Thank you to all the entrants to our
​2021 Put Your Heart in a Book Contest
​for Unpublished Authors!

Our Finalists are Announced!

We are excited to announce the finalists for this year's Put Your Heart in a Book contest. 
Contemporary - Long
"Lark Lake Lodge" by Maggie Eliot
"See Sadie Jane Run" by Kelly Elizabeth Huston
"Unsound" by Ash Finley

Contemporary - Short
"Bali Escape with the Single Dad" by Rachel Armstrong
"Land of Gold" by Greta Smyth
"Sea of Deceit" by Greta Smyth

Speculative
"Knight & Shade" by Kate Mahon
"The Time In Between" by Annabeth Lynch
"Waves of Change" by Jen Schoenbein

Romantic Suspense
"Buried Secrets" by Denise Diana Huddle
"Going for Broke" by Victoria Elliot
"Savoring Sage" by Elizabeth Grey*

Historical
"A Deal with a Duke" by Leslie Holman*
"Earl Trouble" by Kate Happ
"Talk of Tokyo" by Heather Hallman*

* indicates a NJRW member

New for 2021!

What could you do with $200???
  • Get your dream cover designed?
  • Format your book for upload?
  • Spend some time with an editor to polish your book?
  • Go to that conference you've always longed to visit?
Well, in 2021, the manuscripts that win the top spot in each of Put Your Heart in a Book's categories will win $200, as well as a plaque and your name splashed across social media for industry professionals and future readers to see!

Every entry gets feedback from at least 2 published authors!

And check out our final round judges! Imagine getting your work in front of professional editors and bestselling authors!

Also new for 2021: If you're already published in one subgenre of romance but would like to try out another, you can still enter!

Whether you plan to self-publish or go the traditional route, this contest will help you accomplish your goals!

Key Dates

Registration Opens:
June 1, 2021 for NJRW members. June 3, 2021 for Non-NJRW members.

Registration Closes: 
August 1, 2021, 11:59pm Eastern Time

Finalists Notified by: 
October 1, 2021

Winners will be announced at the NJRW Holiday Party in December. All finalists and one (1) guest will be invited. Date and location TBD.

Final Round Judges

Contemporary - Short
Editor: Sinclair Sawhney, Senior Editor, Tule Publishing. Also writes contemporary romance as Sinclair Jayne
Author: Kelly Bowen

Contemporary - Long
Editor: Jess Verdi, Crazy Maple Studio/KISS
Author: Kerry Blaisdall

Speculative (including SFF and Paranormal)
Editor: EL Felder, The Wild Rose Press
​Author: Abigail Owen
Romantic Suspense
Editor: Sue Toth, Freelance Editor
Author: Katherine McLellan

Historical:
Editor: Amanda Barnett, The Wild Rose Press
Author: Catherine Tinley

Categories

(All Categories, unless otherwise noted, have a 40,000-word projected-length minimum.)
  • Contemporary – Short: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present with the primary focus on the romantic relationship between the main characters, and a word count between 40,000 and 60,000 words.
  • Contemporary – Long: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present with the primary focus of the novel on the romantic relationship between the main characters, and a word count of more than 60,000 words.
  • Historical:  Novels set prior to 1950, with the primary focus of the novel on the romantic relationship between the main characters.
  • Speculative:  Any romance novel in which either time travel, futuristic, fantasy world or paranormal happenings or beings are a major element of the plot.
  • Romantic Suspense:  Any romance novel in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute a major element of the plot.

Judging

2021_first_round_score_sheet.docx
File Size: 23 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Looking to judge the first round? Please go to our PYHIAB Judges Page and thank you for supporting new writers!
First Round Judges 
  1. ​All first round entries are judged by two (2) published authors.
  2. Scoring is based on a 1-5 scale as shown on the attached sheet.
  3. All judges are encouraged to give detailed comments on each section on the score sheet.
  4. Judges are also encouraged to comment directly on the submitted entry, in-line, in a different color text.
  5. Scores of 2 or below for any question must include an explanation.
  6. The average of the two scores is considered the final score.
  7. The three (3) highest-scored entries in each category will advance to the final round and be ranked by our Final Round Judges.
  8. The finalists in each category will be notified via email and/or phone by October 1, 2021, or as soon as the judging is complete.

