Day: January 22, 2012

Winning Writers’ Sports Poetry & Prose Contest

Winning Writers has announced a new contest seeking today’s best poetry and prose on sports-related themes. They will award $5,000 in prizes in the new Sports Poetry & Prose Contest.  This contest aims to bridge the gap between the worlds of physical culture and literary culture.

Online entries will be accepted until May 31, 2012.  The fee is $15 per entry.

More information on this contest is available on the Winning Writers website.

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Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers.  We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition.  Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering. [subscribe2]

Book Signing Basics Part One

Lust for Danger at B. DaltonA first time author asked about book signings. Here is my input/advice:

Honestly? Book signings are a pain in the ass. That’s only because they’re a lot of work and preparation for a usually small return on investment. They are a necessity, nonetheless.

Don’t be discouraged if only a couple of people show up and you don’t sell any books. That’s normal for a first book. And to add insult to injury, the most commonly asked questions (depending on if you’re in a mall or stand-alone book store) will be A) where are the Harry Potter books? and B) where is the restroom or food court. Be prepared for that and DO NOT take it personally. It’s no reflection on you whatsoever. It takes time to build a following where people will actually want to be where you are… Continue reading “Book Signing Basics Part One”

Open Q & A with Benevolent Evil Mastermind Stephen Hise

As you all know I am a friendly, helpful, and  approachable guy.  People have always come to me for advice—well, not advice per se, more like questions really. Questions like:

“Would you mind sitting somewhere else?”

“Where’s my wallet?”

“What are you doing outside that window?”

“When was the last time you saw the decedent?”

You know—the usual stuff. Obviously people see me as a guy with the answers. Probably not the answers you are looking for, but answers nonetheless. I’ve decided to put my amazing powers of snark at your service. So go ahead and ask a question. I will answer you. After all, it costs you nothing to ask and profits you nothing to receive my answer. Probably because IU is a non-profit organization—as far as I can tell.

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Learn to Navigate If You Want to Gaze at the Stars by Mark Cantrell

Author Mark Cantrell

REMEMBER the days of innocence. That was such a carefree time, when the words poured forth untroubled by matters of craft and technique.

The learning needed was steep. The fertile mind of the new writer, however, was too star-struck by the first emergence of the creative cosmos to notice the incline rising rocky underfoot.

Too engrossed to consider where a turn might lead to a grassier path, the emergent writer follows their star oblivious to the hazards ahead. Continue reading “Learn to Navigate If You Want to Gaze at the Stars by Mark Cantrell”