Yes, it has every appearance of being a scam. Sorry. Let's see what evidence suggests this.

>As a semi-finalist, you now have the excellent chance of winning one of 104 cash or gift prizes...

1) They tell you that YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY WON BIG MONEY. Yep.

> (yada yada...stuff about ordering the book called The Silence Within. Yada yada...)

2) To WIN BIG MONEY, you have to buy something. Yep.

> Before going any further, Andrea, let me make one thing clear...your poem was selected for publication, and as a contest semi-finalist, on the basis of your unique talent and artistic vision.

3) They shouldn't have to "make one thing clear" and tell you what unique talent and vision you have. This is a manipulative form letter designed to make you think "Gosh, they complimented me. I'm special. They love me. That rules! I must do what they say."

>Hmm...it costs about fifty bucks for the book, and an additional twenty-five for a paragraph about yourself in it. Hmm...just wondering.

4) Finally, and most importantly, they want YOU to pay THEM the sum of SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS for the dubious privilege of having them tell you your poem is good. I'm not saying your poem is NOT good. I read it and I think it was great. However, these people do not care whether it was good or not. They probably didn't even read it. They want you to pay them $75. That's all there is to it.

Brunnen-"the cynical person"G