Author Leverages Writing Contest Win to Get Publishing Deal

Carol J. Perry didn’t stop when she was awarded First Place, Novel Chapter, in the 2013 Writers-Editors Network Writing Competition. She took her chapter, her certificate, and the confidence from winning, then got busy contacting agents and publishers.

Authors and would-be authors have been entering writing contests for ages, all with the hope of discovering: (1) do I really have talent? – and (2) should I continue to reach for that brass ring? But not too many actually grab hold of that opportunity if it appears. Carol Perry grabbed the brass ring with gusto and reached the author’s Holy Grail – a multi-book contract with a traditional publishing house (Kensington Publishing).

In an interview, Carol Perry, Madeira Beach, Fla., shares how her background helped shape her writing generally and this book in particular; why she entered that chapter in the competition; and the steps she took to end up with a contract for not the one book – but a series of “cozy” mystery novels.

Carol reveals where she “found” her characters, how she got the idea for her mystery, why she close first-person viewpoint, why she entered the contest first before contacting publishers or agents, what she sent along to publishers, and her writing process – all useful information to fledgling authors, especially those seeking traditional publishing deals.

The interview is available online in its entirety at http://writerseditorsnetwork.com/winning-contest-helps-author-land-multi-book-contract/ or from the Network blog’s main page, http://writerseditorsnetwork.com/blog/

About Writers-Editors Network International Writing Competition

The Writers-Editors Network annual literary competition is in its 31st year and currently has six categories: Nonfiction Previously Published, Nonfiction Unpublished, Fiction, Short Story, Fiction Novel Chapter, Children’s Literature, and Poetry. Entries are judged blind (judges have no idea who the writers are or where they are located). Deadline for entries to be mailed is March 15, 2014 (online entries also allowed). Guidelines and entry form are posted at http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm - winners are posted by May 31st at www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Winners/winners.htm - Writers-Editors Network also posts contests from around the world at www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/contests.htm

Contact Information

Dana Cassell

Executive Director

CNW Publishing, Editing Inc

dana@writers-editors.com