Call for Submissions from TAYO Literary Magazine

TAYO LITERARY MAGAZINE

Call for Submissions | 2nd Annual Issue

“For our culture, by our culture.”

All are welcomed to submit, regardless of ethnicity and age. We accept creative works ranging from: short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, photography, paintings, drawings and digital artwork.

We are tweaking the format for our call of submissions. Please submit to TAYO via online submission manager.

* * *

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: JULY 16TH, 2010 @ MIDNIGHT

* Submissions for our online content are on a rolling basis.

* All materials submitted are considered for both the online and print magazines.

* By submitting you are allowing TAYO Literary Magazine to reproduce your work.

* Not all submissions may be featured in our print / online mediums.

SUBMISSION POLICY: TAYO Literary Magazine does not charge a fee for submitting. As such, we cannot afford to pay a monetary sum to any of our contributors at this time. Your submissions go a long way in supporting the arts in the Asian American community, especially through inspiring younger artists, helping them to find their audience, to find their voice.

EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS!
* We are having an art/photo contest for our front page cover. Please view our online submission site for details! Deadline 07/16/2010

Interview with J. Aday Kennedy, author of "Klutzy Kantor"

J. Aday Kennedy was born and raised in McKinney, Texas. On and off as she grew up she lived in Northern California. Aday disliked school and quit in the eleventh grade. However, it did not take long to realize she needed an education. Aday had always been bored by her teachers. When she decided to complete her education she was determined to become a "different" kind of teacher that instructed, entertained and inspired.

In 1989, she moved to Walnut Creek, Ca. and started junior college. After three years she completed her general education credits and was admitted to the University of California at Davis. She earned her bachelors degree in twentieth century European history. After she attained her degree she returned to Texas and researched graduate schools to pursue a teaching credential.

Before she applied to graduate school, she caught spinal meningitis. Due to complications, Aday suffered a respiratory and cardiac arrest and stroke. She fell into a coma. Two hours after the doctors pronounced her brain dead she regained consciousness as a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic.

After several years of intense therapy she grew bored. She had recaptured partial use of her left arm and hand, but one day after another consumed with physical therapy left her unfulfilled. Her cognitive brain function had been unaffected by the stoke. It clamored to be used. Aday began speaking at seminars for registered respiratory therapists on spinal meningitis and patient advocacy. They opened the door to motivational and inspirational speaking engagements, but she wanted to do more.

She found writing classes on the internet. Her creative mind and love for children manifested in essays, articles and children's books. Three years and fifteen classes later she received a picture book contract. Aday had grown into "The Differently-Abled Writer" making her dreams come true a story at a time.

J. Aday was kind enough to answer some questions about her writing life and also share information about her new book, Kluzty Kantor!

What is the best advice on writing you've ever received?

When you have written something let it rest. Do not look at it for weeks before you begin the editing process. Then you can look at it with fresh eyes.

Tell us about your family.

I have three older sisters. Their names are Tomorrow, Yestraday and Taday. Among them they have eleven children. I'm Aunt Squeaky to them and adore them all. I live with my mom, Lee Kennedy and my adopted father, Steve Kennedy. The thought of living with my mom and dad forever horrified me when I was younger, but they are my best friends. Age and circumstances supplied me with a new perspective.

Can you share the origins of your disabilities?

In 1998, I caught bacterial pneumococcal spinal meningitis. It began with an earache. I visited two doctors. Neither diagnosed the disease. Within one week I was rushed to the emergency room; correctly diagnosed; suffered a respiratory arrest and brain stem stroke; descended into a coma; pronounced brain dead and regained consciousness a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. It was a busy week.

Did you always want to be a writer?

No. When I was a little girl I wanted to be Big Bird. I'm tall enough and my feet are big enough, but my beak and feathers never grew. When I got older I wanted to be a history teacher, but luckily I had a stroke and fell in love with and discovered a talent for writing.

Describe your working environment.

I am blessed to have my house on 4.5 acres of land on a private lake in East Texas. I have only to look out the window to be inspired. I'm a legally blind ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. (It's a great excuse to stay in bed.) When I began to fall in love with where my computer could take me, I found a computer desk that slides over my bed at Ergoquest. I have my goals, inspirational sayings and Herb, my trusting writing bug, attached to the edges of my computer monitor.

