by Tessa Shapcott, Executive Editor Harlequin Presents
We’re delighted to introduce our winner of our Harlequin Presents Instant Seduction First Chapter and Synopsis competition, Lynne Rae Harris, plus the two runners-up, Dani Collins and Eve Powers, who have kindly sent us a few words about themselves.
Look out for their winning entries, which will be posted on the blog site soon, along with critiques of their work by their contact editors.
Meanwhile, our editorial team is busy getting touch with a number of entrants whose submissions we felt showed some promise. Please bear with us on this, because there are quite a few!
Editor Suzy Clarke will also be blogging soon with some learnings and takeaways to help all entrants move forward after the competition and keep that writing momentum going. The message is, even if you didn’t win, or if your particular entry doesn’t elicit a personal response from one of our editors, don’t despair: you can learn from this experience and grow your writing! We are continually on the lookout for new talent and, tomorrow, it could be you…
Meet Lynn Raye Harris
Lynn Raye Harris read her first Harlequin Presents when her grandmother carted home a box of romances from a yard sale. She may have only been ten, but she knew right then she was destined to travel to a desert kingdom and become a sheikh’s bride. When her family moved to Europe after she turned seventeen, she figured her life was on track. Instead of the sheikh, however, she met and married a military man.
An award-winning writer from an early age (if you count Mom’s praise), Lynn was meant to be a novelist. One day, after finishing yet another romance and being sorry it was over, she decided to write one of her own. Nothing’s been the same since.
Lynn is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her work has been a finalist in six RWA-sponsored contests, including the 2008 Golden Heart®, the organization’s highest honor for unpublished manuscripts. Lynn writes military romantic suspense and glittering international romance. The Harlequin Presents contest gave her the courage to finally write for the line she’s always loved. Winning is a dream come true.
You can meet our other finalists over the next couple of days. And, if you receive personal feedback from an editor over your contest entry please do come and share!
Congratulations again Lynn. I left a comment on your blog already but just wanted to wish you the best with the rest of your contest entry as well as your GH manuscript. My fingers will be crossed for you on both.
Claudia.
Hi Lynn,
I’ve been lurking on this site so far, but seeing your post prompted me to register so that I could offer my congratulations on the contest win as well as your GH final. I’m looking forward the reading your winning chapter as well as the two runner up entries.
I also wanted to offer my thanks to the London editorial team for running this contest.
Congrat’s again.
Chris.
Thanks so much again for offering the contest. It was great fun.
Will the editors be contacting those entrants with promise by e-mail or snail mail?
Thanks again!
Tren
Gorgeous picture Lynn! Sounds like you are having a wonderful year! Congrats about everything!
Congratulations about everything, Lynn! I’m sure your wins are much deserved and can’t wait to read your entry. Best of luck!
Thank you, everyone! It’s so strange to see my photo and the mini-bio.
I could launch into lots more about my journey, LOL, but there was a word limit. Still, I just want everyone who reads this and may be disappointed about their own work to keep writing and moving forward. I firmly believe you can get there if you keep trying.
I’m late (as usual) in arriving here, but didn’t want to miss a chance to say a huge congratulations, Lynn. You must be over the moon– and deservedly so! I’m looking forward to hearing all about your future successes.
Thank you, India! Yep, still floating.
Great to find outmore about you Lynn, and I’m so looking forward to reading your chapter! Hoping to see your (and the other winners) published books appearing!
Congratulations Lynn on the Presents contest and the GH! I can only imagine you are flying high in the clouds!
What a great year for you! Wish you all the best and again, heartfelt congrats!
MARIAN STEVENS
Thank you, Mulberry!
Marian, yes, I am still flying high. It’s been quite the two weeks!!
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im a nigerian nd a prolific writer as well,i’ve been looking forward to be a part of d harlequin’s contest but i don’t av informations about when d next contest will be coming up pls can you mail me nd give me some informations cos i’m a vry big fan of harlequin nd i’ll forever want to be a part of the game.thnks