I am back!

whoa it has been so many years since I have posted to my blogger site. I've been busy on authorlink.com and on Quora and Social Media. So forgive the long absence here I plan to post more information here about how to write and publish. Please visit our website authorlink.com and check out all of our new services. For example, have you tried our new killer query, mini critue, or our sponsored review services? More details are located on our main menu under the services tab. Do you watch our blogger for more updates? Meanwhile, you can read our blogger archives here. Be sure to visit authorlink.com. Often we are constantly adding new features and author content. our mini critique

What are the most common mistakes new authors make when querying literary agents, and how can these pitfalls be avoided?

Many writers don’t take the time to study the agency or agent they are trying to attract. A query letter must be highly relevant to the agent reading the information. The classic example is that you don’t send a query for your thriller or sci-fi fantasy to an agent who only represents children’s books. The trick is to match your story with the agent, most likely interested in your topic or theme. Be prepared to query 25 or 50 targeted agents and to receive many rejections, or no response at all. Finding representation is a tough job in today’s market. It is critical that you first understand the audience you want to reach. What is this readers persona? Who is your likely reader? Consider the persons, gender, family, life, work, life, age, geographical Location and any other Useful information? If you don’t understand the audience for your story, it will be difficult to find an agent whose interest a line with yours. Begin the arduous querying process by carefully, selecting the agents who best fit your category or genre. Read, understand, and honor the agent’s submission guidelines. Never make grandiose claims about the story’s potential success or tell the agent what to think about the work. That’s up to them. Include a One page synopsis, unless it’s agent’s the agents guidelines. Make sure that the synopsis portrays the story in a succinct and interesting way. Don’t rely on artificial intelligence alone to make your sales pitch shine. We at Authorlink have developed a sensible way to use artificial intelligence tools together with the author’s insights and our editorial experience, to enhance the querying process. We found that AI alone is not helpful In appealing to the publishing world, unless it is coupled with human insight and experience.

Film Festival Names New Director, Sets Contest Dates January 2, 2013--The Santa Cruz Film Festival has several exciting new developments to share. New dates. SCFF will take place November 7-11, 2013, when the air is chilly and the days are short. They think this is a better time to gather together and enjoy films and events. The Call for Entries will open in the New Year. New Director. Jeff Ross, the founder of SF IndieFest, will join the Festival as director. Jeff has been in the independent film festival industry for more than 15 years. Come and meet Jeff and his family on January 4th, First Friday, from 6-8pm at NextSpace,101 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 New Collaborations.The Festival will work with the following programs in 2013: The "Live Life Laughing" film series with the Average Miracles Foundation; the STEAM POWER After School Program; a 3rd Friday Mini Film Festival at the Museum of Art & History; and more to be announced! We continue our strong relationships with the Film & Digital Media Department at UCSC, the Reel Fresh youth film program and of course, our ongoing fiscal sponsorship of TEDx Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization. As we head into our 12th year, we would greatly appreciate your support in helping us strengthen our role as one of the leading independent film festivals on the West Coast. Donations may be made online here. Thank you in advance for your support of filmmakers and digital storytelling. Elizabeth Gummere is President, Board of Directors.

Georgia Writers Seek Awards Sponsors

Kennesaw, Georgia. April 17, 2012--The Georgia Writers Association will hold its 48th Georgia Author of the Year Awards Ceremony on June 16, 2012 at the Kennesaw State University Center. 

There are 105 nominees this year, the largest number in over six years, and the Association expects a record number of authors, publicists, agents, and other literary people at this event. 

The group is seeking sponsorships of $100, and advertisers for the event. Sponsorships will help the organization offer better prices to attendees. Sponsorship tables are limited. Those interested in more information should contact the sponsorship coordinator before May 4, 2012.

E-book Awards Submission Deadline Near

Santa Barbara, CA/Authorlink News/April 16, 2012--Deadline for entering Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards is April 30,2012. The competition features more than 100 fiction and nonfiction categories. In addition, there w
ill be awards for best eBook cover, best eBook trailer, Best Illustration  and Best Multimedia categories.

All nominees will get a free bonus—the  use Washington D.C.’s  News Release Wire Service FREE to May 30, 2012. 

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, August 18, 2012 in Santa Barbara, CA.

For complete details see:  http://globalebookawards.com/instructions-for-entering/

2012 Hollywood Book Festival Call for Entries

HOLLYWOOD, CA _ The 2012 Hollywood Book Festival has issued a call for entries to its seventh annual program celebrating books that deserve greater recognition from the film, television, game and multimedia communities.

