#FicFest is Coming! A New Contest for Finished Manuscripts in all Categories and Genres!

You may have noticed all my tweets and Facebook posts about the contest I'm playing mentor for as a picture book team leader. And maybe you're wondering what the contest is all about. Well, the count down has begun, and I'm happily taking part in the promotional blog tour to get the information out there and tell all my readers, supporters, and writerly friends that if they have a shiny, ready-to-go manuscript by early April, they need to consider this contest!

What is #FicFest?

#FicFest is an online writer’s contest which helps put manuscripts in front of literary agents. This contest, unlike most, is open to manuscripts in ALL genres (including those usually excluded such as Paranormal Romance or Erotica) in the categories of Picture Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult.

#FicFest mentors are structured into fifteen (15) teams. Each category that I listed has three teams. Each team is comprised of a team leader, and two (2) team members. Once the submissions open, each team will choose three (3) finalist manuscripts and one (1) alternate manuscript to advance to the agent round. This means that an equal number of manuscripts for each category will move to the agent round, guaranteeing that one category does NOT overpower another when it comes time for the agents.

Forty-five (45) manuscripts total move to the agent round, with 15 manuscripts being held as alternates in case one of the main finalists drops out of the contest for any reason. This is one of the things we stress in promoting #FicFest because most contests are overrun with Young Adult. In many contests, they may advance 40 manuscripts to the agent round, but the problem lies in the fact that 30 of that 40 are all Young Adult. That won’t happen with #FicFest.

Nine manuscripts from each category will make their appearance in the agent round. No more, no less. NINE each. Let me stress this one more time. In the agent round, you will have 9 Picture Books, 9 Middle Grade, 9 Young Adult, 9 New Adult, and 9 Adult. Everyone gets a fair chance.

We are adding more agents every day and while I can’t give you a solid number, I can tell you that we have close to two dozen confirmed to participate in our agent round and we can’t wait!

For more details, check out the Ficfest admin and creator extraordinaire Tiffany Hoffman's blog  The Writer's Nook. She's witty and real-life all balled up into a firecracker. I love her. You will too.

As mentioned in the schedule below, I'll also have a fun theme reveal and "Meet my team" post in late March, so check that out. Also twitter events as a team leader, and also those awesome teasing tweets as I dive into slush.

But even more importantly, please spread the word about this fantastic contest. Most of the fiction writers of the online writer community will hear about it, but those in often-excluded genres and age categories may not. You can be instrumental in helping someone reach their dreams through this event!

Ficfest 2016 Time Line

March 20, 2016 @ 12:00 PM EST
Guidelines & Theme Reveal
(Host Blog)

March 27, 2016 @ 7:00 PM EST
Meet the Team Leads & Their Members!
(Team Lead Blogs & Host Blog)

April 3, 2016 @ 6:00 PM EST
Agent List Announced
(Host Blog)

April 17, 2016 @ 7:00 PM EST - 10:00 PM EST
Q & A with Team Leads & Host
(Twitter - Using #FicFest)

April 24, 2016 @ 12:00 AM EST - April 25, 2016 @ 11:59 PM EST
SUBMISSION

April 26, 2016 - May 3, 2016
Teams will chose their finalists/alternate

May 4, 2016 @ 10:00 AM EST
Finalists/Alternate Reveal
(Team Leads Blogs)

May 5, 2016 - June 30, 2016
Revisions

July 8, 2016 @ 12:00 AM EST - July 14, 2014 @ 11:59 PM EST
Agent Round

7 Books I Thought Should have Gotten More Attention in 2014

I don't consider myself an expert in the literary world by any means, but I couldn't resist Dahlia Adler's offer for a free copy of Swimming in Toyko if we mimicked her post end-of-the-year post.

But it so happens that a little over half dozen of my favorite books from 2014 all had under 2000 ratings or under 300 reviews on Goodreads. So really, I needed to get the word out about these amazing reads. (It's no surprise that most of them are fantasy-esque.)

Gates of Thread and Stone

I kept seeing this title on blogs I follow and at one point read an interview with the author that peaked my interest. The moment I read the goodreads description, I was hooked. I even may have not mentioned buying it to my husband, who has a strict "let's talk abotut the books before you spend all our money on them" policy. Totally worth the explanation. I love the relationship between Kai and her brother figure Reev. Plus, the romantic tension between her and her friend Avan is so realistic, I blushed and smiled right along with them in every awkward moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of Scars and Stardust

I received a free copy of this novel right around Halloween and was a tad unsure of whether I would like it. I'm not big into thrillers, but I have to admit that the unanswered questions kept me up late turning pages. The author can make a heart thump very well, and overall the book was well written. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Still, I think it needs to be read by anyone that enjoys this sort of thing.

 

 

A Creature of Moonlight

As I scoured my local libraries shelves for comp titles, I fell for the cover of this book. I checked it out before I even checked reviews. The reviews were mixed, claiming everything from the prose was beautiful all the way to it was the slowest read ever. I'm of the former belief, falling entirely in love with the magical way the author wove a simple story with emotion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Secret Hum of a Daisy

I also received a free copy of this through a contest. (Is the writing community awesome?!?) This is a contemporary novel that displays the grieving process was written in a beautiful, relatable way as the reader helps the protagonist follow clues to discovering life after her mother's death. I'm pretty sure losing my baby sister made this book sing to my heart. Either way, you all need to read it. Tracy Holczer is a emotional genius, or at least she writes like one. Anyone who ever lost someone can make peace through these pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mending Horses

This novel was another library find while searching out comp titles for my own query. I grabbed it because of the male protagonist and the connection with a horse. But this novel has a whole lot more going for it. Between the circus and the personal connections between so many characters, this novel is a page turner. It needs more lovin', so I command you to read it as soon as possible. Please.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Rides On

You didn't really think I could make this list without a children's book, did you? I'm a mom after all, and my girls love books as much as their mother. This one grabbed my three year old and wouldn't let go. When we returned it to the library, she cried and cried. I loved it because it used big words like "extraordinary" in wonderful, thoughtful context. And the anti-bullying message doesn't hit anyone over the head. Seriously, go get it. Yesterday.

 

 

 

Katerina's Wish

Okay, okay. I know, I know. Technically, this book came out in 2012. But I read it last year and loved it, so I'm including it. There is a reason Jeannie Mobley was asked to speak on character motivation and researching at the 2014 SCBWI Rocky Mountain Conference. This novel is rich with both. If you love a hope-filled, page turner I highly recommend it.

 

What books did you read and love in 2014? Have you read any of the books above, or do you plan to now that you've read this post? Please tell me in the comments below!