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Simon & Schuster’s Bundyi Writing Contest Terms and Conditions

Official Rules 

 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. 

 

Simon & Schuster’s Bundyi Writing Contest (“Contest”) is being run by Simon & Schuster (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 84 000 945 380 of PO Box 3047, Willoughby North, NSW, 2068 (“Sponsor”). 

 

The Contest may only be entered in or from the Australian states and territories (including external territories) and entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry. This Contest is governed exclusively by the laws of Australia. You are not authorised to participate in the Contest if you are not located within the Australian states and territories (including external territories). 

 

Note that these Official Rules contain a dispute resolution provision below in Section 13, and it applies to your participation in the Contest. Except for any Excluded Disputes (as defined below in Section 13), you agree that disputes between you and Sponsor will be resolved by the process outlined in Section 13. Disputes; Governing Law. 

 

1. How to Enter. To enter the Contest, go to  https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/p/BundyiAUPrize to fully complete the entry form, and follow the directions to submit the following entry materials (collectively, a "Submission"): 

 

  • Online entry form, including your full name, email address, and phone number. 
  • A digital copy of your manuscript which complies with Section 4 ("Manuscript").  Hard copy Submissions are not permitted. 
  • The following documents (collectively, "Personal Response"): 
    • A copy of a Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Descent/Letter of Confirmation with a common seal from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander incorporated community organisation OR a Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Descent statutory declaration form; 
    • A brief single-page cover letter to introduce yourself to the judges. Include the title and word count of the Manuscript, author name, biography, and publication history; and 
    • A single-page synopsis or summary of the Manuscript. 

 

The Manuscript and Personal Response files together must not exceed 10MB. Your Submission must be predominantly written in English (we will accept Manuscripts that include First Nations Language).  

 

Limit one (1) Submission per person/email address. Before being judged, all Submissions will be reviewed for content eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, including the Guidelines and Restrictions defined below in Section 4. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify this Contest in the event an insufficient number of Submissions are received that meet the minimum judging criteria.  

  

Initial Entries and Manuscripts shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Submissions” or each as a “Submission.”  Submissions must comply with the Guidelines and Restrictions defined below in Section 4.  

  

Submissions must be written solely by the person who submitted them (“Entrant”) and must be the first novel written by Entrant to be considered for publication. Submissions must not have been previously published by any third party or self-published by Entrant.  

 

The Manuscript must not be currently entered in other writing competitions or under submission to a publisher. 

 

Entrants must not be in current contract negotiations in relation to the Manuscript. 

 

By entering, each Entrant warrants and represents the following y: (a) Entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Manuscript and no third parties have any rights to it; (b) the Manuscript is Entrant’s own original creation and is not copied or plagiarised from any other work or created by artificial intelligence; (c) the Manuscript will not infringe on any rights of a third parties; and (d) the Submission has not been previously published by any third party nor self-published by Entrant. 

 

All Entrants must have a valid email address. No automated entry devices and/or programs permitted. Receipt of Submissions will not be acknowledged or returned, provided however that Entrants will retain all intellectual property rights in their Submissions. Sponsor is not responsible for Submissions which are lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human, or electronic. Only fully completed Submissions are eligible. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.  

 

2. Contest begins at 09:00:00 Australian Eastern Time (“AET”) on 03 February 2025 and ends at 23:59:59 AET on 30 June 2025 (the “Contest Period”). 

 

3. Eligibility. Participation open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers who have provided the documentation required by Section 1, are at least 18 years of age, have provided a valid email address, and are located within an Australian state or territory (including external territories). Employees, officers and directors of Sponsor, and its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, advertising and promotion agencies, manufacturers or distributors of Contest materials and their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, spouse) or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such employees/officers/directors are not eligible to enter.  

 

4. Submission Guidelines and Content Restrictions: By entering, each Entrant agrees that his or her Submission conforms to the Submission Guidelines and Content Restrictions as defined below (collectively, the “Guidelines and Restrictions”) and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may remove any Submission and disqualify an Entrant from the Contest if it believes, in its sole discretion, that the Entrant’s Submission fails to conform to the Guidelines and Restrictions.  

 

Submission Guidelines:  

 

  • The Submission must be predominantly in English. 
  • Hard copy Submissions are not permitted. 
  • The Manuscript must be in the adult fiction category.  
  • The pages of the Manuscript and Personal Response in each Submission must be in either Times New Roman or Arial font, be 12-point font size and use double line spacing with a 3-centimetre page margin on A4 size paper. 
  • Pages must be numbered and the title of the Manuscript must be included on each page.  
  • If submitting illustrations, do not send originals. 
  • All submissions must be original works created by the Entrant.  The use of ghost writers, generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, machine learning, or large language models for the purpose of creating content is prohibited and may be grounds for disqualification. 

