Contests

2018 WisRWA Fab Five Finalists Announced

WisRWA is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2018 Fabulous Five Contest.

Congratulations to all! The finalists are listed in Alphabetical order, and *** indicates a member of WisRWA. Winners will be announced the week of May 20, 2018.

2018 FAB FIVE FINALISTS

Contemporary
Joy Adare – Mr. Sexy Suit
Natalie Caña*** – Under a Summer Moon
Kate Courtright – It Can’t Be You
C. M. Kerwin – Tender Debt
Sandy Rhodes – Heartbeats of Home

Historical
Jeanine Englert – Queen of Hearts
Theresa Hennessey – A Matter of Manners
Kalinya Parker-Price – The Trouble With Love
Hannah Singerman – Appetites and Vices
Jane Yunker*** – The Healing Heart

Inspirational
Crystal Caudill – Counterfeit Love
Lorri Dudley – The Duke’s Refuge
Loretta Eidson – Fatal Assignment
Eilidh K. Lawrence – Returning With a Secret
C.L. Simon – The Forgiving Tree

Paranormal
Alicia Anthony – Inherent Lies
Carrie Christie – Severed Ties
Laralyn Doran – A Child of Eden
Fenley Grant – Warrior of Eden
Christine Welman*** – Legends

Romantic Suspense
Magda Cavin – Opposing Stock
Meredith Clark – Unconquered
Jeanine Englert – Against the Tide
Lisa Heartman – High Heels and Handguns
Lori Matthews – Break and Enter

Women’s Fiction
Susan Montz Adams – Alchemy of Spirit
Laura Dritlein*** – Possum Trot
Julie M. Mulligan – The Lost Sister
Maggie Smith – Not So Simple
Anne E. Terpstra – Beyond Any Experience

Young Adult/New Adult
Lani Forbes – Virtue and Valor
Eric Frederickson – Wedding Belles
Leonie Kelsall – Echoes Across Time
Wendy Lewis – What Would a Wonder Woman Do?
Jackie Rutherford – It’s all about Sam

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Get Ready To Enter The Fab Five Contest!

With the Fab Five contest set to open in just a few days, it’s time to announce our final round judges. We’re also excited to announce that as an added bonus this year, entrants who opt-in on their entry fee will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE registration* to our one day workshop Unlock Your A Game featuring Heidi Cullinan on October 6, 2018.  All entrants will be entered into a drawing to receive a detailed critique from a WisRWA published author. Number of critiques is TBD at this time.

Fab Five judges the first 2,500 words of the manuscript. The contest is open to unpublished writers.  For more information about the Fab Five contest, please see our Fab Five contest page.

And now, without further ado, here’s our lineup of categories and judges for 2018:

Contemporary	Alycia Tornetta, Entangled Publishing Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
Historical	Norma Perez-Hernandez, Kensington Publishing Corp Nikki Terpilowski, Holloway Literary Agency
Inspirational	Nicola Martinez, Pelican Book Group Julie Gwinn, Seymour Agency
Paranormal/Fantasy/ Futuristic/Time Travel:	Mackenzie Walton, Carina Press Samantha Wekstein, Writers House Literary Agency
Romantic Suspense	Kristine Swartz, Penquin Random House Cori Deyoe, 3 Seas Literary Agency
Women’s Fiction	Margaret Johnston, Sourcebooks Agent TBD
Young Adult/ New Adult	Ashley Hearn, Page Street Publishing Veronica Park, Corvisiero Literary Agency

 

*The winner receives one free registration to the workshop. All other travel costs are at the expense of the winner.

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WisRWA’s 2017 Contest Winners Announced!

Wisconsin Romance Writers of America is delighted to announce the final rankings of both of our contests.  We would also like to offer our congratulations to the winners.  Winners were announced May 20, 2017 at the Awards Luncheon during the Write Touch Conference.

***denotes WisRWA member

WisRWA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Fab Five Contest:

*** denotes WisRWA member

Contemporary

First Place
Monique Headley – Hard Lessons

Second Place
Christina Hovland – Things I Wish I’d Known

Third Place
Belinda Brooks – Home Again

Fourth Place
Kate Courtright – Time and Again

Honorable Mention
Kate Courtright – You are Love

Historical

First Place
Abigail Wilson – The Secrets Within the Tower

Second Place
Elizabeth Everett – The Rescue of Lord Grange

Third Place
Carol Potenza – Second Choice

Fourth Place
Avery Cove – Fragile Hearts

Honorable Mention
Elizabeth Everett – The Seduction of Mrs. Smith

Inspirational

First Place
Sharee Stover – Believable Lies

Second Place
Pattie Stockdale – The Measure of a Memory

Third Place
Kathryn Barker – Catch a Falling Angel

Fourth Place
Izzy James – The Shopkeeper’s Widow

Honorable Mention
Angela E. Arndt – The Beekeeper’s Daughter

Paranormal

First Place
Paige Helton – Witch’s Veil

Second Place
Chris Westwater – Wolfling

Third Place
Anne Reed – Dark Matter

Fourth Place
Kat Turner – Magical Thinking

Honorable Mention
Chel Chavez – The Heir of Erois (Book 1)