The 2012 Hollywood Book Festival will consider published, self-published and independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children's books, teenage, how-to, audio/spoken word, 'zines, comics, e-books, fan fiction, wild card (anything goes!), unpublished stories, screenplays, genre-based works and biographical/autobiographical works. This is a story-oriented competition and there is no date of publication restriction.

A panel of entertainment and publishing industry judges will determine the winners based on the following criteria:

1) The story-telling ability of the author;
2) The potential of the work to be translated into other forms of media
All entries must be in English. Our grand prize for the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival Author of the Year is $1500 and a flight to Hollywood, CA for our gala awards ceremony.
ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories. Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.
1) General Non-fiction
2) General Fiction
3) Children’s books
4) E-books
5) Comics/’zines
6) How-To
7) Fan Fiction
8) Wild Card
9) Unpublished Stories
10) Teenage
11) Biography/Autobiography
12) Audio/spoken word
13) Genre-based
14) Screenplays
In addition to honoring the top selections in the above categories, The Hollywood Book Festival will award the following chosen from submissions:
1) Hollywood Book Festival Author of the Year Honors the outstanding book of the competition.
2) Hollywood Book Festival Design of the Year Honors outstanding and innovative design.
3) Hollywood Book Festival Publisher of the Year Honors the top publisher based on potential to develop future works suitable for transformation into other media.

FESTIVAL RULES: Hollywood Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

NOTIFICATION AND DEADLINES: We will notify each entry of the receipt of their package via e-mail and will announce the winning entries on the web site shortly after the entry deadline. Regular registration deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on June 25, 2012. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions.

TO ENTER: Entry forms are available online at www.hollywoodbookfestival.com or may be faxed/e-mailed to you by emailing HollywoodBKFest@aol.com. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee via check, money order or PayPal online payment of $75 in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee.

Entry fee checks should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC. We’re sorry, but entries must be mailed and cannot be delivered in person or by messenger services to the JM Northern Media offices.
Entry packages should include one copy of the book; any relevant marketing material; a copy of your official entry form; and the entry fee or receipt from online payment. Entries should be mailed to:

JM Northern Media LLC
attn: Hollywood Book Festival
7095 Hollywood Boulevard
Suite 864
Hollywood, CA 90028-0893
Phone: 323-665-8080

2012 NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL SETS AWARDS DATE

NEW YORK/April 5, 2012--The 2012 New York Book Festival will hold its annual awards honoring books that deserve greater recognition from the world's publishing capital at the famed Grolier Club in Manhattan on Friday, June 22.

The oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts, the Grolier Club is housed in an elegant library on New York's Upper East Side.

The 2012 New York Book Festival will consider published, self-published and independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children, young adult, how-to, audio/spoken word, comics/zines/graphic novels, poetry, wild card (anything goes!), unpublished stories, science fiction, horror, photography/art, romance and biography/autobiography works.

Entries can be in English, Spanish, French or Italian and must be published on or after January 1, 2006. Our grand prize for the 2012 New York Book Festival Author of the Year is $1,500 and a flight to New York for our awards ceremony.

Registration forms are available online at www.newyorkbookfestival.com. Regular registration deadline is May 25, 2012.

2012 SAN FRANCISCO BOOK FESTIVAL SET FOR UNION SQUARE

SAN FRANCISCO _ The 2012 San Francisco Book Festival will hold the outdoor portion of its annual competition honoring the best books of the spring season at Union Square on Saturday, May 19.
Union Square is a cosmopolitan plaza bordered by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton Streets in the heart of downtown San Francisco. It is surrounded by stores, hotels and a theater district, making it one of the largest shopping and tourist destinations in the world. Publishers, authors and other vendors interested in being a part of this special opportunity should email SanFranciscoBKFest@sbcglobal.net to obtain an exhibition space registration form and more information on the outdoor event.
The 2012 San Francisco Book Festival will consider non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children's books, compilations/anthologies, teenage, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, audio/spoken word, history, wild card, gay, photography/art, poetry, unpublished, travel and spiritual works. There is no date of publication deadline.
Our grand prize for the 2012 San Francisco Book Festival is $1500 cash and a flight to San Francisco for our gala awards ceremony and day festival on Saturday, May 19.
Submitted works will be judged by a panel of industry experts using the following criteria:
1) General excellence and the author's passion for telling a good story.
2) The potential of the work to reach a wider audience.
ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories. Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.

