HELP! Cybils Nominations are Open

NOTICE: None of my books are eligible this year, but next year maybe I'll have something that is. Thanks to those folks who gave it a shot to nominate. The thought is very much appreciated.

Actually, the public nominations have been open since October 1st. While I can nominate my own books, it's so much nice coming from someone else. My publisher is limited to 10% of their eligible kids' books. That means they'll need to be very choosy.

Go here to read about how to nominate and for links to the public nomination forms. 

My eligible books (published between 10/16/2011 and 10/15/2012) are all from MuseItUp Publishing and Marva Dasef is my author name for all my books. I don't think you need any other information, but I'll include the links to the books in Amazon just in case:

Midnight Oil - Book 2 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006UTL54A

Scotch Broom - Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ROH46K

These books can be entered in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category, the Middle Grade Fiction category, and the YA Fiction category. A public nominator can submit only one book in each category, but any single book can be nominated in multiple categories. In other words, spread the love.

If my book is already listed in a category, you don't need to nominate it again. Matter of fact, it will kick you back to the beginning if the book is already listed. Once is enough to get into the judging stacks.

Cybils Nominations Are Open

The Cybils is for books for children and teens. This is a prestigious award to win. While anyone can nominate any youth book (including authors, which I did), they have tough panels to select the books which will actually be read for consideration.

I like this award because you don't have to pay to play, nor do you win based on how many friends you can get to vote for you. Many "awards" require authors or publishers to pony up an entry fee. I don't do those awards. I haven't go bucks to waste on these contests. Nor do I pay for reviews. Result: I don't win contests and I don't get reviews. I'd rather be cheap than pay for a spurious mention.

Which is a reminder, I suppose, that I've got plenty of books already out (you can find them all on Goodreads and Amazon, amongst other places). If somebody reads one, I'm more than happy to get a review even if you hated it.

As they say in show biz, any publicity is good publicity.

Good News - Bad News

Bad first. The Cybils finalists were announced and, alas and alack, Tales of a Texas Boy didn't make the cut. I'm not surprised since there were 75 really good books nominated in the middle-grade category. Go check out the finalists for some great selections of books for kids at the Cybils site.

The good news is that my story "The Cursed Valley" has been accepted for the May-July issue of Sorcerous Signals. The sister zine to Lorelei Signal*, Sorcerous Signals covers all types of fantasy. This story first appeared in Scribal Tales back in 2006. I sent the new and improved version to Sorcerous Signals. Can't help but tinker as you learn more about writing. I hope I keep getting better.

* I've had three stories at Lorelei Signal, including one which appeared in the 2006 A Time To... anthology and two others to appear in the 2007 Volume 2 of the anthology.

Good News and Good News

It's nice to have good news to report. Of course, I never report the bad news (well, except about my poor kitty).


Good News #1: I received email from the Cybils Awards coordinator that somebody nominated "Tales of a Texas Boy" in the middle-grade fiction category. Yes, an author can nominate herself, but I swear I didn't, so somebody else must have enjoyed Tales and decided to do so on my behalf. I thank them very much.


Good News #2: Sam's Dot Publishing just put out their publishing schedule for 2008 and I found my science fiction novella listed for June release. How cool is that!? I'll provide additional information as it becomes available to me. In the meantime, check out Sam's Dot offerings.