Tag Archives: Contests

STORMRISE by Jillian Boehme Released Today! (Yes, this is Authoress!) + Giveaway

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I’m pleased to announce that the author many of us have admired, Jillian Boehme, has her debut novel released today…STORMRISE! Jillian kept her identity secret for many years, pledging she’d only reveal herself when she got a book deal. Watching her progress over the years and waiting for the unveiling was like watching the final episode of the Masked Singer. This was because her talent and passion shown through every post, so by the end of her secrecy, all her fans were on the edge of their seats singing “Whooooo are you, who-who?”

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Many of us learned to love her as Authoress on her blog Miss Snark’s First Victim. She gave awesome advise to aspiring writers, edited and gave critiques, and had many contests to help authors get agents. Yes, all while being incognito. She poured her heart and soul into her blog, so not know who she was still made it easy to connect to her. We knew it was a human behind the hat and not a BOT. (See what I did there? Fans and Jillian might be the only ones to get this, so reader don’t fret.)

But let’s talk about why you’re really here. STORMRISE! A combat warrior will risk everything to awaken the dragons and save her kingdom.

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If Rain weren’t a girl, she would be respected as a Neshu combat master. Instead, her gender dooms her to a colorless future. When an army of nomads invades her kingdom, and a draft forces every household to send one man to fight, Rain takes her chance to seize the life she wants.

Knowing she’ll be killed if she’s discovered, Rain purchases powder made from dragon magic that enables her to disguise herself as a boy. Then she hurries to the war camps, where she excels in her training―and wrestles with the voice that has taken shape inside her head. The voice of a dragon she never truly believed existed.

As war looms and Rain is enlisted into an elite, secret unit tasked with rescuing the High King, she begins to realize this dragon tincture may hold the key to her kingdom’s victory. For the dragons that once guarded her land have slumbered for centuries . . . and someone must awaken them to fight once more.

So, without delay, go purchase it now, or ask for it from your local library! Let’s show Jillian the love and support she has shown us for so many years! And if your hoping to keep a copy for yourself without purchasing, just enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a copy!

All my LOVE to Jillian and the hopes of a very successful debut!

 

WIN>>WIN>>WIN>>RAFFELCOPTER<<WIN<<WIN<<WIN

 

Amazon | BN | Kobo | Google Play | Goodreads | Macmillan | Target | BAM! | Audible

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving 2014
THANKSGIVING 2016

Thanksgiving is a designated time to remember what we are thankful for in life. For many, it’s having our health to spend time with family and friends while gorging on amazing meals until our stomach feels like it will explode. But there are others who might be joyful they survived a fatal illness to be here celebrating with people they love. Or maybe, there are those thrilled to still have a job, maybe paid off a mortgage, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

As for me, I’d like to thank:

  • My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing. I LOVE you guys!
  • My daughter and grandson for bringing me joy in my life with their adventurous spirit.
  • My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
  • All my past and current critique partners (especially Diana DeBolt Johnson!). This includes anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback.
  • Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for those who selected me at some point in the past, for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress (Jillian), Michelle Hauck, and Jessa Russo.)
  • The mentors that participated in contests. Your feedback was completely awesome!
  • All slush readers (agents, editors, mentors, etc.) are the bomb. We don’t send enough chocolate, and I apologize!
  • The creator’s of Preditors & Editors (linky still down), Writer’s Beware , Absolute Write Forums, Publishers Marketplace, and QueryTracker. (I use them often.)
  • All the authors that allowed me to participate in their book releases or cover reveals!
  • For all the ARCs I received, because FREE BOOKS before they’re published is AWESOME!
  • I have a job and I adore working with all my coworkers!
  • And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day.

I’m sure there are many things and other people I may have forgotten, and ask forgiveness if I have. Everyone in my physical and virtual life are very important to me. Y’all give me strength to become the best me. Thank you for being a part of my life!

Whatever your reason for being thankful today, I wish you the Happiest of Thanksgivings!

XOXO

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Twitter Contest for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers

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It’s that time of year again for science fiction and fantasy writers to polish their pitches for Dan Koboldt’s #SFFpit writing contest on twitter! It starts tomorrow June 23, 2016 between 8am-6pm EST. This contest allows 10 pitches total and Dan asks that you use them wisely! As usual, it needs to be a 140 character pitch for twitter and includes the hashtag #SFFpit. For all the rules, including how to properly insert the age group and category, go here. And remember to research any agents or editors that favorite your tweet because ANY ONE can trawl the feed!

