Sundress Publications is pleased to announce that it is now holding its first annual poetry book contest. This contest is running in conjunction with the Artemis Project, which put out its first book in October 2002.

The competition is open to any female writer who is 25 years old or younger as of December 30, 2002.

The winner will receive $200 and ten copies of their book. All runners-up will receive a free copy of the winner's book as well as a copy of Especially the Deer.

The book will be between fifty and a hundred pages in length with perfect binding and black and white cover art. The initial print run of the book will be 150, and it will be available for sale through the Sundress Publications website.

The deadline for the contest is July 31, 2003. All manuscripts must be postmarked by this date to be considered. A winner will be chosen by September 1, 2003.

Judges for this year's contest include poet Frank Matagrano, Sundress founder Erin Elizabeth, and Stirring editors Alissa Appel and Meagan Cass.

The reading fee is $10.00 for Sundress newcomers, $7.00 for writers previously published in one of Sundress's publications (Stirring, Samsara, Sometimes City, Small Town, Blaze, Mentress Moon, supralurid, or Spank Thru) or for those who have purchased a copy of Especially the Deer, and $5.00 for former editors at Sundress Publications. Payment can be made through Paypal or through check or money order. Please make all payments out to Erin Elizabeth not Sundress Publications. All non-US applicants must pay through Paypal.

Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript.

All poems must be original -- no translations.

The manuscript must be a minimum of 25 typed pages and a maximum of 50 pages in length. All manuscripts must be paginated and each new poem must start a new page.

The manuscript must be single-spaced. No exceptions.

The manuscript should begin with a title page that shows the book’s title, and the author's name, birth date, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. This should be followed by a table of contents and a list of acknowledgments if applicable. A brief biography may also be included at the end of the manuscript. These pages can, but do not have to, count in your page total.

If your book is divided into parts, has an epigraph, or includes black and white artwork, these pages must count in your page numbering.

In formatting the manuscript, please use a standard typeface (such as Arial or Times New Roman) in at least 10-point type. Handwritten manuscripts will not be accepted.

If mailing the manuscript, please do not bind or staple it. If you would like, you may clip your pages together.

Please do not send the only copy of your work; manuscripts will not be returned after the competition.

Manuscripts may be sent through email to stirringliterary@aol.com or through postal mail at:

Sundress Publications
ATTN: Annual Book Contest
40 James Street
Binghamton, NY 13903


If you would like us to acknowledge the receipt of your transcript, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.