Category: Contests

Oh, Canada!

canadian_flag1

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I’m blogging at Nobody Writes It Better today, marking my inaugural post for the Golden Heart 2007 finalists’ new group blog. Hop on over and say hello. I’m giving away a copy of my Canadian-set romance, HEAD OVER HEELS (which takes place in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., if you want specifics). (But of course you’ve read it already, so you should know). (If you haven’t read it already, don’t worry, I can tell). (And will disreward you accordingly). (If you’ve already read it, you can still enter the contest and snag an extra copy). Big caveat: you have to comment there, not here. You can still comment here if you wish, but doing so won’t enter you in the contest, just score you brownie points for being extra-friendly and Canadian-like.

Don’t make me look like a Comment Wuss now, you hear? I want lots and lots of comments on my post.

Twitch Fest!

Agents Kim Lionetti and Jessica Faust of BookEnds are holding a pitch contest on Twitter (thus the Twitch). (Yeah, at first I thought they were talking about the runner-up from So You Think You Can Dance last year, too). You have to follow them on Twitter to participate (here’s Kim’s page, and here’s Jessica’s). The cool thing is you can pitch your manuscript to both Kim and Jessica at different times this week. But you have to watch their tweets to monitor when each is taking Twitches. They’re tag-teaming, you see.

If you can compress your book into 140 characters, this is a great opportunity. The winner at the end of the week gets a critique of a partial.

Details are on the BookEnds blog.

Play “Kidnap this Logo!”

Penny’s publisher is having a celebration. Check it out. From the Red Sage Revealed blog:

Kidnap This Logo! red_sage_15_years

And You Could Win!

To celebrate its Fifteenth Anniversary, Red Sage is throwing a party! Every party needs presents, and here’s a gift that could win you the July Secrets anthology and Calista Fox’s new novel, Object of Desire!

Here’s how to play the party game.

Anyone can play! All you have to do is “kidnap” this logo and post it on your blog or website. Copy and paste the jpg image of the anniversary gift to your own blog or website to kidnap it. Be sure to include these instructions so people know how to play!

Invite your readers and friends to send an email with the subject line “Ransom Note” to [email protected]. Inside this email, they must include a link back to your kidnapped logo.

Then you and your friend will both be entered into a drawing to win free trade paperbacks! Every time one of your readers sends a ransom note with a link, you will be entered again! Each Ransom Note is worth two entries in the drawing—one for the person who sends the Ransom Note, and one for the linked blog or website. And you both can win!

Want more chances to win? Invite your readers and friends to kidnap this logo, and then you can enter again by sending a Ransom Note linking to your friend’s blog or website!

The more times you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Group blog or website? No problem! Just be sure to sign your post so we know who the winner should be!

Good luck, and have fun!

Play on!

Book In a Nutshell Contest

The Knight Agency is running a cool contest:

Get noticed, get feedback, get an agent. Here’s a chance to have your project reviewed by one of the agents at The Knight Agency. Submit three compelling sentences (150 words max) about your completed, unpublished manuscript to [email protected]. Write BOOK IN A NUTSHELL in the subject line or it will not be deemed elligible. One submission per project, please. Twenty of the best submissions will be chosen and requested by various agents who will then give feedback on your work…and it may even lead to possible representation. Hurry, the deadline is April 20, 2009. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2009.

Did you get that deadline? April 20th.

This is an excellent opportunity in an extremely tight market, so if you’re looking for an agent, get crackin’! (The books and the nutshell, har, har).

The Day After

Wow, what a rush yesterday, watching all those announcements come in. If you haven’t had a gander at the listing of RITA and Golden Heart finalists for 2009 yet, please see yesterday’s post. I linked to as many websites as I could find. Some of these authors have fantastic sites. Check ’em out!

The official list of RITA and Golden Heart finalists is now up at the RWA website.

If you’re a Golden Heart finalist and haven’t yet heard that double finalist Elizabeth Bemis has started up a Yahoo group that you definitely want to join, here’s the info:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/2009-GH-Finalists/

Do join the loop! It’s not only great to celebrate with your fellow finalists, but the groups are great for discussing promotion, how to do your picture for the ceremony, what you’re wearing, who you’re getting an appointment with at National now that you have a fantastic reason to attend—all that good stuff.  

Now, for those of you who didn’t final…take heart! I’m especially talking about the Golden Heart contest. This was the second year I entered the RITA as Penny. I didn’t final, and so I can tell you from my own experience that not finaling in the RITA doesn’t feel anywhere near as earth-shattering as not finaling in the Golden Heart. Of course, when you enter the RITA, you’re already published. The RITA is icing on the cake, can be a great carrot to dangle to editors and agents (sometimes your own editor and even your current publishing house, let’s say, if you’re not getting the, um, attention there that you deserve). And, let’s face it, finaling is a heckuva lot of fun. However, when you enter the Golden Heart, often you can feel like it’s THE way to get published. If you don’t final, you’ve lost your chance.

I’m here to tell you that you haven’t lost your chance. Far from it. While many Golden Heart finalists go on to sell either their GH manuscript or another manuscript, I’m pretty sure just as many don’t. Okay, I don’t have stats, but several finalists final for several years before they sell. Finaling isn’t a sure-thing ticket to a contract. That said, it’s a heckuva lot of fun, too. I do believe it does open doors in query letters to editors and agents. It might not get your book sold, but it might get it a closer look, or even a request that otherwise might not come your way.

If you didn’t final this year, keep working on your writing and enter again next year! Believe in yourself and don’t give up. I entered the Golden Heart for several years before finaling. In fact, I finaled the last year I was eligible to enter (oddly, due to an unforeseen series of circumstances, I’m still waiting to hear if that manuscript sells—two years later). Two years before I finaled, I wrote an article for the Q&A page of my website called Why Keep Entering the Golden Heart. Wanna check it out? Here’s the handy link.

Oh, before I forget, someone asked me in private email why there are 8 or 9 finalists in some categories and only 3 in others. Don’t quote me, I don’t have the official word, but, as far as I know, the way it works is that each category needs a minimum of 25 entries to go ahead. If the category receives less than 25 entries, it’s cancelled for that year. So, if you see only 3 finalists in a category, that means the category had over 25 entries, but fewer than 40. The finalists are supposed to represent, I do believe, the top 10% of entrants in each category. If a category winds up with 9 finalists, guess what? That’s the most competitive category of either RITA or Golden Heart, because 9 finalists means 90 or more writers entered that category alone! Phew!

Again, congratulations to all the finalists. If I’ve screwed up the 10% thingie (and you know for sure that I have; you’re not just saying it to make me look bad, LOL), please let me know. And, if anyone has other questions about the contests, if I feel I can answer them, I will surely attempt to do so.

2009 RITA and Golden Heart Finalists

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!