Malice Domestic Unpubbed Writer Grants program deadline near

The deadline for the Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers this year is November 15, 2007. (Please note that this is NOT the Malice Domestic/St. Martin's Press Best First Traditional Mystery contest! Different contest, different deadline, and you still have time
to enter!) Full contest rules and information below

I'm only the messenger--Harriette Sackler, the Malice Grants Chair, has asked me to remind people about the upcoming deadline, and if you have any questions you should contact her at *grants@malicedomestic.org*



MALICE GRANTS

The William F. Deeck˜Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers will award grants to two unpublished writers in the malice domestic genre at Malice Domestic XX in April 2008. Founded in 1993 by Beth Foxwell, a former Malice Domestic Board Chair, and recently named for the late William F. Deeck, a long-time supporter and friend of Malice Domestic, Ltd. and an advocate for unpublished writers, The William F. Deeck Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers is designed to foster quality malice domestic literature and to help the next generation of malice domestic authors get their first work published.

Malice Domestic, Ltd. awards the grant based on a demonstrated commitment to the malice domestic genre. Each grant may be used to offset registration, travel, or other expenses related to attendance at a writers‚ conference or workshop within a year of the date of the award (no later than May 2009). In the case of nonfiction, the grant may be used to offset research expenses. The Malice Domestic, Ltd.'s Board of Directors may consider publishing the work of a nonfiction grant winner. Each grant currently includes a $1,000 award plus a comprehensive
registration for the following year's convention and two nights‚ lodging at the convention hotel, but does not include travel to the convention or meals.

A Definition of the Malice Domestic Genre: The genre is loosely described as mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type˜i.e., "traditional mysteries". These works usually feature an amateur detective, characters who know each other, and no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex.

Eligibility Requirements: Writers must not have published a book, short story, or dramatic work in the mystery field, either in print, electronic, or audio form. Members of the Malice Domestic, Ltd.'s Board of Directors and their families are ineligible to apply. Previous
winners of the Malice Domestic Grants for Unpublished Writers are ineligible to reapply for the grant. Malice Domestic, Ltd. encourages applications from minority candidates.

Submission Requirements and Deadline: Candidates must submit THREE (3) copies of each of the following required materials to the grants chair at the address given below by the deadline:

1. a resume, which includes the candidate's preferred postal address, e-mail address, and telephone number(s);

2. a typed letter of application explaining the writer's qualifications for the grant and the conference or workshop to be attended or the research to be funded;

3. a letter of reference from someone familiar with the writer's work; and

4. a plot synopsis of no more than 300 words and three CONSECUTIVE chapters of the writer's Malice Domestic-genre book in progress, preferably the first three chapters.

Deadline for receipt of materials is November 15, 2007. Materials will be accepted between September 15 and November 15, 2007, only, but allowing, of course, for mail sent on November 15 to arrive at the post office box. Candidates for the grant must send their completed
applications to:

Harriette Sackler, Grants Chair
Malice Domestic, Ltd.
P.O. Box 8007,
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8007

Applicants who wish delivery receipt confirmation from the U.S. Postal Service are encouraged to send their submissions either by U.S. Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation or by U.S. Express Mail with tracking. Malice Domestic, Ltd. will not acknowledge receipt of the materials.

Submissions cannot be sent by Federal Express, United Parcel Service (UPS), or other similar delivery services as these services do NOT deliver to U.S. post office boxes.

Address grant questions to: *grants@malicedomestic.org*

Application review: Applications will be reviewed and a winner chosen by Malice Domestic, Ltd.'s Board of Directors or its designated representatives. The Board reserves the right to reject any incomplete, inappropriate, or late applications. In the event there are no qualified
candidates, the Board reserves the right to make no award at all. The decision of the Malice Domestic, Ltd.'s Board of Directors is final.

Notification: The winners and all other applicants for the grants will be notified in March 2008 of the status of their submissions.

Grant Presentation: The grant winners will be announced at the Malice Domestic XX convention in Crystal City, VA. Winners will be required to submit-within one year-a report to the Board (via the Grants Chair) on their use of the grant award.



(If I've looked at a query or partial from you, and you need a letter of recommendation, and you want to apply for this, shoot me an email and I'll see what I can do--no promises though, ok?)