I received an interesting offer last week. I was contacted by a fitness apparel and product brand who wanted me to be one of their Instagram brand ambassadors. They offered a tiny bit for free, discounts thereafter, and commission on sales.

Two things were apparent. This company (which appeared to be legitimate with legitimate products and ambassadors) have no idea how much of a writer’s life is spent sitting and being the opposite of active.

They also have some clothing I wouldn’t mind wearing.

I declined their offer, which I’m sure came with some strings that would have not been to my benefit. I only mention this interesting anomaly because a few days later, author Janelle Brown (Pretty Things) wrote this piece for CrimeReads about her research into Instagram branding.

The piece has a happy ending, though, when it goes into the awesome world of Bookstagrammers.

---

‘Younger’ spinoff in the works

The TV Land show Younger is one of my favorite bookish TV shows. And, though I love Sutton Foster, I’ve been drawn to Hillary Duff’s Kelsey Peters since the outset and liked her even more when she shared that Peters, like Duff herself, is from Texas. (Duff is from the Houston area).

So the Younger spinoff starring Duff that’s reportedly is in the works will be fine by me.

---

Deadline for poetry contest extended

For those of you who write poetry, the submission deadline for the Montreal International Poetry Prize has been extended to June 1 due to COVID-19.

An unpublished poem o 40 lines or fewer will $20,000 Canadian. The prize isn’t annual, and has only been awarded four times since 2011, though another competition will start in January 2020.

---

Meanwhile, in Texas

The Summer of Lonesome Dove is about to start, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association has awarded Larry McMurtry its 2020 Spirit of the West Literary Achievement Award. Larry McMurtry Named Spirit of the West Award Honoree (Lone Star Literary Life)

Dallas nonprofit publisher Deep Vellum has started a fund to help Texas literary artists. The initial round of grants will be at least $200. You can apply here. Dallas Publisher Launches Emergency Fund (Lone Star Literary Life)

Houston writer Bryan Washington won the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, and the more than $38,000 prize, for his debut short story collection, Lot. Washington wins Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize (The Bookseller)