 

Content Restrictions:  

 

  • The Submission must not contain material that violates or infringes any rights of any other party, including but not limited to copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or any other intellectual property rights;  
  • The Submission must not disparage Sponsor or any other person or party; 
  • The Submission must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous; 
  • The Submission must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age; and 
  • The Submission must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations of any Australian states or territories;  
  • The Submission cannot promote illegal drugs or firearms (or the use of any of the foregoing), or any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message; 
  • The Submission must be consistent with the image and values of Sponsor and be consistent with and satisfy the purpose of the Contest; and  
  • Each Entrant acknowledges that other Entrants may have used ideas and/or concepts in their Submission that may be similar in idea or concept to what is included in Entrant’s Submission. Each Entrant understands and agrees that he/she shall not have any claim against any other Entrant or Sponsor arising out any such similarity or be entitled to any compensation because of any such similarity.  
  • Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest, including, but not limited to, interpretation and application of these Official Rules. By entering the Contest, Entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. 

5. Independently Developed Submissions. Each Entrant understands and agrees that Sponsor has wide access to ideas and other materials, and that new ideas are constantly being submitted to Sponsor. Each Entrant acknowledges that Sponsor’s use of independently developed material similar to the Submission or containing features or elements similar to those contained in the Submission will not amount to copyright infringement, obligate Sponsor to negotiate with Entrant, nor will it entitle Entrant to any compensation from Sponsor of any kind. Each Entrant agrees and acknowledges that nothing precludes Sponsor from using any material in or similar to the Submission without obligation to Entrant, including, but not limited to, if Sponsor has or has determined that it has an independent legal right to use such other material, including without limitation, because such features or elements were not new or novel, or were not the original creation of Entrant, or were independently created by or submitted to Sponsor.  

 

6. Judging Panel/Judging Criteria. On or about 1 July 2025, Submissions will be judged by a team of judges based on the following equally weighted judging criteria (“Judging Criteria”): (i) originality, (ii) relevance to today’s publishing climate, and (iii) quality of the writing. The top Submissions receiving the highest score based on the Judging Criteria will be designated as the potential Short List Finalists (collectively, the “Short List Finalists”), subject to verification, including ensuring compliance with these Official Rules, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. In the event of a tie, the highest score in the originality category will determine the Short List Finalists. The Contest is a game of skill and chance plays no part in the determination of the Short List Finalists. The Short List Finalists will be notified on or about 1 September 2025 of their Short List status. In the event an insufficient number of Submissions are received that comply with these Official Rules or meet the minimum judging criteria, Sponsor reserves the right to select less than five (5) Short List Finalists. Each Short List Finalist agrees to grant Sponsor, via the Bundyi Imprint, first right of refusal to offer to publish their Manuscript for an exclusive period of 12 weeks after the announcement of the Short List Finalists. This means that each Short List Finalist must not send their Manuscript to other publishers or competitions until Sponsor has decided whether to offer a publishing contract. ‘First right of refusal’ does not guarantee an offer of publication will be made. It is recommended that all Short List Finalists seek their own legal or professional advice prior to entering into any publishing contract. 

 

7. Short List Finalists Judging Panel/Judging Criteria. On or about 1 September 2025, the Short List Finalists' Entries will be judged by Sponsor based on the equally weighted Judging Criteria. In the event of a tie, the highest score in the originality category will determine the Grand Prize Winner. The Contest is a game of skill and chance plays no part in the determination of the Grand Prize Winner. The Short List Finalist's Entry receiving the highest score based on the Judging Criteria will be designated as the potential Grand Prize Winner, subject to verification, including ensuring compliance with these Official Rules, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. Grand Prize Winner will be notified on or about 1 December 2025 of his or her potential Grand Prize-winning status.  

 

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to conduct background checks on potential Short List Finalists and Grand Prize Winner. Potential Short List Finalists and Grand Prize Winner must provide authorisation and/or complete any forms reasonably required to facilitate such background check. Failure to comply with such search may result in disqualification of a potential Short List Finalist or Grand Prize Winner (as applicable) and may result in selection of an alternate Short List Finalist or Grand Prize Winner (time permitting). Sponsor also reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify a potential Short List Finalist or Grand Prize Winner based on the results of such background check, if Sponsor determines, in its sole and absolute discretion that awarding this opportunity to such potential Short List Finalist or Grand Prize Winner might reflect negatively on the Contest or Sponsor. Factors that may result in disqualification of a Short List Finalist or Grand Prize Winner, include, without limitation, conviction of any criminal offence as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of Sponsor. Grand Prize Winner will not be entitled to prize if Grand Prize Winner has won any other book-related contests sponsored by Sponsor in the month preceding the end date of the Contest Period. 

 

8. Grand Prize. One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a cash prize of AUD$10,000 ("Prize"). The approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the Prize is no less than AUD$10,000. The Grand Prize Winner will also have the opportunity to receive a standard book publishing contract with the Bundyi Imprint in relation to their Manuscript, which includes manuscript development with a named editor (TBC) in eBook, print and/or other format, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. For clarity, Grand Prize Winner will only receive the opportunity to receive a standard book publishing contract with Sponsor, and such decision shall be determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. If Sponsor elects to enter into a standard book publishing contract with Grand Prize Winner, Grand Prize Winner will be required to execute a standard publishing contract with Sponsor (the “Book Contract”). Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to review and negotiate the Book Contract with an outside representative of their choice and subject to obtaining their own legal or professional advice. The Book Contract will include an assignment of rights in and to the Manuscript from Grand Prize Winner to Sponsor and consents and waivers of Grand Prize Winner's moral rights in and to the Manuscript. The entitlement of the Grand Prize Winner to receive the Prize is not contingent upon them entering into a Book Contract. 

