<http://www.wordharvest.com/index.php/contests/novelcontest>

Hard copy only. 60K wds. minimum. No fee.

"The Competition is open to any professional or non-professional writer,
regardless of nationality, who has never been the author of a published
mystery (as defined in subparagraph 2(a) below) and is not under
contract with a publisher for publication of a mystery. Only one
manuscript entry is permitted per writer."

"GUIDELINES
a. Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the
story, and emphasis is on the solution rather than the details of the cri
me.
b. The story’s primary setting is the Southwestern United States,
including at least one of the following states: Arizona, Colorado,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
(The decision of the Competition's judges as to whether or not a
manuscript qualifies will be final.)"

Winner gets standard author's agreement from St. Martin's Press/Thomas
Dunne Books with an advance against future royalties of $10K.