Reminder for the Summer Hidden Contest

Susan over at West of Mars has worked hard on this great summer event! I just wanted to remind you to visit and see the most recent link with incentives!

Hidden Treasures Reading List V.01

If you don't know what this is for, just look at the post on Reading Contest! Or, head over to West of Mars for more information!

Hidden Treasures Reading List:


Henry Miller - The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder
Karel Capek - Absolute at Large
Albert Cossery - Proud Beggars
Harold Maine - If a Man be Mad
Andre Breton - Mad Love
Henry Martin - The Mad Days of Me: Escaping Barcelona
Donald E. Westlake - The Dortumunder series (What's So Funny? the last book
was released in April I think)

Richard Stark (Westlake's pen name) -- The Parker series (Ask the Parrot, the
last book was released late last year)

Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

The Rise of the Dibor by Christopher Hopper

Whiskey Sour by JA Konrath

The Naming by Alison Croggon

Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson
Miss Lonelyhearts - Nathaniel West
Angels - Denis Johnson (not as beloved on my part as "Jesus' Son," but still pretty damn good. I also recommend his collected poems, "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nation's Millennium General Assembly"
Beneath the Underdog -- autobiography of Charles Mingus
The Sound & The Fury and As I Lay Dying (have these ever made a bestseller's list? In a perfect world, yes, but otherwise I doubt it).
Wide Sargasso Sea -- Jean Rhys (I'd also recommend her other novels. Depressing as hell, but damn good reads ... especially if you're depressed!)
All I know of love - Katie Schneider
Stigmata: A Novel - Phyllis Alesia Perry
Zahrah the Windseeker - Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
The Passion of Mary Magdalen and Magdalen Rising by Elizabeth Cunningham
Speak Right On: Dred Scott A Novel by Mary E. Neighbour

Virginia Fellows book The Shakespeare Code (historical fiction)
Amy Lignor book The Heart of a Legend (historical fiction)
Pam Jenoff book The Kommandant's Girl (historical fiction)
Amy Lignor book Mind Made (science fiction)
Hepler & Barkely book The Dream Factory (young adult)
The Right Thing by James Richard Larson



Contributors: Jennifer Estep, Henry Martin, Wayne Thomas Batson, Steven Lee Beeber, Karen Morse, Sabrina Williams, Amy Lignor



Hidden Treasures Prize List:
A signed Hardcover of Henry Martin's Mad Days of Me
A signed trade paperback of Jennifer Estep's Karma Girl
A signed copy of Isle of Swords, by Wayne Batson
Three copies of Mind Made and two copies of Heart of a Legend, all by Amy Lignor
A copy of the hard-to-find (a true treasure!) book, The Cobra & The Concubine, by Bonnie Vanak
An autographed copy of Cut to the Bone, along with some autographed bookmarks, from Shane Gericke

Summer Reading Contest!

I know. I know. Where have I been? I've just been taking a break, that's all. :)

But this contest will be lots of fun!

It's time for the West of Mars, Breeni Books, Morsie Reads, Eclectic Closet, Writing Aspirations Summer Reading Contest!

The rules are simple:

1. Find a book that's a Hidden Treasure. That means a book that hasn't made it to a best-seller list anywhere that you can find. A suggested reading list is available at WestofMars.com. Feel free to find your own treasure, though.

2. The book MUST be from a royalty-paying publisher. If in doubt, ask.

3. Read it.

4. Post a review somewhere on the Internet between July 15 and August 15.

5. Sign the Mr. Linky at West of Mars. Include the permalink for your review. (yeah, that link brings you back here.)

6. Yes, you can use a Hidden Treasure book that fulfills another contest or reading challenge.

7. Yes, you can review more than one book.

8. If, for some reason, you don't want to win a prize, let Susan know.

9. If you have suggestions for the Hidden Treasures Suggested Reading List, or a prize for the winners, drop Susan an e-mail. You can also contact Janelle; she's giving me a LOT of help (so be sure to surf over and thank her).

10. Prizes will be awarded August 20. Winners will be contacted and winning list will be posted no later than 22 August; be sure to have a way for us to contact you!


So, there you go. Got a prize to offer? Got a favorite book that you want more people to know about?

Leave a comment or e-mail me. I'm a bit slow lately, but I'm still here.

Kudos to friends for helping spread the word: Nimrodiel,

Spring Reading Challenge

Susan let me know about the Spring Reading Thing hosted over on Callapidder Days. It's a fun event where you can put together your reading list and try to get some of those books you've been putting off!

