IWSG Anthologies: Freedom Fox Press

Showing posts with label Freedom Fox Press. Show all posts

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Prepare for Ignition! "Dark Matter: Artificial" is about to Liftoff!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

And it is already happier than the last one.

I have great hope for the coming days, weeks, and months;

and I feel the weight of heavy black clouds lifting,

starting with the potential end of this tragic pandemic.

One of the exciting things on the horizon is the release

of the 2021 IWSG anthology on May 4th!

Congratulations to the ten talented IWSG members

whose stories are included in this anthology:

Artificial by Stephanie Espinoza Villamor

Space Folds and Broomsticks by CD Gallant-King

Rift by Kim Mannix

The Utten Mission by Steph Wolmarans

Sentient by Tara Tyler

One to Another by Deniz Bevan

Resident Alien by Charles Kowalski

Nano Pursuit by Olga Godim

Resurgence by Elizabeth Mueller

Vera’s Last Voyage by Mark Alpert

A thank you to our awesome publisher:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is fortunate to have L. Diane Wolfe

and Dancing Lemur Press to publish our sixth anthology.

This spunky dynamo and DLP published the first five anthologies

using Dancing Lemur Press imprint Freedom Fox Press.

Here's a peek at what readers have to look forward to:

Dark Matter: Artificial

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Discover dark matter’s secrets…

What is an AI’s true role? Will bumbling siblings find their way home from deep space? Dark matter is judging us—are we worthy of existence? Would you step through a portal into another reality? Can the discoverer of dark matter uncover its secrets?

Ten authors explore dark matter, unraveling its secrets and revealing its mysterious nature. Featuring the talents of Stephanie Espinoza Villamor, C.D. Gallant-King, Tara Tyler, Mark Alpert, Olga Godim, Steph Wolmarans, Charles Kowalski, Kim Mannix, Elizabeth Mueller, and Deniz Bevan.

Wikimedia: "Dark matter is invisible. The effect of gravitational lensing

causes multiple images of the same galaxy.

A ring of dark matter has been suggested to explain this.

In this image of galaxy cluster (CL0024+17) the dark matter is seen in blue."

Preliminary publication data:

Release date: May 4, 2021

Print ISBN 9781939844828 $14.95

EBook ISBN 9781939844835 $4.99

Science Fiction: Collections & Anthologies (FIC028040) / Space Exploration (FIC028130) / Genetic Engineering (FIC028110)

186 pages

A huge thanks to our hardworking judges:

A panel of agents, authors, and editors handpicked ten tales that will take readers on a journey across time and space.

Dan Koboldt, author and #SFFpit founder

Lynda R. Young, author

Colleen Oefelein, agent, The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

Damien Larkin, author

Ion Newcombe, editor and publisher

Julie Gwinn, agent, The Seymour Agency

David Powers King, author

A huge thanks to our Ninja Captain:

Without the vision and hard work of IWSG founder Alex J. Cavanaugh,

none of this would be happening!

He is one amazing and generous spirit!

Visit Alex at

http://alexjcavanaugh.com/

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh

What to read while you're waiting:

Let me recommend any and all of the first five IWSG anthologies.

2016 2017 2018 2019

2020

Coming on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 . . .

Our next post will introduce the talented authors of Dark Matter: Artificial.

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

Upcoming IWSG Events . . .

Ready to try your hand at a Twitter pitch? Then join us January 20, 2021 for #IWSGPit - https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-twitter-pitch.html

And polish, polish, polish those pitches. Good luck!

For some excellent tips check out Alex J. Cavanaugh's post:

Twitter Pitch with Gusto!

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Congratulations and Some Questions

Congratulations to all the IWSG members who entered this year's anthology contest. You're all winners for submitting an entry. It will be great fun to see what our members have done with the science fiction genre and dark matter theme. Look for the winners to be announced toward the end of the year.

Now comes the judging! The IWSG administrators will create a shortlist of the best stories, and the shortlist will be sent to the official judges to pick the winners. The IWSG has a wonderful slate of authors, agents, editors, and publishers as judges this year: Dan Koboldt, Lynda R. Young, Colleen Oefelein, Damien Larkin, Ion Newcombe, Julie Gwinn, and David Powers King. I don't envy them the task of picking the winner.

