to complete the full application in round two. These are examples of fundable projects: A writer completing the first draft of a novel; a dance ensemble developing choreography for a new piece; a visual artist creating art for exhibition that explores new subjects and techniques. Deadline April 20, 2016. 



NORMAN MAILER SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS
http://nmcenter.org/pages/view/71/fellowship-pepperdine-university-july-9th-july-31th-ucross-foundation-july-8th-july-25th
The Poetry Fellowship program will take place at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California July 9-31, 2016. Poetry applications must arrive at the Center in New York City, no later than April 22, 2016 with a $75 application fee. Deadline April 22, 2015. 
 
 
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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OUTSIDE BOZEMAN
http://www.outsidebozeman.com/magazine/submissions
Outside Bozeman is a seasonal publication that explores and celebrates the outdoor world of southwest Montana. Our magazine examines not only the dramatic beauty of the landscape and the innumerable recreational possibilities it affords, but also the issues surrounding its use and the wide range of lifestyles it engenders. It is both an interesting, entertaining journal and an informative where-to guide for fun and adventure in Bozeman's outdoors.



FLASH FICTION ONLINE
http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines/#
We publish stories from 500 to 1,000 words in length. They’re very short, but they are still stories. That means the best ones have strong, interesting characters, plots, and (to some extent, at least) settings. We welcome submissions from writers of every race, religion, nationality, gender, and sexual orientation. Pays $60.



YOUR WORKPLACE
http://www.yourworkplace.ca/contact/submissions/
Since 1998 award-winning Your Workplace magazine has been the only leading-edge paid publication in Canada devoted to workplace prosperity. Published independently six times a year, Your Workplace features original articles, in-depth interviews and profiles, and reaches HR and managers who are decision makers/influencers willing to support a better way of doing things to create an amazing workplace. Pays 20 cents/word and up.



TEDDY BEAR & FRIENDS
http://teddybearandfriends.com/about-us/
Since 1983, teddy bear connoisseurs and serious collectors of fine plush have turned to Teddy Bear & Friends as their primary resource for in-depth features, collector tips, expert advice, bear-making techniques, news, show reports, and page after page filled with sumptuous photos of the world’s most beautiful bears. Pays around 30 cents/word and buys all rights.
 

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JOBS
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HUGO HOUSE WRITER-IN-RESIDENT
https://hugohouse.submittable.com/submit/28902
Applicants for the position should be practicing, published writers of prose as well as accomplished and dedicated writing teachers who are experienced working with writers of all levels in a traditional workshop setting, as well as on a one-on-one basis as a mentor offering criticism and professional-development advice. The prose writer-in-residence should feel comfortable providing mentorship in fiction and nonfiction. Deadline April 30, 2016. Duration: September 15, 2016, through June 15, 2017. The term is renewable at the discretion of Hugo House with a two-term limit. $500 per month stipend for nine months, plus additional compensation for Hugo Classes; access to a vibrant and growing community of, by, and for writers; an opportunity to work with a committed staff in a creative work environment; and support and encouragement for artistic projects. Each writer-in-residence has 24-hour access to a private writing office in the Hugo House temporary space to work on their writing project, or hold meetings.

 
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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RED EMPRESS PUBLISHING
http://redempresspublishing.com/
RED EMPRESS PUBLISHING is a full-service publisher offering traditional and new services for our authors to help them succeed and stand out in an ever-changing market. Red Empress Publishing is looking for the following submissions: Submissions in any genre of fiction, but especially romance, mystery, fantasy and historical fiction; submissions by women; submissions by people of color; new authors; previously published works that are available for reprint, especially Gothic romances from 1960-1980. (Digital files not required for these types of submissions. If you only have physical copies of your out-of-print book, please email us for more information); short story collections and anthologies (no stand-alone short stories at this time). Total word count must be at least 75,000 words for all submissions.



HARPER COLLINS - THE WEDNESDAY POST 
http://www.wednesdaypost.com.au/
HarperCollins is inviting unsolicited manuscripts from aspiring authors in Australia, New Zealand and around the world. Whether or not you’ve been previously published, this is the perfect opportunity to submit your work and have a chance to be published by an award-winning, international publishing house. Our online submissions scheme, The Wednesday Post, is ready to uncover the best voices writing today. All entries will be considered for both print and ebook publication as well as digital-only publication. Every Wednesday, we will accept submissions through the website. Submissions must be sent through this portal and should meet all the guidelines outlined below. Please note that submissions sent by post or email will NOT be considered for publication. We are currently looking for: Adult fiction, particularly commercial women’s fiction, erotica, romance and young adult fiction. Nonfiction including memoirs, biographies, narrative histories and illustrated nonfiction. We are not currently accepting: plays, poetry, short stories, essays, mind body spirit, religious titles, health and fitness, children’s books and educational texts. NOTE: This is the HC in Australia. 



HARPER LEGEND
http://harperone.hc.com/harperlegend/
HarperLegend seeks to discover and publish new authors of visionary and transformational fiction in the digital first format. We know that there are many many writers out there who work in this genre. If you are one of these folks, we want to help your work reach the world.  We hope that you will embrace our offer to submit your work to HarperLegend.



CITY LIGHTS BOOKS
http://www.citylights.com/publishing/?fa=publishing_manuscripts
City Lights Books is an independent publisher of fiction, essays, memoirs, translations, poetry, and books on social and political issues. We do not publish New Age, self-help, children’s literature, how-to guides, or genre works such as romance, westerns, or science fiction. 
 
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SPONSORS
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BOOK PROPOSALS THAT ATTRACT LITERARY AGENTS!
 
Do you dream of landing a great literary agent and book deal?
 
You'll never achieve your dream without a strong,
professionally-written book proposal. That's exactly 
how I can help you.
 
