Variations on a Medical Theme

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

Colorado April Luncheon

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

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!

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

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

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

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