Lyn Cote here--The RITA Award is the most prominent award given throughout the genre of romance novel and some other romantic fiction. It is presented by Romance Writers of America (RWA). It is named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada.(and also her mother Rita Gallagher.) It signifies excellence in one of 13 categories of romantic fiction.
Authors and editors submit manuscripts for consideration in the fall. In mid-spring, 100 finalists are announced. The winners are presented with a statuette in a ceremony held on the last day of the RWA National Conference each July.
Categories
The categories are:
- Best First Book
- Best Contemporary Series Romance
- Best Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure
- Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
- Best Historical Romance
- Best Inspirational Romance
- Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
- Best Paranormal Romance
- Best Regency Historical Romance
- Best Romance Novella
- Best Romantic Suspense
- Best Young Adult Romance
The novels are picked from among the novels published the previous year.
I am going to be featuring the eight 2010 RITA nominees, one a day, on my blog starting a week from today. Drop by and read about the best in inspirational romance!
BTW, among our own Craftie Ladies of Romance, I was a RITA nominee in 2006 for my book Chloe. And our own Linda Goodnight won a RITA in 2008. (I remember that because I was sitting next to her when they called her name and she leaped up and began crying. GRIN.)
Did I miss any of our other craftie ladies who have been nominees or winners?
And readers, did any of you hear about the RITAs before now?
Posts
Pamela Tracy, Terri Reed, and Allie Pleiter have all been nominees. Love Inspired authors have done well amidst the 'bigger' books.
ReplyDeleteBeing RITA finalist is like being a princess. I felt so special that whole conference.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad you filled me in, Linda. Your win made a big impression on me! And yes, it's hard for the smaller books but Love Inspired does shoulder in among the big books!
ReplyDeleteAnd Pamela, you're too young to be a RITA nominee! GRIN!
ReplyDeleteYou young whipper-snappers!
Okay, Lyn, how much money do you want to borrow? LOL. whipper-snapper indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for asking the question. No, I hadn't heard of the RITA awards before, but I am happy to know of them. I have something I need to do soon. I used to be a longtime member of Love Inspired books and fell behind in my reading because of a crucial and long illness with long hospitalization periods. I wasn't very coherent and couldn't read. So - I need to catch up on all my book reading and rejoin the club!! Congratulations to all of you for your fabulous wins. Now, I've a yen to write and hope reading all your great words and stories will rub off on me and my own creativity can develop in the writing skills! I'm praying about it. Please ladies, continue your wonderful work.
ReplyDeleteBarb Shelton
Arlington, TX
barbjan10@tx.rr.com