Newbery and Caldecott Awards/Writing Contest/Call for Submissions

2011 has started with a publishing BANG! Two elite awards, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals for children’s literature were announced last week. Both awards go to a debut author and illustrator. Clare Vanderpool won the Newbery Medal for her novel, Moon over Manifest (Delacorte/Random House). This historical fiction story takes place in 1936 Kansas and alternates with a World War 1 setting. Moon over Manifest was also selected as The Association of Booksellers for Children 2010 New Voices Pick. Not bad for a first-time author.

First-time illustrator, Erin E. Stead, grabbed the 2011 Caldecott Medal for A Sick Day for Amos McGee (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook/Macmillan). Her husband, Philip C. Stead, wrote the text for the picture book about an elderly gentleman who visited the zoo and spent time with the animals. When illness prevents him from visiting the zoo, the animals visit him.

Vanderpool and Stead are living proof that new writers can get published and they don’t have to have an extensive resume attached to their names to garner long-awaited contracts. These newcomers have gotten published and acquired immediate respect for their work.

What does this mean for other writers? First we have to write; secondly, we have to submit. As we’ve seen with these awards, the goals are attainable. Let’s make 2011 end with a publishing BANG.

Contest:
"Amazon.com, along with Penguin Group (USA) and CreateSpace, is pleased to announce the fourth annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, the international competition seeking the next popular novel. The competition will once again award *two grand prizes*: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which
includes a $15,000 advance." Read the detailed terms/conditions at the site.
Deadline: January 24-February 6, 2011
Details: You must register at www.CreateSpace.com/abna to enter the Contest.

Call for Submissions for Young Writers:

Poetic Monthly Magazine Accepts submissions by writers of all ages. In the October issue, PM featured a 10-year-old writer/illustrator. PM features the top 25 poems of the month's submissions, plus articles about writing, one-page short stories and visual arts. All content in the magazine is family-friendly.
Details: http://www.poetstage.com/poeticmonthly.htm