Editor’s Notes
We encourage feedback from members regarding our articles. We would like to have articles from those of you who wish to contribute to SPAWNews. The articles should comply with our purpose and interests. We are especially looking for articles from graphic designers, illustrators, authors, and small publishers, but will consider all others.
We are also interested in member’s activities such as their newly published books or upcoming magazine articles, book signings, art shows, seminars they are presenting, or classes they are teaching.
SPAWNews reviews member’s books on any subject and nonmember’s books on writing, editing, art, illustration, publishing, book promotion, or any subject that would appeal to our readers. If you wish to send a book for review, mail it to SPAWN, P.O. Box 2653, Ventura, CA 93002-2653.
Please e-mail all other information to Mary@spawn.org.
~Mary Embree
by Patricia Fry
SPAWN MEMBER AREA OPEN!
The new SPAWN Member Area in our Web site is open! To visit the new SPAWN Member Area, go to the first page of the site, http://www.spawn.org, and click on Visit Member Area. You will be asked to log in. All members have received their login ID and password.
The new Member Area now offers:
- Patricia Fry's Market Update for December. This valuable Market Update will appear every month, and it will be available only to SPAWN members.
- Event Calendar where you can submit events. After approval, your events will be available for all members to see.
- Member Webpages where you can upload your HTML pages. Your Web pages will be viewable by everyone on the Internet.
- Metasearch where you can run a single search and get results from six of the top search engines.
- A simple poll where you can tell us what you think about the Member Area.
Even more features are coming soon. Visit the Member Area and enjoy!
CONTESTS: BOOK AWARDS
Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Awards.
Deadline December 14, 2001. Grand prize $1500 plus endorsement and submission by Writer’s Digest to major review houses. $500 for 9 first-place winners; $50 for honorable mentions. See Writer’s Digest magazine or PMA newsletter for rules and entry form. FMI visit their Web site: www.writersdigest.com or write to Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Awards, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207.
PMA Benjamin Franklin Awards 2002.
This is a competition for excellence in publishing during the year 2001. Deadline is December 31 for the Second Call (titles published July 1 – December 31, 2001). PMA gives marketing awards and combined editorial and design awards. Entry fee is $60 per title, per category for PMA members and $140 for first title for non-members (which includes one year’s membership in PMA) and $60 per title, per category for second and subsequent entries. There is no monetary award. Winners will be displayed at the awards ceremony and in the PMA booth at the BookExpo America in New York in May 2002. FMI and entry form see Web site: www.pma-online.org or e-mail: info@pma-online.org.
ForeWord Magazine’s 2001 Book of the Year Awards.
Deadline January 15, 2002. First, second, and third place winners in 43 categories will be awarded. $1000 prize for Best Fiction and Best nonfiction. Entry form and eligibility requirements available at www.forewordmagazine.com/botya.pdf. FMI contact Karen at 213/933-3699 or e-mail to karen@forewordmagazine.com.
Independent Publisher Book Awards 2002.
Deadline March 1, 2002. $5,000 in prize money will be divided equally between the Ten Outstanding Books of the Year, and winners and finalists will be chosen in 49 categories. All independent publishers are eligible. Entry fee is $60 per title. FMI e-mail Awards Coordinator and Independent Publisher Online managing editor, Jim Barnes, at jimb@bookpublishing.com.
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CONTESTS: POETRY
Wallace W. Winchell Poetry Contest.
Deadline December 31. $150, $100, and $50 prizes plus publication in Connecticut River Review. Entry fee $2 per poem; up to 5 original unpublished poems, no more than 40 lines. Send to Winchell Contest, P.O. Box 4053, Waterbury, CT 06704. FMI go to Web site: http://hometown.aol.com/CTPoetry Society.
Chicago Literary Awards.
Deadline December 15. $1000 for short story; $1000 for poem. Short story no more than 6500 words; poem no more than 300 lines. Entry fees are $10 for each story; $10 for three poems and $5 for each additional poem. See guidelines at www.anotherchicagomag.com or send SASE to Chicago Literary Awards, Left Field Press, PO Box 180017, Chicago, IL 60618.
Chelsea Award for Poetry.
