It's about this time every year that Romance Writers of America (RWA) announces the finalists for the prestigious RITA award, honoring the best in romance fiction published the previous year. In 2020, the RITA was retired, with thanks to Rita Clay Estrada, the woman for whom the award was named. Since then, the contest has been re-worked with new categories (click for new category definitions) and in-depth training to ensure fair and equitable judging. Last week, RWA revealed their new award, the Vivian, honoring Vivian Stephens, the founder of RWA. (Read more about Ms. Stephens and her many contributions to the romance fiction industry in this Texas Monthly article) It is the hope that this new award will honor today's diversity in publishing and inclusion of all romance voices.
Today, RWA announced the 2021 finalists for the inaugural Vivian Award. Congratulations to all! I don't know about you but I have lots of new titles to add to my summer reading list. :)
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony later this year.
BEST FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK
Cherokee Summer by Susan Antony
Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series (Book One) by Victoria Aveline
Greedy Heart by A. P. Murray
Her Outback Driver by Giulia Skye
How to Stay by Christina Mitchell
Love Me Like a Love Song by Annmarie Boyle
Lovely Digits by Jeanine Englert
Painting the Lines by Ashley R. King
Perfect Distraction by Allison Ashley
A Song of Secrets by Robyn Chalmers
Cherokee Summer by Susan Antony
False Start by Jessica Ruddick
A Fast Woman by Laralyn Doran
Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay
Lovestruck by Bronwyn Sell
The Marriage Game by Sarah Desai
Pilot Down by Kimberley Troutte
Roughing by Michaela Grey
The Secret Ingredient by Kilby Blades
Swipe Right for a Cowboy by Karen Foley
Tempting Taste by Sara Whitney
Under His Protection by LaQuette
Marriage by Arrangement by Sophia Singh Sasson
There Galapagos My Heart by Philip William Stover
Worth Fighting For by Laura Kaye
The Redemption by Nikki Sloane
His Secret Mistress by Cathy Maxwell
Once a Spy by Mary Jo Putney
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase
The Footman and I by Valerie Bowman
A Song of Secrets by Robyn Chalmers
A Study in Passion by Louisa Cornell
Every Last Drop by Sarah Robinson
An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham
The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas
Burning Caine by Janet Oppedisano
The Compound by Deena Short
Love, With Complications by Kyl Dinsio
Trivial Pursuit by Ingrid Pierce
Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner
Small Town Faith by Michelle Lindo-Rice
Stay with Me by Becky Wade
Code of Conduct by April White
Cold Wicked Lies by Toni Anderson
Hail Mary by Hope Anika
Honor Avenged by Tonya Burrows
K-9 Protector by Julie Miller
Lovely Digits by Jeanine Englert
Storm by Janie Crouch
Echoes of the Runes by Christina Courtenay
A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong
Written in Water by Elizabeth Schechter
