Royal Ascot Contest

2009 Contest Rules
Application Forms
Pay 2009 Royal Ascot Fees
Past Winners

2009 Contest Rules

The Royal Ascot is a contest devoted to the promotion of Regency Romances by encouraging the development of unpublished authors who set stories in the Regency Period. Visit the Royal Ascot blog for more information, discussion and general assistance in entering and preparing your entry. If you have any questions or need help with your entry, please feel free to contact the coordinator Delle Jacobs.

Important Dates

April 15, 2009, midnight PDT : Deadline for all parts of entry
June 15, 2009: Finalists announced
July 15, 2009: Winners announced the Beau Monde Soiree

Prizes

$75.00 for first place in each category
$50.00 for second place in each category
$25.00 for third place in each category

Fees

$25 for Beau Monde Members
$30 for Non Beau Monde Members
Checks should be made payable to The Beau Monde.
Entrants may also use PayPal through our website indicating that payment is for the Royal Ascot.
Entries from outside the United States please use PayPal through our website or pay by International Postal Money Order
Checks and money orders can be sent to the Beau Monde Treasurer at:

Haven Rich
44022 Arbordale Dr
Hammond, LA 70403

Prizes

$75.00 for first place in each category
$50.00 for second place in each category
$25.00 for third place in each category
Certificates will be presented for first, second and third place winners

Categories & Final Round Judges

Regency Historical (Single Title, Strongly Romantic Mainstream, etc)
- Linda Fildew, Senior Editor, Harlequin Mills & Boon, Harlequin Historicals
Hot and Wild Regency (usually Paranormal, Very Sensual, or Erotic)
- Tessa Woodward, Editor, HarperCollins
Sweet and Mild Regency (Traditional Regency, Young Adult or Inspirational Regency or other suitable for the category)
- Deb Werksman, SourceBooks, Casablanca Acquiring Editor

Note: If the sub-genre of any finaling entry is not one acquired by the final round judge, an attempt will be made to obtain a read from an editor who acquires that sub-genre. This editor will not participate in judging. All final round judges place priority on story quality, not acquirability.

Category Guidelines

Regency Definition: Broadly set at 1780 to 1830
Setting must be at least partially in the British Empire during the Regency period, or any setting which includes British citizens in any other part of the world during the Regency period. This includes military settings.
Entries with strong paranormal or erotic elements are best placed in the Hot and Wild Category. Entries without explicit sex in the story lines would be best placed in the Sweet and Mild category.

Eligibility

Open to all authors who have not been published in romance fiction by RWA PAN standards in the last five years.
Published authors may enter for feedback, but will not be eligible to participate in the final round of judging.
Entry must not be published or contracted in any form at the time of entry.
A previous entry may be entered again if it was not a previous winner of the contest.
An entry may be entered in only one category
Participants may enter more than one manuscript but must submit a separate entry form and fee for each entry.

Entry

SIZE: Maximum 30 pages and 8500 words (computer count), to include the story opening and a synopsis not longer than 10 pages. Time Travels should begin where Regency setting begins, with a one-page summary to that point.
FORMAT: Use standard fonts and standard sizes, preferably Times New Roman or a Courier font, at least 12 pt, and standard margins and indentations, please.
HEADER: include title and category, and sub-category if applicable.
NO AUTHOR'S NAME anywhere on manuscript or synopsis.
USE Word or RTF. Please don't use Word .docx because many judges can't read it. Coordinator will help if you need help.
ATTACH SYNOPSIS to the end of your manuscript pages.

How to Submit

ENTRY FORM is found at thebeaumonde.com/royalascot/#forms
If you can't access this, contact the coordinator for help. Fill out entry form and submit it.
PAYMENT: Check, money order, or PayPal. Any checks or money orders must arrive by the contest deadline.
- Checks and money orders can be sent to the Beau Monde Treasurer at:
  
  Haven Rich
  44022 Arbordale Dr
  Hammond, LA 70403
EMAIL: to contest coordinator at theroyalascot@gmail.com.
INCLUDE:
- Attach your entry to the email. Use RTF format unless coordinator gives you permission to submit in a different format.
- Subject Line of the email: RA- plus the title of your entry (may be abbreviated).
- You may put a message to coordinator in the message box.
- Please keep an un-altered copy of your submission in case of problems
- No cover sheet needed. Your email serves this purpose.

Judging

Each entry will receive three judges in the first round, at least one published in romance fiction, and another published or a major contest finalist. Royal Ascot Score Sheet is used and judges are encouraged to write on the entry, and the entries and score sheets will be returned to the entrants after the first round of judging.
Discrepancy judging will only take place if there is at least a 30 point spread between the two lowest scores, and the entry would have a possibility of finaling with a higher total score.
Only three entries in each category will become finalists. If necessary, any ties will be resolved before the final round, using a fourth judge.

If you have additional questions regarding the 2008 Royal Ascot contest, please email Royal Ascot Coordinator Delle Jacobs at theroyalascot@gmail.com.

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