In keeping with the tradition of creating maximum publicity opportunities for the works of both published and self-published authors, this year's contest has been carefully designed to maximize public awareness for authors. Finalists will be chosen by public vote which will be backed up by the show's ongoing publicity campaign.

Entrants will submit a 1000-word essay about their journey to becoming an author, how that journey has impacted their lives and will present the author's body of work to the public. Winners will also be chosen by public vote based on the essay submitted.

Winners will appear in the print and electronic versions of '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading', which will be available to the public through online book outlets. Finalists and winners will appear on a dedicated website, 50GreatWritersYouShouldBeReading.com, with headshots, book covers and links to the author's website.

Contestants in the awards contest, by genre, include:

Fiction:Jeffrey W. KernRobert ThornhillMelissa PettignanoChristi KariLynn HobbsR. S. GuthrieRussell WarnbergJim ArmstrongRG Bud PhelpsScott D. RobertsRoland AllnachJim BeckJay HartloveSusan K. EarlJeffrey HickeyLinell JeppsenEmeka IwenofuPatrick BrighamDr. MaryAnn DiorioJacob SingerC. Robert CalesMaria HammarbladMarcy LuikartDeborah M. Piccurelli

Nonfiction:Robb HillJulie L. KesslerThelma ZirkelbachNancy AlvarezDeborah ClarkJP JonesRick Redner and Brenda RednerIan Moore-MorransSgt. Clyde HochCarl O. Helvie R.N., Dr.P.H.Myrna Beth HaskellClyde BradleyKandy Kay Scaramuzzo

Children:Danielle LeiboviciLaura W. EckroatCharoletta AndersonG. R. HoltonJoe SergiLinda Maria FrankM. Ann Machen Pritchard

Christian:Laura J. DavisCN BringWilliam D. BurtJohn DeFilippisToi ThomasSerge Roux-LevratTom DonnanMyrlande E. SauveurC. Kay JonesBruce AtchisonErrol A. Gibbs

Authors and writers who wish to participate can find information on the contest at The Authors Show site. The public is invited to read submissions and vote for their favorite entry on the contest page at the Authors Show site.

Don McCauley is a marketing strategist and is the facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group, a marketing and publicity firm. He also serves as the host of The Authors Show Radio. Danielle Hampson is the Executive Producer of The Authors Show radio group of programs and is the CEO of KDResources Inc.