The Writers Program announces that Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities is sponsoring the 19th Annual Moore County Writers' Competition, according to Karen Gilchrist, chair of this year's Writers' Competition committee, which includes members Cos Barnes, Katrina Denza, Kay Grismer, and Cynthia Sheard.

The competition is underwritten by a generous grant from The Donald and Elizabeth Cooke Foundation.

"Once again, we are thrilled and grateful to have the kind support from The Cooke Foundation to continue this annual literary event," says Gilchrist.

The competition is open to students and residents of Moore County, and grouped according to age: grades 1-4, grades 5-8, grades 9-12, and adult. Submission categories are poetry (60 lines maximum), fiction (2500 words maximum), and nonfiction (2500 words maximum); writers may submit one manuscript in each category. Provided by the North Carolina Writers Network, this year's judges are Lisa Kline, fiction; Lou Green, poetry; and Van Garrison, nonfiction.

First-, second-, and third-place winners in each age group receive prizes of $100, $50, and $25, respectively; honorable mentions receive a certificate. The 2007 Writers' Competition booklet will include the winning manuscripts.

Entries should be postmarked or delivered to the Weymouth Center, 555 E. Connecticut Avenue, P.O. Box 939, Southern Pines, NC 28388, by Thursday, Feb. 1. The committee will notify winners by the middle of March 2007. First place winners will read selections from their winning entries at an awards presentation at Weymouth Center on Sunday, April 29.

Submission guidelines are available at area libraries, schools, bookstores, and coffee shops, as well as Weymouth Center and the Arts Council of Moore County, or online at www.weymouthcenter.org.

For more information, call 690-1098 and leave a message.

Children's Book

Author Bernie Harberts and illustrator Danila Devins will be at the Campbell House Galleries Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., to discuss the paintings and stories behind their children's geography book, "Woody and Maggie Walk Across America."

There is no charge for admission. Light refreshments will be served, and a print signed by both Harberts and Devins will be given each day to a lucky guest.

Call 692-4356 for information.

Storytellers Wanted

The Storytelling Festival of Carolina is looking for young storytellers to participate in its first annual festival to be held in Laurinburg at the historic John Blue House May 19-20.

Students who audition may attend public or private school or be home schooled in North or South Carolina and must be 17 or younger at the time of the festival, according to Brenda Gilbert, who is coordinating the festival.

A panel of judges will select up to eight student tellers for performance at the festival.

"Youth tellers will share the stage with some of the most highly acclaimed professional tellers in the country as well as several talented regional and local tellers," Gilbert said.

Tellers must be able to attend the Storytelling Festival of Carolina on May 19-20.

Two methods of audition are available: by sending a VHS/DVD of the story being told by the young teller or by auditioning in person on March 31.

All students who plan to audition must submit an audition commitment form by March 5. The form may be found under Youthful Voices on the festival Web site www.storytelling festivalofcarolina.org.

More information is available by calling Brenda Gilbert at 910-276-7316.

Deadline Extended

The Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize postmark's deadline has been extended to Dec. 15.

This contest is open to all writers without regard to geographical region or previous publication. Entrants should submit two copies of an unpublished fiction manuscript not to exceed 12 double-spaced pages.

Visit the Web site www.ncwriters. org/programs/competitions/wolfe. shtml for more details.

Open Submissions

Toadlily Press announces the open submissions period (Jan. 1-31) for the third volume of the Quartet Series, four chapbook-length collections by four poets to be published in a full-length book.

Authors of selected manuscripts will receive $100 and 25 copies of the book.

For more information,go to www.toadlilypress.com/sub.htm.