CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Poems, prayers, and prose are used on a non-exclusive basis: You retain all rights. Please see end of section for terms.                      We're grateful for every submission received.   The projects for which I'm seeking submissions are listed alphabetically below. The two projects most likely to sell quickly are EARTH BLESSINGS and  WISDOM OF WOMEN so I recommend mailing submissions ASAP. EARTH BLESSINGS: PRAYERS, POEMS, AND PROSE FOR CREATING A GREENER EARTH Preliminary chapters include: 1) Nature & the Environment; 2) Honoring the Earth; 3) Healing the Earth; 4) Cycles of Life; 5) Love, Kindness & Compassion; 6) Living Simply; 7) Our Children; 8) Honoring Animals; 9) Spirituality, Prayers & Blessings; 10) World & Community; 11) Joy, Praise & Gratitude; 12) Reflections; and 14) Inspiration. I particularly need submissions for chapters printed in bold. For desired spiritual tone, refer to my 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. Two publishers have expressed interest in EARTH BLESSINGS. Submission date is open EVERYDAY INSPIRATION™ Series I’m creating a gift book series that will function as an extended greeting card. One mini-book, Because I Love You, Mom, will celebrate mothers; one will celebrate grandmothers; another will celebrate the bond between sisters; and the last one will celebrate the bond between friends. Your submissions should be short (ideally 12 lines or less) because the book will have a small trim size. The submissions need to be both universal enough to appeal to someone other than your own relative or friend and specific enough that the recipient feels the piece was written for her or him. Your words should help nurture a strong bond between the buyer and the recipient of the book. Please mark the lower left-hand corner of your envelope, "Mothers," "Grandmothers," "Sisters," or "Friends." Submission date is open. FAMILY TRADITIONS: THE 100 BEST IDEAS FOR CREATING A LEGACY OF LOVE Does your family have a certain tradition that you feel is unique? Something that other families might appreciate knowing about? Was there a fun or meaningful activity in your childhood that brings back warm feelings? Here are some categories of traditions to consider: weddings, anniversaries, new babies, christenings, birthdays, graduations, family reunions, housewarmings, memorial services, family vacations, and retirement, as well as all of the holidays. You can also submit any idea not related to the above categories, such as a mother/daughter or father/son activity. The book will likely have the same trim size as Family Celebrations. I am looking for prose submissions (not poetry), limited to approximately 180-word selections and ideally no longer than 360 words, which represents two pages in the book. If you can limit your description to 180 words (one page), so much the better! Submission date is open. GIRLS NIGHT OUT: THE WISDOM OF WOMEN Scroll down to WISDOM OF WOMEN, the book's new title. PARENT BLESSINGS (previously titled PARENT PRAYERS) is geared specifically for parents and will have the same spiritual tone as BABY BLESSINGS. The intention of the book is to provide insight, joy, and support for parents throughout their parenting journey. Parents will read PARENT BLESSINGS when they feel like celebrating the simple joys of parenting and will also turn to the book for comfort and insight when they feel discouraged in their role as a parent. The primary market will be a gift book for new moms and dads. The secondary market will be parents buying it for themselves for encouragement and inspiration. The chapters include: 1) Pregnancy; 2) Babies; 3) Toddlers; 4) Children; 5) Teens; 6) Leaving Home; 7) Adulthood; 8) Reflections; and 9) Inspiration. Please avoid standard "Please help me be a better parent" submissions. I particularly need submissions for chapters printed in bold. As always, I appreciate freshness and originality. The selections will reflect upon the spirituality of parenting and day-to-day family life. Parents whose children have passed beyond the first few chapters will enjoy the book for the emotional recollection of the precious early years in a child’s life and appreciate the later chapters that pertain to them. Submission date is open. UNAPOLOGETIC WOMAN: POEMS AND REFLECTIONS Scroll down to WISDOM OF WOMEN, the book's new title. WISDOM OF WOMEN: THOUGHTS AND POEMS FOR EVERY STAGE OF YOUR LIFE (Previously titled Girls Night Out and A Woman's Book of Poetry for the Soul) Over the past decade I’ve received wonderful submissions from female writers that never quite fit the particular theme of my general "inspirational" books.  