July Contest Update

The July Contest Update is a salute to the crazy, busy days of summer.

 Today we're giving away a box of beach reads to one reader and one writer.

Just tell about the TBR pile you'll be taking to the beach, or the pool or the hot tub! Winners announced in the Weekend Edition!

Published Author Contests

Don't forget that the Carol Award finalists are announced Monday, June 29th from 2015 ICRS, Orlando Florida!

WisRWA Write Touch Readers' Award Contest. Deadline June 30th. All entries must be electronic.

International Digital Awards. Deadline June 30th. 

Unpublished Author Contests

A big shout out to the Seeker Villagers who are 2015 Genesis finalists, including Jackie Layton, Courtney Ballinger, Jeanne Takenaka, Preslaysa Williams (double finalist) and Megan Besing!

Pages From the Heart. Deadline June 30th. Entry consists of the first 25 pages. Open to published authors.

Published Division:
Long Contemporary: Cat Cline, Sourcebooks
Short Contemporary: Elle Keck, HarperCollins
Historical: Katherine Pelz, Berkley Publishing Group
Novella: Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Group
Paranormal/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time Travel: Deborah Gilbert, Soul Mate Publishing
Romantic Suspense/Mystery: Esi Sogah, Kensington Books
Young Adult: Alice Jerman, Harper Teen
.
Unpublished Division:
Long Contemporary: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
Short Contemporary: Mercedes Fernandez, Kensington Books
Historical: Alexandra Sehulster, St. Martin’s Press
Novella: Susan Grimshaw, Penguin-Random House
Paranormal/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time Travel: Kristine Swartz, Berkley Publishing 
Romantic Suspense/Mystery: Patience Bloom, Harlequin
Young Adult: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency


Golden Opportunity Contest  Deadline July 1.  First 55 pages including synopsis. 

TWO editor judges (one traditional and one ePub when possible) for all category finalists. Cash prizes even!

Contemporary Romance – (T) Latoya Smith, Samhain Publishing, and (E) Heather Howland, Entangled Publishing 

Erotic Romance – (T) Allison Janice, Berkley Publishing Group, and (E) Michele Paulin, Resplendence Publishing

 Historical Romance – (T) Laura Fazio, NAL at Penguin Group, and (E) Erin Molta, Entangled Publishing 

Inspirational Romance – (T) Shana Asaro, Harlequin Love Inspired, and (E) Becky Philpott, HarperCollins Christian Publishing 

 Paranormal Romance – (T) Kristine Swartz, Berkley Publishing Group, and (E) Angela James, Carina Press, Harlequin

 Romantic Suspense Romance – (T) Patience Bloom, Harlequin Books, and (E) Deb Nemeth, Carina Press 

Young Adult Romance – (T) Lauren Smulski, Harlequin, and (E) StephanieTaylor, Astraea Press; Best of the Best – Katherine Pelz, Berkley Publishing Group.


Put Your Heart in a Book. Deadline July 1. Cash prizes! Entry consists of: synopsis and first chapter/prologue (30 pages max).

Categories and Final Judges: (One agent, editor, and multipublished author for each category.) 

Historical – Agent Liza Dawson, Liza Dawson Associates, Editor Esi Sogah, Kensington Books, and Author Julia Quinn 

 Romantic Suspense – Agent Eric Ruben, The Ruben Agency, Editor Patience Bloom, Harlequin, and Author: TBA 

 Contemporary Series – Agent Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyons Agency, Editor Gabrielle Keck, Avon Books, and Author TBA 

Contemporary Single Title – Agent Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management, Editor Susan Litman, Harlequin, and Author TBA 

Paranormal – Agent Michelle Johnson, Inklings Literary Agency, Editor Renee Rocco, Lyrical Press/Kensington Books, and Author Kerrelyn Sparks 

Young Adult – Agent Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency, Editor Rachel Burkot, Harlequin, and Author Beth Ciotta.



Ignite the Flame. Opens June 1, 2015. Deadline July 15, 2015. First 15 pages and a 500 word synopsis.  A good "get your feet wet opportunity!"

Contemporary Romance:
ELANA COHEN, Editor, Simon & Schuster
PAIGE CHRISTIAN, Editor, Lyrical Press/Kensington Publishing Corp

Historical Romance:
ANDREA SOMBERG, Literary Agent, Harvey Klinger, Inc.
NICOLE D’ARIENZO, Managing Editor, Historicals, The Wild Rose Press

Paranormal/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time Travel Romance:
CORI DEYOE, Literary Agent, 3 Seas Literary Agency
CHRIS KEESLAR, Editor, Boroughs Publishing Group

Young Adult/New Adult Romance:
JIM McCARTHY, Literary Agent, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
DANIELLE URBAN, Editor, PulsePub, Propel Line*

Erotic Romance:
ALLISON JANICE, Assistant Editor, Berkley

Romantic Suspense:
RACHEL BROOKS, Literary Agent, L. Perkins Agency
MEGHA PAREKH, Associate Editor, Grand Central Publishing


The Rebecca. Deadline July 30. EXTENDED. First 5,000 words. 

