Congratulations to all our RITA and Golden Heart finalists! If you’ve finaled or know someone who has, please either leave a note in the Comment trail or email me with your name, contest entered, category entered, and title of manuscript. I’ll update the finalists throughout the day as the news comes in.
**UPDATED 12: 15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time**
****I think the final listings are up on the RWA website now. If I’ve missed anyone, or misspelled your name, or linked to the wrong website, please let me know. My eyes are toast!
RITA FINALISTS – Published Romance Novels
Best First Book:
Kerry Connor, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
Elise Chidley, YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING
Tera Lynn Childs, OH. MY. GODS.
Anthea Lawson, PASSIONATE
Jennifer Morey, THE SECRET SOLDIER
Jean Marie Pierson, NO GOOD GIRLS
Sherry Thomas, PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS
Contemporary Series Romance:
Lillian Darcy, THE CHILDREN’S DOCTOR AND THE SINGLE MOM
Crystal Green, FALLING FOR THE LONE WOLF
Barbara Hannay, ADOPTED: OUTBACK BABY
Jessica Hart, LAST-MINUTE PROPOSAL
Anne McAllister, ANTONIDES’ FORBIDDEN WIFE
Cindi Myers, THE RIGHT MR. WRONG
Karen Temptleton, A MOTHER’S WISH
RaeAnne Thayne, THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
Linda Warren, TEXAS HEIR
Contemporary Series Romance, Suspense/Adventure:
Jessica Anderson, TWIN TARGETS
Kerry Connor, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
Kathleen Creighton, DANGER SIGNALS
Diana Duncan, LETHAL ATTRACTION
Janice Kay Johnson, THE MAN BEHIND THE COP
Kathleen Long, COLD CASE CONNECTION
Dana Marton, TALL, DARK AND LETHAL
Jennifer Morey, THE SECRET SOLDIER
Cara Summers, A SEXY TIME OF IT
Contemporary Single Title:
Elise Chidley, YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING
Rachel Gibson, NOT ANOTHER BAD DATE
Jane Graves, TALL TALES AND WEDDING VEILS
Samantha Graves, OUT OF TIME
Debbie Macomber, TWENTY WISHES
Susan Mallery, SWEET TALK
Jean Marie Pierson, NO GOOD GIRLS
Susan Wiggs, SNOWFALL AT WILLOW LAKE
Historical Romance:
Joanna Bourne, THE SPYMASTER’S LADY
Lorraine Heath, IN BED WITH THE DEVIL
Elizabeth Hoyt, TO SEDUCE A SINNER
Eloisa James, DUCHESS BY NIGHT
Lisa Kleypas, SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE
Stephanie Laurens, WHERE THE HEART LEADS
Pam Rosenthal, THE EDGE OF IMPROPRIETY
Sherry Thomas, PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS
Inspirational Romance:
Judy Duarte, MULBERRY PARK
Deeanne Gist, DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE
Irene Hannon, WHERE LOVE ABIDES
Robin Lee Hatcher, THE PERFECT LIFE
Rachel Hauck, LOVE STARTS WITH ELLE
Denise Hunter, THE CONVENIENT GROOM
Tamara Leigh, FAKING GRACE
Susan May Warren, FINDING STEFANIE
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements:
C.S. Harris, WHERE SERPENTS SLEEP
Susanna Kearsely, THE WINTER SEA
Susan K. Law, THE PAPER MARRIAGE
Susan Meissner, THE SHAPE OF MERCY
Pamela Morsi, LAST DANCE AT JITTERBUG LOUNGE
Nora Roberts, TRIBUTE
