Announcing The MWA-New York/Leon Burstein Award 2024
Upcoming Chapter Members, do you have an unpublished crime novel?
For the last decade the Leon Burstein Scholarship has supported upcoming writers in all crime genres. A recent winner wrote, “The scholarship went a long way to bolstering my confidence, no small matter when one is writing in solitude. I’m happy to report that after a long winding road (and much rejection) my novel has landed at a small press.”
Other success stories from Leon Burstein scholarship recipients include: M. J. Soni landed an agent for her manuscript of domestic suspense/mystery. Becky Muth’s (2016) first cozy mystery was published in April 2020 by Sweet Promise Press. Matthew Mercier (2018) has sold a story to Mystery Tribune. Mally Becker’s (2016) first novel, The Turncoat’s Widow, was published in 2021 by Level Best Books. Korina Moss (2019) won a three-book deal with St. Martin’s Press for a mystery series. The scholarship gave these writers a boost of confidence, spurred their creations, and led to valuable contacts.
This year our longtime patron Dan Burstein and our Chapter board have changed the Scholarship to a CASH AWARD for ASPIRING crime writers.
One winner will be awarded $4,000, and one finalist will be awarded $1,000 at our annual Winter Revels. (The NY Chapter board may vote not to award the prize if no manuscript is deemed suitable.)
Eligibility: Affiliate status NY Chapter members are eligible. (Active members and Board members are not eligible.)
Process:
-
- By Aug. 30, 2024, email the first 20 pages of your manuscript in any mystery/crime genre. Please do not put your name anywhere in the attachment. The filename should be the name of your manuscript title NOT your name. Download and complete the application form. Email your twenty-page submission and application form to LeonBursteinAwardS@mwany.org. There is no application fee.
- On or around October 1, 2024, we will request full manuscripts from those writers who advance to Round 2.
- By mid-November 2024, two finalists will be invited to the award ceremony at our chapter’s annual Revels. Good luck!
Our chapter has many resources for upcoming writers: Each year, our Mentoring Program offers detailed feedback on 35 pages from published authors. Our Groups.IO page lists links and resources of interest, including where to locate agent lists, articles to improve craft and more. Virtual monthly CrimeCraft meetings on a variety of topics are on the first Tuesday of each month. A new proofreading slam will allow a few writers to have 20 pages proofread on Sep 7. Our Oct 26th Expert Panel in Morristown NJ is on “The Roads to Publication” where industry experts will share insights. The MWA-NY Leon Burstein Award continues this progression to support upcoming writers’ successes!