2010 Marlene Award Finalist!!!
by | Posted in Writer's Cramp 5 Comments »
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.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
Wow, Ciara!!! Huge congratulations all around. The contest AND the house! The latter with barely a month to spare before the little one’s arrival?! Are you crazy? LOL. Or maybe it’s just me because I take forever to get settled in after a move. We’ve been back in our house for 9 months already since the construction and would you believe I STILL haven’t hung anything on the walls?
Good luck!
March 4th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Fabulous news – congrats, Ciara!! And congrats on the house, too, although I imagine it’s a stressor at this point, with that “nesting” instinct kicking in. Archangel’s Kiss is high on my TBR list, too. Looking forward to more posts when you get all settled in and wishing you the best of luck with your finals, the move, and your upcoming birth — exciting times!
March 9th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Ciara that is amazing! Congratulations! I can’t wait to read this wonderful book!
Congrats on the house as well! It’s such an exciting time for you with the book and the house and the baby coming soon. Don’t forget to rest some time in there!
{{big hug}}
March 12th, 2010 at 6:53 am
Congrats! I can’t wait until you announce when you’re published. I know it’s going to happen soon.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thanks! We are pretty much moved into the new place. (Except for the boxes and boxes of books, art supplies, home brew equipment and backpacking gear in the garage. Shhhh. No one looks in the garage!) Nursery furniture arrives next Thursday. Baby is due in 17 days. Still need to buy diapers. And baby socks.