Writing Contest For Those Who Believe in 'The Good'

"And finally, I believe in my whole race. Yellow, white, black, red, brown --in the honesty, courage, intelligence, durability....and goodness.....of the overwhelming majority of my brothers and sisters everywhere on this planet. I am proud to be a human being. I believe that we have come this far by the skin of our teeth, that we always make it just by the skin of our teeth --but that we will always make it....survive....endure. I believe that this hairless embryo with the aching, oversize brain case and the opposable thumb, this animal barely up from the apes, will endure --will endure longer than his home planet, will spread out to the other planets, to the stars, and beyond, carrying with him his honesty, his insatiable curiosity, his unlimited courage --and his noble essential decency."

"This I believe with all my heart."

As read by Mrs. Heinlein received a standing ovation.

If you can relate to this, then there is a short story contest you need to consider.


The Robert A. HeinleinCentennial Short Story ContestThree prizes will be given for the best original short storiesreflecting the spirit, ideas, and philosophies of Robert AnsonHeinlein.$5,000 first prize$2,000 second prize$1,000 third prizeIf you want a short declaration of who the man was and his works, thengo to this link http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/thisibelieve.html

Free Lessons For Authors

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPIC-eWorkshop/

EPIC eWorkshop is precisely what it sounds like. This is a learning experience for new authors and new-to-e-book authors. List members need not be members of EPIC (The Electronically Published Internet Connection) to join in. We'll be discussing the indie/e industry, publishing in general, submitting, finding an e-publisher, contracts, and any other business aspects of indie/e publishing.

While this is not a critique group, you may post query letters for comment, at any time. When classes involve list members posting excerpts, the excerpt rule will be lifted.

This is not a promotion list. We will certainly share submission successes and heartbreaks, but we won't be advertising anyone's books or services.

This list is for adults only. At the same time, there will be no explicit sexual content allowed on list. This is a workshop for everyone from Inspirational and Children's/YA through erotica, but it's a business/learning group in general and not dedicated to a particular genre. Erotic content is better suited to groups like ERWA (Erotic Readers' and Writers' Association), where the entire group is dedicated to erotic writing.

Please read the full list rules before posting. List cops are available to help you find your feet.


We are also accepting proposals for those who wish to give workshops in their particular area of expertise. Several members, including myself, have non-EPIC-sponsored yahoogroups where erotic content may be presented without offense. If you have an announcement of an online workshop, please feel free to post that as well.

Suggest a 2007 Book For a Writer's Contest

http://www.dream-realm-awards.net/rules.htm

Or cross-genres of romance, YA or erotic thereof... The Dream Realm Awards are now open for e-books over 40K released in 2007. Entry is $20. You enter with the first 3 chapters or 12K of the RTF file (whichever is shorter)...no art.

If you make the finals, they need the full book. It cannot be a reprint. You can only enter the book in one category (READ the descriptions...though FAIRY DREAMS is sensual romance, it must enter as erotica...their rules), and you cannot enter more than one book per category, though you can enter different books in different categories. There is also a cover art portion, but cover artists have to enter it, AFAIK.

Brenna--

http://www.brennalyons.com http://www.myspace.com/brennalyonsFairy Dreams is the best bar none fantasy romance that I have ever read! The action is non-stop; the deep abiding love so well portrayed that you feel as though you are experiencing it yourself. Regina for Coffee Time Romance


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Chat With Authors

We are doing a few major workshops for Small Press Month. We are hosting one of our biggest workshops this week.

Place: www.inspiredauthor.com (click the chat-room button at the top of the page.
Time: 7 - 9 eastern (come when you can)
Membership: none needed - just enter your screen name and enter


Katie Adams

Katie Adams is a highly successful grant writer. In fact, she obtained over $12 million in grants for her clients in only 3 months! She can help you learn how to get free publicity, money to promote your writing, and much more! If you want to become famous overnight, then be at the Inspired Authors chat on Friday night.

Katie has offered to host a 2 hour workshop to help authors promote themselves and their work, build winning PR campaigns, and launch their careers. Have your questions ready! She is also looking for cream of the crop writers for her new business venture. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime chance.

Authors must be well known even before releasing their first book. This takes a “presence” that is only accomplished by proactive marketing. If you miss this one, you will regret it.




