HarperOne (formerly HarperSanFrancisco, publisher of my books Graces, Bedside Prayers, Animal Blessings, and Get Well Wishes) is very excited about my new project, TOASTS: Words for Every Occasion.

Preliminary categories include: Anniversaries; Award Presentations; Birthdays; Blessings; Bon Voyage Parties; Business Events; Children; Class Reunions; Family; Family Reunions; Fathers; Fortune & Prosperity; Friends; General Toasts; Graces; Graduations; Guests; Happiness; Health; Host and Hostess; Housewarming; Memorial/Funeral Gatherings; Mothers; New Babies & Christenings; New Job; Patriotic Toasts; Retirement; and Wedding Toasts. Plus, Holiday Toasts including New Years, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fools’ Day; Passover, Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas. Since this is a new project, I need submissions for all categories.

Because I need to gather submissions quickly for my TOASTS book proposal, if you are interested, you may submit up to three submissions via email to june@junecotner.com following these guidelines:

Closing date for “urgent” submissions is February 8, 2009. (There is no closing date for submissions sent via regular mail.)

All submissions sent via email should be sent as a Word document attachment. Please list “TOASTS Submission” as your subject line and include all of your contact information on each submission.

Submissions via USPS go to June Cotner, P.O. Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient return postage. All those submitting work with an SASE will receive a reply.

Also, on my website, under “Call for Submissions,” I’ve posted several new projects and have updated info for many of the current projects. For EARTH BLESSINGS, GIRLS NIGHT OUT, and PARENT BLESSINGS, I have posted several chapters in bold, indicating that I particularly need submissions for these chapters.

If you haven’t checked my website in awhile, here are some of the new projects:

GOOD DOG! BAD DOG! FUNNY DOG! A compilation of "funny dog" stories. Two publishers have expressed interest in this project. At this early stage, I don't have a word limit, so just send me what you have. My goal is to create a book as humorous as Marley and Me by John Grogan. Please put "FUNNY DOG STORY" on the lower left-hand corner of your envelope.

MORE THAN JUST A DOG: Tributes to Our Dearest Friends One publisher has expressed interest in this idea. The title is a response to those who might have said to you (or thought) upon your dog's death that "Well, she was just a dog." At this early stage, I don't have a word limit. I anticipate that most of the book will consist of stories rather than poems or prayers. Please put "DOG TRIBUTE" on the lower left-hand corner of your envelope.

UNAPOLOGETIC WOMAN: POEMS AND REFLECTIONS The idea for this book came from a 20-something friend of mine. She wanted a book that she could relate to and that would draw on the popularity of the Andrews McMeel book Believing in Ourselves. The preliminary chapters include: 1) Love; 2) Relationships; 3) Ordinary Life; 4) Children; 5) Friendship; 6) Image; 7) Strength; 8) Self-Discovery; 9) Heartache and Healing; 10) Reflections; and 11) Inspiration. UNAPOLOGETIC WOMAN is a new project, so I need submissions for all chapters. I picture a smaller format for this book, so it would probably be best to keep poetry submissions under 20 lines (including stanza breaks) and prose pieces under 120 words. This book is geared to women under forty but you do not need to be "under 40" to submit for this book. Please see the description for GIRLS NIGHT OUT for a book geared to women forty and older.

If you would like to submit for any projects other than TOASTS, and you live within the U.S., please send all submissions via USPS with an SASE.

Thanks!

June