As you already know by now (thanks to Donna’s blog from Tuesday!), today is the official RITA and Golden Heart contest call day.Somebody out there is going to get THE CALL!!!
If it's you, we want to know! Leave us a comment and we'll celebrate with you!!
But meanwhile, here in the Lair, we Banditas are on edge. Even if we don't have an entry in the contest, we know someone—make that many someones—who do. So you’ll forgive us if our nerves are showing!
Will the phone ever ring??Forget trying to concentrate on blogging today. As Donna mentioned, most of us are still contest whor--uh, divas! Yes, we all still love to enter contests. And can you blame us? After all, it was just three short years ago that we Banditas first met after we each received the call telling us that our entry had finaled in the prestigious Golden Heart contest. (Really? Only three years ago? Seems like a lifetime!) So yes, contests--especially the RITA and Golden Heart--are near and dear to our hearts. And no, there won’t be much concentrating on important topics today. We’re all just going to sit around giggling and shrieking together. Please join us. Share your news!
Wait! Was that the phone???
Oh.No, sorry, that was the cat. Sorry, kitty.
Anyway, do come into the Lair and share your news! Piero, Sebastian and Travis, our cabana boys for the day, will be around to offer you a lovely glass of champagne. We’re toasting to all the good news.
And don’t miss the three-tiered deluxe warm and gooey chocolate fountain. It’s always the best place to drown your sorrows should the need arise. Don’t feel bad. We’ve all been there.But we prefer to think positive thoughts. :-)
Good luck, everyone!!!
So while we’re all waiting for the phone to ring, here’s a subject I’ve been thinking about lately. I spent the last few days with some author friends and most of the talk centered around big contemporary romance. Is it making a comeback? I hope so! What about you? Love it? Hate it? Why? Why not? Who are your favorites? I’ll start the list with Susan Mallery (can’t wait for her Fool’s Gold series to begin!), Lisa Kleypas (loved Smooth Talking Stranger) and Kristan Higgins (I’ve read Catch of the Day at least three times already). How about you?
Whoa—did I just hear a phone ringing??
78 comments:
Is he coming to wait for a phone call at my place
Have Fun
Helen
The phone never stops ringing at my place but not for something as exciting as you are all waiting for
Fingers crossed for everyone I am soo looking forward to hearing about everyones calls
Have Fun
Helen
Kate
I only recently started reading contemparies and am really loving them I have read 2 of Robin Kaye's and her 3rd is on the TBR pile and I am looking forward to it I have loved Marie Force's 2 that I have read also. I have yet to read a Susan Mallery but I have friends who love her books of course again today my must have list is going to grow LOL
Don't you love it
I think I will have a glass of champagne and hit that chocolate fountain
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, hide the Tim Tams!
Kate, you wicked creature, I'm trying to ignore the fact that it's GH/RITA day. Really I am.\
Good luck to everyone who entered both contests!
Kate -
I'm a Kristin Higgins fan ever since she guest blogged with us some times ago. I love writers with a good sense of humor (yourself included). Sorry to say I haven't read Susan Mallory's books but I believe they are on the ever-growing TBR pile. So many good books...so little time.
Good luck to everyone who has a dog in the race tomorrow. Be sure to share your good news!
Gee, I hope there's a market for contemporary. My faves..SEP, Rachel Gibson, Jennifer Cruisie,Deirdre Martin, Susan Donovan, Toni McGee Causey (if that can be considered contemp), and of course, Kate Carlisle :)...
Good luck to all of you RITA and GH entrants!
Congrats on the GR, Helen.
I do enjoy contemporary romance. Some of my favorite authors are Susan Andersen, Julie James, Christie Craig and Jill Shalvis.
Thank you so much, Jeanne, for making that call. I don't think I'm going to get any sleep!! Good luck to everyone!
Kate, fabo blog!! I cannot believe it's only been three years. Surely we all knew one another in a different life? Or am I chanelling Brooklyn's mom here?
BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!!
And as for the contemporary, I am absolutely champing at the bit for the comeback of the big contemporary. Can't wait for our Susan Sey's Money, Honey to come out!
