So I got my RITA books in the mail, which of course, I’m not allowed to talk about.
In passing, why do we capitalize the word RITA? The award is not an acronym. It’s named for Rita Clay Estrada. Why don’t we just call it the Rita, like the Norton, or the Hugo, two literary awards named after genre luminaries? Inquiring minds would LOVE to know.
I’ve got one friend with fabulous RITA judge luck. Two years in a row she has gotten book she either planned to buy or had already read. Me, I tend to get books I would never dream of picking up on my own. But I’ve learned to be open-minded about this. Last year, I got a book I never would have dreamed of picking up on my own. It was a genre I don’t read, and more than that, it was a type of book in a genre that I REALLY wouldn’t read, and it was also a subsequent book in a series. Three strikes against it. It languished at the bottom of the pile.
And when I finally read it…. wowsa. I laughed, I cried…. Actually, I mostly cried. It was a tearjerker. I was so hoping that it would final, but alas.
Goes to show you, I guess.
I heard a great RITA judging story once. There was a multi-pubbed author judging the RITAs who got a small-press book that blew her away. She had previously been very skeptical about “these small press books.” Well, she obviously couldn’t contact the author, but later, she met her at a conference, and introduced the author to her editor. I don’t know if the author ever found out that the judge had read her book, but it both changed her mind about the small press system and let her find a great new author. I think the author writes for the judge’s publisher now.
I like that kind of sneak attack. I have recommended several authors I read through contests to agents, but I the authors in question knew where I was coming from…
January 21st, 2008 at 10:29 am
I have really bad luck at RITA books. I’m not judging this year because last year was just painful.
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January 21st, 2008 at 11:51 am
I often find at least one if not more brand new authors to glom. Authors I might never have found if it wasn’t for RITA judging. One of my now autobuy authors I found via RITA judging. I love when that happens!
It’s always good to keep an open mind. You never know when you’re going to be totally blown away
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January 21st, 2008 at 2:55 pm
My RITA books are currently being held hostage — since Thursday — by my condo office that is now closed until Wednesday. Guess RWA ignored that “please ship to my work address” e-mail that I sent them. Looking forward to diving into the pile!
= )
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January 21st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I always wondered about the judging of the Ritas. Fun background.
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January 21st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Just read your About section, and saw that you don’t have TV either. I live in a pretty small town that is very centered on recreation and environmentalism, so many of us don’t have television, but I haven’t known anyone outside of our vicinity withou it.
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January 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I’ve only judged one very small contest, but in it I found an entry that I wanted to send to my agent RIGHT THEN. But, of course, I couldn’t do that.
After the contest, I contacted the coordinator, who put me in touch with the author. I was sooooo disappointed to find out the book had never been finished!
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