The results are in - congratulations to the our 25 Round One Winners!
Our 25 semifinalists were selected from an extremely talented pool of entrants. We’d like to thank everyone who had the courage to share their First Chapter with the Gather community. We’d also like to thank everyone who read, voted and commented in Round One – now it’s time for you to come back for Round Two. Your votes are crucial in helping to select the next great romance author!
From now through October 8, 2007, you may read and vote for as many of the entries below as you like. The three chapters with the most “10†votes will proceed to Round 3, along with two chapters selected by the Gather Editorial Team.
If you’d like to read (or re-read) the First Chapters of any of the entrants below, simply click the author’s namespace.
Questions on how to vote? Check out our Voting Guidelines.
bonnielatino and bvale | |
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Questions on how to vote? Check out ourVoting Guidelines.
Contact Member Support at support@gather.com.
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Comments: 90
Those reading, please check out this article: First Chapters and Habitat For Humanity - A Winning Combination to benefit New Orleans.
Thanks and best of luck to everyone!
In Over Her Head - Chapter Two
I'm pacing myself :)
Bon
Well done everyone. Looking forward to reading second chapters.
Good luck to everyone!!
Terri
Dark Obsession–Chapter Two
Congrats to all my fellow contestants. Let the reading begin!
Please read and rate my entry:
A Scandalous Overture
And Judi, fabulous idea for supporting Habitat for Humanity! Dan, Bear Country is one of my faves!
Congratulations again!
I read all, the (well most) of the entries and I had a really hard time not giving anyone less than a 10+++ I admire all of your writing, immagination, curtesy and honesty.
Good luck to all the finalists, Congratulations for a job well done!
Congrats.
Great job Team Gather!
As in Round 1, I'm posting an ongoing unofficial ranking for Round 2 here:
FCR Scores - Round 2
Good luck to all the semifinalists. I didn't get to read you all in round 1, but I will for round 2!
I am STILL WIP.
Mai
Thank you, Kristin, for this opportunity! It was great fun and a great experience.
::sigh::
Terri
Dark Obsession–Chapter Two
Terri, Zapping is part of the joy. Take it as a life lesson.
Once again, YAY!
Three Alarm Tenant Chapter 2
I didn't make it settling in number 33, which is quite amazing and encouraging for me. I want to once again thank everybody who voted for me and who wrote thoughtful and valuable comments.
Those who are still interested in what's next in "Why Birches Are White" are invited to read the whole novel that you can find on Amazon.com
Elena
Fate and Destiny - Chapter 2
Someone above comented that this is not a popularity contest, and I agree. Last round, I was very generous with my ratings. However, as this is a competition, I will only be giving a 10 to five chapters. I wish every story could be published, but in all fairness, and guided by the principles of fiction's five narrative modes, I will do my utmost to help advance the finest stories.
Again, I wish everyone could win, and I know that each one of you will achieve your literary goals!
God Bless!
Catherine
along with the finalist Jamie, Judi, Isabel, Terry and Bonnie...
They are the authors to beat.../
I have to say, this round is definitely easier to keep up with as far as reading the chapters.
Good luck all!
Terri
Dark Obsession–Chapter Two
Seems someone has decided I'm too big a threat...or a b**ch....hmmm....I think I'll go with threat =D
Based on the "Most Ratings" sortation, some of the complainers who made it to Round 2 had to be selected by the judges. I can't believe the judges selected them - their stories are certainly not "good" or "great" and they have conducted themselves in a very unprofessional and unsportsman-like way. Their behavior mars the contest and it's validity. It also insults the Round 2 contestants who have been gracious and supportive of their fellow writers.
Some of these people were pleasant for all of 24 hours and thanked everyone for the thrill and opportunity to enter the contest and move to Round 2. Comically, it sounded like someone thanking all the little people at the Emmy's or the Oscar's. Then - it's complaint upon complaint.
By the way, I was asked by several folks in Round 1 to vote for their stories and have only come back because I keep getting emails to check out Round 2 and decided to check some of them out.
I don't know any of the contestants. I was asked to check out someone's story in Round 1 through an email. Then I got more emails for Round 2. Being an avid reader of all kinds of romance genres, I have read and voted in Round 1 and now in Round 2.
I have never given out drive by ones. I may not have cared for some of the stories, some of them are really bad - but the person tried and put their work in a public forum for all of the world to see. That is really commendable. So, giving the person a drive by one, I feel, is not in the spirit of the competition!
Having read stories and comments in Round 1 and Round 2, I find that the people who complained and belly-ached in Round 1 about their scores, contestant comraderie, the popularity of some stories as opposed to their own and even how unknown voters are casting their votes is hilarious. I'm actually at a loss for words on how some adults behave. But, as my mother would say: Hay gente loca en todos los lugares!
Caren
Kick Start - Chapter 2
After round 2 ends, the Grand Prize Judging Panel will review the complete manuscripts of the 5 finalists, so no, entrants will not be posting third chapters. Also, when we check for fraudulent voting patterns, we are not necessarily removing "1" ratings, we remove any and all fraudulent votes. So we are continuing to monitor the voting, and are removing fraudulent votes when necessary. Thanks for your questions!
Terri
please stop by and vote on Dark Obsession–Chapter Two
I've read the beginning of twenty-five different stories, and my mind tells me I need to
read the rest of all twenty-five. So keep trying to get your book into print. I'm sure that each of you can acheive publication. Let all of us at gather know when we can read the rest of the story.
Congratulations to you all.
Thanks to you and all the Gather team for a great contest!
If anyone would like to see what's next for my Mer friends, please visit It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a...Merman?.
Y'all are the nicest group of writers I (n)ever met!
Write on!
Bonnie
Can't wait to read more
Who.. and where are the 10 finalists?
I posted a Thank you article a couple of days ago, but I'll reiterate....THANK YOU Gather for a great opportunity.
Best of luck to the finalists and everyone who entered this contest.
I'll look forward to the next one! (but as an outside outsider) ;-)
Caren