Short Story published in Bewildering Stories

News from Bob Brooks. Congratulations.

Dear Writers:

Good news from the ink-stained dungeon: my short story "A Blanket of Well and Woe" is in the current issue of Bewildering Stories, an ezine devoted to speculative fiction.  This story has only racked up four rejections before finding a home.  My thanks go to those of you who helped revise and frame the piece.

The link is www.bewilderingstories.com.

This tale that asks what you do if your benevolence, your good deed, puts you outside the law.  Dr. Padeema Sarey made his choice. 

I hope you enjoy and use the link at the bottom on the web site to leave any comments.

Bob

R.R. Brooks

Author: fantasy, mystery, thrillers

Justi the Gifted

The Clown Forest Murders

www.brooks-authors.com

The Literary Hour Readings, Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at The John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC

On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 7:00 PM, the John C. Campbell Folk School and NC Writers' Network-West (NCWN-West) will sponsor The Literary Hour. At this event, NCWN-West members will read at the Keith House on the JCCFS campus, in Brasstown, NC. The Literary Hour is held on the third Thursday of the month unless otherwise indicated. This reading is free of charge and open to the public. This month's featured readers will be, poet and author Natalie Grant, poet Joan M. Howard, and poet Mary A. Ricketson.

Natalie Grant has spent much of her life in Western North Carolina and most of her career as the only high school language arts teacher at a rural k-12 school. She writes both fiction and poetry and is inspired by the landscape of her mountain home, its people, and the many storytellers in her family.

Currently, Grant is writing short stories and a volume of poetry entitled The Language of Bones. Her educational background includes an MFA in creative writing from the University of the South's School of Letters, an MA in English from Western Carolina University, and a BA in History and English from Berea College. Grant is also a Rep for NCWN-West. 

Joan M. Howard, whose poetry has been published in POEM, The Road Not Taken: The Journal of Formal Poetry, the Aurorean, Lucid Rhythms, Victorian Violet, the Wayfarer and other literary journals. She published the book Death and Empathy: My Sister Web, in 2017.  Her latest book is: Jack, Love and the Daily Grail, from Kelsay Publications.

Howard is a former teacher with an MA in German and English literature and is a member of the North Carolina Writers' Network.  She enjoys birding and kayaking on the beautiful waters of Lake Chatuge near Hiawassee,

Mary A. Ricketson, Murphy NC, inspired by nature and her work as a mental health counselor, has poetry published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the Mountains, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Red Fox Run, It’s All Relative, Old Mountain Press, Whispers, and Voices. Her chapbook is, I Hear the River Call my Name, and she has two full length collections, Hanging Dog Creek, and Shade and Shelter.  Her new book, Mississippi: The Story of Luke and Marian, is forthcoming, 2019, from Kelsay Books.

Currently Mary is using her own poetry to present empowerment workshops, combining roles as writer and her helping role as a therapist. Ricketson’s poems and activities relate with nature, facilitate talk about a personal path, and focus on growth in ordinary and unusual times. She writes a monthly column, Women to Women, for The Cherokee Scout, is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Rep for NCWN-West, and an organic blueberry farmer.

For more information about this event, contact Mary Ricketson at: maryricketson311@hotmail.com.

Meagan Lucas is nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize for her short story, "Voluntary Action."

Congratulations to NCWN-West member, Meagan Lucas, who has been nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, a prestigious American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in small presses over the previous year. Click on the link to go to http://www.stilljournal.net/ and read Meagan's nominated short story, "Voluntary Action."  

 

A Canadian who found home in Western NC, Meagan lives in Hendersonville with her husband and their two small children. Meagan writes literary fiction and teaches composition at AB Tech. 

Her work can be found in a variety of literary journals including:The Santa Fe Writers Project, The Penmen Review, The New Southern Fugitives, Embark Literary Journal, Attic Door Press and Barren Magazine. Her story “Kittens” is the 2017 Winner of the Scythe Prize for Fiction. Family life, the grey space between right and wrong, and the dark underbelly of the American Dream figure prominently in her work. 

