Submission Opportunity from LaChance Publishing

Last week two writing friends, Linda O'Connell and Julie Earhart, forwarded e-mails to me announcing a call for submissions for Volume 2 of Voices of Breast Cancer from LaChance Publishing. Last Tuesday, Alice, a 15-year breast cancer survivor and a member of our Tuesday critique group, asked for advice on what she plans to send them. I thought visitors of my blog be interested in submitting as well.

The publisher wants: "first-hand stories of literary merit. If you or someone you know has had breast cancer and wish to share your heartfelt, inspiring, true story of facing this life-defining challenge, this could be a great way for you to give courage and comfort to others while building your writing resume."

Deadline: March 1, 2011

Expected publication date: October 2011

Stories should focus on one of the topics listed below:
Discovery and Diagnosis
Taking Charge of Treatment
Dealing with Physical Changes
Family and Friends
Looking Back

Multiple submissions accepted.

Word Count: Minimum 600 words, maximum 4,500 words.

A fee will be paid for stories accepted for publication.

Complete submission guidelines can be found at http://www.lachancepublishing.com/

Good luck!

All Souls Day: A Day to Remember Loved Ones Who Have Died

Today, November 2, is not just national election day. It is also All Souls Day, sometimes called "Day of the Dead."

In the Catholic Church, All Souls Day is a special time to remember loved ones who have died and to pray for their souls so they may enter heaven. One prayer I recite when remembering loved ones who have passed is:

Eternal rest grant them, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

Here is another link to some information about All Souls Day.

A Winner, Two Links, and Good Luck Wishes

Drum roll, please . . .

The book "Salem's Lot" by Steven King was mentioned most often as scariest book by those who posted comments during my giveaway. However, the name picked as winner of "The Reckoning" by Kelley Armstrong is Jenny, who recommended the book "The Divide" by Nicholas Evans.

I checked out Jenny's blog, The Jenny Pincher, and found lots of useful information. I also signed up as a follower and plan to visit again.

Jenny please e-mail me so I can make arrangements to get the book to you. My e-mail is dvolkenannt (at) charter.net. And to my visitors, if you get a chance, check out Jenny's blog.

If you didn't win my contest this go around, take heart; I'll be announcing another contest later this month.

Speaking of contests, here's one you can visit and enter to win some fab prizes. If you didn't win my "The Reckoning" giveaway, here's one I found over on Lisa's Ricard Claro's blog. Writing in the Buff. Lisa is giving away some sweet gifts, including chocolate (yum), a Yankee candle, and other goodies. So pop over to Lisa's blog and check out her nifty contest giveaway--and become one of her followers for even more opportunities to win!

Finally, on this first day of November (All Saints Day) good luck to all you writers who are participating in NaNoWriMo. (And why aren't you busy writing now?) I tried NaNo a few years back but didn't get past the first ten days--life got in the way of my writing. So, I admire all those brave souls (All Souls Day is tomorrow) who can churn out 50,000 words in one month.

Mysteries of the Ozarks (Vol III) Open for Submissions

Here's a paid submission opportunity for writers living in or with strong ties to the Ozarks -- specifically Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas.

The directors of Ozark Writers, Inc. (Jane Hale, Carolyn Gray Thornton, Ellen Gray Massey, and Debbie Blades) are looking for fiction or non-fiction for their third anthology, Mysteries of the Ozarks Vol. III.

The photo above is of the cover of Volume I, in which a short story of mine appeared.

For Volume III: Each story should contain something that needs to be solved. It can be anything that is unknown, unexplained or kept secret. It need not be a crime or dead body. It could even be something supernatural or from outer space. Generally the mystery is solved, or if not, the reader is satisfied with the results.

More Guidelines:

* Fiction or non-fiction accounts of real mysteries that occurred in the Ozarks.
* Non-fiction stories can be researched actual mysterious events or handed-down folklore.
* Can be any length, but no more than 7,000 words. (I believe my story in Vol I was around 3,000 words.)
* Must be unpublished.
* Typed double-spaced with Courier New font, no smaller than 12 point.
* Can take place in any time period even back to prehistoric peoples or in the future.
* Must be set in the Ozark area and reveal characteristics of the land and/or the people. The area and/or its people should be important in the plot or theme.
* No hillbilly stereotyping of the people in the story.
* Suitable for family reading.
* Authors submitting stories need to be living in the greater Ozark area (mainly southern Missouri and northern Arkansas), or have strong ties to the area.
* Unless accompanied by an SASE, manuscripts will not be returned.
* Deadline for submitting stories is January 15, 2011.
* Submit a hard copy and a disk. Mail to:

Ellen Gray Massey
Ozark Writers, Inc.’s Mystery Anthology
126 Maple Drive, Lebanon, MO 65536

* Everyone who enters will be notified by March 31, 2011 of those who will be included.
* Payment for the stories will be 2 complimentary copies and $100.00 paid when the book is published.
* Authors whose work appears can purchase books at about a 50% reduction.
* Upon acceptance of story, it will become the property of Ozark Writers, Inc. They buy all rights as long as the book is in print. Special arrangements may be made.

