submissions

New Anthology Line-Up

February 24, 2011 – Hello Friends! Please forgive my long hiatus. Dream of Things launched three books between October 1, 2010, and January 1, 2011. I can tell you first hand that there is at least as much work (if not more) involved in a book AFTER it’s launched compared to before. So I have been very busy promoting Everything I Never Wanted to Be, Saying Goodbye and MFA in a Box.

I have also been busy preparing for the Note Project, which is a very exciting project in its own right, and is doubly exciting because Dream of Things is a sponsor. That means that in return for helping to spread the word about the Note Project, Dream of Things will gain exposure to Note Project participants, many of whom I hope will also become followers of Dream of Things.

2010 Successes, 2011 Plans

Dec. 8, 2010 — Hello Friends! It’s been one year since I launched Dream of Things. It was a great year thanks to a lot of people—especially the writers who submitted their work, and the readers who are now raving about it. With your support, we’ll publish the work of many more writers and produce more great books. Here’s a recap of the past year and a preview of my plans for 2011.

Update on Submissions and New Books

September 7, 2010 — Hello Friends! It’s been almost a year since I started Dream of Things, and I’ve learned a lot in that time. One thing I learned is not to take on too much at one time. I was probably a little overzealous in posting calls for submissions for 15 anthologies all at once. And overzealous to publish three books in my first year. But I’ve read lots of great submissions, and the books are all going to be great reads.

The three books are Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera (release date: 10/1/10); Saying Goodbye, the first Dream of Things Anthology (release date: 10/11/10); and MFA in a Box by John Rember (release date: 1/1/11).

Pre-release copies of Everything I Never Wanted to Be are available from Dream of Things now. Saying Goodbye and MFA in a Box will be available in October. Reserve your copy now on Dream of Things.

The only drawback to being overzealous (aside from only getting four to five hours of sleep a night) is that it’s been a challenge to keep up with submissions. So thank you to writers everywhere for your patience. Here’s a quick update on submissions:

Submission Guidelines for Authors

We are currently seeking creative nonfiction for several anthologies. Visit the Workshop page for a complete list of topics, submission guidelines and payment information.

Everything I Never Wanted to Be

August 11, 2010 — Hello Friends! I am very pleased and proud to announce that pre-release copies of Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera are now available. Visit www.everythinginever.com to learn more about this amazing memoir. To order your copy now, click here:

I first met Dina last January on Facebook. I followed a link to her blog, and told her I liked her writing. I was not alone. James Frey also wrote to her. His message was short but sweet: “You are a good writer. No doubt.”

Dina told me her blog posts were excerpts from a memoir she was trying to publish. I read the entire memoir and was blown away. It’s an amazing story. I encouraged her to try to find a major publisher. I also told her that if nobody else would publish her book, I would.

A couple of months later she came back to me and said, “Let’s make a book.” The result is Everything I Never Wanted to Be. In all, her manuscript was turned down by 74 agents and publishers. They’re all going to be kicking themselves when they see this book. And it all came to be thanks to persistence – and a few blog posts.

Everything I Never Wanted to Be is the true story of one family’s battles with alcoholism and drug addiction over four generations. It’s a story that is alternately horrifying and hilarious, told with uncanny honesty.

“This book is an exact replica of my life,” says Dina. “The truth—plus the funniest thing I could think of to help me survive the truth. I’m confident people are bright enough to tell the difference between me telling the truth and me being funny. In this book, you get both.”

For more information, including excerpts, info about the author, and an early review from publisher and movie producer Mark Shelmerdine, click here.