by editor Lucy Gilmour
Greetings from Romance HQ! Over the last couple of years we’ve run some fabulous writing competitions from iheartpresents – and found the truly talented and brilliant Presents authors Lynn Raye Harris (from the Instant Seduction competition) and Lucy King (who entered our Feel the heat contest) along the way!
Following on from these successes we’re launching a brand new competition – New Voices – a global search for fresh writing talent to join Harlequin Mills & Boon’s galaxy of romantic fiction stars. And what’s more it launches today!
Of course, Harlequin Mills & Boon’s offices are in London, England, but we’re looking for entrants from all around the world who want to write for any of our lines. If you’ve got talent – we want to find it.
For all the information you need about how, why and when to enter pop, over to www.romanceisnotdead.com But we’re so excited about it, I can’t stop myself from outlining a few details for you here…
How the competition works
We’ll be putting entrants through their paces, and we want you, who love to read and write romance, to have your say every step of the way
- Stage 1: Entrants can upload their entries from today over at www.romanceisnotdead.com – or you have until 22nd September when the first round closes to polish your first chapters until they shine!
- Stage 2: The Harlequin Mills & Boon editors will whittle down all the entries to just ten finalists, who’ll then be asked to write their second chapter. Once they do, we’ll ask the public to vote for their favourite one. Along with the judging panel (which includes legendary Harlequin Presents author Penny Jordan and Harlequin Mills & Boon Executive Editor Tessa Shapcott as well as Sam Delaney, Editor of Heat, a leading UK entertainment magazine and Mandy Ferguson, Managing Director of Harlequin Mills & Boon UK – wow, how’s that for a stellar line up!) these votes will decide which four entrants go through to the next round…
- Stage 3: The remaining finalists will write the ‘pivotal moment’ of their story – this could be the culmination of sensual tension, an emotionally dark moment, a truly dramatic scene…or any other point that you think showcases the powerful intensity of your story! Then, with the judges, the public will decide the winner by voting for their favourite.
Author/Editor mentors
Did I mention the other fabulous thing about New Voices? No?! Well, here it is…
The Top Ten finalists will have their very own mentors! A Harlequin Mills & Boon author and an editor working with them to bring their entries up to their full potential! And wait until you hear who the author mentors are…
Three fabulous Harlequin authors – Sharon Kendrick for Presents, Presents Extra author Heidi Rice, and Jessica Hart who writes for Harelquion Romance as well as and paranormal superstar Rhyannon Byrd. How’s that for a crack team to bestow wisdom and advice?!
The Prize
Up for grabs for one lucky winner is the money-can’t-buy prize of publication by Harlequin Mills & Boon, a Harlequin Mills & Boon editor for a year & an ipad (fingers crossed you’re all more technicologically savvy than me!!)
Runners up will also receive editorial consultations and there will be great prize giveaways and freebies for lucky readers who vote on entries throughout the competition.
The Harlequin Mills & Boon editorial team have their e-readers charged and at the ready (and plenty of chocolate stored up for a sugar-boost!) – just waiting for your submissions. If you love romance – either writing or reading it! — we can’t wait to hear from you!
If you’ve got any questions about how to enter, what to enter, where to enter, why to enter I’ll be popping back all day to answer any and all New Voices related queries.
Last but no means least, good luck to everybody entering the competition – we can’t wait to take a peek at your entries…
Lucy x
I’m lookig forward to reading the entires and submitting my own! New Voices is a brilliant competition with fabulous prizes and is an excellent opportunity for aspiring Mills and Boon writers.
Good luck to everyone,
Rachael
Lucy,
I went through the rules a few days back and found this:
Eligibility: The Writing Contest is open only to legal residents of the U.K., U.S., Canada (excluding Quebec), Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa who have reached the age of majority in their country, state, province or territory of residence at the time of entry.
But you say you are looking for entrants from around the world who want to write for any of your lines. Can you please clarify. I’m sure there are many like me who would love to enter but don’t reside in an eligible country.
Thanks a lot. And good luck to all those who are entering.
Hi Meghan
Sadly, while we’d love to be able to accept entries from absolutely anywhere and everywhere, due to all sorts of befuddling legal t’s & c’s only residents of the countries you listed (U.K., U.S., Canada (excluding Quebec), Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa ) are eligible for the New Voices contest.
Don’t forget that you can still be part of the competition – your comments and votes will really count! And you can still submit to us the usualy way by sending in three chapters to submissions@hmb.co.uk.
Good luck with your writing…and happy reading!
