ROLL OF THUNDER PUBLISHING CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

IMPORTANT: Please read these Official Rules before entering the Roll of Thunder Publishing Contest (the “Contest”), presented by Penguin Young Readers Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC (“Sponsor”). By entering the Contest, you agree to the terms of these Official Rules. These Official Rules shall govern in the event of any inconsistency with other Contest-related materials.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to people of color (or those who self-identify as other than white) who are residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions, 18 years of age or older at time of entry and who have not had any works of fiction published in any medium prior to entering the Contest. All federal, state, and local regulations apply. LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED. Employees of Sponsor, We Need Diverse Books, their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, and agencies, and their immediate family members and persons living in their household are not eligible to enter the Contest.

ENTRY PERIOD: The Contest entries will be accepted beginning at 12:01:01 AM (Eastern Time) on April 26, 2016, and all entries must be received no later than 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time) on June 21, 2016. Entries submitted prior to or after the entry period will not be considered.

HOW TO ENTER: Go to www.rollofthunderbook.com and complete the entire entry form, attach your manuscript and biography as Word or PDF files and click “submit.” Please note that entries submitted in any format other than Word or PDF shall not be deemed eligible entries. Your manuscript must be a complete original fictional story aimed at readers within the ages of 8 and 14. The submission must be in English, between 25,000-75,000 words and must not have been previously published in any medium. All applicants must also include a 75-word biography describing themselves. Entries must be submitted via this website only. Each entrant hereby acknowledges that their entry will be the sole property of the Sponsor.

In the event of a dispute, entries will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the email address used for entry. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of automated devices will result in disqualification. Sponsor is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry of information by entrants; lost or late entries or transmissions; interrupted or unavailable network, server, or other connections; scrambled transmissions or other errors or problems of any kind whether mechanical, human, or electronic, technical malfunctions of any computer hardware, software, or any combinations thereof; or problems associated with any virus or any other damage caused to entrants’ systems. Incomplete or illegible entries will be voided. All entries

become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsor shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.

PRIVACY POLICY: All information submitted in connection with entry to this Contest shall be governed by Sponsor’s privacy policy (at http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/privacy/). By entering this Contest, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this privacy policy.

JUDGING: Entries will be judged on: (i) overall storytelling; (ii) creativity; (iii) originality; and (iv) writing ability, with equal weight given to each criterion. Judging will begin on or about June 28, 2016.

There will be three (3) rounds of judging, as follows:
Round #1: All entries will be reviewed by a group of Penguin Young Readers editors

who will choose approximately twenty-five (25) manuscripts.
Round #2: The twenty-five (25) submissions chosen in the first round will be reviewed

by a group of Penguin Young Readers editors and members of the We Need Diverse Books board. The entries will be narrowed down to five (5) for the final round.

Round #3: The final five (5) submissions will be judged by senior publishing staff from Penguin Young Readers, members of the We Need Diverse Books board, a bookseller, a teacher or librarian and one or two established authors. One final manuscript will be chosen as the winning entry from that group. The winner will be announced in January, 2017.

Entrants agree that entries will not contain any content, materials and/or images that are or could be considered inappropriate, unsuitable or offensive, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. In the event that there is an insufficient number of qualified entries or if the Sponsor determines in its absolute discretion that no or too few entries meet the quality standards established to award the prize, Sponsor reserves the right not to award the prize.

PRIZE: The confirmed winner will receive a book publishing contract for the publication of a novel for ages 8-14 by Penguin Random House LLC, with an advance of $35,000, plus royalties as follows: (i) on hardcover, 10% up to 50,000 copies and 12.5% thereafter; (ii) on paperback, 6% up to 50,000 copies and 7% thereafter; (iii) on audio, 8% of net; (iv) ebook, 25% of net; (v) world rights/all subrights at a 50/50 split; and (vi) an option on their next children’s or YA novel.

No transfer or cash or other substitution of all or part of a prize is permitted, except by Sponsor, which reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute the prize or prize component with another of comparable or greater value. Any and all taxes on the prize will be the responsibility of the winners. In the event that there is an insufficient number of eligible entries, Sponsor reserves the right not to award the prize.

WINNER SELECTION: The selected entrant for the prize will be notified via email. To be confirmed a winner, the selected entrant must respond to the email notification within ten (10)

days of receipt. Winner will also be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability. The affidavit must be returned within fourteen (14) days of notification. Winner will also be required to submit his/her photograph to accompany his/her previously submitted biography for use in press releases and/or other publicity. Noncompliance with these conditions may result in the forfeiture of the Prize, and the Sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate winner in such circumstance. If winner notification of the Prize is returned as undeliverable, Sponsor may, at its discretion, select an alternate winner.

By competing in the Contest the prize winner grants to Sponsor the right to edit, adapt, publish, copy, display, reproduce and otherwise use his/her entry in connection with this Contest and in any other way, in any and all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world, in perpetuity. Further, the prize winner grants to Sponsor the right to use each entry and their name, likeness, and biographical information in advertising, trade and promotional materials, without notice, review or approval, or further compensation or permission, except as set forth herein, and except where prohibited by law.

DISCLAIMERS: By competing in this Contest and/or accepting the prize, entrants agree that Sponsor, We Need Diverse Books and their respective parent companies, assigns, subsidiaries and affiliates, and advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies and all of their respective employees, officers and directors will have no liability whatsoever, and will be held harmless by entrants for any liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind to person and property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the prizes, or participation in this Contest.

Any dispute arising from this Contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and by entering the entrants consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.

WINNERS LIST: For the name of the winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Christina Colangelo, Attn.: Roll of Thunder Publishing Contest, Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

SPONSOR: Penguin Young Readers Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.