Curiosity Quills Press Announces Writing Competition for NaNoWriMo ParticipantsThe final edits took longer than expected, but we are finally live with Round Three of the NaNo-Virtuosos Competition, the final leg in this two-month long challenge.

Our five remaining competitors have received professional editing of their ten presented pages of manuscript by bestselling urban fantasy and paranormal romance author, Vicki Keire, as well as $25 Amazon gift cards.

Now, they set their sites on a bigger prize:

  • Professional editing of their full manuscript
  • $150 Amazon gift certificates
  • A publishing contract with Curiosity Quills Press

On January 30, 2012, the two manuscripts which are best liked by our readers will be selected as the winners of the competition.

We have also made a few changes to the way the voting is presented, based on feedback from prior rounds. From now on, voting will take place right on the manuscript pages (at the bottom, below the story content).

So, without further ado, please welcome the five survivors of the NaNo-Virtuosos Competition:

After the Woods

Genre: Upper YA
Author: Court Young

Synopsis: Elizabeth has visions induced by an antique music box that her dead grandfather was given decades before her birth. Gertrude, a witch, instructs Elizabeth to face her fears which induces her to go into the woods after dark. She travels to unfamiliar places and meets strange characters, all while trying to subdue her fear of an evil vampiress named Capella. In the end, Elizabeth finds the answers to the questions she has and understands the change that will soon take place in her life. She must ultimately choose between good, evil, and life or death.

Ashtray Girl

Genre: Literary
Author: Trystan Mackendrick

Synopsis: A sidelined drifter meets an ex-con turned drug dealer and is quickly caught in a vicious cycle of prostitution and cocaine use. Meanwhile, a recently widowed woman falls prey to her vices, and an apathetic stripper struggles to care for her estranged children. As their lives collide and intertwine under the sparkling lights of the Las Vegas Strip, each will be forced to make choices that will change their lives forever. Pleasurable escapes become dominating addictions, and even love is for sale. One person’s truth is someone else’s lie.

Cell Hell

Genre: Sci-Fi
Author: Trudy Dillard

Synopsis: When some residents of a small town notice that cell phones are creating unusual behavior, they join forces with an odd pair of siblings to intervene before technology problems spiral out of control. The result is a journey which spans across the globe, the galaxy, and even time itself.

Happiness: How To Find It

Genre: General Fiction
Author: Anthony Mathenia

Synopsis: Rose Gluck thought she knew what it meant to be happy, until Wyatt True, a recent graduate of the Ministerial Training School came to help her small country congregation. Rose finds herself drawn to the dashing young brother and experiencing feelings that she never knew existed. Meanwhile, despite his vow of singleness, Wyatt can’t but help to fall for the beautiful young sis­ter. But the Presiding Overseer of the congregation has his own plans for Rose.

Sanity Vacuum

Genre: SciFi
Author: Thea Isis Gregory

Synopsis: Vivian Skye is assigned to work on quIRK, one of the most advanced quantum computers ever designed. She leaves her home planet of Aurora to travel across the galaxy to the Extra-Galactic Observatory, the home of quIRK. When station administrator Bryce’s jealousy and ambition compels him to pit Vivian and quIRK against each other, Vivian must struggle to survive not only Bryce’s megalomania, but also the emerging artificial super intelligence that is quIRK.

Please support your favorite stories by reading these updated manuscripts and casting your vote!

Good luck to all competitors and may the best pair of stories win!



About the Author

Eugene Teplitsky
Running the acclaimed Curiosity Quills Press literary magazine and publishing house along with wife and writing partner, Lisa Gus, Eugene strives to give fellow authors a fighting chance in this tumultious age. With nearly two decades of work in the financial and entertainment sectors, Eugene's experience spans the gamut from web application development, to graphic design, to search engine optimization, and social media marketing.