Okay, you had to be expecting this blog. I got the amazing news a week ago today that I am a finalist for the Rita award. Quick definition for those scratching their heads.

“RWA’s (Romance Writers of America) RITA is the most sought-after award in romance publishing today. The 1,000 romance novels entered in this year’s contest have been narrowed down to 94 finalists in 13 categories. These finalists advance to the “final round” of competition where they will be judged by very discriminating judges – their fellow published authors. The judges now have the difficult task of critiquing and ranking these finalists to determine the final 13 winners. The winners of the 13 RITA Awards will be revealed on July 29, 2006 at RWA’s 26th Annual National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.”

The complete list of finalists can be found at the RWA website

Here’s what happened. About 8:10 a.m. the phone rings. I am brushing my teeth and don’t answer. A few moments later I go into my office to start work for the day. I check my emails and see there is discussion on several writing loops that I’m on. The question of the day is: Have you gotten The Call? Not the call that a publisher wants to buy your book, which is THE CALL, but The Call that you’re a finalist.

Suddenly, that missed phone call took on a whole new significance. Was it The Call or just a call? The caller didn’t leave a message. Should I call back? Should I wait until she calls back? What do I say when she answers? “Hi, did you call because of the Rita?”

More than likely, I convinced myself, it was just a credit card company trying to get me to purchase fraud protection.

How silly of me to be thinking I would get The Call. There are so many good books published each year. Surely, it would take a miracle for that call to be The Call.

So I got to work. Slowly. Looking over my shoulder at the phone every ten seconds. The darn thing didn’t ring. Not that I expected it to.

But who had called? Why hadn’t they left a message? Why didn’t they call back?

And then, thank God, the phone rang again. It was Gayle Wilson, president of RWA, and she asked if I knew why she was calling.

Oh, yes. I did.

So The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Men I’ve Dated, a book written under my real name, Shane Bolks, finaled in the Best First Book category. I was stunned and ecstatic.

This is the best thing that could have happened. That book never quite got the attention I’d hoped, and now it’s like getting a “do over.” And I couldn’t have picked a book more deserving. I had so much fun writing that book. It was easy, you know? It seemed to write itself.

So like they say at the Oscars (and this really is the Oscars of romance writing), it’s an honor to be nominated. I don’t care if I win. I don’t care if I ever final again (well, maybe I care a little about that one). But I am just so amazed and thrilled and fortunate to be on the list this time around.