www.romanceslamjam.org/conference/AAContest.htm

Genre: Black Romance/Women’s Fiction

Prizes:
1st Place: This winner’s manuscript will be reviewed by Editor Esi Sogah from AVON/HarperCollins for possible publication
2nd Place: This winner’s manuscript will be reviewed by Editor Selena James from Kensington Books for possible publication.
3rd Place: This winner’s manuscript will be reviewed by Editor Theresa Stevens from Red Sage publishing for possible publication.

Submission Package:
To help prepare contestants for submitting to publishing houses and agents, the entries will resemble a submission package sent to agents and publishers. Submissions are electronic (sent via email). The file should be a Microsoft Word document.

Format:
• 1 inch margins all around
• Font Times New Roman, 12pt

Include (one email, 3-4 attachments):
• 1 page query letter single spaced addressed to:

Ms. C. Judge
2 Busy St.
New York, NY, 10101

• 3 page synopsis double spaced
• 20 sample pages double spaced
• Place the author’s Contact information on the Cover page (this page does not count toward your 20 sample pages)
• In the header, place the Novel Title, Author Name and Page Number
• If you have an extra page or two to complete a scene, that’s okay.
• Contest registration form if you have not already submitted it.

Note on Eligibility: If you have not had a full-length novel published by a traditional publisher, you are eligible for this contest. Therefore, if your publishing credits are, short stories, novellas, poetry, non-fiction and or you are self-published, you are eligible.

Important Dates: Submissions are open. All submissions must be received by 1 March, 2009. The winners will be contacted 17 April, 2009 and their names posted to this site 20 April, 2009.

Contest Fee:
Please make a $25 money order or cashiers check payable to: Romance Slam Jam

Mail payment and Contest registration form to:
Romance Slam Jam
c/o Deatri King-Bey
P.O. Box 822
Tolleson, AZ 85353

To pay by credit card please use PayPal. The fee is increased when using PayPal to $27 because of the processing fees. Email payment and registration form to deatri@romanceslamjam.org.

Once payment and the Contest Registration Form have been received, instructions will be given on where to send the submission. Please note, registration fee is non-refundable.

Refer any questions regarding the Romance Slam Jam Aspiring Authors contest to deatri@romanceslamjam.org
2008 RSJ Aspiring Author Contest Winners

The top three manuscripts were:

3rd: Second Thoughts Second Chances by Veronica Fields Johnson
2nd: Death of an Island Tart by Janice Croom
1st: Dragon Heart by LaVerne Thompson

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

This contest was open to all aspiring authors of Black romance/women’s fiction. The winners received the below prizes.

1st Place: This winner’s manuscript will be reviewed by Editor Hilary Sares from Kensington Books for possible publication.
2nd Place: This winner’s manuscript will be reviewed by Agent Michelle Grajkowski from Three Seas Literary Agency for possible representation.
3rd Place: This winner will receive the Book Cents Critique Package, which includes a critique of a Query and Partial (the same story), notes and suggestions from Literary Agent Christine Witthohn and a 5-10 minute conversation with Christine about the 3rd place winner’s story.