1. Kris Gray from Five Minute Fiction send me the following note: "We will soon be launching a new website publishing new authors and are looking for short stories. Briefly, the aim of our website is to promote new writers. Initially we will put a short story of 3-6,000 words on our site, available for members to read. We will be looking for feedback from these readers at regular intervals and will publish a book of the best stories that we have featured. The forward plan is to publish hard copy novels by the most popular of authors featured. So basically we are looking for writers with stories ready to publish on the site, which we hope to go live with in September."

Interested writers can contact Kris for more information at fiveminutefiction@gmx.de. Kris has assured me that absolutely no fees will be charged to writers submitting stories to the website.

2. Mystery: My good friend Chuck Sambuchino, editor of Guide to Literary Agents, brought me a flyer from a recent conference he attended about the "Dark Oak Mystery Contest", sponsored by Oak Tree Press.

To enter, submit your complete, most powerful mystery manuscript for a grand prize that includes publication of your book in Oak Tree Press's Dark Oak Mystery line. All mystery subgenres, from amateur sleuth to hard-boiled detective are eligible. Max length 85,000 words. Fee $35/ms. Deadlline is July 31. Winners announced at Oak Tree Press's conference, Sept. 14-16.

3. Romance: Also from Oak Tree Press, a Romance Novel Contest: Submit your complete, most comptivating romance manuscript for a chance at the grand prize, which includes publication in Oak Tree's Timeless Love line. All romance subgenres will be considered—from sweet to supernatural. Novels should be complete and typed using a clean, no-frills, easy-to-read font such as Courier 12 pt., double-spaced on white paper, a max of 80,000 words, pages numbered and submitted in an unbound ms box. Contest is open to authors who hav enot published romance novels in the previous three years and material not previously published in any medium. Entry fee is $35/ms. Deadline: July 31. Winners announced at conference, Sept. 14-16.