Amazon.com and Penguin USA have come up with a list of 10 semi-finalist Breakthrough Novelists from a list of over 800 previously unpublished works that were submitted between October 1, 2007 to November 5, 2007 and reviewed by their panel of judges:

* The Hellraiser of the Hollywood Hills by Jennifer Colt
* Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson
* Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan
* The Wet Nurse’s Tale by Erica Eisdorfer
* The Butterflies of Grand Canyon by Margaret Erhart
* Ring of Lies by Karen Laugel
* Fresh Kills by Bill Loehfelm
* Motherless Children by Randall Luce
* The Prospect of My Arrival by Dwight Okita
* Wrecking Civilization Before Lunch by John Ring

They’ve put up larger excerpts for people to read and vote on for the big prize. Help make your favorite the winner! The grand prize winner will be the finalist who earns the most total points from customer ratings and will receive a publishing contract with Penguin.