June Contest Update

Welcome to the June contest update.

Wow, we're already six months into the year! Are you keeping up with your contest plans? What are your contest goals for the next six moths?

The prize vault is open and today we're giving away a Seeker author surprise book package, just leave a comment to be entered. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.


Unpublished Contests

Heart of the Rockies. All electronic. Deadline is June 15. Nine categories with achievement awards given in each. Entries are limited to the first 215 received. Submission consisting of the first two chapters and the complete 1-5 page synopsis, saved in RTF format only, total entry is not to exceed 35 double-spaced pages.

Short Contemporary: Laura Barth, Associate Editor, Harlequin
Long Contemporary: Charles Griemsan, Associate Editor, Harlequin
Single Title: Stephany Evans, Agent, Fine Print Literary Agency
Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy: Laura Bradford, The Bradford Literary Agency
Historical: Sara Megibow, Associate Literary Agent, Nelson Literary Agency
Romantic Suspense: Laura Baumbach, Editor, Passion in Print
Inspirational Category: Julie Gwinn, Fiction Manager, B&H Publishing Group
Young Adult: Megan Records, Associate Editor, Kensington Publishing
Mainstream w/Romantic Elements: Kristin Sevick, TOR

Put Your Heart In A Book. Electronic contest. Deadline July 1. Another big bang for your buck contest. Entry fee $35. Entry consist of a SYNOPSIS and FIRST chapter ONLY, not to exceed 30 pages combined.

Final Round Judges:An agent, editor and multi-published author will judge the final entries, however not many of the final judges are listed yet..so keep your eye on their webpage. (I won't lie, no having all the judges listed is very disappointing)




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. (because????)

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.




Published Contests



Heart of Excellence Readers Choice Awards-Deadline June 15, 2011



The 2011 Published Beacon Awards- Will start accepting entries May 1, 2011. Entries must be postmarked by June 30th, 2011.




Golden Leaf Contest. Books must be postmarked by June 25th.



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.)


That's it, but don't forget...

Today is the last day to be considered for our weekly critique.
More info here.