Dear Coaches,
Not many women are magicians in 1870, but that doesn’t stop eighteen-year-old Valentina Gianetti. However, when her father is killed onstage at her debut performance, she abandons her dreams in order to find his killer. Her journey starts in Paris and leads her to an underground society of spectacular performers, along with a conspiracy that reaches up to the government. Valentina soon finds herself entangled in multiple murders, suicides, secrets, and cover-ups.
With the help of complicated individuals, including an escaped convict, Spanish spy, and old fortune teller, Valentina immerses herself into the clandestine underground in hopes of tracking down her father’s murderer. Between solving crimes spanning decades, traveling Europe with hired assassins, and performing onstage, a love triangle develops and Valentina is forced to choose between a deep-seated love and a passionate lust.
The Magician’s Daughter is a Historical Fiction novel, complete at 92,130 words. Readers who enjoyed The Historian, The Night Circus, and The Thirteenth Tale will appreciate this novel. I’m a technical writer by day and an aspiring author by night with an unhealthy addiction to the BBC. Thank you for this opportunity!
Sincerely,
Desirae Roosa
THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER
The custard of the fruit tart gently jiggled at the rumbling of the train. I was hypnotized by its slight vibration; if only to distract myself from what I soon faced. The tranquility of my private carriage lulled me into a moment of calm. I lit the small candle poking from the tart’s middle and closed my eyes.
“Happy birthday, Mama.” The flame extinguished before I could take a breath to blow it out. I smiled. I didn’t have to turn around to see him standing in the doorway, though he made no sound.
“Are you prepared for tomorrow?” His English accent sounded like home; I turned to face him.
“I’ve practiced the three acts so many times I could perform them with my eyes closed.”
“Good girl.” He smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening. He aged so much these last few years and I wondered what he kept from me. It wasn’t only his growing paranoia that tipped me off; but the way he became more and more distracted during his acts, almost expecting an interruption.
“I have a gift for you,” he said, producing a small red flower between his fingers and presenting it to me. The instant that my fingertips brushed against its stem, the flower disappeared, and in its place, hung a gold necklace with a simple red pendant.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, Father.” His eyes twinkled. I knew he appreciated the term, though he wasn’t my real father.
Showing posts with label Writing Contests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing Contests. Show all posts
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Sunday, March 3, 2013
March Madness
Move aside basketball, because 2013's March Madness doesn't center around dribbles or exaggerated falls; but instead, centers around the massive amount of writing contests! I couldn't believe how many contests are out there this month!
I've listed some of the plethora of March Writing Contests below, but a simple Google search will bring up even more opportunities (Search: Writing Contests)! Let us know if you're entering any of the contests!
Deadline: March 31, 2013
Fee: $22
Prize: $2500
Submissions: Shorts, Essays, and Novel Excerpts
Deadline: March 31, 2013
Fee: $0
Prize: Review from an agent, plus $5000
Submissions: Fiction
Deadline: March 31, 2013
Fee: $22
Prize: $1000
Submissions: Short Story or Novel Excerpt
**This contest is only for writers 45 years and older.***
Deadline: March 31, 2013
Fee: Membership
Prize: $2000
Submissions: SEVEN Categories to choose from!
Deadline: April 17, 2013
Fee: $25
Prize: $1000
Submissions: New, never published story up to 1200 words.
**Writers must have at least one child under the age of 10.**
As always, check out Miss Snark's First Victim and Glimmer Train for recurring contests! Best of luck and Happy Writing!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Conference and Publishing...and Contests?
Due to Literati request/demand, I am starting a new series about what I learned at the Backspace Writer’s Conference. In this series I will discuss publication, querying, and the craft of writing. So if you are an aspiring author or just looking to improve your writing, keep an eye out for these posts. For your entertainment, I will wrap the series up with the horrible experience I had on the Super Shuttle back to JFK, trust me, it’s a good one.
The agents at the Backspace Writing Conference offered a great tip on getting published, a sort of lesser known road to publication. What is this little shortcut, you ask? Enter contests! We all know that writing contests can offer a few hundred, or in some cases, thousand dollars to the winner. We also know that winning a writing contest looks really pretty on a résumé or in a query letter! What I didn’t know, is that agents tend to keep an eye on these contests so that they can snatch the writer as a client before said writer becomes more popular.
Whatever your reason for entering a writing contest (prize money, publication, prestige), I think you’ll find the below list of contests helpful. If you do choose to give it a shot, leave a comment telling us what contest you entered and why! Happy writing and good luck!
(Visit the contest’s website for more specific details. Also note, I’m not endorsing any of these competitions, so read the fine print before entering any contest!)
Check out this site with helpful information on the Dos and Don’ts of writing contests.
81st Annual Writer's Digest Competition
Sponsor: Writer's Digest
Deadline: 6/11/2012
Submission Type: Completed manuscript in one of 10 categories, including Screenplay!
Entry Fee: $30
First Prize: $3000 Consultation with 4 editors/agents Paid trip to NYC + more
Books of Hope
Sponsor: Write Integrity Press
Deadline: 6/15/12
Submission Type: Fiction and Non-Fiction three book series. The books must carry a message of hope. Entry Fee: $25
First Prize: Three Book publication deal 2nd and 3rd: One book publication deal that may lead to three.
Short Shorts Contest
Sponsor: Literal Latte
Deadline: 6/30/12
Submission Type: Unpublished shorts 2,000 words or less
Entry Fee: $10 (for 3!)
First Prize: $1,000
Query Letter
Sponsor: Stacey O'Neale
Deadline: 6/30/12
Submission Type: Query Letter, see website for details
Entry Fee: None
First Prize: Literary Agent Representation
Goldenberg Prize for Fiction
Sponsor: BLR
Deadline: 7/1/12
Submission Type: Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry 5,000 words or less related to themes of health, healing, illness, mind, and body.
Entry Fee: $15
First Prize: $1000 and Publication in the BLR Lit magazine
The Story Prize
Sponsor: Story Prize
Deadline: 7/15/12
Submission Type: Collection of Short Fiction (at least 2 stories or novellas)
Entry Fee: $75
First Prize: $20,000
Serena McDonald Kennedy Award
Sponsor: Snake Nation Press
Deadline: 7/20/12
Submission Type: MS of 50k or 200 pages or less
Entry Fee: $25
First Prize: $1000 and Publication
Very Short Fiction
Sponsor: Glimmer Train Magazine
Deadline: 7/31/12
Submission Type: Open to all writers (children's stories); stories must be 3,000 words or less.
Entry Fee: $15
First Prize: $1500, Publication in GT Lit Mag, 20 copies of that issue
Nano Fiction Award
Sponsor: NANO Fiction
Deadline: 8/30/12
Submission Type: Collection of Short Fiction (at least 2 stories or novellas)
Entry Fee: $15 (for three entries)
First Prize: $500
Website: http://nanofiction.org/submit
Writer’s Digest (Individual contests for Sci-Fi, Romance, Crime, YA, Thriller, and Horror)
Sponsor: Writer’s Digest
Deadline: 9/14/12
Submission Type: Genre ms 4,000 words or less.
Entry Fee: $20
First Prize: $500, Spotlight in WD Magazine + more
The John Steinbeck Award
Sponsor: Reed Magazine & San Jose University
Deadline: 11/1/12
Submission Type: Unpublished story up to 6,000 words
Entry Fee: $15
First Prize: $1,000 and publication in Reed Magazine
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