How to use this Page

The Royal City Literary Arts Society (BC) is accepting entries for the RCLAS Write on! Contest. Three genres: fiction (1500 words max.), non-fiction (1500 words max.) and poetry. First prize in each genre: $100. Entry fee: $20 ($10 for members). Selected entrants published in RCLAS’ e-zine, Wordplay at Work. Deadline: April 1, 2016.

From the time I was a student myself, and through the twenty five years my children have attended school, I’ve always admired teachers and librarians.  Working as an Ed Tech these last five years has only made me love them more.  They put so much of themselves into their classrooms, their lesson plans and their relationships with students and peers. They quite often work late, and go into their classrooms on the weekends because it’s quieter then and they can accomplish more. They chaperon dances because their students ask them to. Teachers and librarians wipe tears, advise on friendships and counsel on “dating”.  They create a writing club, coding club, guitar club, or sewing club, and give up their lunch time to oversee it . . . all because there seems to be an interest.

Me on the left and my best friend Holly, in sewing club.

Me on the left and Holly, learning to sew.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that impress me most, how they’ll personally buy books, paper, staples, or pencils for their room, because the budget has been frozen.  And no, pencils aren’t expensive.  Unless you go through 5 packs of 50 every three days.

More than anything, my author self enjoys meeting educators on their own turf, in their element, within their classrooms and libraries. I learn something new every time. Get inspired every time. Make new friends every time. And I always hope that I too, give back something every time.

But alas, the duties of my campground and my own teaching job, keep me from getting out into the educational world as much as I’d like.  Even finding time to post on Facebook and Twitter can be challenging, especially if I want to get some writing done!  I’m blessed to teach in a district which encourages me accept a few school visit invitations each year, and I take advantage of that. But I also don’t want to be away from my own students too often. They may be middle-schoolers, and they don’t often show it outright, but they miss me when I’m away.

Truth be told, I miss them, too.

So, I’m constantly searching for new and fun ways to connect with my readers and to support the educators who support them, without having to leave the classroom too often.  And if I can include my own students and  school in the process, it’s a win-win!

Recently, when Shannon introduced a book trailer project to our students, and we realized how much they were learning from the process, we had an ah-ha moment.  What if we created a contest using book trailers?  What if we tied it into the release of Cooper and Packrat’s third adventure?  What if our students were judges?

And knowing how valuable books are to educators, what if the winning classroom received a set of Mystery of the Missing Fox? 

I’ve created a special page for Cooper and Packrat’s Book Trailer Contest –  so we could keep all comments and FAQ in one place. Islandport Press, Shannon, and I hope you’ll enter for a chance to win a classroom set of Mystery of the Missing Fox. 

We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Lunch Ticket invites submissions from translators and authors of multi-lingual texts for the Gabo Prize for Translation. Prize: $200 plus publication. Poetry, prose, and bi/multi-lingual work accepted. Deadline: February 29, 2016.

Short fiction and poetry entries are open for Grain Magazine’s 28th Annual Short Grain Writing Contest. First prize in each category: $1,000 ($4,500 in total prizes). Submit poetry (including prose poetry) up to 100 lines or short fiction (including postcard fiction) 2500 words max. Entry fee: $40-$60 (includes subscription). Deadline: April 1, 2016.

The Banister (Niagara Branch of the Canadian Authors Association) is holding their 31st annual poetry contest. First prize: $300. Open to residents of Ontario, Canada. Entry fee: $15 for 3 poems. Deadline: May 31, 2016.

Entries open for The Monadnock Essay Collection Prize. Submit a book-length collection (120-160 pages or 50,000-60,000 words) of nonfiction essays: personal essays, memoir in essay form, narrative nonfiction, commentary, travel, historical account, etc. Prize: $1000, publication and 100 copies of the published collection, and distribution with other titles. Entry fee: $30. Deadline: March 1, 2016.

Entries are invited for the Vallum Chapbook Award 2016. Submit original and previously unpublished poetry chapbook submissions of 12-20 pages. Theme: Open. Prize: $125 plus publication. Entry fee: $25. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

ArtAscent invites writing by international writers on the theme of “heat.” Entries may include fiction, poetry, short stories and other written explorations (900 words max.). Selected writers will be featured in the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal, including an artist profile review. Entry fee: starting at $10. Deadline: February 29, 2016.

