RITA Time
It’s time to submit books for the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards, awards that honor the best in romance fiction. The chances of being a finalist are slim, but so what. Submitting is not hard. You pay a fee, fill out a form and send copies of your books in for fellow authors to judge. Easy. No real reason not to participate.
Last year (2007) was easy because I had one release. This year is tougher since I have two single titles and four novellas. Needless to say, I’m not submitting all of those since the electric company folks insist I pay them instead. So now I must choose. I’m thinking one single title and one novella. I have the following to choose from:
-RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW (single title)
-THIS OLD HOUSE (novella from HARD AS NAILS)
-ALL ABOUT ADAM (novella from HARD AS NAILS)
-MAN AT THE DOOR (novella from HARD AS NAILS)
-CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? (novella from TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT)
-HOT A HELL (single title)
Now, the titles HOT AS HELL and HARD AS NAILS likely are problematic for those entries. People see those and think the books are something they’re not - ie, erotica - and I truly think that impacts the judging scores. That’s not a slam to erotica. It’s just that I don’t write erotica and if people are expecting that, they’ll be disappointed. And, honestly, I don’t think the RITA judging is very pro erotica.
Still, I’ll submit. Just don’t know which ones.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:03 am
I really liked Right here, Right now but i haven’t read any of the others…. which probably doesn’t help you much.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Oh, I totally forgot about doing this until now.
This year, it will be an easy decision for me — not because one of the books is so much better than the other, but because one has a creepy spider-talking heroine and a young’un for a hero. I think most readers will be more comfortable with a cowboy hero and former-junkie heroine (and it stands alone a little better.) And, luckily, in the paranormal category I don’t have to worry as much about titles.
I suppose HOT AS HELL might be initially mistaken for either erotica/paranormal, but if you’re thinking that judges are so easily influenced, don’t forget that the cover model is super-hot, too.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:19 am
When is the cutoff for the Rita’s? I’m currently swamped and wondering if my Nov. release will be too late.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Ayla - Thanks for picking up RHRN!!
Meljean - The HOT AS HELL cover model is a total hottie, isn’t he? I could stare at that one all day long. In fact, if I were judging I’d make it a RITA finalist based on his hotness. Probably wouldn’t even bother to read the book.
And, for whatever it’s worth, I think you should put both books in. Why not!
Jordan - It’s for any book with a 2008 publication date. So, you can submit the entry form online now and pay the fee, and you don’t have to send the actual book copies in until later. I think the books are due in January. So, you’re good.
October 11th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Ooo I need to read a few more of your books! Am halfway through “To All A Good Night” and I can definitely see why it went back to the printer’s before even being released! Loved “Hard As Nails” - I THINK I liked the second novella most.
Don’t have my hands on “Hot As Hell” yet :\.
Good luck choosing, HelenKay!
October 11th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I loved Right Here Right Now and Hard As Nails!
October 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
The books are due Jan. 2nd. This is always a problem for me because my pen name’s Secrets anthologies don’t release until December 31st, and I don’t actually have the copies until mid-January. I have to hassle the publisher to send the copies to RWA for me. I’d rather do it myself. But for the RITA, I’ll hassle the publisher.
Not that I think my novella will final. Like you say, erotic romance, especially erotic romance with sex in the first three chapters, usually has a tough time in the RITAs. But it’s the RITAs. I have to enter.
Wow, HelenKay, I didn’t consider that if you have three novellas in a single anthology, if you want to enter every novella, you have to supply 15 copies of the anthology!
October 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Tough Choice I love all your books. I went to my bookstore today and there were bookmarks from Hot As Hell. Yummy. Sniff going to miss the bookmarks etc.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I’m with Ayla in only having read RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW so far. I absolutely loved it, though, and think it would make a great submission. However, I will hopefully be reading the others soon, depending on how things go with me hopefully starting classes the week after I get home from vacation.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I lovewd RIght Her, Right Now. Thought it was a great read. Good luck making your choices and good lcuk in the RITA
October 13th, 2008 at 6:32 am
HelenKay, I finished reading “Can You Hand Me The Tape?” over the weekend and loved it!
October 13th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I loved Can You Hand Me The Tape?!