Impulse, Avon’s digital imprint, has put out a call for submissions about soldiers returning from war.

Here is the substance of the posting by editor Erika Tsang on the Avon Romance blog:

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the springtime
In the merry month of May
And if you ask her why the heck she wore it
She wore it for her soldier who was far far away

Calling all writers! Avon Impulse is looking for manuscript submissions for a collection of Yellow Ribbon romance. Just as the song indicates, we’re looking for stories where a soldier is returning home from war. Who is waiting for him/her? What was left unsaid? Where do they go from here?
If you’ve got a story (up to 25k words), we want to read it. Be creative. Be sexy. Ready. Set. Go!

How much can romance writers earn?

According to a recent post, “Show Me the Money!” by author Brenda Hiatt, it all depends on who you sign with.

According to Hiatt, advances range anywhere from zero (Wild Rose Press) to $2,050 (Sourcebooks) to $80,000 (MIRA).

Among the big publishers, here’s the rundown of the average advances, in most cases, for the first book:

Pocket
$10,400

Ballantine
$40,000

Bantam/Dell
$17,000

Berkley/Jove
$8,100

Dutton/Signet/NAL
$9,400

Grand Central Publishing
$7,100

HQN
$22,700

St. Martin’s Press
$18,500

For more numbers and details, check out Hiatt’s blog by clicking here.

Here is a list of winners of the 2011 Maggie awards, sponsored by the Georgia Romance Writers. 

CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE UNPUBLISHED:
honorable mention, Elaine Miller, Vanished
honorable mention, Susan May, Doctors New Found Family
3rd place, Terry Poca, Breaking The Rules
2nd place, Rebecca Sampson, A Future for Abby
Maggie winner is Ruth Homrighaus, Companion Wanted

HISTORICAL ROMANCE UNPUBILSHED
honorable mention, Carol Hayes, Lady Unbound
honorable mention, Meredith Simmons, Shadow Dancer
3rd place, Meredith Simmons, Chameleon
2nd place, Dora Mekouar (w/a Diana Quincy), Tempting Bella
Maggie winner is Jennifer McQuiston A Private Affair

INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE UNPUBLISHED
honorable mention, Katy Lee, Baffled
honorable mention, Stacy, Monson, Living Peace
3rd place, Dianna Shuford, Charmed Deception
2nd place, Katy Lee, Real Virtue
Maggie winner is Walt Mussell, The Samurai’s Heart

PARANORMAL/FANTASY UNPUBLISHED
honorable mention, Sherry McNabb, Homecoming
honorable mention, Pat Eckhoff, Prince of the Four Seas
3rd place, Wendy Anderson, A Pack of Two
2nd place, Heather Molloy, Murphys Law
Maggie winner is Rebecca Skrabl, The Devil Of Whitechapel

YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE UNPUBLISHED
honorable mention, Terry Poca, Timeless Love
honorable mention, Paula Keller, Out the Backdoor
honorable mention, Natasha Hacaga, Awaken
3rd place, Bonnie Staring, Camp Awakening
2nd place, Romily Bernard, Ashes
Maggie winner is Romily Bernard, Wired

SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE UNPUBLISHED
honorable mention, Laura Templeton, The Waters and the Wild
honorable mention, Sandra Tilley, Honeysuckle Wine
honorable mention, Gloria Richard, Color My World
3rd place, Sharon Wray, Juliet’s Rogue
2nd place, Petrina Aubol, Yeehaw Paisano
Maggie winner is Heather Nickodem, Red Sky At Night

******

PUBLISHED CONTEMPORARY SERIES
Rita Herron, Unbreakable Bond
Kimberly Lang, What Happens In Vegas – Receives Maggie Medallion
Kathy Lyons, Taking Care of Business
Kathy Lyons, Under His Spell
Trish Milburn, Elly: Cowgirl Bride

PUBLISHED HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Caroline Fyffe, Montana Dawn
Vanessa Kelly, Sex and the Single Earl – Receives Maggie Medallion
Margaret Mallory, Knight of Passion

PUBLISHED INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
Leanna Ellis, Facelift – Receives Maggie Medallion
Deeanne Gist, Maid to Match
Anne Greene, Masquerade Marriage
Trish Perry, The Perfect Blend
Virginia Smith, Third Times a Charm

PUBLISHED PARANORMAL/FANTASY ROMANCE
D. Renee Bagby, Eris
Patti O’Shea, In the Darkest Night
Robin D. Owens, Heart Journey
Kalayna Price, Grave Witch – Receives Maggie Medallion
Helen Scott Taylor, The Phoenix Charm

PUBLISHED YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
Melanie Dickerson, The Healer’s Apprentice
Traci Hall, Wiccan Cool
Maureen Hardegree, Haint Misbehavin
Tricia Mills, Winter Longing – Receives Maggie Medallion
Gillian Summers, Shadows of the Redwood

PUBLISHED SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE
Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand, Beguiled
Lorelle Marinello, Salting Roses
Laura Moore, Remember Me – Receives Maggie Medallion
Wendy Wax, Magnolia Wednesdays
Karen White, On Folly Beach