Received via e-mail yesterday, with permission to republish (note that these guidelines should be published at the Cup of Comfort Web site shortly):
A Cup of Comfort Call for Submissions
The bestselling Cup of Comfort book series is actively seeking inspiring true stories for six new volumes (see below). We seek narrative nonfiction stories that read like fiction. Stories must be uplifting, original, in English, typed, titled, and 1000-2000 words.
$500 grand prize; $100 ea. all other stories; copy of book. No entry fee.
Email submissions to wordsinger(at)aol(dot)com. No attachments; one submission per email. Include full name, mailing address, email address, phone number.
For detailed writer’s guidelines: www.cupofcomfort.com.
A Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers
As Oprah Winfrey has often said, parenting is the most difficult and important job in the world. It can be even tougher for single mothers, who face all the usual parenting challenges plus a whole set of unique ones. But single motherhood also brings many untold rewards. For this anthology honoring single mothers, we seek inspiring personal stories that speak to the challenges, positive experiences, and extraordinary relationships of single mothers and their children. The majority of stories in this collection will be written from the single mother’s point of view, but the book will also include some stories written by children of single mothers as well as by third parties with intimate knowledge of the single mother and her children.
Submission Deadline: 3/20/07
A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers
This anthology celebrating the powerful, almost magical, bond between horses and humans will feature inspiring true stories that reveal the extraordinary impact these magnificent creatures have on the people who ride, own, raise, train, race, care for, and rescue them. We want stories that portray horses as companions, helpers, messengers, healers, teachers, heroes, and inspirational forces in people’s lives as well as stories about the incredible things that people do out of love for a horse or horses.
Submission Deadline: 5/15/07
A Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers
Cats are among the most fascinating, entertaining, and endearing pets on earth. For this collection, we seek the best cat stories never told—original and compelling testaments to the deep connection between cats and the people who love them as well as heartwarming and humorous tales about truly amazing felines. Most of the stories in the book will be about domestic cats (pets), but we are also interested in stories about feral and exotic cats.
Submission Deadline: 7/01/07
A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors
It has been said that “stories are medicine” and that “one of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to share our stories.” This volume gives the healing power of story to women (and men) who have survived breast cancer, enabling them to share their inspiring triumphs and courageous trials with others who have beat breast cancer as well as with those who are currently dealing with breast cancer. We want uplifting stories about the experiences and emotions involved in battling and surviving breast cancer. Possible story themes include but are not limited to: diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, support systems, healing practices, coping mechanisms, effect on loved ones, effect on personal and/or professional life, life after recover, prognosis, positive post-cancer outcomes.
Submission Deadline: 8/15/07
A Cup of Comfort for Spouses & Children of People with Alzheimer’s
What happens when the person who raised you or the person with whom you raised your children slowly becomes a child who doesn’t know you? What if that loved one changes so drastically that he or she is virtually a stranger to you? What if that person is difficult to deal with and requires substantial assistance? How will the reality of having a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s affect you and your family—emotionally, financially, physically, socially, personally, professionally? The inspiring stories in this collection will answer those questions and more—and will show how love prevails and how lives thrive when a spouse or parent has Alzheimer’s.
Submission Deadline: 10/15/07
A Cup of Comfort for Divorced Women
Divorce in the 21st century should come with an instruction manual, a release valve, and a support system. This anthology will serve essentially those three purposes, in the form of comforting, insightful, and inspirational stories about surviving and thriving during and after divorce. We seek uplifting, contemporary stories on a wide range of topics of importance to divorced women—including but not limited to: dating, children, relationship with ex, in-laws, finances, friends, solitude, personal transformation, healing, revenge, mending fences, the ex’s new wife or lover, rediscovery of self, empowerment. The majority of stories will be written by women who are or have been divorced. Stories can be poignant, irreverent, humorous, witty, or wise.
Submission Deadline: 12/31/2007