Tell us about your children's books.

I have six picture books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing. They are a mixture of humorous fantasy and Christian stories. All include a teacher's guide, send a positive message and are geared to attract reluctant readers.

That is the perfect tie-in to your latest book, Klutzy Kantor! Here is more information for our readers:

Klutzy Kantor
Available for purchase online through www.amazon.com and through local bookstores.
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc (April 14, 2010)
ISBN-10: 978-1616330511
ISBN-13: 978-1616330514
Price: $10.95

Kantor, a young flying horse, wishes he wasn't so clumsy. The crone Agra tells him that the leprechaun Cobbledom McSweeney can grant that wish, but only if Kantor can answer his riddle challenge. His friends Rabbit, Fox and Bear help by quizzing him on riddles before the fateful day. Will Kantor solve the riddle and end his clumsy ways?

Children learn the benefit of practice and to focus on their strengths.
• Reluctant Reader Friendly
• Laugh Out Loud Funny
• Character Building

What Reviewers are Saying:

The marriage of J. Aday Kennedy's words and Jack Foster's illustrations make a magical combination and a delightful read. - Susan J. Berger

In this story of a Pegasus who is determined to change his klutzy ways, J. Aday Kennedy draws readers in with a charming and delightful story filled with characters they’ll love. I look forward to the next book in the Klutzy Kantor series. - Cheryl C. Malandrinos, The Children's and Teens' Book Connection


J. Aday is holding a contest to celebrate the release of Klutzy Kantor!

Win 1 of 5 Prizes (You get to choose it!)

Rules
No purchase is necessary.
You must be 18 to enter.
Prizes can only be mailed to winners in the continental U.S.A.

For More Chances to Win:

* Leave a comment at a stop on the tour and get a separate entry for each.
* Follow J. Aday Kennedy's or Klutzy Kantor's blog for a separate entry for each: http://www.jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/
* Blog about the contest (leave link: http://www.jadaykennedy.com/)
* Tweet about the contest (leave link: http://www.jadaykennedy.com/)
* For an additional entry announce the contest on social networks like Live
Journal, Jacket Flap, Book Marketing Network, LinkedIn or another social network
(leave link: http://www.jadaykennedy.com/)

For every 13 participants another winner will be selected. The first winner named will have first choice of prizes, the second gets second choice and so on. Up to 5 winners can be named.

Vote for Blogger's Choice Awards!

This blog has been nominated for three "Blogger's Choice Awards":

• Best Blog About Stuff
• Best Education Blog
• Best Blogging Host

I love putting together this blog and I would be absolutely honored if you would take ten seconds to vote! Thanks so much in advance for all the support. It's wonderful to be part of such an amazing online community!

Short Story Published in "Bartleby Snopes" Literary Magazine!

I'm very happy to share that my short story "DING!" has been published in the literary magazine Bartleby Snopes, and was selected as an "Editor's Pick" to appear in the forthcoming PDF printable magazine! You can read it this month online at http://bartlebysnopes.com/ding.htm. Here's the first couple paragraphs:

The old man baked bread every Wednesday. An early riser, he baked before the sun came up. Even before he did the crossword puzzle--in ink, for he's a brave soul--because he often baked before the newspaper arrived. 

He baked cinnamon bread. More like cake, actually. Flour, sugar, eggs, water, butter, and the secret "starter" ingredient of dough saved from last week's batch. Chocolate chips, sometimes, if he made it for the grandkids (which he usually did, considering he had nine of them.) Walnuts if he brought it to the office. Just plain for him, maybe an extra pinch of cinnamon--but he hardly ever made it just for himself. He could never finish a whole loaf before it grew dry and stale. And it seemed like such a waste to throw half a loaf away. His mother would have scolded him, just as she had when he was a boy during the Depression and didn't clean his plate.

"Eat your carrots, Ollie!" she would say. "Plenty of kids will go to bed hungry tonight and would give anything to have those carrots to eat. So be thankful! Wastefulness is a sin!"