The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press, an imprint of Dancing Lemur Press, in the next IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. Somewhere out there among our IWSG members is one lucky author who will share the honor earned by Yvonne Ventresca and previous winners Gwen Gardner, Jen Chandler, and L.G. Keltner, that of having his or her story grace the cover of the anthology.

I was likely the least experienced writer of all the winners in Voyagers. During the last eight or nine months I have climbed up a very steep learning curve. Along the way I received a lot of help from my fellow anthology authors, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and L. Diane Wolfe. One of the best results of being featured in the anthology was my opportunity to work with Diane as my editor and publisher. I have learned so much from this amazing person, and I am beyond grateful. I was so green I didn't understand what she needed from me to collect my first royalty check. But I'm a quick study and rectified that hole in my knowledge right away.

But, as a newly-published author, I still have questions. I'm hoping this post will generate some answers:

1. Do you, as an author, have a domain name? Where is the best place to get one, and are there any pitfalls in choosing a name and in choosing a place to purchase your domain name? Do you have to pay the fee annually?

2. What is the best place to set up an author's website? Is it possible to do this yourself or should you invest in having it done professionally? What do you think are the most important things to include on your author's website?

I know that I could hunt this information down on the internet, but I'm tired of slogging around in the wilderness; I'd like some in-the-trenches guidance from IWSG members. I'm sure I'm not the only one with these questions. Any information would be much appreciated!

Lost in the Wilderness

Western Nova Scotia

August 5, 2018

And for any of you procrastinators out there who are finishing up your entry for this year's contest,

YOU STILL HAVE A WHOLE WEEK!
Woo Hoo!

Our next post will be on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 IWSG Day.

Stay healthy and well until then!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

* * * * * * * * * *

Reviews of Voyagers: The Third Ghost:

1. Check out lots of reviews and ratings at Goodreads.

2. Excerpts from Amazon reviews:

"It's been a long time since I've read a collection of various genre stories that had me so overwhelmed with emotion at the end, and the fact that it's a middle-grade collection still boggles my mind."

"What do slave ships, ghosts, time travel, Pompeii, WWII, aeroplanes, and the Iron Curtain have in common? They all appear in this absolutely fantastic collection of short stories by the Insecure Writer's Support Group."

"The amazing thing about themed anthologies is that, while there's a single theme, the stories are incredibly varied. In the case of Voyagers: The Third Ghost, not only are the stories varied, but each is well-crafted and engaging... All take the reader on a short, but rewarding journey."

You can order a copy of
VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost

at the links below.

Print 9781939844729 $13.95

EBook 9781939844736 $4.99

Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure /
Fantasy & Magic

Amazon - Print https://www.amazon.com/dp/193984472X/ - Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Third-Ghost-Yvonne-Ventresca-ebook/dp/B083C4WPR5/

Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voyagers-yvonne-ventresca/1135912991?ean=2940163430857

ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/voyagers-the-third-ghost/id1493413956

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/voyagers-the-third-ghost

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Insider Writing Tips for the IWSG 2020 Anthology Contest ~ Part 1

How about some insider writing tips for the Insecure Writer's Support Group's
2020 Anthology Contest? Over the next two weeks the 2019 winners featured
in this year's anthology Voyagers: The Third Ghost will share their best writing
tips learned from their experiences as contestants last year.

And how about some insider writing tips from our inspiring leader,
IWSG founder Alex J. Cavanaugh, someone who has read the entries for
all our published anthologies?

These writing tips will help you put an extra shine on your entry
and may help you avoid mistakes like the ones this writer made.

Insider Writing Tips ...

Yvonne Ventresca

"The Third Ghost"

Tip

I’ve learned over time that to write better short stories, I needed to read more of them. I’m used to novel-length fiction, and short stories offer a different satisfaction to the reader. Author Lorrie Moore said, “A short story is a love affair, a novel is a marriage.” My tip for contestants would be to immerse yourself in previous anthologies and other published short stories. Study the ones that resonate with you, then have a short story love affair of your own.

Bio

Yvonne Ventresca is the award-winning author of Black Flowers, White Lies (IPPY Gold Medal for National YA fiction) and Pandemic (SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award). In addition to her novels, Yvonne’s other work includes two nonfiction books and several short stories selected for anthologies, including the previous IWSG anthology, Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. You can learn more at YvonneVentresca.com, where she features resources for writers.

