The controversial contest that promised unpublished writers cash, literary representation, and publication, has been canceled. A lack of entries resulted in this, according to a statement on the Sobol website. Simon & Schuster had signed on to publish the winners under their Touchstone/Fireside imprint. The contest has been dogged by “lower-than-expected” response right from its inception in September of 2006. About 1,000 entries were received. Sobol has said that it will refund the $85 entry fee and destroy all manuscripts. The contests has also been criticized by agents and writers as a “glorified reading-fee program” because of its high entry fee.