Getting closer...

No, I'm not talking about the dreaded mid-April tax deadline. In case you didn't notice, that's come and gone.

I'm talking about another important date: the first deadline in our Launch Pad Contest, the event we've designed to help launch your manuscript out of the slush pile.

We're currently taking submissions for all categories. But if you plan to submit to the Historical category, you'll have to get your entry to us by 11:59 pm on May 10 -- and that date's coming right up.

But never fear; we have other categories to choose from as well, like Contemporary Romance, Middle Grade/Young Adult, and SciFi/Fantasy, among others. So if you're an unpublished novelist and would like to participate, click the Launch Pad Contest tab for the complete rules. But don't dilly-dally. We look forward to seeing your submission!