Today’s guest nominee Author Tamera Alexander has offered a free copy of her nominated book, The Inheritance. The giveaway will continue for the rest of the week through Saturday. If you’d like a chance to win it, please leave a comment with your email address written with the (at) and (dot) so the spammers don’t harvest yours! Now for Tamera’s reply to Lyn: What does being a RITA finalist mean to you?
Tamera: “I’m honored to be a RITA finalist this year for The Inheritance (Thomas Nelson, Women of Faith Fiction), and to be counted among the other writers listed in your post below, Lyn. I’ve read almost every book in our category and these ladies are exceptionally talented! They push me to try harder and to give my very best, while they also teach me a ton.
Being a finalist in the RITAs is exciting, and the award ceremony at the conference is something special too. Romance Writers of America really goes all out to make the evening a memorable experience. Getting dressed up, sitting with your fellow nominees, cheering each other on, having that girl time with other writers you respect and admire…well, it’s a kick, to say the least, and a real blessing. One that, unfortunately (sad face), I won’t be able to take part in this year, but I’ll be cheering everyone on from Nashville.” Tamera Alexander
Ever since attending my first RWA national conference in 1997 and watching the awesome award ceremony in Orlando, I’ve dreamed of being a Rita finalist. A year later, I had an opportunity to touch a Rita statuette. As I did so, I wondered what it would be like to win one of my own.
Last year, the book of my heart, MULBERRY PARK, was a Rita Finalist, and I walked several inches above ground for months. I couldn’t help wondering if it was a fluke, though. Had I somehow lucked out when I’d gotten the nod?
When the winner’s name was called in Washington D.C., I wasn’t the least bit disappointed that it wasn’t mine. Well, maybe just a wee bit. But from the end of March until the last Saturday night in July, I felt honored beyond belief.
This year, when I got the call that ENTERTAINING ANGELS also finaled in the Rita, I was thrilled. And I began to realize that it might not be a fluke. That maybe I really could create stories that touched both readers and my peers.
Being a Rita finalist is one of the best things that ever happened to me as a writer. And I have no doubt that, no matter who gets to take the statuette home on July 31, I’ll still feel like a winner. Judy Duarte http://www.judyduarte.com/
Lyn:What does it mean to you to be a RITA finalist?
DiAnn Mills: Years ago, I met Rita Gallagher and her daughter Rita Clay Estrada. (These two women a mother and daughter were some of the founders of Romance Writers of America.) In fact Rita Gallagher gave me my first writing lessons–tools for the craft that I have never forgotten. It was years later before I put these tools into practice, but the writing basics came from the Rita‘s. I never forgot the structure and the means of deepening characterization.
To be nominated for a Rita award is a way to thank these dynamic women for their contributions to the writing and publishing industry. They expressed and taught excellence, and I believe that is a motto for all writers and those who teach writing. We writers are all students. The learning never ceases for then we fail. What we write today is not the quality we will write tomorrow. Not every writer is able to accept this challenge, but those who do will see their writing and publishing goals attained and reach for greater heights.
This is what being nominated for a Rita means to me. And I am proud to be on the list of other dynamic writers who aspire and encourage others to write well and pursue excellence.
BREACH OF TRUST – Tyndale House Publishers – March 2009 A WOMAN CALLED SAGE – Zondervan – March 2010 SWORN TO PROTECT – Tyndale House Publishers – April 2010
PURSUIT OF JUSTICE – Tyndale House Publishers – October 2010
Kathleen Y’Barbo: Having a book nominated for a RITA is beyond my wildest dreams! I was thrilled when my editor Shannon Marchese told me Waterbrook would entering THE CONFIDENTIAL LIFE OF EUGENIA COOPER in the contest. So when I got the call, I was shocked….stunned! I was packing for a trip to London and Paris that my kids had given me for Christmas when the call came in. God is just so very, very good. That He allows me to write these books is a blessing beyond measure. Being mentioned in the same category with these other ladies…priceless!!
IN STORES NOW: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper -recipient of 4.5 Stars from Romantic Times Magazine!-2010 RITA FINALIST! Anna Finch and the Hired Gun – June 2010-recipient of 4 Stars from Romantic Times Magazine! I Know I’m Not Alone, Lord! – Surviving Divorce – June 2010 Beloved Counterfeit – -recipient of 4 Stars from Romantic Times Magazine! Cajun Hearts – August 2009 The House is Quiet – Now What? Surviving the Empty Nest- November 2009 Riverwalk Christmas – Coming in September 2010
Here’s Author Margaret Brownley’s reply to the question: What does it mean to me to final in the RITA? Here’s Margaret: I’m a RITA finalist? Wow! I thought I was dreaming. Seriously, the day I received “the call” that A Lady Like Sarah was a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist I was shocked. More than that I was speechless (which my husband insists is a first).