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Share Your Favorite Grandfather's Story

The inspiration for The Pledge came from stories my grandfather told me. His stories went far beyond life lessons and relating family history. They inspired me. They made me the person I am today. I have read a lot of stories, but for some reason, the stories that grandfathers tell us are the best.

Tell me your story. I will publish some of them into my newsletter. Others will be published into my blog. I’ll share your grandfather’s story with other people. Let me know what made the story so special. Share your pictures. Pictures of where your family came from. Pictures of you with your grandfather. But - no pictures that include people who have not given their permission - or children.

How to Submit: Submit your stories, no longer than 500 words as a comment on this post. I will chose stories to appear in my newsletter and post on some of my sites. Selected stories may include pictures and a link to your website. I will contact you via the contact form on your website. Submit Your Grandfather Story at www.writer-writer.com



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Free Author Promotion Workshop: Three Famous Speakers

We had a great chat on promotion last night. There were a lot of things covered, and we had the author of one of the top SELLING BOOKS book on Amazon (3 days on Amazon and in the top 50 000). Nikki gave us some excellent tips and advice.

We also explained the difference between promotion by spamming your name, and promotion by Branding.

After 2 hours, there were still questions, so I decided to devote tonight's chat on 'becoming famous' without spending money.

I have invited a PR person, Katherine Adams who works with businesses and CEOs. She is writing a book on landing six figure jobs. If she comes, she can tell us more about 'branding' yourself. She won her clients 12million last year - so she is no 'small fish' when it comes to PR.

Mirella Patzer will tell how she became a popular speaker and was invited to speak (paid) in Italy, the setting of her book - all within less than 2 months.

Nikki Leigh will be there. Her current book on promotion has only been on amazon for 3 days and is in the top 50 000 (out of 3 million) selling books.

We also have Lori Chance, a book coach, and a few other tentative speakers.

I am also saving transcripts. So if you were one of the people who felt you just didn't know that you 'could' become famous without a lot of hassle - and you wanted to know more - come to the IA chat tonight.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/ - Click Chat. You do not need to become a member.

Chat is Every Friday 7PM Eastern

Tonight's event will have the chat room at www.inspiredauthor.com open from 6 - 9+ You do not need to become a member, or enter any personal information. Just type in a screen name and you are in the chat.






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Regency Debutantes: a Feast of Fictional Heroines

The Regency debutante comes in very handy for authors like me, even though she is as individual as the writers who create her. She can appear in just about all shapes and sizes--within a framework of having the ability to attract "Mr. Right," of course. (In other words, she can be anything as long as it's attractive enough for the purposes of a romance.)

Half the fun of a Regency (or any romance) is being able to understand and relate to the heroine; therefore, she must be wonderful in some ways and definitely lacking in others; she must be attractive but not so perfect that you can't believe in her; she must strike a chord in every female reader who picks up your book, and any writer can create such a character simply by making her human. That is the one thing we ALL have in common, our humanity, with all its foibles and faults.

But what is a Regency debutante? How is she different from other fictional heroines?

A dictionary will tell you that a debutante is “a young woman making a formal debut into society.” In our case, it is Regency society, which is the other half of the fun of a Regency novel. No other time period was quite like the Regency; Jane Austen taught us how to poke gentle fun at it while also caring about those who were part of it; and Georgette Heyer showed us ways to really turn up the volume (of fun), concocting plots full of characters plucked from many layers of that society.

The interesting thing about the debutante of the Regency, is that she could be most anyone, from anywhere. Families came from abroad for the 'season' to debut their favored young ladies among the English rich. Most of the time, they, too, had money and therefore were supremely 'qualified' to join the “marriage mart.” But they might also be hiding a bankruptcy—it wasn't always easy to discover the truth in those days of slow travel and communication (by today's standards).

Likewise, any country miss and her mama might aspire to a London “season” and there was always the chance of making an astounding success. (You see how it easily makes for the stuff of romance novels?)

So the Regency Debutante was any young lady of gentle birth making her "come out" into the wider society of adults of her community; If she were wealthy or could gather enough financial backing, (or had good connections) she could make that debut into London or Bath society, circles where the possibility of making a good match (marriage) were greater.

Not all Regency novels use debutantes as their heroines, but to understand what "the season" was about, one must recognize this formal female creature! She often was not in for fun and games, despite the whirl of social entertainments on her schedule, but if she happened to be pretty, and even more important, wealthy, then upper class society was sure to welcome her in.

