RITA Award
| RITA Award | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | Excellence in romantic fiction |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Romance Writers of America |
| Official website | http://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=528 |
The RITA Award is the most prominent award given throughout the genre of romance fiction.[1][2] It is presented by Romance Writers of America (RWA). The purpose of the RITA Award is to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published novels and novellas. It is named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada.
Procedure
The RITA Award opens for entries in the fall. Entrants must supply five printed books by the posted deadline. Each title is judged by five separate judges during the preliminary round. Finalist are announced in mid-March. Winners are announced at the annual award ceremony, held on the last day of RWA's National Conference, which is normally held in July.[3][4] Winners receive a gold statuette, book editors receive a plaque.
Current contest rules may be found on the RWA website (www.rwa.org), in the Awards section.
Categories
Current award categories are:
- Best First Book
- Contemporary Romance
- Erotic Romance
- Historical Romance
- Inspirational Romance
- Paranormal Romance
- Romance Novella
- Romantic Suspense
- Short Contemporary Romance
- Young Adult Romance
Best First Book
- 2008 Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
- 2009 Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
- 2010 One Scream Away by Kate Brady
- 2011 Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner
- 2012 First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
- 2013 The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James
- 2014 The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake
Contemporary Series Romance
- 2008 Snowbound by Janice Johnson
- 2009 A Mother's Wish by Karen Templeton
- 2010 A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews
- 2011 Welcome Home, Cowboy by Karen Templeton
- 2012 Doukaki's Apprentice by Sarah Morgan
Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure
- 2008 Treasure by Helen Brenna
- 2009 Danger Signals by Kathleen Creighton
- 2010 The Soldier's Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees
- 2011 The Moon That Night by Helen Brenna
- 2012 Soldier's Last Stand by Cindy Dees
Contemporary Single Title
This award refers to novels that are not part of a series.[5]
This award may correlate to:
- Best Category Contemporary Romance in 1982
- Various awards in 1983
- Best Contemporary 65-80,000 words in 1984
- Best Single Title Contemporary 1990 and from 1992 to 1993
- Best Contemporary Single Title (Romance) from 1994 to 2008
Past winners:[6]
- 1982 Winner Take All by Brooke Hastings
- 1983
- Best Contemporary Mainstream Romance: Opal Fires by Lynda Trent
- Best Contemporary Sensual Romance: The Heart’s Victory by Nora Roberts
- Best Contemporary Sweet Romance: Renegade Player by Dixie Browning
- 1984 This Magic Moment by Nora Roberts & Destiny's Sweet Errand by Deirdre Mardon
- 1989 Leaves of Fortune by Linda Barlow
- 1990 Private Relations by Diane Chamberlain
- 1992 A Man to Die For by Eileen Dreyer
- 1993 This Time Forever by Kathleen Eagle
- 1994 Private Scandals by Nora Roberts
- 1995 Again by Kathleen Gilles Seidel
- 1996 Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
- 1997 Daniel’s Gift by Barbara Freethy
- 1998 Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- 1999 Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- 2000 Body Guard by Suzanne Brockmann
- 2001 First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- 2002 True Confessions by Rachel Gibson
- 2003 No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel
- 2004 Birthright by Nora Roberts
- 2005 Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
- 2006 Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs
- 2007 Adios To My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer
- 2008 Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
- 2009 Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson
- 2010 Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins
- 2011 Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
- 2012 Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe
- 2013 The Way Back Home by Barbara Freethy
- 2014 Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O'Keefe
Erotic Romance
- 2014 Claim Me by J. Kenner
Historical Romance
- 1990
- Best Series Historical: The Bride by Julie Garwood
- Best Single Title Historical : Silver Noose by Patricia Gardner
- Best Regency Romance: The Rake and the Reformer by Mary Jo Putney
- 1991
- Best Series Historical: A Wild Yearning by Penelope Williamson
- Best Single Title Historical : Where Love Dwells by Elizabeth Stuart
- Best Regency Romance: The Sandalwood Princess by Loretta Chase
- 1992
- Best Series Historical: The Tender Texan by Jodi Thomas
- Best Single Title Historical : Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi
- Best Regency Romance: Emily and the Dark Angel by Jo Beverley
- 1993
- Best Historical Series: The Prisoner by Cheryl Reavis
- Best Historical Single Title: Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson
- Best Regency Romance: An Unwilling Bride by Jo Beverley
- 1994
- Best Historical Series: My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley
- Best Historical Single Title: Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell
- Best Regency Romance : Deidre and Don Juan by Jo Beverley
- 1995
- Best Historical Romance: To Tame a Texan’s Heart by Jodi Thomas
- Best Long Historical Romance: Dancing on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney
- Best Regency Romance: Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly
- 1996
- Long Historical Romance: Something Shady by Pamela Morsi
- Short Historical Romance: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
- Best Regency Romance: Gwen's Christmas Ghost by Lynn Kerstan and Alicia Rasley
- 1997
- Long Historical Romance: Conor’s Way by Laura Lee Guhrke
- Short Historical Romance: Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath
- Best Regency Romance: The Lady's Companion by Carla Kelly
- 1998
- Long Historical Romance: Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne
- Short Historical Romance: Heart of a Knight by Barbara Samuel
- Best Regency Romance: Love's Reward by Jean R. Ewing
- 1999
- Long Historical Romance: My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway
- Short Historical Romance:
- Best Regency Romance: His Grace Endures by Emma Jenson
- 2000
- Long Historical Romance: Silken Threads by Patricia Ryan
- Short Historical Romance: The Proposition by Judith Ivory
- Best Regency Romance: The Rake's Retreat by Nancy Butler