Check out her site for all the details, but here is a little snippet for you:

When: Not surprisingly, the challenge takes place during the spring. :) Specifically, it will run from March 21st through June 21st, 2007.

Where: Here, and on blogs all over the bloggy universe. I'll put up a Mr. Linky on March 21st where you can submit a link to your own Spring Reading Thing blog post. All I ask is that you share your goals and list of books in your post, and that you include a link back to the post here that contains the Mr. Linky. We want to spread our love of books and reading far and wide, and make sure people have easy access to everyone's lists!

A Great Place for a Screenwriter to Get Their Manuscript Read

Sometimes we writers get a little... focused on our level of the writosphere and we forget that the writing family has a lot of relatives, the novelists, the poets, the lyrists, screenwriters... flashers (flash fiction) and more.

I could never be a screenwriter. I just have too many words floating around and could never break it down for screen. With that said, I do love watching movies and tv shows so I wanted to take a moment and share some information that may be of interest to those writers of a visual kind.

Scriptapalooza is an internetional screenplay competition that reviews 1,000s of scripts and has some great industry support. Scriptapalooza president, Mark Andrushko, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me on this event.

1.Can you tell me a little bit about how Scriptapalooza came to be?

About 9 years ago, a lot of my personal friends were writers and always telling me how discouraged they were with screenplay competitions - they would send their script to competitions and hear nothing back and what really annoyed them was that they didn't know who was reading their script if anyone? Basically the other competitions would say, "Read by Hollywood producers," well who are these people? Because they never mentioned any info on the judges...What Scriptapalooza did was we listed on our website every company that reads, the person's name and their title. We have over 70 producers, managers and agents reading every entry that comes in.

2. I see it's the 9th annual - how has the event grown since its first year?

The first couple of years were tough; we were cold calling producers to read our winners, now everyone calls us to see the winners, runners-up etc...

3. How many entries does the Scriptapalooza usually receive?

Anywhere between 3500-4000 per year.

4. There are over 70 production companies and agents listed as the entities reviewing the scripts. Overall - what are they looking for?

Since we deal with so many companies, they are looking for everything...we have producers that just want horror or animation. Basically every genre is needed by all these 70 companies.

Is there a percentage of how many entrants see something come from participation in the competition?

The good thing about Scriptapalooza is that if you win 1st place or you are just a Semifinalist, your script will be pushed for an entire year.

5. It sounds like you have some exciting news about past entrants, like Craig Clyde. How do you think their participation has helped develop their project or improve their craft?

We open the doors for them, they write great scripts, and we have the connections to get them a meeting, an agent, get their script optioned, sold and eventually made.

6. The Scriptapalooza has some fantastic support from writer's groups and entertainment agencies, how has that impacted the competition?

It validates everything we do...Robert McKee has said that Scriptapalooza is the best screenplay competition out there, Writers Guild of America west and Writers Guild of Canada both endorsed us...so it feels good, people are recognizing that we work for the writer.

7. What do you think is the most important component of a successful script entered into the competition?

Great storytelling and great dialogue.

8. What words of advice do you have for writers trying to break into the industry?

I'm very honest with everyone, it's a very difficult business to get into, but if you're a great writer you'll float to the top eventually.

9. How can entering contests and competitions help advance the writer's career?

Competitions are good way to get your work out there and see what people think. But make sure you only submit your script to reputable competitions, such as Nichols and Scriptapalooza. They are many competitions are there that don't really do anything, do your homework and judge for yourself before submitting.

Debut Contest Reviews List

*Stickied! This post is staying up top till the 17th! Scroll down for recent blog posts!*

The Debut a Debut contest has two primary goals. 1. Encourage readers to read something by a new author (and hopefully find a new favorite) 2. Help promote debut books and debut authors!

We have a long list of prizes. On the 19th, Susan and I will randomly pull out participants and they will get a prize. We'll continue to randomly select participants until we are out of prizes!!! Prizes include gift certificates, books, goodies and more!

Here are the current participants:
Karen Morsie reviews The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
Writing The Winnower reviews The Skewed Throne by Joshua Palmatier
Confessions of a Literary Persuasion reviews The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Eclectic Closet reviews The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Eclectic Closet reviews Was She Pretty? by Leanne Shapton
Littlebird Blue reviews Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage
Cherie Pie reviews The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
The World in the Satin Bag reviews The Tower of Shadows by Drew Bowling
Eclectic Closet reviews Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Karen Morsie reviews Kabbalah: A Love Story by Lawrence Kushner
SahBu reviews Nightmare in Laos: The True Story of a Woman Imprisoned... by Kay Danes
Breeni reviews Speak Right On: Dred Scott A Novel by Mary Neighbour
Eclectic Closet reviews And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Mark Baker reviews Death on the Flop
Mark Baker reviews A Killer Collection by Jennifer Stanley
Scooper reviews The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
Karen Morsie reviews Torch by Cheryl Strayed
Prester John reviews Rumble on the Bayou by Jana DeLeon
She reviews Don't Be Afraid by Rebecca Drake
La Lady Lisa Westerfield reviews And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Eclectic Closet reviews The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist
Megan reviews Disobedience by Naomi Alderman

