America's Next Author is the first real social writing contest. Winners will be chosen based on a unique combination of votes from readers and publishing industry experts.

America's Next Author is the first real social writing contest. Winners will be chosen based on a unique combination of votes from readers and publishing industry experts.

And the winner is ...

Kate Baggott! Congrats, Kate. You are America's Next Author! (And you win $5000!)

Jen Barton and Jill Amber Menard are the runners up, and win $500 each. All three of these ladies are excellent writers and did an amazing job during #ANA2012.

Congratulations to Kate, all of the finalists, and everyone who was brave enough to enter a new kind of writing contest. You had the guts to put your story in front of the world, and you made this contest fun and exciting.