6th Annual Stroke of Midnight Contest - Short in ALMOST ALL Categories - Extended Until Feb 7th

Passionate Ink, one of my RWA chapters, hosts an unpublished author's contest every year. This year they're woefully short of entries. Anyone interested (or willing to pass this along to those who might be)? Here's the info!

Please help by forwarding the announcement below to your loops and tweeting your friends.  Even better - if you can, enter the contest.  The odds of making the finals are great!

We need 5 more historical entries, 5 more Sci Fi/Fant/Fut entries, 1 more paranormal and 2 more novellas for viable categories.



Permission to Forward Granted
Passionate Ink's Sixth Annual Stroke of Midnight Contest

EXTENDED to Feb 7th - Short in ALL Categories especially HISTORICAL, SCI FI/FANTASY and NOVELLA!

Link to Enter - http://www.passionateink.org/som-registration

Make the first 35 pages of your novel so compelling that an editor has
to have more!

Five Sizzling Finalists in Five Categories:

Contemporary – novels with erotic elements that focus on the
developing romantic relationship in a contemporary setting. Includes
series and single-title length romances. Can also include elements of
romantic suspense/intrigue.

Historical – novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing
romantic relationship in a historical setting.

Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi – novels with erotic elements that focus on
the developing romantic relationship in any setting in the future, an
alternate world/reality, or another planet. Includes elements such as
elves/faerie, sword & sorcery, aliens, etc.

Paranormal/Time Travel – novels with erotic elements that focus on the
developing romantic relationship in any setting that includes elements
of time travel, angels, vampires, werewolves or other paranormal
themes.

Novellas - novellas of 10,000 to 25,000 words with erotic elements
that focus on developing romantic relationship in any setting.

**All categories are open to alternative lifestyle entries and any
entry that reflects an erotic romance between two or more people,
straight, gay, bi, or any romantic combination.**

All entries must be in RTF format.

All entries must be at least 10,000 words in their completed form.

Link to Enter - http://www.passionateink.org/som-registration

Judging and Prizes:

First Round: Preliminary-round judging will be completed by three
qualified judges – Passionate Ink and other RWA members experienced in critiquing and/or published authors familiar with your genre. All
scores will be added and averaged to determine the entrant’s ranking.
Every attempt will be made to provide entrants with detailed score
sheets and judges’ comments from this preliminary round. Top five
entries in each category will move to final round.

Final Round: The top five finalists in each category will be ranked by
the following industry professionals:

Contemporary: Angela James, Carina Press

Historical: Treva Harte, Loose ID

Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi: Kelli Collins, Ellora’s Cave

Paranormal/Time Travel: Melissa Jeglinski, The Knight Agency

Novellas: Lindsey Faber, Samhain Publishing

First place winners in each category will receive a free one year
membership in Passionate Ink ($25 value), a certificate, and an award
graphic for their website. (Writing teams will split the membership.)
All other finalists will receive certificates and a finalist graphic
for their website. All entries will be returned after finalists are
determined and statistical information is complete. Winners will be
announced at the Passionate Ink gathering at the Romance Writers’ of
America National Conference in New York. Results will be listed on the
Passionate Ink website, in the chapter’s newsletter, as well as have
their names published in the Romance Writer’s Report.

The decisions of judges are final.

Rules for Entry

Eligibility:

All contest entrants must be 18 years of age by the contest entry deadline date. Contest is open to all authors with unpublished, uncontracted
full-length erotic romance manuscripts of at least 25,000 words
(except novellas which must be at least 10,000) in the category they
wish to enter.



Entry Deadline & Submission:

Entry Form and details - http://www.passionateink.org/contests

All entries must be electronic in RTF format.  All entries must be in one file. All entries and payment must be received completed by MIDNIGHT EST Feb 7, 2011. All materials, including entries and entry fees, must be
received by that date.

Submit questions via email to som6@passionateink.org. It is the
author’s responsibility to enter the manuscript in the correct
category. All clarifications as to category should be made prior to
submission.

Entrants may enter as many categories as they wish with DIFFERENT
submissions, but cannot enter the same manuscript in two categories.
Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee either via
a mailed check or online PayPal payment.

There is a minimum requirement of 10 entries per category. If a
category does not receive a sufficient number of submissions to make
the category viable, the category will be canceled. The entrant will
be asked to provide a second choice of categories. If the entrant does
not wish to place the entry in another category, the entry and
associated fees will be returned.

Entry Form and details -http://ww.passionateink.org/contests/

Entry Fees:

Passionate Ink members: $15
Others: $25

Email payments via PayPal to: Treasurer@passionateink.org

or mail payments to:

Stroke of Midnight Contest
c/o Robin L. Rotham
PO Box 2412
Norfold, NE 68701

Make checks payable to: Passionate Ink

Entry fees must be received prior to the entry deadline.
Include your name in the subject line and the titles of your
entry(ies) in the comments box, if paying via PayPal. Include the
title of your entry in the Memo field if paying via check.



Entry Format:

All entries must be electronic in RTF format.  The synopsis and entry
must be in the same file.

Send a maximum of the first 35 pages of your manuscript (20 pages for
novella entries).

Entries must be in proper manuscript format: One sided, double-spaced
with one inch margins all around, size 12 font (like Times New
Roman or Courier) is recommended.

On the first page only, title and category on top left; page number on
top right. Subsequent pages should include only title and page number.
Name of author should not appear anywhere on manuscript; the entry
will be disqualified if name is on submission.

A synopsis of up to 5 single-spaced pages (which will not be judged)
must also be included. No cover page is necessary.

Link to Enter - http://www.passionateink.org/som-registration/

Email questions to Sharon at som6@passionateink.org