The 2019 RITA finalists were announced a few weeks ago, and in a depressing, expected turn of events, were sadly lacking in almost any representation of the authors of color who have had a large hand in the skyrocketing popularity of the genre. Only three out of this year’s 80 finalists were non-white authors, and the resulting outcry from the romance writing and fan communities was swift and passionate.
Romance Writers of America (RWA) board member Courtney Milan discussed the systematic bias within the organization, which gives out the RITAs every year. And author Bronwen Fleetwood crunched the numbers and presented a damning overview of the RITAs lack of representation over the past 20 years. And just last week, The Guardian published an in-depth exploration of the RWA and its chronic difficulties with representation and diversity.
The RWA has since released a statement addressing the concerns and pledging to change the way RITA submissions are scored and judged.
The RITAs will be awarded June 26 during this year’s RWA conference in New York City. See a partial list of the finalists below.
Best First Book
Celebrity Spin Doctor by Celia Mulder
Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
Contemporary Romance: Long
Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn
The Heartless Boyfriend by Erika Kelly
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn
Melt for You by J.T. Geissinger
A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates
Erotic Romance
Picture Perfect Cowboy by Tiffany Reisz
Sinful Games by Shelly Alexander
Three-Way Split by Elia Winters
Total Exposure by J.A. Huss
Historical Romance: Long
An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden
Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vancy
Historical Romance: Short
The Devil to Pay by K.C. Bateman
A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen
Hell’s Belle by Annabelle Anders
Never Dare a Wicked Earl by Renee Ann Miller
What Ales the Earl by Sally MacKenzie
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
Paranormal Romance
To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster
Dearest Ivie by J.R. Ward
Debriefing the Dead by Kerry Blaisdell
Haunted Hearts by Kimberly Dean
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
Out of Body by Suzanne Brockmann
Wretched by Cara Crescent
Romantic Suspense
The Bastard’s Bargain by Katee Robert
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak
Consumed by J.R. Ward
Cut and Run by Mary Burton
Fearless by Elizabeth Dyer
Reckless by Tonya Burrows
Relentless by Elizabeth Dyer
See the full list of finalists.
