NOLA STARs

NOLA STARs Is Proud To Present

The 2008 Suzannah Contest

The Suzannah is CLOSED! We've reached our 120 limit. Thanks to all the entrants who joined us for this year! If all goes well, finalists will be announced by December 1, 2008.

The Suzannah Contest is named in honor of romance author and founding member Suzannah Nelson Davis.  We continue to celebrate her love of the romance genre and spirit of support and encouragement to struggling writers through the sponsorship of this contest

The Suzannah is different from most other writers’ contests in that  published authors and unpublished writers all compete against one another in a single pool of entries without categories. Yep, you read that right. Published and unpublished writers all hashing it out together for a spot as one of the six finalists. The only criteria we require is that the manuscript fit within the romance genre and that it be unpublished and uncontracted.

Why would we do such a thing? Because this format allows published authors to anonymously test the waters in a new genre. It also gives unpublished writers the experience and prestige of having their writing judged as in the ‘real world’ against already established authors—just the way it is on an editor’s desk!

And the best part is, if you final, your work will go before a panel of at least six (YES SIX!!) agents and editors who will pick the best of the lot.

New this year, we have gone   ELECTRONIC   ONLY!

OVERVIEW

Judging

Round One

First round judges are published authors, RWA PRO members, industry professionals (i.e. librarians and booksellers) and others who love, respect, and understand all that is good about the romance genre. Judges are STRONGLY encouraged to add comments on the entries and on the scoresheets.

Each entry will be judged by three judges.   However, only the two highest scores will be used to determine contest standing.  The lowest score will be used only if a tie-breaker is needed for the sixth position.  No more than six entries will be sent to the final round judges.(see FAQs for examples.)

Final Round

All six finalists will have their entries evaluated by the full panel of agents and editors. 
These include:

4    Michelle Grajkowski - Three Seas Literary Agency

4    Leah Hultenschmidt -- Dorchester

4    Margo Lipschultz -- HQN

4    Alex Logan -- Grand Central

4    Erin Niumata - Folio Agency

4    Leis Pederson -- Berkley

4    Dr. Julie Nelson, sponsor of The Suzannah

Note: We reserve the right to add to the list of final agents and editors should outstanding invitations be accepted

The final round judges will rank each of the six finalists from 1^st place to 6^th place. The total of all the rankings will be added and the lowest ranking entry will win the grand prize. No other rankings will be given. The respective rankings of the 5 other finalists will not be publicized and all 5 will be listed (and celebrated) on all publicity as finalists, without regard to final round ranking. (see FAQs for examples.) The entrants will receive their final score, but information regarding which judges gave which score will not be given.

Grand Prize Winner Will Receive
Three hundred dollars in cash, donated in memory of romance author Suzannah Nelson Davis, and a trophy

See the Contest Rules

See the Contest FAQs

For questions, please contact the Contest Coordinator