You can read more at: www.meaganlucas.com  She tweets grudgingly @mgnlcs. When she's not writing or teaching, she likes to bake and haunt bookstores.

Georgia Author of the Year Deadline for Submissions Extended

Nominations for the 2018 Georgia Author of the Year Awards are now EXTENDED to February 12, 2018

Georgia Author of the Year Nomination Form 2018
Official 54th GAYA Guidelines 2018
Please review these guidelines before submitting a nomination. Download the nomination form here.
Nomination Fee: $60 per nomination
Deadline: February 12, 2018
Only chapbooks and books published within the 2017 calendar year (January 1 to December 31) are eligible. Traditionally published or self-published books are eligible, as are electronically published books on a major platform (Kindle, Nook, or iPad), for a fee of $60. For electronic books, a URL and ISBN must be provided as well as one print copy of the text for judges to review. Books will not be considered nominated if any of these guidelines are not met and materials and payment are not postmarked by February 12, 2018. First- and second-place winners will be announced at the Georgia Author of the Year (GAYA) ceremony on June 16, 2018.

Required Materials
Must be received on or before Monday, February 12, 2018 (postmarked)
Two hard-copies of the nominated book, the completed nomination form, and the $60 fee must be mailed to:
Georgia Writers Association
Georgia Author of the Year Awards 
440 Bartow Avenue #2701 
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Definition of a Georgia Author for the 54th GAYA
To be considered a Georgia author and thus eligible for nomination for GAYA, an author must meet one of the following criteria: the author must have been a resident of Georgia when the nominated book was written, though she or he may have since moved out of state; or the author must be currently living in Georgia when the book is nominated.

Definitions of GAYA Categories for the 54th GAYA
A book may be nominated in only one category selected by the nominator.
Fiction

• Detective/Mystery—A novel by a single author featuring a crime or crimes
• First Novel—First published novel by a single author
• Literary Fiction—A novel by a single author
• Romance—A novel by a single author intended for the mass-market and involving a primary focus on relationships
• Science Fiction— A novel by a single author that is grounded in the science or technology of the future
• Short Story Collection—By a single author

Poetry

• Chapbook—By a single poet and generally no more than 40 pages
• Full-Length Book—By a single poet

Nonfiction

• Biography—A life history that is a fact-based, referenced life story of a person, a group of people, or a family. This category does not include autobiography, which should be nominated under
• Cookbook—Books that contain a collection of recipes, techniques, or focus on the exploration of food, cooking, and culture of food.
• Essay—A collection by a single author that sustains a single topic or theme. May not be an anthology of essays by multiple authors
• History—Research-based books which use narratives to examine and analyze past events
• Inspirational—Books on topics in self-help, life improvement, motivational, religious, or spiritual.
• Memoir—A book that is an account of one’s personal life and experiences by a single author
• Specialty Book—Books that include a visual element such as art or photography.

Children’s Book—Books written for ages 9 and younger by a single author (and/or illustrator). A children’s book includes picture books and can be fiction or nonfiction.
GLBTQ—Works produced by or for the GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer) community and can be fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
Graphic Novel—A narrative work where the story is told not only through words, but also sequential art and can be fiction or nonfiction.
Young Adult—Books written for ages 10 and older by a single author (and/or illustrator), and are either fiction or nonfiction.

In the Event a Category Has Fewer than Four Nominees
If a category has fewer than four nominees, authors will have the opportunity to move their books to the next best category. For example, if there are only two books in the Romance category, the authors will be notified and may choose to place the book in the Literary Fiction category. If the author decides that no other category is suitable, the nomination fee will be refunded.
In the Event an Award Is Not Made in a Category
The Georgia Writers Association reserves the right to not award a winner in a category if it is determined that none of the nominations should win. If no winner is selected due to a lack of sufficient nominations in a category, the nomination fee will be refunded. However, if the category judge determines that a category has no first– or second–place winner, the nomination fee will not be refunded.

 http://files.constantcontact.com/8a70c697001/f752b2c5-7285-4575-b92d-0c2dc9e9127a.pdf?ver=1509630037000

Valparaiso Fiction Review accepts story by Nancy Purcell

One of my dear friends and a member of Netwest for many years, is Nancy Purcell. She has been a devoted representative for Transylvania County throughout those years.

