A local publishing and design business headquartered in Pella will begin accepting manuscripts from aspiring authors for the fourth-ever Write Place Book Contest next month.

The grand-prize winner will be awarded free publication of his or her manuscript as a print book and e-book, complete with editing and cover design services provided by the Write Place team.

“The Book Contest is special for our team because it’s an opportunity to connect with talented authors,” said Sarah Purdy, Write Place publishing consultant. “And for one deserving author, it is an opportunity to share his or her story with the world.”

The first Write Place Book Contest was held in 2012 and resulted in the publication of Leo’s Birds by Michael Van Natta of Knoxville. In subsequent years, the contest produced Lost in the Tallgrass by Clyde Witt of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, and Bestow On Us Your Grace by Jean De Vries of Pella.

Contest entries of any genre will be accepted from August 1 through December 15. Up to nine finalists will be offered a choice of a $200 discount on the quoted publication cost of their manuscript or a $200 discount on the creation of an author website.

WEB: Additional contest details can be found at http://thewriteplace.biz/for-authors/2018-book-contest/about-the-contest/.