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?

64 Best Books of 2008 have been wheedled down to 2. There have been heartbreaks and triumphs, trash-talking, black eyes, broken dreams (SOB!). Friendships have shattered and unlikely alliances forged in their place with blood, sweat and oh so many tears. Today Romance Novel March Madness comes down to a final vote: who will be the one book to rule them all?

You know I have a girl crush on Mercy Thompson. But when the lines are drawn and the final gladiators enter the ring, there will only be one book that rules me heart. So head over now to the Dear Author Bitchery Award for Hellagood Authors and vote for Joanna Bourne’s THE SPYMASTER’S LADY.

Read my review of Iron Kissed (4 hearts)

Read my review of The Spymaster’s Lady (5 hearts)

And here it is (from way in the 2nd round) your moment of zen:

There is still time to enter your bracket in the 2nd Annual DA BWAHA, Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors. 64 books published in 2008 are in the running. Pick which ones you think will win out of the 8 categories. Brackets must be completed by 11:00 pm EST on March 18, 2009. Voting will start March 19, 2009.

PRIZES!!! Brackets that most closely resemble the winners after each round get prizes:

• Round 1 winner: $15 GC
• Round 2 winner: A selection of books from the tournament
• Round 3 winner: Berkley book pack of ARCs
• Round 4 winner: $50 GC from Samhain
• Round 5 winner: $100 GC from Fictionwise
• Round 6 winner: A red Sony eReader

The Contestants I love and will have a hard time picking from:

• The Spymasters’ Lady by Joanna Bourne
• Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
• Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
• Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
• Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh
• Demon Bound by Meljean Brook
• Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
• Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
• Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
• Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

How many of the Contestants have you read?

RWA National Conference is next week! I fly to San Fran Monday, arriving at 5:42PM, and am staying at the San Fran Marriott where the Conference is taking place. I’m bringing a flipcam, camera, and, of course, my iPhone to be the biggest dork in attendance capture the memories for all time. If you can’t make it this year, there are quite a few of us capturing the events for your viewing pleasure.

The big three:

1. Blog Nationals Blog: Featuring The Smart Bitches, Dear Author, Ramblings on Romance, Sula, Lisabea, Aymless, Superlibrarian Wendy, and one or two others.
2. Blogging Nationals Blog with links to attending bloggers
3. RWA Nationals official 2008 conference blog: featuring:

Wednesday
10:00 AM Sherry Lewis
1:00 PM Linda Winstead Jones
3:00 PM Beverly Jenkins
Thursday
9:00 AM Kelly Parra
10:00 AM Allison Brennan
1:00 PM Jordan Dane
3:00 PM Jade Lee
4:00 PM Anna Campbell
Friday
10:00 AM Nic Burnham
11:00 AM Suzanne Brockmann
1:00 PM Elizabeth Hoyt
2:00 PM Simone Elkeles
3:00 PM Connie Brockway
4:00 PM Anne Stuart
Saturday
10:00 AM Vicki Lewis Thompson
1:00 PM Caridad Pineiro
11:00 PM Sherry Lewis

Twitterpated:

Can’t get enough RWA and want constant updates throughout the day? Join twitter and friend us: Smart Bitches, Jane Little, KatieBabs, Super Wendy, Me, and a ton of authors. There are more, but rather than writing everyone down, here’s my friend list.

Oh-so-fabulous events:

1. Sherrilyn Kenyon Bash: On Wednesday 8-10 pm (after the St. Martin’s Press book signing)
   ACHERON pre-release party. Apparently both Sherri and the Dark-Hunters will be there. (WHAT? I get to stalk Acheron in real life? Woah nelly.) My favorite part: costume contest for Best Simi, Best Dark-Hunter and Best Show of Dark-Hunter spirit. Also: cake, prizes, dancing and music.
2. Smart Bitch Happy Hour: 3:30 pm Friday at the Thirsty Bear bar, 661 Howard Street, SF, CA. Please let SB Sarah know if you plan to attend.
3. Publisher book signings:
   St. Martin’s – Sat. 2-3:30 (Salon 2)
   Tor – Sat. 2-3:30 (Salon 1)
   Grand Central Fri. 9:45-11:15 (Salon C3)
   Avon Fri. 9:45-11:15
   Berkley – Fri. 3-4:30 (OMG MELJEAN BROOK WILL BE THERE!!!!)
   Bantam – Sat. 2-2:30 (Salon 3)

So what’d I miss? Let me know!