Congratulations to Elaine and Laurie G!!! You are the winners of a selection of books from the RWA conference. Please e-mail me your snail-mail address at nrobardsthompson@yahoo.com.  

Here are the answers:

1. What was the original name of the RWA contest that “recognizes outstanding published romance novels and novellas”?  The Golden Medallion
2. What year was it first awarded? 1980
3. How many categories did it first have that first year? There were no categories, only 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners
4. How many categories did the Rita have in 2010? 12
5. What year did the contest’s name change to the Rita Award? 1990
6. For whom is the Rita Award named? RWA founder and first president Rita Clay Estrada
7. What significant honor is bestowed upon authors who win three RITA Awards in a specific Rita category? They are inducted into the RWA “Hall of Fame.”

 Terri Brisbin has posted a fun blog below. So please keep reading.

First — speaking of pretty — I want to congratulate fellow Jaunty Kristan Higgins for bringing home the beautiful RITA statue with her from the recent RWA conference in Orlando! Huzzah, Kristan!

And also pretty were the new fireworks in the newest fireworks show in Disney World – Nightastic! in Magic Kingdom. Though first reports (from our son AKA Mr. Little Walt Disney!) were less than stellar, I was thrilled by the new show! It focuses on fairy godmothers then brings in pirates (Captain Hook AND Jerry Bruckheiser music….not bad!) and then in comes Tinkerbell to save the day! And, having stood in front of Cinderella’s Castle before, Tink is a real person who ‘flies’ down a wire to set off the fireworks.  Stunning!

I’m going to the parks with a friend who has not experienced most of them before — her last visit was more than 20 years ago — so I get to see it through her eyes. Fun! She asked me if seeing the various shows again was boring and I realized that my answer to her about returning to WDW is the same as my answer to anyone who asks why I read my favorite books again:

When I know what to expect, I can look for the unexpected!

By that I mean that once I don’t have to focus on the main story before me, I pick up on more details — little things I’d not noticed before…little bits of the story (or show) that enhances the main plot or scene, but that I’d been too busy to notice before.

For example, during the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we watch as a Harrison Ford-stunt double faces the same kind of  action scene that the ‘real’ Indiana Jones faced in his movies. But sitting there today, I noticed where all the ‘actors/cast members’ stood and moved and what they did while ‘Indie’ was facing wooden stakes and snakes and explosions and more.

When I recently re-read one of my favorite books, I noticed the way the author drew me to focus on some dialogue while all the time she was weaving the plot in a different direction that I’d expected! Like listening to a favorite song and finding a note or instrument never noticed before, I love these little surprises I discover when I no longer have to focus so closely and I let the whole picture flow before me.

So, I’m spending the next few days, picking up on all those new things — things I’ve missed while watching and listening before. Things I didn’t know were waiting for me. Things I will enjoy even more because they were completely unexpected joys…. and all in the Happiest Place on Earth and one of my favorite places — Disney World!

Terri is still celebrating the release of THE MERCENARY’S BRIDE, her July 2010 Harlequin Historical romance.Barely surviving the wonderful, busy, informative, rejuvenating RWA conference, she is enjoying a few more days of vacation before returning to her real life and more deadlines! She’ll be revealing the results of her death-defying experience (she had new author photos taken at the conference!) on her website soon! Visit it at www.terribrisbin.com

In celebration of Kristan’s Rita win, I thought it would be fun to have a contest of our own… How well do you know the Rita?

Answer these questions, and I’ll draw two winners from those who have the most correct answers.

Ready…set…GO!

1. What was the original name of the RWA contest that “recognizes outstanding published romance novels and novellas”?
2. What year was it first awarded?
3. How many categories did it first have that first year?
4. How many categories did the Rita have in 2010?
5. What year did the contest’s name change to the Rita Award?
6. For whom is the Rita Award named?
7. What significant honor is bestowed upon authors who win three RITA Awards in a specific Rita category?

I’ll post the answers after midnight, as well as the names of two winners who will each receive a surprise. Good luck! And, again, congratulations, Kristan!!

