Open to unpublished writers only
With a $10,000 one-book contract as the prize.
 
Daniel J. Hale, Executive Vice President of Mystery Writers of America (MWA), and Andrew Martin, Vice President and Publisher of St. Martin's Minotaur are pleased to announce the first annual St. Martin's Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition.
 
This contest provides a previously unpublished writer an opportunity to launch his or her career with a major mystery imprint, St. Martin's Minotaur. The winner will receive a one-book, $10,000 contract.
 
The competition was officially announced during MWA's April 2007 Edgar(R) Award festivities by Mr. Martin. Entries will be accepted immediately through December 15, 2007. The winner will be recognized at the 2008 Edgar Awards banquet, and his or her novel published in 2009.
 
"We at Mystery Writers of America are excited to partner with St. Martin's Minotaur in offering this terrific opportunity to get an unpublished writer's career off the ground... Way off the ground!" said Dan Hale.
 
Andrew Martin commented, "For more than 60 years MWA has been recognized as the preeminent organization devoted to the craft of writing mysteries and crime fiction. For more than 50 years, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur have been a publishing well- spring of award-winning crime fiction. Now we come together to discover great new talent. Only one question: What took us so long? I'm thrilled to begin this exciting new program with MWA and can't wait to announce our first winner at next year's Edgar Award ceremony."
 
The competition is open to any writer who has never been the author of a published novel. Details, rules and specific guidelines on eligibility, as well as entry forms, are available at the St. Martin's Minotaur website: CLICK HERE. http://www.minotaurbooks.com/competitions.HTML
 
The winner will then be recognized at the Edgar Awards Banquet in New York City in April 2008