Today is a nail-biting day for many romance writers, including some on this blog. It’s the day phone calls go out to finalists for the biggest award in the romance genre: the RITA award. It’s like the Academy Awards for romance writers. Yes, my 2018 books are entered in this year’s RITA contest, just like in previous years. No, I’ve never finalled, let alone won. But I still sometimes imagine being up on the stage in a fancy gown, crying happy tears and making one of those awkward thank-you speeches. We all need dreams!
Cecilia Dowdy wrote a great post about the RITA and various other awards in February, and in reading your responses, I learned that some of our readers follow a number of contests, including the RITA, the ACFW Carol awards and the Christy awards. It’s a great way to discover new authors. And when readers chime in to congratulate an author on an award, that means a lot–so hop onto the RWA website this afternoon to find out who the RITA finalists are, and if you know any of them or their books, send them a “congratulations” on Facebook. I guarantee that they will be thrilled!
However, I also learned that a lot of our readers don’t particularly care about whether a book has won awards–they’re more interested in the type of story, the author, the setting. And that’s what really matters: not what a panel of judges thinks of a book, but what actual readers think of it.
So here’s my question: if you could offer a book award, what would you call it? Would any of our Inspy authors win it, and if so, who would it be? Example: As a card-carrying nerd, I’d give the “Best Book About Nerds” award to Elizabeth Maddrey for Muffins and Moonbeams…it’s so great watching her “stay in the background” hero and heroine forced out of their shells and into love.
This is my last post for InspyRomance for awhile; I’m taking a break to focus on my daughter’s senior year and transition to college, and on my writing. But I’d love to stay in touch. If you’re interested, subscribe to my newsletter for news about my books as well as some fun giveaways.
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
Hi Lee, another sad farewell (for now I hope:). Best wishes to your daughter as she begins her final year and uni plans. I work with senior students every day- it is a HUGE year for them and I respect your desire to help your daughter through what is often a stressful year.
I just like to read good books- really not too worried about awards, though it is exciting for an author to get one.
Blessings:)
Hi Lee! What a delightful topic. Wow! Inspy Romance has so many diverse talented authors that I hate to choose. As a Michigander, I would give Jackie Castle the Rogue Snowblower Arctic Award for her romance Snow Belle. I would give Cecelia Dowdy the Scrumptious Treat Award for her romance Southern Comfort (The Bakery Romance Series Book 5). My list could go on. I would give you the Self Esteem Award for your Arcadia Valley Joy of My Heart: Romance from the Heart romance. Best wishes. You will be missed.
So many taking a break, we will miss you.
I am one who loves to see authors I know win a prize but it doesn’t affect if I buy a book normally.
I Think an award by readers judged by readers would have a bigger impact on me. Why I say this is I hear writers comment about issues with a book (a writing error or something) As reader I don’t see this but I do know what I like and don’t like. (I have had author friends comment about a book I loved and say about the editing errors or simple mistakes but I don’t see them). I am more interested in the actual story and if I like it.
I am not sure who I would give an award to but I think something like the Readers Appreciation Award
I love your awards! So creative! Thank you and please stay in touch.
Thank you Wemble… you are right about the stress level for seniors (and their moms!).
Jenny, you make a good point. Sometimes I think readers value different things than writers do, and it’s important for us to be award of those things.
I’ve enjoyed your blog posts here and have read your LI books. I am one who doesn’t pay attention to awards for books (however I might take your advice and check out the list today and offer congrats if I see a book I read and liked on the list.) I’d give an award for “group I most want to be a part of” to Elizabeth Maddrey for her Peacock Hill series. I’m sure I could think of many more…
I sure hope Elizabeth Maddrey reads these posts! I haven’t read her Peacock Hill books yet, but I adore the covers and the concepts and they’re on my TBR list. Thank you for commenting and for being an avid reader.
Perfect time to take a break. Congratulations to your daughter as she graduates and moves onto the next step in her life. Exciting times for both of you!
I love to read and do not pay attention to awards but it is special to be recognized and win them for an author.
Thank you for all the posts and time you have spent on this blog. I wish you all the fun and happiness with your daughters last year in high school. This is a fabulous time for all. Good for you for putting family first. God would be pleased. And your daughter will remember what you are doing for her. I like to help vote and see who wins. I dont know what I would call it, but Regina Jennings is one of my favorites when it comes to history/humor and inspirational books.
