Woohoo! And Some Contest Info

*First of all, as of today, I am officially down 20 pounds!!! Can I get woohoo? Thx!

*The second important bit of news you need is that the Launching A Star contest is now taking entries. This is a great contest because the finalling entries will be judged by both an editor and an agent! Seriously! Here's the 411:

***Permission to Forward Given and Encouraged***

The 2007 Launching A STAR Contest has been re-vamped and we know you'll love the changes! Entries in this year's contest will submit the First Chapter, with no synopsis. Two industry professionals (one agent and one editor) will judge each category in the final round. All first round judges (2 per entry, one trained, one published in romance) will provide constructive comments on every entry. And we've added a new category, Erotic Romance. So, sharpen up your pencils or warm up your printer and plan to enter the 2007 Launching A STAR Contest!

Launching a STAR 2007
Sponsor: SpacecoasT Authors of Romance Chapter (STAR)

Fee: $25-$30, SASE

Deadline: Post-marked by October 1st, Received by October 8th, 2007

Eligibility: Unpublished or not published by RWA-recognized publisher in book length fiction within 5 years

Enter: First Chapter (up to 25 pages).

First round judges: One trained; one published.

Categories/Final round judges:
Series Contemporary: editor Susan Litman, HQ and agent Elaine English
Single Title Contemporary: editor Erin Galloway, Dorchester and agent Michelle Grajkowski
Historical: editor Keyren Gerlach, HQN and agent Elizabeth Pomada,
Paranormal: editor Heather Osborne, TOR and agent Laurie McLean
Erotic Romance: editor Angela James, Samhaim and agent Roberta Brown
Young Adult: editor Kate Seaver, Berkley/Jove and agent Elaine Spencer

Top Prize: A star named in your honor! FMI, entry form, and rules, <www.authorsofromance.com> or contact Lee Duncan, contest coordinator at leeduncan (at) bellsouth (dot) net