Twelfth Planet Press is looking to develop a new line of dynamic, original genre novels. Twelfth Planet Press novels will push boundaries to question, inspire, engage and challenge. They are specifically looking to acquire material outside that which is typically considered by mainstream publishers.

They are looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror and crime. They will consider borderline literary, new weird, steampunk, space opera, hard science fiction, soft science fiction, urban fantasy, cyberpunk, military science fiction, young adult, paranormal romance and everything in between.

Twelfth Planet encourage writers to take the time to familiarise themselves with the kind of content they publish, and the kind they do not. They are not interested in gratuitous violence, misogyny and gore or sex scenes for shock value. They are looking to acquire all English language territory rights and ebook rights. They are offering advances and royalties. Submission details at www.twelfthplanetpress.com/news/twelfth-planet-press-novel-manuscript-submission-month-january-2012

Co-ordinated by Macquarie Regional Library, the Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards commemorate the writer and writing of Robbery Under Arms in Dubbo. They are awarded for prose and poetry with an Australian theme. First prize in each section is a bronze Boldrewood bust valued at $100 plus $500. Second prize is $250 and third prize $150. Highly Commended and Commended certificates are awarded at the judges¹ discretion. It is interesting to note that the poetry winner, Kevin Pye, was highly commended last year, and second and third prize winner, Max Merckenschlager, commended. Max was first and second in the poetry in 2009. Poetry Judge was Valerie Pybus adn the winners are:

1st Place ­ Kevin Pye, NSW, Lawson Country; 2nd Place ­ Max Merckenschlager, SA; An Earl¹s Son; 3rd Place ­ Max Merckenschlager, SA, Helping Hands in Crowdy Head. Commended ­Frank Cardiff, NSW, Dreamtime Dreaming.

Prose Judge was Peter Pike and the winners are: 1st Place ­ Joan Owens, NSW, Sunday; 2nd Place ­ Natalie Holmes, NSW; My Mate Reg; 3rd Place ­ Richard Stone, ACT, Father¹s Visit to Kincumber.

Highly Commended ­ Lyn Newberry, NSW, The Scent of a Criminal Highly Commended ­ RE Beattie, NSW, The Jackson Inheritance Highly Commended ­ Judith Turner, NSW, The Gypsy Tap

Commended ­ Edward Fletcher, QLD, Dark Messenger; Commended ­ Harold Mally, NSW; The Original Pommie Bastard; Commended ­WR Widerberg, NSW, Paradox; Commended ­ Ken Windsor, NSW, The Search for Uncle Tom. Congratulations to all the winners! Well Done!

Be quick for this one............ This Writing Australia Award, to aid in the development of the next stage of an unpublished manuscript, is for a work of adult literary or genre fiction. It will be granted to the work that shows the greatest promise and likely to benefit most from this opportunity.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and, in consultation with organisers, will be offered a suitable mentor selected from some of Australia's best authors.

The Judges: Valerie Parv, international best-selling author, is a successful writer of romance and non-fiction. Valerie's books have sold more than twenty-six million copies internationally, and been translated into over twenty languages from Russian to Japanese and Icelandic. Mark Macleod is a Senior Lecturer in English at Charles Sturt University and well known as a Television and Radio Presenter. Mark was Project Manager of 'My Favourite Book' for ABCTV. He published books for young readers and for adults under his own name imprint at Hodder Headline.

Peter Bishop is one of Australia's most effective writing teachers and mentors. Working with Australia's leading authors he has enjoyed outstanding success as the Creative Director of Varuna -The Writers' House in the Blue Mountains - from 1994 to 2010. Applications close: Thursday 13 October 2011

Entry form: http://writingaustralia.org.au/

A Central Tablelands edition of Narrator Magazine is starting up and they are calling for entries - short stories, poems and essays under 5,000 words. They hope to publish the first CT issue in September, so want entries as soon as you can send them in. The magazine is free online and prints a limited number of full colour copies. For Central Tablelands, they will be available via mail order, $12.95 including postage. For more info, please search for the Facebook Page for Narrator Magazine (copy the following link into your browser) http://www.facebook.com/l/yAQD1U98OAQCd6VJCI30U7D9FBy3W38plVjRksWNXz2TjoQ/www.narratormagazine.com or try this http://www.narratormagazine.com/

Do you dream of being a published writer? Enter Australia's most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript. The Australian/Vogel's Literary Award is one of Australia's richest and the most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of thirty-five. Offering publication by Allen & Unwin and prize money totalling $20,000, the Vogel Award has launched the careers of some of its most successful writers, including Tim Winton, Kate Grenville, Gillian Mears, Brian Castro, Mandy Sayer and Andrew McGahan. Vogel-winning authors have gone on to win or be shortlisted for other major awards, such as the Miles Franklin Award, the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Booker Prize. Entries for the 2012 Australian/Vogel's Literary Award are now open. Go to http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=442

And the winners are: • Aminatta Forna wins Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2011 Best Book for The Memory of Love • Craig Cliff wins Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2011 Best First Book for A Man Melting • Defining books "of our time", say judges.