Entries are invited for the Craigleigh Press Poetry Contest. Three categories: Free verse, traditional verse, haiku. First prize in each category: $50. Entry fees: $5-$15. Deadline: April 30, 2016.

I am not reviewing How to Put Your Parents to Bed for a while, but don’t want you to miss the opportunity to WIN PAJAMAS to celebrate this new release from debut children’s author Mylisa Larsen and Babette Cole (HarperCollins, 978-0-06-232064-3). Open to US, Canada & Great Britain    Mylisa Larsen’s tongue-in-cheek bedtime story about a role …

The 2016 Bristol Short Story Prize is open to all writers worldwide. First prize: £1000; 19 additional prizes available. Theme and subject open. Length: 4000 words max. Entry fee: £8 per story. Shortlisted writers published in the Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 9. Deadline: April 30, 2016.

The Turnip Truck(s) is interested in the dialectics of the human and its environment(s). Seeking submissions for their second issue and first contest, The Road. Interested in essays, poems, and stories. Welcomes work that addresses anything from a traditional hero’s journey to learning to traverse a foreign land; embraces a new perspective; or navigates the Internet super highway. Reading fee: $3. entry fee: $12. Deadline: March 1, 2016.

Entries are invited for the Fabula Press Nivalis Short Story Contest 2016. First prize: US$250. All long-listed entries (top 10-15) published in an anthology; non-prize winning published entries paid US$50 each. Theme: None. Genre: Open to literary fiction, historical fiction, mystery/suspense, and horror. Length: 1500-7000 words. Entry fee: US$10. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Submissions are open for the DISQUIET Prize for writing in any genre. Winners will be published in Guernica (fiction), Ninth Letter (non-fiction) or The Collagist (poetry). Grand prize: full scholarship, accommodations, and travel stipend to attend the sixth annual DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon (July 3-15, 2016). Runners-up and other outstanding entrants will also be considered for financial aid. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: January 30, 2016.

The Freshwater Review (US), an annual journal of literature and art, is accepting submissions. $250 each awarded to best poem and prose piece. No entry fee. Deadline: February 15, 2016.

Room Magazine invites entries from writers who identify as women or genderqueer for their annual creative nonfiction writing contest. First prize: $500 + publication. Entry fee: $35 (includes subscription). Deadline: March 8, 2015.

Entries are invited for the 2nd Teignmouth Festival Poetry Competition. First prize: £500. The open competition is for original, unpublished poems in any style and on any subject, 35 lines max. International writers welcome. Entries from poets with TQ14 and EX7 postcodes entered in the Keats’ Footsteps competition (first prize: £100). Entry fee: £4. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

The Ginosko Flash Fiction Award (US) is for an unpublished work of flash fiction. Prize: $500. Submit up to 2 pieces, 800 words maximum each piece. Entry fee: $10. Deadline: March 1, 2016.

Tethered By Letters invites entries for the F(r)iction Winter Writing Contests. Three categories: short story (1,000 to 7,500 words, open genre), flash fiction (up to 750 words), and poetry (max of three pages per poem). Encourages work that takes risks in theme, content, or aesthetic. Their motto: Publish Weird. Winners published in F(r)iction, (trianually-printed). All finalists will receive free professional editing on their submission and will be considered for later publication. Prizes of US$1000 – short story, US$300 – flash fiction, US$300 (USD) – poetry. Entry fees: $10-18. Deadline: March 31, 2016. Guidelines.

I can't believe it's already time for my annual Black Swagday Giveaway--but.... *double checks calendar*....Yep! THE TIME HAS COME!

(*whispers* If anyone can figure out how to pause time, that'd be AWESOME. kthanxbai)

Since this is the time of year where everyone has gifts on their minds--and I personally feel that books are THE BEST gifts anyone can give--I love doing this giveaway to help you guys make your gifts even more special (and btw--gifts for yourself totally count). But it only lasts for a few days so don't miss your chance!

So here's how this works.

If you buy any of my books (Keeper of the Lost Cities, Exile, Everblaze, Neverseen, Let the Sky Fall, and/or Let the Storm Break*) this weekend--which just so happens to be the biggest shopping weekend of the year, between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday--and fill out the form at the end of this post, I will send you the corresponding swag pack below.

