The Valley Forge Romance Writers congratulate the
2008 winners of THE SHEILA Contest

Historical
Final Judge: Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
1st - RAKES AND RADISHES, Susan Newman *
2nd - TROUBLE IN TEXAS, Donna Hall *
3rd - LADY’S KNIGHT, Kayla Westra *
4th - MCCAID’S WOMAN, Elaine Levine * (MS SOLD)
5th - DONNE WITH LOVE, Sally Orr *

Romantic Suspense
Final Judge: Megan McKeever, Pocket Books
1st - TREAD SOFTLY, Kelly Ann Riley**
2nd - UNWRITTEN RULES, Alison Henderson
3rd - LYING EYES, Amy Atwell
4th - LAST STRAW, Ann Fischer and Linda Baxter
5th - BURIED ALIVE, Jean Mason

Paranormal
Final Judge: Kate Duffy, Kensington
1st - BLOOD RUNS THICKER, Leah Hodge
2nd - DEATH HAS NO DOMINION, Maya Reynolds
3rd - SCENT OF A MAN, Maree Anderson
4th - LOVE CAME HOWLING, Carolyn Matkowsky
5th - MISTRESS OF THE STONE, Maria Zannini
6th - WARD AGAINST DEATH, Melanie Card

Women’s Fiction w/ Romantic Elements
Final Judge: Rose Hilliard, St. Martin’s Press
1st - PTA MEETINGS ARE MURDER, Kathy Krevat
2nd - CASE ONE, Keri Ford
3rd - ONE STARRY NIGHT, Donna S. Reeve
4th - RUNNING AWAY, Rachelle Chase
5th - TO CATCH A CHEAT, Rachelle Chase

Single Title Romance
Final Judge: Keyren Gerlach, Harlequin
1st - THE COST OF LOVE, Vannetta Chapman
2nd - NOTHING UNDER THE SUN, Laura Graham Booth +
3rd - SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, Amy Lillard
4th - THE CUPID SCOOP, Deborah Nemeth
5th - LOVE OUT OF BOUNDS, Teresa Lemmy +

* denotes full MS requested
** denotes partial MS requested
+ VFRW member

Highest Overall Score: SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, Amy Lillard

Winners of critiques by published VFRW authors:
Sarah Elizabeth Davis (STC) – critique by Alice Wootson
Yvonne Harris (WF) – critique by Lois Winston
Deborah Nemeth (STC) – critique by Terri Brisbin

A great big thank you to all of our entrants and judges who made our contest a success this year!

AWARDS: First place winners in each of the five categories plus The Top Score Award will receive a certificate. All other finalists in the five categories will receive certificates. First through fourth place winners will have their names printed in RWR Magazine. All decisions of the judges are final.

QUESTIONS: Contact Robin Kawczynski or Carla Faker, Contest Chairs, at contest@vfrw.com.

Our 2009 contest will open for entries in November, 2008.

Complete Rules and Regulations (printable)

General Scoresheet
Women's Fiction Scoresheet

Past Contest Winners

HERE'S WHAT SOME OF OUR ENTRANTS HAVE TOLD US ABOUT OUR CONTEST:

"Thank you so very much for your kind and encouraging comments on my entry. My back was a little straighter after reading your notes.... I will be spending a lot of time incorporating all the contest feedback I've received.... Thank you again for your very encouraging notes. Judges like you are what makes contest-entering a positive experience."

"Thank you very much for your wonderful comments on my manuscript. I am thrilled that it took first place and was requested by the editor. I really appreciated your suggestions and used them when I revised. Thank you for believing in the story."

"This was my first contest, and your detailed feedback has been an immeasurable help in moving my story forward. I've incorporated your suggestions.... Not only did you make positive suggestions, but you explained your thought processes behind them.... Thanks again for your time and willingness to be so thorough. I feel my manuscript is much stronger after your review."

"The feedback I had from all four judges was thoughtful and encouraging -- and specific enough to be very helpful. When critiquing someone's work, that's a hard balance to maintain. This was my first contest, and though my scores weren't the highest, the honest feedback -- as well as the encouragement -- led me to recommend your contest to my local chapter of RWA."

"Oh my gosh! Thank you so much. This is very exciting news! The contest was a wonderful experience for me. The feedback was awesome. I will definitely recommend it to others." --Candis Lynn Terry, DESPERATE EX-HOUSEWIVES

"Way back in 2004, my manuscript A Will to Love won FIRST PLACE in the Winning Beginnings Contest. Since then, that story has been bought (by the final judge) and renamed, and I'm thrilled to announce that TO HAVE AND TO HOLD will be an October release from Silhouette Special Edition. My thanks to the entire VFRW chapter forp utting on such an awesome contest." -- FIRST PLACE WINNER, Dawn Temple, A WILL TO LOVE -- SOLD to Silhouette as TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, October, 2008, Release

"What I especially liked about this contest were the well-structured score sheet and the fact that the judges were encouraged to add comments of their own. Very helpful that! Furthermore, it was lovely when the contest coordinator actually phoned me to tell me I'd won so I could blubber into her ear. This also made this contest extra-special for me ." -- FIRST PLACE WINNER, Sandra Martina Schwab, STRAIGHT TO THE HEART -- SOLD to Dorchester, 2005 Release

"Judging comments/feedback helped me tighten the opening sections of BUNNY LOVE. My final and subsequent win opened a door for me with Hilary Sares of Kensington Publishing. After revisions, I submitted the full and got the call three months later. GET BUNNY LOVE is scheduled for a January 2005 release from Kensington/Zebra ." -- FIRST PLACE WINNER, Kathleen Long, GET BUNNY LOVE -- SOLD to Kensington, 2005 Release