After reading through countless articles and books on how to be a successful writer, I noticed that many had the same tip: Read everything you can get your hands on. Read books in your genre, read books outside of your genre. Read bestsellers and emerging authors. Read the classics. Read ANYTHING that talks about or refers to your genre and style of writing. So I thought, what better way to start this reading process then with the 2013 RITA Winners
The RITA is an award granted to authors who have outstanding published romance novels and novellas. The award first appeared in 1980 and was originally called the Golden Medallion. The name was later changed to RITA after RWA’s first President Rita Clay Estrada. Through the years the award has become the symbol for excellence in published romance fiction.
“Up to 2,000 romance novels are entered in the RITA competition each year. A novel may be entered either by the author or by the book’s publisher in one of the 10 contest categories. After the first round of judging by published romance authors, all entries with a minimum total score of at least 90 percent of the total possible score will advance to the final round.
Once RWA announces the RITA finalists, a final round of judges evaluates and scores these novels to determine the 10 RITA Award winners. The RITA Award winners are announced at the Awards Ceremony at the RWA Annual Conference.”
This information was taken from RWA: http://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=528
Below I’ve listed the 2013 RITA Winners, their book that received the award and some of the top social media playgrounds (websites) you can find them at.
Best First Book Winner
Simone St. James – The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Website: www.simonestjames.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simone_stjames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonestjames
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/simonestjames/
Contemporary Single Title Romance Winner
Barbara Freethy – The Way Back Home
Website: www.barbarafreethy.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraFreethy
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbarafreethy/
Historical Romance
Sarah MacLean – A Rogue by Any Other Name
Website: www.sarahmaclean.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahmaclean
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahmaclean
Tumblr: powerofromance.sarahmaclean.net
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/sarahmaclean
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sarahmaclean/
Inspirational Romance
Elizabeth Camden – Against the Tide
Website: http://elizabethcamden.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethCamden
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethcamden/
Long Contemporary Series
Karen Templeton – A Gift for All Season
Website: http://www.karentempleton.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karentempleton
Strong Romantic Elements
Simone St. James – The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Website: http://www.simonestjames.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simone_stjames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonestjames
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/simonestjames/
Paranormal Romance
Kresley Cole – Shadow’s Claim
Website: http://kresleycole.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kresleycole
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KresleyCole
Tumblr: http://kresleycole.tumblr.com/
Romance Novella
Eloisa James – Seduced by a Pirate
Website: http://www.eloisajames.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eloisajames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eloisajames
Tumblr: http://eloisajames.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/eloisajames/
Romantic Suspense
Laura Griffin – Scorched
Website: http://www.lauragriffin.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laura_Griff
Short Contemporary Series
Sarah Morgan – A Night of No Return
Website: http://sarahmorgan.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Young Adult Romance
Emily McKay – The Farm
Website: http://emilymckay.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Emily_Mc_Kay
I’m excited to read some of the best current books in my genre and I can’t wait to dive in and get lost between their pages. I just hope it won’t make me feel like I can’t measure up to them. I know I have a long way to go before I can even think about a RITA award but like my Grandmother always says
“If your going to take the time to do something, take the time to do it right. Be proud of what you accomplished, don’t be sorry for the time wasted.”
Have you read any of these books?
Do you read books of your genre while you are in the midst of writing one yourself?
Do you have any books that you think I should read?
Don’t Be a Stranger. Leave me a comment. You and your opinions are welcome here.
Darla G. Denton 
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