2021 Golden Leaf Contest for Published Authors
Finalists
New Jersey Romance Writers is thrilled to announce the finalists in our 2021 Golden Leaf contest! The winners will be announced at our Holiday Party in December. Stay tuned for details, and many congratulations to all our finalists!
***Permission to forward granted and encouraged **** Long Contemporary Casey Dembrowski When We’re Thirty Deborah Garland Bossy Billionaire Jennie Marts When a Cowboy Loves a Woman Mid-length Contemporary Ada Austen Better Late Than Never Jessica Calla and Heather Van Fleet Love in the Aisles Nancy Herkness The Hacker Short Contemporary Laurel Greer Snowbound with the Sheriff Tracey J. Lyons The Amish Teacher’s Wish J.B. Schroeder Xanadu XOXO Erotica Opal Carew Stroke of Luck Ann Jensen Caught in the Dark Barbara Nolan Beyond Regret |
Historical
Terri Brisbin Tempted by Her Viking Enemy Terri Brisbin An Outlaw’s Honor Cecelia Rene The Bachelor Duke Novella Caro Carson Gingerbread and Jingle Bells Deborah Garland The Cowboy’s Forbidden Crush Maria Imbalzano The Blueberry Swirl Waltz Paranormal Roni Denholtz Lightning Strikes Roni Denholtz Lightning Strikes Again Roni Denholtz Lightning Strikes Twice Romantic Suspense Nonna Henry The Rough Ride Elizabeth John Forever Keep Your Secret Judy Kentrus Frozen Hearts Best Book by a New Jersey Author Ada Austen Better Late Than Never Jessica Calla Snowed In Nancy Herkness The Hacker Best First Book Casey Dembrowski When We’re Thirty Nonna Henry The Rough Ride Ann Jensen Saved by the Dark |
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.).