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Friday, March 25, 2011

RWA's Big Announcement Day

Every year, this day causes waves of butterflies (masquerading as nausea) in the stomachs of everyone who's entered RWA's biggest award competitions: The RITA (for published authors) and the Golden Heart (for aspiring writers). It's been four years since I got my Golden Heart call telling me I was a 2007 finalist. Four years, and I still feel more than a little bit guilty for screaming in that poor woman's ear when she gave me the news over the phone. I'm quite sure she thought I'd turned instantaneously insane, and I have nothing I can say to defend myself, even now. My only consolation is that -- because I'd caused her temporary hearing loss -- she may have missed my professions of undying love to her personally, to the RWA National Board in general and to romance and women's fiction readers everywhere.

My family, unfortunately, will never forget me dancing like a maniacal J.Lo imitator in the middle of the living room...

So, I know this is going to be a morning of much excitement for a lot of writers out there. There are so, so many people I'm hoping will get some great news today...particularly my Golden-Heart-entering friends. You all know who you are. I've got my fingers crossed so tightly for you right now that I'm typing this with my nose. Which is difficult. So, I'll keep this short: GOOD LUCK, today! Finalist or not, you finished a novel (persistence! hard work!) and submitted it (professionalism! courage!), and I'm incredibly proud of you. Either way, we'll celebrate.
xo

7 comments:

Tonya Kappes said...

Yes! Good luck to everyone. I totally forgot about the noms being announced today....

Kwana said...

What a wonderful post. Good luck to everyone. I'd like to link it on The Loft.

Pamala Knight said...

LOL! Excellent post about your GH experience Marilyn. Good luck to all the RITA and GH entrants. Thanks for the laugh this Friday morning.

Hope to see you soon.

Edie Ramer said...

Thanks for telling us your story. I bet the woman who called you still talks about it. lol

The first thing I did this morning when I sat at the computer was to look in my email in case I heard anything from my friends. Not yet, but I have fabulous and talented friends, so I'm hoping to hear from many of them.

Marilyn Brant said...

Thanks, Tonya! Wishing you a happy Friday ;).

Kwana, thank you! I'd be thrilled if you linked to it on The Loft!!

Pamala, glad I could make you laugh! Truly, I'm not sure if I was more comical or frightening on that day in '07... Hope to see you soon, too!

Edie, I just heard from one friend so far -- Simone Elkeles is up for a YA RITA this year. Very excited for her! Wishing you a wonderful weekend :).

Angela said...

Lol Too funny! I have a feeling they pull the Phine away from the ear for those very screams. Good luck to all!

Marilyn Brant said...

Ha! Thanks, Angela! Well, I'm pretty sure the lovely lady who called me is exercising extreme caution on the phone now ;).

And I just found out another friend and Magical Musings pal, Cynthia Eden, is up for a RITA! Whoo-hoo!!