The New Author Contest encourages aspiring authors to write and submit an original romantasy story for young adults.

 

What can I win?

 

Grand Prize

 

The grand prize is publication of a winning story in the upcoming Young Adult (YA) romantasy anthology being published by Zando called These Kindred Hearts (the “Anthology”).  Edited by Shari Brown (published as Shari B. Pennant) (the “Editor”), the Anthology is filled with otherworldly tales written by talented voices who are self-identified as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC).  One winning story will be selected by the Anthology’s Editor and be published in the Anthology based on a standard form of contributor’s publishing agreement.  The contest prize is not substitutable or transferable, except at the sole discretion of Zando.  All taxes and other expenses, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winner. This contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated. All federal, state and local laws apply.

 

Who can enter?

 

You are eligible if you are 18 years of age or older as of the date you enter and are a legal resident residing in one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or any other territory and possession of the United States during the competition. You must self-identify as a BIPOC individual (i.e., Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color) and be unpublished and unagented at the time of your entry, selection and announcement as a winner.  Entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry. This contest is governed exclusively by the laws of the United States. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

 

You are not eligible to enter and will be disqualified if you are an employee or otherwise related to the Editor or affiliated with Zando, LLC or Sweet July Productions LLC, or any of its or their parents, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, or a member of the immediate family (parent, children, siblings, spouse, regardless of where they live) or same household of any employees thereof (whether related or not) or of the Editor.

 

How do I enter?

 

Online entries only.  You may submit up to two (2) stories.  Each submission requires a separate online entry form (see below).  Please complete all requested information; incomplete entries will not be accepted.  Each submission must be original and unpublished and contain elements of both fantasy and romance, ranging from 2,000 words to no more than 4,500 words, submitted in readable font (e.g. Times New Roman or Arial) in the English language.  Story content should be age-appropriate for young adult readers aged 12 to 18 years of age and provide a hopeful and/or happy ending. Each submission should also include on the first page a short pitch (1-5 sentences) for the submitted story. Foreign-language manuscripts and translations are not eligible. The protagonist(s) and love interest(s) of your story must be BIPOC. All electronic entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on June 6, 2025. A winner and any eligible finalists (if any) may be notified on or around July 18, 2025.  Submissions are evaluated by Zando’s editors with any final selection made by the Romantasy Collection’s Editor.  The winner and final contest results will be announced on our Web site. 

 

Each electronic entry should be submitted only once.  Stories submitted to Zando Inc. may not be submitted to journals, magazines or other publications or any other publisher or literary agent while under consideration for the prize.  Stories previously submitted to the Editor in any other context or, directly or indirectly, to Zando are not eligible. Authors may submit up to two (2) story manuscripts to the Contest.  Each submission must meet all eligibility requirements.  Use of automated processes and devices to submit electronic entries are not permitted.  Zando is not responsible for any changes or effects caused to the entrant's computer system as a result of submitting electronic entries.

 

Only entries submitted via the website electronic form will be accepted. Entries submitted via facsimile or other express delivery services will NOT be accepted.  Zando is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected or otherwise undeliverable submissions, or submissions that cannot be processed due to phone, network, electronic or computer hardware or software failure, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause), failed, incomplete, garbles, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, or technical failures of any kind, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. 

 

Zando reserves the right, in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should a virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other cause beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest as determined by Zando in its sole discretion.  In such cases, Zando shall have right, if it so determines in its sole discretion, to select a winner from all eligible entries received previously.  Zando reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the contest or website or violates the Official Rules.  Please note that any attempt by any entrant to deliberately damage the Zando website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal or civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Zando reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. 

 

By submitting your story, you accept all contest rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of Zando and the Editor, which will be final.  You also agree that if you are the winner, each of Zando and the Editor reserves the right to publish and use all or a part of your entry as a story within the Anthology and for other uses as described and provided for in the standard form of permissions, contribution or publishing agreement (each, a “Contribution Agreement”).  Even if you are not a winner, Zando reserves the right to publish and use all or a part of your entry for uses described and provided for in such standard form Contribution Agreement, in which case you may be contacted separately with an acceptance of your entry for such purposes.  If you are not a winner or separately contacted about publication by September 30, 2025, all rights in your submission fully revert back to you and you retain full rights to your submission.

