Our new short story anthology Peace Inside Peace Outside (out now) is an unusual collection of stories on the theme of peace ... well the idea was for entrants of the Smink Works short story contest to write pieces that expanded on the idea that in order to bring peace to the world, you needed to have peace inside. The stories that emerged were somewhat different - they tell of tortured individuals who found some sort of peace by the end of the stories, but the peace wasn't what you would always expect.

I wonder if this is a statement on the widespread need for personal peace. It certainly appears like the world is in dire need of it. These days we look for it everywhere. I guess this is the journey we share.

Smink Works Books and Writers' World have joined together to offer the upcoming Fundamentals of Fiction Writing online course, as well as writing seminars.

Currently in production with a release date early next year, the plan is for this course to be useful and enlightening, providing the writer with real impetus to write.

• The course will help with technique, inspiration and motivation
• Students will get a good start on a novel, beginning a book at the start of the course, and working on it as the course progresses.
• The best short pieces written by students will be included in a printed anthology at the end of the course
• Writers can swap ideas and get feedback from other writers in a secure environment with our new social network.
• A big bonus is that the tuition fee includes a big stack of useful (and some entertaining) books to add to your personal library.

A joint venture between Writers' World and Smink Works Books publishing, the course will include knowledge from experienced writers and teachers.

But we want to make sure the course is relevant to writers of all ages and experiences. We have put together a SURVEY* for this purpose and we'd love to hear writers' wants, desires and general feedback.
(As a thank you we are offering a 10% discount on course fees)

*Register for our ezine and fill in the survey here

Just posting details about our 2007 contest/theme...

VITALS
Theme: PEACE INSIDE, PEACE OUTSIDE
Word length: 1000 words maximum
CLOSING DATE: 1 December 2007

Winning and highly commended stories published in a printed anthology.

Find more information here:
http://www.sminkworks.com/short-story-competition.htm

Our latest paperback is now out.
Georgiann Baldino's book The Nursing Home Fugitive is a hopeful and humorous novel that inspires as much as it entertains. 

A brief outline...
Clive Parisi has lost his short-term memory after a stroke. The only way he can get by is to write everything down in a journal. Even with a written record, his days feel blank, until he takes up painting. His new-found skill colors his world with vivid detail from his past. But one memory haunts him. So he must run away from the nursing home to reunite with an old friend.
Clive's geriatric road trip becomes the journey of a lifetime. He is helped and hindered by a cast of weird and wonderful characters. An old maid seduces him and videotapes their geriatric attempts to make love, a homeless man who believes he is the Prophet Elijah entices Clive to body paint him, and a funeral director reveals a dark secret. Meanwhile Clive's worried step-daughter Arlene embarks on a search to find him, and begins her own process of self-discovery.

Clive's story proves that someone can, despite overwhelming outside influence, decide what will become of him. The book shows that the final journey can be the best one of all... 

http://www.sminkworks.com

They say love makes the world go round - it's the most sung about, written about and talked about topic on the planet. In a new anthology from Smink Works Books, nine writers 'spread the love' with their short stories.
The Anthology Three Forms of Love: Eros Pathos Agape includes diverse stories that cover the full spectrum of love, from friendship to lust, with a dose of fantasy and philosophy.
The anthology is a showcase of the stand-out stories from the SWB 2006 Short Story Contest, which invited writers to submit stories about love.
Competition judge author Georgiann Baldino says her decision on the winners of the competition was more difficult than she expected. "The stories kept calling my name. I've read them three times and find something I like about each one."
Competition winner, Sydney writer Benjamin Hardy impressed with his subtle story of new love growing in place of an adored lost wife, Olivia Grosser's story Shrine of Remembrance took second place and The Four Winds by Katherine Abetz was awarded third prize.
Read the full winner's list
This year's contest

There's still time to enter. We've extended the deadline for our short story contest until December 31.
http://www.sminkworks.com/short-story-competition.htm

The deadline for Smink Works Books' short story contest is rapidly approaching. We are accepting submissions until December 1.
Here's the lowdown ...
They say love makes the world go round - it's the most sung about, written about and talked about topic on the planet; now Smink Works Books is inviting writers to  ‘spread the love' via its annual short story competition.
The theme of this year's competition is: The Three Forms of Love - Eros, Pathos, and Agape; eros being an erotic form of love, pathos meaning friendship love, and agape, the love of all living things, or unconditional love.
The theme is open to creative interpretation by writers, but we are seeking only positive, enriching tales. Write about one of the forms of love, or all three, but we are looking for heart-warming rather than heart-breaking stories.
The standout stories entered into the competition will be published in an anthology - The idea is to produce a book with stories that are not only original, but will inspire and uplift readers.
for all the details, please go to http://www.sminkworks.com/short-story-competition.htm

We are just about to publish Alfredo Karras's book BE in print. We just received the back cover (which I am sharing), and I have to say I'm excited. Alfredo is a wise, interesting person who is committed to empowering others. His book is a contemporary allegory that is short enough to read in one sitting, but with enough content to change your life.
 

There are three forms of love - philos, agape and eros.

Smink Works is inviting writers to submit short stories on this theme for its annual short story competition.

All the entry details are here:-
http://www.sminkworks.com/short-story-competition.htm

And for all you people who have 'write a novel' or 'publish a novel' as a goal, please feel free to message us for submission guidelines, resources, advice or help, etc.

SM