Literary Ladies Luncheon

erroneous message

2011-11-30T16:44:00.002-05:00

Ladies - Please forgive the email you just got about our 2007 White Elephant Exchange. I was asked by a member to remove one of the photos, and when I did so, that action generated emails to everyone. Sorry about that! -Janis

Colorado authors listen up

2010-04-30T09:22:00.001-04:00

The 2010 Author Fest of the Rockies is now taking call for proposals from authors, editors, agents, poets, and publishers. Deadline has been extended to May 15. Hard copies of the application are available at Black Cat Books and the Manitou Springs Public Library or you can access the online application at www.authorfestoftherockies.org. Don’t put this off... get your proposal in today!

"Love in a Time of Homeschooling"

2010-04-10T18:18:00.011-04:00

That's the title of LLLer Laura Brodie's new memoir, just published by Harper. In case you missed the article about Laura and her book in last Thursday's Washington Post, click here to read all about it.

Next Saturday, April 17th, at 11 A.M., Laura will appear at the Charlottesville Barnes & Noble for a book chat, and she'll happily sign your copy of her book.

Denver's New Social Secretary

2010-03-13T19:41:00.009-05:00

At a very well-attended lunch at Bombay Clay Oven on March 4th, LLL cofounder Bella Stander passed the baton (a handy sunglass case) to new Denver Social Secretary Carleen Brice. Long may she wave!

At the end of March Bella is returning to her native New York. She will reside in a 1950s ranch house, complete with pink-and-black bathroom, in scenic Rhinebeck.

Stay tuned for the first Hudson Valley LLL!

Malicious Parrot Memoir Hits the Shelves

2010-03-11T11:59:00.008-05:00

News from Jenny Gardiner:

My memoir, Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who's Determined to Kill Me (Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books) --think David Sedaris meets Marley & Me, with a deadly beak--will appear in bookstores next Tuesday, March 16th.

I'll be speaking and signing at the Virginia Festival of the Book on Sunday at 3 pm at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports at Barracks Road Shopping Center.

(Me, the woman who can't control her pets, along with three people whose professions are all about controlling their pets.)

Feel free to stop by. Thanks!

Laura Brodie's Homeschooling Memoir

2010-03-11T11:09:00.006-05:00

We have news from LLLer Laura Brodie, about her latest book:

"My memoir, Love In a Time of Homeschooling, is being published by Harper on April 6, and I'm giving a talk at the Charlottesville Barnes and Noble on Saturday, April 17 at 11:00. Everyone is welcome.

This isn't a standard homeschooling book so much as a mother-daughter memoir that looks at how public school families are using homeschooling to supplement their kids' educations."

Extra! Extra! LLL is News in New West

2009-10-10T00:47:00.017-04:00

Writers, Literary Agents, and Publishing Pros Lunch in Denver

A group of female publishing industry professionals meets monthly in Denver.

CO LLLers Doreen Orion & Carleen Brice,
who have also attended the VA LLL.

The Faulkner-Wisdom Competition: A Great Place to be Discovered

2009-08-19T11:55:00.006-04:00

A hot tip from new LLLer Laura Brodie, author of the just-released novel The Widow's Season:

Here is a contest that all literary ladies should know about: The Faulkner-Wisdom Competition, sponsored by the Pirate's Alley/Faulkner Society of New Orleans. This annual competition welcomes entries from around the country (and internationally) in seven categories: Novel, Novella, Novel-in-Progress, Short Story, Essay, Poetry, and Short Story by a High School Student.

In the past, prizes have ranged from $7000 for Best Novel, to $1500 for Best Short Story by a High School Student. Winners are flown to New Orleans in November for the society's annual conference, called Words & Music, a Literary Feast in New Orleans, which features panels with famous authors, meals at great restaurants, and brief manuscript consultations with an editor and agent.

The festival is open to all members of the public, and anyone can have a manuscript excerpt read by an agent and/or editor, followed by a consultation (usually about ten-fifteen minutes) for a fee. Each year a few writers sign with agents, often writers who never entered the contest-so it does happen!

I learned about this contest after two VMI English professors, David Rachels and Kurt Ayau, won Best Novel for their jointly-authored manuscript. I won Best Novel-in-Progress in 2005, and that category only requires that you offer 50 pages of a novel, and a synopsis of the rest. Check out the website Faulkner-Wisdom Competition for more information and contest deadlines. Usually the deadline comes in late March or April, but last spring the deadline was extended until June 1. Good luck to all!

FREE PIE at B&N (Oh, and Mollie Cox Bryan will be there, too.)

2009-07-15T16:22:00.011-04:00

Not only will Charlottesville Literary Lady Mollie Cox Bryan be signing her new book Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies at the Charlottesville Barnes & Noble this Saturday, July 18th from 1 to 3 pm, she will also be HANDING OUT PIE.

Need I say more? I think not.

"Steal This Text": Plagiarism in Our Brave New (Digital) World

2009-06-24T19:35:00.009-04:00

Oh, that cut-and-paste function is so tempting! Waldo Jaquith (yes, he's my son) was reviewing a book for The Virginia Quarterly Review and noticed jarring variations in the writing style.

Further investigation revealed equally jarring similarities between several Wikipedia entries and the author's text.

The author is Chris Anderson, the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine. The book, in a delicious irony, is entitled Free: The Future of a Radical Price.

The ensuing hoo-ha is available for your perusal at the VQR blog.

As you'll see from the comments posted there, the defense for this behavior is essentially: Hey, this stuff is available for free online, what's the big deal?

It is in that freewheeling spirit that I now present my brand-new novel, Moby Dick.

Faith Andrews Bedford's Book: Made for Mothers Day

2009-04-23T15:24:00.006-04:00

LLLer to sign her latest book: Little Girls in Matching Dresses: And Other Tales of Mothers, Daughters and Grandmothers at New Dominion Book Store, The Charlottesville Downtown Mall, Wednesday, April 29th at noon.

From Faith's press release:

Faith Andrews Bedford, a long-time favorite with Country Living's readers, captures the magic of childhood and home in a moving collection of essays. For years, the readers of Country Living have treasured her evocative stories, featured in her beloved bi-monthly column, "Kids in the Country."

Little Girls in Matching Dresses is a beautifully presented celebration of mothers and daughters that will touch the heart of all who read it. Just in time for Mother’s Day, this enchanting collection brims with warmth, wit, and grace and paints treasured portraits of mothers and children – and of creating new family traditions, following old ones, and seeing the world through a child’s eyes. [...] These vignettes take us – charmed and captivated – to the wondrous world where children eagerly explore their surroundings, where lessons are taught by gentle example, and where the strength of family is instilled in the rituals handed down over the years.

Faith is also an art historian and author of several books on the American Impressionist Frank W. Benson. In addition to appearing in Country Living, her essays have also been published in Reader's Digest, Victoria, several of the Chicken Soup books, and numerous anthologies as well as in many other magazines and newspapers.

LLL-apalooza at the Virginia Festival of the Book

2009-03-22T18:58:00.050-04:00

On Friday, March 20th, 26 members of the Literary Ladies Luncheon (okay, maybe some were guests -- I can't keep track of EVERYthing) gathered for lunch at Bashir's Taverna on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.

At table #1 were (from left to right) Erika Raskin, Diane Nelson, Debby Prum, Jeanne Siler, Johanna Smethurst, Susan Wright.

Table #2: That's Kathy May who has sneakily leaned out of the photo, Karen Kostyal, Mary Cail, Linda Kobert, Elizabeth Howard, Kathy Pond, Susie Langenkamp.

Table #3: Polly Lyman, Laura Rydin, Sandy Houseman, and Lisa Provence.

At Table #4, Charlottesville LLLers mingled with visiting Denver LLLers. Deborah Clarke Grosvenor, Doreen Orion, Fran Cannon Slayton, Stefanie Newman, Jocelyn Johnson, Rachel Unkefer.

Yours truly and Bella Stander.

And there's Bashir himself, at the serving table.

Throughout the Festival, LLLers were busy appearing on panels (or moderating them), and attending the multitude of events offered at the Festival. (And let's hope there were lots of power-schmoozes.)

Jennifer Elvgren, Debby Prum (standing) and Fran Cannon Slayton are at their presentation, Great Beginnings: How to Hook an Editor on the First Page. (That's Fran's forthcoming novel When the Whistle Blows displayed on the table.)

At the panel Book Review Superstars, emcee Bella Stander awarded each superstar (Louis Bayard, Alan Cheuse, Michael Dirda and Bethanne Kelly Patrick) a laudatory golden garland. Michael Dirda is receiving one as Alan Cheuse watches.

New Book Deal for Jenny Gardiner

2009-01-27T15:33:00.008-05:00

Last year, LLLer Jenny Gardiner landed a new agent. Now she has more good news to share:

"My humorous memoir, PARROTHOOD: Twenty Years of Caring for a Vengeful Bird Determined to Kill Me, will be published by Simon Spotlight, spring 2010, in HARDCOVER!"

Photo by Jen Fariello.

Here's the Publishers Marketplace announcement:

Author of SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER Jenny Gardiner's PARROTHOOD, pitched as "Marley & Me with parrots," about a disgruntled African Gray parrot and the owner who loves her despite the bird's best efforts to quite literally bite the hand that feeds her, to Emily Westlake at Simon Spotlight Entertainment, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (World English).

Big congrats all around! (And who says publishers aren't acquiring books?)

White Elephants on Parade in Charlottesville

2008-12-13T22:42:00.032-05:00

The tenth annual Charlottesville LLL White Elephant Exchange was held yesterday at the Gracious Home of writer and documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Howard. Some twenty Literary Ladies were in attendance. As the exquisite wrappings fell away, we were left with many truly wretched offerings. (Why, this is the best holiday EVER!)

My personal favorite was Susie Langenkamp's new "pump" soap.

Hearty congratulations to our first- and second-place winners, Laura Rydin and Sally Honenberger!

LLLer Noted and Quoted

2008-12-07T23:02:00.003-05:00

Colorado LLLer Doreen Orion, currently doing...er, marking...time in Crescent City, CA, made it into TWO (2!) newspapers this week.

First was The Rocky Mountain News holiday book gift guide: Nonfiction (scroll down to Travel), for her memoir, QUEEN OF THE ROAD.

Today, Doreen was quoted--as Dr. Orion, psychotherapist (but not author)--in a New York Times article about book groups, Fought Over Any Good Books Lately?

Denver White Elephant Extravaganza!

2008-12-07T18:20:00.046-05:00

Scene at Denver Literary Ladies Luncheon December Extravaganza: Sharon Glassman, Christie Hartman, Nancy Hightower, Karen Carter, Kate Schafer Testerman (face obscured).

Denver's second annual LLL White Elephant Gift Exchange was held yesterday at the Gracious Home of Bella Stander, National Cofounder & Western Social Secretary. Everyone shared food, drinks and tastefully wrapped dreadful (or not-so) regifts. To add to the fun, there was an Accessories Swap. Gold hoop earrings were the thing to de-accession; at least 7 pairs were up for grabs (seen at Karen Carter's rear, above).

Carleen Brice demonstrated her "Welcome White Folks" video, to much hilarity. Andrea Cohen is seated at left; Sharon is looking over her shoulder. At the next screening, Tamara Greenleaf laughed so hard she cried; she's wiping her tears at right. Carleen gave a copy of her book, ORANGE MINT & HONEY, and an audiobook. Not exactly White Elephants, but they were greatly appreciated.

Left, Denise Turner receives the gift acclaimed as Best Wrapped. Little did she know what many of us guessed: that it contained the ghastly double-necked vase Carleen got last year. We expect it to reappear in 2009. A can of guava paste has been circulating in Charlottesville for a decade; here's hoping it turns up again this Friday.

Right, the Tackiest Gift, a balky lava lamp bestowed on Karen by Nancy Hightower.

Above left, Sharon models a fetching ensemble--black knit cap & mauve camisole--received from Janet Singleton (rear), who's holding the finishing touch: a red-flowered scarf. Center, Christie models a belt from the Accessories Swap. Right, Nancy models a flowered neck--we think--thing and black handbag, from Vanessa Appleby, who had to leave (escape?) before all the gift giving.

Left, Janet responds to Kristin Nelson's gift of a pewter spittoon...er, urn...er, vase?

Right, Bella with the Most Ghastly Gift, courtesy of Denise, who gave as good (i.e., bad) as she got.

As you can see, Janet was stunned by the spotted green frog from Denise. Carleen was amazed by an opened bag of Snickers bars (another Halloween leftover) and can of evaporated milk from Debra. They were packed in the most precious and patriotic gift bag EVER (the trifecta: teddy bear, angel & American flag). For some reason Carleen refused to take it with her, so it was squirreled away by Bella, to make a glorious reappearance next year.

More hapless giftees.

Left, Debra Goldyn with Nelly CD.

Right, Elizabeth Wrenn with PURE SKIN. (Note how her eyes match the book jacket!)

Left: Pleased (or faking it) recipient Paula Singer and giver Elizabeth Wrenn with--ick!--POOH'S LITTLE BOOK OF FENG SHUI.

Below: Best-Coordinated Package & Recipient Nancy Jarrell and bag (Denise is at left). Inside was a silver bookmark in the shape of a heart. Groans all around for its being truly lovely.

Happy giftees Kate Schafer Testerman with cat thingy; Kristin Nelson with DOGA: Yoga for Dogs (dog on left resembles her Chutney).

Welcome to the African-American Books Section!

2008-12-03T17:12:00.002-05:00

The Welcome White Folks video is out in the world. LLLer Carleen Brice, aka the Black Book Welcome Lady, states that no non-black people were harmed in the making of it. In fact, she treated us to lunch afterward. (I'm in the rousing and heartwarming finale; most of the cast is in the LLL.)

New York Approves of LLLer!

2008-12-02T20:22:00.001-05:00

Carleen Brice made it into the BRILLIANT HIGHBROW section in The Approval Matrix for her National Buy a Book By a Black Author & Give It to Somebody Not Black Month. I wrote about NBBBAGISNBM here and here (with demented pix of yours truly).

Be sure to read Carleen's new blog, White Readers Meet Black Authors. Today's post has the Top 10 reasons white people should read books by black people:

8. Seriously, haven't you read enough Philip Roth? Jewish guy obsessed with sex and death. Oy! Enough already.

Blurbs needed for WWII Book - Know Any Experts?

2008-11-18T09:18:00.008-05:00

Maybe you know a WWII historian or other authority on the subject. LLLer Alice Faintich could use your help, and sends the following request:

As some of you might remember from a discussion one Friday, a second edition of my father’s book, The Ice Road, will be published in the U.S. and pretty much the rest of the English-speaking world either next fall to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the start of WWII or early in 2010 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the start of the deportations of Poles by the Soviet Union.

