CONTEST OVERVIEW:

• Win a guaranteed publishing contract with distribution throughout the U.S. and Canada!
• Dorchester Publishing, in partnership with Textnovel, is looking to discover the next New Voice in Romance. 
• Aspiring authors of historical, contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy, high fantasy or futuristic romance are invited to participate in Dorchester’s first ever e-serial writing contest.
• Entrants must be at least 18 years old, and the specific work submitted to the contest must not have not been previously published in a print edition.
• The contest will run on Textnovel from June 1, 2009 to November 1, 2009.
• Contestants must publish at least 20 chapters/6,000 words (preferably in increments of 500 words each) by November 1, 2009 in order to be eligible for the contest.      
• Contestants may invite friends to vote and/or subscribe.  All Textnovel registrants may also participate in the voting and/or subscription process.
• There will be two rounds of judging: Semifinalists (Top 20) and Finalists (Top 10).
• The 20 semifinalists will be determined by number of votes and/or subscriptions a serial has by November 1, 2009.
• The 10 finalists will be selected from among the 20 semifinalists by Dorchester's editorial team and will be announced on November 15, 2009.
• The winner, to be chosen from among the 10 finalists, will be selected based on a combination of factors, including positive votes and subscriptions by readers and reviews by reviewers, as well as the subjective opinions of the Dorchester's editorial team.* 
• The winning manuscript will receive a $2,000 advance and will be published by Dorchester Publishing in 2010.

*Please see complete contest Rules and Regulations for details on judging.

DEADLINES & DUE DATES  

II.    November 1, 2009: Contestants must have published at least 20 chapters/6,000 words (preferably in increments of 500 words).

III.   November 1, 2009: Semifinalists (Top 20 serials) will be announced.

IV.    November 15, 2009: Finalists (Top 10 serials) will be announced.

V.     December 31, 2009: Due date for all finalizing materials.

        A.  Finalists must send Dorchester:

i. A one-page cover letter with a concise description of the book (2-3 sentences), relevant biographical information (i.e. 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).

ii. A two- to seven-page typed synopsis summarizing the story from beginning to end (author's name and the title of the book should appear in the header of every page of the synopsis).

iii. The full-length manuscript (50,000-75,000 words).

iv. A self-addressed, stamped envelope (of sufficient size) for possible return of proposal and/or manuscript (no material will be returned without an SASE).    

Packages containing finalizing materials must be addressed:

VI.    January 31, 2010: The winning manuscript will be announced on dorchesterpub.com and textnovel.com. 

PRIZE

The winning serial manuscript will receive a $2,000 advance and will be published by Dorchester Publishing in November or December 2010.

GETTING STARTED

How do I enter America’s Next Best Celler contest?
Create an account and register for the contest at Textnovel.  Then simply start a story and make sure it has at least 20 chapters by November 1, 2009.  Increase your chances of winning by inviting your friends to vote for your story. Also make sure that your story follows the Contest Rules.   

How do I add to my story by email?
Send an email to: add@textnovel.com. The body of the email should contain the text that you want to add to the story. The subject of the email should have the following format: storycode:chapter number. So, for example, if the story code is 12 and the chapter number is 2, then the subject should be 12:2. If you want to add a new chapter, then make sure to use the next number in order (so if you already have 10 chapters, to add a new chapter you would use 11 as the chapter number). If you don't reference a chapter, the site will automatically add a new chapter.

How do I add to my story by text message?
From your cell phone, send an MMS text message to add@textnovel.com. You might need to save this email address as a contact in your phone first.  Follow the instructions above for sending an email about the subject and body of your MMS—the same rules apply! 

For more information about creating an e-serial, please visit http://www.textnovel.com/faqs.php. 

Official America’s Next Best Celler Contest Rules & Regulations

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
VOID IN PUERTO RICO, QUEBEC AND WHERE PROHIBITED.

ELIGIBILITY.
Entrants must be at least 18 years old and legal residents of the United States, Canada and those countries where the Contest is allowed by law.  The specific work submitted for the contest must not have been previously published in a print edition.  Employees and contractors of Sponsor and all others associated with the development and execution of this contest and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply.

SPONSOR.
Sponsor is Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc., 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 ("Sponsor").

HOST.
The contest is hosted by Textnovel, 1400 Kearns Blvd., 2^nd Floor, Park City, UT 84060 (“Host”).

TERM.
America’s Next Best Celler begins at 12:01 a.m. on June 1, 2009 Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ends November 1, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EST ("Term").

AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES.
Participation in America’s Next Best Celler constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and all decisions of Sponsor and Host.

HOW TO COMPETE.
No purchase necessary. 

• The contest will run on Textnovel from June 1, 2009 to November 1, 2009.
• Contestants must create an account at Textnovel. 
• A confirmation of the account with instructions on how to upload serials will be sent directly from Textnovel to their inbox.
• Contestants must also register for the contest on Textnovel by selecting a checkbox that they have reviewed and agree to the Contest Rules and wish to participate in the contest.
• Contestants may start posting serials onto Textnovel for download as of June 1, 2009.
• Contestants must publish at least 20 chapters/6,000 words by November 1, 2009 in order to be eligible for the contest.

Eligible Textnovel stories must be in English and can be submitted and created online, by email or by text from a cell phone.

Each participant may submit an unlimited number of "public" stories during this period, each of which is deemed an entry as long as it is identified as part of the Romance genre and as long as the participant has agreed to the Contest Rules on the Textnovel My Admin section.

To be eligible to win the Contest, your Textnovel account information must include your correct and full name and a valid e-mail address. You must also be in compliance with the Textnovel Terms of Use.

If Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that your story contains content or images not in compliance, your story will not be eligible for the Contest.

No particular format for the story is required for the Contest but authors are encouraged to include breaks between paragraphs and keep sentences and paragraphs reasonably short so that stories are easier to read online or by cell phone.

By entering America’s Next Best Celler, entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted serials are original works created by the entrant.   

All final entries including required supporting materials must be received by Dorchester Publishing Co. by December 31, 2009 11:59 p.m. EST.

America’s Next Best Celler Prize.
The winning serialized manuscript will receive a $2,000 advance and will be published by Dorchester Publishing in November or December 2010.

Except where prohibited by law, potential winners are required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Publicity/Liability Release as well as Dorchester’s standard publication contract and return these documents to the Sponsor during the required time. If a potential Grand Prize winner (1) does not wish to claim the applicable prize; (2) is ineligible; or (3) if the potential Grand Prize winner did not complete and return required the Affidavit of Eligibility and Publicity/Liability Release at the time of prize notification, the potential winner will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and Sponsor will select as the alternate winner the Second Prize Winner.  Odds of winning depend on the skill of the entrant and the number of eligible entries received.

JUDGING.

• There will be two rounds of judging: Semifinalists (Top 20) and Finalists (Top 10).
• The 20 semifinalists will be determined by number of votes and/or subscriptions a serial has by November 1, 2009.
• The 10 finalists will be selected from among the 20 semifinalists by Dorchester's editorial team and will be announced on November 15, 2009.
• The winner, to be chosen from among the 10 finalists, will be selected based on a combination of factors, including positive votes and subscriptions by readers and reviews by reviewers, as well as the subjective opinions of Dorchester's editorial team.* 

*    Should none of the 10 finalists, in the opinion of Dorchester’s editorial team, be publishable and saleable in the U.S. market, Dorchester reserves the right to review and select a winner from all eligible/original entries. The decision of the judges is final.

WINNER NOTIFICATION.
The winner will be chosen and notified by Dorchester at the end of January 2010.     

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY.
Sponsor and Host are not responsible for any non-intentional, incorrect or inaccurate information associated with America’s Next Best Celler or for any technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the contest. Sponsor and Host assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect or delay in the operation or transmission of any entry, or the destruction, unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries. Sponsor and Host are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer networks, servers or computer network providers, computer equipment, software, hardware, e-mail or any combination thereof, including injury or damage to entrant’s or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in or downloading materials in this contest.  If, for any reason, the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this contest is corrupted, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole and exclusive discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. Sponsor and Host are not responsible for any injury to person or property in relation to this contest. Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of this contest is a violation of state and federal criminal and civil laws. Sponsor and/or Host may seek damages from any entrant or other person to the fullest extent permitted by law (including attorney fees, court costs and expenses).

By receipt of any prize, winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and Host from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the contest or receipt or use of any prize.

CONDITIONS.
Certain restrictions may apply.  Entries void if the Sponsor or Host determines that the serials are not the entrant's own original work, or if the serials are counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft.  Entrants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) that the decisions of the Sponsor and/or Host are final on all matters relating to the Contest; (c) if he/she wins, that Sponsor and/or Host may use the winning serials/novel and the winner's name, photograph, likeness and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Contest or future promotions without compensation or approval (except in Tennessee and where prohibited by law).  All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on the prize are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. In the event that the selected winner is ineligible, declines the prize or refuses to sign the required contracts, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another winner.  

RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST.
If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor or Host that corrupt or affect the administration of this contest, Sponsor and/or Host reserve the right, in its or their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the contest. If Sponsor and/or Host elect to cancel or terminate the Contest, neither Sponsor nor Host will retain any rights in the submitted works.

WINNERS LIST & OFFICIAL RULES.
Entrants are responsible for complying with these Official Rules.  The winner’s name and the Official Rules will be available online at www.dorchesterpub.com and textnovel.com shortly after January 31, 2010.  
 

FAQs

What is Textnovel?
Textnovel is a community of authors and readers using the Internet, cell phones, emails and text messaging to experience a new way to create, read and share fiction and other stories.

Here are some unique things members can do on Textnovel:

• Create and add to your story on the website, by email or by text.  Write your story from your cell phone!
• Read the story on your cell phone! Get notifications as new chapters are added by your friends or favorite authors, either by email or text message or both.
• Make your story private or public. Use a pen name or your own name.
• Invite co-authors to contribute to and help you write your story.
• Get noticed—Textnovel gives you the power to invite others from your address book to view and rate or review your story, moving you up in the rankings and increasing your chance of winning or getting published.
• Create or read a story, novel or comic in serial form (add a chapter at a time).

What is a serial?
A serial is defined as an ongoing story issued in successive parts that is intended to be continued indefinitely.  Serials may be issued in print or electronic format.

How long should each serial be?
We suggest that each serial installment be limited to approximately 500 words.

May I submit more than one entry?
You may submit an unlimited number of serials for this contest but we suggest you limit yourself to no more than two or three.

Can Textnovel stories be read on my cell phone?
Textnovel subscribers can receive text messages to notify them of updates to their favorite stories. You should be able to follow this link to read the story on your cell phone browser. Note that although Textnovel stories can be easily read by most cell phone browsers, we are working on some updates that should make the stories compatible with all browsers.

Does it cost anything to use Textnovel?
No.

For more FAQs concerning Textnovel, please visit http://www.textnovel.com/faqs.php. 

If you still have questions…

You can either contact Dorchester at sales@dorchesterpub.com or Textnovel at support@textnovel.com.  

All email inquiries must have America’s Next Best Celler in the subject line.  Otherwise we cannot guarantee that we will get back to you.