Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Contests : Do you have to be the homecoming queen?

Romance writing is ripe with contests. Entire websites are dedicated to tracking contests and winners. Writers on their way to publication are encouraged to mold their writing into the best version possible before presenting it to editors and agents.

Once a book is published, there are more contests looking to sift through and find the best representation of the industry. These contests are cost prohibitive, so authors need to take into consideration lots of variables — who is judging, what is offered to finalists and winners, how many books need to be shipped, the entry fee, etc.

Like the contests for aspiring authors, most of the contests for published books are judged by writers, some are graded solely by authors, and a few are ranked by industry professionals like booksellers and librarians. For me, comparing who the judges are is like comparing winning the Oscar (judged by peers) to the Golden Globe (voted on by the press). Anytime your work is recognized, it’s fantastic.

No matter who is evaluating the novels, a story is being read by someone who might not have read it otherwise. Anyone who volunteers to read for a contest obviously likes romance novels, so if your story wows them, they’ll likley find another of your books. And tell their friends about their new find. Finalling is just icing on the cake!

Why do I have contests on the brain? Her Cinderella Complex is a Passionate Plume finalist! There are quite a few Samhain books on the list. Check it out ::

Contemporary

**Jenna Bayley-Burke – Her Cinderella Complex **Mari Carr – Erotic Research

Paranormal / Time Travel

**Dana Marie Bell – The Wallflower, Halle Pumas Book 1 **Crystal Jordan – Treasured
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Jenna Bayley-Burke