The New York-based romance publisher Harlequin sells 148 million books per annum, and gets 20,000 manuscripts every year from aspiring writers. Of its 1,300 published authors, ten are Kiwis – a pretty good showing given the size of our country.

That’s partly due to New Zealand’s annual Clendon Award. It’s sponsored by Barbara and Peter Clendon of the specialist bookshop Barbara's Books in Manukau City, and run in conjunction with the Romance Writers of NZ organisation. This year, entries open on 30 November and close on 27 February 2004.

Open to unpublished writers, the contest for a full-length romance manuscript has an international reputation as one of the genre's career-launching contests. Final judging is by a senior editor at Harlequin. Many past winners have gone on to publication, including three Kiwis - Frances Housden (pictured), Helen Kirkman and Annie Featherstone.

If romance is your thing, email membership@romancewriters.co.nz, or head over to www.romancewriters.co.nz. Harlequin has an excellent guide to the ins-and-outs of romance writing here.