American Title - Romantic Times

INTRODUCTION from Romantic Times Website:

Here we go again, starting up the last ballyhoo of the American Title contest sponsored by Romantic Times BOOKreviews and Dorchester Publishing. Yes, it's the last hurrah, the fifth and final outing for our writing contest, with publication by Dorchester as first prize to the winner. While last year's winner, Helen Scott Taylor, basks in the glory of publication -- THE MAGIC KNOT comes out in February from Love Spell -- our new combatants suit up for battle.

This year we opened up the categories, inviting all and sundry. Eight lucky wannabe writers made the grade. Dorchester editors Chris Keeslar and Leah Hultenschmidt say the Dorchester staff had a hard time narrowing down the prospects. "It's getting harder and harder to choose the best," Keeslar says. "We don't envy the voters. We wouldn't want to have to choose the winner."

Choosing the winner is your task, RT readers. You can meet our fresh new finalists and read their opening lines, as well as comments on each entry from our team of judges and then vote for your favorite contestant.

But choose carefully! You only get one vote per round. We'll start the first two rounds by only eliminating one contestant with the lowest score, then proceed after round three by eliminating two per round, until the winner is announced in the June issue of RT BOOKreviews.

We're happy to have our veteran team of judges back for the swan song of American Title: Flavia Knightsbridge, RT's own columnist and globe-trotter extraordinaire, provides the snarl; freelance editor Hilary Ross, whose nose for talent nurtured some of the best in the biz, offers the snap; and, finally, veteran romance editor and book doctor Leslie Kazanjian plays it sweet as RT's "good cop" judge.

Our judges get to hold forth in the pages of the magazine, but you, the RT reader, wield the real power when you vote online for your favorite contestant.

And don't forget: Because of RT's printing schedule, subscribers who don't have a first-class subscription or those who buy the magazine in bookstores may not receive issues in time to meet the voting deadline. To be certain you make the deadline and vote for your favorites, visit romantictimes.com during the online voting dates listed below or you can sign up for our free monthly e-mail newsletter to get voting reminders e-mailed to you.


VOTE ON THE BEST FIRST LINE


ONLINE VOTING OVERVIEW

RT BOOKreviews Issue Voting Category Online Voting
January #299 Best First Line November 10 - 23
February #300 Best Hero & Heroine December 15 - 28
March #301 Best Story Summary January 19 - February 1
April #302 Best Dialogue Scene February 16 - March 1
May #303 Best Romantic Scene March 16 - 29

The winner will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 24, 2009, at the RT Booklovers Convention in Orlando, FL, and in the June issue of RT BOOKreviews.

On Monday, April 27, 2008, the winner's name will be posted online at www.romantictimes.com.

Link: www.romantictimes.com/news_amtitle.php