There are a myriad of literary contests out there, trying to lure applicants with modest submission fees and boastful promises of publication. I’ve succumbed to more than one, usually to be disappointed.
But today an offer crossed my desk I don’t think I can refuse. Airleaf, a publisher of books whose authors have been rejected by more traditional houses, is seeking holiday stories of 20,000 words or less under the rationale that holiday stories have been big business these past few seasons. And Airleaf wants to cash in with a blockbuster.
The premise is this: If you have written a holiday story (which means a story about any holiday that occurs in December — Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) and think it is publishable, send it to Airleaf with no strings attached. There is no fee for entering the contest, there is no fee to publish your book if you win, and — in addition, the lucky author retains all rights to his or her story, as well as a percentage of the sales if your book catches on. If you’re a writer, what could be better?
I couldn’t think of anything either.
So I’ve dusted off a story I wrote years ago; in fact, it’s so old it isn’t even in my computer archives. I wrote it on a typewriter, punching the keys with passion at the time. Then I filed it away in a cabinet downstairs marked “Anne’s Writing.” Today, I went downstairs and resurrected the only hard copy in existence. I plan to read it tonight, then keyboard it into my computer, before taking the editorial red pencil to it.
The deadline for the holiday story is the end of March, so I think I can do it. If you think you can too, let me know via email to anne@annebrandt.com and I’ll provide the details to get in touch with Airleaf.
The holidays are closer than you think.
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