Ready for RWA

Missy Tippens, here. Thank you for all the excitement for yesterday's post. It's been a huge thrill and honor to be nominated for a RITA®. It's made getting ready for this year's Romance Writers of America national conference that much more exciting.

I've been busy picking out dresses to take with me, especially for the RITA and Golden Heart awards ceremony. Also for the big party Harlequin throws for their authors every year. Not to mention the shoes and jewelry! I'm just glad the conference is in Atlanta this year so I don't have to fly. I can take as much luggage as I need. :)

When I went to pick out my dress for the awards ceremony, I took my daughter with me. She's sixteen and very honest with me. Needless to say, she had no qualms telling me when something didn't look good! So when I fell in love with THE dress, I was relieved when she approved...provided I wore a body shaper underneath! LOL

Gotta love teenagers and how they keep us humble. :)

I thought I'd share my dress with you today. I adore the color (the close up is truer to color) and satiny fabric. You can all picture me in it next Saturday night (the 19th). Just be sure to picture me all cinched in and "shaped." <grin>

Welcoming New LI Blogger Deb Kastner and Celebrating with Missy Tippens

Missy Tippens, here. I'm pleased to introduce a new blogger to our Craftie Ladies blog. Welcome Deb Kastner!

Deb's Bio (from the Harlequin website):
Deb picked up her first Harlequin romance novel at the age of 11, and has been hooked ever since. Though it had always been her dream to write the books she loved, it wasn't until January of 1996 that she finally got up the courage to begin writing. Her first book, Beloved, came to fruition in August of 1998.

Deb feels blessed to have the opportunity to write inspirational category romances for Harlequin's Love Inspired imprint. She says, "It's great to be able to write love stories that incorporate faith as a natural and integral part of my characters' lives."

Deb lives with her husband, three daughters, and a Staffordshire bullterrier along the Front Range of the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Colorado. In addition to writing for Love Inspired, Deb homeschools her daughters and teaches a number of writing classes online at WritersCollege.com.

Deb has a recent Love Inspired release, Meeting Mr. Right.

When Mr. Wrong Is Mr. Right

A woman in a man's world, firefighter Vee Bishop has to be tough as nails. She's developed a hard shell that no one can penetrate. But Vee's online friend BJ sees her softer side. BJ seems so kind and caring—just the opposite of Ben Atwood. Her annoying coworker has trampled expectations all over town, or so rumor has it. Turns out, once she agrees to give Ben a fair shot, he's surprisingly vulnerable. As Vee prepares to make a difficult choice, an unexpected twist shows that love is always one step ahead.

Also! I'm very excited to announce I got a call that my 2012 Love Inspired, A House Full of Hope is a RITA^® Finalist! I'm thrilled beyond reason. You can see me celebrating in the side bar. Pamela emailed and asked me to snap a shot of myself holding my book for the blog. Of course it took about 40 tries, and I still had to settle for that one. :)

I'm also excited that my new book, Georgia Sweethearts, is on shelves now! I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard of some Walmart sightings.

Thanks for letting me celebrate both today! And for helping me welcome Deb.

Missy

RITA WATCH: To Win Her Heart

Blacksmith Meets… Town Librarian?

Interview by Lacy Williams, on RITA WATCH

Meet TO WIN HER HEART, one of the finalists for the RITA in the Inspirational Romance category.

When were you born?

May 2011

Where were you born?

My creator is Karen Witemeyer, who lives in Abilene, Texas. I think her Texas connections helped create the setting in this book, which is very authentic. Karen is a deacon's wife and mother of three who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters.

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Tailor-Made Bride (June 2010) – a 2011 RITA finalist for Best First Book
Head in the Clouds (October 2010)
Short-Straw Bride (June 2012)

What do you think made you a RITA finalist?

The poignant love story, of course. First you’ve got a spinster librarian who is influential in the town, and a blacksmith newly out of prison for an unintentional crime that he committed. She’s waaaaaaay out of his league, and he knows it, but neither one can help the feelings that develop between them. The hero has overcome so much, but can he really WIN HER HEART?

