The 2024 Golden Leaf Contest for Published Authors
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The Golden Leaf is awarded annually for excellence in published romantic fiction.
All published authors are welcome to enter books published from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. You do not have to be a member of NJRW to enter.
All published authors are welcome to enter books published from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. You do not have to be a member of NJRW to enter.
New for 2024
NJRW strives to be an inclusive community. Please consider letting us know more about yourself on the registration form. This information is OPTIONAL, will only be used for research purposes, and your personal information will not be shared with judges or published in any form.
We will also be collecting information on communities represented by the main characters in your entry. Please fill out the details on the registration form.
Key Dates
Registration Opens:
NJRW Members: June 1 and 2, 2024; other entrants: June 3.
Registration Closes: August 1, 2024, 11:59pm Eastern Time
Book Files to be Received by: August 10, 2024
Finalists Notified by: October 1, 2024
Winners will be announced at our virtual holiday party in December, 2024. All Golden Leaf Finalists and supporters are invited.
NJRW Members: June 1 and 2, 2024; other entrants: June 3.
Registration Closes: August 1, 2024, 11:59pm Eastern Time
Book Files to be Received by: August 10, 2024
Finalists Notified by: October 1, 2024
Winners will be announced at our virtual holiday party in December, 2024. All Golden Leaf Finalists and supporters are invited.
Judges
- Judges are booksellers, librarians, readers’ groups, and romance readers.
- Judges agree to sign the judges’ form which includes the following language:
- “I confirm that I understand the concept of implicit bias, and that as far as possible, I will not allow implicit bias to affect my judging of the Golden Leaf contest. I understand that if I violate this policy, my scores will be invalidated and I will not be asked to judge future contests with NJRW.”
- Please see our judges’ page for more details on judging criteria, rules and scoresheet.
- The judges’ decisions are final.
Categories
- Contemporary Romance: Short: Novels set from 1970 to present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and are between 40,000 and 60,000 words in length.
- Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length: Novels set from 1970 to present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are between 60,000 and 80,000 words in length.
- Contemporary Romance: Long: Novels set from 1970 to present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and are 80,000 or more words.
- Historical Romance: Novels set before 1970. 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: Novels 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, novella, etc.).
- Best First Book: any romance novel from a first-time author not previously published in book length romantic fiction, regardless of publishing medium. The book must be entered in another category. Scores from that category will be used to determine the winner and finalists in the Best First Bookcategory. If the entrant is entering multiple books in the contest, only one may also be entered in the Best First Book category. There is no additional fee to have a book considered for Best First Book . No additional books need to be sent.
- Best Book by a New Jersey Romance Author: Open to any entrant (regardless of whether they’re an NJRW member) who is a current, full-time resident of New Jersey. The book must be entered in another category. Scores from that category will be used to determine the winner and finalists in the Best Book by a NJ Romance Author category. If the entrant is entering multiple books in the contest, only one may also be entered in the Best Book by a NJ Romance Author category. There is no additional fee to have a book considered for Best Book by a NJ Romance Author. No additional books need to be sent.
Fees
- NJRW Members: $25 (first entry); $15 (subsequent entries)
- Non-NJRW Members: $35 fee (first entry), $15 (subsequent entries)
- (Membership in NJRW is only $35 per calendar year! Click here for all the other benefits of being a member of NJRW!)
- Payment is due at the time of registration.
- Fees will only be refunded in exceptional circumstances.
Scoresheet

2024_sample_scoresheet.pdf |
Official Rules
Eligibility
- All authors must be published in novel or novella-length romance fiction.
- Romance novels with a first copyright date or first North American printing date of June 2023 through May 2024 are eligible for entry.
- There must be a minimum of five entries per category in order for judging to take place. If the minimum in a category is not reached, entrants will be notified by the coordinator, and book files returned, unless an alternate category is provided.
- There is a maximum of twenty-five entries per category. The category will be closed after twenty-five entries have been received.
- Entrants can enter multiple categories but can only enter a maximum of three entries per category.
- Only one award per category. The decision of the judges is final.
- Decisions of the contest coordinator are final.
Submission Rules
- Registration is from June 3 through August 1, 2024. NJRW Members may enter on June 1 and 2, 2024.
- The contest is open to books that have been self-, indie-, or traditionally published.
- You may enter more than one eligible book in a category, but the same book cannot be entered in more than one category.
Exceptions:- One book entered in a category may also be entered in the Best Book by a NJ Romance Author category, provided the author is a full-time resident of NJ — no additional fee or books required.
- One book entered in a category may also be entered in the Best First Book category, provided the author is a first-time author not previously published in book length romantic fiction, regardless of publishing medium — no additional fee or books required.
- A collection of novels/novellas is not one entry; rather each work must be entered separately. In the novella category, the entrant need not have written every story in a collection, only the work entered.
- All e-books must be provided in PDF formats. The free app Calibre (https://calibre-ebook.com/) can be used to convert files. These digital copies must match the version available at retailers (other than watermarking, which may be added to the entry). You will receive instructions on how and where to send files upon receipt of your entry form and payment.
- By submitting an eBook entry, the author acknowledges that at least three copies will be sent out for judging, or more depending on the need for further scoring.
- Entries determined to be plagiarized in whole or in part, or to lack a central love story with an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending, will be disqualified for content.
- Entries containing abuse or rape for purposes of titillation, bestiality, pedophilia, other illegal or non-consensual practices, or practices that the average romance reader of the genre in question, applying contemporary community standards, would find objectionable, will be disqualified for content.
- The following do not constitute grounds for disqualification:
- More than 2 lovers (ménage)
- LGBTQIA+ protagonists or protagonists from traditionally marginalized groups
- A story that does not end in marriage.
- All pairings/ménages may enter any category.
- Please be sure to mark the heat level of your entry on the entry form. Failure to do so could have a negative impact at judging.
Registration Instructions
- Payment will take place through Payable on Google Forms.
- Complete the entry form and select “Submit” to continue.
- You will be directed to a Payable form to pay your contest fee.
- Additional entries: Fill out a separate form for each entry, and click on the appropriate button on the entry form.
- You can enter up to five additional entries, but a maximum of three is allowed in a given category (except Best First Book).
Judging Process
- Each entry is judged by three judges.
- Judges use the above score sheet.
- Finalists will be announced on October 1, 2024.
- The 3 scores for each entry are added together, and the top score is the winner in that category. The next highest two scorers take second and third place. All three places are finalists and receive a 'Golden Leaf Finalist' graphic.
- If there are multiple equal top scores, the tie breaker points will be used to see if the tie can be broken. If there is a definite tie for 1st place, even accounting for the tie-breaker question, both books will be sent to separate tie-breaker judges (fourth judges). If there are 2 first place winners after sending to the fourth judge, then both win 1st place, and the next highest score takes 3rd place.
- If there is one first place winner but a tie for second, 3rd place is not awarded.
- If there is one first place winner, one second place, and a tie for 3rd, then four finalists will be awarded.
Notification and Prizes
- The top three finalists in each category will be notified by phone in late September as soon as the judging is complete and any tie-breakers have been dealt with as described above.
- Finalists will be announced to the public on October 1, 2024 via NJRW's website and social media.
- The winner in each category will be announced during our virtual holiday party held in December, 2024.
- All winners are announced on NJRW's social media and website.
- First place winners will receive a trophy, certificate, and social media badge. All finalists will receive a certificate.