2009 Daphne Du Maurier Award For Excellence in Mystery Suspense

Ask and you shall receive.

Well, readers have asked and publishers are answering as the INSPIRATIONAL MARKET continues to soar.

The DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MYSTERY/SUSPENSE has been on the receiving end of awe-inspiring manuscripts and books for both the Unpublished and Published side of the contest in the past. We have faith this trend will continue in 2009.

Have you noticed the Inspirational Romantic Suspense books lining the shelves? Inspirational Romantic Suspense and Mystery is alive and well.

Published Authors: Does your book have a 2008 copyright?

Unpublished Authors: Do you realize we have a great agent and editor line-up of the 2009 Unpublished Inspirational?

We hope this inspires you to enter today! Of course the contest is open to other mystery and romantic suspense subgenres as well.

Deadline March 16, 2009.

More info on the Unpublished Contest:


The contest is open to any writer who has never been contracted in book-length fiction (40,000 words or more) from any publisher. Any manuscript that has previously finaled in the Daphne including honorable mentions is not eligible for entry again. There is no limit to the number of entries per author, but each entry may be entered in ONLY ONE category. Membership in Romance Writers of America ® and/or MRSRWA is not a requirement for entry. It is an all electronic contest!

Categories & Final Round Judges

CATEGORY (SERIES) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE: Allison Lyons, Harlequin Intrigue & Kevan Lyon Sandra Dykstra Literary Agency

HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE: May Chen, Harper Collins/Avon & Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency

INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE:Susan Downs, Barbour Publishing & Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary Agency

PARANORMAL (PTTF) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE: Cindy Hwang, Berkley Publishing, Cherry Weiner, Cherry Weiner Literary Agency

SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE: Abby Zidle, Pocket Books & Kimberly Whalen, Trident Media Group

MAINSTREAM MYSTERY/SUSPENSE (Romance Optional): Rose Hilliard, St. Martin's Press, and Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency.