
Announcing the 2024 Stiletto Contest
The Stiletto Contest celebrates and recognizes excellence in the contemporary romance genre for published and unpublished novels.
Contemporary Romance Writers focuses on the contemporary romance genre, and the Stiletto Contest upholds the organization’s goal of bringing awareness to the best work by authors and writers in contemporary romance.
- Submissions open: March 1, 2024
- Submissions close: March 31, 2024
- Winners announced: July 27, 2024 at our Virtual Conference
Unpublished Division Final Round Judges include:
- Sinclair Sawney, Senior Editor, TULE PUBLISHING
- Debby Gilbert, Editor, Soulmate Publishing
- Ramona Pina, Associate Agent, BookEnds Literary Agency
- Mackenzie Walton, Editor
- Jennia Herold D’Lima, Content Editor YA, Sword & Silk Books
The Entry Categories for the Published and Unpublished Divisions are:
- Contemporary Short (20,000 to 50,000 words)
- Contemporary Mid-Length (50,000 to 80,000 words)
- Contemporary Long (over 80,000 words)
- Contemporary Young Adult / New Adult
- Contemporary Women’s Fiction / Chick-Lit
- Contemporary Speculative / Paranormal (includes Urban Fantasy with romance)
- Contemporary Romantic Suspense
- Contemporary Erotic Romance
- Contemporary LGBTQIA+
Anti-Discrimination Policy
The Stiletto Contest does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, or religion. We expect the same from our judges and entrants with a zero tolerance policy.
Any questions should be directed to contest@contemporaryromance.org.
Important links:
Finalists | Winners
Unpublished Division
Contemporary Romance Long (80k+)
Eliza San Juan “Don’t Promise Me Tomorrow”
E.L. Diamond “The Light This Time”
Despina Karras “Love You Like A Hurricane”
WINNER: Despina Karras “Love You Like A Hurricane”
Contemporary Romance Mid-Length (50-80k)
Sarah Milstein “Too Hot, Too Bothered”
Kristin Mara “Return to Redemption”
Kate Lutter “Vineyard Enchanted”
WINNER: Kristin Mara “Return to Redemption”
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Rodney Walther “What Remains Behind”
Tara Horne “How to Get Blood Out of Carpet and Other Tips for Dating”
Lindsay Layne “Tropical Entanglement”
WINNER: Tara Horne “How to Get Blood Out of Carpet and Other Tips for Dating”
Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Chick-Lit
April Kelly “Never Not Yours”
Jen Dupuis “Thank You For Not Quitting”
Sarah McGregor “The Bottom Line”
WINNER: April Kelly “Never Not Yours”
Contemporary Young Adult/New Adult
J.L. Wyer “The Kiss Wish”
Melissa Phillips “By the Stars and the Moon”
WINNER: Melissa Phillips “By the Stars and the Moon”
Published Division
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Marie Tuhart “Unmasked”
Jennie Kew “Size Doesn’t Matter”
Jennilynn Wyer “Beautiful Sin”
WINNER: Jennie Kew “Size Doesn’t Matter”
Contemporary Romance Long (80+)
Jen Trinh “Coming Clean”
Cara Dion “Whisking It All”
Jennilynn Wyer “About That Night”
WINNER: Jen Trinh “Coming Clean”
Contemporary Romance Mid-Length (50-80k)
Teri Wilson “Marry & Bright”
Abigail Drake “A Royal Pain”
Cara Lockwood “The Takeover”
WINNER: Abigail Drake “A Royal Pain”
Contemporary Romance Short (20-50k)
Susannah Erwin “Seven Years of Secrets”
Harper Cross “All I Want for Christmas Is Her”
Deanna Roddy “When They Were Hiding”
WINNER: Susannah Erwin “Seven Years of Secrets”
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Jordyn Redwood “Eliminating the Witness”
Harper Cross “Baby Take Me Home”
JB Schroeder “Blinded”
WINNER: Harper Cross “Baby Take Me Home”
Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Chick-Lit
Savannah Kade “Hidden Hearts”
Kimberley Ash “Champion”
Abigail Drake “Writing Mr. Right”
WINNER: Kimberley Ash “Champion”