Beth Anderson Schuck
"The Orchard"

Tips

Having multiple editors examine your work was a true bonus of the anthology process. The editors found different issues to address in my work and their suggestions were clear and easy to fix. Changing tense is one of my most common errors. Using the same adverbs and adjectives in the story is another mistake that the editors identified. A method to avoid these errors, is to read your work aloud. Often hearing the language allows you to catch areas to rework. It was just a joy to work with the fellow authors and editors, that I highly recommend being part of an anthology.

Bio
Beth Anderson Schuck is a retired librarian who believes reading can take you anywhere. She writes historical fiction featuring willful female characters. Being in nature whether hiking, birdwatching or gardening makes her whole.

Instagram| Twitter

Bish Denham

"The Blind Ship"

Tip

My tip for an anthology participant is simple. Be open to the editing process. Eyes, other than your own, are able to see things you can't. If you disagree with what the editor is suggesting, don't be afraid to question. More often than not you'll go along with what the editor suggests, but sometimes the editor will agree with you.

Bio

Bish Denham is from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where her family has lived for over a hundred years. The author of two middle grade novels and a collection of retold Jamaican Anansi stories, she says, “Growing up in the islands was like living inside a history book.”

Blog| Facebook| Goodreads| Twitter| Amazon

Rebecca M. Douglass

"A World of Trouble"

Tips
The first thing I learned (though it’s something my novels’ proofreader has been pointing out for some time so I did kind of know it) is that I am an abuser of the common comma. On that point, I yield to the editorial authority. But I also learned to weigh all feedback dispassionately, and decide for myself if it is right or not. But I found that if the feedback was “wrong” it usually was because I’d not written what I thought I had, and the editor was trying to make sense of it. I learned to look long and hard at why she thought I had made an error, then fix the real problem, not necessarily the superficial problem called out.

Bio
Rebecca is the author of the delightful Ninja Librarian books, as well as a picture book for outdoor families, a mystery series for the parents, and her middle-grade fantasy, Halitor the Hero. After more than seventeen years working at the library, she has retired still without learning all the secrets of the Ninja Librarian.

Blog| Facebook| Twitter| Amazon

Sherry Ellis

"The Ghosts of Pompeii"

Tips

My number one tip for entering an anthology contest is to follow the directions! There are specifications regarding genre and word count. If you don't follow the directions, you will be disqualified. My second tip is to have an editor or beta reader look at your work before you submit it. Another set of eyes can help catch plot discrepancies and grammar errors. My third tip, which is really more of a comment, is that you shouldn't get upset if you don't win. There are many wonderful writers out there, and I'm sure it's a difficult job to pick winners. Pat yourself on the back for submitting something. That in itself is an accomplishment!

Bio

Ellis' books include Don't Feed the Elephant; Ten Zany Birds; That Mama is a Grouch; That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN; Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China; and Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure.

She lives in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information about her work, she invites you to visit her websites at www.sherryellis.org and www.bubbaandsquirt.org.

Alex J. Cavanaugh

a.k.a. the Ninja Captain

Tips
First, know that every reader and every writer sees things differently. That really becomes obvious to me when the admins vote and at first those votes seem to be all over the place. Tastes differ and no one writer will please everyone. So don’t try.

Character is important. The main characters really have to shine and appeal to people. They don’t have to be great – they might even be a bit deplorable! But there has to be something redeemable about them, something we can connect to.

And the same with the story. We have to connect. We need to feel a sense of urgency and like it’s a real story unfolding. It comes down to – do I buy it? Does it feel real? And doesn’t matter the setting – fantasy, science fiction, real life, whatever. It still needs to feel real.

When reading the submissions, there are so many good ones. A lot! But only the great ones are sent to the judges. So writers need to send something great.

Bio
All of us in the Insecure Writer's Support Group know and appreciate its founder Alex J. Cavanaugh, a.k.a. the Ninja Captain. He is a fan of all things science fiction, and his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Alex has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. Alex is the author of Amazon bestsellers CassaStar, CassaFire, CassaStorm, and Dragon of the Stars.

Take a Chance! Submit an Entry!

Here are the details for the 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest:

Guidelines and rules:

Word count: 4500-6000

Genre: Science Fiction

Theme: Dark Matter

Submissions accepted: May 6 - September 2, 2020

How to enter:
Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your full contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group.

Judging:
The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges: Dan Koboldt, Lynda R. Young, Colleen Oefelein, Damien Larkin, Ion Newcombe, Julie Gwinn, and David Powers King.

