Awards

Awards are given by various romance industry organizations, by review publications and websites, and writer associations.

For a category list of award pages see category:Romance Industry Awards and category:Awards.

Romance Writers of America

RITA

The RITA® is awarded by the Romance Writers of America to the best romance fiction in a given year. Named after RWA’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada, the RITA® is the highest honor a romance author can receive. Published authors judge entrants in 12 categories. The finalists are generally announced toward the end of March. Winners are announced at RWA's Annual Conference.

From its introduction in 1982 until 1989, the RITA® was known as The Golden Medallion. The current award is a gold statue.

Golden Heart

The Golden Heart contest is presented annually by the Romance Writers of America for unpublished romance authors in a wide range of categories. The Golden Heart award debuted in 1983. Today's winners receive a gold necklace with a heart charm.

Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award

The Romance Writers of America present the Lifetime Achievement Award to one writer to honor an author's body of work and contributions to the romance genre. Historical Note: from 1983 through 1989 the award was called the Golden Treasure. In 1990 it was changed to the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was renamed the "Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2008.

Writers' Organizations

Georgia Romance Writers - Maggie Awards

The Georgia Romance Writers, chapter of Romance Writers of America present annual Maggie awards for excellence for both published and unpublished romance in various categories.

Virginia Romance Writers - HOLT Medallion Award

The HOLT Medallion Award is awarded by the Virginia Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America. The award originated in 1995 and was named for VRW's first elected president, Cynthia Holt. The acronym HOLT stands for Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent. The award is given to romance novels, or novels with a strong element of romance, with a copyright date of the year preceding the competition (i.e., for the 2007 contest, books must have a 2006 copyright).

Special Interests

Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal RWA

ParaNormalRomance P.E.A.R.L.

ParaNormalRomance.org is a romance community website devoted to paranormal romances. The site is also the proud presenter of The P.E.A.R.L.(Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature). This is a readers' choice award, conducted annually by the PNR listers, naming the best of year in ten categories related to paranormal romance and romantic science fiction.

PRISM award

An annual award given for books published in the contest year (the 2007 awards are for books published in 2006). The awards are in the following categories: Time Travel, Fantasy, Futuristic, Light Paranormal, Dark Paranormal, Erotica/Romantica, or Novella.

On The Far Side

Contest for unpublished manuscripts in these sub-genre.

Passionate Ink

This is a special interest chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Passionate Plume

For books published in the previous year in the erotic sub-genre.

Stroke of Midnight

This award is given to authors who are unpublished in full-length fiction (at least 25,000 words) for the last 5 years and/or entrants unpublished in the category they wish to enter.

Romantic Times Magazine

Career Achievement Awards

The Romantic Times Magazine awards Career Achievement Awards for an author's entire body of work throughout their career. The winners and nominees are selected by the magazine staff.

Reviewers' Choice Awards

The Romantic Times Magazine awards Reviewers' Choice Awards for the best books of the year. The winners and nominees are selected by the magazine staff of over 50 reviewers.

RRA-L

The Romance Readers Anonymous (RRA) listserve established annual awards in 1994. Nominees are presented by members of the list and voted upon.

All About Romance Annual Reader Awards

All About Romance is a review website that conducts an annual reader poll where readers vote on their favorite books in various categories. The books must have been issued in the contest year, e.g., in 2006 for the poll conducted in the spring of 2007. Annual Reader Awards results are available since 1997.

Cata Network Reviewers Choice Awards RCA

The Cata Network is a network of websites and communities for the lovers of romance novels, with its hub at Cata Network Readers Lounge. It gives Reviewers Choice Awards (RCA) twice a year.

EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection) EPPII Awards

The EPPIE Awards have been given annually since the first EPIC conference to recognize outstanding achievement in e-publishing. The categories are judged by members of EPIC, all published authors. After the first round of judging, the works of the finalists are sent to another panel of judges, and winners in all eighteen categories are selected. The winners are announced at the EPIC conference's gala award ceremony at the annual EPICon Convention. Awards are given in several categories of romance, erotica, and erotic romance.

Quill Literacy Foundation Quill Awards

The Quill Literacy Foundation was formed by Reed Business Information, parent of Publishers Weekly, and The NBC Universal Television Stations, to focus attention on literacy and reading. They award an annual Quill Awards. For 2007 eligible titles were those published between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. Nominees were chosen by the Quills/PW Selection Committee, comprised of Publishers Weekly editors. Voting will be done by 6,000 booksellers and librariansin the 18 categories.

Romance In Color

Annual Reviewers Choice Awards are given in several categories for the best in the previous year. Romance In Color (RIC) is a website devoted to African-American romance.

Romance Slam Jam EMMA

EMMA awards are given at the annual Romance Slam Jam by that organization which is dedicated to celebrating African-American romance.

The Romance Studio CAPA

The Romance Studio is a romance community website that was established in 2003 to provide reviews and information. The website also awards annual CAPA awards (Cupid and Psyche Awards).