 

Prize is non-transferable. No substitutions or cash redemptions, except in the case of unavailability of any prize or part of prize, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. All taxes and unspecified expenses are the responsibility of Grand Prize Winner. Limit one (1) prize per person.  

 

9. Notification and Verification. The potential Short List Finalists/Grand Prize Winner will be notified by email at the email address provided in connection with the Submission within  7 days of the judging dates specified in Sections 6 and 7. Grand Prize Winner may be required to sign and return to Sponsor or their designee, within a timeframe to be specified, an Affidavit or Declaration of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity release (collectively, “Affidavits/Releases”) as requested by Sponsor (in its sole discretion) or other documents that Sponsor deems necessary to confirm eligibility and obtain liability/publicity release. If a potential Short List Finalist or the Grand Prize Winner cannot be contacted within the designated time frame, fails to sign and return the Declaration/Releases or any other applicable forms within the required time, if the prize notification is returned as undeliverable, if potential Grand Prize Winner rejects his/her prize or in the event of non-compliance with these Official Rules, such status and/or prize will be forfeited. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.  

 

In the event that a potential Short List Finalist is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor may either select an alternate Short List Finalist if time permits, as determined in its sole and absolute discretion, or may proceed with the Grand Prize Winner selection process with less than the number of Short List Finalists stated in these Official Rules.  

 

In the event that the potential Grand Prize Winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor may award the prize to an alternate winner based on the Short List Finalist who had the next highest score according to the Judging Criteria. 

 

10. Conditions. Sponsor shall not be liable or responsible in the event a Submission is not used for any reason. Participation in the Contest and/or acceptance of the Prize constitutes Short List Finalists and Grand Prize Winner’s permission for Sponsor to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, and/or any statements made by Grand Prize Winner regarding the Contest or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation. By participating, each Entrant (including Short List Finalists and Grand Prize Winner) agrees to indemnify, release and hold harmless Sponsor, its promotional partners and their advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors (collectively, “Released Entities”), from any and all liability for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including (reasonable legal fees) which may occur in connection with: (a) preparation for or participation in Contest; (b) any breach by the Entrant of the Official Rules; or (c) any claims by Entrant or any third party based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trade mark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules or attempt to interfere with this Contest in any way shall be disqualified. Sponsor is not responsible if Contest cannot take place or if any prize cannot be awarded due to travel cancellations, delays, or interruptions due to acts of God, pandemics, epidemics, acts of war, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism. 

 

11. Additional Terms. Any attempted form of entry other than as set forth in Section 1 above is prohibited; no automatic, programmed; robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. The Released Entities are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend, or suspend this Contest should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, pandemics, epidemics or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Sponsor will select the winner from all eligible Submissions received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or any Contest-related web site. Sponsor may prohibit an Entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said Entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Entrants or Sponsor representatives. 

 

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE; THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. 

 

In the event of a dispute as to any Submission, the authorised account holder of the email address used to register will be deemed to be the Entrant and must comply with these Official Rules. The "authorised account holder" is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organisation responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Each Entrant may be required to show proof of being an authorised account holder. 

 

12. Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties. IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED ENTITIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ENTRANT’S ACCESS TO AND/OR USE OF THE CONTEST SITE, OR DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY WEBSITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THIS CONTEST AND ALL PRIZES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  

 

13. Disputes; Governing Law. Except for disputes relating to the infringement of your or Sponsor’s intellectual property (such as trade marks, trade dress, copyright and patents) or where Sponsor is seeking a preliminary injunction (“Excluded Disputes”), you agree that for all disputes between you and Sponsor (whether or not such dispute involves a third party) with regard to these Official Rules, the following process must be followed before the commencement of any legal proceedings: (a) the party who asserts there is a dispute will notify the other party as soon as possible of the existence of the dispute (“Dispute Notification”); (b) the parties to the dispute must genuinely and in good faith attempt to resolve the dispute by correspondence within 7 days of the Dispute Notification; (c) if the dispute cannot be resolved within 7 days, the parties must attend a mediation or conciliation within 30 days of the Dispute Notification, the result of which will be binding. 

 

The conduct of the Contest, these Official Rules and any mediation or conciliation conducted under this Section will be governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia, and the agreement reached at mediation or conciliation may be entered in any court in Australia having competent jurisdiction. By entering the Contest, each Entrant submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales. 

 

14. Use of Data. Sponsor will be collecting personal information about Entrants, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy at https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/privacy-policy. By participating in the Contest, Entrants agree to Sponsor’s collection, use, disclosure and handling of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.  

 

15. Name of Winner. For a list of the Short List Finalists and Grand Prize Winner, please visit https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/p/BundyiAUPrize.