North Texas Romance Writers: The Carolyn Readers Choice Award

Entry Form ~ Judge Info ~ Scoresheet

Timeline

November 18, 2026 — Contest Open to Entries
January 3, 2027 — Early Bird Pricing Ends
February 14, 2027 — Contest Closed for Entries
January 17 – April 18, 2027 — First Round Judging
April 20, 2027 — Finalists Notified
April 21 – May 16, 2027 — Final Round Judging
May 19, 2027 — Winners Notified
May 20, 2027 — Winners Announced
June 2027 — Grand Prize Ad Appears Online (platform and dates TBD/TBA)

Pricing

Early Bird Fee, November 18, 2026 – January 3, 2027: $40
Regular Fee, January 4 – February 14, 2027: $45

Requests for refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be determined by the NTRW board.

Eligibility

The Carolyn Readers Choice Award contest is open to all authors of traditional, e-published, and self-published books.
Only the author or the publisher may submit an entry.
Entries must represent the author’s own original work.
Individual works originally published as part of an anthology may be entered into one of the eight categories. No anthology as a whole is eligible.
Authors or publishers may enter more than one book but no more than two books per category per author.
Books may be entered in one category only.
Books must have been published between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
Membership in Romance Writers of America is NOT required.

Category Descriptions

LGBTQ Romance

Romance featuring LGBTQ+ main characters.

Historical Romance

Romance set primarily in a historical time period.

Romantic Suspense

Romance incorporating significant elements of suspense, danger, mystery, crime, or intrigue.

Specialized Romance

Includes Alternate Earth Histories, Dystopian, Futuristic, Fantasy, Time Travel, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy.

Inspirational Romance

Centers on a love story guided by faith, where spiritual growth and shared beliefs are integral to one or both of the main characters' journey and the development of their relationship.

Contemporary Romance — Low Heat

Contemporary romance falling within Heat Levels 1–2.

Contemporary Romance — Mid/High Heat

Contemporary romance falling within Heat Levels 3–6.

Women’s Fiction with Romantic Elements

Focuses on a woman's emotional journey and personal growth, often exploring identity, relationships, and life challenges. Romance should be present but is not the central driving force or theme of the story.

Prizes

The winner of each of the eight categories will receive a cash prize of $50.
The winner of each of the eight categories will have their book advertised collectively, not individually, for two weeks. Advertising venue to be determined later.
Each finalist and winner will receive an appropriate website medallion.

Judging

Entries will be judged by romance readers who are not published or pre-published authors, literary agents, editors, or otherwise professionally involved in the publishing industry.
The Carolyn strives to assign five judges to each entry during the first round.
The three entries receiving the highest scores in each category will advance to the final round.
Final-round entries will be judged by up to three judges.
Final-round scores will determine the winner in each category.

How to Enter

Complete a separate entry form for each book entered.
Upload your book in PDF format as part of the entry form.
Pay the applicable entry fee as directed on the entry form.

An entry is considered complete when the entry form, book file, and payment have been received.

Other Info

Format

Only PDF copies of entries will be accepted.
The PDF may be a finished book or a publisher-approved Advanced Reader Copy.
The cover does not have to be included, but inclusion is recommended.
Minimum 10-point font size.
By submitting an electronic copy, the author or publisher acknowledges that the PDF will be distributed electronically to the judges assigned to the entry in both the first and final rounds, if applicable.
Judges are required to agree not to redistribute or share electronic entries. However, NTRW cannot guarantee or enforce compliance after an electronic file has been distributed.
The author or publisher accepts this risk by submitting an electronic entry.

Length

Books of all eligible length compete against one another within their category.

Minimum length: 25,000 words
Maximum length: 110,000 words

Agreement

Entry in The Carolyn Readers Choice Award constitutes the author’s agreement to comply with all contest rules, abide by the decisions of the judges, and accept the final results of the contest.

By entering, the author agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless North Texas Romance Writers (NTRW), its officers and members, the Contest Coordinator and contest volunteers, and all contest judges from claims or liability arising from or related to the administration of the contest, the handling or distribution of entries, the judging process, or the promotion and advertising of the contest and its results.

If you have any questions, please contact the Carolyn Coordinators.