SHOMI Fiction Creative Writing Contest

Imagine being an author of a book that is so unique, so innovative that it manages to honor the traditions set forth by novels as diverse as Ray Bradbury's The Butterfly Effect, Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, while mixing in romantic elements to ensure a powerful emotional connection…

There you have SHOMI, a ground-breaking line of speculative fiction that combines the very best elements of all genres. Publishers Weekly hailed the imprint as “worth watching,” proclaiming that it “should catch an audience quickly.” Destined to strike a chord with devotees of Romance, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thrillers, and Manga, its target audience is the fan of Blade Runner, The Matrix, Resident Evil, Alias, Underworld, and La Femme Nikita.

Are you an unpublished author who is constantly pushing the boundaries of Fiction by asking “What if?”

Does your writing combine elements of the Romance, Thriller, Science Fiction, and Fantasy genres?

Do you question pre-existing feminine stereotypes and believe that a heroine can achieve her goals without sacrificing her femininity?

And, perhaps most importantly, do you feel that your needs are not being met in the literary marketplace?

If your answer is yes to any—or all—of the above questions, here’s your chance to change all that!

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc. is offering you the chance to win a guaranteed publishing contract with distribution throughout the U.S. and Canada!

Contest Requirements:

1. A completed manuscript of 80,000 to 90,000 words.
2. A one-page cover letter with a concise description of the book (2-3 sentences) and relevant biographical information (i.e. your name, address, phone number and e-mail; membership in a professional writing organization; literary or journalistic awards, citations, and/or achievements; an undergraduate or graduate degree in Creative Writing or a related field).
3. A two- to seven-page typed synopsis summarizing the story from beginning to end. Your name and the title of the book should appear in the header of every page of the synopsis.
4. A self-addressed, stamped envelope (of sufficient size) for possible return of proposal or manuscript. No material will be returned without an SASE.
5. Please retain a copy of all material se nt in case the original is lost in the mail.

Please submit the first three chapters (no more than 50 pages) of your completed manuscript with your cover letter and synopsis to:

Dorchester Publishing
Att: SHOMI Fiction Contest
200 Madison Avenue, Suite 2000
New York, NY 10016

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY April 30, 2008.

On your mark, get set, write…