tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-39166825164880600002008-05-05T23:59:00.000-05:002008-05-06T10:34:32.030-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_wxpeqdnAg9k/SCB6XFYUKPI/AAAAAAAAANo/VBGS58QGtJ0/s1600-h/AttentionVert.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_wxpeqdnAg9k/SCB6XFYUKPI/AAAAAAAAANo/VBGS58QGtJ0/s200/AttentionVert.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197288506985294066" /></a><br />Contest season is open. Does it ever really close? But this week, the Lone Star Writing Competition, sponsored by the <a href="http://www.northwesthoustonrwa.com/"> Northwest Houston Chapter</a> of Romance Writers of America, gets under way.<br /><br />What makes this contest different is that most winners and even finalists have gone on to publish their books.<br /><br />Here's the info hot off the press.<br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />NORTHWEST HOUSTON RWA Presents The Sixteenth Annual <span style="font-weight:bold;">LONE STAR WRITING COMPETITION</span> <br /><br />ENTRY FEE: $20 NWH members; New lower fee! $25 non-NWH members <br /><br />ELIGIBILITY: Competition is open to published and unpublished authors. <br /><br />ENTER: First 25 pages, including prologue, if any. <br /><br />BOTH POSTAL AND E-MAIL ENTRIES ACCEPTED <br /><br />All entries will be sent to three first round judges: two published authors <br />and one unpublished author. The lowest score will be tossed and final round <br />contestants will be chosen by the combined total of the final two scores. <br /><br />Finalists will be sent to both an agent and an editor for placement. <br /><br />Final judges: <br /><br />Inspirational Category: <br />* Editor: Charlene Patterson, Bethany House Publishers <br />* Agent: Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency <br /><br />Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Category: <br />* Editor: Ami Russell, The Wild Rose Press <br />* Agent: Taryn Fagerness, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency <br /><br />New this year! Young Adult Category: <br />* Editor: Karen Chaplin, Puffin Books <br />* Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency <br /><br />Single Title Category: <br />* Editor: Lindsay Nouis, Penguin Group <br />* Agent: Carolyn Grayson, Grayson Literary Agency <br /><br />Romantic Suspense Category: <br />* Editor: Patience Smith, Harlequin Silhouette <br />* Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency <br /><br />Contemporary Series Category: <br />* Editor: Faith Black, Avalon Publishing <br />* Agent: Pam Strickler<br /><br />Historical Category: <br />* Editor: Hilary Sares, Kensington Publishing <br />* Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency <br /><br />Important Dates: <br /><br />Deadlines:<br /> Sent via postal service, must be Post marked by June 6, 2008<br /> Sent via e-mail: by midnight CST June 6, 2008. <br /><br />Finalists: Announced August 8, 2008. <br /><br />Winners: Announced October 25, 2008 at the Lone Star Conference, Houston, Texas. <br /><br />For More Info, visit <a href="http://www.northwesthoustonrwa.com/">Northwest Houston RWA</a><br /><br />Next time, more contest info.Sling Words aka Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com