RWA Rita and Golden Heart Finalists Announced
13 Comments March 26th, 2008 in RWA, romance novel awards Posted by Malleby Malle, Digital Team Member
The Romance Writers of America have announced the nominees to the 2008 Rita Awards and the Golden Hearts.
A big congratulations to all and to our Harlequin family in particular. Of particular note to the I Heart Presents blog readers are the nominations under Contemporary Series Romance Finalists for Kelly Hunter, Heidi Rice and Natsha Oakley! Way to go, ladies!
Also, as if Lynn Raye Harris, winner of the Instant Seduction contest wasn’t having a great week already, she’s also been nominated in the Golden Heart for series romantic suspense/adventure. Well done! Let’s keep our fingers crossed for her!
The nominated books:
Natasha Oaklye’s The Tycoon’s Princess Bride (print edition) and eBook edition.
Sleeping Partner by Kelly Hunter
The Mile-High Club by Heidi Rice
This book is available in NA with a different title, The Millionaire’s Blackmail Bargain, on sale now.
Have any of our other readers been nominated for the RITA or Golden Heart?
I was lucky enough to get a phone call yesterday as a Golden Heart finalist for my single title Romantic Suspense, Truth and Consequences. It really was awesome to get some positive feedback on my work. Very exciting. I hope there are others out there, too.
Since I love both category and single title, I get to write emotional love stories WITH dead bodies and WITHOUT ! What could be better?
Robin
Dear Robin,
I went and found your category. Congratulations and how cool is it that we have – so far – 2 Golden Heart nominees visiting the Presents blog. I love your explanation of writing emotional love stories WITH dead bodies and WITHOUT dead bodies.
Robin’s category:
2008 Golden Heart for Romantic Suspense Finalists
Beyond the Borders by Helene Young
Dying To Remember by Cherilyn Redwine
Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan
Murder in Situ by Rachel Grant
One Shot, Two Kills by Kimberley Howe
Safe In Enemy Arms by Joan Swan
Sweet Deceit by Julie Stevens
Truth and Consequences by Robin Perini
Congratulations Robin, Lynne Rae, Heidi, and Natasha. Weren’t those phone calls something?
I was walking past the phone with a cup of tea in one hand and a sandwich in the other. I picked it up, as you do.
‘Hello,’ I said with an appalling lack of phone manners (I confess, I thought it was my mother).
‘Hello,’ said a voice with a decidedly American twang. ‘Is that Keearly. This is Romance Writers of America calling…’
Chuckle. Chuckle, chuckle (I do not usually chuckle uncontrollably)
‘…about your Rita entry in the Contemporary Series Romance section.
Squee!!!!!!!! (I NEVER squee)
The rest was incomprehensible babble.
So who’s going to SF?
Fabulous news! Congrats to the shortlistees! Loved the call story, Kelly. And your definition, Robin *g*
Not going to SF but will be raising a glass to you over here in England
)
I totally loved that call story too Kelly – SO wonderful – thanks for sharing
Huge congrats all round – such fabulous books – and what an awesome week or so you’re having Lynne Raye!!!
Have fun in SF Kelly!!!
~Natalie
Cool call story Kelly, mine is somewhat similar.
I knew the RITA calls were going out on Tuesday so I used it as a great reason to faff about and daydream and not work on the current WIP. Then, when the phone went at about 2pm I thought, trust my flipping hubby to ring me to ask about what we should do for dinner just when I’m fantasizing about getting a call from the RWA.
So when it was the lady from the RWA I thought I’d entered an alternative reality – you know, the ones where dreams really do come true. She probably thought I was completely mad because I kept saying ‘I can’t believe it’. I’m sure she said lots of really important stuff but I can’t remember a word of that either. I was kind of hoping you’d remember it Kelly so I could quiz you, but it looks like I’m out of luck!
Cheers for the congrats everyone – I still don’t believe it – and congrats back to all the other RITA finallists and the Golden Hearts ones too.
And I’m going to Frisco, so I’ll see you there Kelly.
Heidi
Congratulations, everyone! That phone call was a heck of a feeling, wasn’t it?
After last week’s fabulous phone call, I wasn’t prepared for the elation of more great news. It’s been such a great week for me. I am honored and, well, stunned. Like so many unpublished writers with big dreams, I’ve been toiling away at my stories for a while. To get this kind of validation, like Robin said, is just awesome. 
Robin, LOVE your explanation about stories with and without dead bodies! That’s exactly the way I feel!
I hope to meet some of you in San Francisco.
Lynn
Congratulations to all of the Rita and GH finalists. And a special congrat’s to Lynne. What a great couple of weeks you’re having. Enjoy every second of your sucess.
Claudia.
Congratulations to all the finalists! WTG!!! Enjoy!
Woot!!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations, ladies!! Just loved the call stories, lol. It’s such an exciting day. Can’t even imagine the thrill. Very best wishes to you all on the night!
Robyn
Hi Lynn–
Congratulations!!! Saw your name. What a week you’ve had. Awesome!!! And thanks to all for the congrats to everyone else. It’s much appreciated. It’s just an amazing thing to have your work appreciated by someone who’s not related
.
A special congrats to the Rita finalists as well.
Well, I have to get back to work, so I’ll sign off for a bit.
Warmest regards,
Robin
Finally I’ve got the children off the internet long enough (hands head in shame!) to pop in here. What can I say? It’s the Easter holidays and I’ve just started a new book …
Congratulations to Robin, Lynne Rae, Heidi and Kelly. Exciting, isn’t it! Now if I can just work out what I did right I’ll try and do it again.