The Leslie Esdaile Banks Aspiring Author Contest

Important Dates for Aspiring Author Contest

Enter Your Submission for the 2027 Contest: August 31, 2027

Aspiring Authors who wish to review their entry have the opportunity to do so before August 31, 2027. If you would like to resubmit a new updated entry, email your new submission to awards@dwri.org. Must have NEW in the file name. Good Luck!

Fee: $45

Eligibility:
All aspiring author entries must be a story that includes at least one multicultural protagonist. Stories must also be the author’s original work, must not be contracted for publication before the entry deadline, and must remain unpublished through the date of announcement of the contest winner. This contest is open to all unpublished authors who have never been published in book or novella length. “Published,” for purposes of this contest, includes traditionally published as well as self-published or indie-published works of fiction.

Entry:
What aspiring authors have to submit: A two-page synopsis and the first three chapters, which, when combined, should be no more than 50 pages. All submissions must be digital. Acceptable file formats include: .doc, .docx, and .pdf. The submission must be a story that has the potential to lead up to a completed original romance novel or novella with a central love story (or an original commercial fiction novel with elements of romance). And have at least a hint of conflict that would have to have an emotionally satisfying resolution, optimistic and/or a “happy ever after” ending by the end of a completed novel. Any submission received without the entry fee will be disqualified.

Format:
Aspiring author contest entries should be double-spaced with one-inch margins and a 12-point standard font (Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier are acceptable). The title of the manuscript and the genre should be placed in the top header, and the page number should be placed in the bottom footer. The author’s name and/or pen name should NOT appear anywhere on the entry. When submitting your submission form, each form in our office receives an entry# directly assigned to your name, keeping submissions anonymous for judges and free from any judging bias’.

Judging:
Each aspiring author contest entry will receive a score sheet with brief comments from qualified judges (published authors). The scores will be averaged, and the three entries receiving the highest scores will take their winning rank as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Aspiring Author Contest Winners:
Winners will be notified via email by Diverse Writers and Readers International, Inc. (DWRI).

ENTER THE ASPIRING AUTHOR CONTEST NOW ~ CLICK HERE

Who was Leslie Esdaile Banks?
Leslie Esdaile Banks, who passed away in August 2011, was an American writer under the pen names of Leslie Esdaile, Leslie E. Banks, Leslie Banks, Leslie Esdaile Banks, and L. A. Banks. She wrote in various genres, including African-American literature, romance, women’s fiction, crime suspense, dark fantasy/horror and non-fiction.

Author Leslie Esdaile Banks’s Accolades:
She won several literary awards, including the 2008 Essence Literary Awards Storyteller of the Year and the Romantic Times Career Achievement for paranormal fiction in 2009. She broke barriers by being one of the first African-American authors to be traditionally published in paranormal romance for her popular series The Vampire Huntress Legend Series. Leslie was one of the first chief judges for the RSJ Aspiring Authors Contest, and she’ll be forever missed.