50 Stories for Pakistan

According to the New York Times, this past summer brought the worst flooding Pakistan has experienced in 80 years, displacing nearly twenty million people. The British Red Cross is taking donations, and Big Bad Media stepped up to the plate, publishing the book 50 Stories for Pakistan with proceeds going directly to the Red Cross for flood relief.  Thanks to my blog buddy and fellow writer, Ellie Garratt, for highlighting this call for story submissions and bringing attention to this situation.

I'm proud to have my story, Angel, accepted for publication in this anthology. I've not worked with digital media before, and the process from inception to publication moves at a rapid pace compared with standard print. It has been a good experience, and I am so happy to be part of this flood relief effort.

The book may be purchased on Blurb, and the ebook edition will be available in a few days.  You may not wish to purchase the book, but I urge you to learn more about the devastation the summer's floods caused.  Check out the links above and perhaps offer a donation through the British Red Cross. 

Til next time -
Lisa

Thanks, Welcome, News, Surprise, Woo-Hoo and First Time!

Hey, buttercup! I have a few things to share.  Here goes:

**THANK YOU! To each of my followers, and WELCOME! To my newest followers. My blog buddy Becky Povich started the trend of recognizing new joiners, and I'm jumping on the bandwagon.  As someone who embraces Southern hospitality (I am a Georgia girl, after all) I am frankly appalled that I didn't think of it myself. So to Jane, Katie, Laraine, Shakira, and Tammy I say welcome, thanks for finding me, reading my blog, and deciding to take up permanent residence on my sidebar. I'll look forward to learning more about you!

**THANK YOU! To all the folks who comment on my blog posts and Microfiction Monday offerings.  I do read every comment and truly appreciate the time you spend to visit my blog, read, and offer your thoughts. When I say "thanks", please be assured that I mean it sincerely.

**WOO-HOO! And congratulations to my writing Yoda, the scathingly brilliant Cathy C. Hall.  Cathy won a contest hosted by Southern Breeze SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) in the category of  "Fiction for Middle Grade and Teen".  I'm thrilled for my friend! This is a great honor for Cathy and a testament to her soaring talent and general awesomeness.  Shoot on over to her blog to see what all the fuss is about.  Way to go, Cathy!

**NEWS! My short story Angel will be in the anthology book 50 Stories for Pakistan, published by Big Bad Media.  (Thanks to my blog buddy Ellie Garratt for the head's up on that call-out.) The book will be available soon in paperback and e-book, and the proceeds will go to the Red Cross for flood relief.  I'll be blogging more about this in a week or so after the book becomes available for purchase.

**SURPRISE! I love a surprise and that is what I received in my mailbox yesterday. The latest issue of Writer's Journal arrived and while thumbing through it this morning I encountered a familiar author. . .me! My short story, Dusk, which earned honorable mention in the 2009 Writer's Journal Romance Contest was published in this issue. I'm tickled my little fiction romance made it to print. Getting a free copy of the magazine was pretty nice, too.

**FIRST TIME!  In honor of the just-around-the-bend Thanksgiving holiday I'll be hosting my first ever blog contest. I'll announce the details at the beginning of November (it is only polite to let Halloween take center stage until the end of the October).  I'll do my best to make the contest prize(s) something to be thankful for, 'cuz, you know, Thanksgiving.

Whew! That was a lot of shouting out in bold italics. Be grateful I decided not to use the underline feature, too.

Thanks again to everyone who reads and comments. I appreciate the encouragement!

Til next time -
Lisa