The Oscars of the Romance Industry, the RITAs, were announced yesterday. Books published in 2009 were eligible, but authors had to submit them to the contest to be judged. Seattle authors made another strong showing among the finalists: Alexis Morgan, Julia Quinn, Margaret Mallory, Susan Wiggs, Jane Porter, and Lakeside alumna Marjorie M Liu (Class of ’96). There were, as usual, many great books of 2009 that didn’t make the cut. Who knows if the authors submitted their works. RITA winners will be announced at the Romance Writers of America national conference in Nashville in July.

Here are the few I’ve read that I can recommend:

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Single Title
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN
Editor: Tara Parsons
ISBN: 978-0-373-77356-5

Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle
Historical Romance
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books Romance
Editor: Lauren McKenna
ISBN: 978-0-4165-9492-5

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books
Editor: Lauren McKenna
ISBN: 978-1-416-58094-2

The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu
Paranormal Romance
Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books
Editor: Chris Keeslar
ISBN: 978-0-843-95940-6

Scandal by Carolyn Jewel
Regency Romance
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation
Editor: Kate Seaver
ISBN: 978-0-425-22551-6

How many have you read? Which do you plan to add to your TBR pile? Which books from 2009 do you wish had made the finalist list?

Today is an international day of blogging to celebrate women in technology and science. Lord Byron’s daughter, Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, wrote the first computer programs for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. (Are visions of steampunk dancing in your head yet?) Today we celebrate her accomplishments and those of countless other women scientists who get far less name recognition than they deserve.

My hubby informed me of this day, with the email subject line “for our daughter.” How cute is that? Hopefully she will grow up in a more equal world.

I’ve pledged to blog about women in science and tech that I admire. I’ll start with my mother, a doctor, who saves people’s lives during the day and comes home each night to be a domestic goddess. She started medical school when I was two and had my little brother during it. Her patients love her. Move over, Martha Stewart.

Famous woman I admire: Elizabeth Blackwell, first woman doctor, (1821-1910). Tenacity, thy name is Elizabeth. She began studying medicine privately before searching for a medical school that would admit her. Rejection after rejection followed. Geneva Medical College in New York eventually accepted her. She fought ostracism and prejudice to graduate first in her class in 1849, becoming the first woman to graduate from medical school. Faced more ostracism and prejudice to set up a practice, but she kept on trucking. She later went on to found a Women’s Medical College.

So here’s a toast to women everywhere who strive to make the world a better place, who innovate despite opposition, and who don’t give a darn what society thinks about them. Cheers!

I am delighted to announce that Hearts of Darkenss has won First Place in the 2010 Great Expectations Contest! The final judge of the Specialized Category, editor Talia Platz of NAL, has requested the partial. Congratulations to my fellow finalists. This was a very well organized contest with good feedback. Thank you North Texas RWA for sponsoring it. Keep your eyes peeled for the contest winner announcement in the RWR–I intend to frame my copy.

In other news, my DABWAHA bracket is failing miserably. My friend Seattle Heather won round one and a lovely collection of historical romance novels. My mother (a doctor) has predicted that I will go into labor on the full moon, plus or minus two days, which is next monday. I think this is appropriate, as the hero of my novel is a werewolf. I expect a hairy, howling child. She will be cute.

DABWAHA (Romance Novel March Madness) has kicked off and my bracket…isn’t doing so hot. I am consoling myself by reading some of the great  contestants, such as Carolyn Jewel’s SCANDAL. Highly recommended. Other additions to the To-Be-Read list:

1. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James (Contemporary. Her latest book, Something About You, was the subject of the Smart Bitches and Dear Author’s “Save the Contemporary” campaign.)
2. Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle (Historical. I really enjoy Carlyle’s Regencies.)
3. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (Historical. This book was highly hyped when released. Can it live up to the high expectations?)
4. Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione (Paranormal. Her Demonica series is a favorite of mine, though the last one had too much BDSM IMHO.)
5. Ash by Malinda Lo (Young Adult. Lots of award nominations. Paranormal and LGBT. How could I not be curious?)

I realize the Friday 5 is supposed to be questions, so here you go:

1. Have you read any of the above books?
2. What were your impressions?
3. Which DABWAHA contestants have you added to your TBR pile?
4. How is your bracket holding up?
5. Which books from 2009 do you wish had made the contestant list?

It’s that time again, eager readers. Dear Author and Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books have announced the third annual Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors…commonly referred to as DABWAHA. The grand prize this year is an iPad and there are multiple book prizes for intermediate bracket winners.

Contestants are 64 books published in 2009 in 8 different categories. Sadly, I have only read 10 of the nominees. Strangely enough, I’ve read 3 in the contemporary category. Normally I don’t read much contemporary, but what I do read I get from recommendations by DA and SB-TB and they are the ones who nominated the books. Books I’ve read:

Contemporary:

• Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy
• Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl
• Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

Historical:

• Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran

Sci-Fi Romance & Paranormal:

• Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh
• Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh

Young Adult: 0

Novel with Romantic Elements: 0

Series: 0

GLBT: 0

Urban Fantasy & Fantasy:

• Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
• Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
• On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

I wish Ilona Andrews’ MAGIC STRIKES had made the list. Check out the DABWAHA.com website for the complete list of contenders.

Voting begins March 18th, so fill out your bracket now! (Or check out my bracket and vote for my books…because you love me and want me to win.) Have you filled your bracket already? How did you make your picks? Which books do you wish had made the list?

Visit the Desert Island Keeper Blog today for my rambling love letter to anti-heroes. Karen Marie Moning writes the best ones, though I love Ilona Andrews’ Curran too. Maybe I should have just written a love letter to Adam Black, Jerricho Barrons, and Curran the Beast Lord. Ah, well…there is always tomorrow.

I received the good news today that HEARTS OF DARKNESS is a finalist in the Paranormal Category of the 2010 Marlene Awards. The top three scoring entries were selected for the final round and will be forwarded to editor Katherine Pelz at Berkley for the final ranking. The First Place winner receives a critique of her entry by author Gwyn Cready. Ms. Cready won the 2009 RITA for Best Paranormal Romance for her Jane Austin-time travel romance, Seducing Mr. Darcy. The Marlene Award is  sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers (the other Washington).

It would be easy to become a contest whore–addicted to the rush of positive feedback. This is the third contest for Hearts of Darkness, and the third success. I wish there were contests that judged the whole book, not just the first 20-50 pages. If you know of one, please pass along the info!

You might assume the pin-up girl above is holding a love letter, but in our little world she’s showing off her winning manuscript.

In other news, Mr. Wonderful and I bought our first house and are madly packing for the movers to arrive tomorrow. I’d promise to blog more after the move, but that is a pie crust promise. There are 34 days left to prepare for our little bundle of joy. I’m working on making time to write book 2, which so far I like even better than HoD.

Off to pack…or take a “break” to read Nalini Singh’s ARCHANGEL’S KISS. I need lots of breaks.