The Romance Writers of New Zealand are running a “Strictly Single” contest for members yet to publish a book.

Finalists will have their work read by editor Monique Patterson, of the St Martin’s Press of New York. From its offices in the legendary Flatiron Building (pictured), St Martin's publishes Ian Rankin, Robert Ludlum, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Jennifer Cruisie.

The RWNZ judges want to see 50 pages of manuscripts, plus a synopsis. Romance does not have to be the main theme apparently, but "the story should result in an outcome that moves the main character's relationship to the next romantic level." Entries open on 1 February and close on 30 April 30 2004.

For more contest details or membership enquiries (all entrants must be members of RWNZ) email membership@romancewriters.co.nz, or go online to www.romancewriters.co.nz

PS: Talking of awards, the Whitbread Book of the Year winner will be announced in a matter of hours. Our money is on Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time picking up top honours, with Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre as a second option. Haddon’s book has yet to win a major international award, while Vernon God Little has been criticised in the US for lacking verisimilitude in its portrayal of small-town American life.