TOUCHED BY LOVE CONTEST
The purpose of the TOUCHED BY LOVE Contest is to inspire, motivate, and reward unpublished authors of inspirational romance. TOUCHED BY LOVE is the premier inspirational contest for the unpublished.
Eligibility: Participation is open to all unpublished authors and to any author not published in the past three years. All work must be the author's original work. Entrant must retain all rights to the entry and not have granted any of them to a publisher or other party by the contest entry deadline. The official entry form and fee must accompany each submission.
Inspirational Romance Categories: Contemporary (under 75, 000 words), Contemporary (over 75,000 words) and Historical.
Definition of an inspirational romance is stories written by writers whose worldview, influenced by their faith in the God of the Bible, is woven into the fabric of the book or manuscript. Entries in FHL’s contest should not include inappropriate or gratuitous demonstration of sin, whether in language, violence, or sexual situations.
Entry fee: $20.00 for members of the Faith, Hope and Love (FHL) chapter. $25.00 for non-FHL members. Non-members can elect to join FHL and pay the member entry fee. Any checks must be made out to FHL chapter of RWA.
Prizes: The overall winner chosen from the three winners of the categories will receive a critique of their entry by an editor and $100 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. The remaining two First place category winners will receive $75 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. Second place winners will receive $50 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. All other finalists in the categories will receive $25 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. Writing expenses include the Golden Heart or other writing contest entry fee, conference fees, National RWA dues, etc. Receipts are required for reimbursement.
TOUCHED BY LOVE CONTEST
RULES FOR 2008
DEADLINE: Entry Form, nonrefundable fee (checks made out to FHL or by paid by Paypal) and manuscript must be received no later than April 1, 2008 (so mail early to ensure it arrives on time). Entries and fees received after contest is officially closed will be returned. Send entry form, fee and manuscripts to appropriate Category Contest Coordinator:
Historical Romance Category:
Kelly Ann Riley
1330 Center Springs Road
Somerville, AL 35670
Emailed Entries: RileyK1@aol.com
Short (under 75,000 words) and Long Contemporary Romance (over 75,000 words):
Gina Welborn
4921 Sadler Glen Court
Glen Allen, VA 23060-6171
Emailed Entries: gina@gabcrush.com
Any questions contact the Contest Chairman: Kelly Ann Riley at RileyK1@aol.com.
Eligibility: Contest is open to all unpublished authors and to any author not published in the past three
years. All work must be the author's original work. Entrant must retain all rights to the entry and
not have granted any of them to a publisher other party by the contest entry deadline.
Entry fee: $20.00 for members of the Faith, Hope and Love (FHL) chapter. $25.00 for non-FHL
members. Non-members can elect to join FHL and pay the member entry fee. Any checks must
be made out to the FHL Chapter of RWA
ENTRY FORMAT:
An entry consists of a synopsis (no more than two pages single-spaced) and up to the first 30 pages of an unpublished manuscript.
One inch margins all around for paper and electronic entries. A standard professional font should be used with at least a 12 point font size. Entry must be double-spaced. Synopsis may be single-spaced.
Header must have manuscript title on the left and page number on right. The author’s name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript.
PAPER ENTRIES:
Send three copies each of a synopsis (no more than two pages single-spaced) and up to the first 30 pages of an unpublished manuscript. Two copies will be judged in the first round. Contest coordinators will use the third copy to make clean copies for the entries going on to the final round.
The total submission is to be no more than
30 double-spaced pages plus a two- page synopsis (not judged)
Paper entries must consist of good quality originals or photocopies and typed on one side of white, 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, double-spaced. Follow formatting guidelines listed above.
Entries shall have one title page with the author's name, phone number, address, manuscript title, projected length, and category entered listed. Your name appears only on the title page, which is kept by the contest coordinator.
Use small binder clips only to hold entry together. Do not bend or staple. Make sure the envelope you send the manuscripts in is sturdy (suggestion the free Tyvec envelopes from the Post Office) because of the possibility of damage in transit.
Include a SASE business letter size envelope for the return of the judges’ score sheets—
***NO METERED MAIL***
Include one self-addressed, stamped postcard for verification of receipt of entry. Please no signatures required for delivery. Use the delivery confirmation receipt instead, which can be tracked on the USPS website.
Enter as many manuscripts as you wish. Each entry must be accompanied by both an official entry form (or facsimile) and entry fee OR entrant must complete online entry form and pay the entry with Paypal.
Entrants who do not comply with the above rules
will be disqualified and entry fee will be forfeited.
ELECTRONIC ENTRIES:
Entrant may complete an entry form online and pay entry fee using Paypal OR mail an entry form and a check to the appropriate category coordinator.
Address the email to the appropriate Category Coordinator. Please put TBL Contest and the contest category in the subject line.
In the email body include the author's name, phone number, address, manuscript title, projected length, and category entered. Your name appears only in the email body, which is kept by the contest coordinator.
Attach to the email a copy of entry and synopsis in one file in .doc or .rtf format only. The file name should contain the title of the manuscript and the entrant’s last name. Send the email and attached file to the appropriate category coordinator before the deadline. Follow formatting guidelines listed above.
The total submission is to be no more than
30 double-spaced pages
plus a two- page synopsis (not judged)
Email entries to:
Historical Romance Entries: RileyK1@aol.com
Short Contemporary Romance: gina@gabcrush.com
Long Contemporary Romance: gina@gabcrush.com
Enter as many manuscripts as you wish. For each entry, the entrant must complete an online entry form and pay the entry fee with Paypal OR send an entry form and check to the appropriate contest coordinator.
Each entry should be emailed separately.
Entrants who do not comply with the above rules
will be disqualified and entry fee will be forfeited.
JUDGING:
Preliminary judging begins April 10, 2008. All manuscripts will be judged by two judges. The two scores will be averaged for the preliminary score.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, finalists will be notified no later than May 16, 2008. Finalist scores must be in the top 25% with an overall possible point total of 155.
Finalists will receive the opportunity to have their entry judged by five published inspirational authors. Scores will be averaged in order to establish a winner. The winner will be announced at the 2008 RWA National Conference. There will be three finalists in the three categories. There will be a winner in each category and an overall winner from the three categories.
The overall winner chosen from the three winners of the categories will receive a critique of their entry by an editor and $100 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. The remaining two First place category winners will receive $75 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. Second place winners will receive $50 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. Third place winners will receive $25 toward any writing related expense paid within one year of the end of the TBL contest. Writing expenses include the Golden Heart or other writing contest entry fee, conference fees, National RWA dues, etc. Receipts are required for reimbursement.
Any questions, contact the contest coordinator Kelly Ann Riley at RileyK1@aol.com.
