What Are People Saying. . .

"As an unpublished writer, I try to enter contests where the judges will give feedback. With the Great Expectations contest, I not only received score sheets, but two judges gave insightful feedback that has helped me in my writing career. Thanks to the chapter for putting on a first-rate contest."

Tanya Agler
A PINCH OF CINNAMON
2nd Contemporary Series

~ ~ ~

What people are saying . . .

"I wanted to drop you all a line to say thank you. I placed first in the Great Expectations contest, Single Title category, in 2014. The feedback I received was so constructive and amazing. In April of 2014 the book was published by MuseItUp.  I cannot thank you all enough for your help and guidance."

Vanessa M. Knight

2014 Single Title, 1st place

~ ~ ~

Vanessa M. Knight writes contemporary romance novels with a dash of suspense. She's a member of Romance Writers of America and Windy City RWA.

She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, son and menagerie of dogs and cats. When not writing, Vanessa loves to scrapbook, watch movies and read anything she can find.

For more information on Vanessa, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at www.vanessamknight.com.

What people are saying . . .

"I read an article written by Darynda Jones on the importance of entering contests as a way of obtaining much-needed feedback from people who don't know and love you, and as a avenue into publishing. I took her advice to heart and entered a few contests. The Great Expectations contest was different from the others in that I didn't feel as though I was shouting into the void, my entry forgotten in an unused e-mail box. My category coordinator was genuine and wonderful, personally writing notes to me to let me know where I was in the process. The feedback from judges was concise and instructive, helping to direct my edits. In all, the Great Expectations contest was an amazing experience."

Seana Kelly

Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher

2nd place, Single Title 2014

(editor request)

~ ~ ~

Seana Kelly lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and one fish. When Seana isn’t dodging her family, hiding in the garage and trying to write, she’s working as a high school teacher-librarian. Seana is an avid (who are we kidding? obsessive) reader who is still mourning the loss of Fred Weasley. What the heck, J.K.? If you had to kill off a Weasley, why couldn’t it have been Percy?

http://www.seanakelly.com

What people are saying . . .

"I was the NA category winner, and I do have a nice follow-up story! Thank you so much for asking.

I self-published the book literally the night that I won. Essentially, I let my win nudge me to dive into the deep end, and THE YEAR WE FELL DOWN became my first self-published book ever. Since that day, I've sold thousands of copies into 23 countries. The book has received glowing reviews from Dear Author, Aestas Book Blog and Maryse."

Cheers,

SARINA BOWEN

Author of contemporary romance & New Adult romance. 

~ ~ ~

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty contemporary romance from Vermont's Green Mountains. Her ancestors began logging and farming Vermont during the 18th century. These were rugged, outdoor types without benefit of a laptop or a good latte. It boggles the mind.

Sarina enjoys skiing, skating and good food. She lives in Windsor County, Vermont, with her family, eight chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

http://www.sarinabowen.com

What people are saying . . .

"I've entered The Great Expectations contest twice. In 2013, I finaled in the Historical category with The Tin Man's Heart, and in 2014, I won the Single Title Contemporary category with Wild in Her Eyes and garnered an editor request! I went on to sell that manuscript in a 3-book deal to St. Martin's Press. It has been retitled HONEYSUCKLE SEASON and will be released March 2015, just one year after the results! 

I've entered many contests, and the NTRWA GE is my favorite. The first-round judges' feedback is excellent, the final judges are fabulous, and it is extremely organized. It seems like some finaling entries always receive requests. I can't recommend this contest highly enough!"

Laura Huskins 
Writing as Laura Trentham
HONEYSUCKLE SEASON, March 2015

www.LauraTrentham.com

~ ~ ~

I was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Tennessee. Although, I loved English and reading in high school, I was convinced an English degree equated to starvation! So, I chose the next most logical major - Chemical Engineering- and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years. Now I live in South Carolina with my husband and two children. In between school and homework and soccer practices, I love to get lost in another world, whether its Regency England or small town Alabama.

Right now, I'm working on Book 2 of my Falcon Football series, tentatively titled Firefly Season. And, I'm expecting edits for Book 1, Honeysuckle Season, in September and edits for Book 1 of my Spies and Lovers historical series, An Indecent Invitation, in October. It's going to be a busy fall!

But, you'd better believe I'll be planted on the couch every Saturday watching my University of Tennessee Volunteers play football! Go VOLS!

What people are saying . . .

ALL YOU NEED IS THE GIRL

Contemporary Series

HONORABLE MENTION

"As an Australian romance writer, I’m keen to ensure my books don’t have too many “Australian-isms” and for this reason, entered the GE contest. I wanted to see what American judges thought of my writing. The contest manager and judges’ feedback far exceeded my expectations and I believe this to be the most professional writing contest I’ve been a part of.

