tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post4247022336992058000..comments2024-03-12T21:24:23.240-04:00Comments on Emily Bryan Romance: The Rita RumbleEmilyBryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-71309072341885944812010-03-08T06:55:23.228-05:002010-03-08T06:55:23.228-05:00Oh good. Sometimes I worry about my online comment...Oh good. Sometimes I worry about my online comments because so much of our communication isn't just words. It's easy to be misunderstood.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-40446028076923539292010-03-07T22:19:11.589-05:002010-03-07T22:19:11.589-05:00I didn't consider your comment a criticism of ...I didn't consider your comment a criticism of SEP. I agree with you. Competing with the best brings out the best in anyone - writer or athlete. It was a nice gesture on her part, but she shouldn't be hesitant to receive awards she earned and deserves.librarypatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-52287176815526357882010-03-06T10:08:27.618-05:002010-03-06T10:08:27.618-05:00LibraryPat--I didn't mean to imply a criticism...LibraryPat--I didn't mean to imply a criticism of Susan Elizabeth Phillips. My midwestern heart applauds her gracious gesture. No one likes a grabby child, but if her work is judged the best, it needs to continue to win! <br /><br />No one told Tiger Woods to ease up and let the others have a chance (I'm talking golf here. We won't go into where he should have eased up!) Excellence shouldn't feel awkward about its superlative quality. It should keep raising the bar for the rest of us.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-86741044975804042482010-03-06T10:03:06.919-05:002010-03-06T10:03:06.919-05:00Janet--I've heard that a RITA doesn't nece...Janet--I've heard that a RITA doesn't necessarily translate into increased sales, but it does carry lots of prestige within the industry. Every publisher wants as many RITA winners in their stable as possible.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-10176505314960604252010-03-06T10:01:05.824-05:002010-03-06T10:01:05.824-05:00Glynis--I'm not big on dusting, but I bet I...Glynis--I'm not big on dusting, but I bet I'd make an exception for a Rita statue!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-73195233851835741962010-03-06T09:59:58.513-05:002010-03-06T09:59:58.513-05:00Hi Rowena! Thanks for stopping by.
I'm alway...Hi Rowena! Thanks for stopping by. <br /><br />I'm always looking for ways to make my website more entertaining, but I can't hold a candle to your cover model <a href="http://www.rowenacherry.com/puzzle/index.php" rel="nofollow">jigsaw puzzles!</a>EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-56997336990922529282010-03-06T09:56:51.659-05:002010-03-06T09:56:51.659-05:00Thanks, Abby and thanks for stopping by!Thanks, Abby and thanks for stopping by!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-76842776299334901272010-03-06T09:55:44.085-05:002010-03-06T09:55:44.085-05:00Donna Marie--Good luck with your entry! Hope to se...Donna Marie--Good luck with your entry! Hope to see you on the stage!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-83269965923564969512010-03-06T09:53:30.400-05:002010-03-06T09:53:30.400-05:00Nynke--I'm always grateful when someone who kn...Nynke--I'm always grateful when someone who knows more than me leaves a comment. Thanks again, Katherine!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-44469891535094079582010-03-06T09:52:16.660-05:002010-03-06T09:52:16.660-05:00Katherine--Thanks for that clarification on how th...Katherine--Thanks for that clarification on how the Ritas are judged. I've judged Golden Heart before, but not the Rita.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-2853083279101131502010-03-06T09:50:48.984-05:002010-03-06T09:50:48.984-05:00Thanks for stopping by, Toni! Congrats on your new...Thanks for stopping by, Toni! Congrats on your new contract with Carina!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-28675152684939756602010-03-06T09:49:29.526-05:002010-03-06T09:49:29.526-05:00Chelley--I'll definitely have my camera ready!...Chelley--I'll definitely have my camera ready!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-18353150246018130772010-03-06T00:30:48.595-05:002010-03-06T00:30:48.595-05:00I have to agree with you. If there is no competit...I have to agree with you. If there is no competition, then you haven't really won anything. It is more like a forfeit. I can understand a writer wanting to be gracious and give others their chance. However, the best way to have them proud of it is to let them truly earn it.librarypatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-28060630836854412682010-03-05T12:59:12.273-05:002010-03-05T12:59:12.273-05:00Hi Emily,
