High Hill Press Wins a Spur Award from Western Writers of America

My friend Lou Turner, publisher of High Hill Press, is a huge fan of Westerns -- books and movies. 

She tells the story of when she was young she once wrote a fan letter to John Wayne -- and she got an answer. Somehow the letter got lost in one of her moves from Central Illinois to Missouri, but she still has a life-size cutout of "The Duke" in her house.

So, it's no surprise that after she and her husband Bryan started HHP several years ago they decided to publish western novels and anthologies. 

Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the Western genre recently paid off when High Hill Press won a Spur Award from Western Writers of America for the best Western short story, "Cabin Fever," by Brett Cogburn, which appears in Cactus Country III. 

HHP was also a finalist for another short story, "Chouteau's Crossing," by McKendrie Long, which appears in the Rough Country anthology.

I took the photo of Lou (above) during one of our weekly critique group sessions. She's holding her spur and a copy of Cactus Country III.

If you are a fan of the western genre, check out the High Hill Press website, where you can find western novels and anthologies published by HHP. 

And, if you write about the West, visit HHP for information about submission guidelines.

Calls for Submissions: Be Quick on the Draw for These Contests

Recently I've learned about two writing contests with short deadlines and no entry fees.

The first was sent to me by Coffee and Critique group writing pal, Marcia Gaye. The Poetry in Motion Contest is sponsored by the Metro Arts in Transit and Poetry Society of America. Entrants for the Poetry in Motion Contest must be residents within 50-mile radius of St. Louis. Multiple winners will receive a $50 award and be invited to read their poems at a ceremony in November. The contest deadline is 5 p.m. September 24, 2012.

Lou Turner, my dear friend and publisher of High Hill Press, e-mailed me about the "The Greatest Western Never Told" four-sentence contest sponsored by HHP and Brett Cogburn. Western stories of no more than four sentences are eligible. Winner (or winners) will receive their pick of one of Cogburn's books and inclusion in a future Cactus Country anthology. Deadline is September 23.

Good luck if you enter, but remember -- be quick on the draw!

Cactus Country II Is Now Available

Last week, while I was getting ready to leave for the Erma Bombeck Workshop in Dayton, my good friend Lou Turner, who is the Publisher and Editor of High Hill Press, took time from her unbelievably busy schedule to drop by my house and deliver a copy of Cactus Country (Volume II).

Even though Lou is an award-winning writer and publisher, she is sweet and considerate like that.

Anyway, I'm so excited that my short story "Keeping Faith" is included in the Cactus Country Volume II anthology, along with stories, articles, and poems from some famous Western writers, as well as a few writing friends.

If you like reading about the West, or if you enjoy good writing, Cactus Country II is an anthology not to be missed. 

The anthology includes works from: Dusty Richards, Jory Sherman, Delois McGrew, Brett Cogburn, Lucia St. Clair Robson, Pat Carr, Claudia Mundell, Ellen Gray Massey, Regina Williams, W. E. (Bill) Mueller, and many more talented writers.

Yesterday at critique group two writers purchased copies from Lou then asked for my autograph. What fun!

So, I hope you'll gitty up, pony up a few bucks, and get yourself a copy of this anthology. 

Here's a link to the Cactus Country book store with information on how you can buy a copy, as well as a link to submission guidelines if you want to submit something for a future Cactus Country anthology.

For this Writer, 2011 Has Been a Good Year

It's hard to believe 2011 has come to an end. In my little writing world, 2011 has been a good year, but the year hasn't been so great for some of my writing friends.

My heart goes out to the people from Joplin who were affected by the tornado last May. But out of the tragedy, hope arose. It was gratifying to see how many members of the writing community rolled up their sleeves and uncapped their pens to help.

After the tornado, Claudia Mundell, president of the Joplin Chapter of the Missouri Writers' Guild, came up with the idea for an anthology as a way that writers could help our Joplin neighbors. Thus, the Storm Country Anthology was born, under the leadership of  Deb Marshall and Kelli Allen of the Missouri Writers Guild, published and copyedited by Linda Fisher from Mozark Press, with special guest editor Dianna Graveman from 2 Riverscommunications.

I was fortunate to have my short story "Golden Lilacs Under the Worm Moon" included in Storm Country anthology, and I got to attend the book launch in November, where I was able to read and hear several of my writing friends read their works included in the anthology.

In addition to Storm Country, my work also appeared this year in the following anthologies:

    "Read Away Vacation" in Flashlight Memories  from Silver Boomer Books
    "The Night the Circus Came to Town" in Mysteries of the Ozarks IV from Ozark Writers
    "Look Back, But Don't Stare" in A Shaker of Margaritas: Cougars on the Prowl from Mozark Press
    "Bridie O'Shea's Golden Haired Visitor" in Cactus Country from High Hill Press
    "Under Grandma's Bottle Tree" in Voices IV from High Hill Press

In 2011, my work was recognized for some awards:

   * Short story  "Criminal Minds" received First Place in the MWG President's Award for Short Stories
   * Limerick "Summer Help Wanted" awarded Honorable Mention in the Summer Poetry Contest by the Missouri State Poetry Society
    * Personal essay "Sweet Memories" received First Place in the Dan Saults Awards Category from the Ozarks Writers League
    *Short story "The Window Washer" received Third Place in the Dr. Doris Mueller Poetry and Fiction Contest

Two of my short stories have been nominated for awards:

    * My short story "Bridie O'Shea's Golden Haired Visitor" has been nominated for a Spur Award
    * My short story "Under Grandma's Bottle Tree" has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize

In 2011 I reviewed almost 40 books and wrote interview questions for more than half-a-dozen writers for the Bookreporter network.

