Writing Contest: Valley of the Sun-Hot Prospects

Hi Everyone,

I've never submitted to this particular contest, but I thought some of you may be interested in the information. Looks like the deadline is this Tuesday, September 1st! :D

Good Luck!!

Hope you're all doing well.

Take Care,

Michele

****Permission to forward****

Finalists get their entry in front of TWO industry professionals.

GRAND PRIZE: The winner can choose between a book trailer, static banner and active banner from Bella Entertainment for the book of their choice (a $300.00 value) or $100.00 USD.

Fee: $25 for Valley of the Sun RW chapter members
$30 for non-chapter members

Postmark Deadline: September 1st, 2009
E-Submit Deadline: September 1st, 2009

Eligibility: Any uncontracted work by an RWA member in good standing. This includes both published and unpublished authors.

Enter: 3-5-page synopsis and up to 25 pages of story (30 pages max). Entry or synopsis may be shorter, but neither may be longer than specified.

Categories/Judges: Trained judges for preliminary round,
Editors and Agents for final round.

Historical/Regency
Editor-Talia Platz, Editorial Assistant, NAL
Agent - Paige Wheeler, agent, Folio Literary Management

Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal
Editor – Leah Hultenschmidt, Editor, Dorchester Publishing
Agent - Michelle Grajkowski, agent, 3 Seas Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense
Editor - Deb Werksman, editor, Sourcebooks
Agent - JL Stermer, agent, Donald Maass Literary Agency

Contemporary Long/Single Title
Editor - Katherine N. Pelz, Editorial Assistant, The Berkley Publishing Group
Agent - Sharene Martin-Brown,Author Representative, Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency

Series Contemporary
Editor - Johanna Raisanen, Harlequin Enterprises
Editor - Leanne Morgena, Senior Editor, the Wild Rose Press

Erotica
Editor - Theresa Stevens, editor, Red Sage Publishing
Editor - Kelli Collins, editor-in-chief, Ellora's Cave

For More Information, entry form, and rules, see website at
www.valleyofthesunrw.com.

Linda Andrews
Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects Coordinator

Writing Contest: 17th Annual Heart of the West Contest

Here's another writing contest that is electronic submission only -- a money saver. But you'll have to hurry to enter this one, as the deadline is July 1, 2009.

Good Luck!

Hope you're all having a great summer and your writing is going smoothly. :)

Take Care,

Michele

****PERMISSION TO FORWARD****

17th Annual Heart of the West Contest deadline is July 1 and will be here before we know it!

Now is the time to make your final edits, get your pages together, fill out that entry form, and EMAIL your manuscript(s). Yes, the contest is totally electronic, saving you precious money by not having to mail anything! Enter for the chance to get your story in front of one of the awesome acquiring editors and agents that we have judging.

Contemporary: Amanda Bergeron, Editor, Avon Books/Harper Collins.
Historical: Megan Records, Editor, Kensington.
Paranormal: Heather Osborn, Editor, Tor/Forge.
Mystery/Suspense: Lara Hyde, Editor, MIRA.
Inspirational: Jewelann Cone, Agent, Atlantis Literary Agency.
Published: Miriam Kriss, Agent, The Irene Goodman Agency.

17th Annual Heart of the West Contest
Sponsor: Utah Chapter of Romance Writers
Fee: $25
Receipt Deadline: July 1, 2009
Entry: Enter the opening twenty (20) pages of romance novels of all sub-genres (projected length of at least 50,000 words). Contest is open to published and unpublished authors. Unpublished authors are ranked separately from published authors. Published authors may submit only unpublished, uncontracted manuscripts. NOTE: If you have a romance novel published by a non-recognized RWA publisher, Utah RWA Considers you to be published.

First round judges: published authors and RWA trained judges
Final round judges: editors and agents
Multiple entries encouraged. Awardees will be announced October 10,2009, at the Heart of the West Conference in Park City, Utah. Winners will be awarded $40 and a certificate. Please check out the website for all the details. http://www.utahrwa.com

Some Writing Contest Info...

This just arrived in my inbox via the rwacontest loop and I thought some of you might be interested in the information. The finalists are sent to an editor and an agent for placement, which is a little different than other contests, and it's open to published and unpublished alike.

For more info, please see the Northwest Houston RWA website.

Below, I've pasted what has been sent to me.

Good luck!

Michele


****Permission to forward granted****

NORTHWEST HOUSTON RWA
Presents The Sixteenth Annual

LONE STAR WRITING COMPETITION

ENTRY FEE: $20 NWH members; New lower fee! $25 non-NWH members
ELIGIBILITY: Competition is open to published and unpublished authors.
ENTER: First 25 pages, including prologue, if any. BOTH POSTAL AND E-MAIL ENTRIES ACCEPTED.

All entries will be sent to three first round judges: two published authors
and one unpublished author. The lowest score will be tossed and final round contestants will be chosen by the combined total of the final two scores. FINALISTS WILL BE SENT TO BOTH AN AGENT AND AN EDITOR FOR PLACEMENT.

Final judges:
Inspirational Category:
* Editor - Charlene Patterson, Bethany House Publishers
* Agent - Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency

Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Category:
* Editor - Ami Russell, The Wild Rose Press
* Agent - Taryn Fagerness, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

New this year! Young Adult Category:
* Editor - Karen Chaplin, Puffin Books
* Agent - Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency

Single Title Category:
* Editor - Lindsay Nouis, Penguin Group
* Agent - Carolyn Grayson, Grayson Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense Category:
* Editor - Patience Smith, Harlequin Silhouette
* Agent - Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency

Contemporary Series Category:
* Editor - Faith Black, Avalon Publishing
* Agent - Pam Strickler

Historical Category:
* Editor: Hilary Sares, Kensington Publishing
* Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency

Important Dates:
Deadline: Sent via postal service: Post marked by JUNE 6, 2008 for mailed
entries; sent via e-mail: by midnight CST JUNE 6, 2008.

Finalists: Announced August 8, 2008.
Winners: Announced October 25, 2008 at the Lone Star Conference, Houston, Texas.

FMI: _http://www.northwesthoustonrwa.com/_
(http://www.northwesthoustonrwa.com/) or Melinda Porter at _bdogs80@aol.com_ (mailto:bdogs80@aol.com) .

****Permission to forward granted****