RWA® Mystery/Suspense Chapter presents

for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense
Unpublished Division 2006

Contest Rules

-The contest is open to any writer who has never been contracted in book-length fiction (40,000 words or more) from any publisher.
-Any manuscript that has previously finaled in the Daphne including honorable mentions is not eligible for entry again.
-There is no limit to the number of entries per author, but each entry may be entered in ONLY ONE category.
-Membership in Romance Writers of America® and/or MRSRWA is not a requirement for entry.

Entry Requirements:

1. Fees:

$15 US per entry for MRSRWA members, $25 US per entry all others. Checks payable to MRSRWA. Contestants outside the US must pay by Bank Money Order in US funds.

2. Categories:

· Category (series) romantic mystery / suspense
· Single title romantic mystery / suspense
· Paranormal / futuristic / fantasy / romantic mystery / suspense
· Inspirational romantic mystery / suspense
· Historical romantic mystery / suspense
· Mainstream mystery / suspense

· The entries in the category (series), historical and paranormal categories may contain varying degrees of mystery or suspense with the romance being the primary or secondary focus.
· If the romance is the primary focus, the story should follow the guidelines of a romance: the hero and heroine must end up together in a happy, committed relationship.
· If the romance is the secondary focus, the story should follow the guidelines of a romance, but the committed relationship may only be alluded to.
· Entries in the mainstream mystery/suspense category may contain only minor elements of romance or none at all.
· It is the author's responsibility to enter the work in the correct category. All clarifications as to category should be made prior to submission.

DEFINITIONS THAT MAY HELP CONTESTANT DETERMINE WHERE ENTRY FITS:

1.  CATEGORY (SERIES) ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: any manuscript that fits into series romance as published by Harlequin, Silhouette, etc.

2. PARANORMAL, TIME TRAVEL, FUTURISTIC ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: any manuscript with elements of supernatural occurrences.

3. HISTORICAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: any manuscript set in a time that predates World War 2.

4. SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: any manuscript where the romance is the main plot but contains elements of mystery/suspense.

3. Submission:

• Entrants will submit five (5) copies of the first fifteen (15) pages of their manuscript PLUS five (5) copies of a one-page, single spaced synopsis.(Separated by paper clips is fine.) The synopsis will NOT be judged but used as an aid to help clarify plot and characterization for the judge. Only the synopsis will be single-spaced.
  

  The manuscript pages must be double-spaced.

• All entries should be submitted in standard industry format:
  · 1" margins
  · double-spaced
  · white paper
  · 12 point font (Courier or any other similar, legible font)
  
  
• One-line header each page:
  · title & category on the left side
  · page number on the right side
  • NOTE TO MAINSTREAM ENTRANTS:  ON YOUR HEADER PLEASE INDICATE GENRE, E.G. MAINSTREAM THRILLER, MAINSTREAM SUSPENSE, MAINSTREAM COZY, MAINSTREAM CHICKLIT MYSTERY, ETC

Four entries will be judged. The lowest score will be dropped.

CONTESTANT'S NAME MAY NOT APPEAR ON THE ENTRY. ANY ENTRY WITH CONTESTANT'S NAME WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

• Accompanying each entry:
  · entry form
  · Payment (one check may be submitted for multiple entries - please indicate this on entry form)
  · SASE for return of score sheet and entry - no score sheet/entry will be returned without SASE.
  
  
• Mailing Requirements:
  · Affix correct postage. NO METERED MAIL.
  · Any entry without sufficient return postage will be discarded.
  · Contestants outside the US will contact their local post office to ascertain their proper postal requirements.

  · Multiple entries may be submitted in one envelope, but a separate entry form is required for each different entry.
  · For contestants inside the United States, a postal Flat Rate Priority mailer is strongly recommended as your SASE. It can be obtained and stamped at any post office. If you choose to go with a regular SASE, weigh it for the exact weight of your entry PLUS add 2 more first class stamps (for return scoresheets).
  · For those outside the US, US postage can be purchased at usps.com.
  If you have difficulties securing US postage, please include a money order drawn on US funds for the correct amount of postage and remember to include sufficient funds for both your manuscripts and the return of your scoresheets, which should be approximately another 10 sheets of paper. Money orders payable to the Kiss of Death Chapter.
  · Any entries sent without sufficient postage will be returned in part (as much
  as the enclosed postage allows) and retained for 6 weeks from end of contest.

4. Deadline:

Entries will be accepted no earlier than January 15, 2006 and NO LATER THAN March 15, 2006. All entries received after the deadline will be returned to sender. No entries requiring a signature will be accepted.

Judging:

5. The first round will be judged by experienced and/or Daphne Contest-committee trained judges. A scoresheet will be provided and judges are encouraged to comment directly on the entry. The lowest score for each entry will be dropped.

6. The top five (5) entries in each category will advance to the final round. In the event of a tie for fifth place, all eligible entries will advance to the final round. Barring unforeseen circumstances, finalists will be notified by phone prior to May 5, 2006.

7. Finalists must submit two (2) copies of a synopsis totaling no more than five (5) double-spaced pages totaling no more than twenty-five (25) pages FOR A TOTAL OF NO MORE THAN 30 PAGES MAXIMUM within seven (7) days of notification. Finalists failing to meet this deadline will be disqualified from the final round and eligible for Honorable Mention only.

8. Judging will be on the first fifteen (15) pages of the entry only. The synopsis and additional page requirements are for final round judge consideration.

9. Final round judges for 2006 are as follows:*

CATEGORY (SERIES) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Patience Smith, Silhouette Intimate Moments & Erin Cartwright, Creative Media Agency, Inc.

HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Linda A. Sawicki, Dorchester Publishing & Carolyn Grayson, Ashley Grayson Literary Agency

INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Melissa Endlich, Steeple Hill & Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency

PARANORMAL/TIME TRAVEL FUTURISTIC ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Anna Genoese, Tor/Forge &  Jessica Faust, BookEnds

SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Alicia Condon, Dorchester Publishing & Caren Johnson, Firebrand Literary

MAINSTREAM MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Natalia Aponte, Tor/Forge & Paige Wheeler, Creative Media Agency, Inc.

Announcement of Winners:

10. The first-place entry in each category will receive a plaque, cash prize of $25 and gift certificate for one COFFIN online class. Second place entry will be awarded a certificate, cash prize of $15 and a gift certificate for one COFFIN online class. Third place entry will be awarded a certificate, cash prize of $10 and a gift certificate for one COFFIN online class. All remaining finalists will receive certificates.

The top overall scoring entry will receive the Daphne du Maurier Award. Winners will be announced at the
RWA® National Conference in Atlanta in 2006.

Results will be published in the RWR.

Direct questions to:

Category (series) and Paranormal: Karen Pindale at karenp108@netzero.net

Mainstream and Historical: MAINSTREAMHISTORICAL@ADELPHIA.NET

Single Title & Inspirational: Caroline Dunsheath at Daphne_ST_IN@yahoo.com

*The name -Daphne du Maurier- is used with permission of the du Maurier estate.