Another aspect that makes Regencies so enjoyable is the clothing needed for the debutante's season. The quantity AND the quality--it all counted, and it all makes for fun reading. That, along with descriptions of social customs and manners, makes delving into the era an experience you will likely want to do again and again.

The Regency? You've got to love it!


Linore Rose Burkard writes Inspirational Romance with a special interest in the Regency. She also writes articles on Regency Life, Parenting, and Self-Improvement. Get her FREE monthly eZine "Upon My Word!"



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The History Of The Harlequin Romance Novel

Romance novels have long been associated with a guilty pleasure - covertly enjoyed by women who hide behind their sunglasses on the beach or under the covers on a lazy weekend afternoon. Novels such as these glorify the fantasy of falling in love - elevating the "knight in shining armor" to a level of grandeur never to be experienced by mortal men; bulging biceps, mysterious eyes, and desirable lips - the men of the romance novel are entrusted to sweep the heroine of the book off of her proverbial feet; and in so doing, sweep the masses of women who cling to every word in an attempt to escape reality - off of their feet as well. The romance novel is just that - an escape; and no one provides a portal for better escape than the Harlequin romance novel.

Interestingly enough, the Harlequin romance novel began with a man; not a tall, dark stranger of the novel's pages, but a Canadian businessman eager to break into publishing. Harlequin was founded in 1949 by Richard Bonnycastle and immediately set about publishing books in a wide array of genres popular in the day - such as mysteries and Westerns. It was not until the late 1950s, when Harlequin acquired Mills & Boon - a British romance publisher - that Harlequin made its first foray into the romance novel industry. But by the mid-1960s Harlequin had made a decision to focus solely on the publication of the Harlequin romance fiction novel - based on the enormous popularity of the books (and a not-so-gentle nudging from Bonnycastle's wife Mary).

Differentiating itself further in the market, Harlequin shunned traditional marketing, and opted instead to reach its audience through a non-traditional sales approach. It is for this reason that the Harlequin romance novel can most often be found for sale in drugstores and grocery stores - at the time, frequent haunts of women who were the prime audience for Harlequin.

Just as popular as the fiction itself, Harlequin romance cover art holds its own appeal for fictional romance enthusiasts. The visual of the brawny hero and his damsel in distress has become synonymous with the Harlequin brand; in fact, collectors eagerly seek out vintage Harlequin cover art in a nod to the birth of a brand. While the Harlequin novel covers have gradually changed throughout the years to reflect a more modern audience, the cover art is still just as meticulously created as it was at its inception.

The company's entrance into the online market in 1996 brought the Harlequin brand to the next level, allowing readers to check in with their favorite series and authors. Taking it one step further, Harlequin launched http://eharlequin.com in 2000 offering an online library where readers can read and shop at their own leisure.

Today, Harlequin remains the largest publisher of romance novel series - publishing over 500 new titles every month - in 25 languages - and with distribution in every major market around the world. The company also encompasses the work of nearly 1,500 fictional romance authors.

Still looking for the perfect romance? Try visiting http://www.MyRomanceLife.com, a website that specializes in providing romance advice, tips and resources including information on the Harlequin romance.


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History Books Can Lift You To Be Serene Warrior Powered by Bliss

Ancient warriors were the most powerful, and as societies grew more complex, the warrior class either were at the top, such as Alexander the Great who overpowered Darius of Persia. Alexander had been trained by Aristotle to believe in God and a good life if one lived a good life. Since then, warriors have used their wits to find their ways to power. Such warriors rarely end their lives in a state of bliss or happiness.

It has been such a changed world since the English secret agent James Bond first opened at the cinemas in 1962 and we all lined up to see this exciting new old adventure. I recall it well. We had read of it first, that our inspiring new President, John F. Kennedy, had admitted, as only an offside in an interview, that at the moment his favorite bedtime reading was about James Bond. Again, a warrior, but one who playfully fought on the side of good over evil.

I and millions became eager to find out what inspired this great man, who was a true war hero himself, and his own life story was on the screen. So why would he need to admire James Bond? Aha, this was his other secret life. We all wanted in.

A World War Two heroic figure, admired by our heroic new President, was soon coming to the screen. He was apparently suave, licensed to kill, a lady killer, in behind enemy lines against impossible odds each time. And yet. This man who created James Bond had been James Bond, and he died soon into this series, and his words were carried forth by others, many times more.

