Tag Archives: Literary

Interview with Paul Durham: Author of THE LUCK UGLIES

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When a story stays with you weeks after the read, you know a fantastic story fell into your hands. That’s what happened with THE LUCK UGLIES by Paul Durham. Once I cracked open the pages and started reading about Rye’s life on Mud Puddle Lane, I couldn’t put the book down. The story led me on a path of secret rooms and tunnels as truths unfolded in Village Drowning. If you’re not afraid of what lurks under masks and roams in the dark, I recommend reading this awesome story!

THE LUCK UGLIES

HarperCollins listed synopsis (provided by Paul Durham): Strange things are happening in Village Drowning, and a terrifying encounter has eleven-year-old Rye O’Chanter convinced that the monstrous, supposedly extinct Bog Noblins have returned. Now Rye’s only hope is an exiled secret society so notorious its name can’t be spoken aloud: the Luck Uglies. As Rye dives into Village Drowning’s maze of secrets, rules, and lies, she’ll discover the truth behind the village’s legends of outlaws and beasts . . . and that it may take a villain to save them from the monsters.

The first in an irresistible fantasy adventure trilogy that The Peculiar author Stefan Bachmann hailed as “an action-packed adventure with heroes you’ll root for and baddies you’ll hiss at . . . funny and magical,” The Luck Uglies overflows with secrets, friendship, and heart—and is imbued throughout with the magic of storytelling. (Read the rest of interview.)

PITCH WARS CONTEST IS APPROACHING

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This is not an event where writers sit around a table spitting saliva all over each other fighting for a chance to get the attention of the agent they strapped to the center, all while spewing their loglines. Oh no, this is much safer…and dryer. I promise.

Girls wanna have fun

(Photo used with permission.)

 

This is a wonderful contest hosted by the contest queen herself, Brenda Drake. What’s great about this particular contest is the winning entrants get mentored by either an agented (and published) author or a professional editor. These are people who’ve been in the trenches and/or worked in the writing industry long enough to offer priceless feedback. And further, they will critique the winner’s entire manuscript. That’s right…THE WHOLE ENCHILADA.

And after months of the winners pulling their hair out making all requested edits, they will be rewarded with an agent round. It begins November 4, 2014. What does that mean? The participating agents will begin requesting their favorite entries to read from pitches posted to the blog. This years agents haven’t been revealed yet, but you can go here to see the agents from the previous Pitch Wars.

You must have a polished manuscript to enter the contest, but no worries because submissions start August 18, 2014. But know, this date will fall upon you before you realize. So, get to crackin’, er tappin’!

And don’t forget, check out the mentors for this year here and be sure to follow Brenda’s blog for updates on the contest.

As always, good luck and happy writing.

 

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

AN AUTHORESS CONTEST

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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.)

The Next J.K. Rowling Contest

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The Independent has begun a nationwide search (in UK and Ireland only) for the next J.K. Rowling. Meaning, they want a brilliant-ass children’s writer. The winner can not have current literary representation and must never have been published (traditionally). This prized person still qualifies even if self published. If chosen, the announced winner will receive a publishing deal with a £5,000 advance, literary agent representation with LBA and a trip to Venice to visit the home of luxury pen-maker Montegrappa.

All the details are here.

Pass this on to all your friends living in the UK and Ireland. Good luck and happy writing!

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

“DEAR LUCKY AGENT” CONTEST presented by Writer’s Digest

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Sorry for the late notice, but I just learned “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest is in full swing and about to wrap up. However, the window for submission is still open. So let’s not panic people! Writer’s Digest presents this contest on the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS blog by Chuck Sambuchino.

Agent Andrea Somberg from Harvey Klinger Inc. will be the judge. She will pick three winners to receive a critique of the first 10 double-spaced pages of your work and a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com ($50 value). She reserves the right to request your manuscript for consideration to represent your wonderfulness!

• Your story must be complete and polished.
• Submit the first 150-200 words of your book.
• Submit a logline (one sentence description of the story).
• You can submit as many times as you wish. (I assume they mean more than one story.)
• Only YA fiction this time around.
• Submission window is live thru April 9th, 2014, PST. (Yes, you need to hurry!)

For further information, head over to the “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest announcement. Or visit Harvey Klinger Inc. to direct query Andrea Somberg.

As always, good luck and happy writing!

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