What people are saying . . .

"Editor feedback is so hard to get and so very helpful when you can get it. The score sheet in The Great Expectations Contest (HEIRESS UNPLUGGED, Third, Single Title, 2006) gave me fantastic detailed editor feedback and helped me hone a book that was a totally new direction for me. I've since sold two different books to Silhouette Desire and it's hard to find a downside to selling, but I will miss being able to get unbiased feedback from contests!"

Jennifer Lewis

THE BOSS'S DEMAND, Silhouette Desire 2008

LEGACY OF PASSION, Silhouette Desire 2008

~ ~ ~

I’ve been making up stories since the day I was born. I always loved to draw as well as write and as a child I drew graphic novellas featuring penniless but plucky Cinderella heroines. My love of daydreaming earned me the nickname “Dozy Duck” in Kindergarten, and I still consider staring into space to be a constructive activity.

I've now published  more than twenty books, which have been translated into twenty-two languages. Since moving to South Florida, I have become addicted to kayaking and paddle boarding on the deliciously warm waters. The lush natural environment and its endless variety of flora and fauna provide the perfect backdrop for dreaming up stories of passion and romance.

http://www.jenlewis.com/

What people are saying . . .

"Even though I didn't sell through a contest, I received some great feedback, especially from Great Expectations, but the way contests helped me the most is by being a judge. I had way too much back story in my book and even though people told me, it didn’t sink in. As a judge I saw other people making the same mistake I had over and over. That’s what gave me the kick in the pants to go in and cut all of my back story. So, don’t be shy about judging. It can be as good for your career as entering."

Lori Devoti

LOVE IS ALL AROUND, Zebra May 2005

Lori Devoti worked for three different newspapers in two different states before deciding to stay home with her children and begin writing fiction. The author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance and paranormal romance, Lori has been a finalist for many awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award. She lives near Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and children as well as two dogs.

http://www.loridevoti.com/

What people are saying . . .

"Great Expectations seems to run like a well-oiled machine (at least it seems that way from my end). Although I didn't final, I can't think of a contest in which I've received better feedback and suggestions (2006 entry). Most of them will help me to stretch and grow. Since judging is such a subjective thing, I think your judges are very professional in the way they present their comments. Thank you again. I hope you'll allow me to enter next year! I wish I lived a bit closer, I'd love to be part of your chapter!"

Tina Joyce

2009 GOLDEN HEART FINALIST

Tina Beckett published in 2012

Harlequin, Mills & Boon author and a three-time Golden Heart® finalist, Tina Beckett is the product of a Navy upbringing. Always on the move, her travels often took her outside of the United States, where English reading material was scarce. Her supply of books eventually ran out, and she started writing her own stories, fashioned after the romance novels she'd loved through the years. She finished that first book and moved on to the next. After the fourth manuscript, she realized there was no going back...she was officially a writer.

When not in the middle of her latest book, Tina enjoys crafting stained glass panels, riding horses and hiking with her family. Fluent in Portuguese, she divides her time between Brazil and the United States and loves to use exotic locales as the backdrop for many of her stories. You can learn more about Tina at her website: http://www.tinabeckett.com or find her hanging out on Facebook or twitter.

What people are saying . . .

"Thanks to everyone behind the Great Expectations contest for your helpful critiques and comments on my 2005 entry. I received a two-book publishing contract shortly thereafter, and my entry, Blue Collar Guys (retitled GOOD WITH HIS HANDS), was a 2006 release."

 Alexa Darin

GOOD WITH HIS HANDS, Kensington September 2006

~ ~ ~

Alexa Darin grew up in the small town (not so small now) of Kirkland, Washington, where she spent her adolescent years dreaming of a boy who eventually inspired her to write romance. Today, she spends her days honing her craft, hiking with her two yellow labs, and thinking up ways to keep the critters out of her garden.

http://alexadarin.com/

What people are saying . . .

