​PLEASE NOTE: The pre-published division of the Maggie Award for Excellence is for writers who have either never published a work of fiction of 40,000 words or more, OR who have not published a work of fiction of 40,000 words or more in the last five years.

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The purpose of the Prepublished Maggie Award for Excellence is to encourage, recognize, and reward the mastery of romance writing by pre-published writers of romantic fiction. The Maggie Award is a symbol of achievement given by the Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) to bring special attention to these writers. The Maggie Award, a silver medallion commissioned by GRW, receives national attention. All manuscripts will receive two critiques by published authors, and manuscripts that reach the finals will be ranked by agents and editors in the publishing industry to determine their final placement.

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Important Dates:

 

The Maggie Award for Excellence for pre-published writers opens on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025. Entries must be RECEIVED by April 25, 2025 no later than 10pm Eastern. Entries must follow all format requirements listed on the entry form. Finalists will be notified June 23, 2025, and winners will
be announced at the Maggie Award banquet on September 27, 2025.

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Fees:

GRW Member: $30

Non-Member: $40

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• Payment through Paypal only. No personal checks accepted.

• Entries, including completed entry form, must be RECEIVED by April 25, 2025 by 10:00 pm, Eastern AND before your category is full.

• Entries received after that date or received after the category is declared full will be disqualified.

• Failure to comply with any of the above may disqualify the entry and the entry fee will not be refunded.

• See a complete list of rules here. PREPUBLISHED MAGGIE RULES

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Final Round Judges

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Contemporary Romance (CS)

Natalia Castano
Editorial Assistant, Harlequin Heartwarming

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Historical Romance (HR)

Liz Sellers
Associate Editor, Berkley/Penguin Random House

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Women's Fiction /Mainstream Fiction w/Romantic Elements (WF)

TBD

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Romantic Suspense (RS)

Allison Lyons
Senior Editor, Harlequin Romantic Suspense

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Paranormal Romance (PR)

Ellen Goff

Agent & International Rights Manager, Hannigan Getzler Literary 

 

Inspirational Romance (IR)

Rochelle Gloege
Senior Acquisitions Editor, Bethany House/Baker Publishing

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Young/New Adult

Rhonda Penders

Editor-in-Chief, The Wild Rose Press