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Pass or Pages Contest

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Operation Awesome is hosting a contest where agents give feedback on whether they’d pass or request pages from the writers first 250 words. And of course, they might ask for your manuscript! Submissions are for adult completed mystery and thrillers only. The window to sub ends today! For the submission form and link to participating agents go here.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

 

FINDING CRITIQUE PARTNERS

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With folks wanting to hone their pitches, queries, and first chapters before PitchWars submission, I thought I’d help everyone searching for a critique partner. Contests such of these are great for finding people who write in the same category and genre as you. Here are some places and things to do:

  • Put a tweet out requesting to swap material using the contest hashtag. Be specific about the age group & genre you write to be clear to prospective partners.
  • Watch for posts about entrants forming groups on their blogs to give each other feedback.
  • Absolute Write Forums: These forums are for all age groups and genres. Not to mention the research on agents and publishers you can find.
  • CPSeek Forums: There are topics on specific age categories and one just for queries and synopsis’.
  • Agent Query Connect: This is a place to post you’re looking for a crit partner.
  • Sub It Club Facebook Critique Partner Group: This is a private group you have to join, so no worries about what you post.
  • Ladies Who Critique: This is a sight where you can join groups by the genre.
  • Romance Critters: Whoa! A place for romance writers to swoon over each others critique. Awesome!
  • Query Tracker Forum: Not only can you keep track of your queries with this site, you can go to the forums and get feedback!

If you’re a member of a writers guild, you can usually find a place to get feedback on those sites too. I’m sure there are many more places to find help honing your craft, but these are a few places to get you started.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

AN AUTHORESS CONTEST

For all writers who haven’t noticed, the lovely Authoress posted a #Blogpitch contest on her website Miss Snark’s First Victim. This starts as a logline contest on twitter in which 10 winners will be picked to get critiques. All persons leaving critiques will be entered for a chance to win a 15 page line edit from the wonderful Authoress! How cool is that?

To Qualify:

  • Follow Authoress on Twitter
  • Have an active writing-related blog (posting at least once a week)
  • Have a clean manuscript. Although it can be a work “in progress”, absolutely NO FIRST DRAFTS!

How to enter:

  • Submission window starts  noon (EDT) on Monday, June 30 and ends at noon (EDT) on Tuesday, July 1, 2014.
  • Tweet your 128 character (or fewer) logline to #BLOGPITCH on Twitter

How it works after the tweets and the dates:

  • Authoress will choose 10 favorite loglines (Announced Thursday, July 3)
  • Winners will be invited to post their logline + first 250 words ON THEIR OWN BLOGS.
  • Winners MUST send links to Authoress by Sunday, July 6.
  • Authoress will post the 10 links on BLOG CRITIQUE TOUR DAY. (Posted on Wednesday, July 9.)
  • Everyone, including winners, can visit the blogs and leave a critique. (Each critique=1 entry in drawing for a 15 page line edit from Authoress.) Critiquing starts immediately. All critiques entered by Friday, July 11, will be entered into drawing.

(Note:  All genres except erotica or erotic romance will be accepted.)

WRITING CONTESTS: WHY I FOLLOW THEM

NOTE: CONTESTS SHOULD NOT BE YOUR ONLY PLAN TO REACH AGENTS. NOTHING REPLACES THE DIRECT QUERY!

Phew! Got that out of the way. So, why do I follow them? Because I see:

1) What’s circulating.
2) Pitches/Opening lines that work.
3)  What agents are requesting.

Let’s start with number one. Why should I care? Well, if I thought about writing a dystopian, for example, I’d notice the market is currently over saturated, making my chances to get noticed slimmer. The novel had better be extremely unique if I choose to move forward. I like bettering my chances, so I’ll look at the next idea on my list!

As for pitches and opening lines, they need to be amazing to hook an agent/publisher. I can’t peek into their “Inbox” to see what they’re accepting, so contests are the next best thing. I can read those amazing entries and see what lines are working to attract their attention.

And nothing excites me more than seeing what types of stories agents/publishers request. Some even give reasons for the desired material with comments they leave. This helps me see what is currently being favored and sometimes I find clues to polishing a work in progress.

What am I currently watching? Brenda Drake’s Pitchwars

What contest did I win? PitchMAS #71

So, why did I open with “NOTHING REPLACES THE DIRECT QUERY”  if I won a contest? Because only a handful of agents participate in contests. If I only submit to these adrenaline pumping outlets, I close the gap on a huge market I could submit to. For example, I direct queried a few agents before entering PitchMAS resulting in a request for a FULL. I believe in the direct query, but contests can be excellent educators. (For help finding an agent go HERE and for query advise go HERE.)

There is one more tidbit about contests I’d like to leave you with: Some participating agents are closed to direct queries. In this case, the contest IS the only way to reach them when I don’t know a friend, who has a cousin, that has an uncle rep’d by said agent.

As always, good luck and happy writing!

P. D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA Fiction