Bits and Pieces - A Few Markets, A Little News

So, with all the random Amazon.com trips I've been making to double-check book titles and ISBNs for the Cybils, I randomly ran across a new feature called Amazon shorts, which "features previously unpublished short-form literature for sale exclusively at Amazon.com. Fiction and nonfiction pieces on a wide variety of topics are available in a digital format only for just $0.49." Evidently you retain rights to your material, as long as they get a minimum of six months of exclusivity. They are open to "[a]ny previously unpublished short-form work (2,000 - 10,000 words, fiction or nonfiction) you've created that your readers would find interesting." Since I'm always on the lookout for potential short story markets, especially for YA, this seems like...actually an okay possibility. Anyone know anything about it or have experience with it?

Via the SCBWI Expression Online newsletter comes a call for South Asian children's stories for an anthology from the Masala Trois Collective called Adventures in Desiland. It sounds like a lot of fun: "Submissions may include retelling ancient tales, such as those found in the Panchatantra, using contemporary dialogue and idiom. Similarly, submissions that creatively "South Asianize" or desify well known western children's stories would fit nicely in the collection.... Other original submissions will be considered, variously, on how skillfully they feature strong, central characters that are South Asian children, present fresh, non-stereotypical portraits of South Asian families, or help children and parents creatively explore South Asian histories." Info and contact details are available on their website. The deadline is Dec. 1. I might have to write something...

Next, also from the SCBWI newsletter, according to the Guardian UK, Roald Dahl is still beating out JK Rowling as the favorite children's author among young adults 16 - 34. Dr. Seuss was seventh; Philip Pullman eighth. It was an interesting top ten, let me tell you. And lastly, according to ThisIsLondon, "The Happy Ending Foundation is planning a series of Bad Book Bonfires for later this month, when parents will be encouraged to burn novels with negative endings." This goes beyond banning books due to objectionable content and into complete OCD weirdness.