Monday, March 25, 2013

It’s a Golden Heart/RITA PRE-Party!!!

by Jennifer Faye

Can you believe it’s GH/RITA week already? My 2012 certainly buzzed by quickly. And this particular week is always such a nerve-racking/exciting week for so many romance writers.

I never thought I’d say this but I’m sooo excited that I wasn’t eligible to enter. :-D

Of course the reason for my excitement, if you didn’t already know, is that I sold to Harlequin Romance in 2012 making me ineligible for the Golden Heart and since RANCHER TO THE RESCUE won’t debut until July, I’m not eligible for the RITA either.

Which puts me in the awesome position of rooting for all of you who had the courage to put yourselves out there. So this blog post is dedicated to every talented writer that had the courage to follow your dreams.

I applaud you all!

And I wish you the best of luck!!!

Now I’d like to turn this post over to you. Since this is your week. *grabbing my popcorn and settling on the couch*

Now take a walk down HPT's pink carpet and toot your horn.

Tell us the title of your entry and in which contest/category, so that we can cheer for you and watch for you name on the big day.

Also tell us any new exciting writing developments that have happened since you pressed ‘send.’ Or what you’re working on currently.

27 comments:

  1. I'm cheering on this year, too :) Am hoping to have finished tomorrow's errands and be sat in my comfy chair before the announcements start coming! I love this time of year!!

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  2. Hey Catherine, glad to know I'll have some company on the sidelines. Actually it's kind of nice to be able to kick back and watch the calls come in w/o the wondering. ;-)

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  3. I love being a cheerleader! You get to share all the happy news :-)

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  4. Hi, Tracey! Another member of the cheer-leading squad. :-)

    Definitely will be shaking those pom-poms.

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  5. I entered the GH for the first time this year (Kiss the Cook, contemporary series). I'm not holding my breath about winning but its fun just to be part of it.

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  6. Marcy, woohoo!!! Congrats on entering for the first time. That's wonderful and so exciting.

    Love your title! Wishing you the best of luck. I'll keep an eye out for your name. ;-)

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  7. I was a judge for the RITA this year, and I do hope at least one from my batch gets nominated, so I will be cheering a few of my faves along! Marcy, congrats for entering the GH this year! Best of luck!

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    1. Olivia, I haven't had the opportunity to judge the RITA yet, but I'm looking forward to finding some more authors to follow. ;-)

      Hope your fav makes it.

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  8. Hey Jennifer,
    I never entered the GH but love this day, and will be cheering on my fellow Kiwis for some RITA news. The Aussies, too. Love the downunders doing well.

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    1. Another for the cheer-leading section. :-) We're a growing group.

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. Hi!

    I entered two in the Inspy category, but then it was cancelled due to low enrollment. I pulled one and moved the other to the historical category. Two weeks ago, I got a full request from an editor in a contest on the one that I pulled, so I am trying to focus on that. I haven't entered the GH in years, but I thought I would give it a try, even though my poor 1930s peeps won't stand a chance against all of those Regencies, Westerns and Pirate stories. So, even if I won't make it, I still can focus on my full and making the changes the editor wants. Thanks for having this party--it is a great idea and I hope some more show up!

    Piper

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    1. Hi, Piper! So glad you joined us. So sorry to hear that your category got cancelled. That's a bummer. Wishing you the best of luck with the one you moved.

      Although it sounds really good for your other ms. Wishing you lots of luck with the revisions.

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  10. Oh yeah! Pulling for my crit partner Marcy and her wonderful story, KISS THE COOK! :)

    I'm ineligible for the GH this year and can't do the RITA til next year. My debut, AN ACCIDENTAL FAMILY, is 2012 GH finalist (under a different title)--it sold from the editor request I got at the end of the contest. :) So I encourage people to enter. If you don't final, remember it's NOT a reflection on your writing or your story. It's so subjective, many wonderful books don't get that score needed. Keep writing and submitting!

    So I'm cheering for everyone who entered! I'm going to be watching the results roll out tomorrow, I can't wait. :)

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    1. Ami, must be interesting going from GH finalist to the cheer-leading squad. But I'm so thrilled for you. I have your debut on top of my stack. If the weekend hadn't been so crazy, I would have had it read by now. ;-)

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  11. Thanks!

    I forgot to give the title of my one that is still in: A CHAMPION'S HEART.

    Piper

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    1. Thanks for sharing. I'll definitely keep an eye out for your entry.

      Good luck!!!

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    2. YOU DID IT, PIPER! I saw your name on the list! Oh, congrats! It's SO MUCH FUN. Join your loop as soon as you can and enjoy the party! There is nothing like a Golden Heart final!

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    3. Thank you Ami! I appreciate your kind words of congrats! I will join the loop--as soon as I can figure out where it is....:)

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  12. Thanks Jennifer for stopping by. :-)

    Should be a fun day tomorrow.

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  13. Adding my good luck to everyone!!!

    I haven't even entered and I'm excited to hear the finalists' names.

    I have the cyber-bubbly on ice. ;-)

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  14. Thanks to Ami who posted her congrats, but I just wanted to follow up. My entry, A Champion's Heart, finaled in the GH in the Historical Romance category. Squee!!!!!!!!!

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  15. In my situation, I entered the GH but the Inspirational category didn't have enough entries and so was eliminated. I chose not to enter into another category, but I still judged. Now my entry is with an agent who requested a partial, so here is praying I won't be eligible to enter next year!

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    1. Maria, sorry your category got cancelled. But I've got my fingers crossed that the agent loves your story. ;-)

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  16. Ah, I'm late to the party. But I wanted to give my heartfelt congratulations to Piper and to anyone else reading who may have finaled in the RITAs or GHs this year. I judged the RITAs for the first time and discovered some wonderful writers, and now I can't wait to make my way through the finalists to find some more! :-)

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