Last Chance to Enter NERFA 2026: Your Romance Novel Deserves This Award
The clock is ticking. The 2026 NERFA contest window closes on March 31 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern and right now, you still have time to submit your published romance novel for one of the most prestigious reader-judged awards in the genre.
The National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, sponsored by First Coast Romance Writers, celebrates published romance novels and novellas across multiple categories: Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Speculative Romance, Mainstream Romance, Romance Novella, and Best First Book.
What does winning look like? Take a look at the authors who have claimed NERFA trophies over the years. Toni Anderson has dominated Romantic Suspense across multiple contest cycles, earning finalist and winner status year after year. Grace Callaway has claimed both wins and finalist spots in Historical Romance consistently. Rachel Grant has won under two different pen names in the same year. Aubrey Wynne has become a fixture in Romance Novella. Katie Reus swept multiple categories in a single contest year. These are not household-name legacy authors resting on contracts. They are working writers who entered, competed, and won.
Here is what you need:
Your book must have been published in digital format in 2025 and available for purchase in the United States. The entry fee is $40 per title, with an optional $5 add-on for the Best First Book category. Payment is via PayPal only. Entries are capped at 200, so do not wait.
Submit your entry now before the March 31 deadline.
NERFA is open to all published authors regardless of organizational membership. That said, if you write romance and want a community that champions your work year-round, consider joining First Coast Romance Writers. Your story is already written. Now give it the recognition it deserves.