"As an unpublished writer (strike one) with a Western historical to sell (strike two), I've had a very hard time getting agents to request more of my work. When I saw that the Great Expectations final judge was one of my target editors, I took matters into my own hands. I ended up with first place, and a request for a full manuscript."

Pamela Hathaway

DESPERATE MEASURES, 

1st Place Historical Category 2006

We're gearing up for the 2015 contest.

If you are a past winner or finalist who has a success story

...we'd love to feature it here.

Email GEcoodrinator@ntrwa.org

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.

ALMOST THERE

Almost all the scores have been reported and recorded...

We're almost ready to announce our

2014 finalists.

Entries Due on January 26th

All entries are due to be returned Sunday, January 26th.

Two categories are already finished.

Get your entries judged, judges !

>>>>smile<<<<

THANKS for your help and timliness.

~Angi

DEADLINE EXTENDED

through DECEMBER 31st

The contest is still accepting entries
please spread the word

~Angi

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 !

Enter Now

EARLY BIRD PRICES

END

Sunday, December 8th

Prices increase on Monday

Pay today at the early bird pricing and submit your entry by December 29th.

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.

2014 CONTEST

We'll be open & accepting entries on

October 1st.

The Great Expectations contest is open to all writers. 

NTRWA is a romance writers’ group and 

our contest score sheets reflect good writing with an emphasis on the romance. 

Our judges are encouraged to leave comments on each entry.

Please review our score sheets to see if your work will benefit from entering.

2013 Great Expectations Winners

Congratulations to all of our winners and a big thank you to everyone who participated!

Contemporary Series 

Final Round Judge: Shana Smith, Harlequin

First: The Wedding Deception by Amanda Barber**

Second: Second Time Around by Katalina M. James**

Third: The Resort by Tami Lund

Honorable Mention: Buried Threads by Kaylin McFarren

Honorable Mention: One More Time by Catherine Cervantes

Historical Romance 

Final Round Judge: Mallory Braus, Carina Press

First: Fool's Gold by Caril Davis **

Second: The Lost Chord by Suzanne Turner**

Third: Secrets and Sapphires by Diana Walker

Honorable Mention: The Tin Man's Heart by Laura Huskins

Honorable Mention: Edward Rochester: The Master of Thornfield by Nancy Hurst

Erotic Romance

Final Round Judge: Kelli Collins, Ellora's Cave

First: Onyx by CT Green**

Second: Her Guardian by CT Green**

Third: Three Weeks with a Sheik - Casea Major

Honorable Mention: Secret Sin by Lisa McKinney

Honorable Mention: The Horse List by Anna Moder

Inspirational

Final Round Judge: Becky Monds, Thomas Nelson

First: In the Light of Day by Kristy Cambron**

Second: A Virtuous Ruby by Piper Huguley**

Third: Edward Rochester: The Master of Thornfield by Nancy Hurst*

Honorable Mention: Knowing Hope by Stacy Monson

Honorable Mention: Love's Forgiving Heart by Katherine McDermott

Mainstream with Romantic Elements

Final Round Judge: Emilia Pisani, Simon and Schuster

First: Unforgettable by Carrie Christie

Second: The Day The Merry Go Round Stopped by Orly Konig-Lopez

Third: The Duel by Catherine Lawrence

Honorable Mention: Love Sick Love by Barbara Flores

Honorable Mention: Divide and Conquer by Carmen Fox

Romantic Suspense

Final Round Judge: Libby Murphy, Entangled

First: Not Quite Legal by Christina Elle

Second: Her Unreasonable Doubt by Anne-Marie Carroll

Third: Shadows at Midnight by Kelli Carlson

Honorable Mention: Fighting Fear by Jo-Ann Carson

Honorable Mention: Starting Over by Brenda Roberts

Single Title

Final Round Judge: Sue Grimshaw, Random House

First: Second Times the Charm by Vanessa M. Knight

Second: In Too Deep by Tracey Alvrez

Third: By Proxy by Kary Regnery

Honorable Mention: Audrey's Promise by Susan Sheehey

Honorable Mention: Gravity by Julie Dove

Specialized (alternate earth, dystopian, fantasy, futuristic, paranormal & time travel)

Final Round Judge: Deborah Nemeth, Carina Press

First: Guardian by Tara Sheets** 

First: The Sins of Madeline Montgomery by Wendy Gray** 

Second: Her Guardian by  C.T. Green

Third: Shift Happens by Jasmin McKenzie

Honorable Mention: Other Than by Mia Celeste

Honorable Mention: Jazz's Cubs by Nancy Corrigan

Young Adult

Final Round Judge: Erin Black, Scholastic 

First: The Abolitionist's Daughter  by Gigi Orlowski**

Second: Awakening by Lori Freeland**

Third: Dehtroned by Beth Burgoon

Honorable Mention: Charming Cassandra by Michele Griskey

Honorable Mention: Macha and the River Blue by Barbara Gabriel

** indicates a request for a full

* indicates a request for a partial

Updates Updates Updates!

All non-finalists will be receiving their judging sheets over the next week. I apologize for the delay, and I could go into details on why but please just accept my humble apologies at the delay.

Finalists, the results from the final round judges should be in by March 15. Expect notification the following week! 

2013 Finalists Announced

North Texas RWA is proud to announce the finalists of the 2013 Great Expectations Contest.

~~ Please forward ~~

North Texas RWA congratulates the following finalists of the 2013 Great Expectations contest. We wish everyone the best of luck in the final round. 

Historical Romance

The Tin Man's Heart by Laura Huskins

The Lost Chord by Suzanne Turner

Secrets and Sapphires by Diana Walker

Fool's Gold by Caril Davis

Edward Rochester: The Master of Thornfield by Nancy Hurst

Erotic

Onyx by CT Green

Three Weeks with a Sheik - Casea Major

Secret Sin by Lisa McKinney

Her Guardian by CT Green

The Horse List by Anna Moder

Inspirational

Knowing Hope by Stacy Monson

A Virtuous Ruby by Piper Huguley

Edward Rochester: The Master of Thornfield by Nancy Hurst

In the Light of Day by Kristy Cambron

Love's Forgiving Heart by Katherine McDermott

Mainstream with Romantic Elements

The Day The Merry Go Round Stopped by Orly Konig-Lopez

The Duel by Catherine Lawrence

Divide and Conquer by Carmen Fox

Unforgettable by Carrie Christie

Love Sick Love by Barbara Flores

SIngle Title

In Too Deep by Tracey Alvrez

Second Times the Charm by Vanessa M. Knight

By Proxy by Kary Regnery

Gravity by Julie Dove

Audrey's Promise by Susan Sheehey

Specialized

The Sins of Madeline Montgomery by Wendy Gray

Guardian by  C.T. Green

Shift Happens by Jasmin McKenzie

Other Than by Mia Celeste

Jazz's Cubs by Nancy Corrigan

Young Adult

Awakening by Lori Freeland

Dehtroned by Beth Burgoon

Macha and the River Blue by Barbara Gabriel

The Abolitionist's Daughter  by Gigi Orlowski

Charming Cassandra by Michele Griskey

Romantic Suspense

Her Unreasonable Doubt by Anne-Marie Carroll

Not Quite Legal by Christina Elle

Fighting Fear by Jo-Ann Carson

Starting Over by Brenda Roberts

Shadows at Midnight by Kelli Carlson

Series Contemporary

The Wedding Deception by Amanda Barber

Buried Threads by Kaylin McFarren

Second Time Around by Katalina M. James

One More Time by Catherine Cervantes

The Resort by Tami Lund

*Finalists entries have been sent to the final round judges.
**All entrants who did not final will receive their judging packets over the next month.

Great Expectations is now Closed to New Entries

We could use a few more judges in Single Title, YA and Specialized!

Good luck to all our entrants!