Prizes:
The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press
imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will
receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will
have the honor of giving the anthology its title. Please see their website for
general guidelines on the types of stories they publish.

Coming on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 . . .

Next week more of the authors in Voyagers and Dancing Lemur Press publisher Diane L. Wolfe will share writing tips for this year's contestants.

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

Reviews of Voyagers: The Third Ghost:

1. Check out a review by author Beverly Stowe McClure at Goodreads. Beverly has just
published her latest teen novel Gabe's Guardian Angel.

2. Here's another by a teen named Julia who reviews YA books, middle grade, and adult books
at her blog Pages for Thoughts.

3. Roland Clarke's Bookshelf Review at his website Writing Wings features Voyagers:
The Third Ghost.

Interviews with Authors:

1. Yvonne Ventresca with Stacy Horan at The Bookshop at the End of the Internet

2. Sherry Ellis with June McCrary Jacobs at Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic

3. Roland Clarke with Laura Wolfe at The Sustainable Writer

Blog Features:

1. Voyager Authors with Mason Canyon at Thoughts in Progress (Part 1)

2. Voyager Authors with Mason Canyon at Thoughts in Progress (Part 2)

Events:

1. May and June - Stormdance Publications https://stormdancebooks.junetakey.com/blog/

2. At various times - IWSG Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theiwsg/

3. Wednesday, June 9 and 11, 2020 . . . A great opportunity to learn about promoting your book! Diane, the publisher of our IWSG anthologies, will be hosting two webinars: June 9th: How to Promote Your Book Now Part 1 Cost: $10.00 US dollars June 11th: How to Promote Your Book Now Part 2 Cost: $10.00 US dollarsEllis
Register at:
https://www.eztalks.com/r/956771777 & https://www.eztalks.com/r/978993990

* * * * * * * * * *

You can order a copy of
VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost

at the links below.

Print 9781939844729 $13.95

EBook 9781939844736 $4.99

Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure /
Fantasy & Magic

Amazon - Print https://www.amazon.com/dp/193984472X/ - Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Third-Ghost-Yvonne-Ventresca-ebook/dp/B083C4WPR5/

Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voyagers-yvonne-ventresca/1135912991?ean=2940163430857

ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/voyagers-the-third-ghost/id1493413956

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/voyagers-the-third-ghost

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest and Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Entering It

Last Tuesday, on May 5th, this year's
Insecure Writer's Support Group Anthology,
Voyagers: The Third Ghost, was released.

Twenty-four hours later, the IWSG
formally announced this year's contest.

Let's start with some reasons why IWSG members should consider entering
the contest this year. Five of the authors selected for Voyagers: The Third Ghost
share their reasons for your doing so.

Consider These Reasons ...

Beth Anderson Schuck
"The Orchard"

Why You Should Enter
Here’s why I enjoy entering contests. Contests have deadlines, which force you to finish up a writing project. No procrastinating allowed! You can test out your ideas in short story contests, to determine if there is enough content for an entire manuscript or is the story best told in short format. The short format allows you to work with limited number of characters to truly hone in on their most vital qualities. I urge all writers to try their luck with this particular contest, as it was a joy from start to finish!

Instagram| Twitter

Bish Denham

"The Blind Ship"

Why You Should Enter:

Why enter a writing or anthology contest? Why not? I once entered a contest and never thought for one minute I'd win, but I did. It was a retold Anansi story. That experience led to me putting together my first book, Anansi and Company: Retold Jamaican Tales. You never know where things will lead you. Take the chance. If nothing else, it's great experience.

Bio

Blog| Facebook| Goodreads| Twitter| Amazon

Katharina Gerlach
"Winter Days"

Why You Should Enter

Submitting is a step away from the barrier of perfectitis. It's the sign to yourself that you accept that nothing you write will ever be exactly the way you see it in your mind's eye, but that some things are good enough to be sent out. And you might get surprised--like I was--when your story is accepted for publication. Also the support of the other ISWSG-people is incredible.

Bio

Although Katharina Gerlach was born in the late sixties, she’s still a child at heart. She inherited her love of fairy tales and words from her mother, an ex-secretary and avid reader, and her love of all things nature and science from her father, an ex-forester. Memories of her rather interesting life in Germany flow back at the smallest trigger, even though she tends to merge her three brothers into one when she tells stories about their childhood adventures. And more often than not, she recalls events truthfully.

