Here's Wishing You and Yours A Safe And Happy 2010!

Leah Michaels and Rochelle Chases' Chase The Dream Contest

Tomorrow, January 1st, is the official start date for the fourth annual 2010 Chase The Dream Contest presented by Romance Author's Leah Michaels and Rochelle Chase.

This is an awesome contest and a great opportunity to get your work in front of Agents and Editors, and the best thing about it is, it's FREE!

This year (and every year) they have a great panel of agents and editors. Just look at the lineup!

• Alex Logan of Grand Central Publishing
• Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks
• Theresa Stevens of Red Sage
• Susan Swinwood of Harlequin/Mira/Spice
• Esi Sogah of Avon Books,
• Kelli Martin of Kumani
• Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency
• Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency
• Elizabeth Pomada of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency

and more yet to be announced.

Also, they've added a new feature to the contest website, which I think is pretty cool. Videos from each of the agents and editors on the panel, telling what makes them request more after reading a contest entry.

To enter, submit the first 1,000 words or less of an unpublished romance, chick lit, or mainstream fiction with romantic elements novel/novella. Each Wednesday, from January 13, 2010 to March 3, 2010, Rachelle Chase will select a finalist from that week’s entries and post it on the Finalists page. Visitors are invited to post comments.

So, even though the official date to enter your submission begins tomorrow, you can submit your entry every week until March 2, 2010 (as long as it doesn't get chosen).

I entered Dangerous Desire in the 2007 contest, and although I didn't win, I was the Week 6 Mini Critique Winner and I received some great critiques from Leah and Rochelle.

So, if you're interested in entering, go here for rules and guidelines.

Best of Luck, and Happy New Year!

Chase The Dream Contest
Rochelle Chase
Leah Michaels

A Few Contests

Need something to get your mind off the holidays? How about entering a contest? Below are a few I recently ran accross and thought were interesting.

Good Luck!

~Carol
(Note: I'm not familiar with any of these contests. Please do your research before entering.)

 Announcing the 2010 FlashFiction Contest Of the Pikes Peak Branch of National League of American Pen Women

Deadline: March 1, 2010 (postmarked)

Entry fee: $10 per manuscript

Theme: “The Power of Three”. Prizes: 1st -$75; 2nd - $40; Judge’s Merit Award - $20. A complete but very short story of 100 words or fewer (titles not included in word count). Multiple entries may besubmitted, $10 entry fee for each entry, check or money order payable to PikesPeak Branch NLAPW (a non-profit organization). Entries must pertain to the theme, should benarrative in form, that is, should “tell a story.” All genres welcome, no poetry. Submitters need not live in Colorado orbe a member of Pen Women to enter; male writers are welcome to participate. Obtain an EntryForm, with rules for submission, by accessingon-line at: www.ppb-NLAPW.org Click on “Contests,” then on “Click Here”for Entry Form and submission rules. Forquestions or further information, e-mail dodeq@msn.com(inquiries only/no submissions). Winners will be notified byApril 15, 2010.
 

NEW MILLENNIUM WRITINGS semi-annual writing awards

Deadline: January 31, 2009

Entry Fee: $17.00
Categories: fiction, poetry, short-short fiction, & creative non-fiction
Prizes: $4,000 ($1,000 for first prize in each category) plus print & online publication
For Contest Rules & Online Submissions: http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/

William Saroyan International Prize for Writing

Submission deadline: January 31, 2010

Nominations for the 2010 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing will be accepted through January 31, 2010. This award, given by Stanford University Libraries in partnership with the William Saroyan Foundation, recognizes newly published works of fiction and non-fiction with a $5,000 award for the winner in each category. The prize is designed to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and stylistic innovation. For more information, including official entry forms, contest rules, a press release, and other information on the prize, visit the Saroyan Prize website: http://library.stanford.edu/saroyan/