The book is dad’s memoires, as a 15-year-old, of being deported with his parents to a labor camp in Siberia; of life in the camp; and then of the long journey, including by raft from the forest to the nearest railhead, to get out of the Soviet Union and join up with the Polish army being formed under the British in what was then Persia.

The first edition, published in the U.K. got excellent reviews in the British papers and sold out, but the publisher fell down on the marketing side and did little to no promotion of the book, something we plan to redress with this second edition. The new edition is the same book, but with the addition of some new material, such as a historical background to put the memoires in context for readers, most of whom know nothing about this aspect of WWII.

To this end, we are looking for people to write blurbs for the jacket. Do you know anyone who has name recognition, possibly, but this is not critical, who is associated with, say, history or WWII, who we might approach for such a blurb once we have review copies ready?

Many thanks,

Alice
(Responses should go to me at alicefaintich [at] cyberwind [dot] net.)

Elizabeth Howard's Documentary Debuts at VA Film Fest!

2008-10-29T11:14:00.020-04:00

Elizabeth Howard's documentary, Rosalina's Faith in America,
will be screened at the Virginia Film Festival on Sunday, November 2nd at 3 p.m. at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville. The film tells the story of an immigrant Italian's struggle to honor her faith and her family.

[Gravity Lounge is located at 103 South First Street, across the Downtown Mall from Hamilton’s restaurant.]

Moviemaking in Charlottesville
3:00 PM, Gravity Lounge

Four short films by Charlottesville filmmakers addressing aspects of the Aliens! theme: Space Movie by Aidan Keith-Hynes and Chris Yeaton, an animated short film from Light House that takes a whimsical and irreverent look at the possibility of alien life forms. My Day With Conrad, in which local filmmaker Doug Bari gets the chance to spend a whole day with Conrad Brooks, the last surviving member of the original Ed Wood film Plan 9 from Outer Space. Sahar Before The Sun, by Sahar Adish, the story of a young Afhani teenager's escape from the Taliban, produced at Light House.

Rosalina's Faith in America, by Elizabeth Howard, tells the story of an Italian immigrant whose religious conversion leads to family fury and the building of a church she believes in. This film is narrated by Vito Cetta, Rosalina's son and a Charlottesville architect.

[In photo: Vito and Rosalina Cetta.]

What's Your Book About?

2008-10-11T20:18:00.003-04:00

If your answer to the above question is, "Um, well...it's kind of like Gone With the Wind meets The Wind in the Willows meets The Winds of War," then you might need LLL cofounder Bella Stander's "Polish Your Pitch!" seminar. She's coming back to beautiful Charlottesville to conduct it at WriterHouse next Saturday, October 18, 1-3pm.

You can read an interview with Bella (which includes the #1 mistake new writers make when describing their books) on the WriterHouse home page. There's more info about the seminar--and how to register for it--HERE.

Literary Ladies Awarded!

2008-10-11T19:49:00.001-04:00

On October 8, Boulder LLLer Kim Reid won the Colorado Book Award in Nonfiction for her memoir, NO PLACE SAFE. Hooray for Kim!

On Sept 25, Denver LLLer Carleen Brice won the African American Literary Awards Show prize for Break-out Novel of the Year for her debut, ORANGE MINT AND HONEY. (Her 2nd novel, CHILDREN OF THE WATERS, will be released in July; read the prologue.) Hooray for Carleen!

Charlottesville Literary Ladies will remember Kim & Carleen from this year's LLL Summit at VaBook.

Janis Jaquith Is Fired Up!

2008-09-28T16:53:00.003-04:00

Charlottesville LLL Social Secretary Janis Jaquith writes:

Rather than preach to the choir, I wrote this piece hoping to reach the voters in the "reddest" areas of Virginia. The commentary appears in today's edition of The Roanoke Times.

What have Republicans done for you?

You know in your heart that homosexuality is unnatural, an abomination. You are foursquare against abortion and there's no doubt in your mind that Muslims are a foreign threat -- and it goes without saying that the United States is a Christian nation.

These are your most cherished values. What could be more natural than to vote for people who share your values? Someone you feel comfortable with. Someone like you.

This is a basic human instinct. We gravitate toward our own kind.

People who look like you, sound like you and think like you have been in charge of this country for nearly eight years now. As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that workin' out for you?"

Do you have more money in the bank than you did in 2000? Is your job more secure? Is your medical care any easier to handle?

If you answered "no" to any of those questions, you may want to rethink the way you choose your leaders. Ask yourself what your congressman and your president have done to make your life better.

Do you feel safer than you did in 2000? I sure don't. And I have not seen a shred of evidence that Virgil Goode or Bob Goodlatte or George Bush have done a single thing -- made a law or put a policy in place -- to improve my life one iota.

Instead, I feel like my pocket has been picked. I feel like my own patriotism was used against me when they tricked me into supporting a war against Iraq -- a country that had, it turns out, not a thing to do with the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. And now, my tax dollars are stuffing the pockets of war profiteers like Halliburton and Blackwater. (And don't forget the high-rollers on Wall Street who are resting in a cushy safety net -- on our dime.)

Meanwhile, Virginia manufacturers have closed up shop and fled to other countries, leaving tons of Virginians high and dry. Why are there no effective trade policies or tax incentives in place to bring jobs back to Virginia? We've been without leadership for so long, we've forgotten what it looks like.

The fact that Goode and Goodlatte and Bush share their heartfelt values must be cold comfort for the legions of hard-working Virginians who are now either without a job or are under-employed. And the loss of Virginian lives in the ill-conceived Iraq war is too painful to think about.

Ask yourself: Are you better off now than you were before the Republicans took the wheel?

This Nov. 4, I'll pick my leaders by finding out which ones will make my life better. The candidates who advocate for ordinary, middle-class people, the ones who will keep us out of wars, help me get decent medical care for a fair price and allow my bank account to fill up again.

Will they be the candidates who also share my bedrock values? To tell you the truth, I really don't care.

Jaquith is a columnist for Charlottesville's newsweekly, The Hook. She has also been a frequent radio commentator for WVTF and for PRI's "Marketplace," and has appeared on NPR's "Day to Day."

Free Wine and Cheese!

2008-09-08T22:23:00.012-04:00

Okay, now that I've got your attention, keep reading below for details regarding LLLer Dahlia Lithwick's gig at the TJ Center this Friday. (They ask you to reserve so they can have sufficient wine and cheese on hand. You know I'll be there!)

If you've never been to an event at the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, you're missing out. The Center, along with the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, is housed in a lovely old mansion. The open house is traditionally held in the spacious back yard with a view that unfurls all the way to the Blue Ridge. You'll find smart people (who are passionate about the Constitution), stimulating talk, art like you may never have seen, plus those tasty refreshments!

Dahlia Lithwick, Award-winning Legal Correspondent, to Speak at TJ Center

Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate.com, contributing writer to Newsweek, and legal commentator for NPR’s Day to Day, will be speaking at the annual Open House / Reception of The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. In 2001, Lithwick received the Online News Association’s award for online commentary and last year was recognized by a Legal Affairs magazine poll as one of the top 20 legal thinkers in America.

The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve your place, please contact the Thomas Jefferson Center at 434-295-4784.

Friday, September 12, 2008
5:00-7:00 PM
400 Worrell Drive (Pantops)

Report from Denver

2008-08-13T14:34:00.006-04:00

Colorado Literary Ladies deep in conversation on August 1.

After a lull in July, when there was a cozy affair for four, the Colorado LLL returned with a roar on August 1. Fourteen (14!) Literary Ladies showed up to chow down at The Empress Dim Sum Sea Food Restaurant in Denver. Newcomers included writer/memoir coach Kathryn Black (at rear, in white) and literary agent Beth Jusino of Alive Communications (4th from right, facing camera).

A good--cheap! ($11.60 each, including 20% tip)--time was had by all. By popular demand, next month we're meeting at Bombay Clay Oven, which is conveniently located halfway between Your Humble Correspondent's Gracious Home and favorite dog-walking park.

Karen Carter Communications

2008-07-19T02:00:00.003-04:00

Denver LLLer Karen Carter (aka Sustenance Scout) is offering "Client-Focused Copy Editing" at her new site, Karen Carter Communications. She's looking for referrals to individuals or organizations in need of editing assistance.

Short Story Contest

2008-07-10T13:27:00.003-04:00

Entry deadline for the Sean O'Faolain Short Story Prize is July 31. Full competition rules here.
Highlights:

The competition is open to original unpublished short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or less. The story can be on any subject, in any style by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
The winners will be announced at the International Frank O’Connor Festival of the Short Story in Cork in September. The winners will be invited to read their prize winning stories at the festival.
First Prize: €1,500 (approx US$2300) and publication in the literary biannual Southword.
Second Prize: €500 (approx US$790) and publication in Southword.
Four other shortlisted entries will be selected for publication in Southword and receive a fee of €100 euros (approx US$158).

Belated Report from Denver

2008-07-06T18:57:00.004-04:00

June 6: Our biggest group ever. We're wearing leis courtesy of Andrea Cohen (center rear, holding her book, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, below Bella in blue), who gave them out in celebration of her birthday.

Doreen Orion (the short one) and Carleen Brice posing for good fortune (at least that's what we hope the Chinese shield means). Next day was the official pub date of Doreen's memoir, QUEEN OF THE ROAD, which was picked for the Borders and Celestial Seasonings book clubs and featured at Target. Carleen's wearing Hollywood shades because her first novel, ORANGE MINT AND HONEY, was optioned for a Lifetime TV movie. The audio book went on sale at the end of June.

Variations on a Medical Theme

2008-04-15T09:14:00.012-04:00

LLLer Elizabeth Howard passes along this writing opportunity.

From the Hospital Drive website:
Hospital Drive: A Journal of Reflective Practice in Word& Image is an on-line journal launched by the University of Virginia School of Medicine in the fall of 2006, to encourage original creative work that examines themes of health, illness, and healing.

Submissions are open to anyone, but preference is given to those involved in providing, teaching, studying, or researching patient care. All work will be judged anonymously by reviewers and the editorial board. Poems, short fiction, personal essays, reviews, photography, visual art, audio, and video will be considered. Issues will be released at least once each year, and include invited work.

Hospital Drive submissions
--
[NB: They don't pay the writers. But if you're looking for publication and clips, then go for it. --JJ]

Colorado April Luncheon

2008-04-14T19:01:00.005-04:00

On Friday, April 11, the Colorado Literary Ladies chowed down at our new fave meeting place: Empress Dim Sum Sea Food Restaurant. We...er...over-ordered, so several of us took home doggie/husband bags.

Clockwise from left:
Carol Berg, Elizabeth Wrenn, Andrea Cohen MD (partally obscured, in blue), Robin D. Owens, Doreen Orion (seated, in black), Sara Megibow (standing, in white), Pam Novotny (seated, in red), Kristin Nelson, Sheri Keasler-Benson, Kim Reid, Karen Carter and Christie Hartman.

Cathy Clarke Wins Big with THE HEIST

2008-04-14T17:53:00.002-04:00

Congrats to Colorado LLLer Catherine Clarke, who won first place in the Pikes Peak Writers Paul Gillette Writing Contest, young adult category, for her first novel, THE HEIST. She'll be recognized at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference awards banquet in Colorado Springs on April 26.

Cathy writes:

I assume some of the LLL will attend the PPWC conference? I'll be looking
for them!

LLL Summit at VaBook!

2008-04-07T15:04:00.007-04:00

Better late than never, above is a photo of the first-ever National LLL, during the Virginia Festival of the Book, on Friday, March 28 at Hamilton's on Main. "National" because there were three Ladies from the Colorado contingent: Kim Reid, barely visible at 4th from left; Social Secretary Bella Stander in green, 4th from right; Carleen Brice leaning back, 5th from right.

We lobbied hard for Judy Merill Larsen (2nd from left), who was participating in the Fest, to start an LLL chapter in Missouri.

As for the other Ladies at the table, visible on the left are Jenny Gardiner, Judy and Marianne Sullivan. At the very end is Deirdra McAfee. The first three on the right are Susan Wright, Virginia Social Secretary Janis Jaquith and Susie Langenkamp.

The First Annual LLL VaBook Happy Hour, at South Street Brewery on Thurs. 3/27, was a grand success. More than 30 ladies and gentlemen attended. There are no photos of the fabulous event because Bella forgot to take her camera out of her handbag. That's the Lit Life for you!

27 Reasons Why Short Stories Are Rejected

2008-04-02T13:49:00.020-04:00

These hot tips come to us by way of the Virginia Quarterly Review blog. (My son, Waldo Jaquith, is their Web developer.)

And while we're on the subject of the UVa's literary magazine, you should know that this is not your father's VQR. It has been souped up by young-pup editor Ted Genoways.

The latest edition (Spring Issue: Superhero Stories) features graphic novelist Art Spiegelman.

Plus, once again, VQR is a finalist in the National Magazine Awards (these are the Pulitzer Prizes of the magazine world), with three nominations.

So, whether you're looking to submit, or are hankering for a majorly good read, keep VQR in mind.

Okay, I'm done bragging now.

Do have a look at those 27 Reasons Why Short Stories Are Rejected. They are all useful (well, apart from number 24, which is absurd.).

LLL at VaBook - Sun. 3/30

2008-03-20T16:20:00.002-04:00

Literary Ladies' events on Day 5 of the Virginia Festival of the Book.

SUN 3/30
11:45am Fifth Annual Celebration Brunch
The Charlottesville Chapter of The LINKS, Incorporated presents a tribute to the African-American Literary Tradition, featuring guest authors from the Virginia Festival of the Book, including Carleen Brice (Orange Mint and Honey).
Moderator: Tamyra Turner

LLL at VaBook - Sat. 3/29

2008-03-20T15:50:00.003-04:00

Literary Ladies' events on Day 4 of the Virginia Festival of the Book. (Bella Stander's pals & Book Promotion 101 clients are in purple).