Lucy x
Dear Lucy:
Actually, I can not believe the long journey I have taken to here. I am sure many will feel the same when they send their entry in. Sunday, I went through my private stash of “helpful stuff” and collected some of this to help me get to today. Things like a copy of a Learn to write a book in a Year from Harlequin.com (published in October of the year 2007) I also found tucked away there “How to write a synopsis” an old self help published by Harlequin. I also found from http://www.eharlequin.com published in May of the year 2009, “Structure in a Flash”. My husband watching the efforts I have made, said, what does it take for one chapter anyway? I just didn’t know how to explain it. IT takes sites like this one, it takes Facebook friends urging me on, it takes burning the midnight oil. Thanks.
Dear Lucy,
I am so excited about this contest! It will be the first time that I have tried to have anything that I have written to be considered for its merit. I am particularly happy that my sister and I both will be entering this New Voices Competition! Best of luck to all who enter.
Carolyn S. Hendrick
Hi Anna
I’m sure that all the late nights, pulled out hair and caffeine (or chocolate!) it’s taken to get your first chapter ready has been worth it -it’s most definitely not remotely easy!
So much good luck from all at Harlequin Mills & Boon!
Lucy x
What a wonderful competition! I like the idea that profesional judges AND readers will determine the outcome.
I’ve been through the rules a few times and still have some uncertainty about “professionals” not being allowed to enter. I had published a number of romance novels at small, local, independant, publishing houses with no ties to Torstar what so ever. These novels had been written and published in Afrikaans, not English. Can I still enter?
Also, until about 18 months ago I translated some Mills and Boon-novels into Afrikaans; I had been comissioned to do this by Jacklin Enterprises, once again a small, local, totally independant publishing company not affiliated to Torstar (they merely have a license agreement with Harlequin/Millsand Boon). Does this make me a “professional” and am I therefore not allowed to enter the competition?
I have already hit a problem. I tried to register. It said you will get an email and must click on that and follow it back. I have att. mail and got several emails which it said it could not open. I just think it was a temporary problem. It adviced me to logout and then back in, which I did. But I have not found any email and I am stopped from going any further until I get another email sent me or something. Gremlins say I must use the email sent me. I don’t have any.
I want to add a second question to the one about eligibility that Meghan raised.
I went through the “Eligibility” requirements as carefully as I could, and at first those requirements state that no one who has published a full-length book, either fiction or non-fiction, with *any* publisher, is eligible for the “New Voices” contest. This is also the claim made on the “Frequently Asked Questions” page. But the final sentence in the “Eligibility” section says that it IS possible to enter the contest if a person has published a book with someone other than “the Sponsor” (Harlequin and its affiliates). I’ve published two non-fiction books directed at teachers (both with small presses that specialize in books for teachers) but never any fiction and never with any mainstream commercial publisher. I don’t know whether I’m eligible to enter the contest or not.
It would be wonderful if someone from Harlequin could clarify both the eligibility requirements regarding prior publications and also the question Meghan raised about the eligibility of people from different parts of the world to enter the contest.
Thanks in advance for any information.
In the rules, it said only unpublished authors can enter. I’ve had a novel published by a small independent in the US. Does this prohibit me from entering?
Anna, I’d try setting up a free googlemail or hotmail account or something and register using that.
From the terms and conditions:
Furthermore, the term “Professional” shall mean any person who is represented by a literary agent at the time of entry, or is receiving or has received a salary, fee, or other financial compensation from the Sponsor or any of its affiliates (including but not limited to Harlequin Enterprises Limited and Harlequin Books S.A.), or any other publisher, in connection with the publication or distribution of a full-length book, whether fiction or non-fiction.
So, it sounds to me as though Tor, Simone and Jessica aren’t eligible since you have all received some kind of salary or fee from ‘any other publisher’ in connection with the publication of a book ‘whether fiction or non-fiction’.
But, like Lucy says, you can always submit in the normal way.
Ros, that’s what I thought, too, when I BEGAN reading the “Eligibility”
section of the “Terms and Conditions.” Then I read the final statement
in the “Eligibility” section, a statement that I’ve copied and pasted
below:
For greater certainty, an entrant who is receiving or has received a salary, fee, or other financial compensation from a publisher other than the Sponsor (or any of its affiliates) is eligible to enter the Writing Contest provided that the Submission complies with the Submission Requirements set out above.
It was this statement that confused me since it appears to
flatly contradict the statement regarding eligibility that appeared
earlier.
Is it possible for someone from Harlequin to clarify this?
Thanks!
Oh, I see what you mean. I took that second statement to mean that you could be employed by another publisher (as an editor or an office boy or whatever) but not have published a book through them. But it would be good to clarify.
Hi Anna (and anyone else who is having trouble logging in/commenting/uploading their entries…)
Thanks for letting us know about the technical difficulties you’re having. It must be hugely frustrating!
We’re working on it at the moment and hope to have the issue resolved soon.
Thanks for your patience and our apologies again!