Now, let me at that chocolate fountain! Congrats, Helen!!!
I hope there is loads of good news for the Banditas and their friends! I'm haunting the blogs today in search of news. :-)
I love contemporary romances, though the market in the UK where I am is pretty different and US authors who I think of as contemporary romance writers (like Jennifer Crusie and SEP) are marketed more as women's fiction titles, because there's really no such thing as contemporary straight romance here. There are some fab UK contemporary writers, like Lisa Jewell, Marian Keyes and Katie Fforde, though they're more on the women's fiction side.
I hope everyone gets a phone call today!
ROFL Kate - great post! Congrats Helen on winning a day with the pesky rooster!
I'm trying to ignore the day too and working on website updates (because even though I'm ignoring the day, I know I won't be able to concentrate as I wait for everyone else's good news!)
I'm a big fan of contemps and wish the market would take that rise everyone's been talking about. Susan Mallery is my all-time favourite. Also love Kate Angell, Deirdre Martin, Carly Phillips, SEP, Rachel Gibson and Nora.
Keep meaning to get to Kristan Higgins. Must do that!
I love contemporaries. I can easily relate to the characters.
In addition to the authors already mentioned I would add: Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, HelenKay Dimon, Susan Wiggs, Debbie Macomber, Lori Foster, Cathie Linz,Janelle Denison, Louisa Edwards, Victoria Dahl, Luann MacLane, Connie Brockway, Meg Cabot, Robyn Carr, Patti Berg, Pamela Clare, Suzanna Carr, Sherryl Woods...
I love contemporary romance! Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber (hurray on her lifetime award!), Carley Phillips, Cristie Craig. The list goes on and on.
I'm off to the day job in the pouring rain, but I'll be checking in and hoping to see great news from everyone who entered! Good Luck, ladies! :)
Great post, Kate! Good luck to all of you who will be waiting by the phone today! I'll be in an all-day training class so won't be able to check back in until I get home tonight. :(
I love contemporaries and many of my favorite authors have already been mentioned. Another one I enjoy a lot is Toni Blake. Her 2009 release, ONE RECKLESS SUMMER was one of my favorite books of last year.
Have to run. Hope it's a great party day in the lair!
Helen, congrats on nabbing the GR! Your day is sure to be exciting! lol
Helen, have fun with the GR today!
Good luck to everyone today!
As far as contemporaries, I hope they are making a comeback. I read a few for the RITA contest and it made me realize how long it's been since I've read any single title contemps. I really miss them!
I have a friend who wrote 3 ST contemporaries and since then has only been able to sell her paranormals. She really wants to write straight contemporary again.
Wishing everyone good luck!
I really enjoy contemporaries. Some of my favorite authors are Nora, Robyn Carr, Lisa Kleypas, Kristin Higgins, SEP.. and I can't wait for Susan Sey's MONEY, HONEY!
Helen, keep that GR in line. ;-)
The cat?!!
LOL!!
That about sums up the anticipation, lol.
I can't believe it has been three years either! I'm with you, Christine...we must have known each other in another lifetime.
Good luck to everyone in the running today!
Good luck to all! I read a wide variety of genres, including contemporary fiction. Susan Mallery, Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts and Lori Foster are just a few of the great contemporary authors, along with so many wonderful Harlequin and Silhouette writers. With movie tie-ins, soundtracks, marketing merchandise and etc., contemporary fiction is rocking the house!
Elizabeth Hoyt just posted on FB that her TO BEGUILE A BEAST is a RITA finalist. :-)
And so is Kristan Higgins!!
My (and Tawny and Beth's) dear friend Carla Capshaw is a double RITA finalist for Inspy and for Best First Book! YAY Carla!
Poor Kitty. *LOL*
Congratulations to everyone who finals today!!!
Just saw that Bandita Buddy Vanessa Barnveld is a GH finalist in Young Adult.
Yahoo Vanessa!!!
Gabrielle - "Call from Jeanne" as in finalist? If so...Yahoo Gabrielle!
Hey Helen! You got the chook for the day! Had to LOL that the phone never stops ringing at your house.
