NERFA 2024 Logo

The National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award celebrates published romance novels and novellas and is judged by romance readers.

The contest will open for entries on March 1, 2024!

How to enter:

1) Complete the online entry form CLICK HERE

To determine the most appropriate category for your entry. The “List of Categories” can be found under CONTEST/NERFA CATEGORIES

Eligible entries may also enter the Best First Book category.

2) Upload Ebook file — one PDF file with title in the file name.

Submitting your PDF(s) grants permission to forward them up to five judges per electronic entry (six judges if entering Best First Book). You will be notified by email when your verified entry has been received. Please allow up to 48 to 72 hours for verification of eligibility and payment to match up. Entrants will be asked to designate a heat level for their entry from the provided scale.

3) Pay the fee for each entry.

You will be forwarded to PayPal when you submit the registration form. Please be sure to add the title of the entry on the PayPal form.

Please note:

your entry is not official until payment has been received.

Eligibility: Published in digital format in 2023.

Books must be entered in PDF format. All entries must have an original publishing date of 2023 and must have been available for purchase in the United States beginning in 2024. Independent press, self-published, and digital-first or digital-only books may be entered as long as they meet all eligibility requirements. Electronic entries must match the version available at retailers.

Fee:  $40 Digital. Add $5 to also enter Best First Book category.

PayPal is the only acceptable payment form and must be submitted using the PayPal button on the entry form. Payment must be received before March 31, 2024 at 7 pm (Eastern) to be accepted. Because the number of entries is capped, entrants are encouraged to make payments promptly.

Prizes:

  • All finalists will receive a NERFA Finalist web logo and certificate.
  • Finalists and winners will be announced on the FCRW website, the FCRW Reader and Author Gazette newsletter, and their social media channels.
  • Winners will receive a NERFA Winner web logo and trophy.

NERFA Trophies

Judging:

First Round Judges: Romance Readers

Final Round Judges: Bloggers, Booksellers, and Librarians

Each book will be judged by three reader judges using a reader-based “Score Sheet.” (The Sample Score Sheet CLICK HERE

The top three books with the highest scores in each category will advance to the final round.

The final round for each category will be judged by a blogger, bookseller, or librarian, who will determine the category winners. Ties will be broken with the “overall score” question on the scoresheet. That number is not used unless there is a tie.

Dates and Deadlines:

January 15th  –  February 28th  round judge sign up

March 1st – 31st Contest open to entries

March 31st – Contest closed. All entries must be paid

April 8th – May 19th – 1st Round Judging (6 weeks to judge books)

June 1st – Finalists announced

June 1-30th – Final Round Judging

July 8th – Winners Announced

 

ADDITIONAL CONTEST RULES

To give entrants the most for his/her entry dollar, and in an effort not to overwhelm our judges, the number of entries will be capped at 200.

Note: While FCRW requires judges to agree to NOT re-distribute or share PDF documents, FCRW has no way to enforce this policy. The author accepts this risk by sending a PDF document.

In order to ensure permission has been given to distribute PDF books to judges, only the author or publisher may enter PDF format books. Membership in any particular writing organization is not required to enter a romance in the contest.

There is no limit to the number of titles by the same author that may be entered, but each title may be entered in only one category and a separate entry fee and entry form are required for each title entered.

The scores and opinions of the reader judges and final round judges in no way reflect the opinions of FCRW and are the sole opinions of those judges.

Contact information:

Contact the contest coordinator at nerfacontest@gmail.com with any questions.

The National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award is sponsored by First Coast Romance Writers (FCRW). FCRW is an organization for both published and unpublished writers. The independent, non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting excellence in romantic fiction through monthly meetings and workshops where published and unpublished writers share knowledge about the constantly evolving publishing industry.