RITA® Awards

This morning I dutifully sat down to write and got halfway through my first sentence when the phone rang.  There was possibly a moment of cursing.  Then a civil, if strained, "Hello."  Then the shock of my professional life when I was told I was a finalist for the RITA®  Award.

Since then I've received a lot of congratulations.  Also, a lot of "Huh?  What's that?" queries.  So I will explain.

The Romance Writers of America® (RWA) sponsors a contest for published authors named after their co-founder, Rita Clay Estrada.  About 1,200 authors enter their romance books in the RITA® each year, in one of 12 categories.  Books are judged by our fellow romance authors, which is what makes this contest so important.  It's the Academy Awards for romance writers, with an awards ceremony attended by a couple thousand romance writers that strongly resembles the Oscar ceremonies you watch on TV.  Yes, we know how to do it right!  And just as the Oscar nominees say, it is truly an honor just to be nominated.  Because - with all apologies to my lovely readers - there is something special about your fellow published authors saying, "This is a great book!"

So that's why I had a completely giddy, unproductive day today that was all about feeling proud of my book, SILVER SPARKS.  Tomorrow I will get back to writing.  Or maybe dress shopping, because that awards ceremony is impressive, and if I wear my simple black wrap dress again my daughters and friends will disown me.  I've already been warned.

I think we need to get in touch with those Big Name dress designers and jewelers who make the Oscar nominees look so great.   I'd like to be Halle Berry, please.