SAT 3/29
12pm African-American Voices
With Adam Bradley (The Collected Manuscripts of Ralph Ellison's Unpublished Second Novel), Carleen Brice (Orange Mint and Honey, Age Ain't Nothin' But a Number), Stacy Hawkins Adams (Watercolored Pearls) and Evans Hopkins (Life After Life).
Moderator: Tamyra Turner

12pm Publishing Day: Promoting Like a Pro
What it takes to publicize your book, online and elsewhere, and how to present yourself to media. Bella Stander (Book Promotion 101) with fiction publicist Lauren Cerand and book promotion specialist Kelly Powers (Obie Joe Media).
Moderator: Bella Stander

12pm Publishing Day: The Editor-Agent Relationship
Simon Lipskar (agent, Writers House) and Mark Tavani (editor, Ballantine Books) join in an informal conversation about the way they do their jobs, how that impacts the books they sign, and what takes writers from unpublished to published authors.
Moderator: Mayapriya Long

2pm Nice Jewish Boys Gone Wild!
Fiction and memoir with Marc Estrin (The Lamentations of Julius Marantz), A.J. Jacobs (The Year of Living Biblically), Adam Mansbach (The End of the Jews) and Peter Charles Melman (Landsman).
Moderator: Bella Stander

2pm Publishing Day: Managing Expectations
Clinical psychologist Susan O’Doherty (Getting Unstuck Without Coming Unglued) helps examine the goals, motivations, and expectations that come with being an author.
Moderator: Susan Tyler Hitchcock

4pm Echoes of the Great War
With novelists Nicholas Griffin (Dizzy City), Thomas Mullen (The Last Town on Earth) and Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs mystery series).
Moderator: Bella Stander

4pm Great Books for Great Kids
Cynthia Cotten (Abbie n Stitches), Barbara Kanninen (A Story with Pictures) and Sarah Sullivan (Root Beer and Banana) discuss reading, writing, and publishing quality picture books and coping with today's tight picture book market. Hosted by Mid-Atlantic Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Moderator: Anne Marie Pace

LLL at VaBook - Fri 3/28

2008-03-20T14:57:00.004-04:00

Here are listings of Literary Ladies' events on Day 3 of the Virginia Festival of the Book. (Bella Stander's pals & Book Promotion 101 clients are in purple).

FRI 3/28
10:00am Science Writing: Life Cycles
Jennifer Ackerman (Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream), Michael Sims (Apollo's Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination), and Susan Freinkel (American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree).
Moderator: Susan Tyler Hitchcock

2:00pm Families Coming Together: Fiction and Memoir
With novelists Carleen Brice (Orange Mint and Honey), Emilie Richards (Touching Stars) and memoirist Kim Reid (No Place Safe).
Moderator: Grace Zisk

2:00pm Living on the Edge: Cons and Characters
Michael Sims (Editor of new edition of Arsene Lupin's Gentleman Thief), Nicholas Griffin (Dizzy City), and Dallas Hudgens (Season of Gene) explore clever rogues in tense situations.
Moderator: Jenny Gardiner

4:00pm Going Places: A Poetry Reading
Move across reflective landscapes with Margaret Gibson (One Body), Sharon Leiter (The Dream of Leaving), David Rigsbee (Cloud Journal), and Ron Smith (Moon Road).
Moderator: Jeff Coughter

6:00pm Dracula vs. Frankenstein: A Monster Mash of Fact and Fiction
With Paul Bibeau (Sundays with Vlad: From Pennsylvania to Transylvania, One Man's Quest to Live in the World of the Undead) and Susan Tyler Hitchcock (Frankenstein: A Cultural History).
Moderator: Jonathan Coleman

LLL at VaBook - Thurs. 3/27

2008-03-20T13:33:00.002-04:00

Here are listings of Literary Ladies' events on Day 2 of the Virginia Festival of the Book. (Bella Stander's author pals & Book Promotion 101 clients are in purple).

THURS 3/27
12:00pm Race and Place: Memoirs
With Margaret Gibson (The Prodigal Daughter: Reclaiming an Unfinished Childhood), Evans Hopkins (Life After Life: A Story of Rage and Redemption), and Kim Reid (No Place Safe: A Family Memoir).
Moderator: Hilda Ward

2:00pm Across Time and Space: Fiction Capturing Personal and Public History
With Arthur Phillips, (Prague, Angelica), Anne Landsman (The Rowing Lesson) and George Robert Minkoff (The Weight of Smoke).
Moderator: Deborah Prum

LLL at VaBook - Wed. 3/26

2008-03-20T12:54:00.006-04:00

The Literary Ladies Luncheon--VA and CO--will be well represented at the Virginia Festival of the Book. Here's a listing of Literary Ladies' events for Day 1. (Bella Stander's pals & Book Promotion 101 clients are in purple).

WED 3/26
12:00pm High Gloss: Making the Beautiful Book
With Susan Tyler Hitchcock (Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk), Jon Lohman (In Good Keeping: Virginia's Folk Apprenticeships), and Anne B. Barriault and Kay Davidson (Selections from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts).
Moderator: Dorrit Green

4:00pm Opening the Vein: Pouring Life into Writing
The Moseley Writers, Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren (Josias, Hold the Book), Deborah Prum (Rats, Bulls, and Flying Machines), Fran Cannon Slayton (How to Hop a Moving Train), and Andy Straka (Record of Wrongs), discuss how real life experiences inform fiction and keep writing fresh in a marketing-saturated world.
Moderator: Andy Straka

4:00pm Life As We Know It: Novels of Change and Healing
With Virginia Boyd (One Fell Swoop), Therese Fowler (Souvenir) and Judy Merrill Larsen (All the Numbers).
Moderator: Mariflo Stephens

6:00pm Memoirs: Writing Our Lives, Writing Our Cultures
Elko Stillfried (Leaves in the Wind), Konstantina Dimitra Mahlia (The House of Many Faces), Beatrix Ost (My Father's House: A Childhood in Wartime Bavaria), Linwood Custalow and Angela L. Daniel (The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History). Hosted by Piedmont Council of the Arts, Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, and Senior Center.
Moderator: Faith Andrews Bedford

6:00pm Trying to Get it Right: Fiction About Marriage
Jenny Gardiner (Sleeping with Ward Cleaver), James Collins (Beginner's Greek), and Joshua Henkin (Matrimony) offer fictional perspectives of twenty-first century marriages.
Moderator: Jeanne Siler

Literary Ladies Awarded!

2008-03-17T19:03:00.014-04:00

Charlottesville weekly newspaper The Hook won 6 first-place prizes at Friday night's Virginia Press Association awards in Roanoke. And two of those prizewinners were Literary Ladies Lisa Provence (headline writing) and Janis Jaquith (editorials). Hooray!

Full story: Hook Brings Home Bacon (16 awards)

L-R: Lisa Provence, Janis Jaquith & Hawes Spencer, editor of The Hook, whence this photo was lifted.

News From Country Cookin' Mollie Bryan

2008-02-22T14:38:00.022-05:00

Hello Friends!

I'll be leading a workshop at Stone Soup Books in Waynesboro on March 15, 10-11 (or so). the focus of the workshop is "Writing Memoir, Essays, and Columns, " which is kind of a lot to cover in an hour or hour and a half . ;-) But I think it should be fun. I hope to give participants some unique and fun writing exercises. If you have writing to share, please bring it along. This workshop is completely free of charge and will be lighthearted. I hope to see some of you there.

On other news, my contract for the second Mrs. Rowe book was held up because I asked for some changes, but it is on the way (or so I am told). The MRS. ROWE'S LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHERN PIE is due in July. But I want to have most of it done before the girls are out of school. We have a tester on board and things are rolling right along. (The tester, Kate Antea, is a pastry "cook" and a dear friend of mine that lives in Colorado.)

I am exploring another Virginia food book, which would have even more history in it than the Rowe book. More on that when things finalize.

In the meantime, the spring issue of Grit will have a pie article I've written for them--the photos of the pie are beautiful. I wrote that article months ago! And to all the Virginians on the list, Virginia Living's April issue will publish the Mary Johnston piece that I wrote well over a year ago.

Cheers,
Mollie
--
Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley
A Narrative Cookbook
My website: molliebryan.typepad.com
--
[Pie tester! Now THERE's a job my guidance counselor never told me about! --Janis]

Susan Tyler Hitchcock featured at California Literary Festival

2008-02-11T23:32:00.000-05:00

From the Long Beach, CA, Press Telegram:

Literary women write on in L.B. [Long Beach]
720 people from across U.S. attend L.B. event; seven authors give talks.

By Kelly Puente, Staff writer

LONG BEACH - Each year on Jan. 2, Long Beach school teacher Phyllis Greenberg makes a dash to the post office.
"I know the day is coming and I get prepared," she said.

Greenberg was one of hundreds of women who scrambled to send in their invitations last month for an annual event so exclusive, only 720 people are permitted, and hundreds more are turned down.

"It's a fight every year," said Long Beach resident Judy Jacobson. "But it's so worth it."

Women from across the country packed into the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday for the 26th annual Literary Women Festival of Authors.

A celebration of women writers and readers, the day-long event sells out every year and has attracted best-selling authors such as Mary Higgins Clark, Barbara Kingsolver and Sue Grafton.

Organizer Judy Ross said those hoping to attend must send in their invitations on the same day received, or they probably won't get in.

"The event has become so in demand, we don't like to advertise," she said. "The entire thing had been through word of mouth."
Although a few men could be found in the crowd Saturday, the event has always been overwhelmingly attended by women.

Founder Harriet Williams started the festival in 1982 after she learned that her son's reading list from Wilson High School had only three women authors.

Since then, the event has become massively popular with women readers and writers alike.

This year's lineup of seven writers ranged from Pulitzer Prize-winner and best-selling author Geraldine Brooks to Bo Caldwell, whose debut novel, "The Distant Land of My Father," won Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year.

Speaker Andrea Barrett, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of six novels, said the festival's almost fanatical attendance is contrary to reports that Americans are reading less every year.

"When you see such a large number of passionate readers in one room, it makes you feel like everyone is reading," she said.

Long Beach resident Wendy Zeh has attended the festival for the last 10 years largely for the camaraderie and inspiration.

This year, Zeh said she especially enjoyed author Susan Tyler Hitchcock's candid accounts of her life and the writing process. In front of a room of more than 300, Hitchcock regaled a time when critics blasted her nonfiction novel, "Coming About: A Family Passage."

"It hurt, but I was blessed with an overwhelming abundance of self-confidence," Hitchcock said, as the crowd laughed.

Zeh said it's that type of intimate atmosphere that keeps her coming back.

"You're surrounded by hundreds of women like you, who love reading," she said. "It's a special day."

Superb Book Launch Party for Sleeping With Ward Cleaver

2008-02-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

Jenny Gardiner's next book should be "How to Promote Your Book." Last night, a few hundred of Jenny's closest friends (in other words, le tout Charlottesville) gathered upstairs at the Paramount Theater, where Jenny and husband Scott hosted a fantastic book launch party for Jenny's first novel, Sleeping With Ward Cleaver. By the time I arrived, the book-signing line snaked out the door, and people were snapping up multiple copies.

The food was so good, I wondered who the caterer was. I was thinking how lucky Jenny was, to get this kind of support from her publisher. Turns out, Jenny and her friends provided the food and drink, and the entire wingding was the author's undertaking. There were clever decorations using the graphics from the cover of her book, and the volunteer waitstaff sported matching aprons and pink rubber gloves which evoked the June Cleaver, early-'60s zeitgeist so intrinsic to Jenny's novel.

The evening was a huge success, and I have no doubt that in a few hundred Virginia homes this Sunday afternoon, people are chatting in person or online with their friends about Jenny's book, and curling up with a copy of Sleeping With Ward Cleaver and enjoying every minute of it.

My hat is off to Jenny (that would be a pink pillbox hat) for talent and creativity that extend well beyond the pages of her book.

"Sleeping With Ward Cleaver" makes debut

2008-01-29T17:06:00.000-05:00

Jenny Gardiner's novel, Sleeping With Ward Cleaver, has just hit the bookshelves. You'll recall that Jenny's manuscript for this novel won the American Title III national fiction contest last year. Order your copy at Amazon.com.

"A fun, sassy read! A cross between Erma Bombeck and Candace Bushnell, reading Jenny Gardiner is like sinking your teeth into a big frosted chocolate cupcake...you just want more."

-Meg Cabot, author of Big Boned and Queen of Babble Gets Hitched.

Congratulations, Jenny!

LLLer Makes the LA Times Bestseller List

2008-01-13T15:44:00.000-05:00

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE: 39 Life Lessons from Today's Greatest Teachers by LLLer Andrea Joy Cohen is #7 on this week's Los Angeles Times Bestsellers List.

LOOK!

Job Opportunity in NC

2008-01-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

From Press 53, a small independent publisher in Winston-Salem and Hamptonville, NC.

Edit 1/10/08: Hard to believe, but the below is an UNPAID VOLUNTEER position. As if!

Publicity Coordinator: BA in Public Relations, Journalism, Communication, or English. Previous experience writing press releases and pitching media in a book publishing environment or for a PR firm necessary (or really desirable). Experience in a book publishing environment is a big plus.

Ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully pitching story ideas and getting placements with national and trade media. Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Filemaker Pro, Bacons Media Source, Photo Editor (or equivalent), Microsoft Outlook e-mail, Internet Skills) required. Must be able to work independently, possess sound judgment, and be a creative professional. Individual should be able to show successful national print, TV, and radio placement. Media relations background and experience pitching authors to all media outlets desirable. Previous experience running a campaign independently desired.

Responsibilities include developing and producing public relations materials, including press releases, fact sheets, author biographies, pitch letters, interview questions, etc. This includes writing press sheets for galleys to be sent to trade media. To conduct media relations, including responding to inquiries by the media, arranging interviews, planning book and media tours, and following up on news releases and mailings. To conduct author relations, including responding to questions and requests of authors, and maintaining continual flow of information. This includes planning events and scheduling author participation at trade shows and other venues. Superb written and verbal communications skills imperative. Ability to manage multiple tasks and foster good relationships with a wide variety of internal and external business associates essential. Specific knowledge of public relations strategies and tactics, specifically related to book campaigns, is important. Will train the right motivated candidate(s). More than one position may be available.

Please submit a letter of interest with two writing samples, a press release and a pitch letter or some other short nonfiction piece (an article, essay, etc.) that illustrates your writing ability. Email as attachments to Sheryl Monks: sherylmonks (at) aol.com.

Sharon Leiter reading at New Dominion

2008-01-07T22:04:00.000-05:00

An invitation from Sharon Leiter:

Dear Friends,

Please come and join me for a reading of my new book of poems, The Dream of Leaving, on Thursday, January 24, at 5:30 pm, at New Dominion Bookstore on the Downtown Mall. Afterwards, we'll convene at Jean Sampson's studio on the second floor of the McGuffey Art Center, for food, drink and conversation!

Will you let me know by January 17 if I may expect the pleasure of your company? You can email me at SLeiter at AOL.com.

wishing you a happy, healthy new year,

Sharon

LLL Denver News 3

2008-01-05T13:23:00.000-05:00

Debra Fine's new book is coming out this month:

THE FINE ART OF THE BIG TALK: How to Win Clients, Deliver Great Presentations, and Solve Conflicts at Work (Hyperion).

She will be speaking and signing books at:

Tattered Cover LoDo, Denver - Wed., January 30, 7:30 pm.

