The SpacecoasT Authors of Romance (Florida STARs) are very excited to announce the opening of The 2010 Launching A Star Contest on July 1st! With both great editors and super agents signed up as final judges, they expect to have another successful run. Last year, 28 full manuscripts and 4 partials were requested. To date, they know of 4 manuscripts sold. All entries will be submitted electronically. Each entry is a max of 25 pages (no synopsis) and is judged by both an unpublished and a published writer! Deadline is Midnight Eastern Time September 8th and you may go to www.spacecoastauthorsofromance.com for more information.
They are very pleased to announce their final round judges:Single Title: Editor -Selina McLenmore/Grand Central Publishing and Agent-Becca Stumpf/ Prospect Agency. General Paranormal: Editor-Meredith Giordan/Berkley Jove. Agent-Laurie McLean/Larsen-Pomada Agency. Futuristic/Fantasy: Editor-Leah Hultenschmidt/Dorchester Publishing
Agent-Suzie Townsend/Fine Print Literary. Historical: Editor-Talia Platz, New American Library (NAL) Agent-Michelle Grajkowski/3 Seas Agency. Series Contemporary: Editor-Susan Litman/Harlequin Special Edition. Agent-Roberta Brown/Brown Literary Agency. Romantic Suspense: Editor-Katherine Pelz/Berkley Agent-Laura Bradford/The Bradford Literary Agency.
Inspirational: Editor-Natalie Hanemann/Thomas Nelson Agent-Rachelle Gardner/WordServe Literary. Young Adult: Editor-Kristin Daly/Harper Collins Agent-Elaine Spencer/The Knight Agency.
Get out of the water! No, it’s not a shark attack. It’s almost time for the
2010 GATEWAY TO THE BEST contest! You still have time to polish your manuscript. So say goodbye to the pool or beach and say hello to your keyboard! The GRAND PRIZE is $100! Two of last year’s entries went on to final in the Golden Heart!
Here’s what Golden Heart Historical finalist Jacqui Nelson had to say about
her experience with the Gateway, “The Gateway to the Best was my first contest and
I loved the entire experience! In fact it has set the bar for all
the contests I’ve since entered. The feedback was incredibly helpful but
also gracefully given. The contest coordinator
answered my questions quickly and cheerfully. And the Final Rankings
Spreadsheet (that anonymously listed what each
contestant in my category scored) was the icing on the cake!” The contest formally opens August 2 and closes September 10. Gateway to the Best is sponsored by Missouri Romance Writers. Check out all the rules, judges and details at: www.morwa.org.
Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA) is delighted to announce we are now accepting entries for our 2010 Fiction from the Heartland Contest. This year entries are being accepted in both print and electronic format. The final round being judged by BOTH an editor and an agent, this is a wonderful opportunity to get your manuscript in front of acquiring industry professionals. The deadline is September 10th, 2010 and will cost $30.00. To be eligibility the author must be unpublished in book-length fiction in the past five years. The categories are and final round judges are Contemporary Single Title: Danielle Poiesz, Pocket Books; Category Romance: Susan Litman, Harlequin/Silhouette Books; Historical: Tess Woodward, Avon Books; Paranormal: Meredith Giordan, Berkley Publishing Group; Inspirational: Melissa Endlich, Steeple Hill Books; Romantic Suspense: Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing; Young Adult: Natashya Wilson, Harlequin Teen; Erotic Romance: TBA. Agent judges: Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency; Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary Agency; Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency; Karen Solem, Spencerhill Associates and Claudia Cross, Sterling Lord Literistic. The top Prize is $50.00 and Plaque. Please visit www.mararwa.com for more information.
The Golden Network’s Golden Pen Contest is now open for entries! What makes this contest special? Each entry in the Golden Pen will be judged by
at least one published author and one Golden Heart finalist. What’s more,
entries will be 55 pages. This is a chance to have a large portion of your
manuscript evaluated. The format is similar to the Golden Heart, so this is a
great contest to “test drive” your manuscript before entering the Golden Heart.
Entries will be returned before the Golden Heart deadline. The entry fee is only $30.
Categories and final round judges include: Series Contemporary – Susan Litman, Harlequin
Single Title – Katherine Pelz, Berkley\, Historical – Leis Pederson, Berkley; Paranormal – Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks; Romantic Suspense – Holly Blanck, St. Martins; Inspirational – Melissa Enlich, Steeple Hill; Young Adult – Regina Griffin, Egmont USA
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements – Valerie Gray, Mira. Details can be found on the Golden Pen pages at www.thegoldennetwork.com. For more information email : Contest.