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Be sure to check out Nancy Robards Thompson’s Silhouette Special Edition, Accidental Father. RT Book Reviews gives it 4 ½ stars and says: “…This heartwarming story with strong, genuine characters and a strong plot to match is definitely hard to put down.” Now available.

Thanks to everyone who posted today! It’s always so lovely to hear from you!

Chosen randomly by McIrish himself, the winners of a signed copy of ALL I EVER WANTED are…

Cheryl C.

Karen H.

Lori who drove 3 hours

Send me your snail mail addies to k.higgins@snet.net. And thank you once again!

A lot of us JQs just got back from The Romance Writers of America national conference in Orlando. Forget Harry Potter, forget Mickey Mouse, forget the fireworks, forget (just for the moment) the awards. You—our readers, whether you were there or not—were the highlights.

Writing a book is a solitary process. Sure, we have our writer friends, our spouses, our crit partners…but in the end, it’s just the writer and the blinking cursor and the hope that imagination will come through and help us write this book. There’s doubt, and struggle, and endless questioning. But we write for one reason—to tell a story. To tell a story that you’ll love. That’s right, missy. You. I want you to love my books. And when you do…and when you tell me…wow.

To those of you who come to our signings…What an honor you give us! I was at a signing this spring, and one of the attendees came up to me afterward and said, “I drove three hours to see you.” Stunning! If you want a picture with me, heck, sure! The truth is, I’d like a picture with you, too. Another woman started to cry when she told me what The Next Best Thing meant to her…well, of course I started crying too. To Diana in San Francisco, Anne in New Jersey, Maureen in Waterbury, Dee in Virginia…to all the people who’ve put us writers on their calendars…thank you!

To those of you who write to us—getting those emails or cards is such a delight! What a wonderful, wonderful part of our day! I want you to know I’ve saved every single one of the now thousands of fan letters I’ve received, and I’ve responded to each one individually. We love when you tell us where you’re from, what you do, how many kids you have, why you picked up my book …everything! Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to tell us you liked our books. More often than not, I get choked up reading your emails. I might read them aloud to my husband and kids…not so much to show off (well…maybe just a little), but more to share the wonder that you shared your day with my book. It’s a feeling I really can’t put it into words, but thank you!

To those of you who are also writers—thank you. Thank you for your books, for your efforts, whether you’re published or not, and thank you for your passion and love of writing. When a fellow writer tells me she loves my books, it’s like a compliment from a higher power. You too know the struggle and the time and the insecurity. You’ve been there, done that, and the fact that you appreciate my work is absolutely humbling and wonderful. Thank you!

To those of you readers who have become my friends, who drop me an email to tell me something about the Yankees or my favorite actor or to recommend a book…that’s just so dang great! You and I love the same books. We share the same sense of humor. We may never meet, but we’re friends anyway, aren’t we? And if we do…if we have a chat or maybe even a cuppa joe…listen. You’ve honored me with your friendship, and I’m completely dazzled by the fact that something in my books made you want to get to know me a little bit. Thank you.

And to those of you who spend a little part of your day reading this particular blog—we love having you here. We love your comments, love that you check in with us, love sharing our stories with you. Thank you.

There are so many demands on our lives, so many responsibilities, so many ways to spend time. The fact that you have chosen our books…that you spend money on our books or ask to borrow them from friends or take them out of the library…the knowledge that you’ll spend hours of your life reading our words…it is absolutely magical.

Thank you for that gift. Truly. 

In honor of ALL I EVER WANTED being released this week, and because I’m completely over the moon about winning the RITA for TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, I’m giving away signed copies of my latest to three people who comment today.

See  you soon. And once more…thanks. Truly.

Kristan

I’m at that RWA conference and just back from the Harlequin party at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Super fun (as always)…but when I got back to my room I realized that I hadn’t set up a blog.

Sooooo…let’s talk setting. There are so many authors who set their books in a town or an area that comes alive for their readers.

For a chance to win one of the new books that I’m bringing home from the conference, please tell me about a book you’ve read where the setting was so real and vivid that you felt like you were there..and you’ll be entered for a chance to win!

