Come Say Hi

There will be a Memory Eater update coming this weekend (I’m just finalizing all of the details), but until then, come say hi to me this Sunday (3/4/12) at the Ends of Man anthology launch party.  My second place story, along with another, are part of this collection.  There will be prizes, and conversations with the authors and discounted prices on the books, so don't miss out!  Full details below:

EVENT: Sunday March 4th

WHERE:  http://zharmaepublishing.wordpress.com/

WHAT:  Live launch for the Ends of Man anthology

WHEN: 7-9pm Eastern time

WHAT: Live chat and blogging will be with authors of the book and representatives from Zharmae

PRIZES: 2 Barnes and Noble $25 gift cards, 2 $25 Amazon gift cards, *2 $25 donations to the charity of your choice, free critique of an original work of fiction by Zharmae staff.

BONUS: Cover Design for self publishing author's original work of fiction.

*Charity must be a recognized organization

OTHER: Special launch price for print and ebook

Hope to see you there!

Free Upcoming Contests

I've rounded up information about a few writing contests that are fast approaching.  If you love competition, like me, then the following will probably make your mind explode with ideas.

Deadline:  2/29/2012

Contest Name:  2012 Writing Contest

For:  Writers

Theme:  Anything goes

Submit:  Fiction up to 1,500 words

Prizes:  $500 for 1^st and $200 for 2^nd

Website:  http://www.witf.org/contests-and-giveaways/enter-the-2012-writing-contest-short-story-competition

Deadline:  2/29/2012

Contest Name:  Write While You Wait

For:  Writers

Theme:  Use these five words: hullabaloo, contest, hurry up and wait, kimchi, beer

Submit:  Fiction up to 150 words

Prizes:  $25

Website:  http://www.mr-jordan.net/

Deadline:  3/1/2012

Contest Name:  The East India Press Short Story Contest

For:  Writers

Theme:  Good writing/optional setting

Submit:  Fiction up to 2,500 words

Prizes:  $1,000, publication and manuscript consideration

Website:  http://nightingalenovel.com/contest.html

Deadline:  3/2/2012

Contest Name:  Next Top Artist

For:  Artists and writers

Theme:  Anything goes

Submit:  Fiction/nonfiction novel excerpt up to 5,000 words or a drawing

Prizes:  $5,000 and advertisement of artwork/critique of manuscript

Website:  http://www.tarchertopartist.com/official-rules/

Deadline:  3/15/2012

Contest Name:  Annual Ultra-Short Competition

For:  Writers and poets

Theme:  Anything goes

Submit:  Fiction or poetry up to 150 words

Prizes:  $300

Website:  http://www.umm.maine.edu/ultra-short-competition.html

Deadline:  4/9/2012

Contest Name:  "If you can write…"

For:  Writers

Theme:  Ideals based on the poem "IF"

Submit:  Fiction up to 6,700 words and nonfiction up to 2,500 words

Prizes:  $500 for 1^st, cash prizes for 2^nd and 3^rd, and publication in online magazine

Website:  http://www.allthingsif.org/if-you-can-write

The Memory Eater is Coming

I’ve been a bit slow with the blog posts lately, but this is the calm before the storm.  I’ve been meticulously preparing The Memory Eater for launch, and with over 50 contributors, there are a lot of checks to be made.  Not to mention that Word’s weapon of choice, formatting, nearly whooped me into submission.

But the near-finished product (about 95% complete) has turned out so amazingly well, thanks to the hard work of many, that I’m bursting with excitement to share it with the world.

I will be posting more updates in the coming weeks about what’s next for the anthology, specifically when and where it can be purchased.

I appreciate everyone who has followed this journey.  You’ve watched a mere idea from inside my head snowball into what’s here today.  It’s been long (like that car crawling in the passing lane you want to drive off the road), and hard, and frustrating, and there were a handful of professional authors wizards who tried to bring down this idea from the get go, but the positive support from many has kept me pushing forward.

So I just want to say thank you to all of those people who wanted to help.  Even if you said something nice in passing, it has really meant the world to me.