Cup of Comfort: Upcoming Anthologies
A Cup of Comfort is a bestselling anthology (book) series featuring uplifting
true stories about the experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich
our lives. These slice-of-life stories are written by people from all walks of
life and provide unique personal insights into powerful universal truths. A Cup of Comfort is now seeking submissions for
the following volumes:
* 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 collection will include
compelling, inspiring, and uplifting personal essays about the experiences and
emotions of living with—and living after—breast cancer. Possible story themes
include but are not limited to: diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, support
systems, healthy lifestyle practices, emotional healing, coping mechanisms,
impact on loved ones, effect on friendships, effect on career/work, effect on
romance/intimacy, life lessons learned, personal transformation, silver
linings, gratitude, triumph over trials, body image, and more. All themes and
writing styles considered, as long as the story is positive.
Exclusively for the Breast Cancer
Survivors volume, Adams Media is working in partnership with Redbook
Magazine and will award a $5,000 grand prize as well as bonus prizes for
three runner-up stories. Submission Deadline: 12/31/2007
* A Cup of Comfort for Military Families
It has been said that military life
is "not for the faint of heart." But neither is it without its
benefits and blessings. One thing is certain: it is an experience like no other-for
both the soldiers and their families. For this book, positive stories are wanted
about how military life affects the personal lives of service men and women
(enlisted and officers), how family affects soldiers on the job, and how
military life affects family members (primarily spouses, children, and parents
but also siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts/uncles, fiancés, etc.).
Any situation or subject that is significant and/or unique to military
personnel and their loved ones is acceptable. The goal is to compile a
collection of inspiring or uplifting stories that cover a wide range of topics
and reveal a variety of perspectives, experiences, and emotions specific to
military families. Stories may be written by the service man or woman or a close
family member; military service may be current, recent, or past.
* A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
Few experiences bring forth as many
anxieties, blessings, challenges, wonders, and changes as having a baby-whether
it's your first child or fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing
is as miraculous as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This
heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn homecoming
stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various experiences,
emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to one's life and family.
Potential topics include but are not limited to: nursing (or not), caring for a
newborn, bonding/falling in love with infant, lack of sleep, relationship with
spouse, how siblings respond, returning to work, balancing responsibilities,
post-partum depression, self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons,
small miracles, etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children,
but the book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise,
most of the stories will be written from the new mother's perspective, but we
are open to including a few stories written from the spouse's or a very close
family member's perspective. All stories will be uplifting and positive, no
matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the story might be. Stories that simply recount misfortunes and sorrows and that do not
clearly reveal a positive outcome or redeeming result (silver lining) are not wanted.
* A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families
The primary purpose of this book is
to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and
challenging experiences that are unique to "chosen children" and
their families. Of the most interest are stories written by adult adoptive
children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will also likely
include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family
(grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin), close friends of the adoptive family (i.e.
godparent), and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted
children and their adoptive parents is acceptable-as long as it is authentic,
positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. Heartbreaking
stories about adoptive parents or birth families that regret the adoption are not wanted. There is a place for stories of that ilk, but this book is not that place. All
of the stories in this collection must show a positive aspect of adoption and
must bring comfort or joy or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or
to the families who adopted them-no matter how difficult the experience and
emotions portrayed in the story might be.
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