2012 RWA Award winners

RWA held their annual national convention this past week, and at it the annual awards for both the RITA and the IRCA given by the Faith, Hope & Love Chapter of RWA. In place of my usual author guest blog today, I'm sharing the winner's list with you. And here they are:

Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards (IRCA)


Long Contemporary
Chasing Sunsets by Eva Marie Everson (Revell)








Long Historical — tie for 2nd place
Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen (Bethany House)




Short Contemporary — tie for 1st place
Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn (Summerside)
Light the Fire by Mary Manners (White Rose)






Short Historical
Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher (Zondervan)






Romantic Suspense
Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper (Multnomah)





Women's Fiction
Broken Wings by Carla Stewart (FaithWords)







Novella
A Perfect Plan by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson)


RITA
Inspirational Romance
The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller (Revell, Vicki Crumpton, editor)

Congratulations to all my fellow Christian fiction authors!

2011 RITA Finalists Announced - Book Awards

I'm thrilled to come here today and share the list of finalists whose books were nominated in the inspirational category of the RITA Award. This is a prestigious award sponsored by RWA (Romance Writers of America) and features not only a solid, top quality, golden statue, but a plaque as well for the winner in each category. I've had the opportunity to see and hold this award, even though I haven't yet had the privilege of being nominated. Perhaps one day down the line.

But, here are the finalists for the inspirational category:

• A Convenient Wife by Anna Schmidt (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical; Tina James, editor)
• Doctor in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing; Rebecca Germany, editor)
• Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)
• In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon (Revell; Jennifer Leep, editor)
• Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers; David Long and Julie Klassen, editors)
• Shades of Morning by Marlo M. Schalesky (WaterBrook Multnomah; Shannon Marchese, editor)
• The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)
• Whisper on the Wind by Maureen Lang (Tyndale House Publishers; Stephanie Broene, editor)
• Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer and Charlene Patterson, editors)

And there are 2 inspirational authors who were nominated in the Debut Novel category:

• Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense; Tina James, editor)
• A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer, editor)

Congratulations to the nominees! I love seeing so many familiar names and friends listed.