I found the feedback to be extremely valuable, insightful and helpful. The judges had a clear understanding of their role. The managing of the contest was excellent and it was fun to receive “pins” that I could post on line when I finaled. 

I highly recommend the Great Expectations contest to unpublished romance writers."

Kind Regards,

Joanne Levy

w/a Joanne Dannon

www.JoanneDannon.com

What people are saying . . .

"I cannot recommend the NTRWA's Great Expectations contest enough. The feedback was both encouraging and humbling and I needed it. As a first time novelist, having the NTRWA's stamp of approval has opened up countless doors and given me confidence I lacked to start a conversation with a stranger about my book. Thanks NTRWA!"

Jamie Hoang

Blue Sun, Yellow Sky

3rd Mainstream with Romantic Elements 2014

I am blogging about the progress as I go at HeyJamie.com

AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .

CONGRATULATIONS

NTRWA thanks all the contestants, first round judges and final round editors for making the 2014 Great Expectations Contest a success. Best of luck to all on their road of publication. ~Angi

CONTEMPORARY SERIES

MEGAN LONG, Associate Editor, Harlequin Publishing                                        

First: *Small Town Nurse, Surprise Pregnancy by Jill Kay Quincy    

Second: **A Pinch of Cinnamon by Tanya Agler             

Third: Mistress of the Manor by Jen Arnold          

Honorable Mention: All I Need Is The Girl by Joanne Dannon 

Honorable Mention: Blackmailing the Country Music Star by Jessica Davidson

HISTORICAL 

CHELSEY EMMELHAINZ, Assistant Editor, William Morrow Avon                       

First:  The Heretic's Daughter by Jessica Trapp  

Second:  Sure Shot Annie by Kari Bovee           

Third:  The Caged Heart by Carla Swafford

Honorable Mention:  Not Your Average Beauty by Michelle Helliwell  

INSPIRATIONAL

RAELA SCHOENHERR, Fiction Acquisitions, Bethany House                     

First: Kept by Sally Bradley    

First:  The Elephant's Secret by Walt Mussell   

Third:  Heart of Valor by Natalie Monk 

Honorable Mention:  A Twisted Trail by Betty Woods   

MAINSTREAM w/ROMANTIC ELEMENTS   

ALEX LOGAN, Editor, Grand Central Publishing/Forever 

First: *First Blush by Jennifer Sanchez      

Second:  Dead Man's Carve by Kym Roberts         

Third:  Blue Sun, Yellow Sky by Jamie Hoang  

Honorable Mention: Where You Belong by Susan Dunn

NEW ADULT 

ELIZABETH POTEET, Assistant Editor, St. Martin's Press           

First: **The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen   

Second:  Vengeance by Kym Roberts            

Third:   Sanguis Donum by Robin Nelson 

Honorable Mention:  Diary of an Almost Dead Girl by Samantha Lennon  

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE          

LAURA FAZIO, Assistant Editor, NAL/Penguin Group       

First:  Undercover by Linda Bond  

Second:  Seducing the Enemy by Ellen Lindseth          

Third:  The Deep End by Julie Mulhern    

Honorable Mention:  Images by Patricia Dane  

SINGLE TITLE             

MADELEINE COLAVITA, Editorial Assistant, Grand Central Publishing

First: *Wild in Her Eyes by Laura Trentham   

Second: *Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher  by Seana Kelly         

Third:   Love In Living Color by Shelly C. Alexander     

Honorable Mention:  Finding Mr. Wrong by Lisa Houghton  

SPECIALIZED (AE,D,F,F,P,TT) 

KRISTINE SWARTZ, Editorial Assistant, Berkley Publishing Group

First: *The Illusion of Truth by Dawn Alexander 

Second:  Watchtower by J. Hover          

Third: **Recurve by Lisa Fenley  

Honorable Mention: Sucker Punching Magic by Mia Jo Celeste   

YOUNG ADULT

JULIE MIANECKI, Editorial Assistant, Berkley Publishing Group

First: *The Bright Side of the Moon by Jo McAlister

Second:  Burn Me Once by Jo McAlister   

Third:  Alien and the Beast by Amy Paulshock

Third: Sucker Punching Magic by Mia Jo Celeste  

          

**Partial requested

*Full requested

Permission to forward

WHEN ARE WE ANNOUNCING WINNERS?

One category is running a little late... 

Finalists will be notified at the end of this week of their placements.

BEST OF LUCK !
~Angi
AngiMogran.com




We asked our final round editors to return scores by March 17th. Unfortunately, there was a delay.

2014 Finalists

North Texas RWA proudly announces the

2014 Great Expectations Finalists

Congratulations to all who entered and put your work in the hands of strangers. And the Best of Luck to the finalists as they submit their work to our final round editors.

