Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

They're doing it again. The way they run this competition is a bit haphazard but i you've a book ready, why not give it a lash? It seems to be free.

Writers from around the world will be able to submit their unpublished English-language novel manuscripts between the 2nd and 8th of February 2009 at www.amazon.com/abna. Up to 10,000 initial entries will be accepted, from which Amazon editors will select 2,000.

Those will be whittled down by a team of Amazon reviewers and industry experts to a longlist of 100 entries, with Penguin editors then choosing three finalists.
A panel of publishing professionals, including authors Sue Grafton and Sue Monk Kidd, literary agent Barney Karpfinger and Penguin Press US editor-in-chief Eamon Dolan, will post their critiques of the top three manuscripts on Amazon.com, inviting customers to vote for the winner, who receives a contract with Penguin, including a $25,000 advance. The winner will be announced on the 22nd of May 2009.

Last year's inaugural Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award was won by Bill Loehfelm, his novel Fresh Kills was published by Penguin division G P Putnam's Sons. Read the Where Are They Now section for other news of shortlisted authors.