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Curious how African immigrants fare in the USA? Find out in this dramatic and inspiring adult memoir in Alone in America duology Book 1

Unexpected America is a mainstream memoir which reads like a thriller. Wanjiru Warama leaves Kenya in a huff and heads to the United States for a year's sabbatical. From the first day, she realizes she has to learn to live all over again in a new culture she knows nothing about. Loneliness debilitates her until she meets "Mr. Savior" who becomes not only her savior, but her lover and abuser. Money runs out and she has to turn to housekeeping and babysitting to buy a ticket home. She keeps this hidden from her family and friends as the idealized American lifestyle turns into a mirage, which Warama plods along like one tethered until her persistence pays off.

Website: wanjiruwarama.com

Unexpected American ebook on Amazon where the price will be $0.00 from Feb 20-24: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-America-Wanjiru-Warama-ebook/dp/B01M31HSZ0

ALL BOOK EDITIONS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wanjiru-Warama/author/B01M68PJLA

AUDIOBOOKS: https://www.audible.com/author/Wanjiru-Warama/B01M68PJLA

Books that Enlighten, Entertain, and Inspire...

Andrew Fitzgerald

https://www.andrewfitzgeraldauthor.com

fitzgerald_andrew@yahoo.com

Amazon: https://t.ly/687B

What aspect of editing or writing are you involved in?

I’m a self-published author of How Did I Get Here? - Traveling The Road To Resilience which was released on February 15, 2023 worldwide on Amazon

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

My passion for writing started in high school back in Ireland where I grew up. I loved the opportunity in English class to write about my favorite sports topics. The feedback from my teachers was impressive, how descriptive I was and my ability to transport the reader into the scene.

How long have you been writing/editing?

My first book took me two and a half years as I started, stopped, and repeated that cycle until I sought out book coach support in Andrea Susan Glass and we worked with each other to structure and complete my story.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

A nonfiction memoir detailing my life from growing up in Ireland, emigrating from there to America, a heart health scare which I had a teenager which resulted in me flatlining twice and successfully being resuscitated. In addition to the above, my book details how successful I have been at launching and scaling some of the world’s biggest alcohol brands and recounts the devastation, grief, and loss of four miscarriages that my wife and I suffered before our fifth pregnancy went full term. The core them of my book is “Resilience” and how I used that skill to overcome, survive, and thrive

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

The next project will be a collaboration with another Irish author, and I will also look at developing a resilience handbook for anyone working in sales.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

This is now my fourth month and I joined after being referred by my book coach. My motivation for joining was to and is to learn! There are many members who all have varied writing and publishing experiences that by osmosis I’m learning from each of them in our member meetings as well as access to speakers for ongoing literary education.

What’s something unique or special about you, that you’d like others to know?

I once competed at the PGA Tour School for golf in 2013!

What request might you have of other members?

I’m available to assist others with any sales and marketing support/advice they may need as I’m an expert in that field. If there are opportunities to run promotions with other members or indeed collaborations, I would welcome hearing from anyone!

The San Diego Writers Festival is proud to announce KidsWrite!, a children’s writing contest, whose mission is to elevate and celebrate diverse young writers throughout San Diego. All writers in Kindergarten through 12th Grade who reside in San Diego County are welcome to submit. The three literature categories are Poetry, Short Story, and Graphic Story. Submissions close March 31, 2023. Wishing the best of luck to each and every KidsWrite! San Diego Children’s Writing Contest Entrant!

For guidelines and to enter, go to https://sandiegowritersfestival.submittable.com/submit 

Have you ever wondered how Africans transitioned from their religions to Christianity? Take a peek at the drama in this personal essay of a family living on a British colonial farm in Kenya. wanjiruwarama.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ79YVQ9

Australian Book Review welcomes entries to the 2023 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world's leading prizes for an original short story. The prize – worth a total of AU$12,500 – is open to all writers writing in English. The winner will receive $6,000, second place will receive $4,000, and third place will receive $2,500. The submission period ends April 24, 2023.

