2019 Stiletto Contest Winners & Finalists

The 2019 Stiletto Contest Finalists & Winners

Published Division

Short Contemporary

Lisa Elijah – Based on Principal
Kristina Seek – The Hashtag Hunt
*Teri Wilson – The Ballerina’s Secret
*Teri Wilson – How to Romance a Runaway Bride
*Teri Wilson – The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise (2019 Rita Award finalist)
*Teri Wilson – A Daddy by Christmas

Stiletto Winner: A Daddy by Christmas by Teri Wilson

Novella

*Kilby Blades – Crazy Old Money
Kay Harris – Take it on the Run
*Rachel Magee – Getting Home For Christmas
*Mellanie Szereto – Reeling Her In

*Mellanie Szereto – Sweetening Her Up

Stiletto Winner: Getting Home For Christmas by Rachel Magee

Contemporary Mid Length

*Kilby Blades – Friended
*Rebecca Heflin – A Season to Dance
*Amy Knupp – Heartstring

*Rachel Lacey – Encore
*Carrie Ann Ryan – Whiskey Secrets

Stiletto Winner: Encore by Rachel Lacey

Contemporary Long

*Diana A. Hicks – Love Over Lattes
*Peggy Jaeger – Can’t Stand The Heat
*Rachel Lacey – Unwritten

*Negeen Papehn – Forbidden By Faith

M.C. Vaughan – The Reluctant Princess

Stiletto Winner: Unwritten by Rachel Lacey

Erotic/BDSM

*Nicky F. Grant – Beyond the Masks
Jennie Kew – Third Time Lucky
Sadira Stone – Through the Red Door
*Mellanie Szereto – Dressing on the Side

Stiletto Winner: Beyond the Masks by Nicky F. Grant

Romantic Suspense

*Diana A. Hicks – Love Over Logic
Julie Anne Lindsey – Federal Agent Under Fire
Julie Anne Lindsey – The Sheriff’s Secret
Amanda McKinney – The Fog

Jordyn Redwood – Fugitive Spy

Stiletto Winner: Federal Agent Under Fire by Julie Anne Lindsey

Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit/Cozy Mysteries

*Abigail Drake – The Enchanted Garden Cafe
*Jacquelyn Middleton – Until the Last Star Fades
Grea Warner – Country Roads

Meg West – Love on Lido Key

*Teri Wilson – The Accidental Beauty Queen 

Stiletto Winner: The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson

Unpublished Division

Short Contemporary
Final Round Judges: Meghan Farrell (editor – Tule Publishing) and Veronica Park (agent – Fuse Literary)

Fit For Love by Karina Coldrick*
Bidding On Her Ex by Betsy Gray*
Grind by Melanie Greene*
A Saucy Mix by Brenda Lowder
Wounded Martyr by Courtney Maguire (also a 2019 Golden Heart Finalist)

Stiletto Winner: Fit For Love by Karina Coldrick

Mid Contemporary
Final Round Judges: Sarah Blumenstock (editor – Penguin Random House) and Jessica Errera (agent – Jane Rotrosen Agency)

Georgia by Jessie Harper*
Nobody Else But You by Claire Marti*
Bastard by D. Murphy Ryan
Teach Me by Kat Turner
Sweet Stuff by Amanda Uhl

Stiletto Winner: Sweet Stuff by Amanda Uhl

Long Contemporary
Final Round Judges: Rhonda Penders (editor – The Wild Rose Press) and Eva Scalzo (agent – Speilburg Literary)

***My Mulligan by Laralyn Doran*
Tease by Emma Hoole*
True North by Katherine A. Olson
With Abandon by Jo Segur
***The Temporary Touch of Chaos by Lana Sloan*

Stiletto Winner: True North by Katherine A. Olson

Erotic / BDSM
Final Round Judge: Jamie Rose (editor – Totally Bound Publishing)

***See Me by Michele Arris*
***The Babe From Toyland by Daphne Chase*
Hush, Hush by Lucia Franco
***On The Brink by Lynn Harris
***Wild Women Don’t Worry by Shannon Moreau

Stiletto Winner: See Me by Michele Arris

Romantic Suspense
Final Round Judges: Deborah Nemeth (editor – Carina Press) and Dawn Dowdle (agent – The Blue Ridge Agency)

Do A Little Wrong by Bonny Fawn
Beyond Redemption by Barbara Forlenza
***The Hustler by Angie Hockman
The War Within by Brittany Jennings
Rekindled by Rochelle Karina*

Stiletto Winner: The Hustler by Angie Hockman (also a 2019 Golden Heart winner)

Women’s Fiction / Chick Lit / Cozy Mystery
Final Round Judges: Kimberley Atkins (editor – Hodder & Stoughton) and Nicole Payne (agent – Golden Wheat Literary)

First Comes Marriage by Casey Dembowski
The Long Way Home by Stephanie Haefner*
Keeping The Pieces by Brenda Lowder
Fireflies & Southern Fairytales by Catherine Stuart
The Tribute Artist by Katie Tietjen

Stiletto Winner: First Comes Marriage by Casey Dembowski

Young Adult / New Adult
Final Round Judges: Stacey Donovan (editor – Hallmark), Alycia Tornetta (editor – Entangled), and Kaitlyn Johnson (agent – Corvisiero Agency)

**Claiming Carter by Jennifer Bonds
A Scent of Lilac by Frances McCoy
Attractive Forces by Jackie Rutherford*
The Other Brother by Jackie Rutherford*
Types of Triangles by Jackie Rutherford*
**After I Bid You Adieu by Sammi Spizziri* (also a 2019 Golden Heart finalist)

Stiletto Winner: Attractive Forces by Jackie Rutherford

 

*Denotes Contemporary Romance Writers member. 

**Requests for partial manuscript. 

***Requests for full manuscript.

 

**Winners to be announced at the annual Contemporary Romance Writers Stiletto Party to be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 7pm EST in New York City, NY at the annual Romance Writers of America national conference.