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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>It’s time to get your work ready to submit for the Spring/Summer edition of <b>Magnets and Ladders</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Beginning with the Fall/Winter 2022-2023 edition of <b>Magnets and Ladders</b> we have invited a guest judge to work with us for two editions in a specific genre. The guest will judge the submissions selected as finalists for the contest in one genre. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>We are honored to announce that our second guest judge is Nolan Crabb. Nolan was our judge for the nonfiction finalists for the Fall/Winter 2023/2024 edition and he will be with us for the Spring/Summer 2024 edition. Read about Nolan and his extensive experience and background below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Nolan Crabb is a native of Ogden, Utah, where he attended the Utah School for the Blind and graduated from Weber High School. Nolan holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Brigham Young University. He also holds a certification as an assistive technology trainer from the Accessible Technology Institute in Tucson, Arizona.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Nolan spent much of his working life as a writer and editor. He was a general assignment reporter for the Ogden Standard-Examiner, and he worked briefly for what is now the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City. He has held editing jobs in northern California and Chicago and was, for nine years, the editor of The Braille Forum, published by the American Council of the Blind in Washington, D.C. He also worked as the assistant editor of Dialogue Magazine, published by Blindskills, Inc. of Salem, Oregon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Nolan was first introduced to computers in the winter of 1977 and has been working with them steadily since. In the late 1980s, when he was serving as the director of an independent living center, he began providing computer training to many of the center's consumers. In 1999, when the opportunity became available to provide computer instruction to the staff at Rehabilitation Services for the Blind in Missouri, he was eager to once again enjoy the benefits that come with offering computer training to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>In June, 2007, Nolan was hired at The Ohio State University as its Director of Assistive Technology—a position in which he provides training and software to disabled staff members and university faculty.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Nolan has been a member of the Missouri Assistive Technology Advisory Council. He served as a member of the advisory council for Oregon's Talking Book and Braille Services, and he has been a member of the Oregon State Library Board of Trustees. He represented the American Council of the Blind as a member of the National Association of Radio Reading Services board of directors. In 2023, he signed on as a co-host of Legend Book Talk, a weekly podcast dedicated to reviewing and recommending books to podcast listeners.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Nolan describes himself as a voracious reader. In his spare time, he continues to do some freelance writing and dabbles in the field of audio book narration and digital audio production. In early 2008, he created an Internet mailing list dedicated to the writing and distribution of book reviews focusing on books from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Known as DB-Review, The list specifically focuses on digital talking books, and its members are encouraged to share reviews and comments regarding books they have read. From an initial membership of some 50 people, the list has grown to include more than 300 members, most of whom post their reviews and thoughts on books.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>He and his wife, the former Valerie Hekking of Benyon, Utah, are the parents of four daughters and the grandparents of ten grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Please read our submission guidelines below. They can also be found on our website at:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.magnetsandladders.org">http://www.magnetsandladders.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>The deadline for submissions is February 15. Be sure to read the guidelines carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Submission Guidelines<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Writers with disabilities may submit up to three selections per issue. Deadlines are February 15 for the Spring/Summer issue, and August 15 for the Fall/winter issue. Writers must disclose their disability in their biography or in their work. Biographies may be up to 100 words in length, and should be written in third-person.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Do not submit until your piece is ready to be considered for publication. Rewrites, additions, deletions, or corrections are part of the editorial process, and will be suggested or initiated by the editor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Poetry maximum length is 50 lines. Memoir, fiction, and nonfiction maximum length is 2500 words. In all instances, our preference is for shorter lengths than the maximum allowed. Please single-space all submissions, and use a blank line to separate paragraphs and stanzas. It is important to spell check and proofread all entries. Previously published material and simultaneous submissions are permitted provided you own the copyright to the work. Please cite previous publisher and/or notify if work is accepted elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>We do not feature advocacy, activist, "how-to," or "what's new" articles regarding disabilities. Innovative techniques for better writing as well as publication success stories are welcome. Content will include many genres, with limited attention to the disability theme. Announcements of writing contests with deadlines beyond April 1 and October 1 respectively are welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>All work submitted must be original. We do not accept work written by an AI or any form of plagiarism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Have You Published a book? If you would like to have an excerpt of your book published in an issue of “Magnets and Ladders,” please submit a chapter or section of your book to <a href="mailto:submissions@magnetsandladders.org">submissions@magnetsandladders.org</a>. The word count for fiction and nonfiction book excerpt submissions should not exceed twenty-five hundred words. Poetry book excerpts should be limited to five poems. Please include information about where your book is available in an accessible format, either an eBook or audio format. We will publish up to one book excerpt per issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Authors under age 18: Please include a statement from a parent or guardian that indicates awareness of your submission of literary work to “Magnets and Ladders.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Do you have a skill, service, or product valued by writers? For a minimum contribution of $25.00 we will announce it in the next two issues of "Magnets and Ladders". All verifications of products or services provided are the responsibility of our readers. Book cover design? Copyediting? Critiques? Formatting for publication? Internet access or web design? Marketing assistance? Special equipment? Make your donation through PayPal (see magnetsandladders.org) or by check by March/September 1. 100-word promotional information is due by February/August 15. Not sure about something? Email <a href="mailto:submissions@magnetsandladders.org">submissions@magnetsandladders.org</a>. All donations support Magnets and Ladders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Please email all submissions to <a href="mailto:submissions@magnetsandladders.org">submissions@magnetsandladders.org</a>. Paste your submission and bio into the body of your email or attach in Microsoft Word format. If submitting Word documents, please put your name and the name of your piece at or near the top of the document. When possible, please send your submissions as a Word or txt attachment as many email programs have been reformatting poetry and putting unwanted line breaks in stories and essays. Submissions will be acknowledged within two weeks. You will be notified if your piece is selected for publication.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Final author approval and review is necessary if changes are needed beyond punctuation, grammar, and sentence or paragraph structure. We will not change titles, beginnings, endings, dialog, poetic lines, the writer's voice, or the general tone without writer collaboration. If your work is selected for inclusion in a future "Behind Our Eyes" project, you will be notified; your approval and final review will be required. To insure we can contact you regarding future projects, please keep us updated if your Email address changes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Remember, the deadline for submissions is February 15, so be sure to get your entries in on time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Have a safe and happy new year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>Mary-Jo Lord<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:mjfingerprints@comcast.net">mjfingerprints@comcast.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>