ABR seeks original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject and in any style.

This year, the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is judged by Gregory Day, Jennifer Mills, and Maria Takolander.

Entry costs AU$20 for current ABR subscribers or AU$30 for non-subscribers*. Entrants who are not current ABR subscribers can choose to subscribe when submitting their story for the special combined rates listed below:

Entry + ABR digital one-year subscription – $90

Entry + Print one-year subscription (Australia) – $110

Entry + Print one-year subscription (NZ and Asia) – $190

Entry + Print one-year subscription (Rest of World) – $210

Note: Please use the online entry form to submit your story. Click here for more information about past winners. Before entering the Jolley Prize, all entrants must read the Terms and Conditions. Before contacting ABR with a question, please read their Frequently Asked Questions.

Note: The value of an Australian dollar is less than a US dollar. To see the conversion value, select this currency exchange calculator.

Missouri Review announces the submission opening for The Perkoff Prize, a tri-genre contest that awards $1,000 and publication each to writers of the best story, set of poems, and essay that engage in evocative ways with health and medicine as judged by the editors. DEADLINE: March 15.

Guidelines:

● All submissions must engage with health and medicine in some way.

● All submissions must be previously unpublished.

● Poetry: up to 10 pages of poetry.

● Fiction and Nonfiction: up to 8,500 words, double-spaced.

● Winners will be published in print issue of the Missouri Review.

● All entries will be considered for publication (whether in print, or as part of our Poem of the Week or Blast features).

● Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are welcome, but you must pay a separate fee for each entry and withdraw the piece immediately if accepted elsewhere.

● Current University of Missouri students and faculty are ineligible.

● Standard Entry fee: $15. Each entrant receives a one-year subscription to the Missouri Review in digital format (normal price $24).

● “All Access” Entry fee: $30. In addition to the one-year digital subscription to the Missouri Review, the “All Access” entry fee grants access to the last 10 years of digital issues and the audio recordings of each digital issue.

Submit online or by mail.

For thirty years, Austin Film Festival has been catapulting writers into life-changing careers. With one of the most noteworthy competitions among Hollywood tastemakers, AFF consistently yanks newcomers from the isolation of their desks and ushers them into the bustling world of film and television. Their Script Competition for 2023 is open for entries! At the Austin Film Festival, they hope to give storytellers the opportunity to share their voices and have a chance at getting discovered in the industry.

● Early Deadline: March 23, 2023

● Regular Deadline: April 18, 2023

● Late Deadline: May 25, 2023

Additionally, here is a discount code! AFFWG23

In addition to feature screenplays and teleplay pilots and specs, they also accept short screenplays, digital series scripts, stage plays, and fiction podcast scripts. More information on all script competitions can be found here: Austin Film Festival Script Competitions

for a new and different kind of book:

Mary’s Vision: Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality, by Philip R. Pryde

When? Sunday, February 12, 2023, 2:30 - 4:15 p.m.

Where? Warwick’s of La Jolla, 7812 Girard Avenue, La Jolla

Mary’s Vision: Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality is an historical novel set in first century Palestine and Gaul. Its storyline is Mary’s desire to teach about her mentor, Jesus, despite the strict paternalism of that time which forbade women to instruct men. Mary’s Vision casts her as an early seeker of gender equality, determined to spread Jesus’s words regardless of the dangers. The book offers a plausible and inspiring life story for this fascinating but little understood, and often misrepresented, female apostle.

For more information about the book or Mary Magdalene, see Mary's Vision: Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality

San Diego’s Independent Bookstores that Offer Signing Events

Bay Books, Coronado The store specializes in new titles, indie favorites, military history, young adult and children's books. It provides book reviews on their website: https://www.baybookscoronado.com/book-reviews. | 1007 Orange Ave | Coronado CA 92118 |

619.435.0070. | They only order books from Ingram Sparks.

