Got a manuscript you've been itching to pitch? Well, wait no longer, because #PitProm is heading your way this weekend!

Calling all Sci Fi and Fantasy writers! Pitch your manuscripts and see if you can make it to the Top 20 finalists. We are accepting up to 200 submissions for this year's PitProm contest. Our Royal Advisors will take the submissions and pick the top ten favorite sci fi and top ten favorite fantasy pitches. Those finalists will then work with published authors to sharpen their pitches, submit the final work, and industry experts will vote for their favorites! Whichever manuscript pitch receives the most requests from an agent or publisher will be crowned King or Queen of this year's PitProm!

The fun begins July 14th at 10:00 AM, Central Standard Time. Simply go to PitProm.com and submit your 140-character pitch, query letter, and the first ten pages of your completed Sci Fi or Fantasy manuscript.

Know someone who has a manuscript waiting to be published? Share the news so they can enter and dance to the finish line!

​See you on the floor this Saturday!

FRIENDS, put on your lovely Aussie accents, and welcome my fabulous Clean Reads author friend Tamar Sloan! She's recently released a fantastic non-fiction book titled GRIT FOR WRITERS which encourages, well, grit for writers. She's incorporated solid advice, helpful tips, and insight from other authors on this twisty adventure. *Possibly you might recognize some of those other authors!*

I wanted to interview Ms. Sloan about her books and her latest release. So let's sit down for a great cuppa and chat for a few moments!

KADEE: What's your favorite quote from the book? (Or a favorite)? 

TAMAR: My favourite quote in the book isn’t my own, but I love it because it sums up what grit is all about: Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it's a small price to pay for living a dream.
- Peter McWilliams

Although I do have quite a nice one from a fabulous fellow Clean Reads author who contributed to the book: Find your why, unleash your ardour for the art, and yank it along the journey with you.

(Yes peoples, a Kadee Carder gem of wisdom!)

 KADEE: Aw! Love that, Tamar! <blushes> What made you decide to write Grit for Writers?

 TAMAR: I would say the impetus for Grit for Writers was a two-step process. I have a close friend who I met early in my writing journey. She’d been writing (on and off) for almost 20 years. She had persevered through rejection after rejection, and continued to chase her dream of being traditionally published. I truly admired that level of dedication, because I’m not sure I would have been able to do the same. As time went on I discovered what a roller coaster the publishing ride is. Full of exhilarating highs, stomach-dropping lows, and twists and turns you never see coming. I realised writing is a grit demanding profession. It got me thinking—what are the qualities that a person needs to keep following their dream, despite all the hurdles? As I started reading, I could see how valuable this information would be to my fellow writers. After much research and even more writing, Grit for Writers was born! Oh, and Heidi Catherine--my amazing friend’s— book is set to be published early this year.

KADEE: How long have you been a psychologist/working with students? What made you want to be in that field?

 TAMAR: I was born with a strong sense of social-justice and a powerful desire to make a difference. It’s culminated in a career dedicated to working with adolescents and their families. 20 years ago I started out as a youth-worker with at-risk youth, discovering that working with marginalised and disadvantaged young people was challenging, but deeply rewarding. Knowing I’d found my niche, I studied and became a secondary teacher and worked exclusively in educational setting for these young people. Often there were days where I learned more than I taught from these young but wise, broken but unbroken, keepers of our future. I soon discovered that connecting with these kids was where my talent lay as an educator. So I returned to university and became a psychologist. I’ve been a psychologist for five years now, and it’s truly a privilege to walk alongside young people and their families every day.
 

KADEE: What are your favorite and least favorite things about where you live? Would you want to live anywhere else?

 TAMAR: I’m pretty lucky in that I live in a small slice of the Australian bush, which is 20 minutes away from a major city—meaning I get the best of both worlds. I love the flexibility that having acreage allows me (I’ve owned milking goats, cows, sheep, horses, bees and even had an aquaponics system with trout!) but all the advantages of city life just a short drive away. Our boys love the opportunities our lifestyle has afforded them. If I had to identify my least favourite aspect of where I live, it would have to be winter, and it’s not even cold enough to snow most years! But I think I may be partially cold-blooded—I have permanently cold feet and hands during those months. On those days, Hawaii sounds pretty good…

 KADEE: What's your favorite book you've written OR character you've created AND why?

 TAMAR: Saved the hardest question for last, huh? I suspect the answer to this question will continually change—probably to reflect the book I’m writing at the time! Purely because that’s the magical character I’m watching, discovering, and falling in love with currently. Right now I’m working on Make it Yours, book 2 in the Touched by Love series. The main character is Emellia, a tough, persistent, lover of science (yep, fancy term for nerd). She’s witty and smart and desperately trying to save her father. It’s such a privilege to bear witness to her her highs and her lows whilst she determinedly tries to avoid the unavoidable love coming her way. I’m looking forward to sharing this special story of love and acceptance with readers.

Late last year I would have said Casey, my protagonist from Make it Count, the girl who with a single touch, sees how many days a person has to live. Casey is fun and spontaneous and possesses an irrepressible spirit. I loved exploring the chemistry between her and PJ and writing her story of self-discovery.

Before that it was shy, wounded Eden, the heroine of the Prime Prophecy series. Hers is a story of an epic love and the power of believing in ourselves…I think you get the idea… 

KADEE: Thank you so much for sharing these fabulous gems, Tamar! Now let's see what GRIT FOR WRITERS has in store for us!

Brownwood Public Library presents an interactive, free workshop for budding writers. On Tuesday, April 19th, from 5:30-7:30 PM, writing enthusiasts ages 12 and up are invited for discussion and activities to help them develop their craft. Join author Kadee Carder as she offers tips and tricks on how to create memorable characters and dialog, utilize conflict, and writing with style. Participants will leave with their own writing activity and inspirational ideas on how to incorporate the elements of fiction into real life.

“I love helping people learn to communicate better,” Carder said. “Writing is my passion. Reading and writing can change lives. I’m so excited to work with the library to present a fun, creative community event like this.” Carder received a BA in Public Relations at Howard Payne University and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. She teaches English courses at Liberty University Online and received the distinguished faculty award in 2015. The first book in her young adult science fiction series, “Insurrection,” is available at Hastings, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and her website, www.kadeecarder.com.
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Brownwood Public Library is located at 600 Carnegie Street in Brownwood, Texas. Please call 325-646-0155 or visit http://www.brownwoodpubliclibrary.com/ for more information.