The HOLT Medallion Award was named for VRW's first elected president, Cynthia Holt, and serves as the acronym for Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent.
       In the early 1990s, there were several contests available to unpublished romance writers, but only a few recognizing the achievements of published writers in romantic fiction. The HOLT has been awarded annually since 1995.
       Medallions are awarded to the authors whose books are selected by a panel of romance readers as the best in each of twelve categories.
       Cast in pewter by a Virginia artisan, the medallion features a Dogwood blossom, the Virginia state flower, framed in a laurel wreath, the traditional emblem of victory. The flower rests on the pages of an open book representing the fiction we love to read and write. Above the wreath, a heart signifies the romance genre, and beneath it, a scroll with the inscription "HOLT."
       What makes the HOLT unique is our purpose of reflecting the actual marketplace. Judging panels are comprised only of avid romance readers who participate with enthusiasm and sincerity. They're looking for a good read, a book they would buy and an author they would follow. Their judging decisions reflect these inclinations. No editors, agents or writers are eligible to judge.
       Eligible titles are romance novels, or novels with a strong element of romance, with a copyright date within the year preceding the competition (i.e., for the 2008 contest, books must have a 2007 copyright).
       The twelve categories in which authors may enter are:

       Winners and Awards of Merit recipients are announced at the Virginia Romance Writers' May meeting (check the website for specific dates). Results are published in RWR and Romantic Times magazine. In addition to the medallion (winners only), the winner and finalists receive a certificate.