Thank you, Bernice!
Thank you, Lori. I’m a single mom and so these last months are extra busy. We have so many funny writers on this blog (Valerie Comer, I’m looking at you)… we should do a special award for humor!
Blink. Funny… me? Thank you. I think.
Oh, Lee. I will miss you so. I loved working with you in the Arcadia Valley Romance series and here on Inspy Romance. I know we’ll remain friends and stay in touch, but I will definitely miss you! (((hug)))
IR readers, are you worried about who will be next? Then you’ll be relieved to know Lee’s the last of the bloggers pausing their time with Inspy Romance this time around. Six is a big turnover for us! We’ll introduce five new beautiful faces in April and one lovely returnee, but yes, there’s quite a turnover.
It may be more obvious than usual to the public that March 31 is our year end at Inspy Romance, which is why these changes are all coming at once. No worries about the state of the website in general. We’re here for the long haul, our incoming bloggers are eager, and several of our outgoing bloggers hope to return. :)
Thanks for the reassurance, Val! I was getting worried that everyone was “jumping ship” :-)
Lee – thanks for all your posts.
I think I’d come up with a “Nail biting award” for the most plot twists, which Carol Moncado would probably win. :-)
Hoping you will return soon, but understand family must come first. I guess I would have swoon awards and all of my favorite authors could be contenders and winners. I wish more authors would realize explicit sex scenes aren’t what wins. It is engaging the readers to get involved in the story while leaving a little room for imagination.
Y’all have made my day.
I too am going to miss you, Lee! But we seriously need to get together again because it’s not THAT far!!
I could see the whites of many panicking eyes from here! Every one of the six will be sadly missed, but hopefully some (or all?) will return some day. When I started Inspy Romance, I expected it to take a year or two to shake down a solid group, but I didn’t expect the revolving door.
Looking back, I should have. Authors switch gears, and their lives likewise are not static! But six was a lot at one year-end.
Seriously glad to meet you for lunch and writing when things settle down a bit.
Thanks Pam… and I”m with you. Sometimes less is more in terms of love scenes.
Nail biting award… I love it! Hope Carol is reading the blog today. And thanks for understanding… sometimes something has to give, but I’ll still be around and hope to come back when things settle down.
Yes, you’re funny! And I’m glad you called it a “pause” because that’s what I hope it will be. I’ll miss you too, Valerie–please stay in touch during my hiatus.
Thank you for the reassurance about the blog. I really enjoy it and have discovered wonderful authors and books along the way. I was wondering how many more were going and if you were going to be overworked. Glad that you’ll have new help! God bless!
God bless your daughters senior year and first year of college. It’s exciting and overwhelming and scary at the same time. College is fun to visit frequently as they get used to a new life and schedule. You don’t want to stay too long though as the kids enjoy their new freedom.
My youngest daughters college move in was memorable as my husband had a stroke 4 days before we had to drive three plus hours and move her in. Thankfully my son called and said he was flying home to see his dad and help his sister. His work graciously gave him a week off to help and my husband fully recovered. God is good!
Thanks Valeri for the reassurance. Following the site since it started, I made the correct assumption that the year ends March 31. Also picked ahead at April and May calendar. Missing the authors on “pause,” but looking forward to the new. Best wishes to all.
Best wishes to your daughter.
Wow, that sounds like a very scary and difficult time!
Thank you, Lucy!
Ah, yes, there is definitely a sneak peek in the upcoming calendar months. :)
Hi Lee, I judged for one readers contest I think it was a Texas one but it was judged by readers. I stopped when we had to read the whole book as at the time I had just started with the constant migraines and to have to read 5 whole books at that stage was too much but to read the first 50 page and judge on that in the first round was so much easier. I think the first time I ended up judging the 3 finalists. They also change the categories and took out Inspirational.
I always remember a book everyone seemed to have as top read for the year and for me I had it as one of my worst reads for the year mainly cos I just could not relate to the characters and wanted to hit the main character and make her wise up and stop being so needy.
If I needed to give an award, it might be “Created a Character I’d Like to Be Friends With.”
Lee, I believe every Inspy Romance author deserves an award for AWESOMENESS :)
Blessings and we’ll miss you!