*I'm not including pre-orders of Let the Wind Rise because I'll be doing a separate giveaway for that closer to the book's release

- a signed bookplate 
- a signed, limited edition Verdi art print
- a Black Swan sticker
- a 5x7 character art print (featuring the awesome illustrations by Courtney Godbey)


AND, if you buy more than one KEEPER book, I'll throw in extra goodies as well--and if you want an example of what some of those goodies could be, here's a pic:

(Obviously you won't get everything you see in this pic--but you'll get some of it, chosen randomly at mailing. And the more books you buy, the more you'll get)


And if you buy LET THE SKY FALL and fill out the form, I'll send you this*:

AND if you buy LET THE STORM BREAK and fill out the form, I'll send you this*:

 - a LTSB signed bookplate

Darlings!

So nice of you to drop by on Monday and visit me!  I missed you so over the weekend :)

And you won't be sorry for coming over!

I have SUCH exciting news!!!

Guess what???

I have invented a new recipe!

Yes!  It's true!

I must give credit where credit is due.  I was inspired by Shelley Kinder in a blog comment on the Halloweensie Winner's post.  During all the talk about nuts vs. no nuts in dessert, she suggested the benefits of peanut butter chips... and an idea was born!

Lo and behold, my new recipe:

Take the brownie recipe of your choice and add 1/2 (or 1/2 +) cup of peanut butter chips!  YUM!

And this gave rise to ANOTHER idea... add 1/2 (or 1/2+) cup of toffee chips!

OR add 1/2 (or 1/2+) cup of crushed peppermint!

OR go the s'mores route and add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and 1/4-1/2 cup graham cracker cereal!  (Although that might get mushy... I'll have to experiment...!  Maybe crushed graham cracker at the bottom with the brownie batter mixed with marshmallows added on top...?)

I KNOW!

And you're welcome, because I know I have just given you a whole new outlook on your holiday baking plans! :)

At least, I've given MYSELF a whole new outlook on MY holiday baking plans! :)

And the added benefit?  An unexpected Monday Something Chocolate Snack:

The Dream Quest One.com invites international entries for their Poetry & Writing Contest. Accepting poems (30 lines max.) and short stories (5 pages max.) on any subject or theme. First prize poetry: US$250; first prize short fiction: US$500. Entry fees: US$5 (poetry) and US$10 (fiction).
Deadline: January 24, 2016.

The Munster Literature Centre (Ireland) invites entries for the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition. First prize: €1000, a writer’s retreat at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, a trip to Ireland, and publication in Southword Journal. More prizes available. Open to international entrants. Length: 40 lines. Theme: open. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Guidelines.

Cosmonauts Avenue invites entries for their inaugural CA Poetry Prize, judged by Claudia Rankine. Winner receives $500 and publication. Submit two poems max. per entry. Entry fee: $10. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Guidelines.

It’s time to be a #HarryPotterSpotter!  From now through November 2, Bloomsbury Publishing is sponsoring a Harry Potter artwork scavenger hunt.  Twelve prints of Jim Kay’s illustrations for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are currently on display in twelve art museums across Britain, and fans are invited to find them all and document their search on social media.

The hunt is in collaboration with Kids in Museums and The Telegraph.  Clues to the locations of the prints within the museums in the UK and Ireland are on the Bloomsbury website.  Each print is on display in a free museum or in free areas of museums.  Only one print needs to be found to enter the contest, but participants are welcome to search for all twelve.

The overall winner of our Harry Potter Spotter competition will receive family tickets to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, a Jim Kay signed print of their choice and a copy of the Deluxe Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Twelve additional prize winners will receive a Harry Potter tote bag, a Jim Kay signed print (of the print they spotted) and a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated Edition. 

To play, simply take a photograph of yourself in front of one of the prints on display in a museum.  (If you don’t want to be in the photo, you can just take a picture of the print.)  Share your photo on Twitter or Instagram, using #HarryPotterSpotter.  Images should be tagged to @KidsBloomsbury and the specific museum on Twitter, or @BloomsburyPublishing and the specific museum on Instagram.  Don’t forget to see more of the museum while you are there!

For a full slideshow of the artwork, participating museums, and clues, see here.