Got a great love story? Quirk Books is looking for you

Have you been sitting on the manuscript of a great love story?

Then it’s time to dust it off. Publisher Quirk Books is hosting a contest titled “Looking for Love.” The first place winner will have his or her book published by Quirk and will receive $10,000.

Quirk Books wrote on their website that they examined their catalog and saw one important genre missing: romance. The publishing company has previously released such bestselling novels as “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”

“Looking back at all the weird and wonderful books we've published, we can't help but ask ourselves.... where is the love?” the publisher asked.

The contest is open from June 1 to Oct. 1 and contestants can be either previously published authors or newbies to the writing game. Manuscripts must be at least 50,000 words, in English. Paper copies (yes, these are required) should be mailed to Quirk Books. (To check out the other rules, take a look at Quirk Books’ website.)

And note to “Twilight” fans: There’s one other rule as well.

“We’re looking for love stories that are fresh, fun, and strikingly unconventional,” the publisher wrote of the contest. “Boy Meets Girl. Girl Meets Girl. Girl Meets Shark. Shark Meets Pirate. Anything goes! Except vampires. Sorry.”