And speaking of books…

They’re not coffin bookshelves, but have you seen the Gratz’s bookshelves?
BOOKLUST. Wow.

*envious sigh*

Meanwhile, the Seventh Annual Fire Escape Contest is ON. Teen authors should check out Mitali’s site for details.

Via Cynsations:

Calling all YA and children’ writers! We are thrilled to present the inaugural Katherine Paterson Prize for Young Adult (YA) and Children’s Writing in Hunger Mountain.

Hunger Mountain, the arts journal of Vermont College of Fine Arts, will launch our new online arts journal early this summer.

Our new site will include YA and Children’s Literature. We’ll feature articles on hot topics and trends in YA and children’s literature, interviews with publishing industry insiders, and fiction selections by well-known and up-and-coming YA and children’s authors.

Upcoming issues will feature pieces by Katherine Paterson, Carrie Jones, Cynthia Leitich Smith, K.A. Nuzum, Rita Williams-Garcia, Sara Zarr, and many others!

Writers of young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, and picture books are encouraged to enter the Katherine Paterson Prize for YA and Children’s Writing for a piece of fiction not yet under contract or under consideration by a publisher.

Newbery Award-winning author Katherine Paterson will judge.

One winner will receive $1000.00 and publication in Hunger Mountain online, and two honorable mentions will receive $100.00 each.

Entries may include:

• young adult (YA) fiction (novel excerpt or short story).

• middle grade (MG) fiction (novel excerpt or short story).

• picture book (PB) (text only).

Submission Fee: $20 per entry

Deadline: entries must be postmarked by June 30.

Contest Guidelines

Your packet should include:

• A one-page cover sheet offering:

o your name, address, email and phone number;

o the title of your manuscript;

o the category of your manuscript (YA, MG, PB);

o a brief (one-to-two paragraph/200-word) bio of yourself;

o a brief (one-to-two paragraph/250-word) synopsis of your manuscript.

• Your manuscript:

o up to 5,000 words of middle grade/young adult fiction, or one picture book manuscript (text only).

o entries must be double-spaced, with margins of at least 1”.

o please number the pages of your entry, and label each page with the title.

o please do not label the manuscript with your name (entries will be judged anonymously).

o please paperclip (do not staple) your entry.

• Entry Fee:

o check or money order for $20, payable to Hunger Mountain.

• A self-addressed, stamped envelope for notification of award winners.

• A self-addressed, stamped postcard for us to acknowledge receipt of your entry (optional).

Packets should be mailed to:

Katherine Paterson Prize for YA and Children’s Writing
Hunger Mountain
Vermont College of Fine Arts
36 College Street
Montpelier, VT 05602