Karen White, THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET
Paranormal Romance:
Gwen Cready, SEDUCING MR. DARCY
Yasmine Galenorn, DRAGON WYTCH
Susan Grant, MOONSTRUCK
Lori Handeland, THUNDER MOON
Sharon Sala, THE HEALER
Gena Showalter, THE DARKEST NIGHT
Nalini Singh, MINE TO POSSESS
Kerrelyn Sparks, THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR
Regency Historical Romance:
Joanna Bourne, MY LORD AND SPYMASTER
Celeste Bradley, DUKE MOST WANTED
Stephanie Laurens, THE EDGE OF DESIRE
Anne Mallory, THREE NIGHTS OF SIN
Julia Quinn, MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME
Christine Wells, THE DANGEROUS DUKE
Romance Novella:
Jean Brashear, “Our Day” in THE VALENTINE GIFT
Terri Brisbin, “Blame it on the Mistletoe” in ONE CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS
Meljean Brooke, “Thicker than Blood” in FIRST BLOOD
Jacquie D’Alessandro, “Only You” in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
Stephanie Laurens, “The Fall of Rogue Gerard” in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
Julia London, “Snowy Night with a Highlander” in SNOWY NIGHT WITH A STRANGER
Sharon Sala, “Penance” in AFTERSHOCK
Jill Shalvis, “All He Wants for Christmas” in HEATING UP THE HOLIDAYS
Romantic Suspense:
Cherry Adair, NIGHT SECRETS
Allison Brennan, KILLING FEAR
Cindy Gerard, TAKE NO PRISONERS
Carla Neggers, THE ANGEL
Brenda Novak, STOP ME
Karen Rose, SCREAM FOR ME
Roxanne St. Claire, NOW YOU DIE
Colleen Thompson, TRIPLE EXPOSURE
Young Adult:
Tera Lynn Childs, OH. MY. GODS.
Rosemary Clement-Moore, HELL WEEK
Tina Ferraro, HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE
GOLDEN HEART FINALITS – Unpublished Romance Manuscripts
Contemporary Series:
Melissa Jackson Brister, INTO THE NIGHT
Lindsey Brookes, ANGEL IN TRAINING
Laurie DeSalvo, FOR LOVE OR RAVIOLI
Jacqueline M. Floyd, MEET YOUR MATE
Kim Grooms w/a Kim Law, SECOND CHANCE FOR A FAMILY
Anastasia Huff, THE GREEK’S MISTRESS REVENGE
Laurie Kellogg, THE GREAT BEDROOM WAR
Katherine Worsham, BENEATH THE SURFACE
Contemporary Series, Suspense/Adventure:
Dianne Gerber w/a Autumn Jordan, HIS WITNESS
Jamie Michele, ROMANCE OR RETRIBUTION
Kim Howe, BREATHLESS
Contemporary Single Title:
Vivi Andrews, EASY MONEY
Elizabeth Bemis, LIGHTS…CAMERA…MARRIAGE!
Elizabeth Bemis, LOVE & OREOS
Lindsey Brookes, OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE
Kathryn Graykowski, SUMMER IN AUSTIN
Robin Lanier, FOR LOVE OR MONEY
June Love, TEXAS HOLD’ER
Virginia McCullough, ISLAND HEALING
Historical Romance:
Jennifer Bray-Weber, UPON A MOONLIT SEA
CJ Eernisse Chase, THE OTHER BROTHER
Pat Detweiler, FORFEIT’S LADY
Jeannie Lin, BUTTERFLY SWORDS
Kate Parker, THE ART OF A LADY
Jenna Stuart, HIGHLAND HONOR
Tatia Talbot, LILY’S OUTLAW
Inspirational Romance:
Yvonne L. Harris, MONTANA RAINBOW
Kelly Ann Riley, KITTY’S FIRE
Cara Slaughter, LOVE ON A DIME
Kayla Lynn Westra, KASEY’S SECRET
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements:
Sherri Buerkle, DARK SECRETS
Elizabeth Devlin, HOME WATERS
Kelly Fitzpatrick, PLEASANT LAKE P.D.
