You’re right, I did criticize the RITA process. I think the categories are arbitrary, the word-count restrictions ludicrous, and the Board’s utter inability to comprehend why Erotic Romance needs its own category ridiculous. (Coincidentally, those first two points set up this entire controversy.) Furthermore, I know the judging is subjective (how could it be anything else? how is it not like reviewing in that way?) and too frequently colored by “who you know.”

In this case, however, since Barb is a newbie author, I have good reason to believe that “who you know” did not play out in the judging of this category.

Please point to where I’ve said, in any venue, that Ferrer’s win “validates” the RITA process? I said I agreed with the judges’ decision this time around because ADIOS is a uniquely insightful and brilliant piece of fiction. I’ve said I’m pleased for my friend. This is, in no way, my stamp of approval on the RITA as a whole, any more than my being pleased when my favorite football team wins the Superbowl is my stamp of approval on the drug-ridden, overly-hyped and utterly morally bankrupt institution of pro football.

If you really can’t see that distinction, then it’s clear we’re not speaking anything like the same language, and we should probably cease wasting one another’s time.

For me, Ferrer’s win shows just how arbitrary the RITA process really is and how the award means nothing but 10 readers/authors opinions who you, Ms. March, did once criticize.

Ferrer’s win doesn’t validate anything for me within the RITA process.

Does this mean everyone has to agree that ADIOS is a romance? When does everyone agree on ANYTHING the RWA does? I rarely do.

As to the bit about people being glad ADIOS won because they like Barb? Why are they mutually exclusive? They can’t like the book AND like the author, and be glad both won an award?

I like Lance Armstrong. He seems a decent guy and an excellent athlete. I was glad he won the Tour de France all those times both because he rode a good race AND because he appealed to me personally. Does this somehow make his winning the race suspect? Or my being glad for him suspect? Not a perfect analogy by any means, but jeez, guys…we’re damned of we’re likable enough to make people glad when we do well, and damned if we behave badly. One would almost think you just want to see us damned.

Sybil, don’t faint now, but I think I agree with you. *g*

There are some great young adult books. And I am sure there is some award for them. I would think they would be rather pissy if a romance novel, about adults, took an award that was suppose to be for a young adult novel.

I understand there are romance authors writing young adult novels as well as novels with romantic elements but I don’t see why there needs to be a RITA for them. At the same time I haven’t had a chance to think through the whole thing either so I am well aware I could be wrong.

I still think if the first thing that comes to mind is ‘It is great author X won because she is such a great person’ that there is a problem with the process. But that is sort of a given…

I will always seek out YA fantasy and YA historical. Those two are my preferred genre’s in YA fiction.

Definitely, definitely read Shannon Hale’s Book of a Thousand Days when it comes out in September. And I can’t remember who was the big Sharon Shinn fan, but General Winston’s Daughter (10/07) is another upcoming romantic fantasy. I really want to see other people’s opinion of this one, because I think the fact that “social commentary” is mentioned in the book description affected the way I read the book.

Oh I agree with you there, Trisha. That’s why I adore The Truth About Forever, great romance in there, chemistry, great story, period. Also, there’s Ms. Meyer’s series featuring Edward and Bella (I know you didn’t care for the first book, Trisha) and I just finished reading Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith and I’m like stalled on the second book (been reading other books), Court Duel which so far is just great. I will always seek out YA fantasy and YA historical. Those two are my preferred genre’s in YA fiction. I say read Megan Whalen Turner’s books and still say that YA fiction can’t be enjoyed by adults. Or read Harry Potter for that matter. Off my soapbox now.

First off, YA novels are are great reads. I take offense at the notion that readers tend to think YA novels have nothing to offer an adult audience. Not true and you’re wrong just in case you didn’t know it.

Ha. So true.

[quote comment=”16769”]I was more put off about the tone of YA novels in general.[/quote]

Oh, me too. I mean, jeez, a YA book winning against adult books is not the end of the world. What’s with all the animosity?

I also have not yet read Adios to My Old Life, but am planning to. I’ve never — never — based my reading decisions on the Rita’s, but two different YA lit-bloggers I respect have really liked it, so I’m gonna give it a try.

As for the YA romance thing, I tend to find the YA books that are actually published as romances are not as intriguing or compelling as the YA-book-that-happens-to-include-a-romantic-subplot type book.

And while I’m commenting here, even though this is totally off-topic, Keishon (and maybe Jane) should consider reading Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith when it’s published in September. Definitely not a romance, but would be worth discussing.

What I said was that this is how the contest is judged: they had the opportunity to disqualify the book based on the current definition of romance upheld by the current RWA regime. They didn’t. Then they had the chance to NOT vote it “best.” They didn’t. Clearly, THIS group of judges in THIS YEAR’S contest thought it was a romance and that it was the best single title contemporary of those entered.

I’m not defending the process, but neither am I interested in hearing that Ferrer’s win disparaged after she followed every rule presented to her. If the rules need changing, let’s talk about that. In a perfect world, Ferrer would’ve been entered in and won the YA category. She’d say so, too.

Is ADIOS the best of the romance contemporaries written this year? Not all the romance contemporaries were entered in the RITA. Of those that were, the judges who happened to volunteer for the contest this year came to the conclusion it was the best.

A different contest, run by different people, using different criteria and judging different books would likely come to a different conclusion. Which holds true for any contest, in any given year, does it not?