LLL Denver News 2

2008-01-02T02:20:00.000-05:00

Andrea Joy Cohen MD's first book is being published today:

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE: 39 Life Lessons from Today's Greatest Teachers (Berkley/Penguin)

She will be speaking and signing books at:

Boulder Book Store - Thurs., January 24, 7:30 pm.
Tattered Cover LoDo, Denver - Tues., January 29, 7:30 pm.

LLL Denver News 1

2008-01-02T00:15:00.000-05:00

Carleen Brice's first novel, ORANGE MINT AND HONEY (One World/Ballantine), is debuting on Feb 12. Target has chosen it as a Break Out Title for February, and it's also a pick of the Essence Magazine and Black Expressions book clubs.

Upcoming events:

7:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 26
Tattered Cover LoDo, 1628 16th Street, Denver, CO 80202 (at Wynkoop directly across Wynkoop Street from the new EPA building next to Union Station just blocks from Coors Field). Hourly parking lots are located near the store and streetside parking is also available. Phone number: 303-436-1070.

7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 8
West Side Books, 3434 W. 32nd, Denver, CO 80211. "Stories for All Seasons." Free admission and refreshments. Phone number: 303-480-0220.

2:00 p.m., Friday, March 28, VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Charlottesville. "Families Coming Together," with Tim Farrington (The Monk Upstairs) and Emilie Richards (Touching Stars).

7 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Southglenn Library, 7500 South University Boulevard (Dry Creek and University), Centennial, CO 80122. Phone number: 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).

Denver White Elephant Gift Exchange

2008-01-01T11:59:00.000-05:00

At long last, here's the Denver LLL White Elephant Extravaganza on December 14 at Mead St. Station. A hilarious time was had by all.

Clockwise from left front: Robin Owens, Rebecca Burgess, Andrea Joy Cohen, Debra Fine, Kristin Nelson, Shelly Vickroy, Bella Stander, Rebecca Burgess, Karen Carter and Mary Taylor Young.

The many exquisitely wrapped gifts were piled in the center of the table and the Ladies picked for themselves.

Carleen Brice happened on the most inappropriate gift, donated by yours truly: a self-published doorstop about an Irish guy who fought for the Confederacy, which she immediately regifted to Robin. Then good luck shone on Carleen again, and she walked away with what was unanimously deemed the most horrid item: a white bisque double-necked amphora (I'm sure there's a special term for it) with a Spirit of the West-type owl painted on it.

Andrea Joy Cohen blessed the amphora, but I have a strong suspicion that it's going to resurface next year. Perhaps it will become a rotating gift, like the famous can of guava paste in Charlottesville. If memory serves, the copulating frogs received by Dawn Hunt (see below post) have also made a previous appearance. And the painted-lady wine glasses that Laura Rydin got from (and returned to) Janis Jaquith were given by me two years ago.

Ghastly-Gift Gathering

2007-12-15T12:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, the Charlottesville branch of the Worldwide Literary Ladies Luncheon gathered at Milan indian restaurant for the annual White Elephant gift exchange.

Going clockwise: that's yours truly (Janis Jaquith) with hand raised, Fran Slayton (who has wonderful publishing news that may not yet be disclosed), Jenny Gardiner, Laura Rydin Ventre, Marianne Sullivan, the intrepid Susan Wright, and Erika Raskin.

And lucky me, I got what has to get the award for "Most Desperate Gift, Ever." A can of beans, courtesy of Rose Elliott.

Marianne Sullivan having a "what the hell is this?" moment with a ghastly, multicolored ceramic bowl festooned with stuck-on ceramic fish. She decided it would make a good water bowl for the cat. (Although the ceramic fish could be cause for some feline frustration...)

That's Susan Wright holding her Hokie Napkins (unfortunately, the Hokie turkey doesn't show in this shot). Additionally, this tacky collection of Virginia kitsch included a snow and glitter globe of Jamestown, and a Hokie-bird golf tee.

Laura Rydin enjoys, temporarily, the painted-lady glasses that had been happily perched on a windowsill in my gracious kitchen for the past two years. (My gracious kitchen is painted the same periwinkle blue as the ladies.) My husband suggested last week that someone else's house -- anyone else's house -- would be a good place for the glasses. With a heavy heart, I wrapped them up for the LLL wingding. But Laura, the very soul of generosity, wouldn't hear of keeping the glasses, and they are now back home in my g.k.

Jenny Gardiner actually LIKES the collection of Christmas tree decorations she received.

I regret to report that the winner of the Tackiest Gift Prize (wrapped with panache by Erika Raskin) was not captured in a photograph. It was a plastic box (the kind a corsage should come in) filled with taupe satin rosettes. (Even if you could make a taupe rose, why would you?) Elizabeth Howard was the baffled recipient. ("Whatever would you do with THESE?" We suggested that she strew them on her sheets to wow her husband.) Although they didn't actually smell like some musty artifact from Miss Havisham's hope chest, they looked as though they ought to.

I raise my virtual champagne glass to Literary Ladies everywhere: Charlottesville, Denver -- wherever you may be. May 2008 bring inspiration, finished projects, wide distribution, and fat checks. Cheers!

(And many thanks to Elizabeth Howard, who took these photographs -- and had to take home those crappy roses.)

Jenny Gardiner's Publishing Adventure Enters a New Phase

2007-12-06T15:56:00.000-05:00

You may recall, back in May, this headline from our blog: Jenny Gardiner Snags Publishing Contract!

Jenny has just entered the "advent" stage of her publishing adventure: The book will appear in bookstores in January (and at $6.99 it's not much more than an Eggnog Latte at Starbucks -- and easier to justify) and the reviews are beginning to appear. (Much like Sally Field, you could say, "They like her! They really like her!")

The first review is from Mamalit.wordpress.com:
----------------------
Before commencing with the accolades for Jenny Gardner’s new book, “Sleeping With Ward Cleaver”, let me say that Jenny is always welcome to have dinner at our house. I can’t imagine how someone who wrote this book wouldn’t be exceptional funny (like Molly Shannon), bright (like Madeleine what’s her name Secretary of State), and perhaps, even a little sarcastic. Just my cup of tea for a dinner guest!

Jenny’s book is a romantic comedy about a working mother who find herself and her husband again through all the paranoia and delusion that we all experience as parents and spouses. Luckily, Jenny’s book helps us all see the humor in the situation. The book is a well written and easy read.

The first chapter had me in stitches. Children puking. Planned and dreaded sex nights. Poorly trained pets. Poop. Oversexed single friends. And a husband who behaves like Ward Cleaver. A little something for all of us to relate to in our own lives.

This is book is the “Bridget Jones Diary” for all of us married and harried mommies! And perhaps, a good gift to give to our younger and single girlfriends. It’s a gentle and humorous way to give them a glimpse of what’s to come . . .

What I love the most about this book is the ending. It left me understanding myself and my husband a little more. I just wanted to give him one of those long and sumptuous hugs that say, “I understand.”

And at the end I was left understanding the delicate dance in romantic relationships a little more. “Sleeping With Ward Cleaver” was the perfect romantic comedy for a 30-something Mommy, who still wants to be a sexy and sassy gal, despite the spit up encrusted on all of my clothing. I can only hope Rob Reiner and friends, will put this sassy book on the big screen!
-----------------------
And this review is from NightOwlRomanceReviews.com:

With five kids, a part-time job and a husband who barks orders while not actually helping, Claire Doolittle's life sucks. Because of her resentment toward her once loving husband, Claire has come to hate sex and allows her husband access to her body once a week, if he behaves.

When she receives an email from an ex-boyfriend, it conjures up memories of the past and Claire realizes just how far off the mark her marriage has gotten. Though she loves her handsome husband Jack, she doesn't like who he's become but feels powerless to change things.

She writes the ex, Todd, back and the pair are soon trading emails of enlightenment (even if Todd's goal is to get into her pants). Meanwhile, Julia, a young, beautiful colleague is hot for Jack. When Jack goes on a business trip to Miami, Claire gets an unexpected offer from her in-laws to watch the kids so she can join him. Jack is not pleased with the idea and soon Claire learns that Julia will be going too.

Claire backs off, but follows Jack to Miami to see if he's cheating. While in Miami she gets more than she bargained for.While the plot, a middle-aged worn out mom who's sick of her husband, does not crackle with intrigue and may hit too close to home for many, the story manages to be a page-turner.

Jenny Gardiner brings to life Claire Doolittle with such vibrancy that I feel I know her. Such was my concern over Claire's and Jack's happiness, that I couldn't put the book down which is a rarity for me.

With her sharp wit and hilarious descriptions, Ms. Gardiner has a delightful voice that left me wanting more.
----------------------
Pre-order SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER at Amazon.com

Rose Elliott's Latest Book of Poetry

2007-12-04T12:22:00.001-05:00

Announcement from LLLer Roselyn Elliott:

My second poetry chapbook, AT THE CENTER, has been selected for publication by Finishing Line Press, and will be released February 15, 2008.

“The poems in At the Center are tough medicine; and the tougher they are the more beautiful. Roselyn Elliott has a skill for turning pain and illness into poetic transcendence, and then leaving us there, on the heights….Here is a poet who has seen the gleaming, exposed heart of autopsy, the cold and rigid patients “in their sweet blue gowns” and honors the drama of their lives. Let us be thankful for these poems of two worlds, the mortal and the spiritual.”
-- Robert Stewart,
Outside Language: Essays, and
Editor, New Letters

“In this moving collection, Roselyn Elliott stands at the center of the human experience, where the perception of pain and death collides with a fierce, impotent compassion. Speaking with the nurse's precise knowledge of the body and the poet's grasp of the disembodied, she illuminates the excruciating 'ballet' of patient and caregiver.”
--Sharon Leiter, The Dream of Leaving

You may have already received a postcard announcing the publication, and
if you’ve already ordered At the Center, my sincere thanks. Since advance sales determine the number of copies printed, would you please consider passing along a copy of the order form (either as a printout or a forwarded e-mail) to a friend who might be interested in the collection? Please note that if you place your order during the pre-publishing period (before January 18), shipping is FREE. After that, please add $2.00 shipping. Books will be shipped after February 15th.

Thank you!
Roselyn Elliott

(Please mail all orders to the Finishing Line Press address below or order online at FinishingLinePress.com and click on “New Releases”)

Please send me ______ copy(ies) of At the Center, by Roselyn Elliott, at $12.00 per copy.
Enclosed is my check (payable to Finishing Line Press) for $__________

Name_________________________________________

Address_______________________________________

Short Copyediting Gig for UVa

2007-11-28T18:20:00.000-05:00

A tip o' the pen to LLLer Dawn Hunt for sending this one:

Copyeditor needed for UVA grant application--quick turn around required.
The final draft will be available within a few days (hopefully December
3rd or 4th) and will be approximately 15 pages. The job must be
completed by the end of the day on December 5.

If you are interested please contact Gertrude Fraser at
gjf2v (at) virginia.edu and use the subject line "ADVANCE copyediting."

Writing Gigs

2007-11-27T08:22:00.000-05:00

Part-Time Freelance Writers - Local Lifestyle Content (Comp: per assignment fee) (Central Virginia)
job-484760284@craigslist.org : http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/wri/484760284.html
Charlottesville House & Home is looking to expand our pool of local free lance writers. We assign everything from brief 500 word profiles of local craftsmen to 1500-2000 word lifestyle features. Our beat is regional home and garden design and all the Central Virginia resources that provide those services. More info on the magazine at www.HouseAndHomeMag.com Send a brief letter of introduction, any particular subjects of expertise or interest and previous local writing credits. All of our writers must live in Central Va.
----------------------------------
FREELANCE WRITERS SOUGHT FOR NEW MAGAZINE
Texas Diversity Magazine is seeking freelance writers to contribute
articles for our new magazine that wlll launch during the first quarter
of 2008.
Texas Diversity will be a source of knowledge and information to learn
about the benefits of diversity and its impact on business performance.
It will provide a platform to celebrate diversity and encourage dialogue
around this topic. Published three times per year and with an expected
distribution of 10,000 copies per trimester, we will primarily cater to
business professionals, minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses,
educators, students, government, institutions of higher learning and
nonprofits.
Please contact David Miles via email for more information, Please visit
our website at texasdiversitymagazine.org to learn more about us.
Compensation: Pay for articles is .33 cents to .50 cents per word.
Reply to: david.miles@texasdiversitymagazine.org.
-----------------------------------
ARTICLES SOUGHT
Learning Through History magazine is a bi-monthly history publication for
readers in middle thru high school.
We are accepting submissions for the Italian Renaissance issue through
December 15, 2007. Below are just a few of the many topics that would be
of interest - we also encourage writers to submit manuscripts and queries
on other possible topic(s) that are related to the issue theme:
Medici family
The Papacy
Papal States
Leonardo da Vinci
Sistine Chapel
Machiavelli
Botticelli
Donatello
Humanism
Lucrezia Borgia
Sack of Rome in 1527
Venice (the Doge)
Florence
Italian City States
.. and other related topics.
Learning Through History pays $75 per non-fiction articles of 1000-1200
words, plus a complimentary issue in which your work appears.
Please see the freelance guidelines section of our website for complete
details on how to submit to our magazine:
No agencies, please. Writers must submit their own work directly to us.
Thanks for your interest!
Full guidelines:
http://www.learningthroughhistory.com/freelance_writers.php
Compensation: $75 per article
Reply to: submissions@LearningThroughHistory.com.
--------------------------------
ARTICLES SOUGHT
Looking For health conscious, career minded, individuals to write articles
regarding nutritional supplements and their benefits for an expanding
marketing company. Please email resume and a brief paragraph about yourself
and your interests in health, beauty, and future career goals. Definite
possibilities for growth with the company.
Compensation: Varies
Reply to: bpmarketing3@gmail.com.
---------------------------------
EXPERIENCED TEA BLOGGER SOUGHT
We are seeking an experienced blogger to write 3-5 posts per week for one
of our high profile client websites.
The voice we are looking for is professional, educational and extremely
articulate in nature. The successful candidate will possess excellent
writing and research skills, a strong understanding of tea and the tea
industry, knowledge about professional blogging formats and have the
ability to submit posts on a regular and timely basis.
Although we will provide a detailed content plan and editing assistance
each post will be approximately 500 words in length, include at least one
image, and cover a wide range of news and advice oriented topics about tea
types, quality and history, tea health and tea paraphernalia.
If you meet the requirements outlined above and feel you would be an
excellent candidate for this position, please reply with a copy of your
resume and writing/blog post samples by November 30th, 2007.
As this position is designed for a highly skilled writer and blogger, we
ask that only qualified candidates apply.
Compensation: We offer a very competitive salary of $1,100 per month and
support telecommuting contracts.
Reply to: hpateman@somedianet.com.
--------------------------------
TRAVEL WRITER WANTED
Travel Company needs travel writer to research and write short travel
descriptions of travel opportunities in the United States and around the
world. Work from home. The pay is low, however we have a lot of regular
and consistant work. Please send samples of your writing.
Compensation: low
Reply to: travelscore@earthlink.net.
---------------------------------

Writing Gig for Lobbying Firm

2007-11-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

As always, caveat scriptor. I know nothing about these people.