The Book Catapult An independent bookstore in South Park; they carry exclusively debut books, and though small they do events. 3010-B Juniper Street | San Diego, CA 92104 | (619) 795-3780 | info@thebookcatapult.com | https://www.thebookcatapult.com.| They only order books from Ingram Sparks.

Book Star, Barnes and Noble in Loma Theatre. | 3150 Rosecrans Place | San Diego, CA 92110 | (619) 225-0465. Also Barnes and Noble at Hazard Center | 7610 Hazard Center Drive #315 | San Diego, CA 92108 | 619) 220-0175. They have author virtual events for all genres. Each Barnes & Noble store will negotiate with a self-published author if they believe your book will sell at their store location.

Libelula Books focuses on Chicano and indigenous peoples in San Diego. They have in- and outdoor events and rent equipment for events. | info@libelulabooksandco.com | 950 S 26th St | San Diego, CA 92113| 619.775.4040 | Accepts self-published authors.

Meet Cute Romance Bookstore is a feminist bookshop focusing on romance books in North Park. They feature signing and bookpod events for romance genre books. Accepts self-published authors. https://meetcutebookshop.com/ | 4048 30th Street | San Diego, CA 92104| 619-228-9548

Mysterious Galaxy specializes in fantasy, science fiction, young adult, mystery and horror. They have signing events, many are virtual. Go to https://www.mystgalaxy.com/Contact-MG and fill out their form. They also have a writers’ group on the 2nd and 4th Sundays 4:30-6:30 PM. Newcomers are welcome. | 3555 Rosecrans St #107 | San Diego, CA 92110 | 619-539-7137. Accepts self-published authors.

Verbatim Bookstore carries over 200 local authors. Located in North Park at 3793 30th Street | San Diego, CA 92104 | 619-701-7466. Accepts self-published authors.

Events: Things to know before contacting Verbatim Bookstore about hosting your event:

As a primarily used bookstore, they rarely host traveling authors that they do not already sell in the store. Please do not contact them with sales pitches or attempts to get them to purchase new titles, they will not be able to respond to these messages.

They never buy books via Ingram or Amazon.

Since they don’t want to “play favorites,” they rarely host events for individual authors. If you would like to put together a lineup of authors/poets/etc. (as opposed to just one person) they will be much more likely to want to host that event!

They don’t really do the traditional “book signings” and prefer to do events that are engaging and experiential. They are looking for events that bring their patrons readings, discussions, multiple perspectives, etc.

Their events are always free to the public.

Warwicks Bookstore Located in the Village of La Jolla, Warwick’s is the country’s oldest continuously family-owned and operated bookstore. Beyond books, Warwick’s proudly hosts regular events. (858) 454-0347 | 7812 Girard Avenue | La Jolla, CA 92037. Self-published are covered in their “Weekend with Local Authors.” Learn more at: authors@warwicks.com.

Review Services for the Self-Published Authors

• Amazon Publishing - The full-service publishing arm of Amazon is composed of a number of imprints including AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing, Montlake Romance, Thomas & Mercer, and 47North. Check the blog page at: How to get reviews for tips and advice.

• Kirkus Indie: For a nominal fee, Kirkus Reviews offers a review service for independent and self-publishers. Kirkus reviews are typically fewer than 300 words, and include summary content to give context along with a concise, unbiased opinion that can be positive, negative or neutral.

• American Library Association: Marketing to Libraries - By far the largest association for writing related topics. Go to the Reviews section to find a list of professional review magazines, journals, and newspapers. Fee for membership required, however there is no fee to access information on their website.

• BookLife - As part of Publishers Weekly, BookLife offers reviews. Check the Review Submissions Guidelines page to see if your book qualifies. If selected it means your book will be judged by professional standards, the same standards Publishers Weekly applies.

• Midwest Book Review - The Midwest Book Review gives priority consideration to small publishers, self-published authors, academic presses, and specialty publishers whenever possible. Reviewing print books/CDs/DVDs is always free of charge.

Reference: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/localauthors/resources#community