Cindi Myers Market News's Blog

My big news this week is that I have a new book out. Always a Bridesmaid is a sexy, fun romantic comedy from Entangled Indulgence.

Love can be a volcano…

After two failed relationships and six stints as a bridesmaid, Stephanie Ludlow is convinced she’s man-poison. So when her hormones point due south to her sexy new landlord, she throws up every guard in her arsenal to protect herself from heartbreak. Problem is, her cache is sadly lacking.

When Mike Brubaker’s wife left him, he focused all his energy on raising his nine-year-old son and providing a stable home. Relationships are a complication he can’t afford–until Stephanie walks into his life. She’s intelligent, irresistible, and driven, and he can’t take his mind off her, no matter how hard he tries.

Will interfering friends, an over-protective dad, and past mistakes keep them apart, or will they fight for the happiness that each deserves?

Check it out here, read the first chapter for free and grab your copy now.

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If you’re looking for a high-paying market for your crime and mystery short stories, check out Criminal Element. This epublisher accepts all sub-genres of mystery and crime stories, 6,000 to 15,000 words and pays a $1,000 advance against a 25% royalty. Send the complete story and a cover letter that tells about you and your writing credits to criminalelementstories@yahoo.com. See all the guidelines here.

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Puglacious Press is a new small press devoted to young adult and middle grade novels. Puglacious publishes hardcover and paperback editions of books and pays an advance agaisnt royalties. Editors Joyce Shor Johnson and Jennifer Carson are looking for historical fiction, fantasy and high adventure stories. They’re open to dystopian stories if the stories have a fantastical element. Find their submission guidelines here.

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Midlife Collage hosts a weekly writing contest for “short stories about experiences in mid-life.” There’s no fee to enter and weekly winners get $50. You must be at least 40 years old to enter. Stories — which are really vignettes — should be between 250 and 400 words. For all the details go here.

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The Woman Who Loved Jesse James got a terrific review this week from A Girl and Her Kindle. Reviewer Amy Brantley says. “This is by far one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have ever read.” Wow! Made my week. You can read the entire review here.

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As always, feel free to share information from this blog with others — repost, reprint and pass it on. All I ask is that you give me credit as the source of the information, and include a link to this blog. Thanks!  Cindi

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”    ―   Stephen King

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Entangled Publishing will soon add historical romance to its lineup of offerings. The editors are looking for its new Scandalous imprint. These 60,000 to 70,000 word romances may be set any time between 900 and 1950, in almost any setting.  “These stories are bold, sexy, and heartfelt, and can be funny, action-packed, mysterious, or dramatic.” The stories should feature a classic romantic trope and an Alpha male hero. Stories should be historically accurate and may contain light paranormal elements, though paranormal elements are not required. Stories should be sexy and sensual, but they’re not looking for erotica. Find out all the details here.

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Children’s Writer, a monthly email newsletter, is sponsoring a Middle Grade Mystery Contest.  Write a mystery short story that appeals to 9 to 12 year-olds — no longer than 900 words. First prize is $500 and publication in the newsletter, second prize is $250 and third, fourth and fifth graders will each receive $100. Subscribers to Children’s Writer may enter for free: all others pay $15. The deadline to enter is April 30. Get all the details here.

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The Woman Who Loved Jesse James got another really nice review Here.

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The University of New Hampshire Department of Theatre and Dance is looking for new children’s plays and musicals. To find new works, they’re sponsoring the Anna Zornio Children’s Theatre Playwrite Award.  Submit your play or musical of no more than 60 minutes in length, suitable for adults to perform for children. There is no fee to enter. First prize is $500 and production of your play. The deadline for entries is March 4, 2016, and the play will be produced during the 2018-2019 season. Find all the details here.

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The Hysterectomy Association of the UK is sponsoring the Hysteria 2012 Short Story Competition. Submit your short story of up to 2,000 words, on any subject of appeal to women (stories do not have to have anything to do with hysterectomies) by August 31. First prize is 400 pounds. The top 10 stories and poems will be published in an anthology. The contest is open to women of any nationality.  Find out more information here.

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As always, feel free to pass on information from this newsletter, reprint, repost and share with others. All I ask is that you give me credit and include a link back to this blog. Thanks!  Cindi Myers

The only way to learn to write is to write.- Peggy Teeters

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HarperCollins UK is launching a new line of ebook only erotica and erotic romances. Mischief Books editorial director Adam Nevill and is looking for manuscripts, from collections of short stories to novellas to full-length novels. Mischief publishes all sub-genres of erotic and erotic romance — you can find a list of all the different categories on their site. Mischief pays an advance and royalties, though some short stories for special collections pay a flat fee. Check out the writer’s guidelines here. In addition to book-length manuscript, Mischief is open to submissions of short stories for several planned themed collections. Stories should be approximately 4,000 words and fit the theme of the collection. For a list of upcoming themes and guidelines, scroll to the bottom of the writer’s guidelines.

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The 29th Annual Colorado Gold Writing Contest is now open for submissions. I don’t usually publicize writing contests in this space, but Colorado Gold is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a group of which I’m a member. I’m one of the judges of this contest and I know many people who’ve gone on to sell their work as a result of this contest, so I’m making an exception and letting you know about the contest.  Enter your Romance, Mystery, Mainstream, Action/Thriller, Speculative Fiction, and Young Adult manuscript in the contest. The entry fee is $30 — you can pay an additional $25 for a detailed critique of your work. Find all the entry details here.

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Trendy Traveler is hosting a contest for blog posts on their site about travel. There is no fee to enter and you could win $500 or $250.  Sign up at the Trendy Traveler blog and submit your post in one of the following categories: “Best Travel Blog”, “My Favorite Trip or Vacation” or “My Hometown/Destination Business is a Great Travel Destination Because…” Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2012. Winner of the “Best Travel Blog” category wins $500. Winners in the other two categories get $250. Find all the details here.

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At Harlequin’s Kimani Press, Shannon Criss has been promoted to assistant editor, as has Love Inspired’s Rachel Burkot. And Harlequin’s Elizabeth Mazer is now an Associate Editor. Mazer acquires for a number of Harlequin’s series romance lines.

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The Woman Who Loved Jesse James is getting a lot of nice press lately. The book is in the Spotlight at Fresh Fiction and received a nice write-up over at History and Women.  And I’m interviewed at Fallen Angel Reviews.

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As always, feel free to share this newsletter with others: repost, reprint and republish. All I ask is that you give me credit as the source of the information, and include a link to this blog. Thanks!  Cindi