Memorial Day is upon us, and I’m already planning for a couple of events where I’ll be signing books alongside other authors. These are my favorite kind of events, because they give me a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

First up is the annual Local Author Showcase, taking place on the green in front of the Westport Library in Connecticut, from 11-2pm this Saturday, May 30. Come and browse books in all genres and say hello to my friends and Rendezvous members among the thirty or so authors there: Marsha Temlock, Bette Bono, Ed Kabak, Laurie and Marlou Newkirk, Linda Avellar, Larry Terhaar, and Wayne Lysobey. Hilariously, because of the title of my first book, A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Over, they’ve decided I’m a self-help author, but so long as I’m on the list, I’m good!

On June 13, from 12-4pm, I’ll be at 1851 Kitchen and Cocktail Bar in Cromwell, CT, for a Books & Bites event. Along with 29 other author friends, I’ll be selling and signing my books. So, if you’re in the mood for a snack and a cocktail, come see us while you’re there.

BOOKLIFE is the division of Publishers Weekly that deals with indie published authors. Each month, they run the Indie Spotlight feature, a thematic roundup of self-published books from a broad range of genres and topics, both online and in print in Publishers Weekly magazine. Every month’s Indie Spotlight is open to all types of books: fiction and nonfiction, adult and children’s, secular and religious, written and graphic.  As long as the subject matter matches the month’s topic, a book can be included. Booklife’s June Indie Spotlight will feature mystery, thriller, and true crime novels. To submit your book, email booklife@booklife.com with the subject line: “Indie Spotlight: Mystery, Thriller, True Crime.” Include your book name, author name, and a personal statement (written in first-person). Full details here.

The BookLife Prize features two annual contests, one for fiction (deadline August 31) and the second for nonfiction. (Submissions open October 1). The fiction categories include romance/erotica, mystery/thriller, science fiction/fantasy/horror, general fiction, and YA/middle grade. Although relatively expensive to enter ($129, although discounts are available), every entrant receives a critic’s report—a professional evaluation from a Publishers Weekly reviewer with a numerical score and written feedback to help you strengthen your book and sharpen your marketing message. Finalists receive a blurb from a bestselling or award-winning author or professional editor, a feature in Publishers Weekly, and a $1,000 BookBaby ad package to promote your book on Facebook and Instagram. Grand prize winners (fiction & nonfiction) also receive a $5,000 cash prize and a full author profile in Publishers Weekly. Full details here.

And here’s an opportunity to write for BookLife: They’re currently looking for pitches concerning craft, self-publishing, marketing, and other editorial topics. With the subject line “BookLife Pitch,” please write to booklife@booklife.com with your article idea and a brief bio. This publication pays for published articles. Rolling submissions.

If you’re hoping to get your first piece of writing published, our friends at Authors Publish have produced a list of 27 approachable literary journals. Some accept a lot more submissions than others. Acceptance rates change all the time, so realize that over time, these journals may become harder to get into. These are not the only publishers that are relatively easy to get into, but they are a good place to start if your sole goal is to get published in a literary journal. Make sure you read the guidelines before submitting to know if your work fits.f you’re looking to publish and are terrified of rejection, here are some (relatively) easy places to submit.

I have a soft spot for Storied Stuff, because one of the pieces I submitted last year came first in the anthology chapter section of the CT Press Club Awards recently. You could be an award-winner too, because they have slots open for stories in June and July. They want 250 to 500 words and a photo of an object that has meaning for you. Some suggested objects: something from a loved one, cherished books, ticket stubs, art and posters, autographs, sports or political memorabilia, letters, toys, stuffed animals, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments, photos, trophies, and more. Consider submitting something (they have rolling submissions, so there’s no deadline).

Midstory is an online Substack magazine for midlife women (of any age) who are in the thick of it: the reinvention, the reckoning, the mess and possibility of the middle years. They publish essays, reviews, articles, and excerpts (900-2,500 words) that capture what it means to be a woman at midlife (or beyond), and to start over, to refuse to shrink, to speak up, or to burn it all down and begin again. Submissions are now open to all Midstory subscribers—both paid and free. At least three essays will be published each month, one from paid subscribers and the rest from both free and paid subscribers. Full details here.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Member Alison McBain recommends the Facebook group Global Girls Online Book Club. It’s a great group of over 13,000 members, and here’s the link: . They do Author of the Day features, and Alison was that author on Monday.  It’s a very active group, and a fabulous one for writers to join.

I often quote Jane Friedman, or mention classes that she organizes, and I get the information from her newsletters. There are four of them (I subscribe to two) and I recommend you subscribe too, if you want to keep up with ways to improve your writing, what’s happening in publishing, and where to find good software for writers.

MEMBER SUCCESSES

I’m always delighted to write this section. Member Ed Kabak recently published his book: Provocations: Satire and Poetry from an untamed mind. He’s read excerpts at our WritersMic, and we’re delighted to see them in print.

Livia Barder has had her first piece of micro-fiction (roughly 100 words) published by Scribes Micro Fiction. Brava!

Will Aufderheide will be launching Live Your Lifeprints, his self-help book, on June 2. He is looking for persons interested in the topic to review the book. For details, email Will at Will@LiveYourLifeprints.com.

Happy writing until next month!