NEW WRITING CONTEST! Big Life in a Small Town    $200 First Prize - $125 Second Prize - $75 Third Prize WHAT?   We are looking for true stories of people living in small towns and villages across America. Every day people in small towns confront life's biggest issues with humor, grace and a more than a little down home wisdom. If you have a story about birth, death, taxes, family feuds, Sunday dinner, Mom's apple pie or Daddy's war medals, we want to hear from you.  If you're a volunteer fireman with a rescue story to tell, please send it to us. Does your community host an annual festival that brings out the best (or the worst) in certain people? Please tell us about it.  Tell us about the special woman, man or child in your community who deserves a lot more recognition than he or she is getting. Brag all you want. Make us laugh, cry, gasp in amazement or simply say, "hmmmm", as long as the stories are real and the sentiment heartfelt. Stories should be told in creative non-fiction format. Writers of creative non-fiction use the techniques artfully employed in fiction to relate a true story or memoir. Think strong characters, realistic scenes and correct point of view.  In other words; spin a story suitable for telling on the front porch on a warm summer night or best whispered from one person to another when no one else is around. Winning Entries Will Be Published on the Website Note: In the interest of privacy the names of characters may be changed.  Authors may use a pseudonym.   WHERE? Send one copy and one disk or CD for each entry (multiple submissions can be sent on the same disk or CD) to:   Community Voice Media, LLC PO Box 564 Round Hill, VA 20142  Entry Fee:  $10.00 per submission required Original stories are preferred but reprints are acceptable as long as they are identified as such and the author has reprint rights. Each entry must be accompanied by a cover page bearing the author's name, address, telephone number, email, category entered, title, and accurate word count.   Word Count:    Short Story ? Must not exceed 10,000 words.   Entry must be written in English. Acceptable manuscript format is double-spaced on one side of 8.5" x 11.? Font size 10 or 12. No fancy font styles. Let the writing speak for itself.  Submission title should appear in the upper left-hand corner, page number in the upper right-hand corner. Author's name MUST NOT appear anywhere on the entry.  Author's name on the manuscript WILL result in immediate disqualification.  Entry fee will not be returned. Send cash, check or money order in the correct amount based on fee guidelines made out to Community Voice Media, LLC. Entrants may submit one check in the correct amount for multiple entries.  Entries Must Be Postmarked by July 6, 2009 to be considered. Results will be announced on or before August 31, 2009 Mail your entry to: Community Voice Media, P.O. Box 564, Round Hill, VA 20142 Submissions are to be sent by regular mail service only. DO NOT send entry by any method that requires a signature upon delivery. Any manuscript sent in this manner will be refused.  Entries will not be returned, it is important that you maintain a copy for your files. If you want confirmation that your entry has been received, include a postage paid, self addressed post card with your entry packet.  Entries will be judged by a panel of established writers, publishers and editors. Decisions of the judges are final.    IMPORTANT NOTE: CVM retains the write to cancel any contest where there are  an insufficient number of entry fees collected to cover the costs involved with sponsoring said contest.   ######################################### "Young Voices of America" National Writing Contests For Kids and Teens www.youngvoicesfoundation.org Cash Awards No Entry Fee Required Attention - Authors and Publishers  Young Voices Foundation Awards Honoring Books and Media that Inspire, Mentor and Educate Young People  and their Families is accepting submissions until March 31, 2009 http://www.youngvoicesawards.com   SCHEDULED NEW RELEASE THANKS TO TANK by Maureen Howard SEPTEMBER  2009 "While Tank and his friends played near a bubbly hot spring, Charlie Murphy was bragging to his wife, Loretta, that this Thanksgiving he was going hunting for the perfect turkey. He wanted to get a big one because he and Loretta loved turkey: roast turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, turkey pie, turkey everything." *** Charlie doesn't know when he sets out that morning that he and his hunting dog, Goofball, are about to meet a very special turkey named Tank who will teach them, and Loretta, a valuable lesson about giving. **** Adapted from a short story originally published in Young Voices of Loudoun County, Thanks to Tank is a charming holiday story that will appeal to all ages. To find out how Tank the Turkey saves Thanksgiving and why Charlie now encourages everyone to "Say Thanks to Tank" Place Your Advance Order Now. Delivery TBD (Fall 2009) **** To Place An Advance Order Contact: Community Voice Media, LLC PO Box 564 Round Hill, VA 20142 540-751-2215 bobbicarducci@communityvoicemedia.com