Lucy x
Hi Simone, Jessica & Ros
Thanks so much for your queries. I’m going to double and triple check these with our legal experts before I give you a definitive answer. Is that ok? I’ll be back tomorrow morning with an easy to understand yay or nay!
Thanks for your queries
Lucy x
Thanks, Lucy! I’m happy to wait until you’ve checked;
I really appreciate that the people at Harlequin (such
as you!) are responding so thoroughly and carefully
to people’s questions.
Thanks again.
Thank you for telling us you are working on this. I am sure there are many entries and probably they are cramming in at all hours. It is worth waiting for, I am sure. So I wait. But I am having trouble staying with my diet because I am so nervous. The suspense is really building for me.
Nonetheless, I feel things will work out for the best eventually.
Anna – great to see you here! I submitted, but the entry hasn’t been reviewed yet. What’s confusing me is how to view the other entries. Maybe it’s my techno-klutziness showing, but when I go to “Entries” I see some promo about the entries but not the actual stories. I can also find a link to discussion about the entries but, again, not the stories. Is there a link I’m missing somehow? I’m eager to read what others have posted!
RATS!!! I just realized I’m not eligible!!! I wrote several gardening books, all out of print, but I just went through the fine print and spotted this:
“Furthermore, the term “Professional” shall mean any person who is represented by a literary agent at the time of entry, or is receiving or has received a salary, fee, or other financial compensation from the Sponsor or any of its affiliates (including but not limited to Harlequin Enterprises Limited and Harlequin Books S.A.), or any other publisher, in connection with the publication or distribution of a full-length book, whether fiction or NON-FICTION.”
Now I’m frantically searching for a contact email to disqualify myself before they post my entry.
The phrase “at the time of entry” jumped out at me here. Since my novel is due out on October 1st, at the time I submit my entry, I won’t technically be a published author or have received any financial compensation. Am I splitting hairs? Perhaps I should give up on being a writer and become a lawyer instead.
Hey:
I got a letter from Mills & Boon saying not everybody has my problem. So actually, I find that encouraging. They are still trying to help me with this. SO I am hanging in there. I just think it is a lost email somewhere. I also am a member of the Mills & Boon community, but haven’t posted in a while. Can’t find where I wrote my password files at the moment things are so hectic anyway, so I asked for a new password, and haven’t received this either. Normally, I know Harlequin is so fast at responses, but surely the two emails aren’t connected somehow. So I am in a fix.
Becke, thanks for your encouragement over here, and for others on Facebook also. Becke your writing is terrific. I know. I still believe a glitch can be resolved. I tried to register just a few minutes ago, and still no link. But I can’t follow a link from an email if I don’t have the email. Some people on Facebook said just set up a new email account at hotmail or something, but I don’t want to mess with things. I get my eHarlequin newsletters and all FB notifications and zillions of other things, so no can do on that.
Dear Lucy:
Hey I got an email from New Voices. Things are looking like all systems are go here and I will be an entry in the contest after all. Jubilation time for me. Woopee!
I cannot understand that by having been published with two non fiction books about dogs I am excluded from entering a romantic fiction competition.
Yes, exclude writers of romantic novels of any length and perhaps short story writers but non fiction writers? What have we done to offend you all?
I think it is great that Mills and Boon is looking for New Voices.
via their new contest site. It is neat that contestants will be getting
feedback from their readers.
I didn’t find anywhere the guidelines for this new contest.
Such as How Many words and pages?
Thank you
I am looking forward to entering the New Voices contest.
I hope the Editors and Authors will furnished will furnished new authors
with specific guidelines to this unique contest.
Thank You
Hi Lucy,
I have a question regarding the Terms and Conditions:
“…the Submission has not been previously exploited or published in any form, and no rights in or to the Submission have been granted, pledged, or assigned to any third party which would interfere with or derogate from the rights granted to the Sponsor hereunder;”
I am a member of RWA and would like to enter the High Five competition (first five pages of a ms). I would also like to submit the complete first chapter of this same ms to New Voices. The winner of High Five does not win publication just a small monetary prize. I don’t know whether this falls under the definition of “exploited”.
So my question in a nutshell: Would I be disqualified from New Voices if my submission was also submitted to High Five, even though it is only the first five pages?
Thanks for answering all of these questions for us!
Madeline
Am I going to receive a reply to my question that was submitted last Friday? Apart from myself I have students waiting to hear the outcome of this before they enter.
I am very impressed with the enthusiasm and interest that this contest has generated. I am also pleased to be actively participating. I was wondering if it would be possible to know more about the pivotal chapter? Also, is there a list of how many countries have participants?
Best wishes to all that are involved in this endeavor!
Carolyn Hendrick
Hi All
Right, Lots of queries here… I’ll try and tackle them one by one. Thanks for your patience!
Lucy xx
First of all – eligibiity!