I got the unique experience of calling finalists this year, since I'm on the Board of Directors. What a BLAST!!! I love making someone's day. :)
BTW, Helen, my first call was late last night to Australia, so...
Hey Gabrielle! So glad you popped in!! Grins. Gabrielle was my first call in what was the wee hours of the morning for me. Grins. Mid-afternoon for her. How's that cold, Gabrielle? (Saw your post on Facebook)
Three years? THREE YEARS?? How can it have been three years? Yikes. Time flies when you are having so much delicious fun in the Lair, doesn't it?
WOOOOT! to Vanessa, and to all these fun finalists.
More news, more news!!
Good luck and best wishes to all of my author friends!
Helen, our phone is always ringing off the hook, too! Lord help me when Shary gets to her teen years because, as a 10-year-old, she's already getting (girlfriend) calls.
I used to read contemps all the time: Harlequin, Silhouette, Love Inspired. But, I've been "stuck in time" of Regency or Medieval England for the last several years. I have read a couple of contemps in the last few months because of friends' recs and reviews and enjoyed them, so I may have to start balancing my reading of historicals and contemporaries.
What a bright and sunshiny day we
are enjoying! I'm so hoping that
it bodes well for our friends here
in the Lair. Good luck to all as
everyone waits for THE CALL!
I'm looking forward to the next
book on my TBR list. I'll start
Book One, Vision In White, of
Nora Robert's Bride Quartet today.
Pat Cochran
Pat, I think the next one in the series is due out soon. It's a fun series. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! :>
Helen, I hope you and the bird will have fun today!
Congrats to Gabrielle for finaling! I hope you're going to make to Nashville so you can bask!
LOL....I haven't even read the comments but I hope one of the Banditas pointed out that it's been FOUR years since we first got together. Sigh. It still seems like years longer.
Now I'm going to read the comments and I've got my fingers crossed ...
Oh Helen, congratulations on grabbing the GR! I hope he can change diapers. ;-)
You're in for a treat once you start Susan Mallery. She writes wonderful characters and I'm always laughing and crying throughout her books.
Whoo Hoo! Congrats, Gabrielle and Vanessa! Can't wait to cheer you on in Nashville *g*
I got a call a little while ago letting me know A Not-So-Perfect Past is a RITA finalist in the Contemporary Series category :-)
BETH!!! WOOOHOOOOOO!!! How exciting!!!
Donna, in talking about series contemporary, several people mentioned Kristan Higgins today. I had the privledge of calling HER today. Grins. Her book Too Good to be True is a RITA finalist, so hey, the contemp IS on the rise!
It was so fun to call her too...grins.
Bandits...I just finaled. Unless it was a horrible prank call. In Regency. I cannot believe it. I thought the calls went out this morning.
Congratulations everyone!
Beth!!!! Yay on your Rita final!!!
Dress? Hair? Shoes? Guest for the ceremony???
Jeanne, I bet it was fun calling....um, you know my number but no call??? :D
Seriously, I recognize a lot of names on the lists and applaud every single one.
Sorry Anna, I can't let it go unmentioned! If I have to suffer, everybody suffers! Yes, that's my giving, loving self coming through. :-)
Sorry, jumping ahead to shout....
Yay, Gabrielle!!! Congratulations to you!!! That's wonderful! And how fun that Jeanne called you!!
Gillian! YIPEEEE!! I was so hoping you'd come post. :> We all got different portions of the list to call, so having to wait until friends post...its tough. Grins.
WOOHOOO!!! Gillian!!!
Joanie, I'm with you, I want to know what Beth's gonna wear. Gillian and Gaberielle too...tell all!
Where else would I go? I love you guys. You've been my inspiration.
I was such a mess on the phone. I told Cindy Kirk I ate my "I didn't final" candy bar two hours ago at work. Now I don't think I'll be eating tonight...
Wheeeeee, Beth!!!!!!!!!!!!
Champagne for everyone! A toast to Bandita Beth and her wonderful book!!! So well deserved!
Popping back on to cheer for our very own Banditas - KJ and Beth!!
And to our fabulous BB's Gillian and Vanessa and Gabrielle!!
