P.E.A.R.L. Awards
by Authors Various

P.E.A.R.L. ELIGIBILITY, NOMINATION & VOTING PROCEDURE

All paranormal romance titles with a valid ISBN, and released for purchase for the first time in the given award year, which begins on January 1st, 2003 and ends on December 31st, 2003, are eligible for P.E.A.R.L. consideration in their appropriate category, and may be nominated by subscribers to the paranormalromance listservs at paranormalromance@yahoogroups.com, PNwriters@yahoogroups.com, PNRlite@yahoogroups.com, or PNRnews@yahoogroups.com (PNR LISTERS).

Nominations for each of the ten categories may be submitted by PNR LISTERS during the two week period beginning January 24th and ending at midnight EST on February 7th.

Any PNR LISTER may nominate an eligible book for consideration. An individual PNR LISTER may only nominate a specific title once, but may nominate multiple titles in a single category. All PNR LISTERS will receive the final ballot link via the paranormalromance lists on February 8th.

Voting will begin on February 8th and conclude on February 22nd, at which time the votes will be tabulated and announced live at the February 25th PNR Chat. Only one vote per category per PNR LISTER will be accepted in the final voting process, regardless of the number of addresses one is subscribed under.

Note to authors, editors, and publishers: Each year our staff compiles a comprehensive list of current releases on the PNR website. Titles are added monthly as new information becomes available. We have provided an easy to use form at:

http://paranormalromance.writerspace.com/addbook.html where you can submit the latest information regarding new paranormal romance releases.

***********

For the purposes of this award, eligible titles for each paranormal category must contain romance, with the focus on a central love story, involving the development of an emotionally committed relationship between two major characters, and a positive outcome.

Categories

Best ANTHOLOGY - Voting is based on the entire collection. The collection must have paranormal elements in 50% of the novellas.

Best FANTASY/MAGICAL - Story takes place in the natural world but featuring beings [mythical or real] with unnatural abilities. Stories may include visits to other realms. This category also includes ghosts and psychics.

Best FUTURISTIC - Stories in this category require the main plot to be set in a time far enough into the future for there to be significant developments (changes) in culture as we know it.

Best NEW AUTHOR - This applies to an author whose debut novel was released (for the first time), in the award year; and who also had a paranormal romance release within that award year.

Favorite OVERALL PARANORMAL - Any single title paranormal romance first released in the award year.

Best SCIENCE FICTION - Stories which draw imaginatively on scientific knowledge and speculation in the plot and setting. Must involve romance. May include releases outside the romance genre.

Best SHAPESHIFTER - Books in this category include beings that have the ability to take on different forms one of which must be human. Vampires, Werewolves, Selkies, and others.

Best SHORT STORY/NOVELLA - Story of under 50,000 words, may be part of anthology, or published singly. Must have an ISBN for verification.

Best TIME TRAVEL - Stories in which main character [s] travel to a time period other than their own. Can be historical, contemporary, or futuristic in setting.

Best EROTIC - Stories in which intense sensuality is intrinsic to the work.

***********

The P.E.A.R.L. coordinators reserve the right to discard ballots that do not provide the requested information, or which provide incorrect information, and those which contain ineligible titles.

Situations that may arise, which require clarification or interpretation of the above guidelines, will be resolved at the sole discretion of the P.E.A.R.L. coordinators. Any changes or additions to the above guidelines or categories will be added to the P.E.A.R.L. Eligibility, Nomination and Voting Procedure prior to the next nomination period.

Reissues of previously published works do not qualify, regardless of former medium. This applies even with change of publisher, and includes previously self-published novels if offered for sale.

Short stories expanded into full length titles by the same or new name, in which the original text comprises half or less of the finished product are considered to be a new work and would be eligible. Likewise anthologies which contain half, or more, new material would be eligible. year (can be the same). This applies only to book format offerings (print or electronic).