WritingSpirit Resources

June Cotner: Upcoming Anthologies

June Cotner has published two dozen anthologies, including the bestselling Graces, Bedside Prayers, and House Blessings. Collectively, her books have sold more than 800,000 copies.

Currently, she is looking for submissions for:

* Serenity: Prayers, Poems & Prose to Soothe Your Soul
Serenity Prayers will offer serenity, encouragement, and inspiration as individuals navigate the challenges of everyday life. The overriding intention of Serenity Prayers is to provide a timeless collection of prayers, poems, and prose that will leave the reader feeling more at peace, relaxed, hopeful, and encouraged after reading passages from the book. It will be packaged like her book, Comfort Prayers. Please refer to her books Comfort Prayers and Bless the Day for desired spiritual tone. Preliminary chapters include: Serenity, Faith, Courage, Hope, Healing, Relaxation, Reflections, Gratitude, and Inspiration. Submissions deadline is Feb. 29, 2008.

* Earth Blessings:Prayers, Poems, and Prose Honoring the Earth (for Book Proposal)
Preliminary chapter titles for Earth Blessings include: Love (for humankind) & Kindness, Courage, Compassion, Faith, Simplicity, Unity in Diversity (commonality of all), Group Consciousness, Celebration, Our Children, Spirituality, Prayer, Community & Worldly Concerns, Forgiveness & Tolerance, Activism, Purpose & Balance, Healing, Miracles, Gratitude, Wonder & Appreciation, Praise & Celebration, Hope for the Future, and Inspiration. For desired spiritual tone, refer to her book,  Looking for God in All the Right Places or the previous version of this book, Heal Your Soul, Heal the World. “Green publishing” is popular right now and focuses primarily on the nuts and bolts of how to improve the environment. In contrast, Earth Blessings is a spiritual book that will reflect upon the beauty of the earth and remind all of us to cherish the earth. Submissions Deadline is April 30, 2008.

She has several other titles with open submission dates, including:

* Parent Blessings
* Birthday Blessings
* Everyday Inspiration
* What is Love

and more...

Call for Submissions
(Includes Possible Anthology Titles and Writers Guidelines)

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. Submission Deadline: 3/1/2008

* 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. Submission Deadline: 4/01/2008

* 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. Submission Deadline: 6/15/2008

Possible Anthology Titles

Writers Guidelines

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Upcoming Anthologies

Your true stories may be in demand by Chicken Soul For the Soul.

Possible Anthology Titles

Writers Guidelines

Submit Your Stories

UNPUBLISHED AUTHORS BEWARE!

Or better yet, BE AWARE that according to Ken & Dahlynn McKowen, co-authors of four Chicken Soup For the Soul books, including the newly released Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul, “approximately 40% of the stories accepted by Chicken Soup are from unpublished writers.”

So send your stories to "Chicken Soup" for these up-coming titles:

* Twenty-Something Soul
If you are twenty-something or remember what it was like to be that age please submit your stories to us. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2007.

* Basketball Lover's Soul
Stories of inspiration and resilience from basketball players and from the fans who love basketball. The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2008.

* Christmas Pet Book
Many people feel that their pets are a part of their families. Do you have a special holiday story to share with us involving your pet? We would love to have you submit it to us. The deadline date for story submission is March 31, 2008.

* Catholic Soul
An affirming collection of powerful and heartwarming stories and poems full of faith and inspiration. The deadline date for story submissions is May 30, 2008.

* Life Lessons for Leaders
Some people inspire and bring out the best in others. These people are considered to be the leaders in our society and the stories and lessons in this book will be about them. The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2008.

* Baking With Kids
A collection of stories and recipes that bring back fond memories and experiences of the baking experiences you had as a young child. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Cat Lover's Soul: Raining Cats!
Another wonderful collection of stories celebrating cats as family. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Dog Lover's Soul: Unleashed!
Another wonderful collection of stories celebrating dogs as family. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Celebrating Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
We have all been involved in embarrassing situations. You know - something happens to you and you just want to disappear! This collection of funny and upbeat true stories will make you realize that it’s okay to laugh at yourself! The deadline for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Extraordinary Teen's Soul
A collection of stories on life, love and learning for teens. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Football Lover's Soul
Stories of inspiration and resilience from football players and from the fans who love football. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* High School Graduates
The stories in this book will celebrate the memories, laughter, tears and accomplishments of those people graduating, or who have graduated, from High School. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Life Lessons for Expectant Mothers
If you are an expectant mother, your life if about to change! These lessons and stories will inspire women to learn and to celebrate the joys and challenges of being an expectant mother. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Stay At Home Mom's Soul
Being a stay at home mom is one of the most difficult jobs but also one of the most rewarding. These stories will make you appreciate and realize what an important job being a stay at home mom is. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Twins Soul
What a unique experience it is to be a twin! The heartwarming stories in this book will tell about that experience and will be written by both twins and people who know twins or have them in their families. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2008.

* Christmas Collection
We are excited to let you know that we plan to do a new Christmas Collection book each year. This series will be a timeless collection of stories that celebrate the magic of the season. There is no deadline date for story submissions..

* Green Soul
From recycling to reducing air polution, we have all been working towards a better environment for ourselves and our families. We are looking for stories about the interesting changes that have been made to benefit us all. No deadline date for story submissions has been established.

* Life Lessons on Relationships/Couples
Stories and lessons to help you reconnect with the things that are important in a relationship. No deadline for submissions has been established.

* Runner's Soul
Many people enjoy running. They find it to be an energizing and rewarding experience. The stories in this book will give us an insight into the runner's soul. No deadline for submissions has been established.

Writers Guidelines

Submit Your Stories

Dare to Be Fabulous

Submissions Deadline: Open
Word Length: Up to 1,500 Words

Have you ever had a moment or a time when you felt you had truly outdone yourself -- yet you knew at that moment that you had also been more yourself than ever before? Have you ever done something that made you feel particularly brave, sexy, strong, spontaneous, intelligent, compassionate, or beautiful? A time when you dared to be fearless?

You Dared to be Fabulous!

Each occasion when a woman dares to stand up for who she is and what she believes in, no matter what others might think, is an important contribution towards changing the status of women in the world. Dare to Be Fabulous is not just about big or serious decisions, but just as important, about the seemingly small ones, the ones that provided an unexpected dose of levity, pleasure, and laughter. The more daring moments and decisions that women allow themselves to celebrate, the more positive their associations with such actions until, one day, they find themselves behaving a whole new way, daring to be the vibrant and powerful creatures that they truly are.

Dare to be Fabulous is looking for stories to include in this collection of essays by women about their own daring moments and experiences.

• Moments will feature stories about spontaneous experiences or decisions that lifted a woman's spirits and brought a sense of self-actualization. These moments could include speaking up (or saying nothing), dancing (or sitting down), walking away (or coming closer).

• Life will feature stories about decisions women made to take a new direction in life based on being true to themselves. These stories could include changes in career, relationships, or ways of life.

• Forays will feature daring experiences that fall in between the spontaneous and the long-term, such as taking up a performing art, going on that solo trip, picking up an unusual hobby, or getting involved in a new cause or relationship.

Dare to Be Fabulous

Writer’s Guidelines