FOR HOPEFUL ROMANCE WRITERS

A Florida RWA chapter I'm in sponsors a contest every year and it's time for it again. It offers really good feedback so if you're interested, here's the announcement:

*Permission to forward granted and encouraged!*
> *Hear ye, Hear ye! *
> Is your manuscript ready to submit? Are you looking for a contest with a
> track record of success?****
>
> Or are you wondering how to get your work in front of prestigious agents
> and editors? ****
>
> ** **
>
> Wonder no longer. The Unpublished Beacon Contest can help! ****
>
> ** **
>
> In the past five years, nine of our finalists have gone on to become
> Golden Heart Finalists and four of them have sold the finaling manuscript!
> Last year, there were ten (10) requests from our finalists for partial or
> full manuscripts from some of the best editors and agents in the industry.
> In 2011, TWO finalists found their agents through our contest! This year it
> could be YOU!****
>
> ** **
>
> *Judges:* First round will be judged by at least one published author and
> one trained judge.****
>
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>
> Final round will be judged by either two editors or one editor and one
> agent in each category. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Finalists will have an opportunity to revise based on judges’ comments
> before the final round.****
>
> ** **
>
> Final round judges are subject to change when unavoidable.****
>
> ** **
>
> *Rules ******
>
> ** **
>
> THE BEACON—Unpublished Division Contest for 2013—accepting entries August
> 1-31, 2013. ****
>
> ** **
>
> All finalists notified the week of October 22, 2013.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> *Feedback will be sent to all entrants by Oct. 31st, in time to prep for
> the Golden Heart®!*****
>
> ** **
>
> Winners announced the week of December 15.****
>
>
> *Eligibility: Open to all authors of romantic fiction.* Published authors
> are eligible to enter any category in which they have *not been
> contracted and/or published* in book length fiction (40,000 words and
> over) in the last* 3 years*. *(Self-published authors are considered
> published.)*****
>
> RWA membership is not required for entry. Contest is limited to the first
> 125 entries.****
>
> ** **
>
> *Fee: *$25 FCRW members, $30 RWA member (not FCRW), $35 non-RWA member****
>
> ** **
>
> Our Beacon_Scoresheet_Sample<http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2013_Beacon_Unpublished_Scoresheet_SAMPLE.pdf> is
> designed to provide detailed critique and feedback. Per RWA rules, this
> contest will NOT be extended past the midnight on 8/31/13 barring acts of
> natural and manmade disaster including but not limited to hurricanes,
> fires, floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes. *For a complete list of rules
> and to register for the contest visit
> http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/?page_id=8****
>
> ** **
>
> *FINAL ROUND JUDGES*****
>
> *Contemporary Series Romance*
> Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Literary Agency
> Editor: Christina Brower, NAL/Penguin Group Publishing****
>
> *Erotic Romance*****
>
> Agent: Beth Miller, Writers House, LLC
> Editor: Linda Ingmanson, Samhain Publishing****
>
> *Historical/Regency Romance*****
>
> Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency
> Editor: Elizabeth Poteet, St. Martin’s Press****
>
> *Inspirational Romance*****
>
> Agent: Mary Sue Seymour, Seymour Agency
> Editor: Shana Smith, Harlequin Love Inspired****
>
> *Fantasy, Futuristic, or Paranormal Romance*
> Agent: Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger Inc.
> Editor: Kerri-Leigh Grady, Entangled Publishing****
>
> ** **
>
> *Romantic Suspense*
> Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
> Editor: Allison Lyons, Harlequin Intrigue****
>
> ** **
>
> *Single Title Contemporary Romance*****
>
> Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore & Co.
> Editor: Kate Dresser, Harlequin ****
>
> *Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit or Mainstream Romance*
> Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency
> Editor: Leis Pederson, Berkley Publishing****
>
> ** **
>
> *Young Adult*
> Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Agency
> Editor: Audrey Poole, Sourcebooks****
>
>
> Questions? Contact our contest chair at
> beaconunpub@firstcoastromancewriters.com****
>
> ** **
>