CONTEMPORARY SERIES

MEGAN LONG, Associate Editor, Harlequin Publishing                                        

A Pinch of Cinnamon by Tanya Agler                                    

All I Need Is The Girl by Joanne Dannon 
Blackmailing the Country Music Star by Jessica Davidson  ** 

Mistress of the Manor by Jen Arnold                                    

Small Town Nurse, Surprise Pregnancy by Jill Kay Quincy                

HISTORICAL

CHELSEY EMMELHAINZ, Assistant Editor, William Morrow Avon                       

The Caged Heart by Carla Swafford              

The Heretic's Daughter by Jesica Trapp                    

Not Your Average Beauty by Michelle Helliwell                   

Sure Shot Annie by Kari Bovee                      

INSPIRATIONAL

RAELA SCHOENHERR, Fiction Acquisitions, Bethany House                     

A Twisted Trail by Betty Woods                     

The Elephant's Secret by Walt Mussell                     

Heart of Valor by Natalie Monk                    

Kept by Sally Bradley             

MAINSTREAM w/ROMANTIC ELEMENTS   

ALEX LOGAN, Editor, Grand Central Publishing/Forever 

Blue Sun, Yellow Sky by Jamie Hoang                       

Dead Man's Carve by Kym Roberts               

First Blush by Jennifer Sanchez                      

Where You Belong by Susan Dunn

NEW ADULT  

ELIZABETH POTEET, Editorial Assistant, St. Martin's Press           

The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen                 

Diary of an Almost Dead Girl by Samantha Lennon              

Sanguis Donum by Robin Nelson                   

Vengeance by Kym Roberts               

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE          

LAURA FAZIO, Assistant Editor, NAL/Penguin Group       

The Deep End by Julie Mulhern                     

Images by Patricia Dane                    

Seducing the Enemy by Ellen Lindseth                      

Undercover by Linda Bond                

SINGLE TITLE             

MADELEINE COLAVITA, Editorial Assistant, Grand Central Publishing

Finding Mr. Wrong by Lisa Houghton            

Love In Living Color by Shelly C. Alexander               

Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher  by Seana Kelly                

Wild in Her Eyes by Laura Trentham            

SPECIALIZED (AE,D,F,F,P,TT) 

KRISTINE SWARTZ, Editorial Assistant, Berkley Publishing Group

The Illusion of Truth by Dawn Alexander                  

Recurve by Lisa Fenley                      

Sucker Punching Magic by Mia Jo Celeste                

Watchtower by J. Hover                    

YOUNG ADULT

JULIE MIANECKI, Editorial Assistant, Berkley Publishing Group

Alien and the Beast by Amy Paulshock

Burn Me Once by Jo McAlister

The Bright Side of the Moon by Jo McAlister

Sucker Punching Magic by Mia Jo Celeste   

~~  ~~  ~~   ~~  ~~  ~~  ~~  ~~  ~~  ~~   ~~  ~~  ~~  ~~ 

Please feel free to forward or share

**First round scores added incorrectly.

ENTER TODAY ~ SUBMIT LATER

Feel free to pay for your entry today 

and work on your entry over the holiday break,

submitting by December 29th.

~ $30.00 ~ 

~ 5,000 words ~ 

~ December 29^th deadline ~ 

~ Finalists first week of February ~ 

~ Winners by St. Patrick’s Day ~

REMEMBER: published authors are eligible for the Great Expectations in categories they haven't published work for the past three years ('13, '12 & '11).

SPREAD THE WORD !

EDITORS & FORMS

CHECK out our Final Round Editors:

CONTEMPORARY SERIES – MEGAN LONG
Associate Editor, Harlequin Publishing

HISTORICAL – CHELSEY EMMELHAINZ
Assistant Editor, William Morrow Avon

INSPIRATIONAL – RAELA SCHOENHERR 
Fiction Acquisitions, Bethany House

MAINSTREAM with ROMANTIC ELEMENTS – ALEX LOGAN
Editor, Grand Central Publishing/Forever

NEW ADULT – ELIZABETH POTEET
Assistant Editor, St. Martin's Press

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE – LAURA FAZIO
Assistant Editor, NAL/Penguin Group

SINGLE TITLE – MADELEINE COLAVITA
Editorial Assistant, Grand Central Publishing

SPECIALIZED – KRISTINE SWARTZ

Alternate Earth, Dystopian, Futuristic, Fantasy, Paranormal, Time Travel

Editorial Assistant, Berkley Publishing Group

YOUNG ADULT – JULIE MIANECKI
Editorial Assistant, Berkley Publishing Group

Erotic Romance – Do to a continued lack of entries, we've had to cancel the Erotic Romance category. Erotic entries can now be made in any category. Please indicate EROTIC in the header and on the entry form heat level. Please review our score sheets to see if your entry will benefit from comments.

The entry form is now available.