Today I am happy that one of her stories was accepted by Valparaiso Fiction Review. 

Nancy said she had submitted this story many, many times to other magazines, but she didn't give up. She believed in her story, The Unwrinkled Heart. It will be in their Winter 2015 issue. "I loved this story and put my heart in it and was determined for it to see print! There's a saying, It takes a lot of eyes before the right ones see your work." 

Guidelines for Valparaiso Fiction Review
Submissions to VFR should be original, unpublished fiction. Submissions should range from 1,000 to 9,000 words with possible exceptions. Please use 12 point font, double-space, and .doc, .docx, or .rtf formats. Please include name and email on the first page of each submission.

Please no novels, poetry (see VPR), or children's fiction unless otherwise noted. Excerpts from novels are acceptable only if selected piece operates as a stand-alone story.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but the author should notify VFR immediately should a submitted piece be accepted elsewhere. Response time for each submission is 3-4 months and will be sent electronically. Only stories submitted through VFR Submissions page will be considered. Please, no paper submissions.

There is no submission deadline. Submissions are considered on a rolling basis.

When VFR accepts a piece of fiction for publication, we are purchasing first-serial publication rights.

To submit fiction, one must setup a user account via Submissions.

For any additional questions, please contact one of the VFR editors, at vfr@valpo.edu.

For more information on submitting poetry, please visit our sister publication – Valparaiso Poetry

Congratulations to Nancy who lives in Brevard. She is a teacher and fiction writer with a number of publications under her belt. 

DEADLINE MARCH 31 FOR PRESS 53 OPEN AWARDS

The Sixth Annual Press 53 Open Awards Accepting Entries Until March 31, 2013 5 Categories, 3 Winners in Each: Poetry, Flash Fiction, Short-Short Story, Short Story, Novella (Finalists and Winners Announced No Later Than June 28, 2013) 5 Industry-Professional Judges (see below) 5 Beautiful Etched-Glass Awards (Personalized award certificates for Second Prize and Honorable Mention) 13 Opportunities for Publication: First Prize, Second Prize, and Honorable Mention in Poetry, Flash Fiction, Short-Short Story, Short Story, and First Prize in Novella will be published in the 2013 Press 53 Open Awards Anthology Entering is now easier using Submittable, the free online submission manager! For complete details and entry guidelines, visit http://www.press53.com/OpenAwards_2013.html Meet Our Judges: Poetry, judged by Kelly Davio, author of the poetry collection Burn This House (Red Hen Press), and editor of LA Review: Three poems judged as a group. Flash Fiction, judged by Jane Ciabattari, former president of the National Book Critics Circle, author of the short story collection Stealing the Fire (Canios Editions): Fiction up to 750 words. Short-Short Story, judged by David James Poissant, multi-award-winning author with forthcoming story collection and novel from Simon & Schuster: Fiction of 751-2000 words. Short Story, judged by Robin Black, author of If I loved you, I would tell you this (Random House): Fiction of 2001-5000 words. Novella, judged by David Abrams, author of Fobbitt (Grove/Atlantic), and editor of The Quivering Pen: Fiction of 12,000-25,000 words. For complete judges’ bios and entry guidelines, visit http://www.press53.com/OpenAwards_2013.html Previous winners of the Press 53 Open Awards who have gone on to publish books with Press 53 include: ​ Malaika King Albrecht (What the Trapeze Artist Trusts): Second Prize, Poetry 2009 ​ Ryan Stone (Best Road Yet): First Prize, Short Story 2009 ​ Amy Willoughby-Burle (Out Across the Nowhere): First Prize, Flash Fiction 2010 ​ Kurt Rheinheimer (Finding Grace): Second Prize, Short Story 2010 ​ Ray Morrison (In a World of Small Truths): First Prize, Short Story 2011 ​ Nahal S. Jamir (In the Middle of Many Mountains, forthcoming Spring 2013): Second Prize, Flash Fiction 2012