Plus, Karen’s unique author voice just seems to drag readers into the story and not let them go.

Tell us your story.

Levi Grant arrives in Spencer, Texas, looking for a new start. A blacksmith and a big, burly guy, he actually likes reading (and there’s a good reason for it, too!) so is drawn to the town library, where he meets and begins to fall for Eden Spencer, one beautiful gal and the town librarian. Sparks fly, but when Eden finds out about Levi’s past, will she be able to love him anyway?

Good luck to Karen with TO WIN HER HEART!

RITA WATCH: The Christmas Child

A Christmas Story to Cherish
Interview by Lacy Williams, on RITA WATCH

 

Meet THE CHRISTMAS CHILD, one of the finalists for the RITA in the Inspirational Romance category.

When were you born?

September 2011. Which is kind of funny, since I’m a Christmas story.

Where were you born?

My creator, Linda Goodnight, is from Oklahoma, from a small town much like the fictional one featured in my pages. This gives her special insight to creating the small-town feel that my readers seem to like so much.

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

I’m one of about forty other books Linda Goodnight has written, and some of my “siblings” have won a RITA, two ACFW Book of the Year Awards, a Booksellers’ Best, and a Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews.

I’m not gonna lie. It’s a lot to live up to. But if I can touch one reader’s heart, then I guess I’ll be satisfied.  

Watch for the repackage of A Season for Grace and The Heart of Grace coming July 2012—if you haven’t read these books before, you’ll love them.

What do you think made you a RITA finalist?

Definitely my hero, Kade McKendrick. ::whistles:: There is something about reluctant heroes… good guys with something hard in their past that they have to overcome… yup, get’s the ladies drooling every time. AND he has a dog. And stubble. Did I mention he’s a cop?

And if I had to make a second guess to the answer for this question, I’d say little Davey, the child pictured on my cover. He’s a boy in need of a lot of love, and between Kade and Sophie, they end up giving him a Christmas to remember. Some of my readers really love the kids that Linda seems to write so well, and Davey is no exception.

Briefly tell us your story.

It’s Christmastime and Kade’s home in Redemption, Oklahoma, nursing a deep, dark hurt from his job as an undercover cop. He and some dumpster divers find little Davey huddled in a trash dumpster and Kade sort of becomes his protector. With the help of schoolteacher Sophie Bartholomew, who is a Christmas junkie, of course. Between Sophie and Davey, Kade can’t keep his heart protected for long and then he has to decide whether to leave town or stay and try to mend what’s been eating him for so long.

Good luck to Linda with THE CHRISTMAS CHILD!

RITA Roll Call

2011 - Our finalist this year is Linda Goodnight.  Check back next Thursday for the story.

2010 - Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight

2008 - A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight

2008 - Pamela Tracy finaled with her Love Inspired Suspense Pursuit of Justice.  Pamela says, "I knew when I started this book that it was different.  The story had been hammering at me for years, begging me to give it a turn.  From the first page, it felt right.  When it finaled in the RITA, I felt like someone had just whispered in my ear, 'Hey, you really can write.'  I felt like Cinderella the entire conference.

2007 - Allie Pleiter finaled with My So-Called Love Life

2006 -  One finalist this year was Lyn Cote.  She had this to say.
"The first book in my Women of Ivy Manor historical series, Chloe, finaled in 2006.  Finaling in the RITA bolstered my confidence and helped me be more adventurous in what I write. My book Chloe has remained one my most popular and controversial books. I say controversial because either readers love the heroine or hate her. But once they start reading her story they can't stop reading. Chloe was one of my few heroines who didn't start out as a brave woman. Life beat her up in many ways till she finally saw matters clearly and could take charge of her life. She is the matriarch in the remaining books of the series and everyone looks up to her. But early in the 20th century, she had been raised to be just a pretty face, an elegant hostess and nothing more, but she became a woman of character, one I've proud to have written.

 
2006 - Terri Reed also finaled in the RITA in 2006 with her second Love Inspired Romance A Sheltering Love.