Rashenbo's Debut Reviews
Hell's Belles
Passion Draconic
The Skewed Throne

The Skewed Throne by Joshua Palmatier

The Skewed Throne is a debut novel by Joshua Palmatier. The story takes place in the town of Amenkor, a city of legend. Its walls are home to traders, craftsmen, merchants, the guilds, and the Mistress. She is the ruler of its people and protects them. There has always been a Mistress. 1000 years ago a white fire - with no flame or heat, swept across its glory. In its wake Amenkor began to split, the prosperous and the wealthy stayed in the heart of Amenkor. The poor, the desperate, the homeless, the criminal - they lived in the outer reaches. The old part of Amenkor known as the dredge and home to the gutterscum. The criminals could not escape the justice of the Mistress; her assassin guards, known as the seekers, would hunt them down where they hid.

The story begins five years after the second time the white fire has passed. A young teenager is struggling to survive in the dredge, orphaned at six, nearly raped at 11 - she has a hard edge and a sense of despair. But, she is just another in a sea of gutterscum, until she is noticed by Erick, one of the seekers. He notices her uncanny abilities and gives her the opportunity to learn new skills and become something more than just another dredge orphan. He names her Varis, the hunter. Varis has two gifts. The first, the ability to shift her sight and enter what she calls "the river". While in the river she can see people in a different light... and then she can see people that are a danger to her, marked in red. When she delves deeper, she can actually see how something may happen. The second gift came with the white fire... a piece of it lingered behind, within her.

These gifts are Varis' tools to change the future of Amenkor. The current Mistress has gone insane and the city is in even more peril. Only Varis can make the choice to save it.

I enjoyed this book, it has a quick pace, the reading is smooth - I finished it in about three hours. There are some timeshifts in the story and a couple of times I found myself losing a bit of the timing. However, I became attached to Varis and enjoyed being with her through her development. Joshua captures the emotional twists and turns of a young teenager who is lost and seeking a place to be herself... while using a gift that gives her an upper hand in murder.

I've read some excellent debuts and some mediocre debuts. The Skewed Throne is definitely on the excellent end of the spectrum. I'm excited to have found Joshua early in his writing career... I suspect we will see a lot more of him in the future, something I look forward to.

Debuts that HIT best seller status

Yesterday I finished Hannibal Rising. This week I'll be starting Hell's Belles - check back for my review and interview with Jackie Kessler. The next book on my pile to read is Atlantisby David Gibbins. It looks down right exciting and right up my alley. I love action/adventure titles and I'm always on the look out for a new author that I tuck in my favorites box.

This was first published overseas in 2005 so unfortunately, it doesn't quite count for our debut contest... but this little book hit Best Seller right out of the gates and his next title is already getting some great press.

Isn't it every new writer's dream to have their first published book hit a best seller list?

Shane Gericke has offered to add a copy of Blown Away (Pinnacle Books Fiction) to the "Debut a Debut" prize goody bag - AND, it definitely qualifies as a book to be read and reviewed for goodies!

From Shane's site:
Shane Gericke's debut crime thriller Blown Away became a national bestseller three weeks after its launch in May, 2006. Detective Emily Thompson and her hard-charging crew at the Naperville Police Department battle a Special Forces-trained serial killer that's shooting, stabbing and blasting his way through the heretofore-quiet Chicago suburb. If Emily doesn't stop him in 72 hours, the last thing she'll witness is her own bloody death . . .

Book Spotlight

As you know, we are offering the Debut a Debut contest. We have two goals for this contest. 1. Encourage readers to find a new author to add to their "favorite author" list. 2. Help promote debut authors and get their name out!

The other day I listed a couple of book blurbs to highlight a couple of the authors on the debut author list. I thought it would be helpful to randomly list blurbs and book descriptions to help make it easier to see the types of books that are out there that you may never have heard of! You can also find news and information on the contest at my co-host's site West of Mars.

