July Contest Update

Welcome to the July Contest Update. Yes, we are early. But there's a holiday coming up and we plan to be grilling hot dogs and wading in the kiddie pool next week!

The prize vault is open. We're giving away a copy of Julie Lessman's A Hope Undaunted. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

Just say hi and tell us what you're up to in your contest world.




Unpublished Contests


Dixie Kane Memorial Contest. Deadline July 15. You do not need to be a member of RWA. First five pages and unjudged single page synopsis. NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS.

Short/long series contemporary, Rhonda Penders, Editor-in-Chief, The Wild Rose Press
Single title contemporary, Debra Dixon, Editor, Bell Bridge Books
Paranormal, Lill Farrell, Editor, The Wild Rose Press
Inspirational, Nicke Martinez, Editor, White Rose Publishing
Novel w/ strong romantic elements, Rhonda Penders, Editor-in-Chief, The Wild Rose Press
Romantic suspense, Lori Graham, Editor, The Wild Rose Press
Historical romance, Nicole D’Arienzo, Editor, The Wild Rose Press
Erotic Romance, Alicia Rasley, Editor, Red Sage Publishing




Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest. Electronic only. Deadline July 15. Entries are limited to the first 40 entries in each category. Each entry shall be no longer than 35 pages. The entry should include a copy of the opening of your manuscript, including prologue if there is one, and a copy of your synopsis (no more than 10 pages).

Historical Jesse Feldman, NAL
Mainstream w/ Strong Romantic Elements Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary
Paranormal Suzie Townsend, FinePrint Literary
Romantic Suspense Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Single Title Latoya Smith, Grand Central Publishing
Young Adult* Anna Webman, Curtis Brown, Ltd. (YA doesn't have to be romance)
Best-of-the-Best Meredith Giordan, Berkley Publishing




Heart of the West. Electronic Contest . Deadline July 15. Contest is open to published and unpublished authors. Unpublished authors are ranked separately from published authors. Published authors may submit only unpublished, uncontracted manuscripts.

Contemporary: Single title; category; mainstream, inspirational in a contemporary setting.
Historical: Single title; category; Regencies; suspense, mainstream, inspirational in an historical setting.
Paranormal: Time travel, ghost, futuristic, paranormals of all other kinds.
Erotic Romance: Single title; category; mainstream.
Mystery/Suspense: Single title; category; suspense, mainstream, or inspirational.
Young Adult: Single title; category; historical, inspirational, paranormal or contemporary. Published: Single title; category; historical, inspirational, paranormal, erotic, YA, suspense or contemporary.



The Golden Rose. Deadline August 1. Electronic contest. First 50 pages!!! Optional synopsis. One of the few high page submission contests left!

Contemporary Series -
Scott Eagan, Agent, Greyhaus Literary Agency
Single Title Contemporary -
Jessica Alvarez, Bookends LLC
Historical -
Rebecca Strauss, McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency
Novel w/Strong Romantic Elements -
Katherine Pelz, Editor, The Berkley Publishing Group
Paranormal -
Vickie Motter. Andrea Hurst Literary Management
Romantic Suspense -
Kristin Sevick, TOR
Young Adult -
Holly Blanck, Assistant Editor, St. Martin’s Press
Erotic Romance -
Linda Ingmanson, Editor, Samhain



Where the Magic Begins. Deadline August 1. All electronic. First 25 pages and an unjudged, single spaced synopsis.

Historical Romance: Alicia Condon, Brava Kensington Books
Single Title: Amy Pierpont,Grand Central Publishing
Romantic Suspense: Holly Blanck, St Martin’s Press
Light Paranormal Romance: R. Leis Pederson, The Berkley Publishing Group
Dark Paranormal Romance: Erika Tsang, Avon Books, Harper Collins
Erotic Romance: Raelene Gorlinsky, Ellora’s Cave Publishing Inc
Sensual Contemporary Romance: Gail Chasan, Harlequin Special Edition
Sweet Contemporary Romance: Emily Rodmell, Love Inspired



Just For Fun



The Fourth Annual, Real Simple, Life Lessons Essay Contest.

When did you first understand the meaning of love? Maybe you were a child, witnessing a generous act by your father or mother. Maybe the lesson came later, as you grappled with the challenges of being a friend, a spouse, or a parent yourself. Whatever made you understand love—and yourself—better, tell us about it.

Enter Real Simple’s fourth annual Life Lessons Essay Contest and you could:

• Have your essay published in Real Simple
• Win round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway play, and a lunch with Real Simple editors
• Receive a prize of $3,000

To enter, send your typed, double-spaced submission (1,500 words maximum, preferably in a Microsoft Word document) to lifelessons@realsimple.com. Contest begins at 12:01 A.M. EST on May 3, 2011, and runs through 11:50 P.M. EST on September 15, 2011. Open to legal residents of the United States age 19 or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. (Entries will not be returned.)




And a little off the beaten path...

Rosetta Books announces the Galaxy Project writing contest for science fiction novellas or novelettes.

“The winning writer will be guaranteed e-book publication as part of The Galaxy Project collection, a set of the top novellas that appeared originally in Galaxy, and will also receive a $1,000 advance against royalties of 50% of net receipts to 2,500 copies and 60% of net receipts thereafter for world English digital rights. The contest is open now and the submission deadline is Friday, September 2, 2011.”

That's it! Have a great contest month!