There you have it! 
Most of us Craftie Ladies have our Writers' Goals.  Winning a RITA is fourth on my list of five things to do during my writing journey.

How about the rest of you?

Interview with DOUBLE RITA Finalist Linda Goodnight by Lisa Mondello

Last Friday was a day of celebration for the Craftie Ladies...well, really all of RWA but the CRAFTIE LADIES of Love Inspired Romance really know how to celebrate when one of our own gets good news.

That's what happened last Friday when the RWA RITA Award finalists were announced. Our very own Linda Goodnight finaled with not only 1 book, but 2!

I may be speaking out of line here, but I'm fairly sure that there wasn't a Love Inspired Author who was still sitting in her chair when word got out that Linda Goodnight was a double finalist. (I know my chair few back, I scared the cat and the dog ran out of the room. Of course, it could have been from the Yippee! I hollered, too.) I caught up with Linda Goodnight over the weekend and asked her to share a few thoughts with us on being a DOUBLE RITA finalist. Here is what she had to say...

1. Where were you when you got the RITA call and what were you doing?

After going to the gym with my husband and home-schooled daughter, I had just opened my computer to get to work. Turns out, the gym was the only productive thing I accomplished all day. But that's a good thing!

2. Who was the first person you called/emailed?

My awesome, supportive editor, Allison Lyons. She was beyond excited, too, as I knew she would be. We laughed and squealed together.

3. Did you hear about both books in one phone call? Or two different phone calls? And what was the first thing that went through your mind?

I heard in two separate calls which made the news twice as thrilling. When the first call came, I wasn't even thinking about RWA. The caller ID was unfamiliar and I usually don't answer my phone when I'm sitting down to write but for some reason, I picked it up. SO glad I did. It was Terri McLaughlin with RWA. Instantly, a chill went up my back. I asked if she was calling for the reason I thought. When she said yes, I started laughing and crying like a baby. Poor woman almost never got me shut up long enough to read the official spiel, of which I remember absolutely nothing. Good thing they send a back-up email.

As soon as I hung up, I bolted from my office in search of family to squeal and jump around with. I made it as far as the living room when the phone rang again. My first thought? "Uh-oh, they made a mistake. I'm not really a finalist. " When the caller told me why she was calling I screamed, "No way!" I hope she doesn't sue me for rupturing her eardrum.

4. Do either of the books (or both) have a special meaning to you? If so, tell us about it.

Both these books in my Redemption River series are really special to me. The first, FINDING HER WAY HOME, is about a rape victim, fighting her way out of the darkness and depression, distrust and guilt. I received so many wonderful letters from readers who had suffered abuse, and those letters mean the world to me.

THE WEDDING GARDEN is one of those books in which the hero lived in my heart and I had to give him a story. Having spent my entire life in a small town, I understand the way people you've known forever can surprise you, hurt you, and heal you. Besides, I'm just plain in love with Sloan Hawkins!

5. Did you celebrate in any special way with your family and friends?

My family took me out for dinner last night. I really want to lose some weight before conference but who can resist food, especially chocolate, during a celebration?! And all my amazing friends Facebooked and emailed all day. It was wonderful, encouraging, and joyous.

6. Can you give us a little rundown of what each of the books is about?

Since I've already discussed a little about FINDING HER WAY HOME, I'll tell you about THE WEDDING GARDEN.

Sloan Hawkins grew up as the bad seed, the abandoned son of Redemption's only convicted murderer. Falling in love with the police chief's daughter cost him more than he ever knew when he was run out of town at eighteen. Now he's reluctantly back, attitude and all, because of a dying aunt who gave him hope and a home when he had nothing else. Chief Dooley Crawford isn't happy to see him. Neither is his daughter. Both hide secrets that will shake Redemption and change Sloan's life forever.

A little mystery, a dab of murder, family turmoil, and lots of love on many levels. I LOVE this book! lol

Thanks so much Linda! From all of us at the CRAFTIE LADIES of Love Inspired Romance, CONGRATULATIONS!

Many blessings, Lisa Mondello

http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com/