Michael Fitzgerald's novel Radiant Days
A recent review:
“In his keenly accomplished first novel, FitzGerald’s enigmatic tale of a feckless and dissolute American caught up in world events beyond his comprehension brings a disquieting new interpretation to the old adage that truth is the first casualty of war. At the height of San Francisco’s dot-com revolution, Anthony unhesitatingly abandons his unfulfilling job to follow Gisela, a beautiful young woman he has only just met, back to her native Hungary, ostensibly on a mission to locate her missing son. Arriving during the perilous waning days of the Balkan War, the pair attach themselves to British journalist Marsh, who, at 24, already has attained a cynical disregard for humanity that endangers his two new friends. As Anthony falls more deeply in love with Gisela, Gisela’s precise reasons for being in country dissolve into drug- and lust-induced escapades. Through Anthony’s self-indulgent and alienated voice, FitzGerald flawlessly and astutely mirrors the ennui and confusion of a generation and world enervated by ceaseless and senseless images of war. “
— Carol Haggas of BOOKLIST

Robert Gregory Browne has hardcover Kiss Her Goodbye releasing in February.
From Publishers Weekly:
Provocative violence, a colorful Chicago background and a dollop of the supernatural lift Browne's debut thriller. ATF agent Jack Donovan almost captures his nemesis, ruthless gangster Alex Gunderson, during a bank robbery. Gunderson's amoral pregnant wife, Sara, is shot in the ensuing chase, leaving her in a coma. Gunderson seeks revenge by kidnapping Donovan's teenage daughter, Jessica, and burying her in a coffin with enough air for three days. As the tension builds, a vainglorious Chicago cop shoots the kidnapper, who dies without revealing Jessica's whereabouts. Browne's experience as a screenwriter shows as he shorthands the parallels between the anarchic Gunderson and straight-arrow Donovan, both of whom are single-minded and personally loyal. Elements of the supernatural, including out-of-body experiences, provide humorous relief from the breathtaking pace.

Debut a Debut Authors & Prizes - Updates

Author List

Alan Fox -- The Seeker in Forever

Alex Espinoza -- Still Water Saints

Alexandra Sokoloff -- The Harrowing
Ali Liebegott -- The IHOP Papers

Alice Greenway -- White Ghost Girls

Aliya Whiteley -- Three Things About Me

Amir Gutfreund -- Our Holocaust

Amy Bryant -- Polly

Ana Baca -- Mama Fela's Girls

Andrew Britton -- The American

Anne Douglas -- The McCabes: Persuading Jo

Antoinette May -- Pilate's Wife
Antonia Arslan -- Skylark Farm

Benito Cordova -- Big Dreams and Dark Secrets in Chimaya

Betsey Osborne -- The Natural History of Uncas Metcalfe

Brian Martin -- North

Brian Shuster -- The Minerva Virus
C-Murder -- Death Around the Corner

CA Belmond -- A Rather Lovely Inheritance

Carolyn Turgeon -- Rain Village
Cate Sweeney -- Selfish Jean

Catherine Murdock - Dairy Queen

Cheryl Strayed -- Torch

Christine Conrad -- Mademoiselle Benoir

Cindy Woodsmall -- When the Heart Cries

Clifford Chase -- Winkie

Colleen Gleason -- The Rest Falls Away

Cornelia Read -- A Field of Darkness

Conor Corderoy -- Dark Rain

Da Chen -- Brothers

Daniel Judson - The Darkest Place

David Lynn Golemon -- Event

Debra Dean - The Madonnas of Leningrad

Debra Ginsberg -- Blind Submisssion

Derek Armstrong -- The Game

Diane Setterfield -- The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel

Donna Westover Gallup -- White as Snow

Drew Bowling -- The Tower of Shadows

Edward Charles -- In the Shadow of Lady Jane

Elisabeth Jason -- Soul Sacrifice

Elisabeth Drake -- The Twilight Deception

Elisabeth Drake -- A Passion Draconic

Ellis Avery -- The Teahouse Fire

Faiza Guene -- Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow

Farrell O'Gorman -- Awaiting Orders
Frances Washburn -- Elsie's Business

Gautam Malkani -- Londonstani
George Robert Minkoff -- The Weight of Smoke
Gillian Flynn -- Sharp Objects: A Novel
Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk -- The Sidewalk Artist

Gordon Dahlquist - The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters

Heather Hayashi -- To Save the World
Heidi Pitlor -- The Birthdays

Henry Chang -- Chinatown Beat

Hisham Matar -- In the Country of Men

Heidi Pitlor -- The Birthdays: A Novel

Hisham Matar -- In the Country of Men

Hugh Paxton -- Homunculus

Jackie Kessler -- Hell's Belles
James Canon -- Takes from the Town of Widows and Chronicles from the Land of Men

