Thursday, March 29, 2007

Catching Up & The RITAs

Finally! After almost a week of computer malfunctions where it took me an age to access a website and when all my e-mails went awry, all seems back to normal on the PC front. Lots of exciting things have happened since I've been online. The RITA Nominations have been announced and I'm thrilled to see favourite category writers such as Marion Lennox, Barbara Hannay and Fiona Harper shortlisted. I love Barbara's Outback novels and Marion Lennox is a huge favourite of mine - and I'm thrilled that one of the titles shortlisted - The Surgeon's Family Miracle - is a Medical Romance! I love reading Medicals and it's fabulous that this great line is getting such great recognition - especially as it's not available in US shops. Fiona Harper has quickly become a favourite of mine even though she's only written two books so far. I've had the good fortune of reviewing her novels for Cataromance and I awarded them both 5 Stars because her books are funny, charming, romantic and original as well. Fiona finalled twice for Best First Book and Best Traditional Romance and has already won both the CataRomance award and the RNA new writers award so I'm so pleased for her! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of these writers and in my book, you're all winners! I've made a point to read a Jackie Braun book as I've not read any of hers yet. I believe she's been shortlisted before and as I love the Romance line, I'm sure I'll love hers! I'm pleased to see a novel from the new Modern Extra line nominated by Barbara Dunlop. I haven't read this book, I love reading Modern Extras (This month, I read Kate Hardy's In the Gardener's Bed and it was terrific!)so I'm sure it's an excellent read!

I've read some of the other writers shortlisted for other awards. I'm hoping that the excellent Susan Mallery wins for Irresistible, which is shortlised for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance. Susan writes for Silhouette and Single Titles for both Pocket and HQN and she's wonderful. I'm also pleased to see Mary Jo Putney nominated for Long Historical and I can't wait to find out just who is going to win the Best Short Historical RITA as it seems that the biggest names in historical romance are nominated! I'm not familiar with Betina Krahn, Anne Stuart, Laura Lee Gurkhe or Lorraine Heath, but I love Christina Dodd's quirky characters, Eloisa James' intelligent historical romances and Lisa Kleypas's sensuous historicals (which remind me of M&B Presents) so I look forward to seeing who wins that award.

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with some of the writers nominated in other categories except for JD Robb, Julia Quinn and Elizabeth Boyle (And I'm still baffled as to why her Regency is shorlisted for paranormal!), but I wish them all the best of luck!

2 comments:

Fiona Harper said...

Hi, Julie. I found your blog when it popped up in one of my Google alerts. I've been trying to send you a thank you message for your wonderful review of Her Parenthood Assignment, but obviously your ISP thinks I'm a spammer or a stalker and keeps bouncing it back. Luke and Gaby's story is the favourite one I've written so far (although the one I've just finished is climbing up the charts) so I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

All the best,

Fiona Harper

juliemt said...

Hi, Fiona! Congrats again on getting shortlisted for the RITA! I loved your two books and I adore the way you seamlessly managed to blend humour with emotion!

Thanks you for dropping by my blog!
Love,
Julie