WASHINGTON (December 18, 2013) – Everyone has a story to tell, and what better group to share their life experiences with the world than the 50+ audience! 2014 marks the turning of yet another page in history, with the youngest members of the Boomer generation turning 50. To celebrate, AARP is throwing a year-long bash in their honor, declaring 2014 the “Year of the Boomers.” As part of this celebration, AARP and The Huffington Post are teaming up to invite this inspiring generation and anyone age 50+ to tell their stories with a national memoir contest.

“We’re searching for the next great memoir,” said Myrna Blyth, Editorial Director for AARP Media. “We want to find a gifted writer who can tell a remarkable story of his or her life. We believe this memoir contest could really be the chance of a lifetime.”

Open to anyone born before December 31, 1964, initial submissions (a synopsis and 5,000 words) for the contest are due by February 15, 2014. Finalists will be asked to submit completed memoirs—20,000 to 50,000 words—by June 15. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and have the work published by Simon & Schuster, excerpted in AARP The Magazine, and featured on The Huffington Post.

“We believe storytelling is a powerful art form and tool for self-expression,” said actress, singer, writer and Huff/Post 50 editor-at-large Rita Wilson. “Life after 50 can hold some of life’s greatest challenges and adventures and we can’t wait to read entries!” 

Finalists will be judged by a panel of editors from each publication, including The Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington and Rita Wilson, a top editor from Simon & Schuster and AARP’s Myrna Blyth. Submission details and contest rules are available at www.huff.to/memoir and the winner will be announced in September 2014.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

About The Huffington Post

The Huffington Post is a Pulitzer Prize-winning source of breaking news, features, and entertainment, as well as a highly engaged community for opinion and conversation. The Huffington Post has 46 million monthly U.S. unique visitors and 78 million monthly global unique visitors (comScore, August 2013) posting over eight million comments each month. The site has over 50,000 bloggers -- from politicians, students and celebrities to academics, parents and policy experts -- who contribute in real-time on the subjects they are most passionate about. The Huffington Post has editions in the UK, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Maghreb and Germany. The Huffington Post is part of AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL).

Media Contact: Michelle Alvarez, 202.434.2555, malvarez@aarp.org