Watch the video below to meet our 2019 Soon to Be Famous Manuscript contest winner.

Congratulations to Hollie Smurthwaite, the winner of our first Soon to Be Famous Illinois Manuscript Contest. In this video, the author of The Color of Trauma discusses her writing, the story behind the manuscript, why she entered the contest, and what's next for her budding novel. When the video began, she had no idea she'd actually won the contest. Watch her reaction when she finds out the good news.

Our winner receives these valuable prizes:

• Professional line editor who will work with you to polish your novel.
• Professionally designed cover.
• Self-publishing guidance from past STBF winners and committee members.
• Finished book automatically entered as semi-finalist status in the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project contest.

The next contest returns in late 2019.