James Janko -- Buffalo Boy and Geronimo

Jana DeLeon -- Rumble on the Bayou

Jane May -- Doggy Style
Jason Webb -- The Ghost of Che Guevara

Jed Rubenfeld - The Interpretation of Murder

Jenn Reese -- Jade Tiger

Jennah Sharpe -- Along the Hibiscus Path

Jennifer Gilmore -- Golden Country: A Novel

Jerome Tell -- The Election
Jill Conner Browne (with Karin Gillespie) -- The Sweet Potato Queen's First Big Ass Novel

Jonathan Drapes -- Never Admit to Beige

Joshua Cohen -- Cadenza for the Schneidermann Violin Concerto

Joshua Palmatier -- The Skewed Throne

Joshua Spanogle - Isolation Ward

Judith Lindbergh -- The Thrall's Tale

Judith Marks-White -- Seducing Harry

Julie Carobini -- Chocolate Beach

Julie KL Dam -- Some Like it Haute

Kat Richardson -- Greywalker
Kathleen Jacobs -- The Friday Knitting Club

Katherine Min -- Secondhand World

KE Silva -- A Simple Distance
Kelly Kerney -- Born Again
Keith Donohue -- The Stolen Child

Kevin Shay -- The End as I Know it
Kirsten Sawyer -- Not Quite a Bride
Laura Dave -- London is the Best City in America

Laura Fitzgerlad -- A Veil of Roses

Laura Ruby -- I'm not Julia Roberts
Lauren Fox -- Still Life With Husband

Lauren Lipton -- It's About Your Husband
Lauren Marks-White -- Seducing Harry
Layne Maheu -- Song of the Crow

Lee Merrill Bryd -- Riley's Fire

Liam Jackson -- Offspring
Lila Shaara -- Every Secret Thing

Lisa Fugard -- Skinner's Drift

Lisa Logan -- Visions

Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum -- A Day of Small Beginnings

Lisa Unger -- Beautiful Lifes

Lori Lacefield -- The Seventh Survivor
Lu Vickers -- Breathing Underwater

Lucy McCarraher -- Blood & Water

Marcus Sakey -- The Blade Itself

Margo Candela -- Underneath it All

Marie Arana -- Cellophane

Marisa de los Santos -- Love Walked In

Marisha Pessl -- Special Topics in Calamity Physics

Mark Binelli -- Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die!

Mary E. Neighbour -- Speak Right on: Dred Scott a Novel

Matthew Scott Hansen -- The Shadow killer
Max Brooks -- World War Z

Meg Mullins -- The Rug Merchant

Melissa Clark -- Swimming Upstream Slowly

Mia King -- Good Things

Michael A. Fitzgerald -- Radiant Days

Michael Graham -- The Snow Angel

Michael Stephen -- The Manuscript

Michael Thomas -- Man Gone Down
Michelle Tea -- Rose of no Man's Land

MWF Curran -- The Secret War

Naomi Alderman -- Disobedience

Natalie Danford -- Inheritance

Nikki Leigh -- Stormy View (debut)

Nikki Leigh -- Widow's Walk (also published in 2006)

Nora Gallagher -- Changing Light

N.S. Koenings -- The Blue Taxi
Olga Grushin -- The Dream Life of Sukhanov

Pam Jenoff -- The Kommandant's Girl

Pamela Carter Joern -- The Floor of the Sky
Patrick F. McManus -- The Blight Way

Patrick Hyde -- The Only Pure Thing

Paul Batista -- Death's Witness

Paul Cavanagh -- After Helen

Paul Rusesabagina - An Ordinary Man

Paul Wolfe -- Choices
Peter Behrens -- The Law of Dreams

Peter Bourne -- The Deserter

Peter C. Brown -- The Fugitive Wife

Peter Hobbs -- The Short Day of dying

Racy Li -- Ninja

Rae Meadows -- Calling Me Out

Raymond Khoury -- The Last Templar

Rebecca Drake -- Don't Be Afraid

RG Willems -- Targets of Affection

Rhonda Stapleton -- Stripped


Robert Dugoni - The Jury Master

Robert Fate -- Baby Shark

Robert Gregory Browne -- Kiss Her Goodbye

Robert Gussin -- Trash Talk

Roger Morris -- Taking Comfort

Roger Alan Skipper -- Tear Down the Mountain
Rosanne Keller -- A Summer All Her Own
Sam Barone -- Dawn of Empire

