Winners Announced for 2008 Out of the Box Promotion Idea Contest

TRI Studio LLC in cooperation with the Authors’ Coalition announce the winners of The 2008 Out of the Box Promotion Contest for Writers.

The top winners include promotional experts Janet Elaine Smith, Allyn Evans, Phil Harris and Billie Williams. Honorable Mention awardees include authors Mindy P. Lawrence, Dorothea Buckingham, Nikki Leigh, Margot Finke, Karina Fabian and Jessica Kennedy.

Ideas range from a Book-of-the-Week Club partnering the publisher and author with an internet radio program, to an Amazon Tour Group, a Video Tour Group, and an idea of letting readers watch the progress as an author writes a book.

The contest was sponsored by TRI Studio LLC, producer of The Fiction Flyer, a free e-zine for writers of fiction. Entries were judged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor using the following criteria: 1) the originality of the idea, 2) The breadth of applicability, and 3) the ease of use. The contest showcases new and interesting promotion ideas by authors and for authors. As Kathe Gogolewski, author and President of TRI Studio LLC said, “We wanted to create a tool to help writers in their craft."

There is now a free e-book full of the winning ideas is available from TRI Studio and Authors’ Coalition. It is also available for free distribution for those interested.

LINK: http://www.tri-studio.com/outofthebox.html

EPIC and New Voices are searching for Writers and Poets!

The viewpoint is rapidly changing regarding e-publishing, in both the publishing industry and our school systems. EPIC's New Voices Writing Competition Contest is the perfect opportunity to educate young writers on the variety and versatility of e-books, as well as the e-publishing world.

EPIC established this annual competition in 2005 to encourage writing among Middle School and High School-aged students and to promote e-book awareness within their school systems. Through the New Voices Writing Competition, EPIC offers student writers the possibility of turning dreams into reality, urging them to spread their wings.

The New Voices Writing Competition has been an astounding success in its short history, welcoming talented young entrants from all parts of the globe. Help us continue to offer these authors the opportunity to fly.

We invite your writers, poets, schools, and local organizations to participate in this ELECTRONIC COMPETITION. We welcome all Middle School and High School aged writers attending public, private, or home schools.

Forty-five prizes were awarded in our 2007 competition, with prizes ranging from $100 in cash to e-book gift certificates. All winning entries were compiled into a special anthology available for download at no cost from our website: 2007 New Voices Contest eBook [PDF File]

Copies of our Guidelines, Entry Form, and Permission Slip can be found at: New Voices Contest Rules

Come on board the New Voices Contest Caravan! Help us guide the young writers of the future into this brave new world of e-publishing!!

Editor Invites Writers to Show off Techniques

Writers are invited to share examples from their work to be showcased in a new, all-genre sequel to Don't Murder Your Mystery, the Agatha Award Finalist for Best Nonfiction Book of 2006 by Chris Roerden, an editor for 43 years.

The best 140 examples that demonstrate the effective use of specific fiction-writing techniques will be showcased, with full credit to its author, in the sequel to this highly acclaimed book of insider information about getting published.

No payment, fee, or purchase is required. Examples from either published or unpublished novels, short stories, and creative nonfiction will be accepted until Thanksgiving 2007. A contest open to April 25 (07) will determine the title of the all-genre edition.

"It is scheduled for 2008 publication," says Roerden, "provided enough writers make me aware of their own good examples to replace most of those now featured in the mystery edition."

NYTimes best-selling author P.J. Parrish calls Roerden's selection of examples "wonderful." Mystery Scene magazine says "excellent examples."

For submission guidelines, contest rules, and a list of the authors currently showcased, visit: www.tinyurl.com/yclawc [Link opens a PDF file.]

Chris Roerden is the recipient of awards for both writing and editing. She holds an MA in English and a BA summa cum laude from the University of Maine, where she also taught writing. She is past president of MAPA, a regional trade association of publishers; served 6 years on the southeast board of Mystery Writers of America; and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mensa.

Authors she has edited are published by Berkley Prime Crime, Midnight Ink, Intrigue, Viking, Rodale, Walker, St. Martin's, and others. Bella Rosa Books is a small royalty press located in South Carolina.

DON'T MURDER YOUR MYSTERY
24 FICTION-WRITING TECHNIQUES
TO SAVE YOUR MANUSCRIPT FROM
TURNING UP D.O.A.
Chris Roerden
Bella Rosa Books, May 2006
Bibl., index; vii, 293 pp TPB
ISBN 1-933523-13-1; $17.95
Avail: Ingram, B&T, Brodart, etc.
http://bellarosabooks.com