Last Friday, I received news that was akin to getting “The Call” (news of an author’s first publishing contract—yes, that actually comes as a phone call). I had entered both Hidden Identity and Mistletoe Justice in the RITA. The RITA is the Oscars of romance writing. For the past month, I counted off the days until March 25.
Then I got up Friday morning and completely forgot that it was RITA announcement day. When my phone rang around 9:45 in the morning, I didn’t recognize the number and almost didn’t take the call. I changed my mind the last minute and picked it up. It was Adrienne Mishel telling me that I am being nominated for a RITA for Mistletoe Justice. After babbling incoherently for a few minutes, I thanked her then started calling family and friends.
I’m still basking in the afterglow. Saturday, after being out all morning, I came home to find a box from ProFlowers on my doorstep. Inside was a beautiful bouquet of tulips and irises and a box of fancy chocolates from my new editor,
Erin Calligan Mooney, and Waterfall Press. They will be publishing my Murphy book. Then today, I got 
another surprise. The doorbell rang, and the florist delivered a lovely mixed bouquet from my agent, Nalini Akolekar, and Spencerhill Associates.
I’m walking on air and probably will be for awhile. The awards ceremony will be at the Romance Writers of America conference in San Diego in July. Now to pick out a gown. More on that later…