So, this morning was pretty awesome. 

I knew it was Golden Heart and RITA “call day,” and I was very glad that I’d already made plans to spend the morning volunteering in my dareling’s classroom. You see, this is my 3rd or 4th year watching “call day” closely — but the first time I’ve ever been entered in either of the contests.  For those who may not know, the RITA and Golden Heart are nationwide contests sponsored by Romance Writers of America.  The RITA is for published romance novels, and the Golden Heart is for unpublished manuscripts. Entries happen way back in November/December. Then the finalists all get phone calls on the same day in March, and around the world, writers are plastered to websites and blogs and Twitter feeds, waiting to see who gets “the call”.

The stress! Yeah, I would rather be chillin’ in kindergarten.

I brought my phone along, just in case, but kept it on silent.   So there I was, happily cutting crafts and stapling papers, when my pocket started to buzz.  I didn’t answer.  When I checked the number, I didn’t recognize it.  My phone told me it was a call from Texas, though (where RWA headquarters is located), so the next time my pocket started tingling, I ducked out onto the playground to take the call.

And it was a lovely lady from RWA Headquarters, whose name I will never be able to remember, calling to tell me that Surrender of a Siren is a finalist in the Regency Historical category!  I was so excited!  But I had to be very, very quiet.  So I was quietly excited for an hour or two more, until I went home to get on the computer share the good news.

Oh, I did get a very exciting text from Courtney Milan, letting me know her novella, This Wicked Gift, had be nominated in the Novella category!  That just made everything sweeter.  Congratulations, CM!

For that matter, congratulations to all the finalists in all the categories! If you see the other nominees in my category, you will understand why I am just thrilled to be anywhere on the same planet as this list. A list of all the finalists is here.

2010 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists

Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare
Scandal by Carolyn Jewel
Tempting Fate by Alissa Johnson
A View to a Kiss by Caroline Linden
Revealed by Kate Noble
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
Lord Braybrook’s Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls

Oh, and a big shout out to my Fanlit friend Gillian Layne, who got the Golden Heart call this morning!  Congratulations, Gillian!