THE 2015 FINAL ROUND EDITORS

Why Resist a Rebel?
by Leah Ashton
Harlequin, KISS

CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE

Karen Reid ~ Associate Editor, Super Romance, Harlequin

Romantic series novels. If your manuscript is a series romantic suspense, you may enter the Contemporary Series category or the Romantic Suspense category. Please check our score sheets to see which benefits your writing. An example is the 2014 RWA RITA winnner: WHY RESIST A REBEL?

No Good Duke
Goes Unpunished
by Sarah MacLean
HarperCollins Publishers,
Avon Books

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Gabrielle Keck ~ Editorial Assistant, Avon / William Morrow

Romantic novels with non-contemporary settings, including regency & gothic romances. An example is the 2014 RWA RITA winnner: NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED.

Five Days in Skye
by Carla Laureano
David C. Cook

INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE

Raela Schoenherr ~ Bethany House

Romantic novels with an inspirational message/theme, including romantic suspense, historical, etc. An example is the 2014 RWA RITA winnner: FIVE DAYS IN SKYE.

The Haunting of
Maddy Clare
by Simone St. James
NAL

MAINSTREAM with ROMANTIC ELEMENTS

Laura Fazio ~ Assistant Editor, NAL

Novels that include an element of romance but in which traditional romance conventions are not followed and in which there are themes and conflicts beyond romance. Mainly women’s fiction and chick lit. An example is the 2013 RWA RITA winnner: THE HAUNTING OF MADDY CLAIRE.

SHATTER
by Erin McCarthy
Berkley Publishing

NEW ADULT

Julie Mianecki ~ Assistant Editor, Berkley

Novels appropriate for new adult readers. Includes heroes and heroines not exceeding 25 years of age. Novels similar to YA that can be published and marketed as adult—a sort of older YA market. New Adult fiction tends to focus on "first" experience issues. Some examples are leaving home, developing sexuality, negotiating education, first job or career choices. 

Off the Edge
by Carolyn Crane
Self-published

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Alex Logan - Editor, Grand Central Publishing

Romantic novels that include an element of mystery or suspense. Since the final round editor is from a single title publisher, contestants may want to enter series romantic suspense in the contemporary series category. An example is the 2014 RWA RITA winnner: 

Crazy Thing Called Love
by Molly O'Keefe
Random House Group,
Ballantine Bantam Dell

SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE

Madeleine Colavita Editorial Assistant, Grand Central Publishing

Romantic novels released as individual titles. An example is the 2014 RWA RITA winnner: CRAZY THING CALLED LOVE.

The Firebird
by Susanna Kearsley
Sourcebooks, Landmark

SPECIALIZED ROMANCE

Kristine Swartz ~ Assistant Editor, Berkley

Romantic novels of any time setting (historical or futuristic) with Alternate Earth Histories, Dystopian, Futuristic, Fantasy, Time Travel, Paranormal or Urban Fantasy. Please keep in mind that the emphasis should be on the romance. An example is the 2014 RWA RITA winnner: THE FIREBIRD.

The Farm
by Emily McKay
Berkley Publishing

YOUNG ADULT

Alice Jerman ~ Assistant Editor, HarperCollins 

Novels appropriate for young adult readers. Includes young adult heroes and heroines not exceeding 18 years of age. An example is the 2013 RWA RITA winnner: THE FARM.

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.

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.

2013 Editor Judges

North Texas RWA is pleased to announce the final round judges for the 2013 Great Expectations contest:

Contemporary Series – Shana Smith, Harlequin

Erotic Romance – Kelli Collins, Ellora's Cave

Historical – Mallory Braus, Carina Press

 

Inspirational Contemporary – Becky Monds, Thomas Nelson

Mainstream with Romantic Elements – Emilia Pisani, Simon and Schuster

Romantic Suspense – Libby Murphy, Entangled

Single Title – Sue Grimshaw, Random House

Specialized (Futuristic/Fantasy/Time Travel/Paranormal) – Deborah Nemeth, Carina Press

Young Adult – Erin Black, Scholastic 

2012 Winners!

CONGRATULATIONS
North Texas Romance Writers of America is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Great Expectations Contest.  We had six requests for partial manuscripts and four requests for full manuscripts. we can't wait to see these submissions (and all our talented finalists and entrants) see their publishing dreams come true!

Contemporary Series 
Denise Zaza, Harlequin
First ~ Southern Comforts by Nan Dixon
Second ~ Dangerous Exposure by Tracey Alvrez
Third~ The Italian's Return by Angela Bissell
Honorable Mention ~ Blueprint for Love by Gina Nelson

Erotic Romance
Katherine Pelz, Berkeley
First ~ Teach Me by Ella Sheridan**
Second ~ Second Chances by Anna Moder*
Third ~ Final Girl by Kylie Breakey*

Historical Romance
Sue Grimshaw, Random House
First ~ The League of Rogues by Lauren Smith
Second ~ Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Lea Taddonio
Third  ~ The Winds of Fate by Elizabeth Bysiek
Honorable Mention ~ The Secret of Whitfield Manor by Kerry Feldmann

Inspirational Romance
Natalie Hanemann, Thomas Nelson
First ~ The Centurion by Tina Leonard*
Second ~ The Heir of Stainsby Hall by Susan Mason
Third ~ The Lady's Masquerade by Sherrinda Ketchersid
Honorable Mention ~ Suburban Straightjacket by Carol Moncado

Mainstream with Romantic Elements
Emilia Pisani, Gallery/Pocket Books
First~ Good Liars by Genevieve Wilson
Second ~ Taylor Made Life by Kary Rader
Third ~ Fire Point by Meg Mims
Honorable Mention ~ Barefoot Family Chronicles by Kristi Rhodes

Romantic Suspense
Libby Murphy, Entangled Publishing
First ~ To Trust a SEAL by Julie-Ann Miskell**
Second ~ Edge of Danger by Danniele Worsham w/a Dani Wade*
Third ~ Mesmerized in Madagascar by gg guthridge
Honorable Mention ~ Dancing with Danger by Laura Sheehan

Single Title Romance
Meredith Giordan, Berkley
First ~ Balancing Act by Pamela Gibson**
Second ~ One Final Night by Nan Dixon*
Third ~ Alive at 5 by Linda Hurtado w/a Linda Bond
Honorable Mention ~ Betting Brenda by Jennifer Britt

Specialized (alternate earth, dystopian, fantasy, futuristic, paranormal & time travel)
Talia Platz, New American Library
First ~ Dark Bringer by Mia Celeste*
Second ~ The Book of Dracon by Mac Perry
Third ~ Moon Borne by Heather Boey
Honorable Mention ~ When Angels Soared by Lana Douglas

Young Adult Romance
Elizabeth Bistrow, New American Library
First ~ Alyce in Werewolf Land by Bailey Lynn**
Second ~ Invisible by Clover Autrey*
Third ~ The Gift by S.A. Tudhope
Honorable Mention ~ Dead Lucky by Abby Gaines

* Partial Requested
** Full Requested
Permission to forward granted ...