Dear Faithful Readers,

Hazel Street has a new contest running! It's called the

STEAL FROM THE BEST CONTEST!

You can click the link above to read the details. I have been hearing forever writers tell their friends that they "Stole that bit from..." and I thought it might be a good way to encourage writers if they wrote a piece involving a few good lines from another writer. There are seven different lines to choose from. The winning entries get some of the 1400 dollars in prize money and they get their work published. Want to see what that looks like? Buy an "Imagine" book. It's filled to the brim with really excellent writing. Or enter and wait. Even if you don't win, you will get a copy of the anthology.

What to look for in a contest? Prize money that is over $500 and fees that are less than $15. And no contracts to buy books, no hidden commitments. Hazel Street does not ask that you purchase additional copies of the anthologies created from our contests. We actually give every winner at least one book. The Steal from the Best Contest gives every person who enters a copy of the book and the winners get two copies besides the prize money and they can purchase more at a discount. We are interested in encouraging you to write well. So far we feel we have been successful.

Gawd, boring stuff over.

The editor is a little under the weather, so we are once again slow to post and have extended our contest to May 31st of 2008! So write something well and enter it. I want you to win!

How are you? How is your writing going? Email Hazel at InaHaze@HazelSt.com and tell her.

- Hazel Street

If you want to buy a really entertaining quick read, you personally can click the link below and find out how wonderful the 32 writers in Imagine are. I just love it.

Imagine is full of wonderful moving and inspired stories and we're not just saying that because we're the publishers.

If your name is Mischael Austin, please contact the editor at editor@hazelst.com for your Imagine packets.

That's a lesson. Always put your correct contact info on contest entry forms!

Each contestant was challenged to portray one of thirty-six pictures in a poem or story. Click here to see a list of the winners and links to excerpts from the winning entries. Congratulations!

Who Won the iPOD?

Sally O'Quinn won first place in the Mini Musical Notes Contest for her story "Craftsmanship." She gets the iPod!

Her story is rather... unusual for a Winter Holiday posting. It's more suited to Halloween weather, but we still love it! Very satisfying read, we will post the entries this week.

Anita Romero came in second with her very musical story, "Sax."

Rory Toma came in third place with his very honest story
"The Unintentional Entry."

Congratulations to all three of our winners!

Remember if you have entered a previous Hazel Street contest, you may enter the Steal From the Best Contest up to five times for one fee!

We plan to run a poetry contest soon. Check back for more updates.

NEW CONTESTS ON HAZELST.COM!