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The 2019 Put Your Heart in a Book Contest for Unpublished Authors
is Now Closed.

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Key Dates

Contest Opens: April 1, 2019
Contest Closes: Extended to June 15, 2019, 12:01am Eastern Time
Finalists Notified by: August 31, 2019
Winners Announced at the NJRW Put Your Heart in a Book Conference on October 18-19, 2019

Entries

Submissions will consist of a FIRST chapter, not to exceed 30 pages, and a PROJECTED WORD COUNT of the completed manuscript. A prologue may be included as part of the first chapter, if within page total guidelines. 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.

Categories

(All Categories have a 40,000-word minimum. Computer count will be used to determine length.)
  • Contemporary Series
           Category length romances and romantic suspense set in the present day.
  • Single-Title Contemporary
           Romances set in present day. Not part of a series.
  • Historical
           Category and Single Title length romances set before 1945. Includes Regency romances. 
  • Paranormal
           Fantasy, futuristic, paranormal and FFP romantic suspense. 
  • Romantic Suspense
           Romance novel in which suspense is a major element of the plot.
  • Young Adult
           Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers. 

Final Round Judges

Contemporary - Series
Author -  Priscilla Oliveras, 2018 RITA Double Finalist
Editor - Veronica Jordan, First Page Last Page
Agent - Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic

Contemporary - Single Title
Author -  Bob Mayer, NYT Bestselling Author
Editor -  EL Felder, The Wild Rose Press
Agent - Nicole Bezanson, Metamorphosis Literary Agency

Historical
Author -  Maya Rodale, USA Today Best Selling Author
Editor - Nancy Swanson, The Wild Rose Press
Agent -  Jana Hanson, Metamorphosis Literary Agency

Paranormal
Author -  Kerry Blaisdell, 2019 RITA Finalist
Editor - John Robin, Deep Desires Press
Agent -  Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore and Co.

Romantic Suspense
Author -  Dee Davis, NJRW Hall of Fame Member
Editor -  Val Mathews, The Wild Rose Press
Agent - Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary Agency

Young Adult
Author -  Ginger Scott, 2019 RITA Finalist
Editor - Craig Gibb, Deep Desires Press
Agent -  Rachel Beck, Holloway Literary Agency

Registration and Payment

Payment is required before filling out the registration form.
Entry Fees:
NJRW Member - 1st Entry: $25
NJRW Member - Subsequent Entries: $15
Non-NJRW Member - 1st Entry: $30
Non-NJRW Member - Subsequent Entries: $25

Official Rules

1) Entrant must be a member of RWA in good standing, unpublished, and not contracted in book-length romantic fiction at the contest deadline by any publisher and in any format within the last five years. RWA membership will be verified by the coordinator(s).
 
2) Previous winning or final-round entries may not be resubmitted, even in revised form.
 
3) Multiple entries may be submitted by a single entrant either writing within the same category or in different categories. However, the same entry may only be submitted in one category.
 
4) Entrant may not have accepted a publishing offer for a work of original fictional narrative prose of 20,000 words or more within the past five (5) years. Should the entrant accept an offer prior to the contest entry deadline, she/he will notify the contest chair and withdraw any and all entries.  All entry fees will be forfeited.
 
5) An official entry consists of:
  1. Completed electronic entry form.
  2. PayPal payment confirmation number, or check or money order payable to New Jersey Romance Writers (NJRW) mailed to:​
    P.O. Box 513
    Plainsboro, NJ 08636-0513
  3. Manuscript submitted by electronic (email) submissions and will consist of a FIRST chapter, not to exceed 30 pages combined, and a PROJECTED WORD COUNT of the completed manuscript. A prologue may be included as part of the first chapter, if within page total guidelines. 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. (please see Format below.)
  4. The name of the category you are entering must be listed in the subject line of the email entry.
  5. You will receive a confirmation when the entry is received. If you do not receive confirmation within 72 hours please email the coordinator.
 
6) Categories:
(All Categories have a 40,000-word minimum. Computer count will be used to determine length.)
  • Contemporary Series
            Category length romances and romantic suspense set in the present day
  • Single-Title Contemporary
            Romances set in present day. Not part of a series.
  • Historical
            Category and Single Title length romances set before 1945. Includes Regency romances. 
  • Paranormal
            Fantasy, futuristic, paranormal and FFP romantic suspense. 
  • Romantic Suspense
            Romance novel in which suspense is a major element of the plot.
  • Young Adult
​            Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers.
 
7) Format for Entry:
  • All entries must be in RTF (rich text format) or DOC format only. It should be formatted in standard manuscript format. This includes header and page numbers. 
            *  One-inch margins, double spaced, Times New Roman or Courier, font size 12
  • Header information should include: title and category in the upper left corner, and page number in the upper right corner only. PROJECTED WORD COUNT SHOULD APPEAR ON THE FIRST MANUSCRIPT PAGE (only) so judges can customize their comments.
  • The UNJUDGED SYNOPSIS must be included at the end of the submission, clearly defined with a page break and titled "SYNOPSIS".
  • A cover page is not necessary since the entry form will include all necessary information.
  • Your name should only be on the electronic entry form and not on the entry anywhere, including document properties.
 
8) Entry Information:
  • Contest opens and submissions may be sent starting April 1st, 2019.
  • Entries must be submitted by 12:01 a.m. June 1st, 2019 Eastern time zone. NO EXCEPTIONS!
  • Finalists will be announced by August 31st, 2019.
  
9) First Round Judges 
​
All judges are encouraged to give detailed comments for each entry. Judges will be encouraged to comment directly on the submitted entry in another color or on the score sheet. Each entry will be evaluated by at least two (2) judges. Final score is the average of the two scores. In the case of a difference of 45 points or more between the two scores, a third judge will evaluate the entry. The final score, for contest purposes, will be the average of the two highest scores.
 
10) The three (3) highest-scored entries in each category will advance to the final round and be ranked by our Final Round Judges. The preliminary round scores are not forwarded to the final round. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
 
11) Prizes:  Awarded in each category:
1st Place:   $50 + plaque
2nd Place:  $30 + certificate
3rd Place:  $25 + certificate
 
12) A minimum of ten (10) entries must be received in each of the categories in order to consider it a separate category and award prizes. In case fewer than 10 entries are received for any of the categories, the entrants are asked for a second designation for assignment. Reassignment would occur only at the discretion of the contest coordinator.
 
13) All decisions regarding a disqualification of any entry or clarification of any and all rules will be made by the Contest Committee and will be considered final.
 
14) Any questions, contact Jessica Collins, Contest Coordinator, at PYHIAB@njromancewriters.org. 

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Join Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Directors 2019
    • In Memoriam
    • In Action
    • Contact Us
    • DMCA
  • Meetings
  • Meet Our Members
  • Contests
    • PYHIAB Contest
    • PYHIAB 2019 Winners
    • PYHIAB 2019 Finalists
    • PYHIAB 2018 Winners
    • PYHIAB 2017 Winners
    • PYHIAB 2016 Winners
    • Golden Leaf
    • Golden Leaf 2019 Winners
    • Golden Leaf 2019 Finalists
    • Golden Leaf 2018 Winners
    • Golden Leaf 2017 Winners
    • Golden Leaf 2016 Winners
    • Golden Leaf Hall of Fame
  • Conference and Events
    • Conference Recordings
  • Members Only
    • Member Renewal
    • Conference Registration
    • By-laws
    • PPM
    • Reimbursement Form
    • Minutes and Financials
    • HeartBeat Newsletter