Romantic Suspense

First Place
Jeanine Englert – Lovely Digits

Second Place
Barbara Forlenza – Forbidden Paradise

Third Place
Barbara Forlenza – Beyond Paradise

Fourth Place
Lori Matthews- Hit & Run

Honorable Mention
Kelly Duff*** – Tame My Racing Heart

Women’s Fiction

First Place
Linda J. Truesdell – The Mending Time

Second Place
Debbie Archer – Pocket Change

Third Place
Wendi Dass – Liebling

Fourth Place
Kristi Rhodes – The Tropical Transformation of Joanie Weston

Honorable Mention
Vicki Volden – Both

Young Adult/New Adult

First Place
Riley Darkes – Serving Time

Second Place
Rachel Berens-VanHeest – A Gift of Crows

Third Place
Laura Cumbie – From Here to There

Fourth Place
Christine Gunderson – Covenant Park

Honorable Mention
Monica Headley – Off the Rails

 

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Contemporary – Long

First Place
Melynda Price – Fighting For Control

Second Place
Dawn Tomasko – Tides of Hope

Third Place
Babette de Jongh – Angel Falls

 

Contemporary – Midlength

First Place
Sara Dahmen*** – Wine and Children

Second Place
Sierra Hill – Sweet Girl

Third Place
Valerie Clairizio*** – Family Forever

 

Contemporary – Short

First Place
Stacey Joy Netzel*** – Spring Dreams

Second Place
Joanne Dannon – Wanting Mr. Right

Third Place
Brenna Ash – Second Chances

 

Erotic Romance

First Place
Jade Chandler – Enough

Second Place
LaQuette – Lies You Tell

Third Place
Suzanne Eglington – She’s Got The Jack

 

Historical

First Place
Margaret Mallory – Claimed by a Highlander

Second Place
Vonda Sinclair – Highlander Unbroken

Third Place
Amy Sandas*** – Luck is no Lady

 

Inspirational

First Place
Laura Scott*** – Shielding His Christmas Witness

Second Place
Aubrey Wynne – Paper Love

Third Place
Mary Bentley-Lloyd – Pirate’s Treasure

 

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance Theme

First Place
Robin Perini – Forgotten Secrets

Second Place
Kate Forest – Interior Design and Other Emotions

Third Place
Bev Pettersen – Millionaire’s Shot

 

Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy

First Place
Marissa Doyle- Skin Deep

Second Place
Marie Johnson – Birthright

Third Place
Marie Johnson – Ancient Ties

 

Romantic Suspense

First Place
Abbie Roads -Hunt the Dawn

Second Place
Tara Wyatt – Necessary Risk

Third Place
Vicki Tharp – In Her Defense

 

Young Adult

First Place
Tricia Cerrone – Glisten

Second Place
Katherine Fleet – The Secret of Letting Go

Third Place
j. leigh bailey – Guyliner

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WisRWA’s 2017 Contest Finalists Announced!

WisRWA is pleased to announce the finalists of both our contests: the Fabulous Five Contest and the Write Touch Readers Award. Congratulations to all!

Winners will be announced on May 20th at the WisRWA Write Touch Conference Awards Luncheon.

*** = WisRWA member

 

2017 FABULOUS FIVE FINALISTS

Contemporary

Belinda Brooks – Home Again
Kate Courtright – Time and Again
Kate Courtright – You are Love
Monique Headley – Hard Lessons
Christina Hovland – Things I Wish I’d Done

Historical

Avery Cove – Fragile Hearts
Elizabeth Everett – The Rescue of Lord Grange
Elizabeth Everett – The Seduction of Mrs. Smith
Carol Potenza – Second Choice
Abigail Wilson – The Secrets Within the Towers

Inspirational

Angela E. Arndt – The Beekeeper’s Daughter
Kathryn Barker – Catch a Falling Angel
Izzy James – The Shopkeeper’s Widow
Patti Stockdale – The Measure of a Memory
Sharee Stover – Believable Lies

Paranormal

Chel Chavez – The Heir of Erois (Book 1)
Paige Helton – Witch’s Veil
Anne Reed – Dark Matter
Kat Turner – Magical Thinking
Chris Westwater – Wolfling

Romantic Suspense

Kelly Duff*** – Tame My Racing Heart
Jeanine Englert – Lovely Digits
Barbara Forlenza – Beyond Paradise
Barbara Forlenza – Forbidden Paradise
Lori Matthews – Hit & Run

