2022 Golden Leaf Contest for Published Authors
Finalists
New Jersey Romance Writers is thrilled to announce the finalists in our 2022 Golden Leaf contest! The winners will be announced at our Awards Ceremony on December 10. Stay tuned for details, and many congratulations to all our finalists!
***Permission to forward granted and encouraged **** Long Contemporary Cup-Tied by Marina Reznor The Cowboy’s Rebel Heart by Deborah Garland The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson Mid-Length Contemporary Unlock My Heart by Jennifer Wilck* Taking Root by Stacey Wilk* Cinderella Next Door by Nancy Robards Thompson Short Contemporary Not Over You by Jodi Payne* Wilde in Love by K.M. Fawcett* Losing Control: Mick’s Story by Morgan Malone* Erotic Romance Shattered Ice by Jordyn Kross Ask Me Nicely by Dania Voss Shared by Her Trainers by Tori Chase |
Historical Romance
Her Forbidden Highlander Husband by Allison B. Hanson Eloping with the Laird by Jeanine Englert The Winter Husband by Lisa Ann Verge Pippa and the Prince of Secrets by Grace Callaway Novella Eight Nights of Apricot Cookies by Roni Denholtz* Macaroons by Midnight by Annette Miller* The Pizza Guy from Beachside by Piper Malone Paranormal Romance What Lies Beneath by Marissa Doyle The Sheriff and the Psychic by Peggy Jaeger Chasing Time by Mia Downing Romantic Suspense Tough Justice by Tee O’Fallon Incinerated by Lori Matthews Serve ’N’ Protect by Tee O’Fallon Best Book by a New Jersey Author Taking Root by Stacey Wilk* The Winter Husband by Lisa Ann Verge The Highlander’s Substitute Wife by Terri Brisbin* Best First Book Cole for Christmas by Janet Raye Stevens Memory’s Bride by Decca Price Home Beyond Hell by Karen Yakey |
* NJRW Member
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.).