Pitch Contest Now Open

Music City Romance Writers’ annual PITCH contest is now open! Whether the "pitch" is for back cover copy that you plan to self-publish, or that oh-so-perfect query letter blurb, we want to help you get it right!

 

Contest Information:
·    Enter 200 word max. This would be the back cover copy or pitch letter blurb.
·    $15 entry fee
·    Accepting a max of 100 entries only, so get yours in soon!
·    There will be time to revise after round one.
·    All genres accepted.
·    Published and non-published authors accepted, as long as the entry is not published.
·    Judged fully by PAN members, three judges per entry.
·    Top 10% move on to the final round.
·    All final round entries will be seen by all final round judges.
·    Terrific panel of final round judges!!!
·    Deadline to enter: 11:59pm CST April 15
·    Finalists announced: May 5
·    Winner announced: June 1

Final Judges:
·         Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary
·         Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Foreword Literary
·         Lauren MacCleod, Strothman Agency
·         Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Agency
·         Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Agency
·         Elizabeth Poteet, Assistant Editor, St. Martin’s Press

See website for the great list of prizes to be won, along with additional entry details. www.mcrw.com. For questions, please contact the PITCH coordinators at pitchcontest@mcrw.com.

Of Contests and Categories

MCRW's annual Melody of Love Contest for unpublished romance manuscripts is now accepting entries for 2011. This is our 13th year for the contest and our first year to include a YA category, so if you know anyone who writes YA romance or YA with romantic elements, feel free to send them our way!

Receipt Date of entries (25 pgs or less): September 1, 2011
Fees: $22 MCRW member fee; $27 RWA member fee; $32 Non-RWA member fee
Eligibility: Not published in category entered (see rules for specifics)

Categories and Final round judges:
Historical: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Contemporary: Latoya C. Smith, Grand Central Publishing
Paranormal: Angela James, Carina Press
YA: Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks Fire

Need more incentive as to the awesomeness of this contest? Check out past winner Isis Rushdan's Contest Breakdown, in which she dissects the benefits and drawbacks of different writing contests and just so happens to give the Melody of Love contest a glowing review.
For more information, click here
Contest Coordinator: Jody Wallace (contest@MCRW.com)

Of Congratulations!

Finalists for RWA's RITA and Golden Heart awards were named today. Congratulations to author, fellow MCRW member, and friend Annie Solomon, a finalist for the 2011 Romantic Suspense RITA for Two Lethal Lies.

Synopsis:
A love to die for...

On the run since his daughter was born, Mitch Turner has concealed a truth so dangerous, its discovery could jeopardize both their lives. But when a series of shocking murders hits their newfound home, the trail leads straight to Mitch. With the police out for blood and his daughter ripped from his arms, he has nowhere to turn--until a beautiful stranger offers her help.

Neesy Brown has made mistakes in her life, yet she refuses to believe this mysterious man is a killer. There's a strength in his broad shoulders that draws her to him and a weariness in his eyes that she longs to ease. As the murders tear her small town apart, she vows to help Mitch find his missing child. But a cunning predator is pulling them deeper and deeper into his fatal game. And the price of losing is the child--and the future--they could both share...

Congratulations to Annie! May you soon have a second RITA gracing your shelf!