Yeah for Friday! I don't have much to say since I put today's thoughts in the newsletter going out Monday (go here to subscribe to the NSSWM newsletter), so here's the info.

Contests

Lesbian Writers Fund. "This award is to support the work of emerging lesbian writers, and to acknowledge the contributions of established writers to our movement and culture." This is an annual award for novels or short story collections. First place awardees and two runners-up in the poetry and fiction categories will receive cash awards ($10,000 for awardee; $1,500 for runners-up). An independent team of two judges selects the winners unanimously (entries are judged blind). Entry fee is $5. Entry deadline is June 30, 2008.  Novel excerpts or a collection of short stories are acceptable. Make sure to check their Web site for the eligibility requirements; there’s a lot of them.

Wassmode Short Fiction Prize. Sponsored by the journal Passages North, this has a first prize of $1000 with a $10 entry fee which includes receiving the contest issue. There’s a 7500 word max. Submissions are Oct 15-Jan 31st.

Just Desserts Short-Short Fiction Prize. Also sponsored by the journal Passages North, the only differences for this one are the word max drops to 1000 and the entry fee covers two stories instead of one.

Conferences

New conference: Faeriecon from the creators of Faerieworlds—a celebration of all things in the fantasy sub genre. It will happen over the weekend in Philadelphia, so you might check it out if you’re in town.

Submissions

Dead: Grendelsong

Comics. Girlamatic is open to submissions now through Nov 5th. 

Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Mystery, Multicutural, Ethnic, Short Story Collections. Obrake Books is a small independent publisher of hardcover and trade-paper fiction and non-fiction books. They published 1 new writer last year and plans 3 debut novels this year. Averages 10 total titles/year; 7 fiction titles/year. They publish adventure, children's/juvenile (adventure, fantasy, historical, mystery), comics/graphic novels, erotica, ethnic/multicultural, feminist, gay, historical (general), horror (psychological, supernatural), lesbian, literary, mainstream, mystery/suspense, psychic/supernatural, regional, religious (mystery/suspense, thriller, romance), romance (contemporary, historical, romantic suspense), short story collections, thriller/espionage, young adult/teen (adventure, fantasy/science fiction, historical, horror, romance). Pays royalties of 8-15%, and an advance that averages $350.

Political, Experimental. Fringe Magazine: The Noun That Verbs Your World is a bimonthly online magazine/E-zine specializing in literature. "Fringe Magazine is dedicated to political and experimental literature, and was founded to fight the homogenization of culture and the loss of revolutionary writing at the high literary and popular levels." They want ethnic/multicultural (general), experimental, feminist, gay, humor/satire, lesbian, literary, mainstream and have a special interest in experimental literature, cross-genre work, hypertext and flash-based literature. They don’t want to see erotica or pornography, unless it has a higher literary purpose. "We enjoy stories that span cultures, but have recently received a lot of work in the genre of  'I went on vacation and got an exotic lover.'  In general, we do not like work that is sentimental." Publishes 5 new writers/year. Published Sarah Sweeney, Amy Clark, Chris Siteman, Jasmin Saigal, TJ Dietderich, Kirstin Chen, and Chip Cheek. Stories should be 100 words-15000 words with an average of 3000. They also publishes literary essays, literary criticism, book reviews, poetry. Acquires first rights, electronic rights, archive rights.

Revolving Door

Scholastic: Lisa Holton has resigned as president, trade and book fairs at Scholastic in order to "launch a new media venture." In her place, Ellie Berger has been promoted to president of trade, and president of book fairs Alan Boyko will report directly to ceo Dick Robinson.

Bertelsmann Direct North America: Beth Goehring has been named editor-in-chief of the company's three lifestyle book clubs. Christine Zika will take over from Goehring as the editor-in-chief of The Literary Guild. Denise McGann, who has presided over the lifestyle Clubs since 2003, has left for other opportunities.