And The Winner Is...

Thanks to everyone who participated in my Valentine's Day six-word memoir contest. Fantastic job, everyone. There were 14 participants who submitted 53 entries. Let me tell you this was a difficult decision, so I've chosen three winners as follows:

First place: "Opening my heart opened my life" by Karen McConnaughey

Second place (tie): "I said no to your ring" by Quill Shiv
"It's been a century since you" by Caroline Gerardo

They're all very different, yet powerful and poignant. And don't you want to know the backstory for each one? I do!

I was only going to choose one winner but that was impossible. As promised, Karen will receive a copy of IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT, More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure.

Quill Shiv and Caroline will each receive an IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT magnetic bookmark and my new picture book bookmark. Please send your address to me at bethcarter@hughes.net or message me on Facebook.

Congrats to everyone! Well done. I'll have another contest in a month or so. Thanks for participating.

Love Is In The Air

In honor of Valentine's Day, let's combine romance with my other favorite thing--writing. And how about throwing in a contest, too!

You know my passion for six-word memoirs. Here are six six-word memoirs I wrote for Valentine's Day:

Chocolates. Roses. Champagne. Hugs still best.
What I love about you? Everything.
Mature love's better than puppy love.
Loves me, loves me not. Does!
Etched our initials on the mountaintop.
He thinks I'm the one. Ditto.

There. See, it's not hard. Please enter your own six-word memoir about Valentine's Day in the comment section, and you'll be eligible to win IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT a collection of 1,000 six-word memoirs by famous writers, celebrities and not-so-famous authors like me!

Deadline to enter: February 14 at midnight. (You may enter up to six six-word memoirs.) Drawing will be held February 15. Good luck.

NYC Book Tour, Here I Come!

Well, I can't stand it any more. I keep reading about all the successful book tours in major cities touting the just-released IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT. So...my wonderful husband is supporting me and we're heading to New York City next weekend for the final date of the book tour. The event will be held at the 92nd Street Y where the editors and authors from Smith will talk about the brilliance of brief writing. Don't you love that phrase? The author panel will feature A.J. Jacobs, Editor of Esquire and NY Times' bestselling author; Amy Sohn, author, columnist for New York Magazine, and successful screenwriter; and Ben Yagoda, English professor and author of nine novels. Prior to the book tour, a contest is being held about life in New York. Prizes will be awarded and six people will have their memoir turned into a song by Michael Hearst of One Ring Zero! Here are a few of the New York memoirs I submitted: Complex city of hobos and heroes. Intimidated by the trains. I'll walk. Are the hot dogs, pretzels sanitary? Want to blend in? Wear black. Tiny apartments. Huge prices. Worth it? Does the naked cowboy get cold? Midwestern girl takes New York. Gulp. We will never, ever forget 9-11. The contest ends on Jan. 18 so hurry. www.smithmag.net If you miss the deadline, feel free to post your favorite New York memoir here. And one more thing. Anyone want to help me pack? I hate packing.