Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

Submissions for the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award are running right now, February 2 – 8, 2009. Only three more days to enter, if you’re up for it. Entry details found here.

Entry requirements include:

  • The full/complete version of your manuscript (the “Manuscript”), which must be between 50,000 and 150,000 words;
  • Up to the first 5,000 words, but no less than 3,000 words, of text of that manuscript, excluding any table of contents, foreword, and acknowledgments (the “Excerpt”);
  • A pitch statement (cover letter/summary) of up to 300 word (the “Pitch”)
  • Other registration information as asked for on the entry page (such as name, contact information, book title), and
  • An author photo (if desired), which must be in .jpg format (at least 72 dpi and 500×468 pixels)

That’s from the site. I don’t make this stuff up!

You have to register before you can enter, so if this is the first you’ve heard of the contest, get at ‘er.

Also from the site:

We’re excited to announce that mega-bestselling authors Sue Monk Kidd and Sue Grafton will lead this year’s expert panel, kicking off the Breakthrough Novel Award finalist round with their reviews of the top three manuscripts. A-list literary agent Barney Karpfinger and Penguin Press Editor-in-Chief Eamon Dolan will also join them to provide careful critiques of the finalists’ novels.

Last year my buddy, Maureen McGowan, made it into the quarter finals (or was it further, Maureen? I looked for a search box on your blog, but couldn’t find one). (By the way, thanks for doing away with that um, particular widget we spoke about).