Writers Magazine 2008

2nd Annual RBA International Crime Fiction Award

Awarded by Spanish publisher RBA Libros, this offers 125,000 euros in prize money, as an advance against publication of the winning novel.

It is open to writers anywhere in the world.

Unpublished crime novels can be submitted in either English or Spanish.

Closing date: 15 June

Last year over 180 manuscripts were submitted, mainly from Spain, Latin America, and the United Kingdom.

There is no website for this award and entries have to be made by sending the manuscript to the publisher.  Here are the rules in full:

1. The 2^nd Annual RBA International Crime Fiction Award is open to any crime novel, originally written in any language, but submitted in Spanish or English. The author of the work submitted for the Prize will guarantee the following to RBA: a) The authorship and total originality of the manuscript submitted for the Prize; b) That the manuscript is hitherto unpublished in any language; c) That it has not been presented to any other award or competition which has not yet been judged and/or that it has not previously received any award.

2. The value of the Prize will be 125,000 euros for the winner, a sum which will be paid as an advance towards royalties for the publication of the winning manuscript, in book form, in whatsoever format or presentation including hardcover or hardback, paperback or pocket edition.

The rights granted will be exclusive worldwide Spanish-language rights. 

RBA Libros agrees to publish the winning manuscript during the six months following the awarding of the Prize if the novel has been submitted in Spanish, and over a period of 12 months if the novel has been submitted in English.

 3. The Prize will be awarded according to the voting of a jury made up of five members chosen by RBA Libros. RBA Libros reserves the right to change the jury which will be chosen for each competition.

4. The RBA International Crime Fiction Award will be annual.

5. The Prize will be awarded to one winner only and cannot be left unfilled. 

6. The manuscripts should be at least 150 pages long (2,100 spaces per page). Two original copies should be presented in size A4, typed in double spacing and on both sides, perfectly legible and bound, showing the name of the author, their address, telephone number and e-mail address. If they are presented under a pseudonym the relevant information should be provided separately in two envelopes, each one accompanying each original.

7. The deadline for submitting original manuscripts will close on 15 June 2007 at 14:00. They should be addressed to RBA Libros, S.A., calle Santa Perpètua 10-12, Barcelona 08012, marked “For the 2^nd RBA International Prize for Crime Writing”. They can be delivered from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 14:00.

8. The RBA International Crime Fiction Award 2008 will be announced in September 2008.

9. None of the original manuscripts submitted for the Prize within the time given and in the correct way can be retrieved before the judges’ decision is announced.

10. Once the Prize has been announced, the competitors may collect their manuscripts from RBA Libros from the next working day after the Prize has been awarded and up to ten days afterwards. They must telephone beforehand. The publisher may destroy the manuscripts not retrieved within this time limit and will not be responsible in the case of loss of any original copy.

11. RBA Libros will not undertake any correspondence with the authors who have submitted work for the Prize, nor provide them with any information about the qualifying and assessment of the pieces.

12. Anyone competing for the Prize must fully and unconditionally accept these rules. In the case of any doubts, disagreements or claims which may arise when interpreting these rules, the different parties will agree to put the conflict before the Tribunal Arbitral (Arbitration Court) of Barcelona and the judge’s ruling will be final.

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