2020 Golden Leaf Contest for Published Authors
Finalists
New Jersey Romance Writers is thrilled to announce the finalists in our 2020 Golden Leaf contest! The winners will be announced at our Virtual Holiday Party on December 12. Stay tuned for details, and many congratulations to all our finalists!
***Permission to forward granted and encouraged ****
Best First Book
A Lady's Revenge, by Edie Cay
Crushing on You, by Jen Trinh
High Heels and Handguns, by Lisa Heartman
Long Contemporary
Wish Upon a Cowboy, by Jennie Marts
A Timeless Kiss, by Judy Kentrus*
Love Me Not, by Lisa McLuckie
Mid-Length Contemporary
For The Love of You, by Claire Marti
Nobody Else But You, by Claire Marti
Crushing on You, by Jen Trinh
Short Contemporary
Swipe Right for a Cowboy, by Karen Foley*
Harvest Hideaway, by Christina James
Want Me Always, by Lea Nolan
Erotica
Alaska Bound, by Margaret Frank
Winter's List, by Jordyn Kross
Yours… Mine… Always, by Cadence Vonn
Historical
The Duke of Redemption, by Grace Callaway
Return of the Fox, by Pamela Gibson
The Work of Art, by Mimi Matthews
Novella
Reluctant Billionaire, by Deborah Garland
A Perfect Grey Christmas, by Anna Sugden
Tides of Desire, by Tracy Sumner
Paranormal
Evergreen, by Marissa Doyle
The Rogue King, by Abigail Owen
Bloodborn, by Sydney Winward
Romantic Suspense
Spooning Leads to Forking, by Kilby Blades
Break and Enter, by Lori Matthews*
Trap ’N' Trace, by Tee O'Fallon
Best Book by an NJ Author
The Money Man, by Nancy Herkness*
Smash and Grab, by Lori Matthews*
Beyond Redemption, by Barbara Nolan*
* Denotes NJRW members
***Permission to forward granted and encouraged ****
Best First Book
A Lady's Revenge, by Edie Cay
Crushing on You, by Jen Trinh
High Heels and Handguns, by Lisa Heartman
Long Contemporary
Wish Upon a Cowboy, by Jennie Marts
A Timeless Kiss, by Judy Kentrus*
Love Me Not, by Lisa McLuckie
Mid-Length Contemporary
For The Love of You, by Claire Marti
Nobody Else But You, by Claire Marti
Crushing on You, by Jen Trinh
Short Contemporary
Swipe Right for a Cowboy, by Karen Foley*
Harvest Hideaway, by Christina James
Want Me Always, by Lea Nolan
Erotica
Alaska Bound, by Margaret Frank
Winter's List, by Jordyn Kross
Yours… Mine… Always, by Cadence Vonn
Historical
The Duke of Redemption, by Grace Callaway
Return of the Fox, by Pamela Gibson
The Work of Art, by Mimi Matthews
Novella
Reluctant Billionaire, by Deborah Garland
A Perfect Grey Christmas, by Anna Sugden
Tides of Desire, by Tracy Sumner
Paranormal
Evergreen, by Marissa Doyle
The Rogue King, by Abigail Owen
Bloodborn, by Sydney Winward
Romantic Suspense
Spooning Leads to Forking, by Kilby Blades
Break and Enter, by Lori Matthews*
Trap ’N' Trace, by Tee O'Fallon
Best Book by an NJ Author
The Money Man, by Nancy Herkness*
Smash and Grab, by Lori Matthews*
Beyond Redemption, by Barbara Nolan*
* Denotes NJRW members
Categories
- Best First Book: any romance novel from a first-time author not previously published in book length romantic fiction, regardless of publishing medium.
- Contemporary Romance: Short: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are between 40,000 and 56,000 words in length.
- Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are between 56,000 and 84,000 words in length.
- Contemporary Romance: Long: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are 84,000 or more words.
- Historical Romance: Novels set prior to 1950. Includes Regency romances. 40,000 word minimum.
- Novella: short pieces of romantic fiction between 20-40,000 words. (Trade magazines do not normally fall under the proper word count; however, if your novella does, the acceptability of such work will be the decision of the contest chairperson.)
- Paranormal Romance: Any romance novel in which either time travel, futuristic, fantasy world or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot. 40,000 word minimum.
- Romantic Suspense: Any romance novel in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute a major part of the plot. 40,000 word minimum.
- Erotic Romance: Novels in which strong, often explicit, sexual interaction is an inherent part of the love story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. These novels may contain elements of other romance subgenres (such as paranormal, historical, etc.).