Contemporary Romance
Final Judge:                         Sara Megibow, KT Literary

Historical Romance
Final Judge:                         Chelsey Emmelhainz, Harper-Collins

Paranormal/Speculative Fiction/Urban Fantasy Romance
Final Judge:                         Connor Goldsmith, Fuse Literary

New Adult Romance
Final Judge:                         Peter Senftleben, Kensington Books

Young Adult
Final Judge:                         Kat Brzozowski, St. Martins

Golden Palm. Deadline August 15. Check out the first round judges!! Wow! First 25 pages. Open to Published and Unpublished writers.

Contemporary Category:

Editor: Karen Reid, Harlequin

Editor: Allison Caroll, Harlequin

Editor: Victoria Curran, Harlequin

Editor: Rebecca Lucash, Avon Impulse

Historical Category:

Editor:  Marla Daniels, Pocket Books

Editor: Nicole Fischer, Avon Impulse

Editor: Chelsey Emmelhainz, Avon Impulse

Editor: Elle Keck, Avon Impulse

Young Adult/New Adult Category:

Editor: Piya Campana, Harlequin

Editor: Deirdre Mccluskey, Harlequin

Editor: Elana Cohen, Pocket Books (New Adult)

Agent:  Amanda Leuck, Spencerhill Associates (Tentative)

Paranormal Category:

Agent: Laurie McLean, Fuse Literary

Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Associates


Agent: Laura Zats, Red Sofa Literary

Other Writer Stuff

The Golden Donut Short Story Contest. "The Writers' Police Academy has officially opened the 2015 version of its wildly popular and extremely fun Golden Donut Short Story Contest! So it's time to let this year's contest photo inspire a perfect entry. The primary rule is your story must be EXACTLY 200 words. The submission deadline is: Midnight June 30, 2015 (the precise point in time between 11:59 pm 6-30 and 12:01 am July 1, 2015).Good luck and have fun. The contest is open to all writers--regardless of whether they're attending this year's Writers' Police Academy. So be sure to tell your author friends about the contest.

Here's the Chicken Soup 2015 Line Up! 

We'd like to introduce the July Contest Diva: Deb Harkness!~

Since I've only entered one “real” contest in my writing life, I'm not sure I qualify as a DIVA, but the Seekers have decreed it, so who am I to argue? (I've discovered they're pretty wise about all things writerly).

In February 2014, the search for Killer Voices posted on the Harlequin boards. I saw it, but didn't think I could do it. Then, I signed up for SPEEDBO and actually wrote daily (even though a few times it was only 200 words). The deadline for Stage 1 of Killer Voices fell at the halfway mark of SPEEDBO. I took another look at the call for Killer Voice entries and thought I had a cool idea. Why not try? 


Much to my amazement, I not only made the top seventy-five, I also got past Stage 2 (synopsis), Stage 3 (first three chapters), and all the way to Stage 4 (full manuscript). Each step of the way, I panicked a little bit more because as of day one of the contest, the only part of the manuscript written had been my first page. This meant I needed to write 55 – 60K words in less than three months.


So NOT a recommended process. I tend to write short in the first place. I thrive on flash fiction and short stories, probably because of my animation background (creating shorts). I managed to fit writing in whenever I had a spare few minutes, and even took about three of days off before the final deadline to write all day. My biggest support came from Anita Mae Draper *waving to Anita*, a God-sent friend I met in Harlequin's Writing Challenge Thread and the person who introduced me to Seekerville. She's also an uber talented writer that I could trust to tell me when I got off track in my story. Another huge help was Debra Marvin, an Inky (writer from the Inkwell Inspirations blog). Between these two ladies and the help found here at Seekerville, I was able to hone my manuscript more than I thought possible. I truly believe that without Anita, Debra, and Seekerville, I would not have made it to Stage 4.

Typing THE END put me on cloud nine confidence-wise. I think I walked on air for a couple of days after hitting send on my entry because of the accomplishment. I had done something I'd always wanted to do, but had never actually done. I finished writing a book. Repeat: I finished writing a book. Coincidence that this happened the same year I participated in SPEEDBO?  I think not.

So what happened with my entry? I received great feedback from my assigned editor, Shana Asaro. Wow, do editors know their stuff. I could tell from her notes just where I lost her in my story (invaluable). She pointed out a lot of good things for me to work on and, despite my drivel, she actually encouraged me to revise my story and send it again. She believed in my story idea that much. GOLDEN!

 Entering a contest was the second best thing I've done to grow in my writing process (finding Seekerville was the first best thing).

That's it! Stay cool!