Festival of Writing

Here are a few details about the Festival of Writing at York University 25--27 March.
Sue Moorcroft has blogged about it but the highlights are:

Breaking news:
- US agent Marcy Posner is joining from over the pond and taking one-to-ones
- Writers Workshop will be offering “next steps” free to three
writers at the Festival who are talent spotted. The writers will be
offered a free manuscript critique, free coaching or a free manuscript
appraisal from Harry Bingham.
- Harper Collins Authonomy are supporting Authonomy Live talent
contest on Friday evening, with editor Patrick Janson-Smith on the
panel. Last years winner, Shelley Harris was offered representation by
4 literary agents in the room, and then went on to achieve a 5 figure
book deal.

For more details look on the Festival of Writing website

Queensland Floods

You must've seen the terrible newsreels of the Queensland Floods on TV. Horrific, and no doubt they haven't seen the worst of it yet according to the experts. Several lives have been lost already and though not on the scale of some recent disasters (I'm thinking of Haiti here), imagine the heartbreak of losing your home and possessions. Of course, it's easy to sit back and do nothing. You may think 'Oh well, Australia's a wealthy country. They'll recover just fine.' Maybe they are more equipped to deal with the disaster and maybe as we're all feeling the recession pinch we might not want to contribute cold hard cash. Well, there is another way you can help.

100 Stories for Queensland is a charity anthology to assist the victims of the floods. Stories are donated by writers from across the globe and proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Queensland Premier's Flood Relief appeal.
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/

The anthology will be available in digital and print form, and is expected to be ready for release late February/early March.

Details of submission guidelines can be found on the website