I'm Dave Carew, a former Ingram staff writer who specializes in
helping writers — just like you — write attention-grabbling query
letters and book proposals. Discover why my clients have
received book offers from everyone from McGraw-Hill
to the American Management Association to ECW Press.
 
[email protected]  
(Please place "Book Proposal" in your subject line.)  
http://www.DCBookProposals.com










Crack Open Your Fierce, Original Voice This Summer

To Write Something New, Think Something New

A few spots remain for Elephant Rock's Fourth Annual Summer Solstice Retreat, June 12-17! This unique writing workshop is held on a beautiful secluded island at historic Stout's Lodge at the height of summer. Inventive approaches and techniques steer you away from repetitive thinking in order to break new ground in your work, or simply find a way to begin. Stout's is nestled on a wooded island all to itself with a soundtrack of lapping waves and birdsong. But this extraordinary week is about more than just the deep peace or the innovative writing workshops and craft talks or the daily yoga and meditation. It's the journey back to your own fierce, original voice and the ability to breathe, break through, and create. And laugh, a lot. As one writer said last year, "I am still searching for words ... because what happened at Stout's was so huge." That's the heart of the Elephant Rock Summer Solstice Retreat. All levels and genres welcome. Tuition includes 5 nights' lodging and all vegetarian meals, daily writing, yoga, & meditation, kayaks and outdoor activities, evening readings, bonfires, and music, Solstice Eve celebration, and more. Inquire soon. This retreat sells out.

 For all retreat details, visit Elephant Rock Retreats at: http://elephantrockretreats.com/upcoming-retreats/

Contact: Jeannine Ouellette – [email protected] or call 612-801-2566











GET WEBSITES THAT ROCK, BOOK COVERS THAT SIZZLE

Shaila Abdullah has over a decade of experience designing websites for authors. Being an award-winning author herself, she understands the industry, and will provide you with a content management website that reflects your unique style, genre, and personality. Other design services such as book covers & interiors, marketing materials, and email campaigns (newsletters, announcements, etc.) also available.

MENTION THIS AD AND GET 10% OFF (NEW CLIENTS ONLY)
EXISTING CLIENTS EARN 8% REFERRAL FEE FOR SENDING NEW CLIENTS 

E-mail Shaila: [email protected]
View portfolio: http://myhouseofdesign.com/authors/
Services for authors: http://myhouseofdesign.com/services-for-authors/

"Superb work, excellent customer service. Just marvelous overall.” —C. Hope Clark, author, founder of FundsforWriters, http://chopeclark.com  | http://www.fundsforwriters.com

"The site captures my spirit and passion, and it honors my dream since childhood." —Lyn Fairchild Hawks, author, http://lynhawks.com/

"Shaila is a terrific designer, highly professional and extremely creative and delivers amazing results. Her sense of humor and positive spirit has made the whole process of developing and launching my web site a pleasure. –James Hutchison, playwright, http://jameshutchison.ca/

"Her suggestions, insight, and artistic talent made the final product much better than what I’d envisioned on my own.” —Jacqueline Adams, writer, http://jacqueline-adams.com/

Other websites:
http://sbalexander.com/
http://lisakwinkler.com/
http://kbhyde.com/
http://musingsbymccoy.com/








Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest - Final Month

24th year. $4,000 in cash prizes, including $1,500 for the best story and $1,500 for the best essay. Submit short stories, essays, and other works of prose on any subject, up to 6,000 words each. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 50,000 subscribers. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Fee per entry is $18. Submit by April 30. Judge: Arthur Powers. Winning Writers is one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest). See guidelines, past winners, and enter online at www.winningwriters.com/tomstory









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Click here to visit Book Design Templates.- Instead of trying to decide what your books should look like, we've made all the decisions for you. Just follow our friendly instructional guide, pour in your text and your book will be ready to go. All your styles and formatting needs are coded into our templates for easy use. Enthusiastically endorsed by Hope!
 
Joel has created coupon code FFW35 for FFW readers. When you use FFW35 at BookDesignTemplates.com shopping cart, it will give you a 35% discount on anything on the site.

NOTE FROM HOPE: I've used these templates for ARCS, review copies for Edisto Jinx and fell in love with them!










A new software program automates scheduling and tracking tasks for book projects, particularly great for indie authors. It's called Book Planner, another Joel Friedlander product, so that alone sells me on it. ~Hope







 


BookFrenzy Studios provides professional video marketing services for authors including Cinematic Book Trailers, Promotional Videos and Social Media Video Ads. To learn more, visit their website at www.bookfrenzystudios.com

NOTE: This is the company for Jerome McClain who did my book trailer for Edisto Jinx. You should have seen the jaws dropping open as authors, agents, and editors alike saw the quality of the video trailer for Edisto Jinx on a screen at Killer Nashville. AWESOME!



















 



 


NOTE: 30 percent off for FundsforWriters readers. Click here.

Grammarly sucked me in and owned me after only ten minutes of using it on my latest manuscript, Edisto Jinx. Though my grammar skills are solid, Grammarly pointed me toward flow issues, awkward wording, repeated wording, and yes, the occasional grammar oversight. I caught myself changing sentences and enjoying the second set of eyes. Grammarly is truly one of the simplest and most useful editing tools I've ever experienced.  ~C. Hope Clark, award-winning mystery author, www.chopeclark.com, and editor of FundsforWriters.com


 
 

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Fine print
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Please forward the newsletter in its entirety. To reprint any editorials, contact [email protected] for permission. Please do not assume that acknowledgements listed in your publication is considered a valid right to publish.

C. Hope Clark
E-mail: [email protected]
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4 Chapin, SC 29036
Copyright 2000-2016, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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