·  General Non-fiction

·  General Fiction

·  Children's books

·  How-to

·  Spiritual

·  Photography/Art

·  Gay

·  Poetry

·  History

·  Teenage

·  Biography/Autobiography

·  Audio/spoken word

·  Compilations/Anthologies

·  Best Unpublished Short Story

·  Cookbooks

·  Science Fiction

·  Wild Card

In addition to honoring the top selections in the above categories, The San Francisco Book Festival will award the following chosen from submissions:
1) Author of the Year- Honors the outstanding book of the competition.
2) Book Design of the Year - Honors outstanding and innovative design.
3) Publisher of the Year- Honors the top publisher based on materials displaying
excellence in marketing and promotional materials, as determined by our judges.
FESTIVAL RULES: San Francisco Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.
NOTIFICATION AND DEADLINES: We will notify each entry of the receipt of their package via e-mail and will announce the winning entries on our web site (www.sanfranciscobookfestival.com). Because of the anticipated high volume of entries, we can only respond to e-mail inquiries.
Deadline submissions in each category must be received by the close of business on April 25, 2012. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail and on the web site. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions at our meetings.
TO ENTER: Entry forms are available online at sanfranciscobookfestival.com or may be faxed/e-mailed to you. Please contact our office at 323-665-8080 for fax requests. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee of $50 in the form of a check, money order or PayPal online payment in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee.
Entry fee checks should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC. We're sorry, but entries must be mailed and cannot be delivered in person or by messenger services to the JM Northern Media offices.
Entry packages MUST include:
1) One copy of the book;
2) A copy of your official entry form or a reasonable facsimile;
3) The entry fee or receipt for online payment;
4) Any press/marketing materials you wish to send. Marketing is used as a tie-breaking consideration by our judges.
Entries should be mailed to:
JM Northern Media LLC
attn: San Francisco Book Festival
7095 Hollywood Boulevard
Suite 864
Hollywood, CA 90028-0893
AWARDS: The San Francisco Book Festival selection committee reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project.
The 2012 San Francisco Book Festival is part of the JM Northern Media family of festivals, which include the DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books, New York Book Festival and Hollywood Book Festival.

Earnest Hemingway's Son to Present Bard Pen Award

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.—Bard College writer in residence Teju Cole has won the 2012 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for a distinguished first book of fiction for Open City. Patrick Hemingway, the son of Nobel Prize–winning writer Ernest Hemingway, will present the prestigious literary award to Cole on Sunday, April 1, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

“Written in a deceptively quiet voice, Teju Cole’s remarkable and penetrating debut novel achieves what Kafka said art should; it chops the frozen sea within us,” said novelist and Hemingway Foundation/PEN award judge Andre Dubus III. In addition to Dubus, writers Sigrid Nunez and Edith Pearlman were judges for this year’s Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award.

Teju Cole will receive a $10,000 prize from the Hemingway Foundation and PEN New England, as well as a residency in The Distinguished Visiting Writers Series at the University of Idaho’s MFA Program in Creative Writing. Cole and competition finalists and honorable mentions receive Ucross Residency Fellowships at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, a retreat for artists and writers. The late Mary Hemingway, the wife of Ernest Hemingway, founded the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in 1976 to honor her husband and draw attention to first books of fiction. Past recipients of the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award include Edward P. Jones, Marilynne Robinson, Ha Jin, and Jhumpa Lahiri.

Teju Cole is a writer, art historian, and street photographer. Born in the United States in 1975 to Nigerian parents, he was raised in Nigeria and currently lives in Brooklyn. Besides Open City (Random House, 2011), Cole is the author of a novella, Every Day Is for the Thief (Cassava Republic Press, 2007). His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Qarrtsiluni, Chimurenga, New Yorker, Transition, Tin House, and A Public Space, among other publications. He is currently at work on Water Has No Enemy, a nonfiction narrative of Lagos, and on Small Fates. He received his B.A. in studio art and art history from Kalamazoo College in Michigan; his M.A. in African art history from the University of London; and his M.Phil. in 16th-century northern European visual culture from Columbia University, where he is working on his Ph.D. He has taught art history and literature at Hofstra University, New York University, and Columbia University. He has received a Rudolf Wittkower Fellowship and Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities (awarded by the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation), and has been interviewed for the documentary film, Wole Soyinka: Child of the Forest.