A VERY SPECIAL CONTEST FOR ROMANCE READERS!

Here’s your chance to suggest a plot to a romance writer—and win some fabulous prizes!

In 2008, Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, me, and Candice Hern put together an anthology of novellas based on the same plot premise. It Happened One Night was a NY Times bestseller. Now, the four of us are ready to do it again ... but this time we want YOU to choose the plot!

Do you love Cinderella stories or madcap romps? Reunion stories and second chances? Emotional tear-jerkers or a hint of mystery? Do you like older heroines or damsels in distress? Wounded heroes or reformed rakes? Explorers? Soldiers? On-the-shelf spinsters?

Whatever your fancy, you now have a chance to suggest your plot for consideration for a Regency novella, to be voted on by readers. Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, me, and Candice Hern will each write a novella based on the winning plot, all to be published by HarperCollins/Avon in 2011 in the anthology It Happened One Season. Click on the button above to access the contest site, where an entry form asks for three plot elements to describe your favorite Regency romance plot. (As an example, the three plot elements used for It Happened One Night were 1) the hero and heroine knew each other in some way but haven't met for ten years, 2) they are both stranded overnight at a country inn, and 3) the story must take place within a 24-hour period.) The only caveat for the new anthology is that the story you propose must be able to take place during a Regency social season. [Helpful hint: You might consider that one of your three plot elements be related to character and another to conflict.]

Here is the contest schedule:
February 1 - 14: contest entries accepted
February 15 - 24: authors judge entries and select four finalists
February 25: finalists announced and each of the four story ideas are posted for voting
February 25 - March 13: general voting on the four finalist plots
March 14: Winner announced

Click here for official contest rules.

The prizes for this unprecedented contest are terrific!. The grand prize winner will be acknowledged on the dedication page of the anthology It Happened One Season and will receive a $1,000 American Express gift card and a copy of the anthology signed by all four authors. The four semi-finalists will each receive a $100 American Express gift card and a set of personalized autographed books from the four authors.

Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to be a part of creating a romance novella. Click here or on the button above to enter this very special contest.

You must be 18 or over to enter, and be a resident of the United States.