Romance Writers of America Has Announced their RITA and Golden Heart Award Finalists

Today generated a lot of excitement in the romance industry, among writers and editors. The Romance Writers of America announced their RITA and Golden Heart Award Finalists.

According to the RWA, the RITA award is the highest award of distinction in romance fiction, and it recognizes excellence in published romance novels and novellas. The Golden Heart award recognizes excellence in unpublished romance manuscripts.

The winners will be announced at a fancy Oscars-style black-tie ceremony at the conclusion of the RWA annual conference in San Antonio, Texas on July 26, 2014. I attended this ceremony for the three years that I went to the conference. It's such a glam affair, with women in long gowns, up-dos and makeup courtesy of salons, fancy-schmancy shoes, a witty host for the ceremony, thank you speeches by the winners, and so on and so forth. It's a night to remember, whether or not you're a nominee, a winner, a big-name writer, or an aspiring writer. The atmosphere in that ballroom is as fizzy and euphoric as champagne.

This year, for the first time, a writer whose book I edited has been nominated. She's none other than the really fabulous historical author Courtney Milan. She's nominated for her book The Countess Conspiracy.

Below please see the RITA and GH nominees in the Historical Romance category. Note that two of the RITA nominees are self-published. This is a big step forward for self-published books.

RITA Awards

Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Tessa Woodward

The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley Sensation
Wendy McCurdy, editor

The Chieftain’s Curse by Frances Housden
Harlequin, MIRA
Kate Cuthbert, editor

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan
Self-published
Robin Harders and Keira Soleore, editors

Darius by Grace Burrowes
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Deb Werksman, editor

Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale by T J Bennett
Entangled Publishing, Edge
Liz Pelletier and Shannon Godwin, editors

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt
Grand Central Publishing
Amy Pierpont, editor

The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick
Harlequin, HQN
Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Lyssa Keusch, editor

The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas
Berkley Publishing Group
Wendy McCurdy, editor

Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Michele Bidelspach, editor

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Carrie Feron, editor

Plaid Tidings by Mia Marlowe
Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra
Alicia Condon, editor

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Amy Pierpont, editor

The Rogue’s Proposal by Jennifer Haymore
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Selina McLemore, editor

Sins of a Ruthless Rogue by Anna Randol
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Tessa Woodward, editor

Sonata for a Scoundrel by Anthea Lawson
Self-published

Golden Heart Awards

Charlene and the Duchess Factory by Lenora Bell

The Earl Next Door by Charis Calhoon

A Haunting Desire by Julie Mulhern

Much Ado about Scandal by Jillian Lark

The Seer by Gwynlyn MacKenzie

A Soldier’s Serenade by Ellen Lindseth

The Unseducible Earl by Sheri Humphreys

Wicked Things by Laura Trentham

A Wild and Wicked Wind by Laura Trentham