Are you an aspiring romance author or a published author who’d like feedback on a new manuscript? The Sheila Contest, hosted by Valley Forge Romance Writers, can help.
On the path to publication of my novel LUXURY MODEL WIFE, releasing May 2016, I entered The Sheila Contest with an early draft of the manuscript under a different title, and finaled in the competition. Though I was happy to have scored high enough to make the cut and win a finalist badge, I didn’t win my category, or even take one of the top three spots.
Fueled by the desire to make my book a winner, I took the feedback I received from the judges to heart and revised the entire manuscript. After revisions, I polished the book again. And again. And again. I changed the title to LUXURY MODEL WIFE, and when I thought the manuscript was ready, pitched the rags to riches story to my publisher. Within a week I received an email with the magic words “love the book” and a contract arrived soon after.
If you’d like feedback on a work in progress or the opening of a completed novel, The Sheila Contest opens for entries March 13. You do not have to be a member of Romance Writers of America to enter.

The Sheila Contest 2016
Sponsor: Valley Forge Romance Writers
Fee: $25 for VFRW members, $30 for non-members
Opens for Entries: March 13, 2016
Deadline: April 16, 2016
Eligibility: Participation is open to all romance writers who are unpublished, self-published, and published. Entry must be the author’s original unpublished work and not under contract.
Entry: First 20 pages of manuscript and up to 5 page unjudged synopsis.(25 page total)
First Round Judges: Three (3) qualified, trained judges, including: General, PRO and PAN members.
Categories and Final Judges:
Single Title: Junessa Viloria, Penguin Random House
Historical: Stephany Evans, Fine Print Literary Management
Erotic: Sara Megibow, KT Literary
Romantic Suspense: Alicia Condon, Kensington Publishing
Fantasy/Futuristic/Paranormal: Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency.
Best of the Best – 1st place winners from the final round will move on to the Best of the Best round, judged by Best Selling Authors and Booksellers:
Madeline Hunter – New York Times & USA Today Best Selling Author
Mariah Stewart – New York Times & USA Today Best Selling Author
Terri Brisbin – USA Today Best Selling Author
Joan Silvestro – Indie Bookseller, Hamilton Book Trader
Heather Soligo – Traditional Bookseller, Barnes & Noble, Christiana Mall
Grand Prize for Best of the Best: $100
Top Prizes: Certificates, and the 1st through 4th place winners will be printed in RWR Magazine. (Romance Writers Report is the trade magazine of Romance Writers of America.)
For more information please visit our website: http://www.vfrw.com
Like this:
Like Loading...