Workshop
Sizzle 101 instructed by Jennifer LaBrecque will be a time to join award-winning, veteran Blaze author Jennifer LaBrecque and learn how to
notch up your writing’s sensuality level from so-so to sizzling. The
two-week course will cover sensuality vs. sexuality, creating sexual
tension, awareness, steps to intimacy, the emotional component, engaging all
five senses, and moving beyond tab a into slob b. Join Jennifer as she
shares her secrets for writing which have earned her reviews such as,
“Nobody writes a hotter novel better than Jennifer LaBrecque.” – CataRomance
Reviews and “This one is hotter than hot!” – Romantic Times Book Review.. The online class will be August 9 – 23, 2010 and will cost $20. The registration deadline is August 3, 2010 more information may be found at www.heartofdixie.org.
Yosemite Romance Writers is proud to present their online workshop for August 2-27, Di Dialog That Dazzles. Dialogue that dazzles is about creating the most exciting, compelling conversations you’ve ever written. Stellar dialogue can make you story leap to life the way nothing else can. If you’ve gotten comments from editors and agents that your dialogue is trite or stilted or dull, we’ve got the cure for you. This workshop is designed to teach you how to write fresh, natural dialogue that dazzles. You’ll learn new techniques for rewriting any lines of dialogue and improving them spectacularly. You’ll uncover secrets of incorporating these methods into your writing style. Learn how to make your dialogue stand out and dramatically increase your chances of selling your book! The class will be instructed by Lori Wilde, who has sold fifty-two novels to four major New York publishing houses. She is also an instructor for a company who provides online community education to over 1600 colleges and universities. Lori is a past RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Lories, The More Than Maggie, the Golden Quill and The Best Books of 2006 Book Award. Her books have been translated into 22 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman and Quick and Simple magazines. She’s appeared numerous times on the Waldenbook’s bestseller list and Ingram’s Top. The deadline to register is 08/01/2010
and will cost $20 YWR members; $25 non-members. RWA Membership isn’t required. Registration may be done at www.yosemiteromancewriters.com .
Retreats
EVA’s 2010 retreat will be directed by Shannon Donnelly and held on Sunday, August 22n from 8am-5pm at the Monrovia Canyon Park Conference Cabin. For more information please contact: www.eastvalleyauthors.com. EVA members pay and $25 nonmembers. Space is limited to only 24 so register early!
Winners
Celtic Hearts Romance Writers is pleased to announce the finalists for the
2010 Annual Golden Claddaugh Contest. Passion ~ Jeanell Bolton
Fractured Paradise ~ Lexi Connor; Aliya Arabesque ~ Madeline Smyth
Erotic Category The Lust Boat ~ Dolores Wall Maroney, Hustler’s Dream ~ Casey Crow
The Druid Prince ~ Camryn Rhys; Future/Fantasy/Paranormal The Veil ~ Sabrina Jarema
The Key to My Heart ~ Julie McMullen, The Seduction of Phaeton Black ~ G. Jillian Stone;
Historical In Longfellow’s Keep ~ Mary E. Lawrence, His to Hold ~ Jenna Stuart
Scenting Scandal ~ Suzanne Web; Romantic Suspense His Reluctant Witness ~ Lexi Connor, Deception ~ Jennifer Beane, Black Ops ~ Dr. L. Pepper Norris; ContemporaryPassion ~ Jeanell Bolton, Fractured Paradise ~ Lexi Connor, Aliya Arabesque ~ Madeline Smyth; Erotic Category
Final Round Judge: The Lust Boat ~ Dolores Wall Maroney, Hustler’s Dream ~ Casey Crow
The Druid Prince ~ Camryn Rhys; Future/Fantasy/Paranormal The Veil ~ Sabrina Jarema
The Key to My Heart ~ Julie McMullen
The Seduction of Phaeton Black ~ G. Jillian Stone; Historical In Longfellow’s Keep ~ Mary E. Lawrence, His to Hold ~ Jenna Stuart, Scenting Scandal ~ Suzanne Web; Romantic Suspense
His Reluctant Witness ~ Lexi Connor, Deception ~ Jennifer Beane, Black Ops ~ Dr. L. Pepper Norris. The Celtic Hearts Contest Committee would like to wish the finalists luck in the next round! Winners will be announced on September 1, 2010.More information may be found by contacting the Contest Chair, Eliza Knight: writer.
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