KWA Prose & Poetry Contest

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For those of you that know me, I’ve been a member of the Kansas Writers Association (KWA) for about ten years now.  Every year they sponsor a contest with multiple categories, including but not limited to Creative Non-Fiction, Memoirs, 1st Chapter of Novel, Short Fiction, Juvenile Short Stories, Playwriting, and Poetry for Adults and Youth.  The specifics of the categories can be found on the KWA web site at http://www.kwawriters.com/competitions.htm.  It’s very inexpensive to enter ($10-$15 for adults, 1.50  for kids) and there are cash prizes ($25-$100). I highly recommend it for writers of any level or genre, and from anywhere in U.S.

Contests are great ways to get your feet wet as a writer.  It’s a good vehicle to practice following guidelines and meeting deadlines, too.  Speaking of deadlines, the deadline for submission is November 1, 2009 – SO DON’T WAIT.  GET YOUR ENTRIES SENT IN FOLKS, and Good Luck!!

FFV Advanced Proof Copies

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I received the Advanced Uncorrected Proof copies of my novel, Feisty Family Values today.  Five Star Publishing is the best!  I have two weeks to edit for errors and notify them, and the remaining copies will go to bookstores and reviewers to start a buzz prior to its release.  It’s all very exciting and oh so real now that I have a printed copy in my hands.  This is a dream come true for me and every other writer out there, and proof that it CAN be done.  (I never gave up, never quit writing, kept on editing, and submitting.) I promise to let everyone know when it’s available for sale.  Look for it in February 2010!  Woo Hoo! (This is the most I’ve ever used exclamation points, but I’m really pumped and can’t help myself.)

bdtharp.com

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BD Tharp has a new web site under development at bdtharp.com. It's still "under construction" but it's coming along nicely. Look for the excerpt from my novel Feisty Family Values, which comes out in February 2010.  Scribble will be moving to this site as well, so it has its own page.  There's a blog, but it mostly mirrors this one.  Anyway, take a look and feel free to leave comments.

BD Tharp Wins 3 - 2009 KPC Awards

Great News! BD Tharp has just won three 2009 Kansas Professional Communicators awards.
•    1st place for 2 Special Arts & Entertainment Articles:
“Joan Lunden’s Hometown Heroes” and “For the Love of Dance” published in Womens Focus Magazine
•    2nd place for 2 Special Articles on Health:
“Living with MS” and “Take the Pressure Off” published in Womens Focus Magazine
•    Honorable Mention for Special Series (4) Articles: 
“Reducing the Affects of Aging” published in Womens Focus Magazine
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KPC 2009 Spring Conference

The Kansas Professional Communicators held the 2009 Conference in Wichita at the Hilton Garden Inn, April 17-18.  We learned about emerging trends and practical tips from the pros on how to JAZZ UP YOUR TOOLBOX.  It was a great success, thanks to all the WPC members who organized it. 

Interview Excitement

My articles about Gerda Weissmann Klein are in the March editions of Womens Focus and Active Aging magazines.  Gerda is coming to Wichita for the 75th anniversary of Newman University and will be speaking March 25 at 7:00 PM. 

Feisty Family Values

My women's fiction novel, Feisty Family Values has been acquired by Five Star Publishing, Expressions line.  I'm so excited.  I've completed the first round of edits including cover and catalog copy as well as submitted a photo.  The book is slated for publication February 2010.  So stay tuned!

2008 Kansas Professional Communicators Contest

BD Tharp was awarded three prizes in this year's competition. 

FIRST PLACE: Health & Fitness for Aware & Alive (Breast Cancer) and Autism 101; Womens Focus.

SECOND PLACE: Education for Local Teachers Excel and Coach Albright Is All Right Womens Focus.

HONORABLE MENTION: Personality Profile for Weather Carrier; Womens Focus.
Communications professionals from all over the state submitted published, issued, broadcast or telecast entries from 2007.  First Prize entries are sent for nation competition with the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW).

KWA 2007/2008 Competition Award Winner

2nd Place in Playwriting Category for BB&J. When Boots, Birdie and Jaydeen get together at their 20th high school reunion the fellows can't decide whether to flock or scatter and the gals aren't going to make it easy for them.

Honorable Mention in First Pages of A Novel for "The Wedding".  When Amanda Cook's obsessive boyfriend shows up at the church she realizes he's never going to let her go.  She has no idea, however, what lengths he will go through to possess her, or prevent her from being with another man.

76th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition Award Winner!!

BD Tharp was awarded Honorable Mention for Feisty Fossils, in the Stage Play Script Category.