Month: February 2014

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

lion-mobileNow in its thirteenth year, this contest, sponsored by Winning Writers, seeks the best in original humor poems. Published and unpublished poems of any length welcome. One poem per person, please.

Entry Fee: NONE

Deadline: April 1, 2014

Prizes: $1000 for top prize; 10 honorable mentions for $100 each.

Visit the website for more information.

Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this information as a public service. We are not affiliated with, nor do we endorse any specific events, conferences, workshops, or programs. Persons interested in participating are responsible for performing their own due diligence and research.

Video Trailer: Crosswind

CrosswindLife on Earth is much improved since the pagan gods’ return. As conflict has eased around the world, more money is being spent on humanitarian goals. But the former ruling class is about to stage a last-ditch effort to bring the old system back. In response, the gods have recruited three humans to help them fight back — but Tess, Darrell and Sue must find a way past their own flaws first.

Crosswind: Land, Sea, Sky Book 1, the urban fantasy tale by Lynne Cantwell, is available from Amazon.com, Smashwords, and Amazon UK and other online booksellers.

Don’t forget, you can cast your vote for trailer of the month on February 22, 2014 at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

PublishAmerica Changes Its Name, but Can It Change Its Stripes?

americastar2Recently, Victoria Strauss wrote a post for Writer Beware about a change at PublishAmerica. If you’re not familiar with PA, they are one of the most seductive of vanity publishers, primarily because they promise so much and require no up-front payment from authors, blurring the definition of vanity publishing just enough to make it sound good. When I first stumbled onto them over a decade ago, they blared in very large type across their webpage, “We don’t want your money! We want your book!”

And they did, and were very happy to have it.

I won’t lie; I fell for it. While I had had several books traditionally published by then, I still had several unsold manuscripts and uploaded one; they gobbled it up. It sure seemed like a win-win. It didn’t take too long before I was disabused of that notion. Continue reading “PublishAmerica Changes Its Name, but Can It Change Its Stripes?”

Book Brief: Assignment Prague

Assignment PragueAssignment Prague
by Helen Haught Fanick
Genre of this Book: Historical Espionage
Word count: 64,000

Anton Janak is a dedicated member of the Czechoslovakian Resistance working against the Nazis, and he values anyone who can help his efforts. But when he learns that the young spy sent by the OSS to Prague is a woman, he has misgivings about working with her. He had expected a man—a man who could handle his assignment with the help of Janak and his fellow Resistance workers. It doesn’t take long, however, for Janak to realize the beautiful blonde spy has enough daring and resourcefulness to do what it takes in the occupied city. The Nazis are everywhere, but Tereza’s knowledge of Czech and German allows her to fit right in.

Both of them have an unspoken determination to keep their relationship professional, to keep distractions at a minimum, but is that going to be possible when every day might be their last? The bond that develops between them can only be destroyed by death, but that’s a real possibility for covert activists in Nazi-occupied Prague.

This book is available from Amazon.

Helen, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
The title says it all – an OSS agent is assigned to Prague.

Who was your favorite character and why?
Anton Janak is my favorite character. He’s attractive, mature, a patriot, he loves poetry, and he looks after his aunt.

Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
I’d say the theme of Assignment Prague is that old cliché, Love Conquers All.

What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
They could say the intensity with which I write shows I’m fascinated by my subject.

Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book: 
“An excellent story of wartime Prague”

Where can people learn more about your writing? 
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHelenHaughtFanick