Paying it forward…The Marlene Contest

I got my “big break” in publishing by entering the the First-Time Writers Contest held by then BET Books in 1999. (BET Books later became the Harlequin Arabesque line.) I was one of the top four finalist and the prize was having my short-story, multicultural romance included in the anthology, All That and Then Some. After that, the rest was history, folks!

So its great to see other aspiring writers get the same opportunity.  I was a preliminary judge in Washington Romance Writer’s annual Marlene Contest where several participants entered romance novels ranging in genres from historical romance to contemporary to paranormal. Past winners include Kimberly Kincaid, Jennifer McQuiston, and Valerie Bowman whose works were later picked up by publishers like Avon, Kensington Publishing, and St. Martin’s Press.

I judged 5 of this year’s entries and happy to say that one of my choices became the finalist in that category. (Though I’m keeping mum on what entry it is.) The entries are now being judge by respected industry editors like Leah Hultenschmidt of Sourcebooks (who I submitted to and was ultimately rejected, but hey, I’m glad I made it out of the slush pile), Latoya Smith of Grand Central, and many others.

I’m excited to see who wins in each category (and hope my choice makes it!)

Here’s the list of Marlene finalists:

Historical

Judge: Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks

Critique Author: Kieran Kramer

Frances Fowlkes, The Duke’s Obsession

Wendy LaCapra writing as Rebecca Lamb*, A Dangerous Desire

Suzanne Turner, The Lost Chord

Paranormal

Judge: Latoya Smith, Grand Central

Critique Author: Darynda Jones

Carmen Fox, Divide and Conquer

Christine Leo, The Sync

Heather Leonard, Spellbound

Tracie Stewart, Bound by Fire

Romantic Elements

Judge: Rhonda Helms, Carina Press

Critique Author: Mary Burton

Lauren Blake, Chasing Symmetry

Carrie Christie, Unforgettable

Arlene McFarlane, Murders, Curlers, and Canes

Series Contemporary

This category did not meet the minimum number of entries required to run in 2013.

Single Title

Judge: Esi Sogah, Kensington

Critique Author: Susan Donovan

Alana Albertson, Love Waltzes In

Rebecca J. Clark, Love or the Game

Cristin Harber*, Garrison’s Creed

Young Adult

Judge: Reka Simonsen, Harcourt Children’s Books

Critique Author: Alethea Kontis

Pintip Dunn*, Fit to Die

Gigi Orlowski, The Abolitionist’s Daughter

Darcy Woods, Summer of Supernova

*WRW member