Diane O’Brien Kelly, DEATH, TAXES AND A FRENCH MANICURE
Kim Howe, ONE SHOT, TWO KILLS
L.A. Mitchell, UNTIL MIDNIGHT
Bev Petterson, COLOR MY HORSE
Julie Whitby, CALL SIGN SCARLETT
Paranormal Romance:
Sharon Fisher, GHOST PLANET
Jacquie Jacoby, MAGIC MAN
Darynda Jones, FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT
Tammy Hoganson, UNDERBELLY
Morgan Karpiel, HEART OF THE DRAGON
Nancy Litzau, JUST IN TIME
Heather McCollum, MAGICK
Cate Rowan, KISMET’S KISS
Regency Historical Romance:
Elizabeth Baldwin, DEFIANT
Anne Barton, MIDNIGHT PROMISES
Elisa Griffith Beatty, SHAMELESS
Pamela Bolton-Holifield w/a Louisa Cornell, THE RAVEN’S HEART
Amy Talley, NO SHRINKING VIOLET
Sara Wampler, AN INCONVENIENT MARRIAGE
Romantic Suspense:
Ann Marie Becker, ONLY FEAR
Tina Joyce Butts, THE SURROGATE
Shelley Corriell, THE BROKEN
Sandy Randel Eggert, TRUST FALL
Rita O. Henuber, GUARDIAN ANGEL
Diane Maggiora, TRUST NO ONE
Cynthia Mealer, INTRUSION
Joan Swan, SAFE IN ENEMY ARMS
Young Adult Romance:
Vanessa Barneveld, CALL ME CRAZY
Amanda Brice, CODENAME: DANCER
Shoshana Brown, STAGE FRIGHT
Addison Fox, MY BIG FAT ROCKIN’ REALITY
Elizabeth Langston, I WISHED
****
Congratulations, everyone!
Calls have started on the East Coast.
My historical (The Other Brother) finaled in the GH.
I worked on my manuscript until the wee hours, hit the hay around 7 a.m., and my phone rang at 8:08. Forfeit’s Lady is a long historical finalist. And no, I’m not tired!!!!! LOL
Congratulations to you both! I’m on the west coast, so am just updating now.
It looks like GH calls are going out first! Yoo-hoo to Pat, who was a GH finalist with me in ’07. And yoo-hoo to Kim Law – I judged her story in a contest this year (not the GH) and knew it was destined for greatness. I recognise CJ’s name, as well.
Keep ’em coming!
I read the other day that the calls will go out beginning approximately 8 a.m. the finalists’ time. So if you’re in my time zone, you have a good hour to wait.
Hey, finalists, if you have a website, give me the URL and I’ll link to it as well.
Congratulations to Laurie Kellogg, another fellow ’07 GH alumni!
Congratulations CJ and Pat! I’m totally psyched for you!!! ^5
Diana
http://www.dianacosby.com
Congratulations to everyone! (I love the excitment of this day, watching names rolls out and getting to share in everyone’s good news.) Special wave to Liz Beemis. Have some celebratory Oreos 🙂 Oh, and note to Laurie Kellogg- fantastic title!
Tanya
Wow, another GH ’07 sister has finaled again – Kim Howe! Congratulations. Congratulations to everyone. I need to take a shower, but keep announcing either in this comment trail or by emailing me at cindy AT cindyprocter-king DOT com and I’ll update again when I’m out of the shower and have walked the dog.
Please make sure to spell Procter with an E. 😉
I’ll also put up the website links to the finalists’ websites throughout the day as I get time.
Still trying to stop hyperventilating and crying here. This morning, I received the news thast I had I finalled in series contemporary with Angel In Training and in single title with Operation: Date Escape (my ATIII book)!!!
Good luck to all still waiting on calls!
Not me, but Karen Templeton’s A Mother’s Wish finaled in the RITA for series romance
Also Linda Warren’s Texas Heir
Thanks, Barb, I’ll get those up straight away. BTW, congratulations on your SALE (Barb is another fellow ’07 GH finalist).
Lindsey, congratulations!!! Another GH ’07 sister. My, there are a TON of second or third time finalists here.
Congratulations to everyone, this is such a special day! I’m so proud of you all!!!
Diana
http://www.dianacosby.com
Thanks for doing this, Cindy. I love watching the news come in!
Congrats so far to all the finalists. Kim!!! Yay!!! Double final!