Women’s Fiction

Debbie Archer – Pocket Change
Wendi Dass – Liebling
Kristi Rhodes – The Tropical Transformation of Joanie Weston
Linda J. Truesdell – The Mending Time
Vicki Volden – Both

Young Adult/New Adult

Rachel Berens-VanHeest – A Gift of Crows
Laura Cumbie – From There to Here
Riley Darkes – Serving Time
Christine Gunderson – Covenant Park
Monica Headley – Off the Rails

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2017 WRITE TOUCH READERS AWARD FINALISTS

Contemporary – Long

Babette de Jongh – Angel Falls
Melynda Price*** – Fighting for Control
Dawn Tomasko – Tides of Hope, A Nantucket Romance Novel

Contemporary – Mid-length

Valerie J. Clarizio *** – Family Forever
Sara Dahmen *** – Wine and Children
Sierra Hill – Sweet Girl

Contemporary – Short

Brenna Ash – Second Chances
Joanne Dannon – Wanting Mr. Right
Stacey Joy Netzel *** – Spring Dreams

Historical

Margaret Mallory – Claimed by a Highlander (The Douglas Legacy)
Amy Sandas *** – Luck is no Lady
Vonda Sinclair – Highlander Unbroken

Inspirational

Mary Bentley-Lloyd – Pirate’s Treasure
Laura Scott *** – Shielding His Christmas Witness
Aubrey Wynne – Paper Love

Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy

Marissa Doyle – Skin Deep
Marie Johnston – Ancient Ties
Marie Johnston – Birthright

Erotic Romance

Jade Chandler – Enough
Suzanne Eglington – She’s Got the Jack: The Kate and Robert Chronicles
LaQuette – Lies You Tell

Romantic Suspense

Abbie Roads –Hunt the Dawn
Vicki Tharp – In Her Defense
Tara Wyatt – Necessary Risk

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance Theme

Kate Forest – Interior Design and Other Emotions
Robin Perini – Forgotten Secrets
Bev Pettersen – Millionaire’s Shot

Young Adult

j. leigh bailey –Guyliner
Tricia Cerrone – Glisten
Katherine Fleet – The Secret To Letting Go

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2016 Write Touch Readers Award Contest Winners Announced!

The 2016 WisRWA Write Touch Readers Award Winners are announced!  This contest is for books published in 2015. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the contest was not completed in its usual time frame. We are delighted, however, to finally have the winners for this contest.

Without further ado, congratulations to the winners of the 2016 Write Touch Readers Award contest!
*** = WisRWA member

Contemporary, Long 84,000 words or more (includes series and single title)
A Winter Wedding
by: Brenda Novak

Contemporary, Mid-length 56,000-84,00 words (includes series and single title)
Power Privilege & Pleasure: Queens of Kings: Book 4
by: LaQuette

Fiction With Romantic Elements
Backstretch Baby
by: Bev Pettersen

Historical
The Gunslinger and the Heiress
by: Kathryn Albright ***

Paranormal
Spirit Bound
by: Tessa McFionn ***

Romantic Suspense
Saving Andi
by: Barb Raffin ***

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Fab Five 2017 Final Round Judges Announced

WisRWA’s Fabulous Five Contest will be opening for entries in a few short months. As such, we are pleased to announce our final round judges for the 2017 contest.

Contemporary
Editor: Meghan Ferrell – Tule Publishing
Agent: Rachel Burkot – Holloway Literary Agency

Historical
Lexi Smail – Grand Central Publishing
Lisa Rodgers – JABberwocky Literary Agency

Inspirational
Shana Asaro – Harlequin Love Inspired
Jessica Kirkland – Blythe Daniels Agency

Paranormal
Theresa Cole – Entangled Publishing
Tricia Skinner – Fuse Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense
Tara Gavin – Kensington Publishing Corp
Jennifer March Soloway – Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Women’s Fiction
Caitlin Dareff – St. Martin’s Press
Sarah Phair – Trident Media Group

Young Adult/New Adult
Mekisha Telfer – Simon and Schuster
Shannon Powers – McIntosh and Otis

Coming in to its 26th year, this contest is open to unpublished and self-published writers so long as the entry has never been published before. Focusing on the first 2,500 words of a manuscript, first round judges evaluate the entry on the Opening, Characterization, Plot, Dialogue, Setting, and Style. All judges are encouraged to leave comments on both the scoresheet and in the entry itself. Our contest is known for giving good, thorough critiques no matter what level of the writing journey you are at. The top five finalists in each category move onto the final round where their work is ranked by one editor and one agent. Final rankings are averaged and the winner of each category receives a beautiful Silver Quill Award.

The contest opens on January 1, 2017 and will accept entries through March 1, 2017 at 11:59 PM CST. Categories need a minimum of 10 entries to continue and are capped 35 entries.

Information will be on the WisRWA website under the Contests tab by the end of November. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Contest Coordinator, Molly Maka, at fabfivecontest@gmail.com.

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