-Janis

---------
FREELANCE WRITERS SOUGHT

A grassroots lobbying firm seeks freelance writers who are available to
assume episodic writing work for our prestigious client base. Ideal
candidates will be motivated self-starters with clear and concise writing
styles, engaging turn of phrase, and excellent grammar. Ability to manage
multiple simultaneous projects and meet concrete deadlines is a must.

We are currently accepting applications from freelancers with skills in any
of the following areas:
- Business writing
- Sales and marketing
- Ghostwriting
- Journalism
- Copywriting
Projects are assigned to qualified freelancers on a first-come, first-
served basis.
Qualified candidates should submit a resume and two relevant writing
samples Please put Freelance Writing in the subject line of your email and
identify which of the writing skills listed above you possess.

ApplicationDeadline: January 1, 2008

Compensation: Freelancers are paid a fixed fee on a per-project basis.
Fees vary based on the type and scope of each project. Fees range from $35
(for a single page of website copy) to $1,600 (for work on more intensive
marketing)
Reply to: freelance@onpointadvocacy.com

Susan Tyler Hitchcock's FRANKENSTEIN! reviewed in Washington Post Book World

2007-10-29T13:29:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, here's The Washington Post's review of Susan Tyler Hitchcock's "delightful cultural history" of Frankenstein's monster:

It's Alive!
We've been remaking this monster since he first got off the table.
Reviewed by Louis Bayard
The Washington Post
Sunday, October 28, 2007; Page BW05

FRANKENSTEIN

A Cultural History

By Susan Tyler Hitchcock

Norton. 392 pp. $25.95

"I saw -- with shut eyes, but acute mental vision, -- I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion."

A monster wasn't the only thing stirring in the dreams of teenaged Mary Godwin. A vocation was awakening, too. The lover of poet Percy Shelley and daughter of ur-feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, young Mary knew enough of literature and commerce to realize she was on to something. "What terrified me will terrify others," she reasoned, and she was not even half wrong. As Susan Tyler Hitchcock's delightful cultural history reminds us, the monster that Mary fashioned from her slumbers is still alive and kicking: "in our bookstores, on our film and television screens, from morning cartoons to wee-hours rerun movies. He plays roles in advertising and political debate, he appears at public library story hours and on graduate-level reading lists. He is both a joke and a profound ethical dilemma."

But in the beginning, he was the product of a dare, thrown down by Lord Byron in that rainy Geneva summer of 1816: "We will each write a ghost story." Byron and Shelley bowed out, but Mary Godwin found a voice. Drawing on a private brew of philosophy, literature and myth, she discovered probably her most proximate inspiration in the writings of Luigi Galvani, who had used electrical currents to trigger movements in disembodied frog legs. Readers looking for more science than that will have to look elsewhere, and anyone coming to the original story from the Hollywood back lot will be startled to find that Victor Frankenstein's monster, after a brief setback, learns both to speak and read. Goethe, Plutarch and, fittingly enough, Paradise Lost are among the texts he marshals against his creator, who dies unmolested on an Arctic voyage, mourned by the creation he has once again abandoned.

The novel was published in 1818 by Lackington & Allen, "Cheapest Bookseller in the World," and while the reviews were mixed (Walter Scott was among its defenders), readers took to it and began immediately changing it to their liking. Within a year, the monster whom Mary Shelley (by the book's publications, Mary Godwin and Percy Shelley had married) deliberately left nameless was being given the name of its creator. The accretions we associate with Universal Pictures -- angry villagers, bumbling lab assistant, climactic grapple between scientist and science project -- were initially the work of London stage adapters.

By the time Dickens referenced the story in Great Expectations in 1861, " 'Frankenstein' had become a code word for misguided ambition, for new ideas conjured up with good intentions but destined to grow and change beyond all reckoning, ultimately overwhelming those who conceived them." As such, the name could be appropriated by virtually anyone: capitalist, socialist, democrat, imperialist. In an all-too-familiar pattern, Mary Shelley's own creation escaped her, and today we find it used as a shorthand for everything from cereal (Franken Berry) to genetically engineered produce (Frankenfoods).

No one, it seems, can quite agree on what this monster means, and for more than a century, no one could be sure what he looked like -- until director James Whale tapped a minor, 40-something actor named Boris Karloff for the 1931 film adaptation. Karloff's sunken cheeks and deep-set eyes were heaven-sent, but the monster's true auteur was makeup artist Jack Pierce, who deduced that Dr. Frankenstein, being "a scientist but no practicing surgeon," would saw the creature's skull "straight across like a potlid." Pierce decided to "make the monster's head square and flat like a shoe box and dig that big scar across his forehead with the metal clamps holding it together." Add neck bolts, throw in a pair of asphalt worker's boots, and you have the lumbering, lurching beast of a billion Halloween costumes.

You also have the beginning of the end. The trajectory from Karloff to Herman Munster is dismayingly short, and it could be argued that, once Mel Brooks and Abbott and Costello and Frank N. Furter have had a go at you, you're no longer the stuff of nightmares. Each new interpretation vitiates the original's power, with the result that Frankenstein becomes less interesting as it becomes more universal.

With great effort, then, we work our way back to the core text. Clear away, for starters, that business of henchman Fritz dropping the "normal" brain intended for the monster and making do with the one nearest to hand. Whoopsies, it's abnormal! Marty Feldman made antic hay with this in "Young Frankenstein," and it's a deeply silly way to explain the creature's antisocial rages when the circumstances of his birth are reason enough. As Karloff himself pointed out, "The most heartrending aspect of the creature's life was his ultimate desertion by his creator."

We have feminist scholars to thank for placing that loss within the context of Mary Shelley's own life. Seventeen when she first gave birth, she lost three children within four years and had to sit by while her "free-thinking" lover chose pleasure and poetry over child-rearing. The question isn't why she would revolt at the idea of caring for her own creation but, more properly, what parent hasn't? And while we're at it: What child has never felt abandoned? Forget Galvani and his frogs. The real subject of Frankenstein is parents and children and the harm they inflict on each other. "This is our monster," writes Susan Tyler Hitchcock. "To know him is to know ourselves." *

Louis Bayard's most recent book is "The Pale Blue Eye," a novel about Edgar Allan Poe.

Desperately Seeking Cville Transcriber

2007-10-22T14:07:00.000-04:00

VA LLLer Rebecca Barns’ s husband is a reference librarian, and a patron asked him how to find a transcriber in Charlottesville who could transcribe dictated memoirs. Does anyone know someone they could recommend? If so, Rebecca will pass the info along.

Contact Rebecca: rbarns1212 (at) gmail.com

Roanoke Regional Writers' Conference: Be There or Be Square

2007-10-18T08:44:00.000-04:00

[I'll be at this conference -- I hope you'll join us. As you read over the bios, you should know that I didn't write my own bio. "Known and respected" sounds a little lame! Ah, well. That's show biz. Also, I don't know whether or not you're a fan of Sharyn McCrumb, but I can tell you that I heard her presentation at a conference several years ago, and she's a remarkably entertaining speaker. I hope you'll spread the word about this conference among your writer friends. -Janis]

The Roanoke Regional Writers Conference will feature 22 well-known writers, mostly from the western half of Virginia, talking about what they know best: writing in many of its forms.

Join us in the evening on Friday September 25 in Fitzpatrick Hall at Roanoke's Jefferson Center for an evening with Sharyn McCrumb and all day Saturday September 26 for the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference!

Friday evening: Sharyn McCrumb, “Writing About Appalachia”
Networking, book signings by the author

Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Roanoke Regional Writers Conference
Featuring: Sharyn McCrumb, Dan Smith, Nelson Harris, and Tommy Denton

The goal of the conference is to give professional and serious amateur writers and a few select writing students a chance to get to know each other, to learn from each other and to share stories in a relaxed setting.
The classes will be informal and offer an opportunity for interaction among students and teachers.

There will be four classrooms available for the conference, three in the main
Jefferson Center building and one in Fitzpatrick Hall. Classrooms will be assigned at registration.

Conference Schedule

Friday, 7-7:30 p.m. Registration (Fitzpatrick Hall)
7:30-8:15. Sharyn McCrumb, “Writing About Appalachia”
8:30-9 p.m. Networking, book signings by the authors (cash or check only)

Saturday, 8:30-9 a.m. Registration (Fitzpatrick Hall)

Register Online

Classes

9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Rehearsal Hall: Nelson Harris and Elizabeth Barbour, “Writing Local Histories”
Training Room: Dan Smith, “The Short Essay”
L.L. Rice Hall: Keith Ferrell, “Blogging”
Fitzpatrick Hall: Sandy Smith, “Using Children’s Stories to Make Your Point”

10-10:45 a.m.
Rehearsal Hall: Kurt Rheinheimer, “Short Fiction”
Training Room: Melanie Almeder, “Writing a Poem from Start to Finish”
L.L. Rice Hall: Todd Ristow, “Writing for the Theater”
Fitzpatrick Hall: Cara Modisett, “What Magazine Editors Want”

11-11:45 a.m.
Rehearsal Hall: Donna Dilley, Kathy Surace, “Writing What You Know”
Training Room: Janis Jaquith, “The Radio Essay”
L.L. Rice Hall: Rex Bowman, “Writing About Country People”
Fitzpatrick Hall: Sarah Cox, “Writing About Your Family”

Noon-1:30
Lunch (soup and sandwich), $6.
Roanoke City Market is four blocks from Jefferson Center and has many good restaurants.

1:30-2:15
Rehearsal Hall: Sandy Smith, “Emphasizing Your Point with Stories”
Training Room: Dan Smith, “The Memoir”
L.L. Rice Hall: Gene Marrano, “Freelance Writing in This Region”
Fitzpatrick Hall: Tom Field, “Writing Persuasively and Getting Feedback”

2:30-3:15
Rehearsal Hall: Darrell Laurent, “Finding Stories in Your Back Yard”
Training Room: Karen Adams, “Writing for Children”
L.L. Rice Hall: John Montgomery, “Writing About Sports and Selling It”
Fitzpatrick Hall: Tyler Godsey, “Getting Your Book into Print”

3:45-4:15
Rehearsal Hall: Andrew Kantor, “Using the Internet for Research”
Training Room: Tommy Denton, “Writing Opinion”
Fitzpatrick Hall: Sharyn McCrumb, “Tell it Slant; Using Historical Events in Fictional Works”

4:30-5:30
Fitzpatrick Hall: Roundtable Discussion featuring various presenters.

Who’s Talking?
Here are brief biographies of the people who will be leading classes:

• Sharyn McCrumb: New York Times best-selling author who lives in Catawba. She has written a number of novels and has won awards for contributions to Appalachian literature and as Southern Writer of the Year.

• Dan Smith is a veteran of four decades of journalism, the winner of a number of awards, a regular essayist on Public Radio and the author of four books, including his recent memoir, Burning the Furniture.

• Sandy Smith is a nationally-known speaker, management consultant, trainer and business coach. His recent children’s book is often used in his presentations.

• Keith Ferrell is the former editor of Omni Magazine, author of 18 books, popular blogger and a medical columnist.

• Melanie Almeder is a respected poet (On Dream Street was recently published) and a former Virginia Teacher of the Year as a professor at Roanoke College.

• Todd Ristau’s work has been produced at London’s West End and he is the founder of No Shame Theater. He is Mill Mountain Theatre’s literary associate and teaches at Hollins University.

• Kurt Rheinheimer is the editor of the Roanoker Magazine and a respected writer of short fiction, especially baseball stories. His Little Criminals has received good reviews nationally.

• Nelson Harris, mayor of Roanoke, minister and writer of several local histories.

• Elizabeth Barbour, freelance writer, law student and author of a local history.

• Cara Modisett is the editor of Blue Ridge Country Magazine and an author.

• Gene Marrano is a freelance journalist involved in radio, television, newspapers and magazines. He has his own television show in Roanoke, “The Interview.”

• Donna Dilley is an etiquette consultant and writes a popular column on business etiquette.

• Kathy Surace is a fashion consultant and writes a column on dressing.

• Janis Jaquith is a known and respected columnist and Public Radio essayist.

• Rex Bowman of the Western Virginia Bureau of the Richmond Times-Dispatch has written one novel and is working on a collection of his stories about mountain people.

• Sarah Cox has written as a freelancer for a number of different publications in the market and also teaches writing at the college and high school levels.

• Tom Field is the general manager of the Blue Ridge Business Journal and owns a marketing and advertising business in Roanoke.

• Darrell Laurent is an award-winning columnist at the Lynchburg News & Advance, where he has written the paper’s lead column for more than two decades.

• Karen Adams writes children’s books, among other things.

• John Montgomery is the publisher of a sports magazine and has a long background in the newspaper business.

• Tyler Godsey has worked for a small book publisher.

• Tommy Denton is the former editor of the editorial page of The Roanoke Times.

• Andrew Kantor is a Roanoke-based freelance writer who specializes in technology. He has taught use of the Internet to journalists.

Register Online

Tickets: $40 registration fee ($46 includes lunch)

Sharyn McCrumb Website

Writing Gigs

2007-10-12T11:02:00.000-04:00

IMMEDIATELY SEEKING:
December Issue:
A "How to Create an Author Platform" article for our December 2007 issue
on Authors. Please review our magazine's previous "How 2" articles to get a
flavor of what we're looking for. Only experienced authors will be accepted
for this particular column.
January Issue:
Focus on reading groups, literary guilds, and libraries.
Seeking: interviews with founders of literary guilds, popular reading
groups. Articles on subjects such as: "How to get your Book into a Book
Club"; Inside information on different reading groups and their decision-
making process on selecting authors; Anecdotes about your experience with
book clubs.
February Issue:
Romance is in the air! We'd love you to query us on your craft of writing
romance: How to create love scenes, Romancing the Reader, How to break into
the Romance Market, etc. And, if you're a romance author and would like to
write an article about your experience, or request an interview, we're all
ears!
March Issue:
Have you been published by a Small Press? Or perhaps you've researched them
and are awaiting publication. We want to hear from you! Send us your
queries!
HOW TO QUERY AND/OR SUBMIT:
View our submission guidelines:
http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contact.php
(Note: Scroll to the bottom of the page under "Submissions")
Please view WOW! Women On Writing to get a flavor of our publication's
voice. Query the appropriate department.
Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Compensation: $50 - $150 per article
Reply to: submissions@wow-womenonwriting.com.
----------------------
SCI-FI BLOGGERS NEEDED
b5media is hiring 2 writers for a new blog on Science Fiction. The blog
will primarily cover SciFi television shows & movies (present and past),
as well as other important news in SciFi.
The applicant must be very familiar with the SciFi genre - television,
books, movies. This is a very high demand blog. The ideal bloggers will be
able to post articles several times per day, plus the additional time for
promotion & community building.
Knowledge of Science Fiction is a requirement. Please detail your
familiarity with the topic in your application.
Knowledge of Wordpress a plus. Knowledge of Image Editing a must. This is
a paid position.
Please include 2 writing samples related to the topic, and links to your
online writing experience, if any.
Compensation: paid
Reply to: http://www.b5media.com/jobs/.
-----------------------
PARENTING WRITER SOUGHT
We are a new parenting focused magazine and are looking for freelancers to
write multiple articles on various topics surrounding pregnancy and
parenting.
Specialization in health is a plus but we need content on a wide range of
parenting topics such as stages of pregnancy/babyhood, child development,
behavior, fun with the kids, etc.
Please contact me with you resume and send samples of work if you are
interested.
Compensation: Per article basis
Reply to: newparentmag@yahoo.com.
----------------------
FREELANCE WRITERS FOR TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE NEEDED
National technology magazine geared toward government readers seeks
freelance writers for various projects.
Experience writing about business technology applications or government
is highly valued.
Interested candidates should submit at least two writing samples.
Compensation: based on project and experience
Reply to: job-446331805@craigslist.org.
--------------------------

Writing Gigs

2007-10-10T11:43:00.000-04:00

Let me know if any of these jobs I post actually pan out. It'll give me some motivation to keep doing it!

