Category: News

Wow!

My entry in the 2007 Brava Novella Contest made it to the Reader's Choice finals! I'm totally jazzed about that. It's a medieval historical set in France, about a comte who returns from crusade to a wife he hasn't seen in six years, trying desperately to forget the huge scandal she caused while he was away. Obviously, I'm excited that my entry was chosen as a finalist out of the 300+ entries, but I'm also thrilled a medieval historical made it to the final round.

I'm sending out huge thanks to the Brava authors who graciously gave up their time to judge a massive volume of entries, to Kensington for sponsoring the contest, and to Walt Stone and the ladies on the Brava Novella contest thread who made the whole process fun and easy. There will be nine other sets of finalists announced over the coming weeks, and if you entered, here's hoping your entry finals, too.

I have my fingers crossed that Kate Duffy at Kensington really likes what she reads (she's judging the twenty finalists to choose an overall winner). Can't hurt, right?

Category: News

Online Romance Contest

One of the writers I know mentioned The Gather on a loop today. It was the first time I'd heard of this web contest site, so I went up to take a look. They're currently having a Romance First Chapter contest, where writers enter their chapters and get judged by viewers online.

If you're interested, go up and take a peek at the entries. You can not only read them, you can read the comments and see the current status of the voting. There's some really terrific entries, though you have to wade through them one at time to find the stars.

I was amazed by the number of writers who anted up. And by the number of guys who entered. Brave souls, all.

Category: News

RWA Nationals

Many of the writing people I know are in Dallas this week at the RWA National conference. I wish I was there, too. Alas, I'm not. I couldn't go this year, but I'm doing a couple of things to minimize my disgruntlement--

1) I'm visiting RWA's new website on a regular basis,

2) I'm ordering the conference cds, and

3) Hanging out on the Romance Divas website

RWA's website is promising regular updates on the conference happenings, including a blog and updates during the RITA/GH award gala, to keep those of us unable to attend 'in the know'. I've already checked out the blog and read the updates from the RWA Board meeting (where they ruled on changes to PAN eligibility and the RITA/GH contests). The new site is still missing some data that needs to be transferred from the old one and there's a security certificate error they need to resolve, but over all it's looking pretty good. I have several friends up for awards, including my terrific cp, Sylvia, so I'll be 'watching' live on Saturday night.

The conference cd's are a wonderful resource. I usually buy them when I go to the conference, and receive them by mail sometime in the fall. They include most of the conference workshops (a few are not taped), as well as pieces of the PRO retreat. Buying the individual tapes was beyond my budget, but now that the material offered on cd for just over $100, it's pretty reasonable.

Romance Divas is having a conference week event with a bunch of workshops, Q&As, and door prizes. I think it's a great idea, and the RD site is an excellent writers spot, so signing up (free) is an easy decision. Plus, one of the co-founders of Romance Divas is my fellow WildCard, Kristen Painter (who is also up for a GH this year).

If you're like me, stuck at home and wishing you were in Dallas, I hope this info helps!

Category: News

American Title IV

Are you ready for the next American Title competition?

Hosted on the Romantic Times website and utilizing a public voting model similar to American Idol, the contest offers a one-book contract with Dorchester Publishing as the grand prize. Previous winners include Janice Lynn/Jane Millionaire (ATI) and Gerri Russell/The Warrior Trainer (ATII). The winner of American Title III will be announced on April 27th at the RT convention.

This year the subgenre they're inviting writers to submit is Paranormal. If you've got a completed paranormal romance novel, you might want to polish it up and send it in. The deadline to submit an entry is June 1st.

For all the details, click here to visit the submissions webpage.

Category: News

Congratulations!

...to all the finalists in the RWA's 2007 RITA and Golden Heart contests.

Special woo-hoos go out to my cp Sylvia Day, whose novella Her Mad Grace is up for a RITA in Best Novella, and to all my 2005 GH buddies who've finaled this year:

- Gemma Halliday, double RITA finalist for Spying in High Heels
- Terry McLaughlin, RITA finalist for Make Believe Cowboy
- Trish Milburn, double GH finalist in Young Adult with Coven and The Wishing Tree
- Elizabeth Langston, GH finalist in Young Adult with About Face
- Delilah Ahrendt, GH finalist in Short Historical with The Price of Love
- Tina Novinski Radcliffe, GH finalist in Inspirational for Trouble in Paradise
- Beth Watson, GH finalist in Strong Romantic Elements with I Do. Don't I?
- Kristen Painter, GH finalist in Paranormal with All Fired Up
- Theresa Ragan, GH finalist in Paranormal with Return of the Rose

Go WildCards!