The 2011 Commonwealth Writers' Prize were announced in Sydney. The judges praised The Memory of Love for its risk taking, elegance and breadth. A poignant story about friendship, betrayal, obsession and second chances – the novel is an immensely powerful portrayal of human resilience. The judges concluded that The Memory of Love delicately delves into the courageous lives of those haunted by the indelible effects of Sierra Leone's past and yet amid that loss gives us a sense of hope and optimism for their future. Forna has produced a bold, deeply moving and accomplished novel which confirms her place among the most talented writers in literature today. Read more about the awards here: http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/NewsArticle.aspx?articleID=158

Entries in the Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, worth a total of $8000, are now invited. Entries should be single-authored stories of between 2000 and 5000 words. Results will be announced in October and the winning story will be published in the October 2011 (Fiction) issue. First Prize: $5000, three shortlisted stories: $1000 plus publication Closing date: 30 June 2011. Visit the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize page for full details and an entry form: www.australianbookreview.com.au

About Elizabeth Jolley: Monica Elizabeth Jolley AO (4 June 1923 - 13 February 2007) was an English-born award-winning writer who settled in Western Australia in the late 1950s. She was 53 years old when her first book was published, and she went on to publish fifteen novels (including an autobiographical trilogy), four short story collections and three non-fiction books, publishing well into her 70s and achieving significant critical acclaim. She was also a pioneer of creative writing teaching in Australia counting many well known writers such as Tim Winton among her students.

The Big Issue is calling for submissions to its annual fiction edition for 2011 and – thanks to funding from the Copyright Agency Limited – it's set to be bigger and bolder than ever. Which is no small thing. Last year's edition had a circulation of close to 30,000 nationally and included contributions from Christos Tsiolkas, Linda Jaivin, Toni Jordan and Michel Faber. To submit, send no fewer than three printed (not electronic) copies of your entry (of up to 3000 words) to: Fiction Edition, The Big Issue, GPO Box 4911, Melbourne 3001. Make sure your name and details are included on a removable coversheet. Closing date for entries is Wednesday 1 June. Get writing!

Hachette is now accepting unsolicited manuscripts for picture books and Young Adult fiction (for readers 13+). Illustrators are also invited to submit their portfolio.

With any submission, send only copies of your work and, if you would like the material returned, enclosed a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Please do not send CDs.

Address your submissions to: Children's Submissions Hachette Australia Level 17, 207 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000

For all the details visit www.hachettechildrens.com.au. and go to the authors/illustrators FAQs.

You are invited to hear author Christine M. Knight talk about her chick lit book In and Out of Step at Orange City Library on Wednesday 16 February. The book is now into its second print run. Christine is a member of the Country Women's Association and is also an English and Drama teacher, crediting her theatrical experience to her understanding of character, dialogue, imagery, tension, and storytelling. "In theatre and storytelling, the momentum comes from interest in what-happens-next," Christine said. She is also fascinated by the art of teaching.

Her book In and Out Of Step follows Cassie Sleight: The past denied and her dance championship dreams discarded, Cassie Sleight leaves home. In the seemingly idyllic coastal town of Keimera, she starts a career on the English staff of the local high school. Contact with Mark Talbut, a man struggling to be modern yet threatened by power shifts in the workplace and in society, causes Cassie to assess her reactions as a woman and a teacher. As she does so, the secrets of her past surface. This novel is a story about friendship and family, types of love, gender politics and power, the transmission of values and attitudes, sexual encounters and sexual harassment, choice, and changing societal views about male and female relationships. The novel's darker messages are lightened by regular injections of wry, tender, funny and illuminating humour, dialogue, and experiences.

Meet Christine M. Knight on Wednesday 16 February, 5.30pm for 6pm start at Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange. RSVP by calling 6393 8132. See you there!