Deadline December 15. $1000 plus publication. Submit 4-6 unpublished poems, up to 500 lines. Entry fee $10; includes subscription to Chelsea Magazine. For guidelines send SASE to Chelsea Magazine, P.O. Box 773, Cooper Sta., New York, NY 10276.
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News from the NWU (National Writers Union)
Breakthrough with Major Publisher
I'm thrilled to announce a breakthrough with a major publisher. Primedia, Inc., the 1.7 billion company with more than 280 titles, has agreed to: --negotiate with the NWU over the claims writers have arising out of our victory in the Supreme Court --use the NWU's Publication Rights Clearinghouse to license articles in the future --negotiate with the NWU fees to be paid for electronic use. In other words, no all-rights contracts. The three negotiating areas embody the strategy we've envisioned from the early days of the lawsuit--challenge the industry's unlawful use of our work, recoup money for writers from those uses *and* create opportunities for the NWU to negotiate better contracts for writers for the future. There is still work to be done to bring the negotiations to a final, satisfactory conclusion. But, this is a significant step forward. I'm hopeful that other media companies will follow Primedia's lead and choose negotiation over costly and unnecessary litigation. That has been our invitation to the industry since the Supreme Court decision. Please spread the word to other writers!!! Solidarity Jonathan Tasini President, National Writers Union =========================== About the National Writers Union The NWU is the only union for freelance authors. It has more than 7,300 members nationwide. It is affiliated with the United Auto Workers. More information about the NWU can be found at http://ga0.org/ct/N1qyLxn1ucFo/
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MEMBER NEWS
Mary Embree will again be speaking at the 2002 DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books which will be held on February 9, 2002 at the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel in West Hollywood, CA. The DIY Convention is a day-long seminar that focuses on creating, producing, protecting, and distributing independent music, film, and books. Admission is $100 but if you register before December 31, you may attend for half price ($50). FMI and registration online go to www.DIYConvention.com or phone 323/665-8080.
SPAWN is a nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network
P.O. Box 2653
Ventura, CA 93002-2653
Website: http://www.spawn.org
Telephone & Fax: 805/643-2403
Wendy Dager
Senior Editor, SPAWNews
e-mail: Wendy@spawn.org
Hal Ranzenhofer
Managing Editor, SPAWNews
Telephone: 805/984-3216
e-mail: hal@spawn.org
Virginia Lawrence
SPAWN Webmaster
e-mail: virginia@spawn.org
Patricia Fry
Acting President
e-mail: pat@spawn.org
Ruth Hibbard
Treasurer
e-mail: ruth@spawn.org
Advisory Council
Patricia Fry
Author, Publisher
Carol Doering
Dallas Glenn
Rosalie Heacock
Literary Agent
Andora Hodgin
Writer, Editor, Publicist
Irwin Zucker
Book Publicist
Jim Lane
Author
Marcia Grad-Powers
Publisher
Melvin Powers
Publisher
Dan Poynter
Author, Publisher
Jean Wade
Author
Board of Directors
Mary Embree
Author, Editor, Literary Consultant
Founder and President of SPAWN
Patricia Fry
Vice President
Virginia Lawrence, PhD
Writer, Editor, Webmaster
Secretary of SPAWN
Ruth Hibbard
Treasurer
Frances Halpern
Author, Columnist, Talk-show Host
Marsha Karpeles
Executive Director, Manuscript Libraries
Richard F.X. O'Connor
Author, Publisher, Editor, Consultant
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote the literary arts and provide education, information, resources and a supportive networking environment for artists, writers, and other creative people interested in the publishing process.
Submission Guidelines
Members and Nonmembers: Please send your press releases, seminar information, and books for review to Wendy Dager, Senior Editor, SPAWNews, 3039 Country Lane, Simi Valley, CA 93063 or email Wendy@spawn.org.
SPAWN membership dues are $45 per year; spouses, half-price. Make your check payable to SPAWN and mail to P.O. Box 2653, Ventura, CA 93002-2653.
SPAWNews, Member Directory and Web site listings, and discounts for SPAWN events are included in membership.
SPAWN is a nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network
P. O. Box 2653
Ventura, CA 93002-2653 |
