Susan Heim's Page

Almost every family has a dysfunctional member or two. What about your family? Did your father-in-law make a totally embarrassing toast at your wedding reception? Does your cousin Vinny have an enormous collection of gnome statues in his yard? Did your Aunt Martha leave all of her fortune to her parakeet? Or does your grandmother dye her hair pink and ride a Harley?

I’m coauthoring the upcoming book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family, and we are looking for your true stories and poems about your off-the-wall, goofy or just downright strange family members. Stories can be serious or hilarious, or both, and should make readers realize that their quirky families are not so different from those of other people!

To submit your stories, go to http://www.chickensoupforthesoul.com and click on “Submit a Story.” Be sure to select “All in the Family” as the book title when you fill out the form. Submit under your real name, but rest assured that we will allow you, if requested, to use pen names for publication and change the names of family members to protect the innocent (or guilty!). We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words.

[Note: We are not looking for stories about divorce or the normal trials and tribulations of raising children and teenagers as these topics will be covered in other Chicken Soup books.]

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of the book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and the right to resell it.

DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2009. Book is scheduled for publication in October 2009, in time for the next holiday season!