YOU'RE INVITED TO FIND YOUR SHINE!

WIN UP TO $500 IN BACK-TO-SCHOOL CASH
ENTER THE
FIND YOUR SHINE!
POETRY CONTEST

Can you or anyone you know relate to the main character in my latest novel, "Ain't No Sunshine"? Laila Jackson is a young lady who had a life of hardships and eventually managed to conquer it all, finding her light through spoken word. Are you or do you know a college student who used poetry to overcome a challenging situation? Are you someone who is living proof that your beginning does not have to predict your end? Submit one of your best poems to win up to $500 in back-to-school cash.
Please spread the word to all who qualify...

Official Contest Rules

Eligibility: This contest is open to all undergraduate college students registered at an accredited college or university.

Prizes: First Prize of $500.00 cash, Second Prize $200 cash, and Third Prize $50 Borders Gift Card.

Decisions: Judges are a panel of educators and published authors and poets. Entries are judged on the basis of originality, creative imagination, characterization, artistic quality, and the adherence to line limits. All decisions of the judges are final.

Rights: All poems remain the property of the artist.

Notification: Prize winners will be announced on Saturday August 26, 2006 @ 5 PM at Karibu Bookstore, Bowie Town Center, Bowie, MD. Winners do not have to be present and will be notified by mail and posted on www.candicedow.com.

Submission: Please enter only one original poem, 30 lines or fewer, on beating the odds, in any style. Please send the ENTRY FORM on my web site, proof of enrollment at a college/university and your poem to the following address:

Find Your Shine! Poetry Contest
c/o Candice Dow
P.O. Box 2656
Columbia , MD 21045
Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by August 15, 2006 .

AIN'T NO SUNSHINE

When she ran away from her controlling boyfriend and work as a dancer in a Miami strip club, she thought she had buried her past for good. Determined to create a new life for herself in Philadelphia , she meets young and sexy Jordan Maxwell who is more than willing to help. Jordan introduces her to Poetry Night at a local club where she shines on stage and attracts the interest of an independent record producer.

Facing a new future, she is suddenly confronted with her past when family secrets erupt, forcing her back to Miami to face shocking discoveries. And that is just the beginning, as all of Laila's relationships, old and new-and all of her choices, good and bad-lead her home in a way she could never have imagined.

You can read the first chapter on my web site, www.candicedow.com/books.htm . I hope you enjoy! And thank you so much for the success of my first book, Caught in the Mix. I really appreciate all of your support and feedback.

Much Love,
Candice

www.candicedow.com

Candice Dow is a native of Baltimore, MD and graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Johns Hopkins University. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a Software Engineer. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and enjoys mentoring teenage girls. Candice is a frequent traveler and loves to analyze love, life, and relationships, and seeks to expose the answers in works of fiction.