"Cooked carrots are a sin," the young boy thought then and the old man thought now, stirring the thick batter with a wooden spoon. His arm muscles would ache by the time the batter was smooth and ready for the oven, but he still stubbornly mixed everything by hand. To do it any other way seemed like cheating.

Read the rest at http://bartlebysnopes.com/ding.htm.

Contest announced! Write a review of 3 a.m. for a chance to WIN!

Give-away alert!

Have you read my collection of short stories 3 a.m.? Did you enjoy it? (I hope so!) I would be really grateful if you could take a couple minutes to write a short review and post it on Amazon.com.

In fact, I will be SO grateful that once you post a review, email me your name and contact info (dallaswoodburn@aol.com) and I'll enter you in a contest to win a fun writing-related goodie!

Free e-newsletters for writers

If you want to be a writer, the more you can learn about the industry, the better! Here are a few wonderful *free* email newsletters for writers. Knowledge is only a click away!

* The Perspiring Writer, editor Ned Burke. This free ezine features writing tips and writing help articles for the hard-working writer. Published quarterly. Runs up to 15 pages. Subscribe here: http://www.theperspiringwriter.com

* Book Marketing Matters by Brian Jud. http://www.bookmarketing.com. Brian publishes small newsbytes by experts for authors who are promoting a books.

* Publishing Basics is Ron Pramshufer’s newsletter. He publishes more substantial articles by professionals. http://www.publishingbasics.com

* Writing for Dollars features opportunities for freelance article and fiction writers. Dan Case is the editor. Sign up here, http://www.writingfordollars.com

* And, of course, Write On! For Literacy publishes a free monthly newsletter! Subscribe at http://writeonbooks.org/newsletter.aspx

Guest Post by Dee Barizo: 4 Tips for a Successful Freelance Writing Career

A career as a freelance writer can be a roller coaster of a ride; it is not uncommon for many freelancers to feel insecure in their jobs. After all, you might have one really profitable week or month and then the next month be wondering if you will make enough to pay your electricity bill. If you want your writing career to expand beyond just a part-time hobby and into a full-time business, these tips for building a successful freelance writing career will help you become more profitable and keep the writing gigs coming your way.

Tip #1: Treat Your Career as a Business

If you want your writing career to become a profitable small business, then treat it like a business from this point forward. Taking your “job” as a freelance writer seriously is of the utmost importance if you want to be perceived as a professional writer. All correspondence with clients, both potential and existing, should be professional, grammatically free from errors, and a sample of what type of writing you are capable of. As a professional writer, always deliver the best work that you can, and never, ever make a promise to a client that you do not intend to keep. Putting your best foot forward allows you to be singled out as a competent writer that is in demand.

Tip #2: Network with Other Writers

Networking with other people who share your passion for the written word is not only a good way to find more work as a freelancer, but is also motivational. Having a circle of writers to share your thoughts with is like having a water cooler to come to and de-stress. While working at home as a writer can be very rewarding, it can also make one feel isolated from the rest of the world.

Tip #3: Create Passive Income

It is important for a freelance writer to have some streams of passive income coming in so that they can concentrate on landing good-paying writing gigs. If you are working full time from home as a writer, consider building passive income by running your own monetized blog or by creating a few informational products or e-books that can be sold over and over again indefinitely. These types of smaller, less profitable endeavors can generate some income for you while increasing your exposure as a writer and giving you something to do in your free time when you are in between larger projects. Pennies, nickels, and dimes add up fast.

Tip #4: Learn How to Earn

And last of all, follow the Pareto Principle. Eighty percent of the sales you make as a freelance writer will likely come from twenty percent of your client base. Learn how to earn by determining which clients have the potential to become the most profitable and enjoyable for you to work with, and give special care to nurturing a positive relationship with those clients. Make notes on how and when you make the money that you bring in as a successful freelance writer, and avoid projects that may be causing you to waste too much time for too little compensation.

Keep in mind when building your freelance career that any tree that bears sweet fruit needs to be nurtured patiently for a few seasons before you can reap the true benefits of sowing a seed. But once your freelance writing career takes off, the hard work and perseverance you have shown will be greatly rewarded with the financial and personal freedom that comes from being your own boss.

Bio: Dee Barizo is a staff writer for The Best Degrees, an online education resource featuring the top online degrees.