Awesome news!!
And I'm raising a glass for those of you like me who didn't final - we wrote fabulous books and had the balls to enter - that's worth a toast!
Oh, and Gillian!!! Woo hoo!!!!!Fantastic news!!
Yep, many of us know what you're talking about when you say you thought it was a prank call. LOL
All that, and you got to eat the candy bar, too. Very sweet! Congratulations!!
I agree, Anna. It's very scary, entering these contests. So step right up, everyone, and grab some champagne -- or join me here at the chocolate fountain! Yummers. Is there any better way to celebrate all that courage? :-)
Wow, what great news to discover here! So many bandits and bandit buddies. Gillian, HUGE congratulations, so excited for you. Hope that means we can raise a glass together in your honor in Nashville. Congratulations, Banditas Beth and KJ! You girls rock. Congratulations, Vanessa, who finalled in YA! Congratulations to guests and buddies, Gabrielle, Elizabeth H, Kristan H, Deb Marlowe (huge congrats to Deb who is such a supporter of our blog!), Ammanda McCabe, Courtney Milan, Kelly Hunter, and I'm sure I've forgotten some of our visitors. Yay, everyone!
Whoo Hoo Beth Gabrielle Gilian and Vanessa so far I am sure the list is going to grow today I am so excited for you all
WAY TO GO LADIES
Jeanne it must be such an honour to ring the finalist and your first call was to Australia YAY
As for the chook today he is going to help me look after 15 month old Jake while Bec is at work teaching English and History to high school students and is he in for some fun with Jake but I will give him some Tim Tams when Jake goes home I am sure he and I will need a rest LOL.
Deb I have lived thru having 4 teenagers in my house and the phone never stopped ringing these days most of their calls come to their mobile phones and not the house phone those to the house phone are all for hubby and me LOL
Have Fun
Helen
Congratulations Gillian!!! I can't believe I missed that (I was busy staring at the phone, lol)
Congratulations!!
Donna, I'm in love with Kristan's books and so glad I finally picked one up. I think you'd like Susan's books, too. Very funny, good characters -- and sexy!
Pink Peony, you're so cute to put my name on that illustrious list! Thanks! :-)
Hi Jane, I just bought a Susan Anderson for the first time, and I was debating whether to get the Julie James book. I'm glad you mentioned them both because now I'll be sure to try them both.
Oh Madame, I think everyone's anticipating the exciting arrival of Susan Sey's MONEY HONEY. I've already got it pre-ordered!
Hi Julie! Interesting how the marketing is different in the UK. I think Kristan Higgins might be considered women's fiction, but SEP? Seems like romance to me! On the other hand, romance IS women's fiction, so ... hmm. I think I like the UK style better. :-)
Anna, you know I'm the biggest Susan Mallery fan, too! I can't wait for her Fool's Gold series to start. And seriously, once you've read one Kristan Higgins, you're going to want to read every one of them. I would start with CATCH OF THE DAY. It's wonderful!!
Hi Laurie, welcome to the Lair today! I think you've captured the names of every contemp. romance author out there. You're obviously a big fan, like me. I love them all!
PJ, good luck in your all-day class. And thanks for the recommendation on Toni Blake. I've met her and wanted to read her, but didn't know quite where to start. I'm adding ONE RECKLESS SUMMER to my *to buy* list right now. :-)
Hi Christie! I'm so hoping you're right about contemporary romance. I'm ready for some great new voices to start showing up any day now! Including ... maybe ... some Bandita buddies...? ;-)
Hey Gannon, thanks for stopping by today! And thanks for reminding me that, oops, I forgot to mention Nora! I love everything she writes. I'm waiting for #3 of her bride quartet. It should be out any day now...
Joanie! LOL .... that cat was for you!! I was hoping it would make you laugh. :-)
Speaking of cats ... Virginia C, I love your avatar!
Jeanne, how fun to be making those happy calls! It must be exciting to know you're about to change someone's life in a very good way. :-)
Hey, Ms. Hellion! Do not worry, no kitties were harmed in the making of this blog. :-)
Hi Deb, glad you stopped by! Wow, I can just imagine the phone bill a 10-year-old generates! LOL. And you sound like me with your genre-specific reading. I can spend a year reading only contemporary, then if I just happen to pick up a historical, I'm on a historical jag for months!
