First Chapter Contest Opens

 

  CWA's 8th Annual 

           First Chapter Contest is Open for Entries

 This opportunity is open

ONLY TO DUES-PAYING MEMBERS

of Chicago Writers Association.

You may join CWA HERE.

Are you writing a novel? Submit the FIRST CHAPTER of your work, up to 10 pages, to CWA's 8th Annual First Chapter Contest.

 First prize is a full scholarship to attend either the All-Genre Novel-In-Progress (NIP) Bookcamp & Writing Retreat or the Speculative Fiction NIP Bookcamp & Writing Retreat, both being held June 16-22, 2024 at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine Wisconsin (approximate value: $1500).

 Second and third place winners will receive cash awards of $150 and $75, respectively.

 The top three entries will also be published in CWA's Write City Magazine.

 Please read and follow the guidelines before submitting.

The deadline is October 1, 2023. Winners will be announced by December 2023.

 A non‐refundable fee of Fifteen Dollars ($15) must be made online on the same date as the author’s entry is submitted.

 

 

 

Closing Circles with CC Fuller

It is my honor and DELIGHT to introduce debut author Carolyn Cody-Fuller. Dr. Fuller dreamed of writing a novel and worked hard to make it come true.

Closing Circles

Carolyn Cody-Fuller

Fiction

c. 12-8-2018

Hardcover or E-book format

Buy the book on

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

About the Book

Years ago, life separated the sisters, Lavender, Hyacinth, and Oleander Sipp. Now, it seems that life has conspired to bring them back to the place where each of their stories began, their family farm in rural Georgia. After experiencing more than a few setbacks, Lavender, the youngest of the sisters has come home to do nothing . . . and that's just fine with her. She's soon joined by the oldest sister, Hyacinth, and all is right with the world. Just when Lavender and Hyacinth begin to settle into their peaceful routine, middle sister Oleander blows in with all the fury and bluster of a twister ready to lay claim on her part of the family land. Oleander brings with her old grudges, mainly against Lavender, and a boatload of big ideas as to what they should do with the farm.

As the Sipp sisters fight over the future of their family legacy, another battle from a distant relative is brewing and it may prove to be their biggest challenge yet.

My Review

I love family drama. I love being able to virtually plant myself in another part of the US to experience a different reality for a while. I love watching a story cycle around itself without absolute resolution, but also without cutting me off in the middle of a plan.

Closing Circles is anything but routine. Three sisters instinctively know that, despite rivalry between two younger siblings, home is their haven. The choices they made had both great joy and great despair, and when the despair side overwhelmed them, they came home, one by one. When middle sister, high-energy Oleander, decided she had spent enough time licking her wounds, she kicked an idea to revitalize the home farm into a relevant project. Lavender, the youngest sister who narrates the tale, has her own ideas. Together they soon learn their greatest challenge lies not in their own rivalry or current arguments, but in family. When the weave that holds their family together begins to unravel, they must choose whether to fight each other in the present or fight for the future.

Loaded with engaging characters in a setting the reader will want to call home, Closing Circles will stay with you, calling for you to examine your own choices and encourage you to rise above anything petty consuming your life.

While Closing Circles ends with the expectation of another adventure, I’m not left out of breath. I’m left wanting more, but in a good place while I’m waiting. I watched this novel come alive under the author’s dedicated fingertips. I am truly honored to share this wonderful story of family weathering life’s calamities and coming out stronger.

About the Author

Carolyn Cody-Fuller is a retired children’s librarian who enjoys writing, reading, and volunteering at her church, St. Philip’s Episcopal. Having spent her entire working career advocating for literacy and power of a good book, Cody is excited to publish her first novel, which is a reflection of her life growing up on a farm in small town in Georgia. She’s a member of the South Carolina Writers Association and has attended Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp for several years. In addition to writing, Cody believes in the power of community, and has served on numerous committees and advocacy boards for children and families.

debut historical fiction from Jennifer Trethewey

Tying the Scot

Jennifer Trethewey

Historical Romance

Series

c. November 2017

Entangled Amara

Ebook $3.99

Print – coming soon

Audible

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes and Noble 

About the Book:

At age eleven, Alex Sinclair pledges an oath to the Duke of Chatham promising to serve and protect his illegitimate daughter, Lucy FitzHarris. Nine years later, the duke unexpectedly takes Alex up on his vow, offering the future Laird of Balforss his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Now a man, hotheaded Alex has difficulty convincing Lucy—who would rather starve to death than marry a vulgar Scot—to go through with the arranged marriage. Once Lucy arrives in Scotland, she cannot resist the magic of Balforss or the allure of her handsome Highland warrior. But when Alex seemingly betrays Lucy right before their wedding, she is tricked into running away. Alex must rein in his temper to rescue his lady from unforeseen danger and Lucy must swallow her pride if she hopes to wed the Highlander she has come to love.

My review:

Charming and delightful debut novel, wonderfully done. As described, it’s a marriage meant to be in the best interest of all parties—the illegitimate daughter of a Duke will never be accepted in London society, so is given to her father’s good friend and business partner’s son. Unfortunately, Lucy must travel north, away from everything she’s loved and known. Fortunately, Alex has grown up into a fine man. Lucy learns quickly there is much to love about Balforss, Alex’s home, and Alex, too—temper, playfulness, loyalty. Never having had a mother, she quickly takes to Alex’s family and their ways, and just when she’s decided that marriage better come fast before she and Alex get carried away, her past catches up to her.

I must say, with all the hype anticipating this book I was prepared for a bedroom romp, but the story is far from it. Sure, there’s sensual tension, but nothing out of the ordinary, and leads up to a highly anticipated wedding night. Well done, well crafted story to avoid being another cliché romance.

Told in multiple viewpoints from several characters, the author’s first book in the series shows adept, organic handling of customs, language and historical events without banging the reader over the head with brogue or unusual, unexplained practices or words. Some language. Tender and tough in all the right places. Recommended for those who enjoy Scottish or otherwise early nineteenth century historical romance and intrigue.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jennifer Trethewey and I write about men in kilts because, hey, what’s not to love about a man in a kilt? I was lucky enough to travel to Scotland twice. I have fallen in love with the Highlands and all things Scottish: the people, their language, cuisine, customs, idioms, humor, history, intense sense of pride, and, most of all, the land—the perfect setting for sweeping romantic tales of love, strife, and glory. As they say, Scotland is pure dead brilliant!

I’m an actress, former co-artistic director of a professional theater company, and my husband and I operate an improv comedy club. I live with my comedian husband in the Midwest where I’ve been ever since college.

I write both contemporary and historical fiction full time. I like to read romance, mystery, fantasy, and paranormal, as well as literary fiction and non-fiction. I love movies and music and dogs and good wine and I love to enjoy them all with my friends.