finalist

Congratulations to the Finalists in our 2011 Weta Nichols Fiction Writing Contest

Literary Agent Louise Fury (left) and Avalon Books Editor Lia BrownCongratulations to the 8 finalists in our 2011 Weta Nichols Fiction Writing Contest!

Their entries are now in the hands of our final-round judges, literary agent Louise Fury and Avalon Books editor Lia Brown, who will be here in person at our annual conference July 23 in Springfield, Missouri.

During the conference, which will take place at The Clarion Hotel Convention Center (between Target and Friendly Ford on South Glenstone), we will announce the winners and present the cash prizes -- $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. (If you are a finalist and can't make it, we will mail your prize.)

This year, we had a record-breaking 99 submissions from all over the world, representing many genres.

Many thanks to our first-round juges. Without them, we never would have been able to see our contest double in size.

Our 2011 finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Linda Carroll Brad San Antonio, Texas "Hannah's Promise" Historical Romance

Cecily Cornelius-White Springfield, Missouri "Snatchers" Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Alice Cummings Springfield, Missouri "The Treasure Hunter's Lady" Fantasy Romance

Rebecca Davis Cincinnati, Ohio "The Goddess of Michigan Avenue" Paranormal Romance

Lily Herman Pont Vedra Beach, Florida "Out the Backdoor" Young Adult

Brenda Littau Pallyup, Washington "Love and Zombies" Romance/Horror

Normandie Ward Fischer Gloucester, North Carolina "Heavy Weather" Mainstream

Gail Zerrade Boise, Idaho "The Patriarch" Mainstream

If you are interested in competing in our 2012 contest, please click HERE to follow us on Twitter, or click HERE to follow us on Facebook.

Would you like to be included in the fun, learning, and networking that we have planned for our July 23, 2011, conference? Click HERE for details.