-Janis
-------------
CONTRIBUTOR SOUGHT
This is a part-time position.
Oxford Intelligence (oxint.com), a UK-headquartered business research
company specializing in international corporate location issues, is seeking
North American-based business writers, analysts and researchers to conduct
interviews with US and Canadian companies regarding their overseas
expansion plans.
Ideal candidates will be able to:
- identify potential companies for interview through their sectoral
knowledge
- contact and interview senior business executives by telephone
- understand North American/European business culture
- understand business development issues
- demonstrate well-developed Internet research skills
Company profiles are comprised of basic company data plus a 300-350 word
analysis of the company's expansion plan, based on interview. Please visit
the website (corptracker.com) for more information.
For more information, e-mail your resume.
Compensation: depends on number of profiles produced
Reply to: contributor@oxint.com.
-----------------------
We are seeking writers who have a strong background in economics, finance
and international relations.
Experience required:
Experience in economics, finance and international relations.
How to apply:
Send your resume and writing samples.
Compensation: Depends on Experience
Reply to: m.belgado@artemia.com.
------------------------
HEALTHCARE EDITOR NEEDED
Wellness Professionals, a new healthcare business, seeks editor to edit a
range of healthcare content.
Work will take place over the next 5 weeks (by Nov 15, 2007). Location and
daily timing of work are flexible. Compensation is negotiable and based on
experience. Please reply with
(a) compensation requirements,
(b) work samples and
(c) resume
Compensation: negotiable
Reply to: mhall@wellnessprofessionals.net.
----------------------
EWSLETTER WRITER / PUBLISHER NEEDED
Creative individual needed to create, write and publish a insurance
newsletter for restaurants. Will be responsible for content and design to
be published on the web and in print for our current clients as well as
prospects. You will be paid $600 for each issue which will be 6 pages.
Copy and past resume here along with any links to prior work. We ask that
you also list ALL software programs you know of and noting how well you
know the program Excellent - Good or Fair.
Compensation: $600
Reply to: gigs-444743203@craigslist.org.
---------------------

PROOFREADERS NEEDED
Proofreaders needed. We're looking for the best proofers around -
specifically those with financial, legal or general advertising experience.
We must insist on those with at least 2-3 years experience. Looking for
top-notch pros who thrive on making sure words and meanings are clear and
concise! Is this you? If so, please apply today and upload your resume. No
phone calls please. Only qualified applicants will be contacted.
Compensation: $100/hr [Do you suppose this is a typo? A hundred bucks an hour...]
Reply to: job-444269850@craigslist.org.
----------------------
Part-Time Technology/Education Writer for Newsletter - Contract (Comp: Generous) (North Jersey/NYC; telecommute)
job-444527864@craigslist.org : http://newjersey.craigslist.org/wri/444527864.html
Date: 2007-10-09, 5:27PM EDT We are a technology company serving private schools. We have a great opt-in bi-weekly newsletter dealing with the integration of technologies in education. Our writer is leaving us real soon, and we're looking for someone who can provide two 500-word articles a month. The articles need to intelligently discuss new technologies and their place in the school. If you have a talent for writing, a passion for technology, and a vested interest in education - we want to hear from you! Please send writing samples, ideally something to do with technology and/or education.
----------------------
College Alumni Website Needs Writers! - Contract (Comp: negotiable DOE) (New York City)
gigs-444412099@craigslist.org : http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wrg/444412099.html
Date: 2007-10-09, 3:21PM EDT A new website for college alumni is seeking motivated and talented writes to work on contract basis. To be eligible for this gig, you must have attended a U.S. college or university, and know enough about your college and college town to write about it! You'll get paid to write about your old college! Please email for full details. Thanks!
---------------------
Freelance Work - TBD) (New York)
job-444421703@craigslist.org : http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/wri/444421703.html
Date: 2007-10-09, 3:29PM EDT We are a commerical printshop, with an online website, looking to provide useful articles to our customer base about graphic design, the prepress process, etc. We are looking to find someone with extensive experience in the printing industry, mostly prepress and/or graphic design, to write relevant, useful articles, to not only educate our client base, but to provide them with the tools and knowledge to help build superior files that are print ready. If you have experience in prepress, or with working with printshops, or already a writer, you maybe the person we are looking for. The ideal person would be someone who wore all the following "hats" : writer, editor, photographer, graphic designer, art director, prepress manager, production manager, and print buyer.... here are just some possible examples of the type of useful and relevant articles we need. Sample Topics • Avoiding Fuzzy Four-Color Type • 4-Color Process Vs. Spot Color Printing • What You Should Know About Ink • Keep the Post Office in the Design Loop • What You Should Know About Ink Drying Time • Converting Images to CMYKConverting Fonts to Curves, Paths or Outlines • Electronic Files Formats DefinedUnderstanding Color - Printouts vs. Monitors • How to Sail Through Prepress • Paper Grain Direction - Why it Matters • Designing with Type in Photoshop Please respond ASAP and attach any relevant work you have done. We are looking to start an ongoing relationship with someone to showcase any articles you may have already written that are not specifically the property of someone else, and continue building on useful article, tips, tricks, etc.
--------------------

New Orleans Renaissance: What You Can Do

2007-10-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my husband and I spent the day at a Habitat for Humanity site in New Orleans. (I pounded nails all day, and Harry installed roof joists. We had no previous experience - turns out, though, we're trainable!) It was at Habitat's "Musicians' Village" in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans.

The weather was hot and humid, and the labor was wicked exhausting, but I have to say that it was the high point of our trip.

We were there for an insurance convention. (NAPSLO) On Saturday morning, two busloads of insurance folks (and spouses, like me) showed up to wield circular saws and hammers, hoist plywood, staple Tyvek, etc.

We worked side by side with several of the people for whom the houses are being built. I worked next to a man and woman and their teenaged daughter -- their house in the Lower Ninth Ward was washed away when the levee burst. It was five days before the couple knew the whereabouts of their daughter.

A few rows of these houses have been completed. If you'd like to see the project we were working on, here's a link to the dedication, and the handing over of keys, to one person's new home: New Home Video

Also, here's a link to the Habitat for Humanity page about this particular project: Musicians' Village.

(It's an especially interesting project: they are constructing houses for displaced musicians, so the musicians can return to New Orleans.)

If you know anyone who's planning a trip to New Orleans (or would like to plan one) I hope you'll tell them about the volunteering opportunities through Habitat for Humanity.

During spring break and the summer, they have lots of volunteers. But at this time of the year, volunteering drops off. (And it was so hot and humid out there yesterday -- I can't imagine what summer is like!) Winters are mild in New Orleans, and it would be a great time to volunteer, if you can spare the time.

And, of course, donations are always welcome.

We were there for just one day. And lots of people volunteer for just one day. And it is astonishing what gets accomplished that way, over time! (My hat is off to those wonderful people who work there - gratis - for weeks at a time. Amazing. The young woman who led our crew is a year-long volunteer through AmeriCorps, which is like the Peace Corps but for projects here in America.)

The "before" photo is one I took in February of 2006. To see the rest of this set of pictures, click here: Jaquith post-Katrina photos. The "after" photo is part of Briebanofsky's photostream at Flickr.com.

A friend of mine knows she can talk me into doing just about anything by saying, "But, Janis, you can write about it!" Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity is certainly worth your while...and, you can write about it!

Northern Virginia Magazine writing gig

2007-10-07T22:00:00.000-04:00

FILM, BOOK AND MEDIA WRITER SOUGHT

Do you devour books? Seek out film beyond mainstream cinema? Have an
affinity for quirky websites? Northern Virginia Magazine is seeking a
freelance contributor to write book, independent film, DVD and CD features
on a semi-monthly basis. Interested applicants MUST demonstrate savvy in
all areas of the world of media. Contributor will also have the opportunity
to write profile features on artists, authors, philanthropists and notable
performing arts figures in the Northern Virginia region.
Qualified candidates must be familiar with Northern Virginia, should have
at least three years' experience writing for a newspaper, magazine or
online newsletter and be familiar with Associated Press Style Manual.
Submit resumes and no less than three writing samples.
Compensation: TBD
Reply to: vanessa@northernvirginiamag.com

A Whole Passel o' Writing Gigs

2007-10-07T19:27:00.000-04:00

Once again, I offer this information having no clue about those making the offers. Caveat scriptor.

BRIDAL GUIDE SEEKS SUBMISSIONS
Bridal Guide is interested in articles about marriage, relationships,
sexuality, psychology, budgeting and travel. Please do not send queries
concerning fashion, beauty or home design, since we produce these pages
in house. Wedding-planning ideas should cover broad subjects, such as
organizing a long-distance or theme wedding, or touch upon emotional
topics, such as dealing with divorced parents. Shorter, how-to pieces
(e.g. finding a band or choosing a cake) are written in house. We also do
not accept fiction or poetry.
We are looking for service-oriented, well-researched pieces that are
journalistically written and have a length of 1,000 to 2,000 words. ww/bl
Payment, made on acceptance, is 50 cents per word. Writers we work with
consult at least three expert sources, such as wedding planners, book
authors and business professionals in the appropriate field. Our tone is
conversational yet authoritative. Features are generally filled with real-
life anecdotes. We also run features that are completely real-person based
(e.g. bridesmaids discussing their experiences or grooms-to-be expressing
their thoughts about marriage).
In written queries, we are looking for a well-conceived idea, a specific
angle or focus, and the sources the writer intends to use. They should be
brief and snappy, and titles should be provided to give the editor a better
understanding of the writer’s direction.
Feature ideas, including queries for the magazine’s Confident Bride column,
should be sent to our executive editor, Susan Schneider. Feature ideas
related to honeymoon travel destinations should be sent to our travel
editor, Jenna Mahoney. Submit queries only, along with clips of work
published in a national consumer magazine and a self-addressed, stamped
envelope. You should receive a reply within one to three months, but please
note that we are unable to return manuscripts, clips or photos.
Compensation: $0.50/word for 500-3000 words
Reply to: Associate Editor/Bridal Guide Magazine, vberrios@bridalguide.com.
----------
WRITER FOR ESTHETIC NEWSLETTER NEEDED
We are an established Medical Spa in San Mateo looking for someone to write
our monthly Esthetic newsletter. The newsletter features articles on
fitness, health, and the latest beauty break throughs. Please send a
writting sample a long with a short paragraph telling us a little bit about
yourself.
Compensation: TBD
Reply to: melissa_haley@hotmail.com.
--------
RESEARCH AND WRITING ASSISTANT NEEDED
Research and writing assistant wanted to assist successful technology and
media executives in creation and publication of articles, blogs, speeches
and books on the impact of technology on both university and K-12
education. Require superior critical thinking and writing skills. Knowledge
of education industry or technology useful but not necessary. Flexible
hours. Highly competitive compensation. Downtown DC office space available
or work from home.
Interested applicants please reply with cover letter and resume.
Compensation: Highly Competitive Compensation
Reply to: job-438984799@craigslist.org.
---------
FINANCE WRITERS FOR ONLINE COURSES NEEDED
A downtown Austin e-learning company is looking for freelance, offsite
writers to pitch, outline, and write online courses dealing with a wide
range of consumer and SMB finance topics -- everything from understanding
and improving credit scores to retirement planning for singles to selecting
an accounting package for your small business. Subject-matter knowledge,
good Web writing chops, and a clear, approachable writing style are
essential; experience in working with Word styles and templates is a big
plus. We're looking to expand our stable of freelancers who can pitch,
scope, and deliver courses on finance and general business topics. We
prefer Central Texas writers who can meet with us in our downtown offices
as needed, but we will consider qualified writers from other parts of the
US. Please send a resume, statement of interest, and links to your work.
Compensation: contract; 1099; flat fee per project; fee BOE
Reply to: regan_brown@powered.com.
--------------
HIKING AUTHOR NEEDED
If you are an experienced outdoor writer and a passionate hiker with a
keen knowledge of area trails, please apply. This is a book project with a
premier publisher of outdoor guidebooks. Please submit resume if
interested.
Compensation: advance/royalty
Reply to: job-439761879@craigslist.org.
----------
Online News Service Seeks Freelancers (Comp: Not stated) (Columbia, MD)
hr@disasternews.net : http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=740532
Disaster News Network (www.disasternews.net), a respected 24/7 Web news service is reopening its search for journalists with a passion for human interest reporting. The turnarounds are demanding but not deadly. The real rewards, however, are in the subject matter. This is news about people in trouble and those who respond. Disaster News Network has been produced since 1997 by Village Life Company, a non-profit that is largely funded by faith-based disaster response organizations. You'll conduct interviews by phone and in the field if you are available to travel. To be considered, you'll need a degree in journalism and at least one year of professional experience with daily or weekly papers or the wire services. Ability to shoot photos an added plus. Send your resume and no more than three samples (attachments preferred) to: hr@disasternews.net or fax them to (410) 884-7353. No phone calls please.
--------
Part-Time Freelance Reporters for MLB.com (Comp: Not stated) (Chicago)
: http://jobview.nytimes.monster.com/getjob.asp?JobID=48885208&JobTitle=Stats+Stringer&q=freelance&sort=dt&cy=us&vw=b&AVSDM=2007-10-04+17%3a19%3a00&pg=1&seq=2
MLB.com, the Internet's fastest growing Web site and the Official Site of Major League Baseball, is seeking freelance reporters to help cover Major League Baseball for the 2008 season. We're interested in candidates with solid reporting skills and strong voices who are as well versed in writing about the sport off the field as they are about the games themselves. Responsibilities include: - Live reporting off of games, as well as the news of the day off the field. - Factual reporting; intelligent writing. - Professional representation of our company inside and outside our walls. - Multimedia experience a plus. Qualifications include: - Four-year degree preferred. - Passion for the sport, as well as a thorough knowledge of the sport. - Experience in writing on deadline. - Able to produce clean, crisp copy. - Team player to work in field, as well as with editors. - Good communicator and well-organized. - Self-starter with a wealth of ideas. - Willing to travel. - Bilingual a plus. Note: Baseball reporter job openings are subject to business requirements, and, as such, MLB.com positions may not be available with respect to all MLB teams. Only applicants that apply online will be considered. No phone calls please.
---------
Need Part-Time Medical Writers - Contract (Comp: Up to $20/hour possible) (telecommute)
writingjob2@gmail.com : http://cleveland.craigslist.org/wri/440558450.html
Looking for qualified writers for a medium-sized educational publishing company with background in medical fields for contract-based telecommuting positions. Pay is based on productivity, so if you're a motivated person with a writer's talent this could be the opportunity you're seeking. This position is being posted confidentially because of the competitiveness of the company's business, but applicants are aware that the work involves writing educational materials and interpreting large amounts of technical medical information quickly. Those interested should send a resume to writingjob2@gmail.com. Please put Cleveland Craigslist in the subject line.
----------

Google Will Help Promote Your Book -- For Free

2007-10-07T18:39:00.000-04:00

Alert LLLer Kathleen Valenzi Knaus ("Knaus"! She's a newlywed!) sends along this tip for those of us who have books to publicize: Promote Your Books On Google - for free.

