Have I mentioned the publishing business is a tough one to break into? Actually, if you’ve spent two minutes in the presence of a writer or aspiring writer lately (or really, any time since the invention of the printing press) you’ve likely heard that truth asserted (whined about?) more than a few times. And it’s true, but there are a few lights on the publishing horizon that are worth considering. And one of the brightest ones in Canada is the Word Alive Press Just Write! publishing contest. Every year Word Alive out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, offers a publishing contest that is open to everyone, free to enter, and offers two fantastic prize packages: free publishing and marketing for the winning fiction and non-fiction entries.

In 2010, The Watcher, my first suspense novel, was chosen as the winner of the Word Alive contest. I will never forget the call I received, letting me know that my life-long dream of having a novel published was about to be fulfilled.

In the months that followed, I worked closely with the wonderful staff at Word Alive to:

~ submit my ideas for a cover (many of which they incorporated into the final, gorgeous cover that I was contractually free to approve or disapprove, a luxury not afforded most authors)

~ have my book edited in a give and take, back and forth process that left both the editor and I happy with the final product

~ have as many books as I cared to order printed and delivered to my door, while Word Alive handled all sales and distribution to bookstores across North America

~ have The Watcher marketed and promoted by the Word Alive Sales Team, and available wherever books are sold

~ receive support and encouragement with setting up a book launch and attending/being involved with other book promotion events

and have blog tours and radio interviews set up by Word Alive in order to promote my book

In all, my experience with Word Alive was fantastic. I will always be grateful that Word Alive gave me the chance to hold my book in my hands, and to get it into the hands of others to read as well.

The deadline for the 2012 Word Alive publishing contest is June 15, 2012. If you have a manuscript ready, seriously think about sending it in to the contest to be considered for publication. It is a tough business, maybe now more than ever. But Word Alive is offering the opportunity of a lifetime, and I for one am glad that I grabbed it.

Press on, my friends. Press on,

Sara