Nov. 7, 2011–First a little personal news.  As the guest speaker for a branch of the country-wide  Philosophical Educational Oraganizations  (PEO) last Tuesday, I was rewarded with a most gracious reception and enough interest in my books to sell ten copies–four titles.

I'm intrigued by the following:  Second Annual Holiday Hint Fiction Cotest.    They want "25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story."  Make the reader of your 25 words want to know "what happens next? They offer as a sample, last year's first prize ($75) winner:  "Careless smoking caused a fire in the little circus tent.  Every performer perished.  They were only trained fleas, but my husband loved them like brothers."   Send your entry(s)–three per person, max–by email to: bkfidlin@hotmail.com by December 1.  Winners announced the second week in December.

Chicken Soup Themes are open (www.chickensoup.com/) : "Finding My Faith," Deadline, Dec. 31 2011; "Hope/Healing–Breast Cancer Journey,"Deadline, Dec. 31; "I Can't Believe My Cat (or Dog) Did That" (Deadlines Nov. 30); "New Friends" deadline Mar. 31 2012, "Parenthood" deadline, June 30, 2012.   For an entry published in any one of these anthologies, you receive $200 and ten copies; WORD LIMIT for all: 1200 words.

Meanwhile, always let me know if you have questions I may be able to answer.  Willma

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