Sam Savage -- Firmin

Samantha Grosser -- Another Time and Place

San Culberson -- The Nick of Time

Sandi Ault -- Wild Indigo

Sean Chercover -- Big City Bad Blood

Sela Carsen -- Not Quite Dead

Sela Carsen -- The Virgin Courtesan

Shane Gericke -- Blown Away

Stephen J. Spignesi - Dialogues

Steven Hockensmith -- Holmes on the Range

Steve Voake - The Dreamwalker's Child

Sunny -- Mona Lisa Awakening
Suroopa Mukherjee -- Across the Mystic Shore

Suzanne Adair -- Paper Woman

Tasha Alexander -- And Only to Deceive

Tawny Taylor -- Sex and the Single Ghost
Thomas Mullen -- The Last Town on Earth: A Novel

Thomma Lyn -- Thy Eternal Summer

Tina Bendoni -- Argus: In Dreams

Tinling Choong -- FireWife

Toby Devens -- My Favorite Midlife Crisis (yet)

Tom McCarthy -- Remainder

Tony D'Souza -- Whiteman

Troy Cook -- 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers

Wendy Wasserstein -- Elements of Style

Will Beall -- L.A. Rex

William Kittredge -- The Willow Field
Yael Goldstein -- Overture

Yvette Christianse -- Unconfessed


Prizes:

2 $20 gift certificates from Borders

A copy of RG Willems' debut, Targets of Affection

5 free points from BookMooch.com

A copy of Matt Curran's debut, The Secret War

An autographed copy of Lila Shaara's debut, Every Secret Thing

An audio copy (CD) of Lila Shaara's debut, Every Secret Thing

A copy of Suzanne Adair's debut, Paper Woman

A copy of Racy Li's debut e-book, Ninja

A copy of Sela Carsen's debut e-book, Not Quite Dead

A copy of Sela Carsen's follow-up short, The Virgin Courtesan

A copy of Michael FitzGerald's debut, Radiant Days

A copy of Tina Bendoni's debut Argus: In Dreams

An ARC copy, an autographed copy, bookmarks, and postcards from author Shane Gericke. Debut title Blown Away.

A copy of Thomma Lyn's debut Thy Eternal Summer

A copy of Judith Lindbergh's debut The Thrall's Tale

A copy of Rhonda Stapleton's debut Stripped


Winner's Pick: Add $10 to a Border's Gift Certificate, a signed copy of Crack of Death, or A free item from the Café Press store, compliments of Dawno at Absolute Write.


And not really a prize to be won, but anyone who goes to BookMooch.com and mooches a copy of Cheryl Strayed's debut, Torch, directly from her will receive an autographed copy.

Insult letter contest - I'm In!

Ok, this sounds fun.

"How to Say "**** You" So Elegantly They Don't Even Know You've Said It"

A contest brought to you by Musings of a Dinosaur.

Winners get a copy of the contest host's book.

Debut Contest Updates

Susan and I are getting some exciting results for our "Debut A Debut" contest. There are so many new authors and as I'm reading the book descriptions I just can't help but wonder about how long my "to read" list is going to end up this year!

We are also getting some donations and contributions toward the prizes, like 5 Bookmooch points, autographed books, and more!

Our list of authors continues to grow and we'll be updating the contest prizes and the list of debut authors.

Some of the recent authors that we've been in contact with include:

Thomma Lyn Grindstaff with her book Thy Eternal Summer:

Sarah Harrison is a housewife and the mother of two grown children but her marriage is tainted by alcoholism and emotional abuse. When her husband Ed drowns in a river at an RV park in Tennessee, she’s on her own for the first time in her life. She can’t drive the Winnebago to return to their home in North Carolina.

Max McCloud, newly retired from NASA, is parked next to Ed and Sarah’s Winnebago. He designs aircraft components online with his friends and misses his late wife, Adela, who died the previous year. He befriends the newly widowed Sarah and offers to drive her home in her Winnebago.

Can their new friendship and potential romantic attachment overcome the memories of their deceased spouses and provide them with the kind of Golden Years they both desire?

Matt Curran with his book The Secret War:

For thousands of years a secret war has been fought between Heaven and Hell. Daemons and angels, vampyres and knights, clash for the future of mankind, and as the two sides wage war across the world, innocent people are caught up in the conflict – men like Captain William Saxon and Lieutenant Kieran Harte, two great friends who have recently survived the horrors of the Battle of Waterloo. But now they face a greater struggle, against the daemonic forces of Count Ordrane, and the clandestine ambitions of the Vatican. They must try to survive assassination attempts, political machinations, epic battles on land and sea, and above all the power of a mysterious bronze pyramid – the Scarimadean – that brings everlasting damnation to all who come into contact with it.Their only allies are an old man, a fading secret organisation in the Church, and an enigmatic warrior, who may hold the key not only to the friends’ fates, but to the fate of all mankind…

The year is 1815, when angels and daemons walked our streets…

Suzanne Adair with her book Paper Woman:

1780 and 1781: the Southern theater of the American War of Independence. The frontier stretches thousands of miles, from the Carolinas to the Caribbean. It's crawling with murder, espionage, terror, and treachery. There's no room for neutrals - or cowards.