* If you have any questions call 417-532-5155 or email Ellen Gray Massey, egmassey@webound.com

Contest Giveaway - Win a Copy of The Reckoning

I'm baaaaack. Sorry for the lack of posts recently and for not visiting my usual blogs. October is such a hectic month, with birthdays, deadlines, an anthology to co-edit, a school bake sale to plan, a writing workshop to co-chair, and Bunco at my house. Yikes! Because I haven't been able to post as much as I like, to make up for it--and in the spirit of Halloween--I've decided to give away a copy of a supernatural thriller I've recently read and reviewed.

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong is the third and final novel in the #1 New York Times Bestselling Darkest Powers trilogy. The main characters are a group of four supernaturals --- Chloe, a necromancer; Derek, a werewolf; Simon, a sorcerer; and Tori, a witch. The four teens are not normal, by even a supernatural standard, and they struggle to live with their special, and at times frightening, gifts.

The story is told from the perspective of fifteen-year-old Chloe, who is just realizing the nature of her differences and the extent of her powers. The Reckoning is an entertaining page-turner about friendship, loyalty, and embracing one’s uniqueness. The book should appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural thrillers with a PG dose of romantic suspense.

So, how can you win? Easy.

1.) Leave a comment between now and Halloween (Oct 31) about your favorite scary book. (1 opportunity to win)

2.) Post about this contest on your blog by Oct 30. (E-mail to dvolkenannt (at) charter.net with a link to your blog). (2 additional opportunities to win)

3.) Write a Halloween-themed flash fiction story of up to 250 words by Oct 31. E-mail your story to me at the above address. (2 additional opportunities to win)

So, if you comment about your favorite scary book, your name goes in the hat once. If you comment and write a story, you get three opportunities to win. If you do a, b, and c you get -- let's get out the calculator -- that's 5 chances to win.

Winner's name will be announced in on Nov 1.

Happy Birthday, Michael

Today is my grandson Michael's 12th birthday. It's hard to believe that the shy little boy who moved in with us almost six years ago has turned into a strong and handsome "almost" teenager.

I'm sure our daughter Julie and son-in-law Mike would be proud of the young man their little boy has become.

This summer Walt bought Michael a four-wheeler as an early birthday present because Michael has gotten so tall he has outgrown his little toy one. Michael loves going out to the "farm" with Walt. Michael also loves cutting grass, hunting, and fishing.

Yesterday he got an early birthday present when he found out he made the honor roll in his sixth grade class at All Saints. Way to go!

This morning while eating some of his birthday cookie, he told us he can't wait until next year when he is 13 so he can get a cell phone. Yikes!

Here's an acrostic poem in honor of Michael's birthday.

My grandson Michael

M agnificient

I nspiring

C hicken is what he loves to eat

H eart is what he has a lot of

A wesome

E nergy--he has tons of it

L oving and lovable

Happy birthday, Michael. I hope your day is special--just like you!

Ask the Authors at Kisker Branch Library in St. Charles

This Saturday, October 23, from 11:00 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. I'll be one of the authors featured in an "Ask the Authors" event at the Kisker Road Branch Library, 1000 Kisker Road in St. Charles.

I'm not sure what to expect. It's been described as being similar to speed dating (I've seen that on TV), except participants will talk about books and writing. On the promotional materials I'm listed as an article writer and my last name is misspelled, but that's okay--I can talk about writing articles, essays, and short stories, as well as editing, book reviewing.

Here is a list of participating writers: Dakota Banks, Bobbi Smith, Wilfred Bereswill, Bill Mueller, Lou Turner, Alice Muscany, Sarah Whitney, Nick Nixon, Fedora Amis, Judy Moresi, and Donna Volkenannt (me),

Authors have been asked to bring books to sell. I have a few copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas, which has my essay "Unexpected Joy." I'll also bring along copies of A Cup of Comfort for Military Families with "Welcome Home," and maybe a few other anthologies which contain my essays and stories.

Even if no one buys any books with my essays in them, it will be an opportunity to meet readers and writers, so I'm looking forward to participating. To read more about this event and others at the St. Charles City-County Library, visit their website http://www.youranswerplace.org/