And Cindy…update for you…I just got off the phone with my CP – Joan Swan – who finaled in the Romantic Suspense category of the GH with her book, Safe In Enemy Arms!!
Thanks for that, Eli. Man, I can’t type fast enough.
How did you get the scoop, Cindy?!? Yes, it’s true, OH. MY. GODS. is a young adult RITA finalist. AND and best first book finalist, too!
I must take a break from my mad typing to congratulate my good buddy, fellow Looney Binner, and Scrabble player, TINA FERRARO, for finaling in the RITA with HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE!! Whoo-hoo!!
Hi Tera Lynn,
They’re starting to put up names on the RWA site. I thought they weren’t putting up names until they had all the finalists in a category, but they are updating every once in a while before the categories are full.
You can’t party there, though. You CAN party here.
Congratulations!!
Tera Lynn, I didn’t know you had a double final. I will get that up lickety-spit. You’re the first Best First Book that I know of. I can’t type fast enough, LOL.
This is crazy, half the list is made up of people in the ’07 and ’08 groups! This tells me the publishers aren’t buying things they should be, LOL.
Yay ladies!! (And congrats to first-timers, too! 🙂 )
Avery, that’s what I was thinking. So many of the current GH finalists were also finalists with different books or even the same books in ’07 and ’08.
Ladies, may this year be your year to sell!!!
Cindy, thank you!!! I posted an e-mail sometime ago to our brainstorming loop, but see now it hasn’t come thru. (Yahoo…) Anyway, thank you for listing me, and I’m THRILLED. I tell you, I blathered to Trish Milburn on the phone!!!
I am SO PROUD of you, Tina!!!
Congrats to all the finalists so far! I’m thrilled to see a wonderful historical I judged for the Rita among the finalists and happy to see an Intrigue in the Series Contemp, Romance/Adventure.
Thanks for keeping up, Cindy.
I interrupt my typing to announce that another fellow Looney Binner (that’s my brainstorming group) and Facebook Scrabble buddy, DIANA DUNCAN, has finaled in the RITA!!! Congratulations, Diana!!!
Cindy, I’m thrilled to have finaled (and appreciate your listing), but you have me twice in the GH ‘Novel with Romantic Elements’ category. I write as Elizabeth Devlin, (so you can delete the Elizabeth McIntyre one). My book is HOME WATERS.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Done, Elizabeth. See, I was doubly excited for you, LOL.
My novel Ghost Planet made the Golden Heart finals, paranormal category. Thanks so much for posting these!
– Sharon
About half an hour until the calls finish going out – that is, if they haven’t already. The RWA website has been posting finalists throughout the day, but I can’t seem to find much information on RITA Best First Book, Regency Historical or Golden Heart Paranormal. Waah.
Tomorrow, I’ll link to the RWA listings, once they’re all complete, plus I understand that GH finalist Elizabeth Bemis has started a Yahoo group for the 2009 GH finalists. If you’re a finalist, you WANT to join this group! Click on Liz’s name in her GH final listings and email her for the subscription addy. Tell her I sent you!
P.S. I only have 3 names listed here for RITA Young Adult. If you know someone who finaled in YA, please let me know!
I found the listings for RITA Paranormal! Best First Book, where are you? There has to be more than 3.
Okay, I found BFB. It’s going up as quickly as I can type.
Cindy, I’m with you–so much fun to see all the 007 names! And congratulations to all the finalists. What a ride. 🙂
Congrats, Cate!!!
Cindy, thanks for taking the time to locate and post the finalists’ websites. I’m a GH finalist in series suspense. My website is http://www.jamietholland.com. It comes up on search engines if you use my middle initial. Otherwise, it’s pretty buried.
Thanks again!
Jamie
Hey, Cindy. Thanks for taking the time to do this for the finalists. I finaled in the Regency Historical Category with my manuscript THE RAVEN’S HEART.
I am listed under my real name, but my website is
http://www.louisacornell.com
Louisa Cornell is the name I HOPE to be published under one of these days.