NCF Tuesday: Books Fighting Back, Big Moose Prize, Anais Nin Joke


News

Books Fighting Back
Borders is holding on as it teeters on the brink of bankruptcy.   The company is performing a brand-facelift and adopting a new business plan, which includes the closure of 150 out of 500 stores.  The online and E-reader surge clobbered the unprepared bookstore.  They are working hard to rectify the damage.  
The Egyptian youth held hands in peaceful protest, protecting the Alexandria library from looters and vandals.  
England sees the dawn as a brand new £200m library is built in Centenary Square in Birmingham, England.  The country cut budgets forcing half the libraries to close.  Authors and book lovers joined together in protest over the weekend.   
Indie Bookstores remain in business despite the insurgence of E-readers and E-books.  The stores attribute their success to their small size, adaptability and non-book revenue.
A Quick Aside
The New York Times is printing an E-book bestseller list February 13th.  


Contests
Black Lawrence Press: The Big Moose Prize
-       Unpublished Novel
-       First Place Prize: Publication, $1,000 and 10 copies of your published novel
-       Deadline: February 15, 2011
-       Details here http://blacklawrence.com/BigMoosePrize.html

Glimmer Train Literary Journal
-       Short Story Award for New Writers
-       First Place Prize: $1,200
-       Deadline: February 28, 2011
-       Details here http://www.glimmertrain.com/shorawfornew2.html

Narrative Magazine
-       Fiction and Nonfiction
-       First Place Prize: $3,250
-       Deadline: March 31, 2011
-       Details here http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/114958

Writer’s Digest Magazine
-       80th Annual Writing Competition
o   Fiction and Nonfiction
o   Grand Prize: $3,000
o   Deadline: May 2, 2011
o   Details here http://www.writersdigest.com/annual
-       Your Story #32
o   Fiction prompt response (750 words or less)
o   First Place Prize: Publication in Writer’s Digest magazine
o   Deadline: February 10, 2011
o   Details here http://www.writersdigest.com/YourStory/
-       5-Minute Memoir, “Tales From the Writing Life”
o   Personal Essay (600 words or less)
o   Prize: Publication in Writer’s Digest magazine
o   Deadline: Rolling submissions
o   Details here http://blog.writersdigest.com/promptly/5Minute+Memoir+Want+To+Have+Your+Essay+On+The+Writing+Life+Appear+In+WD+Magazine.aspx

American Poetry Talent Search Contest
-       Poetry (100 lines or less)
-       First Prize: $250
-       Deadline: March 31, 2011
-       Details here http://www.poetrycritiques.biz/Poetry_Contest.html


Fun
Anais Nin walks into a bar, says, “Give me a glass of whiskey.”

Bartender says, “Do you want that straight up?”

“Yes,” she said, “but describe it for half an hour first.”

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