Plunge into this ever-changing New World with the historical suspense of Suzanne Adair, where ordinary citizens overcome threats to their lives, fortunes, and honor - and heroes are forged.

Debut authors you may want to read during the Debut contest

1. Albyn Leah Hall -- The Rhythm of the Road
2. Aliya Whiteley -- Three Things About Me
3. Brian Martin -- North
4. Cate Sweeney -- Selfish Jean
5. Conor Corderoy -- Dark Rain
6. Derek Armstrong -- The Game
7. Diane Setterfield -- The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel
8. Edward Charles -- In the Shadow of Lady Jane
9. Ellis Avery -- The Teahouse Fire
10. Gillian Flynn -- Sharp Objects: A Novel
11. Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk -- The Sidewalk Artist
12. Heidi Pitlor -- The Birthdays: A Novel
13. Hisham Matar -- In the Country of Men
14. Hugh Paxton -- Homunculus
15. James Canon -- Takes from the Town of Widows and Chronicles from the Land of Men
16. Jason Webb -- The Ghost of Che Guevara
17. Jennifer Gilmore -- Golden Country: A Novel
18. Jonathan Drapes -- Never Admit to Beige
19. Joshua Palmatier -- The Skewed Throne
20. Karen Russell -- St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves: Stories
21. Lu Vickers -- Breathing Underwater
22. Lucy McCarraher -- Blood & Water
23. Marisha Pessl -- Special Topics in Calamity Physics
24. Michael Stephen -- The Manuscript
25. MWF Curran -- The Secret War
26. Naomi Alderman -- Disobedience
27. Pam Jenoff -- The Kommandant's Girl
28. Patrick Hyde -- The Only Pure Thing
29. Peter Bourne -- The Deserter
30. Racy Li -- Ninja
31. Rebecca Drake -- Don't Be Afraid
32. RG Willems -- Targets of Affection
33. Roger Morris -- Taking Comfort
34. Ryan Boudinot -- The Littlest Hitler: Stories
35. Samantha Grosser -- Another Time and Place
36. Suroopa Mukherjee -- Across the Mystic Shore
37. Thomas Mullen -- The Last Town on Earth: A Novel
38. Tom McCarthy -- Remainder
39. Tony D'Souza -- Whiteman
40. Will Beall -- L.A. Rex

If you are a debut author and you'd like us to include your name and title on our list, just drop an email to Rashenbo or West of Mars.

This list can also be found at Westofmars.com

Contest Time: Debut A Debut

Begins today!

The book industry faces many challenges. People seem to have less time to read and it's tough to compete with the television and Internet. Any new or aspiring author knows how hard it is to make his or her voice heard amongst the chorus of "publish me!" "Notice me!" "Buy my books!"

In many cultures around the world, Valentine's Day has converted the month of February into the month of love. This February, two aspiring authors are taking their love of reading and their admiration for debut authors and combining them into the "Debut a debut!" contest.

Take a first-time author for a spin on your "To Read in 2007" list and give yourself the chance to win great prizes! Gift certificates to Borders and more!

During the week of 12 Feb through 17 Feb, read a book written by a debut author and post your review by 17 February. Send Susan or Erica the permalink to your review and you will be entered in a drawing for some great prizes.



Some Rules
A debut author is an author who has had their first novel published between 01/2006 and 02/2007.

Accepted publication types are ebook and in-print novels from established royalty-paying publishers or e-publishers; if you're not sure, e-mail us the name of the publisher. POD, vanity presses, or Publish America books are not considered for this contest.

The contest has officially begun!!!!! Send your links to us either in a comment or in an email!

Reviews can not be previously printed online or in print. The review of a debut author's novel must be posted between the dates of 02/12/2007 - 02/17/2007. Prize drawing will occur 02/19/2007 and winners will be notified via email.

Multiple entries are allowed.

The Prizes
2 randomly drawn participants will receive a $20.00 Borders gift certificate, books, autographed books and more!.

