Dear subscriber,

There's a great deal to look out for during these next two months. First of all, we would like to congratulate Arzu Tahsin, editor at Weidenfeld & Nicolson and one of our industry day speakers, who bought Téa Obreht's The Tiger's Wife, which last week won the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction. The Tiger's Wife is Obreht's first novel and at 25 she is the youngest author to win the Orange Prize.

Arzu has also recently recommended a former TLC client, Jim Powell, as an enjoyable summer read. Click here to read what she has to say about Jim's The Breaking of Eggs and read about Jim's incredible publishing story.

In June and July TLC offers two publishing events, along with information about several writing competitions to keep you writing throughout the summer. 

> Publishing Pub Talk;
> To Live Outside the Law;
> June and July Showcases;
> Mslexia Writing Competitions;
> Northern Crime Writing Competition;
> V.S.Pritchett Short Story Prize;
> Port Eliot Festival and Summer Wishes;

Publishing Pub Talk

Are you unsure about what publishers are looking for and how to submit to agents? At this informal discussion you'll gain insight into the publishing industry and the current options available.

Publishing and Getting Your Book Noticed

30th June 2011 6 - 8.30pm

Join expert speakers from the publishing industry, TLC Director Rebecca Swift, Nicola Morgan, best-selling YA author and author of the new writers' bible Write to be Published and Rebecca McEwan, Publicity Manager for Fourth Estate books. Each will give a short talk and answer questions in an informal, but informative event.

Tickets are £8 but all proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Cancer Research UK. Accessible venue. Click here for directions.

To Live Outside the Law

What makes a good story and what turns it into a publishable book?

Launch event for ‘To Live Outside the Law’, a memoir by Leaf Fielding

6th July 2011 at Free Word, 6.30 - 8pm (drinks from 6pm).

To Live Outside the Law, a memoir published by Serpent's Tail, is the first insider account of the LSD conspiracy ended by Operation Julie. This book opens with Leaf Fielding’s arrest in a pre-dawn police raid and ends five years later with his release from jail. Leaf will read from his fascinating memoir, and be in conversation with TLC editor Karl French about how the book came into being.

£5 entry. Click here to book.

June and July Showcases

TLC's June showcase offers an excellent extract from TLC client Brendan Ball's novel Thieves in the Night.  

“You see a lot from that stage, don’t you?” I said to her, resisting with what nonchalance I could the efforts of thirsty and envious elbows to relocate me." 

Click here to read the entire extract and learn more about how the showcase works. 

We're delighted to announce that in July TLC will be presenting an extract from Shelley Harris' novel Jubilee, published in 2012 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee . Click here to read more about Shelley's publishing story.

Mslexia Writing Competitions

Do you write poetry, have a good idea for a novel or have an unfinished manuscript lying around?

Mslexia magazine is currently running both a novel and poetry competition for new women writers. Novels can be from any genre written for adults. To constitute a novel, your book must total at least 50,000 words. The closing date is 30th September and the entry fee is £25. Click here for more information about both the novel and poetry writing competitions. 

Northern Crime Writing Competition

Are you tired of reading about successful Scandinavian crime writers? The Northern Crime competition, held by New Writing North, aims to unearth and publish exciting new crime writing from writers who live and work in the north of England. 

The winning books from the Northern Crime competition will be published by Moth Publishing in print and as e-books in 2012. The winning writers will also receive a standard publishing contract, £1,000 prize money, editorial support, as well as benefiting from a marketing and PR campaign to support the publication of their books. 

It's not surprising that New Writing North, one of our partners in the Free Read Scheme, is currently shortlisted for The Bookseller Industry Awards 2011 in the Library Innovation of the Year category.

Click here for more information about the writing competition.   

V.S.Pritchett Short Story Prize

The Royal Society of Literature is still accepting entries for the V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize for short stories. There is a £1,000 award and the deadline is 30th June 2011. Our very own TLC reader, Jacob Ross, is one of the judges. 

Port Eliot Festival and Summer Wishes

A little place in Cornwall is calling your name this summer. TLC recommends the Port Eliot Festival, which offers literature, music, art, fashion and general camping mayhem.

Summer wishes from TLC.

For other up-to-date information about TLC see:-
www.literaryconsultancy.co.uk, or call us on 020 7324 2563.

All best wishes,
The Literary Consultancy