In the life of a romance author today was a nerve racking day. Especially if you had one of the over 1,000 books nominated to receive Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) annual RITA Award or one of the 1,2oo manuscripts nominated to receive the Golden Heart Award.
Earlier today authors in 12 different RITA categories and 10 different Golden Heart categories received phone calls telling them that their book or manuscript was selected as a finalist. This is similar to Oscar Nominations for Romance Authors.
The RITA is named after the first President of RWA and is to “promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas”. The Golden Heart Award is an award given for an outstanding romance manuscript by writers who have not accepted a publishing offer. The authors will find out who the RITA and Golden Heart Winners are on July 1st at the Awards Ceremony to be held during the Annual Romance Writers of America Convention which taking place in New York this year. For a full list of RITA and Golden Heart Finalists please click here.
I am extremely excited to announce that a good friend of PonyTails and a must read author for me had a book selected as a RITA Finalist! The book that was selected is currently my favorite book of the two she has published, however that might change with her third book which releases next week. So please help me congratulate our friend Joanne Kennedy!!!
Congratulations Joanne for being a RITA Finalist for Contemporary Single Title Romance with One Fine Cowboy!!
As a surprise for my readers, if you answer the following question by placing it in the comments, I will (hopefully with Joanne’s help, but I haven’t asked her yet) choose One lucky reader to receive a copy of One Fine Cowboy. The winner will have the most unique answer to the question below.
It will the winner’s choice of either Print, Nook, or Kindle. If the winner already has One Fine Cowboy, then they will receive a copy of Joanne’s newest book Cowboy Fever in print, when it is released next week. This giveaway will end at 11:59pm on Weds March 30, 2011.
The Question: Why do you love cowboys? Is it their connection to the animals and the land? Or their rugged sexiness? Or do Wrangler Butts just drive you nuts?
Love Those Wranger Butts by Carol Miller
- Extraordinary Read. Not many books will be rated a 5.
- Great Read. Not the best I have ever read, but it is certainly worth reading. 
- A Good Read. This is a good to read book. It is the type of book that is an enjoyable read but not outstanding.
- The book has several problems. I will put in the review what the problems were, if I have one rated this low.
- The book very poor read. Reading this book is a waste of your time. (VERY few books will ever get this rating) 
PonyTails Book Reviews 
Jenn, thank you so much! I’m still stunned by the announcement. I love this book too, and the best thing about being a finalist is that more people will get to know Nate and Charlie, the cowboy and the crazy woman who loves him. It’s not me, it’s them!
And you. Thanks for all your support!
And of course I’ll help any way I can with the giveaway!!!
Joanne, it is you. Nate and Charlie would not have had a story without you!
i love cowboys becasue most have manner are rugged looking and can make you wish you where a pair of Wrangles they wear them sooo well!
Laura, you’re right – it’s all about the Wrangers!
yup even ugly men look good in wranglers lol
Can I say all of those things? There is something about a man on a horse that is just sexy to me. I also think cowboys are the last true gentlemen in this world.
The horse sure doesn’t hurt. And the partnership and understanding between man and animal is really appealing. A guy who is sensitive enough to handle a horse is probably good at other things, too…
Like handling a woman…. 🙂
Okay, I’m going to answer from a heterosexual male perspective. Cowboys are the last of the real men, in many ways. They go out and survive on their wits and instincts and skills in a way that many jobs don’t require anymore. There are still cattle drives and roundups in places like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and even Wyoming, and these men spend months out there in uncomfortable conditions giving it all they have. Don’t know if I’d want to do it, but I sure admire it.
Thank you Bryan! And you are right, cowboys are the last of the real men.
Bryan, thanks for weighing in with the male point of view. We girls tend to focus on the Wranglers, but the life a working cowboy leads really does deserve respect. It’s a tough way to make a living and takes a lot of dedication.
I love cowboys because any man who can handle, not only a horse, but a herd of cows at the same time, especially while looking dead sexy is made of win. The accent’s a bit of a draw too 😉
Yes that yummy, country drawl. *swoon*
“Made of win” – I love that line! So true, too.
Why do I love cowboys? That quiet ruggedness that oozes sex appeal and makes me wanna ride! You understand! 🙂
Oh, yes I do…. 😉
I think I love cowboys because of the job and attire. They are sexy as all get out in their boots and hats and in great shape because of what they do. I love animals, so anyone who spends their life with them gets my vote!
Tara, I agree about the boots and hats – and don’t forget the jeans:) And I think working with animals makes anyone a better person – especially horses.
You know… *whispers* I have a thing for boots and spurs. Dunno why, but boots… UNF. That, and add a sexy Texan drawl and…
…
I lost my train of thought o.O
Good thing you are engaged to a Texan….
Mmmmmm…UNF says it all:) Boots add that little bit of swagger…
Alright, since Jenn has told me repeatedly how awesome you are Joanne, I just picked up Cowboy Trouble to read. I’m so excited!
Thanks, Tara – I hope you enjoy it! Jenn is so awesome – she’s like a cowboy romance evangelist, spreading the gospel of boots and spurs (and fine-fittin’ Wranglers). Go Jenn!