These are poems and prose about womanhood, stages of life, memories, and everything in between. I would love to add a few more high-quality selections--poetry or prose. Unlike most of my other anthologies, there are no prayers in the book, but there is a chapter on Spirituality. The content of WISDOM OF WOMEN is much "edgier" than my other books. Chapters include: 1) The Strength of Us; 2) Relationships; 3) Motherhood; 4) Ordinary Life; 5) Self-Image and Beauty; 6) Aging Gracefully; 7) Heartache and Healing; 8) Joy and Gratitude; 9) Friendships; 10) Shared Experiences; 11) Spirituality; 12) Reflections; and 13) Inspiration. I particularly need submissions for chapters printed in bold. The submissions should not have an "I am woman, hear me roar" tone, but more "this is my experience as a woman." The collection will be for women to turn to when they need encouragement, understanding, inspiration, and to reflect upon the great blessings of being a woman. This book easily spans two generations and is geared to women in their early adulthood to later years and beyond. Submission date is open. 365 BLESSINGS: A Year of Inspiration, Comfort, and Gratitude (previously titled 2007 EVERYDAY BLESSINGS Calendar). Sourcebooks published my 2006 EVERYDAY BLESSINGS Calendar. They have decided not to publish a 2007 calendar because the market for boxed calendars is "trending down." However, my agent thinks we could take the same concept and make it a book.  I cannot pay a permission fee for this particular project, but you would receive one book for each piece published. Since I need 300+ pieces for the book vs. 100+ pieces for one of my regular anthologies, your chances of being published in this book are a good 300% higher than in one of my other books. When writing submissions, picture a 365-day book with the title "Everyday Blessings" - how would you like to be inspired throughout the day? Keep your submissions to 24 lines or less including stanza breaks. If your submission would work for a specific date (such as a holiday) or seasonal match, please mention this in your cover letter or attach a sticky note to your selection. Submission date is open. *TERMS: Terms are generally $25 + one complimentary copy of the book for each piece published for one-time rights. You retain all rights. If the book's advance is small, I can't always guarantee $25/piece, but I do my best! At the minimum, you will receive a complimentary book for each piece published.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please limit your submissions to no more than three selections per book. Unless otherwise stated above, for most of my books, I find that short submissions, no more than 24 lines, work best and those that don’t lecture, but rather, enlighten. Submissions should be insightful, encouraging, or inspirational. Previously published work will be considered. Any dedications or personalization should be removed before submitting your work in order to make it appeal to a wider audience. All submissions should be typed, titled, and submitted one selection per page. The contributor’s name (the way it should appear in the book), address, and phone number should be listed at the top of each page. (If you have an email address or a fax number, please include it with your submissions. While I don’t accept regular submissions via email or fax, I sometimes send an "alert" via email if I need poems for a particular chapter in a current book—or if a proposed project sells quickly and I have a tight deadline to meet.) Send submissions to June Cotner, P.O. Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370 and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient return postage. All those submitting work with an SASE will eventually receive a reply. Response time is approximately 3-4 months. Please see the "What's New" section of my website that gives my "read to" date for all submissions. You are welcome to include submissions for multiple projects in one envelope. Please write the titles of the books for which you are submitting on the lower left-hand corner of your envelope. It's helpful to include a cover letter listing the titles of all of your submissions along with the corresponding project title for which you are submitting. If you tell me to discard any unwanted submissions, then I will return your cover letter with your SASE and you will have a record of what was submitted. In this case, you will only need one first-class postage stamp on your SASE. If you want everything returned, please include an SASE with sufficient return postage for your materials.   If you live outside the U.S., you are welcome to email no more than three submissions to june@junecotner.com Please use the name of the book as your subject line and include all of your contact information on each submission. My books receive major publicity. I market my books strongly and strive to find additional recognition for contributors, such as publication in national magazines and newspapers. Poems and prayers from my books have appeared in USA Today, Family Circle, Woman's Day, New Age Journal, the "Dear Abby" column, a National Geographic DVD about "Dog Town," and major newspapers. Many poets have been contacted by card companies to have their poems featured on a card or plaque as a result of exposure of their poem in one of my anthologies. My books feature poetry from approximately 20% classic and famous authors and 80% contemporary writers.

The most common reasons for rejections: Too specific to one religion (if the book is religious or spiritual, interfaith pieces work best)   Language is not fresh   Too long; unless otherwise stated, generally poems of 24 lines or less work best in my books   Does not fit in with theme of book   Not universal enough; too specific to your experience   Too prescriptive   Too complex or not easily understood   Lacks the poetic quality I’m seeking