I finalled in the RITA for 2011. This is a great honor and just so generally cool I am rendered pretty much speechless.Black Hawk is one of eight in the Historical Romance category.
To wit:
Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Amy Pierpont, editor)
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne (Berkley Publishing Group; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
(That's me. Look. There I am. Me.)
The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex (Kensington Brava; Megan Records, editor)
Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Kate Seaver, editor)
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt (Grand Central Publishing; Amy Pierpont, editor)
Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase (Avon Books; May Chen, editor)
Unveiled by Courtney Milan (HQN Books; Margo Lipschultz, editor)
As you can see -- these are major players here. I am taking my joy from the Finalist position in the gather-ye-rosebuds-while-ye-may school of reality.
Go, Jo!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you! So well-deserved. Black Hawk was fantastic - I could not put it down and have been singing its praises ever since. I'll be cheering loudly from the audience!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jo! Very happy for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you, and it's so deserved. I loved the Black Hawk. Your voice is fresh and unique. Wish I could be in Anahaim and cheer for you!
ReplyDeleteCngratulations!
ReplyDeleteI'm picturing you, Adrian and Justine holding hands and dancing in a circle, pausing occasionally to pat each other on the back. YAY BLACK HAWK!
I feel so absolutely wonderful about this. Every time I think about it I get all blissed out again.
ReplyDeleteWhat it is -- the RITA contest is judged by other Romance writers. They're tough, y'know.
Jo, I "discovered" you by looking at the recent RITA lists!
ReplyDeleteI just started The Forbidden Rose, and I can definitely see why you became a finalist. :- )
Love all the detailed descriptions of the setting and the clever dialogue - and such an intelligent heroine!
Reminds me just a tiny bit of some of Patricia Veryan's later stories, but your characters are more layered and the love scenes more sensual.
I'm very glad that I found your books!
Just checked your website, realized Her Ladyship's Companion was available for my Nook, downloaded it forthwith, read it electronic cover to cover - what a charming book it is! An absolutely delightful read!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see Sir Adrian, absolutely capable of stealing any scene, graciously leaving space for Our Hero (never mind Giles -if I were Melissa, I'd go right for Sir Adrian!)(but then whayt would happen to Justine? I guess it worked out for the best)
Reminded me of Georgette Heyer's books - witty and subtle, with characters I'd like to have over to dinner. Highly recommended!
Hi Nancy --
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you. I am so glad you like Forbidden Rose.
Y'know, I do exactly the same thing. That is, I look at the RITA lists when I'm seeking out books to top up my TBR pile. They are always great books.
I have not read Veryan. I will make it a point to check her out.
Hi Valerie --
ReplyDeleteI never know what to say about Her Ladyship's Companion. I wrote it so long ago, it's almost as if it were somebody else's book. I can't help thinking it's a bit dated.
I wonder if all writers are like this with their very old books?
I'm in awe of the way you managed the continuity, given the lapse of time between HLC and the Spymaster eries. Even though some of the conventions may have changed in the intervening decades, HLC felt very fresh- mostly because the characters are so vivid ... Sir Adrian is as sigh worthy as he ever was!
DeleteP.s. What do you think ever happened to Robbie? Just wondering...
I have never before thought of what Robbie might get up to. *g*
ReplyDeleteNow, I'm unlikely to write Robbie's story for a couple of reason.
First is, it would be late 1830 to 1840s before I could write Robbie's story. Now, there are fine historical doings in 1848 as you very possibly know. But that is a whole new era for me. The research would be formidable.
Second ... I don't know if you've noticed this, but in general my spies are men and women who don't have other obligations. Robbie is an Earl. Men with great power, like Earls and Dukes were kept fairly busy being wealthy and powerful. They didn't have the time to be professional spies.
Take Giles. As a teen, he might man the door at Meeks Street in his school holidays. But there's no suggestion he'll join the Service. He's nephew to one Earl and uncle to another, one of those untitled men with significant estates and connections. He can't run off to France and sneak through alleys with a knife between his teeth.
Admittedly, I do have my aristocratic spies -- Galba and Doyle -- an Earl and heir to an Earl.
Galba is not actually spying in his old age. Head of Service is a political job that has to be done by an aristocrat. When Galba and Doyle are grooming Adrian to move into Galba's job someday, a big portion of their work is providing Adrian the fake background that will equip him for the position.
Doyle is free to spy because he's at odds with his father. Doyle isn't weighed down with the responsibility of helping run the estate he will someday inherit. He's not welcome there.
I was actually thinking about 1848, when even an Earl might get caught up in the general turmoil...but I'm content to leave Robbie to his Earlish duties and a private happy ever after.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the additional background thoughts on Galba, Doyle, etc