Hi Pat, glad to see you in the Lair! Thanks for bringing the sunshine. :-)
Wow, Anna C., that's a lot of Bandita connections there. I didn't realize Deb Marlowe was a finalist. Cool!
Woooo hooooooo, Deb!!! Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you! I'm raising my champagne glass in your honor!
Hey, that's my glass! I'll get another one for you. There we go. Cheers! ;-)
You guys! I'm thrilled to be nominated of course, but guess who called me?! Trish! That made it an even bigger thrill!
Congrats to Beth! And Gillian! And to my cp Liz Carlyle--and everyone else! I can't wait to celebrate with all my Bandita buddies!
Huge congrats to our Bandits, KJ and Beth and all the BB's! Woo Hoo!
Popping back in for some of that lovely champagne and chocolate. Oooh, look at all that lovely fruit too...Yummmm.
Grins.
CONGRATS DEB!!! And Courtney, and Vanessa and WOOHOOO, KJ!!!! I know there are so many I'm missing. You just have to know you ROCK!!!
I had two WRW Pals final too - Laura Booth and Keely Thrall. WOOT!! Ladies!
I am in awe of all of the talent, spirit, friendship and encouragement shared through this post. You all are truly amazing, awesome authors!!!
It has been a big day! I offer my
good wishes to all who were entered
into the competition. "Congratu-lations" to all who received THE
CALL! And to those who were not
called, you are still TOPS in my
book!! WOO-HOO!!
Pat C.
Thanks for visiting everyone!! This has been an amazing day and we are an amazing group! Congratulations to all the finalists and to everyone who didn't final, well, hmph. Here's a fresh glass of champagne to ease the pain. I've got mine. Cheers!
Oh, and darling Piero has generously offered all of us the opportunity to rub his impressive body in chocolate and ... well, I suppose the rest is up to your imagination. ;-)
See, everyone's a winner in the Lair!!
Beth, A Not So Perfect past is a wonderful book! I'm glad to see it get recognition.
KJ, yippeee! Way to go!
Hearty congratulations also to Gillian and Deb and all our buddies who got a call today. I hope you're all going to Nashville to soak up the glow. :-)
Major congratulations to all Banditas and Bandita Buddies who got the thrilling call about finalling in the GH and RITA!
You all do us proud!
Popping in late, and celebrating with everyone!! whoohoo, Banditas Beth and KJ and BB Vanessa!!
No phone call here...but was busy chasing grandbabies all day. (Was informed by Granddaughter when asked who makes the best homemade chicken nuggets..."Gramma Suzy"...so will take that praise instead.)
Congrats Deb Marlowe, too!!
Congrats to BB's Gillian and Gabrielle, too!!
Kate said: Oh, and darling Piero has generously offered all of us the opportunity to rub his impressive body in chocolate and ... well, I suppose the rest is up to your imagination. ;-)
Oh. My. Goodness. Why THANK YOU, Kate! My imagination is QUITE good....
And I could use some chocolate about now. *Evil grin*
Popping in late to say HUGE congrats to the Banditas and Buddies who finaled. I am THRILLED for each and every one of you!
And commiserations with those who did not. VraiAnna is right. Some darned good books didn't make it, but having the cajones to enter is the real test! I raise my glass to all of those who passed the test!!
Chiming in very late to do a happy dancing boogie across the lair and scream happy whohoooooos for Beth and KJ!!! I'm so so so excited for you both :-)
Congratulations, KJ, Gillian and Deb!! So thrilled for you all!
Thanks so much for the congrats, everyone. It sure is tough to stay in the revision cave on an exciting day like today but I'm doing my best to keep my fingers on the keyboard :-)
Hi, Banditas! What a day it's been! Thank you for the messages of congrats.
I'd like to pass on my whoo-hoos to all the Bandita Buddies who finalled in the GH and RITA this year.
BETH!!!!!!!!!!!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!
Exciting day! Good luck to all the finalists!
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