LONESTAR: Notable Contest For Writers

Contest season is open. Does it ever really close? But this week, the Lone Star Writing Competition, sponsored by the Northwest Houston Chapter of Romance Writers of America, gets under way.

What makes this contest different is that most winners and even finalists have gone on to publish their books.

Here's the info hot off the press.

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NORTHWEST HOUSTON RWA Presents The Sixteenth Annual LONE STAR WRITING COMPETITION

ENTRY FEE: $20 NWH members; New lower fee! $25 non-NWH members

ELIGIBILITY: Competition is open to published and unpublished authors.

ENTER: First 25 pages, including prologue, if any.

BOTH POSTAL AND E-MAIL ENTRIES ACCEPTED

All entries will be sent to three first round judges: two published authors
and one unpublished author. The lowest score will be tossed and final round
contestants will be chosen by the combined total of the final two scores.

Finalists will be sent to both an agent and an editor for placement.

Final judges:

Inspirational Category:
* Editor: Charlene Patterson, Bethany House Publishers
* Agent: Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency

Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Category:
* Editor: Ami Russell, The Wild Rose Press
* Agent: Taryn Fagerness, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

New this year! Young Adult Category:
* Editor: Karen Chaplin, Puffin Books
* Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency

Single Title Category:
* Editor: Lindsay Nouis, Penguin Group
* Agent: Carolyn Grayson, Grayson Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense Category:
* Editor: Patience Smith, Harlequin Silhouette
* Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency

Contemporary Series Category:
* Editor: Faith Black, Avalon Publishing
* Agent: Pam Strickler

Historical Category:
* Editor: Hilary Sares, Kensington Publishing
* Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency

Important Dates:

Deadlines:
Sent via postal service, must be Post marked by June 6, 2008
Sent via e-mail: by midnight CST June 6, 2008.

Finalists: Announced August 8, 2008.

Winners: Announced October 25, 2008 at the Lone Star Conference, Houston, Texas.

For More Info, visit Northwest Houston RWA

Next time, more contest info.