- 2001
- Long Historical Romance: Devilish by Jo Beverley
- Short Historical Romance:
- Best Regency Romance: A Grand Design by Emma Jensen
- 2002
- Long Historical Romance: The Bridal Season by Connie Brockway
- Short Historical Romance: Tempt Me Twice by Barbara Dawson Smith
- Best Regency Romance: Much Obliged by Jessica Benson
- 2003
- Long Historical Romance: Stealing Heaven by Madeline Hunter
- Short Historical Romance: The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis
- Best Regency Romance: A Debt to Delia by Barbara Metzger
- 2004
- Long Historical Romance: The Destiny by Kathleen Givens
- Short Historical Romance: Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas
- Best Regency Romance: Prospero's Daughter by Nancy Butler
- 2005
- Long Historical Romance: Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale
- Short Historical Romance: A Wanted Man by Susan Kay Law
- Best Regency Romance: A Passionate Endeavor by Sophia Nash
- 2006
- Long Historical Romance: The Devil to Pay by Liz Carlyle
- Short Historical Romance: The Texan's Reward by Jodi Thomas
- Best Regency Romance: A Reputable Rake by Diane Gaston
- 2007
- Long Historical Romance: On the Way To the Wedding by Julia Quinn
- Short Historical Romance: The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn
- 2008
- Historical Romance: Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter
- Regency Historical Romance: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
- 2009
- Historical Romance: The Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal
- Regency Historical Romance: My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne
- 2010
- Historical Romance: Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas
- Regency Historical Romance: What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
- 2011
- Historical Romance: His at Night by Sherry Thomas
- Regency Historical Romance: The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig
- 2012
- Historical Romance: The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne
- Regency Historical Romance: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
- 2013
- Historical Romance: A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
- 2014
- Historical Romance: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean
Inspirational Romance
- 2008 A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight
- 2009 Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren
- 2010 The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander
- 2011 In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon
- 2012 The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena B. Miller
- 2013 Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden
- 2014 Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
Long Contemporary Series Romance
- 2013 A Gift For All Season by Karen Templeton
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
This award may correlate to:
- Best Romance from 1990 to 1996
- RWA's Favorite Book in 1998
- Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements from 2004 to 2008
Past winners are:[6]
- 1990 Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
- 1991 The Prince of Midnight by Laura Kinsale
- 1992 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- 1993 Come Spring by Jill Marie Landis
- 1994 Lord of the Night by Susan Wiggs
- 1995 It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- 1996 Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
- 1998 Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- 2004 Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah
- 2005 A.K.A. Goddess by Evelyn Vaughn
- 2006 Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel
- 2007 A Lady Raised High by Jennifer Ashley w/a Laurien Gardner
- 2008 Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
- 2009 Tribute by Nora Roberts
- 2010 The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
- 2011 Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas
- 2012 How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal
- 2013 The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James
Paranormal Romance
- 2008 Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
- 2009 Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwen Cready
- 2010 Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
- 2011 Unchained: The Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood
- 2012 Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
- 2013 Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole
- 2014 The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
Romance Novella
- 2008 "Born in My Heart" by Jennifer Greene in Like Mother, Like Daughter
- 2009 "The Fall of Rogue Gerard" by Stephanie Laurens in It Happened One Night
- 2010 "The Christmas Eve Promise" by Molly O'Keefe in The Night Before Christmas
- 2011 "Shifting Sea" by Virginia Kantra in Burning Up
- 2012 I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden
- 2013 Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James
- 2014 Take Me, Cowboy by Jane Porter
Romantic Suspense
- 2008 Ice Blue by Anne Stuart
- 2009 Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard
- 2010 Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin
- 2011 Silent Scream by Karen Rose
- 2012 New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
- 2013 Scorched by Laura Griffin
- 2014 Off the Edge by Carolyn Crane (first self-published winner)
Short Contemporary Series Romance
- 2013 A Night of No Return by Sarah Morgan
- 2014 Why Resist a Rebel? by Leah Ashton
Young Adult Romance
- 2008 Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
- 2009 Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore
- 2010 Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
- 2011 The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
- 2012 Enclave by Ann Aguirre
- 2013 The Farm by Emily McKay
References
- ↑ Vineyard, Rebecca (2004). The Romance Writer's Handbook: How to Write Romantic Fiction & Get it Published. Watson-Guptill. p. 122. ISBN 0-87116-204-0.
- ↑ Brown, Janelle (September 29, 1999). "Forbidden romance?". Salon.com. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ Clay, Pat (August 8, 2007). "Authors earn respect of romance writers". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
- ↑ Bouricius, Ann (2000). "The Romance Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Love in the Stacks". Chicago: American Library Association. p. 69. ISBN 0-8389-0779-2.
- ↑ Category vs. Single Title Romance as compiled by newsletter editor Diana Rowe Martinez
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "RITA Awards: Past Winners". Romance Writers of America. 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-30.