Edits is a page for both readers and writers.
Edits is designed to feature books clubs and their current selections as well as book store events, author websites and other resources. If available, hyperlinks appear with each item.
The 18th Annual Voice of Lincoln poetry contest is now open to receive submissions.
This year’s contest features 5 categories including; People Are Funny, People Are Amazing, People Are World Changers, People Are Unreasonable and People Are Unpredictable.
Poets may submit a maximum of 3 poems with 1 poem in 1 of 3 categories.
There is no entry fee.
Poems may be in rhyme, free verse, Haiku or other accepted poetry forms and may be of any length, up to a maximum of 60 lines.
Young Poets, 18-years and under, are encouraged to submit poems and will compete in a special “Young Poets” category.
The contest deadline is Thursday, July 21, 2022.
Early submissions are appreciated.
For more information, please contact Alan Lowe at [email protected].
To obtain Entry Forms and Contest Rules, visit Voices of Lincoln 18th Annual Poetry Contest
The new date for the festival is Saturday, April 9, 2022
Save the date for the 2022 Sunshine State Book Festival where you’ll have a chance to meet many authors. (Spoiler: I’ll have a table, where I’ll be selling my newest book “Onions and Oranges” along with “Sidewalk Spots” and “Just Jeeves.” For more information, visit SUNSHINE STATE BOOK FESTIVAL.
This year’s Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest attracted 126 poets from 36 in 11 states and 3 countries. A total of 193 poems were submitted. Judges selected 45 winning poems submitted by 33 of the poets, including 15 by “Young Poets” – ages 10 through 17.For more information about this year’s contest and future contests, contact coordinator, Alan Lowe via [email protected] or slolowe44.blogspot.com
The 2022 Sunshine State Book Festival starts January 29, 2022 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Oak Mall, 6419 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville, Florida. The festival presents an opportunity to meet and engage with authors, purchase books and have them signed. In addition, there will be a children’s area with storytellers and other activities. On Sunday, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., Festival attendees are also invited to four presentations by five well-known authors at the Matheson History Museum. There’s no charge for admission. At 1 p.m., Carol Richardson, Program Director of A. Quinn Jones Museum will present Voices of Color: Negro Spirituals to Black Education. At 2 p.m., Robert Knight, President of Odum Springs Institute and author of Silenced Springs, will present Saving Florida’s Springs: A Prescription for Springs’ Health. At 3 p.m., Robert Mason, New York times best selling author of Chickenhawk, and Patience Mason, author of Recovering from the War, will present Writing About War: Two Views. At 4 p.m., Paul Ortiz, Director of the Samuel T. Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida and author of An African American and Latiinx History of the United States will present People Power: A Vision for the Twenty-first Century. For more information visit Sunshine State Book Festival
October 27 to October 30, 2022 have been set aside for FWA’s next Annual Conference which will be held at the Hilton, Orlando. Registration will open in the spring of 2022. For more information about membership and all FWA activities, visit Florida Writers Association
Although AFAR is best known as the world’s leading travel resource, in April it started a bookclub which can be accessed at https://www.afar.com/magazine/about-afareads-book-club. From time-to-time ARAR also publishes columns about books. Recently, Katherine LaGrave, Deputy Editor of AFAR Travel Magazine and Guide recommended the novel Whereabouts by JHumpa Lahiri. Her review appears on the Readers Recommend page. For writers and photographers who travel, AFAR offers them an opportunity to submit their works as Ambassadors. For more information, visit AFAR.com
The Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) promotes, encourages and supports aspiring and experienced regional writers. This goal is accomplished via WAG monthly meetings, public readings, ongoing small critique groups, a literary review, writers’ contests, and collaborations with schools and civic organizations to foster creative expression through the written word.
Visitors to historic downtown Sanford, FL will enjoy a stop at Maya Books & Music at 204 East 1st Street which is open every day except Tuesday. Browsers are most welcome to stop and see its wide and “eclectic” selection of used books and music. Please check Maya Books and Music Facebook page for more information or call (407) 321-6504
The 2021 poetry contest, sponsored by the Poets Club of Lincoln, is underway. Now in its 17th year, the contest is open until July 20, 2021. Poets Club of Lincoln’s contest attracts poets from around the world. This year’s theme is “If Life Were A Game Show What Would Poets Say? “Ist, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be selected in each of the contest’s five categories – Let’s Make a Deal, To Tell the Truth, The Price is Right, Family Feud and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Young Poets, 18-years of age and under, are encouraged to submit poems and will compete under a separate division.
For more information and to obtain an entry form, contact Alan Lowe at [email protected].
Visitors to downtown Mt. Dora, FL will enjoy Barrel of Books and Games located at 128 W 4th Avenue.Established in 2011, Barrel of Books and Games offers a huge selection of new and used books plus games, puzzles and more.For more information about its book club, which meets the second Thursday of each month, contact Owner Crissy Stile at (352) 735-1950 or visit BarrelofBooksandGames.com.
Read It & Steep, a bookstore and tea room room, has opened in Belleview, Florida. 4849 SE 110th Street.
Lynne Sheppard is the owner.
New and used books are available.
Events are held the third Saturday of each month.
Call 352-817-1080 for more information.
Bookhawks is a Walnut Creek, California book club that meets monthly. It was founded over twenty years ago. For the first five months of 2021, the club added five book to its reading “queue,” as follows:
January – The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
February – Elephant Whisperer by Anthony Lawrence
March – Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
April – Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Ewen
May – Exit West by Moshin Hamid
“Each month Princess Cruise Lines shares a reading selection that offers you the opportunity to relax and escape into a good book.” And, each month, readers can join in, via Instagram, for “a fun and thought-provoking discussion led by “Frenchie,” one of Princess Cruise Lines Entertainment Directors.”
Florida Writers Association (FWA) is a “non profit 501(c)(6) organization that serves all writers of all genres of all levels. In addition to resources for writers, FWA provides information on conferences, events and writing contests plus networking opportunities.”
Writer Unboxed is “dedicated to publishing empowering positive and provocative ideas about the craft and business of fiction.”
Bookbub is a “free service that helps you discover books you’ll love through unbeatable deals, handpicked recommendations and updates from your favorite authors. Bookbub doesn’t actually sell books.” It introduces readers to books that are available through Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple Books and others.