When Anne Mallory blogged with us (we miss you, Anne!), she would often celebrate LOL Cat Friday. I think it’s time to celebrate again.

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Which is your favorite?

Okay, so this post has nothing to do with Cheech and Chong, or Dave for that matter. As you’re reading this me, and many other Jaunty authors are at the Romance Writers of America’s annual conference. So technically — I’m not here. Man. Since it’s *almost* the weekend and I’m next door to the Happiest Place on Earth, I thought I would simply leave you with the following:

Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester on the CW’s ‘Supernatural’. Fave show. Fave smarta*s hero. You’re welcome.

When I think of summer, I think of concerts. It seems like every summer, I’d go to numerous concerts. I lived in Houston as a teenager, so my friends and I would go see all our favorite groups at Southern Star Amphitheater in Astroworld. Sadly, Astroworld in no longer. It’s just a field on the side of the freeway.

The first concert I saw was when I was in sixth grade. I went with my dad to see REO Speedwagon and Cheap Trick. Remember “Can’t Fight This Feeling”? I loved that song, and I’m sure all the other sixth graders did.

One of the first concerts I saw without parents was Depeche Mode. That was in 1988. Let me tell you, the guys from DM made an impression. I thought they were the coolest thing ever. I went out the next day (or rather had my mom drive me to the mall) and bought their Black Celebration album on cassette. No CDs back then.

I started dressing in all black and listening to bands like The Cure, New Order, and The Smiths. I remember one summer I saw Heart, New Order, and Erasure at Southern Star. At fifteen, I was a little surprised to see a man in a pink tutu on stage (Erasure), but for me, anything could happen at Astroworld. It was a place of discoveries.

I never did see The Smiths. I guess they didn’t come to Southern Star or maybe Morrissey was on his own by then. I would have liked to hear “Meat is Murder” live. That was my favorite song and one reason I became a lifetime vegetarian.

My musical tastes now run more toward the Newsboys, TobyMac, and Chris Tomlin, and if you were to peek in my CD player in my car it would probably have a Baby Einstein lullaby CD in it. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten those days of black lipstick and Depeche Mode.

What about you? Any concerts you wish you’d seen?

In the interest of full disclosure, this blog was previously posted at the Casablanca authors site. But I liked it so much, I had to share with you too!

I still get excited about going to Disney World (though up to now I’ve only visited Disneyland.)  When I was five years old, I got my first “Mickey ears”, and yes, I still have them.  Walt Disney did create a Magic Kingdom with that first theme park in L.A. because when you walked through those doors, you saw his world of imagination through a child’s eyes. 

And make no mistake the Magic Kingdom is geared for children from the array of kiddy rides to the many movies characters who stroll the park.  But there is also a great deal of adult appeal there as well.  Everything that Disney created, from the theme parks to the wide variety of caroons and movies, speaks to all ages – if you just listen. 

The reality of his dream became so globally huge that it’s hard to believe he started his first cartoon, called Alice’s Wonderland, in his second floor studio in Kansas City.  From the 1920s to the 1950s, Disney made many animated films and short cartoons that won countless awards.  The characters from his imagination became real around the world.  Mickey, Minnie, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Snow White, Cinderella, Bambi, just to name a few.  

Because he was always looking for a new creative mountain to climb, he turned his talents toward an amusement park.  Built in 1955, Disneyland was the place where parents and children could have fun together.  But Disney promised that his park would never be completed “as long as there was imagination left in the world.”

It’s been added to over the years, and before Disney’s death in 1966, he bought land in Florida to build a park that would dwarf Disneyland.  His brother Roy finished Walt’s dream in 1971, naming the new park Walt Disney World. 

And that’s where I am now!

Romance Writers of America is having their annual conference here this week.  What an awesome place to see the world through a child’s eyes again!  Are you a Disney fan?  Have to been to a Disney park more than once?  What’s your favorite Disney place?

Janette will be signing copies of her latest books at the RWA Literacy Signing Wednesday, July 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, Pacific Exhibit Hall, in Orlando, Florida.  All proceeds are donated to charity.