**Permission to Forward Granted & Encouraged**

The 2009 Laurie Guidelines is now open for entries!

This year's contest will have both agents and editors judging the final rounds.

This year, we’ve updated the Laurie to be more in tune with the changes in the publishing industry. Most agents and editors want to see a query letter. If the query letter sparks their interest, they’ll ask to see a sample of the writing. We’ve combined those two steps into round 1 of our contest – the query letter and first five pages.

The finalists from Round 1 will continue to Round 2, where they will submit the query letter and the first 10 pages.

The finalists from Round 2 will continue to Round 3, where they will submit the query letter and 15 pages. These entries will go to agents for judging.

The finalists from Round 3 will continue to the final round, where they will submit the query letter and 20 pages. These entries will go to editors for final judging. For more information please visit www.smrw.org/laurie.htm

As a bonus, three manuscripts from the first round that do not continue to the second round will be picked at random for an in-depth first chapter critique from one of our Published or Pro authors.

The cost has been reduced: RWA Members - $16 Others: $21

For 2009, we've updated our contest.  This contest is for unpublished works, and all judging is electronic.  The first round judges will have a one-page query letter and a five-page entry.  The second round judges will have a one-page query letter and a ten-page entry.  The score sheets are in Microsoft Excel, so no having to add and changes are automatic.  Entries will be in Microsoft Word (.doc) format or .rtf format.  Volunteer judges may also enter the contest, however they may not enter and judge in the same category.  The categories are:  Contemporary (series), Single Title (includes romantic suspense and stories with romantic elements), speculative fiction (includes paranormal, sci-fi, time travel, etc.), historical, and novella (any subgenre).
 
The judging period begins mid-April for the first round and late-May for the second round.
If you are interested in judging, please contact Teresa Delaney (delaney.teresa@gmail.com). 
Thanks in advance!
Teresa

Super Saturday is November 1st, and we are pumped about the slate of workshops! SMRW members will kick the day off with Beginner's Basics for fiction writing and creative non-fiction (think the Cup of Comfort series). Then, we have a workshop on writing for the young adult market, world building which also encompasses psychic characters and a "creature feature" for those who love weres, vamps, dragons, and things that go bump in the night. Lunch is on your own, then we're back with Michael Knight and Shannon Burke for a workshop on plotting the character driven novel. For more information, check out our website at www.smrw.org/events.htm

Our speaker at the October meeting will be Jennifer Ray from Wild On Books. http://www.wildonbooks.com. She's going to give us the "insider information" on reviews, and then open the floor to a Q&A session. She's a great lady, and this is sure to be a fun meeting for all.

Wow, we need to update more often. The Laurie winners have been announced and are proudly displayed on our website at http://www.smrw.org. And while you're there, check out the events page. We are pleased to announce that Michael Knight (the author, not the driver of KITT) and Shannon Burke as our featured workshop presenters. They will be joined by a host of authors who will give workshops on beginner's basics, world building, writing the young adult novel, and more. It's a full day of workshops for $45.00! No, it's not a typo. We're able to offer them at such a low price because all of our knowledgeable speakers are offering their time and expertise for free. Also, we're not providing a rubber chicken lunch. It's lunch on your own, but if you want to spend some extra time with one of our authors, you're welcome to have lunch with them. Unfortunately, you still have to provide your own lunch. ;) The authors will also participate in a panel discussion, and a book signing will follow at the Borders at Turkey Creek.

Send us your best first line to smrwdandy@gmail.com.  We post them first come, first served, up to 15 per month.  The winners are decided by public poll.  The monthly winners compete in the quarter-finals, and the quarter-finalists compete for the grand prize - a free entry into the Laurie (published or unpublished).  It's free to enter the DandyLine.  For more details, click here:  http://www.smrwonline.org/funcontest.htm.

Vote for this month's DandyLine at http://www.smrwonline.org/dandy2.htm

 

The Laurie 2008  Finalists are:

Contemporary Editor, Keyren Gerlach--HQ
 1. Target Heart Rate Laurie Benner
 2. They Call Me Doc Mary Biebel
 3. Hard And Fast Amy Davidson
 4. The Nature Of Love Joann Weatherely
 5. Better Late Than Never Theresa Ragan
 
 Single Title Editor, Kate Seaver--Berkley
 1. Best Served Cold Elizabeth Alkhateb
 2. The Last Vendetta Ann Fischer & Linda
Baxter
 3. Buried Alive Jean Mason
 4. Truth Or Consequences Robin Perini
 5. Love On The Rocks Mary Sullivan
 
 Historical Editor, May Chen--Avon
 1. Lost In Love Pamela Bolton-Holifield
 2. Passionate Persuasion Jennifer Ziros
 3. Shattered Innocence Averil Reisman
 4. Portrait Of A Nightingale Amanda Collins
 5. Hellion's Haven Christina Rich
 
 Ff&P Editor, Chris Keesler—Dorchester
 1. Trouble With Ghost Jodi Redford
 2. Wings Of Desire Cynthia Arends w/a Sindee Sexton
 3. And, Falling Fly Skyler White
 4. Immortal Delima Ann Hinnenkamp
 5. Angel At Almacks Cathy Leming

Due to some problems, the SMRW website has now moved to http://www.smrwonline.org.

If you're looking for Laurie or Published Laurie contest info, it's up and running.

Thanks for your patience!

Teresa Delaney
President, SMRW

Congratulations!

Congratulations to all who finaled!

2007 Laurie Winners

FF&P

HM The Prophecy by Mai Thao
HM Shadows of Evil by Cheryel Hutton
HM Stygian Prophesy by Jessie Verino
3rd Dyad Dreams by Ann Hinnenkamp
2nd Heart of a Highlander by Mai Thao
1st The Warlord's Secret by Sarah Weiford


Historical

HM The Earl's Christmas Gift by Donna Rosenbloom
HM Pursuing Love by Katherine Duvall
3rdThe Patrician's Fortune by Joan Kayse
2nd The Diddikai by Lisa Marie Wilkinson
1st My Wild Highlander by Vonda Ogle

Short and Long Contemporary

HM Until September by Barbara Longley
HM Accounts Retrievable by Linda Enos
3rd Spring Fever by Patricia Clay
2nd The Christmas Bargain by Cat Schield
1st The Italian Solution by Greta
MacEachern--requested

Single Title/Mainstream

HM A Life Worth Living by Lorrie Kruse
HM Pride, Prejudice, and Push-up Bras by Mary Strand
3rdArrested Development by Lynette Curtis
2ndTrial By Fire by Nina Meyers
1st Murmansk by Alan Chaput