For anyone who writes Romance, there is a wonderful opportunity to get your books in the hands of Librarians and Booksellers. The Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America is hosting their 2019 Bookseller’s Best Award and they are looking for entries! There are multiple categories to choose from and you don’t need to be a member of the RWA to participate.
Categories are as follows, or you can visit the site directly at www.gdrwa.org.
SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
A novel (40,001 to 60,000 words) where the primary focus highlights the romantic relationship as the central part of the story. Romantic suspense, mystery or thriller elements can blend with the plot to form a part of the love story. Excludes Inspirational.
MID CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
A novel (60,001 to 80,000 words) where the primary focus highlights the romantic relationship as the central part of the story. Romantic suspense, mystery or thriller elements can blend with the plot to form a part of the love story. Excludes Inspirational.
LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
A novel (80,001+ words) where the primary focus highlights the romantic relationship as the central part of the story. Romantic suspense, mystery or thriller elements can blend with the plot to form a part of the love story. Excludes inspirational.
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Novels (40,001+ words) in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an INTEGRAL part of the plot and are blended with the love story.
SINGLE TITLE WITH STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
(40,001+ words) While there is a romance – or multiple romances – it is not a driving force to the plotline or central to the storyline. Novels written in varying tone, styles, and time periods can be considered eligible for this category. Commercial fiction, literary fiction, suspense/mystery/thriller fiction, or novels with thematic or emotional elements, including women’s self-discovery or emotional life journey where romance is present in the story but not the central focus, can be considered in this category. Must include an HEA or happy for now ending.
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
A novel (40,001+ words) where spiritual or religious beliefs blend with the plot to form a significant part of the love story. The character’s journey should include not only inward and outward character growth, but also spiritual growth. The romance should be central to the story development and can include historical, suspense/mystery, or contemporary elements.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
A novel (40,001+ words) set in any time period and any location prior to 1945. The romance should be central to the story development. Suspense or mystery elements can be included within the plot as long as the historical setting remains uncompromised and the love story remains the central focus of the plot.
EROTIC ROMANCE
A novel (40,001+ words) where a romantic relationship – or relationships – is developed through sexual interactions. The sex is an inherent part of the story, character growth, and relationship development, and can’t be removed without damaging the storyline. Must have a HEA or Happy for Now ending.
PARANORMAL/FANTASY/URBAN FANTASY ROMANCE
A novel (40,001+ words) in which paranormal/fantasy elements are integral parts of the plot. The paranormal/fantasy elements should blend with the love story. Paranormal, Science Fiction, Futuristic, Fantasy, Time Travel, and Urban Fantasy Romances also fit into this category. Urban Fantasies might not have a Happily-Ever-After at the end but must elude to a potential one at the end of the series.
YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
A novel (40,001+ words) with romantic themes interwoven with young adult issues and concerns to form the central part of the story. Young adults between the ages of 12-19 should be the targeted audience. Plots can include, but are not limited to, elements such as historical, paranormal, suspense/thriller, or mystery.
NOVELLA
Focuses on the romantic relationship in a story of 15,000 to 40,000 words. Accepted categories of novellas include contemporary, erotic, inspirational, romantic suspense, young adult, historical, and paranormal.
D.A. Henneman - Romance Author 
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