Monday Blog Tour

Here is it Monday again already (groan!) and that means another link round up of anything writerly or SF(R).

For a scenic sidetrip, check out NPR's Suppose the Earth Got Saturn's Rings an imaginative video and pictorial trip down What If Lane.

An invaluable reference site for writer's of most genres, Writer's Forensic Blog contains factual information about forensics, weapons and wounds.  This site has been added to our reference sites on the side bar. Warning: This blog posts actual pictures and detailed information.  Not for the squeamish.

Author Lisa Shearin (of Raine Benares series fame) is hosting a "You Might Be a Writer If..." contest on her blog.  I got a serious laugh out of some of these...and doesn't everyone needs a good laugh on Monday?

Prompted by a blog discussion with my peers that involved much head-scratching and puzzled expressions (or the online facsimiles of those), here's a Wikipedia entry explaining the various types of electronic file format types for e-books and otherwise.

Jacqueline Lichtenberg explains how puberty, social networking, fan fiction and snowshoes are related in an indepth, entertaining and thought-provoking article on the Alien Romance blog entitled The Strange Benefit of Social Networking.

The Sixth Annual Brenda Novak Online Auction for Diabetes Research is set to begin May 1, 2010, but there are already tons of listings including critiques, reads and lunches with agents and editors, books, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and even a special contest for a six-month mentorship with Brenda Novak herself.  There's something for everyone so stop by early and browse the offerings so you can start planning your bidding strategy now.  Last year's auction brought in over $770,000!  Help make it a cool million for 2010.

Contests, contests, contests!  If you're in the mood to put your best effort up against your peers, there may be no better time than the present.  Thanks to our foundering economy, entries are way down, which means...odds of finaling are way, way UP!  Many contests are extending deadlines or pleading for enough entries to meet their minimum per category.  Thinking about it?  Here are just a few of the upcoming contests to peruse.

Great Beginnings  Deadline: March 1, 2010.  Utah RWA sponsored contest for first five pages of  your novel.  Open to unpublished and published (judged separately).  Only $10 entry fee! Final judges are agents.  Click the link to read more details.

Fab 5  Deadline:  March 1, 2010.  Wisconsin RWA sponsored contest for the first 2500 words of your novel.  Open to unpublished or those not published in the last five years.  $20 entry fee.  Final judges are agents and/or editors.  Click link for more details.

Duel on the Delta  Deadline:  March 15, 2010.  River City Romance Writers (RWA) sponsored contest for the first 15 pages of your novel and optional synopsis.  $25 entry fee.  Final judges are editors and agents.  Clink link for more details.

Touch of Magic (TOM)  Deadline: March 20, 2010.  Central Florida Romance Writers (RWA) sponsors a contest for the first 25 pages plus up to 3 page synopsis. $25 Entry fee.  Final judges are editors. Click link for more details.