Website|Advent Calendar|Facebook|Pinterest

Sherry Ellis

"The Ghosts of Pompeii"

Why You Should Enter

Entering an anthology contest is a great opportunity to set a writing goal and do the work necessary to achieve it. It can even help you expand your horizons and write in a genre you might not otherwise try. And if you win — well, that's the icing on the cake!

Bio

Yvonne Ventresca

"The Third Ghost"

Why You Should Enter

Here’s The best reason to enter the anthology contest is to stretch your creative muscles. The contest provides genre, theme, wordcount, deadline, and it’s free to enter. With nothing to lose, it’s the perfect incentive to try something new.

why

Bio

The 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest ...

Guidelines and rules:

Word count: 4500-6000

Genre: Science Fiction

Theme: Dark Matter

Submissions accepted: May 6 - September 2, 2020

How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your full contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group.

Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges.

Our Official Awesome Judges:

Dan Koboldt, author and #SFFpit founder:

Dan Koboldt is the author of the Gateways
to Alissia trilogy (Harper Voyager), the editor
of Putting the Science in Fiction (Writers Digest,
2018), and the creator of the sci-fi adventure
serial The Triangle (Serial Box, 2019). As a
genetics researcher, he has co-authored more
than 80 publications in Nature, Science, The
New England Journal of Medicine, and other
scientific journals. He is represented by Paul
Stevens of Donald Maass Literary Agency.

Lynda R. Young, author:
Lynda R. Young is an Aussie writing fantasy
novels as Elle Cardy. Wielder’s Prize is her
debut YA epic fantasy. She is also an editor,
game developer, 3D artist, graphic designer,
photographer, gamer and more.

Colleen Oefelein, agent, The Jennifer De Chiara
Literary Agency:
Colleen Oefelein is an author of YA, picture books,
and author promotion guides, a devourer of
books, and the owner of the book review site
North of Normal. Formerly an associate agent
and PR manager with Inklings Literary Agency,
Colleen has hosted numerous Pitch Perfect and
Rejection Correction workshops on Facebook
and at conferences nationwide, and she’s
mentored several authors one-on-one through
online pitch contests such as Pitch Wars.

Damien Larkin, author:

Damien Larkin is an Irish science fiction author and

co-founder of the British and Irish Writing
Community. His debut novel Big Red was published
by Dancing Lemur Press and went on to be
longlisted for the BSFA award for Best Novel. He
currently lives in Dublin, Ireland and is working on
his next novel Blood Red Sand.

Ion Newcombe, editor and publisher:
Newcombe is the editor and publisher of
AntipodeanSF, Australia's longest running online
speculative fiction magazine, regularly issued
since January 1998. His qualifications and
employment range from horticulture through
electronics into literature and communications.

Julie Gwinn, agent, The Seymour Agency:
Julie Gwinn most recently served as Marketing Manager
for the Christian Living line at Abingdon Press and
before that served as Trade Book Marketing Manager
and then Fiction Publisher for the Pure Enjoyment line
at B&H Publishing Group, a Division of LifeWay
Christian Resources. Recently, she was awarded Editor
of the Year from the American Christian Fiction Writers
and won B&H’s first Christy award for Ginny Yttrup’s
debut novel Words.

David Powers King, author:
David's works include Woven, The Undead Road, and
Full Dark: An Anthology. He currently resides in the
Mountain West with his wife and four children.

Prizes
The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press"
imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will
receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will
have the honor of giving the anthology its title. Please see their website for
general guidelines on the types of stories they publish.

Coming on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 . . .

Next week more authors in Voyagers will share their reasons
for why you should considering entering this year's anthology contest.

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

* * * * * * * * * *

You can order a copy of
VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost

at the links below.

Print 9781939844729 $13.95

EBook 9781939844736 $4.99

Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure /
Fantasy & Magic

Amazon - Print https://www.amazon.com/dp/193984472X/ - Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Third-Ghost-Yvonne-Ventresca-ebook/dp/B083C4WPR5/

Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voyagers-yvonne-ventresca/1135912991?ean=2940163430857

ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/voyagers-the-third-ghost/id1493413956

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/voyagers-the-third-ghost

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Prepare for Ignition! "Dark Matter: Artificial" is about to Liftoff!

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Congratulations and Some Questions

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Insider Writing Tips for the IWSG 2020 Anthology Contest ~ Part 1

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest and Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Entering It

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