Random Bits #4 - 2012

Novelicious.com launches writing competition in association with Avon (HarperCollins), Books and the City (Simon & Schuster UK), and Literary Agent, Diane Banks

Popular Chick Lit and Women’s Fiction website Novelicious has launched a writing competition in association with Avon Books, Simon & Schuster UK’s Books and the City initiative and Literary Agent, Diane Banks.

Novelicious Undiscovered, which kicks off today (February 14^th), invites aspiring commercial women’s fiction writers to submit the first 3000 words of their novel to undiscovered@novelicious.com before April 3^rd.

The top twenty entries, as chosen by the Novelicious.com team, will be showcased on the site during May and put to a public vote in June. From these top twenty entries two winners will be chosen.

The People’s Choice award winner (the entry with the highest amount of public votes) will win:

·         A full manuscript critique with Avon Commissioning Editor Caroline Hogg over tea and cake in their London offices

·         A £50 voucher for writersgifts.co.uk

·         An introduction to and entry critique from Literary Agent Diane Banks of Diane Banks Associates Ltd

·         A selection of 10 Avon Titles

·         A Kindle

The Books and the City Choice award winner (chosen from the top 20 entries by the Fiction Editorial department at Simon & Schuster UK) will win:

·         A full manuscript critique from a member of the Fiction Editorial team at Simon & Schuster UK

·         Author Mentoring and meeting with Sunday Times Bestselling author of RSVP, Helen Warner

·         A £50 voucher from writersgifts.co.uk

·         A Selection of 10 Books and the City Titles

Maxine Hitchcock, Fiction Editorial Director at Simon & Schuster UK says:

“We're thrilled to play a part in the brilliant Novelicious Undiscovered competition. Simon & Schuster / Books and the City prides itself on finding new talent and in recent years has discovered wonderful new voices such as Jane Costello, Milly Johnson, Helen Warner and Ali Harris who have gone on to hit the bestseller lists. We're honoured to be working with Novelicious, such a supporter and champion of female fiction, to find potential new stars.”

Diane Banks of Diane Banks Associates Ltd says:

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to critique the winner of Undiscovered and the option to offer them representation.  A competition which is judged by readers is a promising way to discover new talent and I'm excited about seeing the shortlist"

Caroline Hogg, Commissioning editor at Avon says:

“It’s such a pleasure to be involved with the Novelicious Undiscovered competition. For years Novelicious has been championing fantastic women’s fiction and the team there sum up everything that’s best about publishing: a genuine love of good writing and the boundless energy and good humour it takes to keep trying new things. At Avon we’re always on the look-out for brilliant new voices to add to our list of stellar authors – among them bestsellers Miranda Dickinson, Trisha Ashley and Claudia Carroll – so who knows what we might find through Novelicious Undiscovered!”

Kirsty Greenwood, Founding Editor of Novelicious.com

“I am so excited to able to extend such an amazing opportunity to Britain’s aspiring writers. Novelicious is passionate about women’s fiction, and we are hopeful that the ‘Undiscovered’ competition will unearth some sparkling new talent in the genre.”

The Winner of Novelicious Undiscovered will be announced on 26^th June. For full entry details and terms and conditions please visit http://www.novelicious.com/noveliciousundiscovered2012

Books and the City’s website can be found at http://www.booksandthecity.co.uk

Avon Books information can be found at http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/about-harpercollins/Imprints/Avon/Pages/Avon.aspx

Diane Banks Associated Ltd’s Website can be found at http://www.dianebanks.co.uk/

Helen Warner was Head of Daytime for Channel 4, where she was responsible for shows such as Come Dine With Me and Deal Or No Deal.  Previously she worked for ITV where she launched the daytime talkshow Loose Women and was editor of This Morning. She lives in East Anglia with her husband and their two children. RSVP, her first novel was a Sunday Times bestseller. Her second novel, IOU is published in March 2012.

For all further enquiries about Novelicious Undiscovered 2012 please contact kirsty@novelicious.com