From the Google site:
-------
Want a way to sell more books without spending a penny on marketing? Sign up today and soon you'll be able to.

Google Book Search allows publishers and authors to submit their books for inclusion in Google’s search results. Whether you’re a large publisher with a thousand-title backlist or a small press that puts out a few titles a year, participating in Google Book Search can:

• increase your books’ visibility at no cost
• drive sales by reaching Google’s worldwide user base
• refer qualified traffic to your website
• deliver a new revenue stream via contextual ads placed next to pages from your book
[Main site: http://www.books.google.com.]
------
If anyone has given this one a whirl, I hope you'll click on "comment" and let us know how it worked out.

Monster Reviews!

2007-10-07T11:08:00.000-04:00

The press is starting to roll in for LLL cofounder Susan Tyler Hitchcock's FRANKENSTEIN: A Cultural History. And WOW, is it ever hot!

Today's Los Angeles Times says:

Her text grows out of such a fertile ground of scholarly research that any chapter might blossom into another volume.

Thus it's all the more remarkable that this book is so much fun....

Her "cultural history" is so lively that at first you may decide it lacks scholarly ballast and slant. Soon, however, one sees that the author's admirable restraint serves to advance and streamline the text. In the last chapters, while addressing how academic criticism opened the door to "Frankenstein," Hitchcock's own work confirms the value of cultural history as a discipline.

Here's a Sept. 25 feature in Wired, It's Alive! How Frankenstein Created a Cultural Monster:

What is it about Frankenstein that has fascinated us for generations? "Frankenstein is about daring to go where your mind takes you," Hitchcock says. "But that can be dangerous, and our society has a whole set of rules and regulations to keep us from doing that." In a world of cloning, computers, stem cells, and transplants, it's not surprising that the monster seems even more alive today than it did back at the dawn of the electrical age.

And Frankenstein is at the top of a "Monsters, Inked" feature in the Books section in the Oct. 12 issue of Entertainment Weekly (not available online yet). Grade: B+.

Colorado LLLers on the Move!

2007-10-06T10:46:00.000-04:00

Boulder Literary Lady Kim Reid will talk about her memoir, NO PLACE SAFE (Dafina), this Tuesday, Oct. 9 (changed from Oct. 10), on the NPR program News & Notes, hosted by Farai Chideya. Be sure to listen in--and then buy the book! It's a gripping reflection of Kim's teenage years, when her mom was one of the lead investigators in the Atlanta child murders, some of which occurred in their own neighborhood.

Edit: Guess what? News & Notes doesn't air in Colorado or Virginia. So we'll have to listen online here.

Denver Literary Lady (and Pajama Gardener) Carleen Brice has her first novel coming out in February, ORANGE MINT AND HONEY (One World/Ballantine). And she's just learned that the audio book will be coming out April 1. Woo hoo!

Short Writing Gig for UVA -- Interested?

2007-09-27T14:36:00.000-04:00

I'm looking for a writer who can revise a notebook for Hip and Knee Replacement surgery patients. It has chapters explaining the various steps between pre and post operation. It is not particularly well written and has incomplete information that isn't very helpful. (i.e. Eat healthy meals before surgery.) It is about 13,500 words. It's not that it needs to be longer, just better. You'd need to talk with the lead surgeon and others to complete the information. We'd like this ready for layout in 3 to 4 weeks.
Give me a call or email...Thanks...Reecye

Reecye Modny
rfm9g [at] virginia.edu
UVa Health System
Marketing Communications
P.O. Box 800224
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0224

Save the date! Monster book arriving! Friday, Oct. 26 in Charlottesville!

2007-09-24T23:48:00.000-04:00

Whip out your calendars, folks: Susan Tyler Hitchcock is inviting us all to Frankenstein's coming-out party:

[That's "fronk-un-steen".]

Dear Friends,

I invite you to enjoy a monstrous evening with me on Friday, October 26, to celebrate the publication of my lucky 13th book, Frankenstein: A Cultural History.

Book signing will take place at New Dominion Bookshop on the Downtown Mall at 5:30pm. Party after, location TBA. I just wanted you to be sure to save the night for monstrous frolicking.

More to come. Meanwhile, check out the October Wired, keep fingers crossed that we score an NPR interview as Halloween approaches, and tell all your friends to ask for the book at their local bookstores.

Cheers,

Susan

NPR's "Contessa of Country Cooking": Her upcoming literary and gustatory happenings

2007-09-20T14:02:00.000-04:00

This just in from Mollie Bryan, author of Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley:

Greetings!

I hope to see some friendly faces in the crowd at my next two appearances. (Yes, folks are still interested in the Mrs. Rowe book!)

On Sunday October 7, 11:00 a.m., I will be speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waynesboro, which is on Pine Ave. I will be giving a Power Point presentation about the restaurant and Mrs. Rowe —with my husband's help. I'll also update you about future projects. If that's not enough to entice you, there will be cookies. The restaurant is sending over trays of fresh cookies. The choir will be singing some of Mrs. Rowe's favorite hymns. So it will be a real celebration of her life and accomplishments.

On Friday, December 7, 5:30-8:30, I will be participating in a Dinner with the Author series at Stone Soup Books, which is on Main Street in Waynesboro. It's a really good fit for the Mrs. Rowe book. If you haven't been there, and you're local, you need to check it out. They have wonderful food and a great selection of books. Books and food....Can't get any better than that! I am not sure of the details, but I will let you know soon. And please check my website from time to time for updates. MollieCoxBryan.com

In the mean time, I've been writing for NPR's Kitchen Window, Taste of the South Magazine, Relish magazine, and back to writing for GRIT. Soon, my Mary Johnston article will be published in Virginia Living—and I am VERY excited about that.

I am not sure if I will be doing any more local public appearances about this book. So, I'd love to see any of you at either one of these events.

Keep reading, writing, and cooking!
Cheers,
Mollie

Report from Denver

2007-09-07T19:40:00.001-04:00

From left, seated: Janet Elyse Singleton, Sheri Keasler-Benson, Mary Taylor Young, Paula Singer, Kristin Nelson, Bella Stander. Standing: Karen Carter, Robin D. Owens. Photo by Carleen Brice.

The Northwest Contingent having all sent their regrets, the Literary Ladies met today in SE Denver, at the fantabulous Bombay Clay Oven in Cherry Creek. OMG is the food ever great (even better than Milan in Cville, but don't tell Kermit the host); so are the ambience, service and price. And I snagged one of the two free parking spaces!

Oh yeah, and we talked about books, publicity, good/bad covers (Mary's dad used to disparage her mom's "bosom-frigate" books; i.e., romances), the e-holocaust over thigh-highs at the RWA convention, and what Carleen Brice should serve at her launch party...in February. (It's never too soon to start planning!) Small world: Carleen and Sheri have the same agent, Victoria Sanders.

Know Any Blacksburg Writers?

2007-08-31T21:07:00.000-04:00

Jenny Gardiner has passed along a request from Blacksburg's new-writer-guy-in-town, Jonathan Schramm. Schramm, who works in the VA Tech undergrad admissions office, would like to tap into the writing community in Blacksburg. (There's a joke to be made here about reading all those undergrad admissions essays, but someone else will have to come up with it.)

So, if you can put Schramm in touch with Blacksburgers who write, email him at: jschramm at vt.edu.

Nuts & Bolts of Publishing and Promotion

2007-08-31T20:28:00.000-04:00

Jenny Gardiner has helpful information to pass along (and, as the Sultan of Self-Promotion, Jenny knows what she's talking about):

A writer friend forwarded this to a loop I'm on. This is an agent's blog, and his piece about self-promotion is worth reading for anyone hoping to break into the industry in this grueling market. www.NathanBransford.blogspot.com
-Jen
American Title III winner, Sleeping with Ward Cleaver, (Dorchester/Feb. 2008)
JennyGardiner.net & www.thedebutanteball.com

[At Bransford's blog, scroll down to August 23rd for the self-promotion post. But don't confine yourself that post -- Branford has lots of good advice regarding other aspects of getting that manuscript published. How to write a synopsis is another good one. A good blog to bookmark, IMHO. --Janis]

Download Leslie Middleton's Radio Show

2007-08-24T11:50:00.000-04:00

Leslie Middleton writes:

My weekly radio show, "The Rivanna Rambler," which airs at 11:55 a.m. every Thursday on 91.1. FM WTJU, is now available by podcast at my new blog:

http://rivannarambler.blogspot.com/

You can catch it live at 91.1 FM (or audio streaming at wtju.net) or at your leisure on the blog which also includes the written narrative and links of interest. (The actual podcast is hosted at the Charlottesville Podcast Network: cvillpodcast.com.)

I've been producing this show, which is an exploration of the cultural and natural history of the Rivanna watershed, since April 2006. Also, I have a new email address: lmiddleton@embarqmail.com

I welcome your comments and feedback! --- Leslie

National Exposure for Your Writing

2007-08-17T22:12:00.001-04:00

Jenny Gardiner passes along this innovative approach to the world of medicine. (Caveat: I could find no mention of payment on the journal's website.)

Dear Jenny,

I am writing to ask your help spreading the word re: Hospital Drive, a new on-line journal of written and visual work concerned with health and illness. Our first issue was posted July 30, 2007. The website is HospitalDrive.Med.Virginia.edu . We plan to publish two issues a year, summer and winter. Each winter issue will have a theme—for 2008 the experience of pain.

In addition to placing ads in various magazines and journals and telling friends, patients, colleagues and relatives, we hope to find influential bloggers (positive influence of course), established writers and artists, publishers, and new friends and supporters who will tell others about Hospital Drive.

While many schools of medicine publish student work, there are only a handful of medical school journals that match emerging writers and artists with a national audience.

Hospital Drive is supported by the Dean’s Office and the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities, UVA School of Medicine. We appreciate your interest and support.

Respectfully,
Sharon

Sharon L. Hostler, MD
Interim Vice President and Dean
McLemore Birdsong Professor of Pediatrics
School of Medicine
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 800793
Charlottesville, VA 22908

C'ville Grant-Writing Gig

2007-08-14T10:06:00.000-04:00

Grant Writer Needed Part Time in CVille - Contract (Comp: Hourly, based on experience) (Charlottesville, VA)
job-395810348@craigslist.org : http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/wri/395810348.html

Seeking talented grant writer to assist with national project. Leads and grant templates will be provided. However, candidate should be familiar with the Foundation Center and related resources, and be willing to research potential grant-making organizations.

Must attend meetings in the CVille area on occasion. Please respond with a resume' and brief letter of introduction. Thank you!

New Dance Partners

2007-08-07T09:17:00.000-04:00

From Literary Lady/Debutante Jenny Gardiner:

I'd like to invite you all to come on over to a grog (group blog) that I am thrilled to be a part of, The Debutante Ball.

The Debutante Ball was founded last year by Kristy Kiernan along with five other authors who were launching debut novels in 2007. It was a wonderful chance to bond with authors at similar points in their careers, and provide an opportunity for readers to become acquainted with books they might find enjoyable.

Last year's authors--Kristy Kiernan, Mia King, Tish Cohen, Jennifer McMahon, Eileen Cook and Anna David--turn over the reins this week, with Eileen Cook being the one carry-over author, as her debut date has been pushed back.

This year's authors, whose books will debut in 2008, are:

Danielle Younge-Ullman (FALLING UNDER)
Jess Riley (RIDING WITH LARRY RESNICK), Lisa Daily (FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME)
Jenny Gardiner (SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER)
Gail Konop Baker (CANCER IS A BITCH: Reflections on Midlife, Mortality, Motherhood and Marriage)
Eileen Cook (UNPREDICTABLE).

We hope you'll drop by to visit the Ball, bookmark the site if you like it, and check out the happenings as the year progresses!

Charlottesville Editing Gig

2007-08-07T08:27:00.000-04:00

This opportunity from craigslist was passed along to me today:
---
Part-Time Editing Job Available (Comp: Hourly, no benefits, based on experience) (Charlottesville, VA)
job-390765237@craigslist.org : http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/wri/390765237.html
Person with editing experience in fiction writing or with good background in English needed for Fridays and Saturdays. Work involves taking dictation, assisting with editorial choices, and working on dialogue in novel in progress by experienced writer.
---
Bein' as how it's someone in C'ville, I can't help but wonder who it is!

Writing Gig at UVa

2007-08-02T19:12:00.000-04:00

Silvia Sanides has a hot tip:

Gwen Ottinger, a UVA professor in the Engineering Department (science and society), needs help with writing a book about community organizing and pollution from a refinery in Louisiana. (Sounds like a great project, unfortunately I'm totally booked this fall). Gwen can be reached at 295 1257 or ottinger [at] virginia [dot] edu.

Hm... Louisiana, eh? This might call for a field trip to the French Quarter. Son of a gun, gonna have big fun, on the bayou. (You will now have "Jambalaya" stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You're welcome.)

Mollie Bryan: NPR's "Contessa of Country Cooking"?

