RITA Winners for 2007

2007 RITA Winner for Best Traditional Romance
Claiming His Family by Barbara Hannay







2007 RITA Winner for Best Short Contemporary Romance
From The First by Jessica Bird








2007 RITA Winner for Best Long Contemporary Romance
The Mommy Quest by Lori Handeland









2007 RITA Winner for Best Paranormal Romance
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole








2007 RITA Winner for Best Inspirational Romance
Revealed by Tamera Alexander









2007 RITA Winner for Best Romantic Novella
'Tis the Silly Season' in A NASCAR Holiday by Roxanne St. Claire







2007 RITA Winner for Best First Book
The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren












2007 RITA Winner for Best Short Historical Romance
The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn







2007 RITA Winner for Best Long Historical Romance
On The Way To The Wedding by Julia Quinn








2007 RITA Winner for Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
A Lady Raised High by Jennifer Ashley w/a Laurien Gardner









2007 RITA Winner for Best Romantic Suspense
Blackout by Annie Solomon











2007 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Single Title
Adiós to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer

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2007 Christy Award Vodcasts ~ M.L. Tyndall

2007 Christy Award nominee, M.L. (Marylu) Tyndall sits down with Novel Journey to talk parrots, patches and pirate.

(For the record: MaryLu was kidding about the musket and eye patch, I did know her novel is named The Redemption and not Pirates of the Caribbean, we haven't really known each other for ten years and she's not actually the president of my fan club. (She was demoted long ago for never showing up for meetings ; )

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Christy Winner ~ Cathy Gohlke

This is one of my favorite interviews beacuse it's so fun. And funny. And, I believe, the first one we did. You learn as you go.

You'll hear our camerawoman, Nora, giving directions. She comes by it naturally, since her husband has been a professional actor and director.

Gina is her lively, quirky self in this one, asking good questions and making funny remarks. I want to be like her when I grow up. Of course, Nora's camera work is a hoot in itself, especially the end. Love that mosaic.

Thanks, Cathy, for being such a good interviewee. Her Christy is for her debut novel:

William Henry Is a Fine Name.







Hope you enjoy the vodcast. We've had fun bringing them to you. And come back tomorrow to see who's next.

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Christy Winner ~ Deeanne Gist

After this, I think I'll leave the live ones to Gina. She's so much better at it than I am. But then, that's why I'm a writer and an actor. As an actor, I have a script. As a live interviewer, there's none. Scary. But Deeanne's so sweet, I had a good time.

She won the Romance category with Measure of a Lady. Enjoy the vodcast.

And come back tomorrow as Gina returns with more interviews.

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Christy Awards 2007 Vodcast Series ~ Beverly Lewis

Novel Journey sits down with Beverly Lewis at the 2007 Christy Awards. This is a short-short, but Beverly is working on a print interview for us so be looking for that soon.

**(What you can't hear through our camera-lady's laughing is Gina asking Beverly if the voices are saying to hurt her. This is to what she responds: "It's not a weird thing." )

The Brethren by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House , a division of Baker) Amish preacher’s daughter, Annie Zook, is living with a shunned friend and torn by her desire for the art she’s been forbidden and the man her father ordered her not to see. As secrets come to light, she finds a new place of peace and fulfillment through faith.

Beverly Lewis grew up in Pennsylvania Amish country, a background she uses in her work. An award-winning author, she is also an accomplished musician. She and her husband live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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2007 Christy Awards Vodcast Series ~ Susan May Warren

At the 2007 Christy Awards, the women of Novel Journey sat down with some of the winners and nominees. Here's our chat with the very funny and talented Susan May Warren.

This was our first time experimenting in this medium. Through trial and error, we're learning what works and doesn't. We plan to upgrade equipment. Bear with us through our evolution. Keep in mind that internet videos can sometimes take awhile to load. Great time to go make yourself a cup of coffee.

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Sunday Devotion- Put Down the Whisk

Janet Rubin

Yesterday I was making tiramisu, a new recipe for me. I’d mixed up some of the ingredients in my Kitchen Aid mixer. Next the recipe instructed me to “whip” some whipping cream, then fold it in. Now, keep in mind that I didn’t grow up with a cooking/baking mom (she was more the restaurant/TV dinner type), but have learned as I go. Soooo, rather than fuss with switching mixing bowls in the mixer, I figured I’d whip up the cream in another bowl. You know, to save myself some trouble.

With a whisk.

It seemed to be taking some time, so I called my friend Lisa to chat and pass the time. As she updated me on the happenings of her household, I whisked harder. The consistency did not seem to be changing. Just how long was this supposed to take? Lisa relayed a story about her pastor. I whisked. Lisa complained about her husband’s snoring. I whisked. Sweat began to bead on my forehead. My bicep burned with the exertion.

“Ow!” I said. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“What on earth are you doing over there?”

“I’m making this dessert and I have to whip the whipping cream so I’m using a whisk…”

“Stop!” At her shout, I nearly dropped the phone. “Just stop what you’re doing right now.”

I looked at the whisk.

“Girlfriend, never try to whip cream with a whisk. Listen to me. Friends don’t let friends use a whisk.”

”I just thought…”

At her insistence, I put the cream in a bowl and the mixer had it whipped into a frenzy in perhaps 30 seconds. Huh. What do ya know?

Many things we can learn by trial and error. But so many times we don’t need to. We can learn from the experience of others. In writing, that means finding mentors, reading books on writing, reading author interviews on Novel Journey (Gina, is it a sin to put a commercial in a devotion?) In our Christian walks it means finding mature Christians to teach us and learning from the many biblical examples God gave us.

We aren’t alone in writing or life. Many have gone before us and learned a wealth of things. Take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

And spare yourself an achy bicep.

Lord, Sometimes I put myself through such trouble because I try to go it alone. What seems easier to me actually results in more work. Thank You for all of the resources You’ve provided to help me grow spiritually and as a writer. Help me be humble enough to ask for the guidance I need. Amen

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