President John Kennedy had made an instant hit of the book in an off hand remark to a reporter on what his latest bed time reading was. JFK mentioned how he was enjoying the wartime exploits of an English secret agent given the name James Bond.

The sensation that this created I recall well, which then soon created the movie that made an instant star out of Sean Connery.

And during that permissive age, with each movie, James became less forever with each diamond of a woman he met. Now, today your rather cavalier ways James, causes most of us to wince.

The issue now coming around after all those years of permissive self indulgence is now seen among our grand children. They curl their lips at such folly, and more likely enjoy an even balance, or where the right is more to the point, rather than the sexual dalliance.

And not so long after James Bond came the Beatles and meditation and the search for a deeper meaning to life. And many, including myself, have meditated while studying psychology and thriving in business until now, God willing.

And now studies by University of California have confirmed that there are eight common factors in those who live longest and report highest rates of personal contentment and a sense of satisfaction with their lives. This is science confirming ancient history wisdom.

The keys are

1-Count Your Blessings.
2-Acts of kindness, practice them.
3-Savor the Joys of Life.
4-Thank a Mentor.
5-Learn to Forgive.
6-Friends and family, keep them close.
7-Take Care of Your Body.
8-Develop Strategies to Cope with Stress, Hardships

So whether you behave like Alexander of Napoleon at times, allow these softer values to enter every pore of your being, until you Tarzan and you Amazon Jane still remember to show your godly examples: kittens, puppies and small children will be the first to notice.


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Online Book Stores: Expanding the Horizon of Book Reading

Books are the best friends of human being. It realizes us the power of knowledge, helps our understanding of different subjects and makes us a better person. It also improves our communication skills and our overall personality. There is nothing more exciting than reading a book and losing yourself in the characters present in the book and being a part of twists and turns of a great story.

You go to the nearest book stores to find your favourite books. It has been the convenient way of reading books so far. Although it is very common to go to these stores but now it is very difficult to get time to visit the store. Even if you go there, you don’t find the books you were looking for. Also, many times the traditional book stores don’t offer you a host of options to shop. Keeping all these factors in the mind, many new concepts and ideas are coming into the market. Readers are getting the joy of reading whole book on their PC with a reasonable pricing option. It really sounds good if you are looking for comfort with no compromise in services.

With the increasing use of internet and its applications in our daily life, the concept of online book store is getting a huge popularity. People love to see, read the summary and post their requirements of books through online process. It is more comfortable and convenient. This concept was first used in schools, colleges and universities in order to provide their students a better choice of gaining knowledge. All the libraries in these places were made online within the local area networking system. Later on, this innovative idea was absorbed by the internet savvy persons and they developed online book stores. All these have not only benefited to the readers but also to the authors since they receive more royalty now mainly because of increased sales globally. Consequently, it also helps the price of books putting down and making the availability more convenient.

The online book shops are becoming famous for its variety too. It gives a list of the renowned authors and their books. You can also find the not so popular authors here and enjoy the novels. It gives a number of choices to the users to find exclusive book lists, hard to find novels and the price range with a simple click. For example, if you are looking for a Harry Potter book, you can simply type the name in search box and you will get the required details within no time. These stores also deliver your booked stuff to your residence.

There are some other lucrative services offered by the online stores. If you are not a person who loves reading books, you can find the DVD and CD version of your favourite books here. The price of this multimedia stuff is kept affordable for you. Now, enjoy reading or watching the fictions or Non-fictions in a most innovative way. There are many sites where you have to get yourself registered and they will be informing about the latest books and offers through e mail. Hence, you will be updated with the happenings in the book world.

The fame of online book portals is obvious in the UK. Some of the biggest book stores in the world come from the UK. The renowned book chain Waterstone is one of them. The fact remains same with the online version of the stores. It is the best place to lure the book worms with a number of online bookstores UK. The online bookstores Ireland, London are also very popular among the book lovers with its huge variety of reading materials. Amazon.co.uk, Rupizcompare.co.uk, etc are some of the leading sites that provide the wide variety of books at the affordable price. You can also find the attractive offers and deals on the sites. It gives an exciting shopping experience to you.

Know more about books price comparison at rupiz compare and get discount shop for audio books and best selling books visit book stores here.



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