With more than twenty published books I’m hardly a rank beginner, but it is my first inspirational and I had many reasons to be concerned. Would readers warm to my unconventional outlaw heroine? My preacher hero? Did I get the inspirational theme right or was I (heaven forbid) too preachy? In other words, I didn’t have the slightest idea what I was doing (still don’t!).
Readers’ response has been great (and the book is currently on the CBA bestseller list-another first!) but to get a nod from my peers is more than I ever dared hoped for.
Wait a minute. What am I saying? My name up there with all my favorite authors? Not possible. I was right all along: I am dreaming.”
In bookstores now: Margaret Brownley’s love and laughter in the Old West
RITA Finalist: A LADY LIKE SARAH
She’s an outlaw. He’s a preacher. Both are in need of a miracle.
The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander Thomas Nelson, Inc., Women of Faith Fiction Editors: Ami McConnell and Natalie Hanemann ISBN: 978-1-59554-632-6
A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley Thomas Nelson, Inc. Editor: Natalie Hanemann ISBN: 978-0-59554-809-2 The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical Editor: Melissa Endlich ISBN: 978-0-373-82824-1
Entertaining Angels by Judy Duarte Kensington Publishing Corp. Editor: John Scognamiglio ISBN: 978-0-7582-2016-5 An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon Baker Publishing Group, Revell Books Editor: Jennifer Leep ISBN: 978-0-8007-3311-7
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen Bethany House Publishers Editor: Karen Schurrer ISBN: 978-0-7642-0707-5 Breach of Trust by Diann Mills Tyndale House Publishers Editor: Stephanie Boerne ISBN: 978-1-414-32047-2
The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y’Barbo Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah Editor: Jessica Barnes ISBN: 978-0-307-44474-5
All this week and next, I’ll be featuring one of these authors each day. On Saturday night, July 31st at a big EVENT in Orlando FL, the RITA Awards will be given.
I’ll post the Inspirational winner on Sunday, August 1st. And congratulations to all the finalists!!!–Lyn
Family is rarely convenient. Case in point: Uncle Obadiah Horace pickwick. Despite his summons to discuss his will, likely brought on by hospitalization for chest pains, I won’t be flying to Pickwick, North Carolina. As I explained to his ancient attorney before he put me on hold, as much as I like my uncle, I can’t get out from under my workload on such short notice.
Of course, neither am I ready to return to the town I escaped twelve years ago.
Staring at the phone on my desk, I will Artemis Bleeker to return to the line, but the music continues to drone from the speakerphone. Whine, whine. “Oh ma darlin’….” Groan, groan. “You left me standin’ here…” Wah, wah. “Left me starin’ after you.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I flop back in my chair. “Cry me a river.”
“Well, ma dear,” the nasal voice drops several octaves, “I’m back.”
I roll my eyes. “Nice lyrics.”
“What’d ya say, Piper?”
It’s him! I grab the receiver. “Mr. Bleeker—“
“You’re no longer a little girl, Piper Pickwick. Do address me by ma first name.”
As he asked me to do when I took his call, after which I politely informed him I had dropped the “Pick” part of my name. Though he spluttered over the “butcherin’” of the family name, I didn’t defend myself. But had I, my defense would have been based more on the Pickwicks’ scandalous reputation than on the nursery rhyme alliteration that plagued me through my school years.
Piper Wick clears her throat. “Thank you, Artemis. I’ll try to remember that. So you said the doctors are running more tests to determine the cause of Uncle Obe’s chest pains.”
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 on Thursday. Drop by and read about the best in inspirational romance!
BTW, I was a RITA nominee in 2006 for my book Chloe. Did any of you hear about the RITAs before now?I’d really like to hear if you’ve heard of this before this posting. THANKS!-
Today my guest is Author Linda Ford who speaks about rejection from experience. Here’s Linda:
“Love in the face of rejection requires incredible strength. Rejection comes in so many forms from outright hatefulness to subtle things like being constantly overlooked and undervalued. Sometimes the rejection is more in our imagination than in reality. For instance, I remember how many times I was the last to be picked for a sports team. It was because I was bad in sports. Looking back I can see how unimportant being able to make a homerun matters in the scheme of life but as a child my failure to perform in this area meant rejection by my peers.
But other times, the rejection is real and profound. I have adopted children. Adoption for me signifies that I chose this child. I wanted him or her enough to go through the invasive homestudy, the medical questionnaires, etc. But for the child it is a very real evidence of rejection. Not by me but by his biological parents. For some that sense of rejection is insurmountable. I had one son say to me, ‘You can’t love me. If my own mother didn’t love me, no one can.’ Every day and in every way he lived out the repercussions of his pain, sabotaging every step that could lead him to success. It was extremely hard to watch this process repeated over and over. I felt rejected by his pain and refusal to accept my love. How does a person learn to deal with rejection?
