We’d like to give you an update in regards to the future of the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival. As many of you know, this past May marked the 9th annual event. We would like to move forward and produce/program a very special SAS Fest to celebrate the landmark 10th anniversary. In order to do that, we’ll be moving the full celebration to May of 2013.

The time and financial resources are just not available this year to produce a full scale Saints and Sinners—we’ve had some changes in staffing at the office, as well as some significant cuts in funding as the communities that support the arts tighten their belts. Although it has been a tough decision to make, we feel that it is the best decision to ensure we achieve our goal of a truly special 10th anniversary.

Plans are already in the works for 2013:

For the 10th anniversary we will be partnering with our new host hotel— The Hotel Monteleone. We are excited to mention two great literary voices are already confirmed for 2013—Val McDermid (at left, top) and Dorothy Allison (at left, bottom). We already have plans underway for new events and a new writing contest, so stay tuned as we’ll be sending regular updates regarding the 10th anniversary as they develop.

We are excited to have our first two workshop facilitators confirmed. Award-winning author, Professor of English and teacher in the MFA program at Virginia Tech, Jeff Mann will facilitate a session focusing on creative non-fiction. A session that will focus on writings from genre fiction & erotica will be led by Radclyffe—award-winning author and President of Bold Strokes Books. Additional facilitators and topics will be added soon.

We are proud to be able to offer these intimate manuscript critique workshops with some of the best writers in their genres to allow SAS attendees the opportunity to get individual feedback from both peers and professionals. Space is limited to 10 per workshop so sign-up soon and on’t miss out on this rare opportunity. In our next e-newsletter we will have registration information and details about the structure of our new manuscript review sessions.

We look forward to seeing you at SAS 9.5 for our “hands-on” workshops, book launch party and a getaway to the French Quarter of New Orleans. It is sure to be a wonderful and educational weekend. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to continue to support Saints and Sinners by entering the short fiction contest, forwarding/posting information about the contest, becoming a member or renewing your membership, making plans to come for the 10th anniversary in 2013 and encourage a friend/new writer to attend with you.

We look forward to seeing you at our future events and as we build towards the next ten years of celebrating GLBT literature at its finest.

Contest Judge Dorothy Allison

We are pleased to announce the Saints and Sinners GLBT Literary Festival’s Third Annual Short Fiction Contest. SAS Fest is seeking original, unpublished short stories between 5,000 and 7,000 words with GLBT content on the broad theme of “Saints and Sinners.”

Judge: Dorothy Allison. The author of Bastard Out of Carolina and Cavedweller, Allison will select the winning stories.

Prize: One grand prize of $250 and two second place prizes of $50 will be awarded. In addition, the top stories will be published in an anthology from QueerMojo, an imprint of Rebel Satori Press. There will also be a book release party to promote the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans May, 2012.

Eligibility:

• The contest is open to authors at all stages of their careers and to stories in all genres.
• Only previously unpublished stories will be accepted.
• Stories that won this contest in previous years are ineligible; their authors remain eligible but must submit new work.
• Stories submitted to this contest in previous years that did not place are eligible.
• Stories that have won any other writing contest are ineligible.

Guidelines:

• Submissions should be in standard manuscript format (double-spaced, one inch margins, 12 point font). Please include a word count on first page under the title.
• Your name and contact information should NOT appear on the manuscript.
• No bios or resumes. We only consider manuscript quality.
• Word Count: 5,000 to 7,000
• Submit only original, unpublished short stories.
• Theme (interpret as you wish): Saints and Sinners

Entry fee: $15 per story. There is no limit on the number of stories each author may enter.

Deadline: December 1, 2011 (postmark)

To enter by mail: download the entry form and send 2 copies of each story with a completed entry form and your $15 entry fee to

Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Contest
938 Lafayette Street, Suite 514
New Orleans, LA 70113

To enter online: Click the button below to pay online and upload your script. One script per transaction please. To enter more than one script, please complete the online entry process for each entry.

Fiction Contest Online Submission Step 1: Entry Fee

To begin the Fiction Contest submission process by paying your $15 entry fee, click the button below. Once you’ve paid your entry fee, you’ll be taken to the Entry Submission form to provide additional information and upload your contest entry.
Read the contest eligibility rules and guidelines above BEFORE you begin the online submission process. Submission fees are non-refundable.

“Saints & Sinners is hands down one of the best places to go to revive a writer’s spirit. Imagine a gathering in which you can lean into conversations with some of the best writers and editors and agents in the country, all of them speaking frankly and passionately about the books, stories and people they love and hate and want most to record in some indelible way. Imagine a community that tells you truthfully what is happening with writing and publishing in the world you most want to reach. Imagine the flirting, the arguing, the teasing and praising and exchanging of not just vital information, but the whole spirit of queer arts and creation. Then imagine it all taking place on the sultry streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter. That’s Saints & Sinners—the best wellspring of inspiration and enthusiasm you are going to find. Go there.”
—Dorothy Allison, National Book Award finalist for Bastard Out of Carolina, and author of the critically acclaimed novel Cavedweller

We’re rolling along with planning a special Opening Night Reception with the help of Culture Ireland’s initiative, Imagine Ireland. http://www.imagineireland.ie/