Unpublished authors #OrangeRoseContest #amwriting #inspiration

Unpublished authors, get your manuscripts ready to enter The 2018 Orange Rose Contest.  Next year check the rules and deadlines at OCCRWA.org! Dream big. Enjoy success. Make every writing day count. This contest is coming in the spring of 2018. 

Dear writer, you have time; the deadline is April 30^th, 2018. This storied contest has in its roster many finalists who are now published, such as Rita Winners Laura Drake and Tessa Dare and New York Times best-selling authors Allison Brennan, Judy Duarte, Susan Squires and Debra Holland to name just a few. Why has the ORC enjoyed this level of success? It’s in large part due to the exceptional judges, both first round published author and final editor/agent judges, and our comprehensive score sheets.

In 2018, not far away, I will chair the Orange Rose Contest for unpublished writers Orange County Romance Writers. A huge perk for all authors who enter are critiques from published authors who have been around the block and can help improve manuscripts.  Nowhere will authors receive such a quality resource to shape the plot and writing. Authors who final in the Orange Rose receive free promotion by having their book listed and announced in person at the Orange Chapter’s big bash in the fall.  Right here on this blog, I will interview finalists.  Finalists’ manuscripts are sent to editors of RWA approved publishers.  You know what that means—a win for publishers and authors.

FINAL ROUND WINNERS for 2017

1st Place and Winner of The Charlotte
Romantic Suspense
Leslie Marshman – Goode Over Evil

2nd Place
Contemporary Romance
Sara L. Hudson – Houston, We Have a Hottie

We had a tie for 3rd Place

3rd Place
Young Adult
Riley Darkes – Serving Time

3rd Place
Historical Romance
Carolina Prentice – The Moon and Stars

4th Place
Mainstream Fiction, with a central romance
Jenny Hansen – A Sister In Need

Congratulations to you all!

From the 2017 contest coordinator, Jann.