This past weekend calls went out to RWA’s Golden Heart and Rita award finalists.
I’ve never actually entered the Golden Heart, I came close this year, but decided at the last moment to put the $150 bucks it would have cost me to different use. I’m not a member of RWA, so entering the contest would have meant shelling out the $100 RWA membership fee, plus the $50 contest fee. At the time it was a little spendy for me. I do know quite a few people who have entered the contest, though—so I know how exciting (and disappointing) the call weekend can be. In the past, I had quite a few friends who would stay home, glued to the phone on the call weekend. Each call would be greeted with an excited rush. If they did final, the news was greeted with euphoria. Getting the call that you finaled in the Golden Heart (I’m sure the euphoria is even stronger in the RITA finalist) is the next best thing to getting the call you’ve sold your first book.
And finaling in the Golden Heart or RITA is a huge deal. For the Golden Heart finalists, it can launch a career, land that top agent, sell that first book. A RITA final leads to tremendous exposure, not to mention bragging rights on the author’s next book cover.
So I wanted to take a moment to congratulate the author’s I know who finaled in this year’s Golden Heart and RITA contests. For those of you interested, you can find the Golden Heart finalists HERE and the Rita finalists HERE.
So major congratulations go out to the following Magical Musing friends.
Allison Brennan, who finaled in the Romantic Suspense category of the RITA, with The Kill.
Maria V. Snyder, who finaled in the paranormal category of the RITA, with Magic Study.
Elisabeth Naughton, who finaled in the Romantic Suspense category of the Golden Heart.
You guys rock!!
I agree, Theresa. It’s exciting to know you’ve finaled. Not that I ever have, but I can just imagine. I didn’t enter this year, although I have in past years. Last year, we were all thrilled when Rae Monet (a good friend and former MM member) won the GH for paranormal.
Kudos to Allison, Elisabeth and Maria. You guys definitely deserve it.
I can also mention two Wisconsin Chapter members who finaled (respectively) in the RITA … Lori Handeland and in the GH … Beth Watson.
We’ll be there cheering you on, ladies.
Theresa, so great that we have such talented friends.
I love when wonderful things happen to great people. Here’s to you all! Sprinkling magic fairy dust from TN…. We’ll all be cheering you on at National!
Yes, congratulations Allison, Maria and Elisabeth! Woohoo. I’m so thrilled I can be at the awards ceremony in person this year.
I didn’t even realize Maria finalled. Yay! I loved Magic Study. And how cool is it for Allison that she’s in the same group as JD Robb, aka Nora Roberts! That would set my heart thumping.
Congrats to all three, plus Beth Watson, Lori Handeland, Donnell Ann Bell, Cindy Procter-King, Madeline Hunter and PJ Alderman. I’ll be cheering for all of you!
Best wishes to those who were lucky enough to final. I only know one, Allison, and it’s good to see her hard work has paid off.
I sat close to the phone, although, not surprised that it never rang. I entered the GH – “strong romantic elements.” I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me not to final. That was a lot of hard work – my only regret is that there’s no feedback, although, I already suspect it was because my romantic elements weren’t strong enough.
CONGRATS to all the finalists! Now, back to the grind for the rest of us, doggone it!
I didn’t enter GH. In fact, it hardly crossed my mind, except for the few people I knew who entered. Maybe next year I’ll bite the bullet and at least be a judge. I want to see what all the hoopla is about.
Liz,
I’ve never finaled either, but I’ve got a great imagination and can definately imagine how excited I’d be. Or disappointed, if the call didn’t come through.
LaDonna,
I’m a big believer in celebrating the good news. And other than a sale, finaling in the GH or Rita is about as good as it gets.
Michelle,
I wish I could be there in person too. How cool if one of our MM friends wins their category!
Edie,
I hadn’t relized Maria had finaled either, at least not until I checked out the Rita finalists list RWA posted.
Kathy,
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t final. I don’t doubt it bothered you, it would sure bother me too.
Everyone I know who had something entered in either the GH or the RITA rode the phones all day. So believe me, you weren’t alone in your glued to the phonedom.
Marcia,
I think I’ll go ahead and enter next year. (assuming I don’t make that first sale
) You can’t final if you don’t enter. Sort of like you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket…
Aw, thanks, T. Seeing my name mentioned here gave me tingles.
I honestly didn’t expect to final – I tend to score both high and low in contests – so I was shocked when the call came through. I’d been out all morning and when I got home around noon (west coast time) and saw no message, I thought, “Okay, that’s it. Not my year.” Just my luck, too, I was starting to feel really icky right about then – turns out I had food poisoning – and I’d just laid down to take a nap when I got the call. Then I proceeded to puke all afternoon as the food poisoning hit full force. What a way to celebrate, huh? LOL
I’m honored the judges picked my manuscript to final, and I know the competition was fierce. There are so many deserving writers out there – several in my chapter alone who deserved to final and didn’t. GH finalist or not, we’re all winners because we’re writers and we’re doing what we love.
And to the girls of MM…drinks in Dallas? I wanna party with you ladies.
Sorry to hear about the food poisoning, Elisabeth. What a crappy way to spend what should have been the highlight of your year.
Would love to party at Nationals. As long as you don’t puke.
ROFL. You’re on, Liz.