The official word on this from those in the legal know is that sadly you cannot enter the New Voices competition if you have ever receicved a salary, fee or other financial compensation for a full-length work of fiction or non-fiction.
Tori, Jessica sadly this does mean that you’re not eligible to enter. However, Harleuqin Mills & Boon do read every single submission that is sent in, so please do polish up your work and send it in to the regular submissions e-mail.
Simone, I hope this clears things up finally.
Thanks again for waiting for me to check this out.
Lucy
Anna
So glad you made it through!! And as for the diet, well – there’s nothing like chocolate in times of extreme stress!!
Good luck
L x
Hi Elaine
Following feedback from our last writing competition we decided that we really wanted to give totally unpublished authors the chance with this contest
Please don’t feel too disheartened, as I’ve said above, send in three chapters of your manuscript and they will absolutely get read. In fact, we’re having an unsolicited manuscript morning on Friday here at Romance HQ!!
Best wishes with everything!
Lucy x
Oh, and Elaine, thanks so much for passing this info over to your students. What do you teach?
Hi Madeline
This is fine – and good luck with both the High Five and New Voices competitions!
L x
Leda – thanks so much for popping past. It’s lovely to know that people are excited about the competition and looking forward to entering.
Best of luck with your first chapter
L x
Hi there Carolyn
Thanks for your kind words. We’re truly thrilled that people are so interested and enthusiastic about the competition!
In terms of how many countries have participated, we’ve had entries in from all that are eligible; UK, US, Canada, ROI, Australia, New Zealand, & South Africa which is absolutely fantastic.
The ‘pivotal moment’ (which we’ll be asking for if you make it to the final 4!) will probably be a little shorter than your whole chapters. It’s hard to say without reading your entry. This is a scene that is emotionally intense; perhaps the culmination of sensual tension, or an emotionally black moment for your hero or heroine (or both!). Is there a scandal or secret in your story? If so, this could be the reaction to its revelation.
There’s no formula for this, but remember that if you get through to that stage you’ll have an editor and author mentor team to guide you through… Phew!
Hope that helps!
Lucy x
Hi Jane
The complete guidelines can be found here
http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/Enter/Terms-and-Conditions
In terms of word count, we’re looking at no more than 10,000 words for your entire entry – and remember this has to include your second chapter AND pivotal moment should you make it through to the second and third stages.
As a very rough guide perhaps allow in the region of 4,000 words for your 1st chapter, 4,000 words for your 2nd chapter and 2,000 for your pivotal moment.
Hope that helps!
Lucy x
Thanks Lucy! Helpful and informative!
CH
Thanks, Lucy, for clarifying all of this.
Thank you Lucy,
I teach Creative Writing (novels, short stories, beginners etc) at The Write Place Creative Writing School. We are based at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford Kent.
We do have monthly speakers so if you have a writer in our area or even an editor they would be very welcome to come along and talk to us about writing for Mills and Boon. This month we have novelist Christopher Fowler visiting.
Thanks Lucy! Great job at answering all of our questions individually. Harder for you, but easier for us to scroll down and find our answer.
So I can enter both competitions. That’s what I was hoping to hear
Madeline
Thank you Lucy,
I am glad I made it.
Now we are really celebrating with my blog friends. The celebration has been going on for days. We are so excited and it just continues to bring joy to us.
Mills and Boon is the best romance publishing that gives new and
struggling creative writers a real chance to be one of their “New
Voices.”
These below negative black blobs hinter from creating positive romance
Harlequin Romances or Modern Heat stories this week:
Moody cold rainy weather and a crude resident who made a couple disreputable remarks about our President Obama.
Hi Lucy Gilmore,
I wonder if you might be able to help me. I signed up for the New Voices Competition but unfortunately I sent an empty entry by accident and now it won’t let me send my First Chapter.
Could you please advise me what I should do. I am still keen to send my First Chapter.
Thank you,
Assunta Glockner
Hi Assunta,
BTW, you might want to try leaving a comment or skimming the other comments in Bethan Hilliard on the New Voices site, too, — she seems to know all things technical
Here are a couple links: http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/News/8-Log-in-problems-fixed
http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/News/4-Entry-Submission-time-delays
~Amy
Awh dam, I missed it. How do I mind out about future competitions like this??
Hi Jack,
I *think* the New Voices deadline to upload your entry is midnight tonight, British time, so you may still have time to submit your work if you have something ready now.
For future competitions, be sure to watch Harlequin and Mills and Boon’s social media properties — we tend to cross-post big news like writing contests everywhere. So if you’re not already, follow @HarlequinBooks and @MillsandBoonUK on Twitter, bookmark http://www.harlequinblog.com, join the eHarlequin.com Community, find on Facebook…wherever you like to hang out, chances are Harlequin or M&B is there!
~Amy