Emily Contest

Contemporary Series

• Dawn’s Light by Jo Anne Banker
• Mistress By Blackmail by Caro LaFever
• The Seduction by Mary Oldham

Contemporary Single Title

• The Last MacKlenna by Katherine Logan
• Hope’s Gentle Touch by Laura Hodges Poole
• Teach Me by Ella Sheridan

Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal

• When Angels Soared by Lana Dahlen
• Seeker: Aiodhan by Sandy James
• The Vessel by Mary SeRine

Historical Romance

• The Enemy Spy by Jinhee Jun
• Scandal in Spades by Wendy La Capra
• Lady’s Knight by Kayla Westra

Novel With Romantic Elements

• Princess of Bosque Bend by Jeanell Bolton
• Princess Redlander by Jeanell Bolton
• Missing You by Tracy Brogan
• Trust Me by kimberle swaak

Romantic Suspense

• Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Hoffman
• Catch Me by Kiersten Hallie Krum
• Deception by Jennifer Beane

Young Adult

• Forget Tomorrow by P.H. Dunn
• Invisible by Abby Gaines
• Dust to Dust by Virginia Munoz

Thanks for another great year. We will begin the judging process soon.

Have you entered the Emily? Don’t know what category to enter? Take a look at the Judges!

Contemporary Single Title includes romance novels of 75,000 words or more, set in contemporary times, in which the romance is the main plot line.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent -Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management
♥ Editor – Frances Jalet-Miller, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group USA

Contemporary Series includes romance novels under 75,000 words, set in contemporary times, in which the romance is the main plotline.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency
♥ Editor – Susan Litman, Harlequin Enterprises

Erotic Romance includes romance novels in which erotic elements constitute an integral part of the plot and may focus beyond the standard, one male-one female relationship.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds LLC
♥ Editor – Katherine Pelz, Berkley

Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal includes romance novels in which paranormal elements constitute an integral part of the plot.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Vickie Motter, Andrea Hurst & Associates
♥ Editor – Amanda Bergeron of Avon Books, HarperCollins Publishers

Historical Romance includes romance novels set prior to 1950.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Laura Bradford, Bradford Agency
♥ Editor – Leah Hultenschmid, Sourcebooks Fire Casablanca.

Novel with Elements of Romance includes Women’s Fiction and all Popular Fiction (mainstream and genre) in which a romantic relationship constitutes an important thread of the plot and adds emotional depth. This category is not appropriate for Young Adult, Erotic Romance, or “classic” Romance novels.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency
♥ Editor – Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks

Romantic Suspense includes romance novels in which the romance is the main focus but is integrated with suspense, mystery, or thriller elements.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Elizabeth Pomada, Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agents
♥ Editor – Patience Bloom, Harlequin Enterprises Romantic Suspense

Young Adult includes romance and non-romance novels geared toward readers 12 – 18, and feature protagonists of the same age group.
Finalist Judges:
♥ Agent – Suzie Townsend, FinePrint Literary Management
♥ Editor – Sarah Shumway, Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins Publishers

Want to know who the wonderful finalist judges are this year?  Look here -> Category Info – where there is a description of each of the 8 categories and who the finalist judges are.

Technically, it opened yesterday, but I forgot to post.

Don’t forget to enter.  Deadline is September 30th.

The contest opens tomorrow for submissions.  Remember, we are only taking 300 entries this year.  Enter early!

The score sheets for this year have been posted over in the score sheet area.

You didn’t think we took vacations, did you? We are already working on the 2012 contest, which is still slated to open for entries in September. Don’t worry, we will be back.

Presenting the 2011 Emily Winners! Our congratulations to these wonderful writers!

Best-of-the-Best:

Harmony Island by Dawn Temple

Contemporary Series

1. Gambling with the Cowboy’s Heart by Jennifer Satterfield (Full Request – Agent & Editor)
2. Tie: Yesterday’s Promise by Sarah Cannon
   Hunter’s Prey by Anne-Louise Dubrawski

Contemporary Single Title

1. Tie: Perfect Balance by Pamela Gibson (Full Request – Editor)
   Harmony Island by Dawn Temple (Full Request – Agent)
2. Heart of the Crystal by Margaret Fisk

Erotic Romance

1. My Sister’s Betrothed by Kimberly Killion (Partial Request – Agent)
2. Out Of The Shadows by Carla Swafford (Partial Request – Editor)
3. Educating Aphrodite by Kimberly Killion (Sold!)

Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal

1. Blue Moon – Hidden Assets by Daryn Parke
2. Spellbound by Heather Leonard
3. Tie: Kindred of the Fallen by Isis Rushdan
   Paradox by Isis Rushdan
4. Appleseed by Michelle de Rooy
5. Mark of the Moon by Janet Nickoles

Historical Romance

1. A Whisper to the Wild by Eileen Ramsay
2. The Black Dagger by Barbara Bettis
3. Enraptured by Alyssia Kirkhart
4. Twice in a Lifetime by Marjorie Allen

Novel With Romantic Elements

1. Appalachian Winter by Laura Templeton (Partial Request – Agent)
2. Shifter by D. B. Reynolds
3. Tie: Black Ops Chronicles: Dead Run by Pepper O’Neal (Full Request – Agent)
   Touch of the Umbra by Sandy Parks
   From Baghdad with Love by Gail Zerrade (Full Request – Agent)
4. Aberration by Christy Hayes
5. Wild Child by Elizabeth Stock

Romantic Suspense

1. Tie: Steele Justice by Michele Dunaway (Full Request – Editor)
   A Death That Lingers by Kaylie Newell (Full Request – Editor)
2. Designed for Death by Jean Harrington (Full Request – Agent)
3. The Devil’s Obsession by Stacey Purcell

Young Adult

1. Tie: Earth Angel by Cecily Cornelius-White (Partial Request – Agent)
   Three Smooth Stones by Robin Haseltine
2. Tie: Blackmailed by Nancy Kay Bowden
   Man of Steal by Darlene Gardner

Who are the Emily Finalists?  Details are coming soon – I promise!  The Coordinators and Co-chairs are double checking everything.  So as soon as I (the webmaster) know something – they will be posted!

Finalists Announced December 1st!  First, we’ll call our finalists to give them the good news.  Once everyone is contacted, we’ll post the finalists here.

All non-finalists (and remember, the competition is fierce, so don’t be disappointed if you didn’t make it) will receive their entries back at this point.

If you are a finalists, you’ll want to attend our Emily Awards Ceremony as our guest, February 12, 2011, here in Houston, TX.  http://whrwa.com/

SPEAKER:  USA Today bestselling author Lori Wilde http://www.loriwilde.com/
(who’s a fabulous teacher) will be doing two sessions during this all-day
program.

AM: Layering Your Scenes For Maximum Impact
PM: Plotting from Theme

Finalists will receive their entries back at this point.

Good luck to all!