2008 ROYAL ASCOT CONTEST

Presented by the Beau Monde Chapter

Romance Writers of America

The Royal Ascot is a contest devoted to the promotion of Regency Romances by encouraging the development of unpublished authors who set stories in the Regency Period. All entries must be at least partially set in the Regency period and in the British Empire. Entries may be either electronic or paper.

Several things have been changed in this year's contest. If you have any questions or need help with your entry, please feel free to contact the coordinator Delle Jacobs at dellejacobs@gmail.com

IMPORTANT DATES

• Deadline for all entries is April 21, 2008, midnight Pacific Daylight Time.
• Finalists will be announced by June 15, 2008
• Winners will be announced the evening of July 30, 2008 at the Beau Monde Soiree
• Winners will be posted on the Beau Monde website after all winners have been notified
• Winners will also be listed in the Romance Writers Report and Quizzing Glass and announced on the RWA News mailing list

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 (www.thebeaumonde.com) indicating that payment is for the Royal Ascot.
• Entries from outside the United States please use PayPal through our website as described above or pay by International Postal Money Order

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 set Historical - To Be Announced
• Sweet and Mild Regency (Traditional, Young Adult or Inspirational Regency) - Lindsey McGurk, Editor, Samhain Publishing Ltd.
• Hot and Wild Regency (usually Paranormal or Erotic or both) - Hilary Sares, Editor, Kensington Books

ELIGIBILITY

• Open to RWA members who are unpublished authors
• Open to RWA members who are published authors who have not been published in book-length fiction since 2003
• Open to non-RWA members who are not published in romance

ENTRY

• Complete entry must consist of entry form, payment and the manuscript and synopsis.
• Story must have at least a partial Regency setting.
• Entry shall be a maximum of 30 pages which shall include the beginning of the manuscript and its complete synopsis.
• Time Travel Only: if the opening does not take place in the Regency era, the author may give a short set-up and use the opening Regency scene. Total pages, including the set-up must not exceed thirty pages
• It is requested that all entries follow a standard manuscript format with 1 inch margins all around. (Suggested formatting is at the end of the Rules page)
• Entries must have Title, category and sub-category in the header. Please don't forget the sub-category, such as Inspirational, Erotic, since some judges do not wish to judge certain categories. This helps us choose judges who are appropriate for all entries.)
• Contestants name must not appear anywhere on the entry. (Be sure to check second chapters and synopsis for names!)
• No cover sheet is needed.

GENERAL RULES:

• For contest purposes published author will be interpreted per RWA standards.
• No previously winning manuscript may be entered, but previously entered or finalling manuscripts are eligible.
• No manuscript may be entered that has been published or contracted for publication by the final deadline for entry.
• A manuscript can 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.
• For contest purposes Regency is defined as set between 1800 and 1830.
• For contest purposes Regency set romance may include time travel and paranormal elements.
• Setting must be at least partially in the British Empire during the Regency period
• Entrants may submit electronic or print entries. Entrants must be sure to follow the correct instructions for their selected format.
• International entrants may only submit electronic entries.
• No entry will be processed if it is not complete, and payment made by the deadline.

SPECIAL RULES AND INFORMATION FOR ELECTRONIC ENTRIES:

• Electronic entries must be sent to the correct coordinator for their category as listed at the bottom of the rules.
• Payment can be mailed (check) to the general coordinator or by PayPal directly to the Beau Monde Treasurer. Follow the link on the website.
• Entries should be submitted in rtf format. Contact coordinator if you need help with this. questions if you do not know how to do this.
• Email the appropriate coordinator to establish contact prior to sending entry
• Include Royal Ascot 2008 in the Subject Line
• Include a completed entry form available at www.thebeaumonde.com
• Send entry form as an attachment
• Send submission as an attachment, not in the body of the email
• Send Manuscript and Synopsis as two separate attachments.
• Electronic entries do not need to provide a return envelope or postage

SEND ELECTRONIC ENTRIES TO THE PROPER COORDINATOR:

Regency Historical Coordinator
Laurie Alice Eakes - lauriealice@skonicki.com

Sweet & Mild Regency Coordinator
Catherine Leming - eadarainn@yahoo.com

Hot & Wild Regency Coordinator
Delle Jacobs - dellejacobs@gmail.com

SPECIAL RULES FOR MAILED ENTRIES:

Entry must include:

• Signed and completed entry form available at www.thebeaumonde.com
• Four (4) copies of the beginning of the novel
• Four (4) copies of the synopsis of the novel
• An SASE for return of manuscripts and score sheet. USE ADEQUATE RETURN POSTAGE for all four entries plus scoresheets.
• Use stamps, not meter postage, on return envelopes
• Please do not mail by any method that requires signature on delivery. Such entries will be refused and returned

MAIL ENTRIES TO:

Paper Entry Coordinator
Maria Richey
44022 Arbordale Dr
Hammond, LA 70403

SUGGESTED FORMATTING

• The following formatting is suggested, but not required
• 8 2 by 11 white paper (A-4 paper is permitted for entrants where it is standard)
• At least 1@ margins on all sides
• Double spaced, one-sided entries
• One font throughout (we suggest Courier New 12pt, Courier 12 pt, Times New Roman 14 pt)
• Header on each page, which should include the title of the manuscript, the page number and the word Synopsis where appropriate
• four copies of thirty pages or less, each bound with individual binder clips if possible
• Entry should be typewritten, computer-printed or photocopied

JUDGING

• The Royal Ascot will make every possible attempt to provide three judges for each entry, at least two of whom are published
• Judges will use the Royal Ascot Score Sheet and are encouraged to write on the entry.
• The entries and score sheets will be returned to the entrants after the first round of judging.
• The top three scoring entries in each category will proceed to the final round.
• In the event of a tie a special judge will judge and score the tied entries and the winner of that judging will advance to the final round.
• The finalists will be judged by an editor, one in each category, to be announced.
• In the event that the final round judging editor is not acquiring in the sub-category of a finalist, a separate editor will be sought to also read but not judge that entry.
• In the event of a discrepancy of thirty (30) or more points between an entry's two lowest score in the first round, the entry will be sent to a discrepancy judge. The lowest of the four scores will be dropped, and the remaining three scores will be used to determine the entry's place. Discrepancy judging will only take place when the entry might have a chance of finalling if it has a higher score.

If you have additional questions regarding the 2008 Royal Ascot contest please email:

Royal Ascot Coordinator Delle Jacobs at dellejacobs@gmail.com