Xoum announces romance writers’ prize to launch new imprint

Xoum Publishing has announced a $5000 romance prize for an unpublished manuscript to mark its new imprint, XO Romance.

Xoum publisher director Rod Morrison told Books+Publishing the imprint will start as a ‘vehicle for the prize—but we’ll grow over time’. ‘Our first signing will be the winner and then we’ll aim to publish a handful of titles per year,’ said Morrison, adding that editor Alexandra Nahlous will work closely with him to choose the winner and help curate the list.

Xoum publisher Rod Morrison said romance is a ‘vital and vibrant part’ of publishing Australian voices and telling Australian stories. ‘Romance continues to be one of the strongest—and most consistent—categories, so the time is right for a new prize and a new home for great romance stories,’ said Morrison.

XO Romance is the second imprint that Xoum has launched this year, after it announced its literary imprint Brio in July.

Entries to the romance prize are open to Australian writers aged 18 years and over, and close on 31 October. For more information, click here.

Category: Local news