Call for Submissions: RITA Awards Ceremony

Please share your stories!

This year’s theme for the RITA Awards Ceremony is “What Is Love?” (Baby, don’t hurt me, no more). Yes, the earworm is intentional, and you’re welcome! Haddaway’s bizarre video got us thinking about all of the outlandish and improbable scenarios that we set up in our own books and how somehow, some way, everything works out in the end for the HEA.

Theme: The romance genre shows how in the end it’s all about the love in the story and how love is universal regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, or religion. Regardless of subgenre, these books offer hope and support and drive home the view that we all deserve a happy ending.

More than ever, RWA is open for all members writing in all spaces and we want to know which books call out “What Is Love?” for you. What book have you read that truly brought home the message that love is for anyone, anywhere, in any circumstance? For instance, The Kiss Quotient is a book that completely blew my mind and was an excellent example of how empowering the message of inclusion in romance can be.

What scene made your heart clench? What verbiage made you rage or cackle or fall in love with that character? And are you willing to act that scene out on camera?

As authors in an industry that spreads inclusive messaging about love and romance throughout the world, we offer an incredibly empowering example to other writers as well as to ourselves. As such, we’d love to hear your stories about how our community has empowered and strengthened you as a writer, or how being part of this community has expanded your outlook on love.

Romance is a powerful force. Let's celebrate both the real and fictional stories that give us all the feelz!

Please send your submission as a DOC or RTF to [email protected]. Please make sure your contact information is included.