Zando will be collecting personal data about participants online, in accordance with its privacy policy.  Please review Zando' Privacy Policy at https://zandoprojects.com/updated-privacy-policy/ and any applicable website terms and conditions accessible at www.zandoprojects.com.  By participating in the contest, entrants agree to Zando’ collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Zando' Privacy Policy and any applicable user terms and conditions.

 

How will ENTRIES be judged?

 

All entries must meet the contest requirements. All entries must be the fully original creations of the entrants. Judging will be conducted using the following criteria:

 

• Appropriate story/content for young adults aged 12 to 18 years old

• The story should also reflect the Romantasy genre, provide a hopeful and/or happy ending

• Tone and voice

• Premise

• World-building. 

• Emotional connection

• Writing quality

• Uniqueness

 

Previously published stories will be disqualified, such as, but not limited to, those that have appeared in publication, in magazines, from publishing companies, on major book or children’s story websites and winners in contests.  Entrants will be required to certify that their story is their own creation and has not been published (or submitted elsewhere for consideration or publication) or publicized and has not won another contest.  Final judging will be done by representatives of or selected by Zando and the Editor.  Decision by Zando and/or the Editor shall be final in all matters relating to this Contest.

 

By entering, all entrants warrant and represent that their respective entries are their own fully original creations, and their respective entries (including but not limited to any materials integrated into their entries) will not infringe or violate the rights of any third parties, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks and/or rights of publicity/privacy.  If Zando or the Editor, in its or her sole discretion, has reason to believe that any entry contains any material that may infringe or violate the rights of a third party, Zando or the Editor may disqualify such entry and take all other measures Zando or the Editor may deem appropriate to protect its or her interests.

 

By participating, entrants and winners agree to release and hold harmless Zando, LLC., Sweet July Productions LLC, Shari Brown, and its, their or her respective suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies and its, their or her  respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery.  In case of dispute as to the identity of any entrant, entry will be declared made by the “Authorized Account Holder” of the email address submitted at time of entry.  The "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Any potential winner may be requested to provide Zando with proof that such winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.

 

What happens if I win?

 

One  (1) winner will be judged and awarded.  If you are the winner, you will be notified on or about July 18, 2025 via email and phone.  Eligible finalists may also be chosen at the discretion of Zando and the Editor.  The winner and any finalists (if any) selected will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release/assignment of rights and confirmation of his or her acceptance of a Contribution Agreement and its terms, and return the same within five (5) days of receipt of notification.  Any winner who does not comply with this requirement or cannot be easily located at the email and/or phone number provided may forfeit prize and an alternate winner from eligible finalist(s) may be selected.

 

Except where prohibited by law, the winner will be required to sign a release giving Zando, LLC, Sweet July Productions LLC, Shari Brown, and its, their or her respective suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies full rights to use the winner’s (and/or any finalists’ if applicable) name, bio, likeness, image and voice for Contest-related advertising and publicity, including such usage on the internet and in social media channels.  If you are a winner (or finalist), you will be notified on or around July 18, 2025 via email and phone. The winner will and, at Zando’s and the Editor’s sole discretion, any finalist(s) may, be announced or posted on the Internet at www.Zandoprojects.com  and elsewhere and otherwise (including on social media channels) following the contest end date and after a winner has been notified and accepted.  After accepting the prize, the winner will not be eligible to win in a subsequent Editor-judged or Zando- or Sweet July- sponsored or -hosted contest or competition. All federal, state, and local taxes, if any, are the winner’s sole responsibility. Prizes are not transferrable and cannot be assigned.  

 

EACH OF ZANDO AND/OR THE EDTIOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THIS CONTEST AND PROMOTION AT ITS OR HER SOLE DISCRETION.