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.

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The Golden Heart contest is presented annually by the Romance Writers of America for unpublished romance authors in a wide range of categories.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.

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.

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

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

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.

Desert Rose Golden Quill Awards

The Desert Rose Golden Quill Awards are awarded annually to the best or favorite works published the previous year by the Desert Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Entrants pay an entrance fee and must be members of the Romance Writers of America.

ParaNormalRomance

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.

The Romance Studio

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).

Virginia Romance Writers

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).