PRISM Contest

FF&P’s PRISM Awards Contest for Published Authors is open to all authors of traditional and self-published Paranormal Romance in Novel and Novella format which meets the following criteria:

• An Original Publication Date of 2018 (*) for both electronic and print formats.
• Entries need not be published in the romance genre; however, entries must contain a Central Love Story, where the main plot centers around individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work, and an Emotionally Satisfying and Optimistic Ending.
• Fantasy, Futuristic, or Paranormal elements must be present and essential to the plot.

* An Original Publication Date of 2018 means that the book was originally published in 2018 and has a Notice of Copyright date no later than 2018. A book with a Notice of Copyright date prior to 2018, which was not published until 2018, will be eligible. A book published prior to 2018, which lists a Notice of Copyright date of 2018 in the originally published edition, will also be eligible. The intent of this definition is that every book should be eligible for consideration exactly once.

The 2019 Prism Awards is now open! The cutoff date for registration is March 15th, 2019. All fees and submissions must be received by this date.

You are not required to be a member of RWA or FF&P to enter the contest.

Entry Fees

FF&P Members in good standing: $30.00 each Novel/Novella entered

All Others: $40.00 each Novel/Novella entered

Prizes

• The top three (3) finalists for each category will receive a commemorative FF&P Prism Pin and Certificate.
• Second and Third Place Winners will receive a commemorative FF&P Prism pin and Certificate.
• First Place Winners will receive the FF&P exclusive Prism Statue, a commemorative FF&P Prism Winner Pin, and Certificate.
• Best of the Best and Best First Book Winners will receive the FF&P exclusive Prism Statue, a commemorative Best First Book and Best of the Best FF&P Prism Pin, and a Certificate.

How the Prism Works

• Authors will submit three (3) print copies of each print Novel/Novella entered OR one (1) electronic copy in PDF format.
• Three (3) judges will be assigned per entry. The average of all three scores will be used for final judging.
• Finalists will be announced the week of June 10th via the FF&P website and other media outlets.
• Winners will be announced during The Prism Awards Ceremony held at RWA Nationals in New York in July. Final scores will be sent to all entrants shortly thereafter.

How to Enter

Novels can be entered in the following categories:

With the exception of Erotic, all categories may have varying levels of sensuality.

DARK PARANORMAL: These stories include paranormal happenings as a major element of the plot and contain ominous overtones.

LIGHT PARANORMAL: These stories include paranormal happenings as a major element of the plot and are lighter in tone.

SCI FI & FUTURISTIC: These stories may be set in an alternate reality or in the future, and include elements such as technological advancements, space travel, and aliens. NOTE: Time Travel by scientific means (e.g., a time machine or wormhole) falls in this category.

FANTASY: These stories may be, but are not limited to, settings in the past, and include mythical creatures and magical elements. NOTE: Time Travel by magical means (e.g., an imbued object or supernatural portal) falls in this category.

URBAN FANTASY: These stories take place in contemporary urban settings and include mythical creatures and magical elements.

STEAMPUNK:  These stories typically feature Victorian era or American Old West style and sensibilities, advanced steam-powered machinery, and alternate histories. They may take place in a historical, contemporary, futuristic, or otherworldly setting.

EROTIC: These are paranormal stories in which explicit sensuality is inherent to the work. They may take place in a historical, contemporary, futuristic, or otherworldly setting.

HISTORICAL: These are paranormal stories that take place in the past, from ancient times to World War II.

YOUNG ADULT: These are paranormal stories that are appropriate for teen readers, featuring main characters in high school or of equivalent ages (14-18). They may take place in a historical, contemporary, futuristic, or otherworldly setting.

NEW ADULT: These are paranormal stories that feature main characters in college or of equivalent ages (18-24). They may take place in a historical, contemporary, futuristic, or otherworldly setting.

Novellas are entered as their own category.

NOVELLAS: These stories may encompass any of the categories listed above, but word count must fall between 20,000 and 40,000 words.

Entry Rules

• Entries must represent the author’s own original work and be published in novel or novella length.
• Novels must have a minimum of 40,000 words. Novellas must have between 20,000 – 40,000 words.
• Electronic entries must be in PDF format. No other formats will be accepted.
• By sending an eBook entry the author acknowledges that at least three copies will be sent for judging, depending on the need for further scoring, and accepts responsibility for any payment required for these copies.
• For printed books, printed and mailed ebooks, paperback books, or any print format, entrants must send three (3) copies to the Contest Chair. The mailing address will be emailed to you following receipt of your online entry form. Do NOT send your entry return receipt requested.
• Judges will be gifted the books as a thank-you for judging. Authors, please autograph your books!
• Entrants may enter as many novels/novellas as they wish; however, each book may be entered only once, i.e., one book may not be entered in two categories.
• You must submit the entry form online.
• Fees may be paid online or by check made out to FF&P. If paying by check, contact the Contest Chair for the mailing address.
• Judges may not judge in any category they have entered.
• The contest is limited to 35 entries per category.
• A minimum of ten (10) entries is required for each category. Categories receiving less than the minimum must have FF&P Executive Board approval to run. If the category does not receive the minimum and the Board declines to run the category, affected authors will have the option to move their entry to the secondary category identified during registration or to request a cancellation. If cancellation is requested, their printed books will be returned, their eBooks deleted, and their fees refunded.
• Entries that do not meet the criteria of an Original Publication Date (*) in 2017 will be disqualified. Your entry fee will be refunded. Printed books will only be returned at the author’s expense.
• Entries deemed at the discretion of the FF&P Executive Board to be plagiarized in part or total; to lack a central love story with an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending; OR to lack Paranormal elements essential to the plot will be disqualified for content.
• Entries containing abuse, rape, bestiality, pedophilia, or other illegal, non-consensual, or objectionable practices will be disqualified for content at the discretion of the FF&P Executive Board.
• The FF&P Executive Board’s decision to disqualify an entry for any reason is final. If an entry is disqualified for content, no refunds will be issued. Printed books will only be returned at the author’s expense.

Judging for The Prism

We have our judges for this year’s contest. If you’re interested in filling in as an emergency judge, contact the contest chair directly at [email protected].

2019 Prism Schedule

• Contest opens January 8th, 2019
• Contest closes for entries on March 15th, 2019
• Entries are sent to judges March 26th – 31st, 2019
• Judges scores are due May 27th, 2019
• Finalists are announced no later than the week of June 10th, 2019
• Winners are announced at FF&P’s The Prism Awards Ceremony at RWA Nationals in New York July 18th – 21st, 2019
• Scores are sent to all entrants August 1st – 5th, 2019