Final Round Judges
  1. Final round judges consist of Literary Editors and Best-Selling Authors.
  2. The preliminary round scores are not forwarded to the final round.
  3. The winner of each category will be announced at the NJRW Holiday Party in December. Date TBD.
  4. First prize winners in each category will receive $200.00, a trophy, a certificate, and a social media graphic.
  5. All finalists will receive a certificate as well as a social media graphic.

In the case of a difference of 30 points or more between two scores in either round, a third judge will evaluate the entry and the lowest of the three scores will be dropped.
 
Scores will be returned to all non-finalists after the first round commences. Finalist scores will be returned for both rounds after the award ceremony.
 
Judges are screened prior to allowance to judge the contest. Judges have confirmed they will work against implicit bias in order to judge entries fairly.

Submission Rules

  1. An official entry consists of:
    1. A completed electronic entry form (link here).
    2. Payment via PayPal (link here or at the bottom of this page.)
    3. Manuscript, to be submitted by email. The name of the category you are entering must be listed in the subject line of the email entry.
  2. The submitted manuscript will consist of the FIRST thirty (30) pages, which may or may not include a prologue, and a PROJECTED WORD COUNT of the completed manuscript. An UNJUDGED SYNOPSIS must be included at the end of the submission, clearly defined with a page break and titled “SYNOPSIS.” The synopsis will not count toward the page count and must not exceed five (5) pages.
  3. A prologue may be included as part of the first thirty pages, if within page total guidelines.
  4. All entries must be in DOC or DOCX format only. Standard format guidelines should apply. These include:
    1. One-inch margins on all sides
    2. Double spaced lines
    3. Times New Roman font, size 12
  5. Header information should include:
    1. Title and category in the upper left corner
    2. Page number in the upper right corner only
  6. Manuscript first page should include:
    1. Title
    2. Category
    3. Projected word count
  7. The UNJUDGED SYNOPSIS must be included at the end of the submission, clearly defined with a page break and titled “SYNOPSIS.”
  8. Your name should only be on the electronic entry form and not on the entry anywhere, including in document properties.
  9. Multiple entries by the same entrant are encouraged and may be submitted either within the same category or in different categories.
    1. A single entry can be entered into any and all categories in which it meets criteria.
    2. A single entrant can enter as many different entries, whether in the same or different categories, they choose.
    3. Each entry must have its own entry form/submission and payment.
    4. All entries must meet the category guidelines and entrant eligibility requirements.  
  10. You will receive a confirmation when the entry is received. If you do not receive confirmation within 72 hours please email the coordinator.
  11. A collection of novels/novellas is not one entry in any category; rather each work must be entered separately. In the novella category, an entrant need not write every story in a collection, only the work entered.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. The following do not constitute grounds for disqualification:
    1. More than 2 lovers (ménage).
    2. LGBTQIA+ protagonists or protagonists from traditionally marginalized groups.
    3. A story that does not end in marriage or engagement.
  15. All pairings/ménages may enter any category.
  16. Please be sure to mark the appropriate heat level of your entry on the entry form. Failure to do so could have a negative impact at judging. 

Payment and Registration

  1. All Entries: $25 first entry, $15 subsequent entries
  2. All payments must be made through PayPal.
  3. All entries and payments are non-refundable. The only situation in which an entry would be refunded is if a contestant enters into a publishing contract prior to the winners being announced. This would then disqualify their entry (entries) from the contest and fees would be refunded.
  4. Payment must be made before filling out the registration form.
  5. Upon payment, make a note of your Paypal Transaction ID. Use this when filling out your registration form.

Eligibility

  1. Entrant must be unpublished and uncontracted in romance fiction, for a work of 15,000 words or more, in the subgenre she/he/they are submitting, within the last five years. Should the entrant accept a publishing offer prior to the contest entry deadline, she/he/they will notify the contest chair and withdraw any and all entries.
  2. Previous winning or final-round entries may not be resubmitted, even in revised form.
  3. There must be a minimum of five (5) entries per category in order for judging to take place. If the minimum in a category is not reached, entries will be placed in their chosen alternate category.
  4. There is a maximum of twenty-five (25) entries per category. The category will be closed after twenty-five entries have been received.
  5. Only one award per category. The decision of the judges is final.
  6. All decisions regarding a disqualification of any entry or clarification of any and all rules will be made by the NJRW Board and will be considered final.
Any questions? Contact Jessica Collins, Contest Coordinator, at PYHIAB@njromancewriters.org.