Call for Submissions - A Cup of Comfort

A Cup of Comfort is currently seeking submissions on the following subjects:

Parents with Children with Special Needs, deadline Sept. 30
Dog Lovers, deadline Dec. 15
The Grieving Heart, deadline Feb. 1, 2009

The A Cup of Comfort anthologies are nonfiction stories that read like fiction, but always ring true. They are slice-of-life tales that make us think and care, that give insight and inspire positive action, and that entertain and enlighten. Stories must be uplifting, written in English, based on real people and events, and 1000 to 2000 words in length. $500 grand prize; $100 each for all other published stories. http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

Note: Tom C. has published in A Cup of Comfort and may be able to advise you.

Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Contest

The Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards is now accepting entries for short stories. Compete and Win in all 5 Categories! The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash. Click here for guidelines and to enter online. Deadline is Nov. 3, 2008.

Author Visit - Jerry Otteson

Jerry Otteson will be at Conkey's Bookstore, Appleton, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

Otteson, a local author, will be signing copies of his book "Great Salespeople Never Die (They Just Go Out of Commission)". Mr. Otteson is a longtime salesperson and a very funny humorist.

Call for Submissions

Words & Images of Belonging seeking submissions for proposed anthology that deal with
legacies, generations (especially that of grandparents and grandchildren), family, a sense of home and identity (i.e. the pull between home and work, leaving your childhood home to start your own home or a sense of place within oneself). Reflections may include such forms as essays, short stories, diary entries, poems, memoir and play excerpts, letters--up to approximately 4,000 words per contributor. Visual art submissions are encouraged. For example, photographs, oil paintings may compliment print submissions or be submitted separately.

If accepted, contributors will receive a complimentary copy upon publication and a contributor's discount on additional copies.

No previously published or simultaneously submitted material.

For more information, please contact the editors: Cynthia at Cafpoet37@encirclepub.com, or to Carol at smallwood@tm.net.

A deadline for submissions has not been set. For more information, please click here.

Area Author Visits & Events

AREA AUTHOR VISITS & EVENTS:

Spring Green Literary Festival
Sept. 12 &13
www.springgreenlitfest.org

“Oshkosh: A Southsider Remembers” author Ron LaPoint, Monday, Sept. 22 at the Oshkosh Public Library (time to be determined).

Wisconsin Regional Writers Conference
Sept. 26 - 28, Wausau
www.wrwa.net

Edgerton Book Festival, Oct. 4 & 5
www.edgertonbookfestival.com

Wisconsin Book Festival
Oct. 15 - 19
Madison and Milwaukee
www.wisconsinbookfestival.org

Book talk with Jennifer Chiaverini, 7 p.m. Wed., Dec. 3, Oshkosh Public Library.

Author Visit - Gary D. Schmidt

Gary D. Schmidt will visit the Neenah Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 21 and Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Schmidt is a Newbery Award-winning author of the young adult novels, The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy will be at the library.

Please check Neenah Public Library's website for further details.

David Sedaris Advance Tickets

The Wisconsin Book Festival is very pleased to partner with the Overture Center for the Arts for a special benefit event, "An Evening with David Sedaris." One of America's premier humor writers, Mr. Sedaris will appear in Overture Hall just one week before our 2008 Fest, and a generous contribution from each ticket sold will benefit the Wisconsin Book Festival.

Please follow this link below and use the password FLAMES to order your tickets before they go on sale for the general public. Mr. Sedaris's wildly popular appearances always sell out quickly, so get your tickets now!

Members' Comment

This email was sent to me from someone who joined us in the last few months and I wanted to share it with everyone because it's really all us that make the club what it is. ~ Ruth

I just wanted to let you know how much I'm enjoying the writers group, the different people, how well it's run, how involved and active some of the people are (it takes all kinds), and how much information is being passed along (contests, etc.). I'm so glad I was able to find out about the group and I am getting a lot from the group.

Thank you for everything you do.

~ C.

Writing Prompt for Aug. 16

Actually, we have several prompts for the Aug. 16 meeting - use one or all in a poem, essay, sketch or story. Your options are:

I was here on time because....

"I'lll try."

"You've got 10 seconds."

Previous writing prompts have produced some very creative and oftentimes humorous pieces - thanks to everyone who participates!

It's a Boy!

From Jessica C.


I just wanted to let everyone know that I had my baby last week. Kayne Thomas Collins was born Thursday, July 31st at 5:26pm. He was 7lbs, 15 oz and 20 in long. Both baby and I are doing well. Please pass along the news to the group! Hopefully I'll be back in a few weeks.

~ I know we all congratulate Jessica on the addition to her family! ~ Ruth