I would think entering each book would s...Hi Emily,<br />I would think entering each book would spur the writer to try to make each one better. A writer puts a lot of effort into creating a book. They should be rewarded according to their merit. Being happy for the winner and trying harder next year to win should help you improve your writing too.<br />Some great books may be edged out by someone else, so an author needs to have the confidence to know their own worth and just enjoy the awards as an extra boost to their ego.Janet Kay Gallagherhttp://gardenbyjan.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-28060212109640089592010-03-05T08:47:50.209-05:002010-03-05T08:47:50.209-05:00I would moan if I had to keep polishing those Rita...I would moan if I had to keep polishing those Rita's! <br />I agree, I think if the author has it, then they deserve the prize.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-34987320783515125922010-03-05T06:30:05.526-05:002010-03-05T06:30:05.526-05:00I agree with you, Emily. An award doesn't mean...I agree with you, Emily. An award doesn't mean much if the best in the industry are excludedRowenaBCherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14826977922522817547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-2824162142361520092010-03-04T19:32:46.574-05:002010-03-04T19:32:46.574-05:00great post, Emily, I agree!great post, Emily, I agree!Abby Gaineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01521875731773621888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-24639785736977737972010-03-04T18:21:24.793-05:002010-03-04T18:21:24.793-05:00This was my first year entering the Ritas, and I c...This was my first year entering the Ritas, and I completely agree with you. No one should ever have to step down from entering. I would want to final because my book was judged one of the best, no matter who else was in my category. And how sweet would it be to final in the same category as someone like Nora, or SEP...not that I have my hopes up. *grin* But what a rush that would be.<br /><br />GH entrants can put their name on their entry if they want to, it's optional. One of the entries I judged had the author's name, so I checked the rules. I do think it should be anonymous, though.Donna Marie Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642269808104367931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-37709273162041426302010-03-04T16:31:16.304-05:002010-03-04T16:31:16.304-05:00thank you, Emily and Katherine, for the explanatio...thank you, Emily and Katherine, for the explanation.Nynkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810044360681034104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-3236845175808477092010-03-04T16:18:56.375-05:002010-03-04T16:18:56.375-05:00I agree with Emily, but there seems to be some con...I agree with Emily, but there seems to be some confusion as to how the RITA is judged. <br /><br />Published authors volunteer to judge first round and/or final round novels in specific categories. They choose 3 categories and are sent 7 or 8 books to read. The judge gives each book a score between 1 and nine, with nine being the high score.<br /><br />The top 10% then goes on to the final round, which is also judged by published authors. <br /><br />So anyone who says they won't judge Nora's books doesn't know how the contest works. At best, they could give her a low score, but I think most of us are honest enough to judge the books on their own merit and not based on who wrote them.<br /><br />For us authors, judging the RITA is a labor of love, because it means taking time from our own writing to read these books. And we're all thrilled to find a book worthy of winning our highest award. I've found some auto-buy authors through the contest that I probably never would have found without it.Katherine Allredhttp://www.katherineallred.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-31704955200219759942010-03-04T15:37:41.845-05:002010-03-04T15:37:41.845-05:00Well said, Emily.Well said, Emily.Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348843511453338339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-24870402370133867352010-03-04T12:38:35.489-05:002010-03-04T12:38:35.489-05:00Sandy--I have a name for the practice of not ratin...Sandy--I have a name for the practice of not rating the well known author high just because of her notoriety ~ "Reader Nullification."EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-86637798717854322272010-03-04T12:35:05.875-05:002010-03-04T12:35:05.875-05:00Diana--Interesting. How do the Hugos work? Does th...Diana--Interesting. How do the Hugos work? Does the SF organization poll its membership?<br /><br />However, if we didn't allow authors to enter the Ritas, the chance that a new midlister would ever be nominated is slim because the writer with the best sales and distribution would naturally receive more votes. The way it stands, the award is supposed to be about the actual writing.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-91832000362215033732010-03-04T11:54:10.382-05:002010-03-04T11:54:10.382-05:00I would want to compete against the best, especial...I would want to compete against the best, especially if I win. lol What would be the point of not competing against the very best. <br /><br />One other thing that bugs me is the voter who says she will not vote for Nora or someone of her stature because they've won too many times. Why do that? It's stupid to do that. You're supposed to be voting for the best. Do the voters even read the books? If not it's even more illogical than I thought.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843816981385732033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-22212487582760367532010-03-04T11:41:29.822-05:002010-03-04T11:41:29.822-05:00The only reason RWA members can even complain abou...The only reason RWA members can even complain about this is because it's something that you CAN choose to enter. The RITAs don't nominate the best books of the year. They nominate the best books that the authors or publishers chose to spend $50-$150 bucks to enter. An SF author doesn't DECIDE to enter the Hugos, or not. It's up to the membership to decide to honor them. "Bowing out gracefully" is not an option.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.com