Even little rejections hurt. Big ones consume one’s very soul. I believe it takes a miracle of love—God’s love to heal this kind of pain. And a lifetime of learning to live in God’s love. I had to learn to let go and let God. Let go of my need for a loving response, let go of my need to fix, let go of my pain and simply be—through God’s healing love and strength—all that God wanted me to be in Him. I had to learn to live the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
I address the subject of rejection in a very small way in my Love Inspired Historical story DAKOTA COWBOY (release July 2010). My heroine, Lucy, has been brushed aside and ignored by her mostly absent father. It’s taught Lucy to guard her heart especially around men. It colors many of her decisions. Yet she must trust a man to help her and in the end learns that some men are worthy of trust. I hope you read this story to find out how she learns this valuable lesson and whether or not she can be reconciled to her father. Two more stories will be released in this series that deals with children that need love. DAKOTA FATHER will be out in Jan. 2011 and PRAIRIE COWBOY later in the year.
I’d be interested in hearing how others have dealt with rejection.–Author Linda Ford
Well, Linda, I know a lot about rejection. At one time, I was rejected by practically every editor in New York City. But seriously we all face rejection except from God. Thanks for sharing.–Lyn
Today my guest is Author Patricia Hickman, who shares her experience with The Miracle Refrigerator. Here’s Patricia:
“Over a decade ago, my daughter Jessica and I organized a gift for some children we heard were often passed over during Christmas. The children and/or their mothers were unfortunately infected with the HIV virus. Most were in need of essentials like warm clothing, but we wanted to provide them with both some clothing and a toy. It was a small outreach, but the families’ spirits were lifted and it seemed the right thing to do.
But tragedy darkened our ministry endeavors when Jessica was taken from us later that spring in a car accident. I didn’t think I could possibly continue to do the outreach because she had done so much and because it was too painful to do it without her. Besides, I was a Christian novelist and at that time, even writing was hard enough to manage.
But a group of moms surrounded me with support and said that if I would lead and give them directives, they would oversee the Christmas drive. We more than doubled our giving that Christmas in spite of my desire to avoid the holiday season altogether.
A couple of years passed and we continued to give, asking merchants and other churches to put up what we called a Secret Angel Tree, secret because of the privacy laws protecting a stigmatized group of women and children.
But that spring the case worker I worked in conjunction with from the Carolinas Medical Center called me, remembering that our group had provided the gifts for her young clients.
She told me, “A patient’s refrigerator is going out. All of their medications are refrigerated. If this family loses their refrigerator, in an hour all the meds will be gone.”
That was aside from the fact that all their food would spoil too. For a family stressed under the weight of the financial problems caused by AIDS, this was a crisis.
I didn’t know what to do and complained to my husband. He told me, first of all, to hit my knees. Then he coaxed me into making some calls to the families who had provided the Christmas gifts. I alluded to the need, asking people for money whenever possible. I picked up the phone and started calling each family to tell them what was happening to one of our families. Within a half hour, families from all over town were driving over with checks and cash to our house. My husband called the local Lowe’s Home Improvement store and told the manager about this family’s situation. The manager told us to bring whatever we had collected to him as soon as possible. I hated to be the one to tell him, but we had only raised a little over three hundred dollars. The store manager accepted it without reservation and delivered a brand new refrigerator to the house within the hour.
That was a pivotal moment in the history of the Secret Angels Project. What I came to realize over time was that the women we had been helping suffer crises throughout the year, so the need for our raising support should become year-round support. Besides their health issues, some are victims of a spouse or partner who doesn’t tell her he is leading a double life. Some of our moms were battered and left in women’s shelters only to return home and find their bank account drained and their electricity off. They were fired for their illness, evicted, their children taunted and abused by a community that did not understand the HIV virus. The work we had been doing in secret was creating a bond with an outcast group of truly wonderful women who loved their children and were in desperate need of simple compassion.
When I was going through a crisis myself, I assumed that I was too numb for God to work through me. What I realized over time was that my numbness was another opportunity for God to be God.
Novelist Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of over seventeen books. Her novel The Pirate Queenwill release August 10, 2010 and is a story of a woman who thought her life was over until she opened it to a special child who taught her the meaning of love.“–Author Patricia Hickman
Thanks so much for sharing that story, Patricia. God works through us but doesn’t need us to be anything but willing. I read The Pirate Queen and loved it. I recommend it highly to all women.–Lyn
The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander
A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley
The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw
Entertaining Angels by Judy Duarte
An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
Breach of Trust by Diann Mills
The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y’Barbo
