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I had another rejection yesterday, they can be a bit like buses in that way. I'm now only waiting to hear from one query letter I sent out at the same time. The latest was from Frances Lincoln Ltd and I must admit they were a bit of a long shot but they have some really interesting titles in their catalogue. I have no complaints about this rejection, it was nicely worded and reasonably personal. It said: "I acknowedge receipt of your submission, with thanks. Frances Lincoln does have a very small number of chapter books, but its focus is exclusively on multicultural issues and I'm afraid that your book, with its strong science fiction element, does not fall directly enough into this category. For this reason I am returning your material on Dr Midas and the Pirates to you today. I wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable publisher for your book." The letter has been sent from Antonia Prescott, 'Reader and Consultant for Children's Writers' of the story studio. I've not heard of this company before but I'll be having a look at their website later. I have found another agent to try so I'm sending out a new query letter, outline and sample chapters today. I have also sent a short story to My Weekly. I have only ever tried to have one other short story published in a women's magazine before and that was many years ago. I can't even recall what it was about but I know Take a Break rejected it. My Weekly have given their magazine a makeover and are now asking for specific story types with new guidelines being issued every few months. I understand they get tonnes of stories, but I'll let youknow if I get a response. I've also been working on something new that feels to big to be a short story. I've written about 800 words and it was prompted by an article a colleague gave me. I'm really enjoying writing it and the character turned up fully formed. I have a good idea what will happen, but I'm a bit nervous as it has a distinctly romantic feel about it and that's going to be quite new to me as a writer. I've put Khmers to one side for this which is also not like me. I'm also wondering if it would be suitable for the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices competition. I guess I'll just have to see.

Award–winning publisher, Frances Lincoln Limited, and Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, have launched 'Diverse Voices' an award in memory of Frances Lincoln (1945–2001). The search is on for a children's book manuscript that "celebrates cultural diversity in the widest possible sense, either in terms of its story or in terms of the ethnic and cultural origins of its author." The winner will receive £1,500, plus the option for Frances Lincoln Children’s Books to publish their novel. FLCB founded in 1977 publish well over 100 new books a year, and have nearly 1000 in print. The competition is for an unpublished book (fiction) for eight to 12-year-olds by a writer aged 16 or over. The book must be between 10,000 and 30,000 words in English. The writer must not have previously published a novel for children but may have contributed to an anthology of prose or poetry. The closing date for all entries is 30 January 2009. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, next April. The award has been set up to : "Take positive steps to increase the representation of people writing from or about different cultural perspectives, whose work is published in Britain today. Promote new writing for children, especially by or about people whose culture and voice are currently underrepresented. Recognise that as children’s books shape our earliest perceptions of the world and its cultures, promoting writing that represents diversity will contribute to social and cultural tolerance. Support the process of writing rather than, as with the majority of prizes, promoting the publication." The judges will be Trevor Phillips – Chair of The Equality and Human Rights Commission, Jake Hope – Children’s Librarian for Lancashire Libraries, and a freelance consultant, Geraldine Brennan – Journalist and former Books Editor at the Times Educational Supplement, Janetta Otter-Barry – Editorial Director, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and Mary Briggs – Co-Founder of Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books For entry forms email [email protected] You can check out the great titles published by FLCB at their website www.franceslincoln.com/Home