cool contest in support of a good cause

Iwas recently told about a cool writing contest called "Truth in Words". It's being led by New York Times best-selling author and Oakland resident, Kelly Corrigan and author, publisher and daughter of the founder of Borders Books, Christine Borders Bronstein. This year's theme is "Transitions" and they expect to see stories ranging from starting a family, recoveries, graduations, aging, career changes/promotions, marriage and divorce.

The contest is part of a benefit for Children's Hospital Oakland. See the website for more details, but note that the deadline for essays is coming up soon—all entries must be received by March 18th.

Up to 30 semi-finalists will be selected; The semi-finalist essays will be published in the next Nothing But The Truth So Help Me God anthology, available in bookstores and online December 2013. Their work will appear alongside that of influential writers, artists and thought leaders such as author and motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times bestselling author Kelly Corrigan, and 85 Broads founder Janet Hanson. The grand prize winner will have one-on-one phone consultations with:

• A senior editor at Random House/Ballantine
• A literary agent at ICM
• The Executive Editor of O Magazine

The grand prize winner will also receive two tickets to the Notes & Words 2013 performance and after-party on May 18, 2013 at The Fox Theater in Oakland, where they will have an opportunity to meet all of the performers.

Notes & Words is the second part of the benefit, and is described as:

Imagine a dozen smart, funny, talented people—
some who play the hip-hop blues, others who you see on TV—
one who has been named U.S. Poet Laureate—
on one stage together entertaining you.
That’s right, it’s all for you.
Well, you and the kids at
Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland

The Notes & Words event will be on May 18th, 2013 at the Fox Theater. Tickets for the event will go on sale on March 18th.