Amazon competition. Self-published authors qualify.

[DavidKitson]

I don't know if anyone else saw this?

http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011

It caught my attention because it's the first time I've noticed that Self-Published authors qualify to enter an existing and published work.

Anyway, I thought it may be of interest so thought I'd post. Entries at the end of the month.

Regards
David

[J. Strnad]

The prize is a publishing contract with Penguin, and a $15,000 advance?

I'll pass, thank you.

[altworld]

Most first time Authors only get an advance of 10K so 15K for an unknown is above average for a payout. It is worth the spin just to see how far you can go, I am going to chance my arm. After all nothing ventured nothing gained.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I actually find myself on the fence about this one. For one thing, everything is contingent upon a contract that Penguin creates, you can't negotiate, they don't have to honor unless you win (or they change their minds), and you must sign or be disqualified. On principle, that's a pretty one-sided arrangement.

And only the 3 Firsts and 1 Grand Prize have any real value.

Publicity would be nice... but unless I'm one of the four winners, I won't get any.

Tough choice.

[anamardoll]

ABNA is a fun contest if you have a spare manuscript lying around. I can say after following it for a couple of years that it doesn't favor sci-fi / fantasy / "genre fiction" (did I use that right?). They're allowed to enter, but the winners usually shake out to be set in the real world where someone learns a valuable lesson about culture, illness, or a dying parent.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

ABNA is a fun contest if you have a spare manuscript lying around. I can say after following it for a couple of years that it doesn't favor sci-fi / fantasy / "genre fiction" (did I use that right?). They're allowed to enter, but the winners usually shake out to be set in the real world where someone learns a valuable lesson about culture, illness, or a dying parent.

Sounds like even less of a reason for me to enter. Oh, well.

[anamardoll]

Oh, and the last year's winners still has not been confirmed that there will be an ebook version. Penguin really wants to milk the hardcover first, it seems. So a lot of the authors and judges are irked about that. (Since self-published tends to intersect with eReader enthusiast.)

[CalmApparatus]

Thank you so very much for passing this on. I am going to spread this far and wide and of course will give it a shot myself. My hat's off to you, thanks again.

--Damien

[nigel p bird]

I'd definitely enter if it weren't for 'clause x'. Sexual content and violence run through my novel (out for reading just now), so I'm not going to take the chance. It's also genre fiction and, having seen the earlier posts, my fears about the bredth of scope of the likely winners is confirmed.

It looks really good, though, and the prize must be worth a go.

Good luck if you enter.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by nigel p bird

I'd definitely enter if it weren't for 'clause x'. Sexual content and violence run through my novel (out for reading just now), so I'm not going to take the chance.

What happened to the Penguin that took on Lady Chatterley and defended it to the hilt?

[Coralm]

Originally Posted by nigel p bird

I'd definitely enter if it weren't for 'clause x'. Sexual content and violence run through my novel (out for reading just now), so I'm not going to take the chance. It's also genre fiction and, having seen the earlier posts, my fears about the bredth of scope of the likely winners is confirmed.

It looks really good, though, and the prize must be worth a go.

Good luck if you enter.

Hmmm, I looked through the terms earlier and didn't see where they said no violence or sex? You remember where you saw it?

I'm still not sure if I'll do it. While I'm not thrilled about the requirement to sign their contract for the winning book, they are only buying one title. You can write stuff and self-publish after with a bit more exposure. Doesn't seem too bad a deal. I do worry about my chances though, since I'm very firmly in the camp of 'genre fiction.'

[teh603]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

What happened to the Penguin that took on Lady Chatterley and defended it to the hilt?

Probably went the same way as the Penguin that didn't operate a vanity self- publisher.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Coralm

Hmmm, I looked through the terms earlier and didn't see where they said no violence or sex? You remember where you saw it?

From the rules...

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to disqualify your Entry from the Contest if the Entry (x) contains obscene, offensive, pornographic or sexually explicit material, (y) is libelous, disparaging, includes inappropriate content, or (z) does not comply with these Official Rules.

[Nancy Fulda]

The word I've heard from participants in previous years is that the deck is heavily stacked against science fiction and fantasy submissions because the final jury has a very definite literary bent.

That said, a number of previous participants said the exposure they received after making it to the final rounds was worth tying the manuscript up for a few months. YMMV, of course.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

The word I've heard from participants in previous years is that the deck is heavily stacked against science fiction and fantasy submissions because the final jury has a very definite literary bent.

This is my experience as well, as a judge the past two years, and it's a little frustrating. I read so many VERY VERY VERY good sci-fi/fantasy excerpts that I wanted to see published so that I could finish, and to have the winners keep going to "Bob/Amy learns a lesson about cancer/dementia/racism" was very frustrating.

Not that the winners aren't good! Just that... I'd like to see more winners, one for each genre category.