How to Enter
1. Buy, find, or borrow a novel that is an author's debut. (see list of some debut novels at WestofMars.com, West of Mars -- the Meet and Greet, or Writing Aspirations)
Update: Here is a list of some authors and the update to prize list!
2. Read the novel.
3. Write a review. It does not have to be a professional review. Provide a brief plot synopsis and then mention your likes or dislikes or other thoughts you had while reading.
4. Post the review online - either on a website or blog.
5. Send the permalink of the post to West of Mars or Writing Aspirations in an email message or post a comment to the main contest post with a link to your review.

Remember, the review is to be completed and posted during the week of 02/12/2007 - 02/17/2007.

A post will be created on West of Mars and Writing Aspirations with links to all book reviews submitted.



Authors
Don't miss your chance to get some press! West of Mars and Writing Aspirations are in the process of gathering your names and titles to help our contest entrants find great books to read. Please send us links to your website, or just your name and the title of your debut novel that was published between 1 January 2006 and 1 February 2007. If you have any promotional items -- especially copies of your book -- that you'd like to donate, we'd love to offer them as prizes.

First Chapters Gather Update

The publication contest on Gather is up and running, they have several entries already listed and I've started reading them. From what I've seen so far... it'll be interesting, that's for sure.

First Chapter Gather Contest (S&S)

De-Lurk Week!

I jumped from A Spot of T over to Paper Napkin.... this week is De-Lurk week. If you comment, the comment fairy will sprinkle you with magic blog dust... or something :) So, if you hit a blog today. Leave a comment, even if it's just "Hi"



Also, some sites of interest for the writerly types. A new agent has a blog.

Agent in the Middle

And, Miss Snark mentioned this contest at Gather on her blog today. I think I'll join the group just so I can read the entries and be entertained.

There's also a group writing project over at Middle Zone Musings. Be sure to check it out!

451 Buzz: Comments for Cash

I got an email last night from fellow blogger, Chirky. A lovely lady, I met her back in November when she assisted in some of the NaNoBloMo reviews.

She also writes for 451 press and has a blog focused toward, Britney Spears. Have you checked out 451 press? It's not a bad blog community. They've got some interesting blogs there. I definitely had to check out the ones for House and Heroes.

Anyhoo, 451 has launched a little marketing campaign to increase readers. During the month of January, commenters of 451 blogs will be entered in a contest. Randomly selected winner gets $500 bucks and then a few others will get $100 each. All you have to do to enter is comment. It also looks like 451 has some openings for blog writers. I see they don't have one for American Idol yet. If I had the time for another blog I'd probably jump on that one... but perhaps one of you would be interested.

Upcoming writing competitions

If you are curious about the validity of a competition, I would recommend you visit Preditors & Editors contest list.

I've not checked all of these... I just wanted to add some more links

The Paris Review

After January 15th you can check on the William Faulkner competition

For you folks in the UK – First Writer appears to have a selection of writing competitions

Writer’s Digest has theirs

Look I found a writing competition on Transnational Law. Sorry, fraid I won't be jumping on that one! :)

Script Pimp has a screenwriting competition… I know absolutely nothing about them. So, I’m not quite sure about this competition.

Association of Securities and Exchange has a writing competition… Ok, there are a lot more writing competitions out there than I thought.

It also appears like local groups have their own competitions - so there's another spot for you to look. Florida Freelance Writers Association has one.

Southwest writers are working on their 2007 guidelines.

A Women’s Write

James Jones First Novel Fellowship

The Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel for the from Crime Writers of Canada

Here’s a link to an article with some competitions that have deadlines in January.

Well, be sure to check on the authenticity of a competition if it's asking you for an entry fee. If you are entering something - good luck!

Writing Competitions

Writing Spark has a nice list of some writing competitions. I wanted to link it, for those of you looking at what competitions are coming up.

Problogger favorites & tickle me blog style.

So... yesterday sucked at work. Today I'm giving myself a little break and was surfing through the participants on Problogger Writing Project.

I'm finding some really great reads and it's hard to pick just my favorites... but I wanted to share with you a few of the highlights I've enjoyed.

Predictions of 2007 by Jason - some great technology predictions

Why I won "Times Person of the Year" by Sarakastic - this is a short read and will give you a giggle or two!

2007 Psychic Predictions by Matt - I just found this pretty darn entertaining.

Kickstart your blogging business & make big money: 7 reality checks by Andrew

And then I saw his post about TickMe and had to check it out. So I've signed up and I'm going to see how beneficial this is to networking in the blogosphere. If it seems good - I'll let you know and if you decide to try it - send me a tickle!



Well, I guess I better get back to work. I'll be writing a more writing focused blog entry soon... I promise! :)