The Claymore Award is bestowed upon the author of the best beginning (up to 50 pages) of an unpublished manuscript not currently under contract.  ANYONE CAN ENTER YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND KILLER NASHVILLE TO ENTER OR WIN.  The ten finalists are chosen through a blind judging process and sent to our 2012 publishing partner, Five Star Press/Tekno Books.  Five Star chooses the final winner, who receives an engraved replica of a Claymore dagger.  WINNER AND ANY OF THE TOP 10 FINALISTS MAY BE OFFERED A PUBLISHING CONTRACT.  Five Star will also read the winner’s full manuscript for possible publication.  Five Star may also request full or partial manuscripts from the remaining finalists, if they so desire.  The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony during the Guest of Honor dinner on the evening of Saturday, August 25, 2012.  To attend the awards ceremony, you must be registered for both the 2012 Killer Nashville Conference and the Guest of Honor Dinner.
TOP 10 FINALISTS
$50 worth of prizes, plus a possible publishing contract, plus a possible agent.*     A possible publishing contract.
*     $50 worth of tuition, merchandise, or downloads (if available) from Killer Nashville 2012 – your choice (a $50 value).
*     Introduction to Killer Nashville approved agents and editors.
*     The right to use the “Killer Nashville Claymore Finalist” logo on your website, publicity materials, and published book (if applicable).TOP 3 FINALISTS
$300 worth of prizes, plus a possible publishing contract, plus a possible agent.

*     A possible publishing contract.
*     Free admission to Killer Nashville 2012 (a $170 value).
*     Free admission to Killer Nashville 2012 Awards Dinner (a $80 value).
*     $50 worth of tuition, merchandise, or downloads (if available) from Killer Nashville 2012 – your choice (a $50 value).
*     Introduction to Killer Nashville approved agents and editors.
*     The right to use the “Killer Nashville Claymore Finalist” logo on your website, publicity materials, and published book (if applicable).

CLAYMORE WINNER
$500 worth of prizes, plus a possible publishing contract, plus a possible agent.

*     A possible publishing contract.
*     Free admission to Killer Nashville 2012 (a $170 value).
*     Free admission to Killer Nashville 2012 Awards Dinner (a $80 value).
*     $250 worth of tuition, merchandise, or downloads (if available) from Killer Nashville 2012 – your choice (a $250 value).
*     Introduction to Killer Nashville approved agents and editors.
*     The right to use the “Killer Nashville Claymore Winner” logo on your website, publicity materials, and published book (if applicable).

If a Claymore finalist has already purchased admission to Killer Nashville or to the Awards Dinner, cost of winning items will be reimbursed based on winning level, if desired.  Please remember that the conference is limited to 500 attendees in 2012.

Enter your unpublished crime literature manuscript in 4 easy steps, and you could win a publishing contract!

Step 1 – Prepare your manuscript
Entries should be double-spaced, in 12-point Courier or Times New Roman, with at least 1-inch margins. The title and page number should appear as a header on each page, but the author’s name should appear ONLY on the registration form. Since the manuscripts are evaluated using a blind judging method, the author’s name should not appear on the manuscript itself. Judges will consider any subgenre of mystery or thriller, including political thriller, cozy, police procedural, private eye, romantic suspense, paranormal mystery, and historical mystery.
Print out up to the first 50 pages to mail to us. Please use a binder clip of an appropriate size to comfortably hold your manuscript (no paper clips, 3 hole paper, binders, brads or multi-colored paper please)

Step 2 – Fill out the registration form
Print out the registration form, fill it out, and paperclip it to your first 50 pages.

Step 3 – Pay the entry fee
You can pay the $35 entry fee online and then send a copy of that receipt with your submission, or include a check for $35 payable to “Killer Nashville.” Your entry fee helps defray the cost of producing and mailing copies to the judges.

Step 4 – Mail it
Mail up to the first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript that is not under contract, your registration form, and your receipt (if paying online), or a check for $35.00 payable to “Killer Nashville” and mail everything postmarked by May 31, 2012 to:

Killer Nashville Claymore Award
PO Box 680686
Franklin, TN 37068-0686

If you would like confirmation that your manuscript was received, please include a stamped, self-addressed postcard with your entry. Do NOT send your manuscript in such a way that a signature is required. Manuscripts that require a signature will not be accepted.

You can verify delivery through the tracking number provided by the post office. When using the post office to mail your manuscript if you wish to track it, you may do so by mailing it Priority Mail and adding delivery confirmation. DO NOT send your manuscript via Fed Ex or UPS, they will not deliver to a Post Office Box. Please remember that we will not accept any manuscript that requires a signature.

If you have any questions, please contact us at contact@killernashville.com

Visit the website: http://www.killernashville.com/