In addition to my acceptances and wins, I received my share of rejections and non-responses to submissions, and I didn't win anything in several contests I entered. But rejections and near misses are part of being a writer.

This year I've had several new followers on my blog, had numerous giveaways, and a few special guests. Those feats are something I hope will continue in 2012.

All-in-all, 2011 was a good year, and I'm hoping 2012 will be good for me --- and for you!

Happy writing and reading--and I hope to hear from you next year!

Cowboys and Westerns and the Winner of Cactus Country

Thanks to everyone who left a comment about their favorite cowboy or western movie or series.

We had a broad range of opinions and several similarities from Roy Rogers and John Wayne to Bonanza and Broken Arrow and at least one I'd never heard of before. I have to stick with Clint Eastwood as my favorite. Seriously, I don't care what role he plays, I can't take my eyes off him when he's on the screen. I've even been known to drool. Enough about Clint Eastwood.

From all the visitors, the randomly selected name to win the Cactus Country anthology is . . .

                                                        BECKY

If you will please e-mail me at dvolkenannt (at) charter (dot) net I can make arrangements to get the anthology to you.  To everyone else, thanks again for leaving a comment, and special thanks to Lou Turner from High Hill Press for donating the copy of Cactus Country Anthology as a giveaway.

Before I sign off, I have something to share. Yesterday in the midst of trying to get submissions ready to meet the OWL contest deadline, I received some exciting news in the mail that I'm still trying to digest. I keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. I'll let you all know all about it next week.

Hope you all stay safe this Labor Day weekend. I'm headed to the Chicago area tomorrow for a soccer tournament--and some shopping.

Contest Time - Cactus Country Anthology Giveaway

At critique group last Tuesday, Lou Turner from High Hill Press surprised us by handing out contributor copies of Cactus Country (Volume I). Cactus Country is "an anthology of Western stories, poetry, articles and artwork from the authors and artists who know the West."

I'm so excited to have my short story "Bridie O'Shea's Golden-Haired Visitor" in the anthology. Other contributors include Spur Award winning writers Dusty Richards, Jory Sherman, Max McCoy, and other esteemed writers.

My excitement is shared with members of our Coffee and Critique group with stories in the anthology: Lou Turner, Doyle Suit, Bill Mueller, and Claudia Shelton. It's so much fun to be published in the same anthology with other writing friends.

When Lou gave me my copy I asked for an additional copy to give away on my blog. Of course she said "Sure!"

So, thanks to Lou, I'm giving away a copy of Cactus Country (Volume I) signed by Spur Award Winning writer Dusty Richards (and me if you want me to sign my name by my story).

One lucky visitor to my blog will win. Here's how:

   * Post a comment by September 1.
   * Mention your favorite cowboy or Western series or movie.
   * Become a new follower of my blog (be sure and let me know you are a new follower) for an extra chance to win
   * Current followers, post a link to this giveaway on your blog for an extra entry-be sure and let me know.
   * Don't forget to include your e-mail in your comment so I'll know how to contact you if you win.

One winner will be selected at random on Sep 1. Winner's name will be announced on Sep 2.

*Contest limited to legal residents of the United States over age 18.

My favorite cowboy? Clint Eastwood in the TV series "Rawhide" and every Western movie with his name attached.

How about you?

Contest Time - Unknown Cowboy and Write Now

Lou Turner, my good friend and the publisher of High Hill Press, has a contest going on over at her Cactus Country blog.

This photo on the left of an unknown cowboy sits on her desk, and she wants writers to send her stories about him.

As an incentive, the winning story will be published in Cactus Country Volume II.

The winner will also receive five copies of the anthology.

No entry fee.

Deadline for submissions is November 30, 2011.

Visit the Cactus Country blog for complete details.

Good luck if you enter, and please give this cowboy a name!

If you're not into writing about cowboys, here's a giveaway contest for you. Karen over at Write Now has a giveaway as she approaches her 300th follower. Stop by to enter.

Blog Me, Baby - Giveaway

Yee Haw! If you love reading Westerns or writing about the West, here's a blog for you.

Cactus Country is a new blog about Western writing, featuring articles, stories, art work, and excerpts from Western novels.

Lou Turner, the heart and hand behind High Hill Press and Cactus Country, is offering free copies of Dusty Richards' Writing the West as an incentive to the first ten people who become followers of Cactus Country.

For details on how to win a copy of Writing the West with Dusty Richards and Friends, visit the links above for High Hill Press and Cactus Country.

But be quick on the draw because there are only a couple free copies left.