Winners in the 2019 contest were announced February 1 at our 2020 Hearts in the Sand Conference. Congratulations to all! And a big thank-you to our contestants, judges, and contest committee.

CONTEMPORARY (including Women’s Fiction with romantic elements)

Editor: Jennie Conway, St. Martin’s Press
Agent: Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency

1st: Statistical Improbability of Soul Mates by Christina Smith

2nd: Weekend in Cuba by Sheila Hansberger (partial request, Scott Eagan)

3rd: A Fast Woman by Laralyn Gill

ROMANTIC COMEDY

Editor: Caroline Tolley, Soul Mate Publishing
Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary Agency

1st: Unscripted by Becke Turner (partial request, Dawn Dowdle)

TIE for 2nd:

Buckskin Cody by James Montgomery

To Love, Honor and Eat Chocolate Chip Cookies by Patrice Lyle

HISTORICAL

Editor: Mary Altman, Sourcebooks
Agent: Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency

TIE for 1st:

A Buttercup in Winter by Mary-Teresa Heath (full request, Mary Altman & Nicole Resciniti)

Pride and Progress by Catherine Marie Scott (full request, Nicole Resciniti)

Corsets & Covert Affairs by Blake Ferre (full request, Mary Altman & Nicole Resciniti)

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Editor: Georgia Woods, Hartwood Publishing
Agent: Erin Niumata, Folio Literary Management

1st: Near Miss by C.S. Smith (full request, Georgia Woods)

2nd: Hard Target by Lori Matthews (full request, Georgia Woods)

3rd: Lethal Lies by Vicki Briner (full request, Georgia Woods)

FANTASY/FUTURISTIC/PARANORMAL

Editor: Robin Haseltine, Entangled Publishing
Agent: Amanda Leuck, Spencerhill Associates

Tie for 1st:

Dust Bound by Clementine Fraser

Blood Cursed Rose by Clementine Fraser

The Prince – A Cinderella Retelling by Jackie Rutherford