2007-08-02T10:49:00.000-04:00

Well, hey, Ketzel Levine is NPR's "Doyenne of Dirt." Keep reading Mollie's blackberry adventure at NPR.org, and you'll also get her recipe for Mrs. Rowe's Blackberry Cobbler.

Kitchen Window
By Mollie Cox Bryan

Hunt for Wild Blackberries Leads to Friendship

NPR.org, August 1, 2007 · The wild blackberry, my favorite summer treat, was the key that opened the door to Mildred Rowe. I wanted to write a biography of the 88-year-old owner of Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant and Bakery in Staunton, Va., but she had deflected my efforts to get to know her — until the subject of blackberries came up.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of Mollie's tale at NPR.org.

[Mollie Cox Bryan is a freelance writer and the author of MRS. ROWE'S RESTAURANT COOKBOOK: A LIFETIME OF RECIPES FROM THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY (Ten Speed Press, 2006), a narrative cookbook about the life of the amazing Mrs. Rowe and the history of her 60-year-old restaurant in Staunton, Va., including 175 family and restaurant recipes.]

Listen Up!

2007-07-31T14:58:00.000-04:00

Cville LLLers have been busy on the radio. Jenny Gardiner read an essay on WVTF on July 27; Janis Jaquith on July 20. You can listen to them both by clicking here and following the respective links.

Elizabeth Howard is C-VILLE 2007 Photo Contest 3rd Place Winner

2007-07-24T22:43:00.001-04:00

Susan Tyler Hitchcock presents: FRANKENSTEIN!

2007-07-19T09:47:00.000-04:00

[That's "fronk-un-steen.".]

Kirkus review of FRANKENSTEIN: A CULTURAL HISTORY -- the first review to hit the stands:

Hitchcock, Susan Tyler
FRANKENSTEIN: A Cultural History

A thoroughly entertaining look at the iconic monster.

How did the unwed, 18-year-old mother of a toddler come to invent this nightmare creature with neck bolts, flattop head and that power unibrow? Hitchcock (Mad Mary Lamb: Lunacy and Murder in Literary London, 2005, etc.) suggests that Mary Shelley, soul mate of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, daughter of radical philosopher William Godwin and pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, had heard about ghoulish experiments with electricity on corpses of criminals, which momentarily seemed to twitch back to life. She may also have drawn inspiration from her own life-altering trauma in 1815—the year before she thought of Frankenstein’s monster—when her first baby died after less than a month. Hitchcock fondly details how a novel prompted by a summer of reading ghost stories in Geneva has imbedded itself in popular culture. Frankenstein inspired hundreds of stage productions before the classic 1931 film and the not-so-classic ’60s TV series The Munsters, Young Frankenstein and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The author smoothly charts the monster’s transformation from cosmic and creepy to comic and campy, alongside Shelley’s slow evolution from overlooked to appreciated novelist. One memorable section details how Boris Karloff’s daughter Sara successfully sued Universal Studios for licensing products with his likeness on them; Hitchcock slyly notes that the monster once again broke free from its creator. In addition to selling 50,000 copies a year in America alone, Frankenstein lives on as a reference point in public discussions of genetic engineering and cloning. But the author doesn’t neglect one of the monster’s most enduring non-academic legacies: its ubiquity at Halloween.

Cogent vivisection of a literary legend animated by the universal human fascination with the dark side. (Agent: Jane Dystel/Dystel & Goderich Literary Management)

Sneak Peek (and early-order option) for Sharon Leiter's Latest Book

2007-07-18T19:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,

As some of you already know, my poetry manuscript, The Dream of Leaving, was selected by Main Street Rag in their national poetry competition and will be published in November. After many years of revising and sending out the manuscript, this is a great fulfillment for me, and I look forward to sharing the book with you.

It has been listed on the publisher’s web site, where you can see the cover with its striking image by accomplished Minnesota artist, Paula Leiter Pergament. The book is being offered at a discount price of $8.00 until November 1, so if you’d like to order your copy online in advance, go to one of the following two links:

This is a link to the publisher's Coming Soon page.

This link takes you to the Online Bookstore main page.
You have to order online for advance sale. Please don't send checks.

I hope you’ll enjoy the poems.

Yours, with wishes for a pleasurable summer,

Sharon

[Janis here: Check out Sharon's Website.She was a government analyst in Russian affairs and a consultant for a Washington think-tank. Who knew?]

Freelance Writing: How Much Should You Charge?

2007-07-16T22:51:00.000-04:00

Leslie Middleton has a request:

"I wanted to ask fellow LLLers about freelance grant-writing -- anyone have experience? how to set fees? willing to talk to me about it?"

If you have wisdom to share, you can post it in a comment, and/or email Leslie: LMiddleton at embarqmail dot com.

Report from Denver

2007-07-06T18:08:00.001-04:00

LLL Denver. Seated (L-R): Sara Megibow, Kristin Nelson, Kelly Notaras, Debra Fine.
Standing: Janet Singleton, Tamara Greenleaf, Carleen Brice, Elizabeth Wrenn, Bella Stander.

Today was the third Denver LLL. We've had exponential growth: just two Ladies in June, five in July and nine today. Denver being just a wee bit (make that almost 15x) bigger than Charlottesville, we had to make some concessions to geography. Which means we had to forego Royal India at the SE end of town in order to accommodate the Ladies who live in the Boulder area.

So today we met in an Irish pub in NW Denver, Mead St. Station in Highlands Square. Upside: Good location, good prices, good food, great iced tea. Downside: Catch-as-catch-can parking, no reservations, noisy. Next month we'll probably meet at a larger, quieter (hooray for sound-deadening carpet!) Chinese restaurant with its own parking lot.

Hot tip from agent Kristin Nelson: If you're an author, freshen up your website periodically by posting "deleted scenes" from your novel. Your readers will love it, and you won't have to worry about giving away protected material.

Kathy Erskine's Spanking-New Novel: Quaking

2007-06-14T17:39:00.000-04:00

Uh, oh -- did I say "spanking"? This is a young adult novel with a focus on Quakers, so perhaps I should stick with "brand-new" novel. The release date is auspiciously set for the summer solstice: June 21st. (Okay, so now we're pulling Druids into this discussion.)

Here's what Booklist has to say about Quaking:

"...[T]his is a compelling story, which enfolds the political issues into a deeper focus on the characters' personal stories. Idealistic teens will be interested in Matt's growing acceptance of her new family, of Quaker values, and of her need to take action, rather than simply observe." Francisca Goldsmith Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Congratulations, Kathy!

What's up with wedding cookies? Mollie Bryan enlightens us on NPR.org

2007-06-13T20:11:00.000-04:00

Okay, I know that various cultures celebrate weddings in distinctive ways, but mandatory wedding cookies in Pennsylvania?

Mollie Bryan, author of Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes From the Shenandoah Valley sheds light on this custom (and has got me thinking about mixing up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough rather than writing this post) in her commentary on NPR.org's "Kitchen Window" page of essays on food and entertaining, which is published every Wednesday.

At the end of the commentary are Mollie's recipes and pictures, and... You know, I'm pretty sure we have some chocolate bits in the cabinet, and I know we have eggs... Gotta go.

Letters for Literary Ladies

2007-06-05T01:17:00.000-04:00

Virginia LLLer Deirdra McAfee sent a link to MARIA EDGEWORTH. LETTERS FOR LITERARY LADIES. To Which Is Added, An Essay On The Noble Science Of Self-Justification. Second Edition, Revised, 1798.

Deirdra notes, "Maybe our motto is buried somewhere in the first letter, the one from 'a gentleman to his friend.' " [That gentleman was no friend!]

Some choice nuggets:

...we differ materially as to the cultivation, which it is necessary or expedient to bestow upon the understandings of women. You are a champion for the rights of woman, and insist upon the equality of the sexes... I may confess to you that I see neither in experience nor analogy much reason to believe that, in the human species alone, there are no marks of inferiority in the female... In the course of my life it has never been my good fortune to meet with a female whose mind, in strength, just proportion, and activity, I could compare to that of a sensible man.

...Whenever women appear, even when we seem to admit them as our equals in understanding, every thing assumes a different form; our politeness, delicacy, habits towards the sex, forbid us to argue or to converse with them as we do with one another: – we see things as they are; but women must always see things through a veil, or cease to be women. – With these insuperable difficulties in their education and in their passage through life, it seems impossible that their minds should ever acquire that vigour and efficiency, which accurate knowledge and various experience of life and manners can bestow....

Gatsby's Girl is "People's Choice" nominee

2007-05-16T12:46:00.000-04:00

Caroline Preston's novel, Gatsby's Girl, along with Donna Lucey's Archie and Amelie, has been nominated for a Library of Virginia "People's Choice Award."

"People's choice" means we can all cast a vote. Click on the ballot image to make it bigger, so you can see the other nominees and categories. Then click this link and VOTE .

It worked for Jenny Gardiner! Never underestimate the power of the mouse. (Or the power of a well-written manuscript.)

Support Authors' Rights

2007-05-04T12:53:00.000-04:00

The Authors Guild sent out an email to members yesterday, which begins:

When collectors donate manuscripts, letters, and diaries of an author to libraries or universities, they are entitled to deduct the fair market value of those literary papers from their income for tax purposes. When authors donate their manuscripts and other papers to libraries or universities, they're permitted to deduct only the cost of the physical materials used to produce those documents (the cost of paper, ink, toner).

The difference, of course, is immense, and immensely inequitable to authors who choose to donate their papers for scholarly research.

We now have a good chance to right this wrong, and we'd like your help.

Read the rest: Literary Papers Tax Bill Needs Your Support

A good week for Jennifers

2007-05-02T22:43:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Elvgren's picture book, Josias, Hold the Book, has been chosen as one of the best books of 2007 by the Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College.

Jenny Gardiner Snags Publishing Contract!

2007-05-02T00:09:00.000-04:00

Faboo news from Jenny:

"Finally, I can let you know the results of the national fiction contest (American Title III) I kept bugging you all about for so long. (I've not been able to announce it until the official announcement this weekend in Houston.)

I won!!! Thanks to your support, my book, SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER, will be published by Dorchester Publishing with a release date of January 28, 2008.

I want to thank you all so very much for your help--your amazing collaborative effort has helped to launch a writing career. I've also landed an agent and she is working on sending some of my other books to editors now as well.

It's incredibly hard breaking into the publishing world, and I know this seemed like a crazy way to do it, but it's been a great thing and I just want you all to know how very much I appreciate your help in getting me to this point.

If you're interested in getting on my newsletter list, you can contact me at my website, www.jennygardiner.net, and I'll be sure to put you on. I also have a listserve at Yahoo that I haven't done anything with yet but will do so soon. You can get updates from there as well by sending an email to: SLEEPINGWITHWARDCLEAVER-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
and I'll add you to the list.

If you did forward on the voting email to others during the contest, I'd greatly appreciate your forwarding on my thanks to them!

Thank you all again, so very much for your help!"

With Best Wishes,

Jenny
American Title III winner, Sleeping with Ward Cleaver, (Dorchester/Winter 2008)
www.jennygardiner.net

Calling All Blog Virgins!

2007-05-01T10:57:00.000-04:00

So, you want to post a comment, but you're not sure how to go about it?

Gather 'round: You can do this. (If I can do it, anybody can!)

It will be easier if you open another browser window, and go to the LLL blog. That way, you can read these instructions in one window, and click on stuff in the other window.

Choose a blog entry (such as "Poet Perseveres" or "You Don't Hear About the Rejections"). At the bottom of the post, you'll notice a line of small print. You'll see "0 comments" (or maybe "127 comments," if people have responded). Click on the word "comments".

If this is your first time posting on this "blogspot" site, you'll need to create a Google account. (If you have a gmail account, you can use that username and password.)

Find where it says "No Google Account? Sign up here." And click that link.

You'll enter your email address, and choose a password (at least 6 characters long). Type in your name as you want it to appear with your comment.

You'll see a graphic with 5 or 6 letters, and it's distorted. You'll be asked to type those letters into a box. (Why? This is a way of deterring spammers from using programs to make mass-postings on blogs. It takes a human eye to discern what those letters are.)

Check the box to accept the terms of service, and continue to the next window.

Type your comment in the box, and, once again, discern what the distorted letters are and type those in. Then click on "publish your comment" and that's it!

This "blogspot" site must have a bajillion blogs on it. Now that you have a blogspot account set up, you'll be able to post on any of the blogs hosted here.

You Don't Hear About the Rejections

2007-04-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

Everyone who writes (and submits) gets rejected. A fact of life. Does that make it hurt any less when it's YOUR literary creation that gets the thumbs-down? I'd love to know how you all deal with this. Maybe we need a ritual, a voodoo dance or something, to get us back on track. Do you break down? Throw something? Kick the dog? (Hey, don't kick that dog!) How do you cope with rejection and keep on writing?

Poet Perseveres

2007-04-30T16:48:00.000-04:00

Good news from Sharon Leiter: "My poetry manuscript, 'The Dream of Leaving,' much revised over the years, was a finalist in the Main Street Rag contest and, as such, will be published by Main Street Rag in the fall. At last. Hurrah."

"Harrah," indeed!

To find out more about Sharon Leiter, check out her entry in our LLL "Who's Who."

Jenny Gardiner in today's Washington Post

2007-04-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

You have got to read this article in today's Post. Jenny's teenaged son went to Europe and baited pickpockets with an exposed wallet. The apple didn't fall far from this tree: Kyle Gardiner is as wacky and creative as his mother!

Deirdra McAfee is Workin' It!

2007-04-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

Here's what our Richmond Literary Lady has been up to:

Got an artist's grant for a month's residency at the Vermont Studio Center (September).
Won the sole fiction scholarship given by The Gettysburg Review Conference for Writers (June).
Won the H. E. Francis Award for the Short Story, which includes a thousand-dollar prize.

Website Insights

2007-04-04T10:33:00.000-04:00

Are you a Literary Lady with a website? Or maybe someone who'd like a website, but you're not sure how to go about it? Elizabeth Howard asked me for advice about this the other day, and I was no help at all. (My son Waldo does my site for free and charges other people more than the average writer could afford.)

So, we're looking for advice: How much should one expect to pay? Do you look for someone online? Should that someone be in Charlottesville, or does it matter? What other tips can you pass along?

[posted by Janis Jaquith]

We're Special!

2007-03-31T20:09:00.000-04:00

There is only one other Literary Ladies Luncheon in the USA, according to Google, and it meets at the First Presbyterian Church in Ramsey, NJ. I just know that ours is more fun--and not just because some of us have a glass of wine every now and then.

I much prefer this LLL reference, from a review of a revival of the farce, "The Man Who Came to Dinner":

So what's a director to do if he wants people to understand even an inkling of the power wielded by [New York Times critic Alexander] Woollcott over the literary ladies luncheon set of the Depression Era?