SUMMERFIELD G ROBERTS AWARD

DEADLINE: January 15, 2010
GENRE: Poetry, short stories, nonfiction and books
DETAILS: Literary manuscripts or published books that "best portrays the spirit, character, strength, and deeds of those who lived in the Republic of Texas" (1836-46). Entries may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, plays, short stories, novels, or biographies (all genres compete together).
PRIZE: $2500

http://www.srttexas.org/sumfield.html

HIGLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN FICTION CONTEST

DEADLINE: January 31, 2010
GENRE: Short Stories
OPEN TO: Anyone 16+
DETAILS: Write a children's story based on your family. Stories may be any length up to 750 words. Stories for beginning readers should not exceed 475 words.
PRIZE: 3 prizes of $1000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation
Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. http://www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest

Postcard contest with cash prizes

Deadline: January 15, 2010
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline extended. Geist (Vancouver, BC) invites entries for their 6th Annual Geist Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest. First prize: $250. Submit a postcard along with a story that relates to the image. 500 words max. Entry Fee: $20 (includes subscription), $5 for each additional entry.

http://www.geist.com/contest/6th-annual-geist-literal-literary-postcard-story-contest

Here's Wishing You and Yours A Very Merry Christmas

Myspace Comments

An Early Christmas Present

Woo-hoo, I'm soooo excited! I'm getting a FREE Dell Mini Netbook and it's on its way to my house right now! Woo-hoo!

Let me explain. Back in the summer I was having IP problems so I decided to switch (back) to Comcast. Well, at the time (which I didn't even know until a customer rep told me when I signed up) Comcast was running an awesome promotional special. New customers who signed up within a certain time frame would get a Free Dell Netbook 10v! Awesome, right?

But (you knew there was going to be a butt but, didn't you?) the stipulation was, after signing the contract you had to be a customer in good standing for 90 days before you were eligible to receive the Netbook. It is a great deal, however, I couldn't help but think it was probably too good to be true. I figured Comcast would somehow find a way to re-nig.

Well, long story short, I signed at the end of August, which was within  the promotional time frame, so when my 90 days were up last month, I began wondering when/if I'd receive my "gift", so to avoid calling them and being switched from one person to another and holding forever, I decided to check online first.

I went to Comcast's website and without much luck, looked for something, anything about the Netbook promotion, but I could find nothing, nada. I was just about to give up and call the Comcast office when I accidentally discovered a forum that was discussing... you guessed it, the Netbook promotion!

At first, it didn't look good. All the post's were negative. People bad mouthing the company, complaining about the service, etc., etc., etc., but then, all of a sudden it started to actually look ... promising.There, near the very bottom of the page was a post by someone who actually gave some positive and helpful feedback. They even posted a link to a website you could go to and check the status of your promotion and everything (I wonder why Comcast just couldn't have put that information somewhere on the website where you could actually find it?).

Then, just when I was making a bit of progress, on Friday I got a letter from Comcast confirming that my Netbook was scheduled to ship on 12/04/2009. The delivery date is Tuesday,  12/08/09, and guess what? They even had the tracking number! Woo-hoo! Well, you better believe I went straight to the UPS site and I've been tracking that baby ever since.

It appears that my Netbook is in transit. It shipped from LAWNSIDE, NJ on the 4th and right now it's in NEW STANTON, PA, where it has been since yesterday. Slowly but surely it's making its way to my front door step in Michigan. What a relief. *sigh*

I can't help but wonder what color it will be. On the Dell Netbook 10v web page I saw that you could choose from some really pretty colors and designs, but they never asked what color we wanted (yeah, right). I bet they'll send them in basic black or maybe white. If I had my choice I'd pick red, it's just so pretty. But, beggars can't be choosers. I'm just thankful I'm actually getting a Netbook. And just in time for Christmas, too. What a great Christmas present!

I've heard a LOT of good things about Netbooks. It seems everyone who owns one just loves them. What about you? Do you have a Netbook, and if so, how do you like it?