Luke Judge

altNewsPageLast Updated Feb 21, 2011, Published Feb 11, 2011 Pure Passion Romance novel Award Shortlist on Valentine’s DayChristine Vincent/PublicDomainPictures

Shortlists for the UK’s Pure Passion Awards were announced 10 February 2011 by Katie Fforde, chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. "These awards celebrate the very best in romantic fiction," she says.

The 2011 awards are divided between four categories, from the prestigious and long-standing Romantic novel of the Year, to more recent awards which recognise various popular varieties of romantic fiction. These are the Historical novel Prize, Romantic Comedy Award, and love Story of the Year.

The Romantic novel of the Year Awards 2011

Over 200 books were submitted for the coveted Romantic novel of the Year Award. the shortlist of six titles has been selected by a panel of 85 readers from the general public. the ultimate winner will be selected by three independent judges, Amanda Craig, author and book reviewer, Foyle’s War actor and contributor to the blog Vulpes Libris, Jay Benedict, and fiction buyer for Waterstone’s, Janine Cook.

Past winners of this award include the Other Boleyn Girl by Philipa Gregory, which became both a popular BBC television drama and a feature film starring Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman. Rosamunde Pilcher won the award with Coming Home, which was made into a feature film starring Joanna Lumley and Peter O’Toole.

Romance novel of the Year Finalists

These six finalists were selected from a long list, announced last December, containing some very well known authors such as Jenny Colgan, Katie Fforde herself, Erica James and Maryland author, New York Times bestseller, Nora Roberts, who also writes crime fiction as J.D. Robb. JoJo Moyes is a past winner whose work has been compared to Rosamunde Pilcher and, for Sarah Duncan, this is her second year running as a nominee for the award and only her second book. Tom Gamble is a rare nominee as one of the few male authors to be shortlisted, and with a debut novel.

To Defy a King, Elizabeth Chadwick, Sphere.

The Golden Prince, Rebecca Dean, HarperCollins.

Kissing Mr wrong, Sarah Duncan, Headline Review.

The Jewel of St. Petersburg, Kate Furnivall, Sphere.

Amazir, Tom Gamble, Beautiful Books.

The last Letter From Your Lover, JoJo Moyes, Hodder & Stoughton.

Historical Romance Favoured in Shortlist

Elizabeth Chadwick, Rebecca Dean and Kate Furnivall have their novels also shortlisted for the 2011 Historical novel Prize. Chadwick said on her blog today, "I am absolutely delighted to announce that to Defy A King has been nominated for the Best Romantic novel of the Year and the Best Historical novel of the Year in the RNA Awards."

‘This year’s short list represents the whole gamut of romantic fiction,’ said Fforde. ‘we have royalty, love letters, history and humour, from both newcomers and established authors. A truly impressive list.’ the Romantic Novelists’ Association Pure Passion Awards final winners will be announced on March 7th 2011 at the awards reception at the Gladstone Library, London.

general Fiction comedy award, independent judges, katie fforde, philipa gregory

A One Night Stand with the Virgin…I may just become the Heidi Fleiss of FanFiction. At least I’m not a Bombshell McGee…

What is a Fic Addict to do when she needs a fix and can’t sit down long enough to read an entire story? Find a One Shot, of course! And since there are all kinds of One Shots out there to satisfy your cravings, I figured I’d lead you in the direction of some amazing Chapter 1 Only fics that deserve some attention.

Today, I bring you: Face Punch by none other than FL95_JoJo and DanielleR123. The writers of Edward Cullen: Dick For Hire and The Workshop, respectively, have tag teamed a One Shot for The Writer’s Coffee Shop “The Sport of Love” contest.

How do these two comedic geniuses describe this gem?

Submission for “The Sport of Love” Writer’s Challenge…Edward and Emmett are high school wrestlers looking to make money. They enter an illegal fighting ring and hire an unconventional trainer. Who will they face in the ring and will they win?

First of all, let me tell you something: Face Punch, in my opinion, was THE best part of New Moon. Period. I’m all about the goofy humor and I giggle snorted until I thought I would pass out during that scene. I even created my own version of the movie with Lisa Verdi called ‘Cooter Punch’…but I digress.

Face Punch by Jo and Dani is about Edward and Emmett, two brothers in High School who are on the school wrestling team, that need some extra cash to buy an Xbox. Why? To kick some Volturi ass, that’s why. They have two guys that they wrestle against named Alex and Felix that talk a lot of smack on the mat and online…and the Cullen brothers want to shut them up.

But, if you are in High School and your hot girlfriends won’t give you the money to support you gaming habit…what do you do?

Well, you get some advice from a chick at Costco and sign up for an illegal underground fight club. Duh.

The money is good. Your girlfriends get to be Ring girls. And you get the craziest, most Southern speaking, toothless feller you know to train you on his ranch. The ranch that includes a bull with his testicles mysteriously missing. And some mystery meat cooked by a tiny brunette.

This One Shot is just epically hilarious. I’m not gonna lie, the Southern euphemisms used by Jasper have me choking on my coffee. It should definitely come with a ‘Do not consume liquids while reading’ warning. For sure.

Check it out and laugh your ass off as these two ladies channel the misconceptions of bravado that all young teen males have. And giggle at their use of wrestling terms and references. I promise you will laugh.

If you don’t, then you can use The People’s Elbow upside my head.

twcslibrary.com/viewstory.php?sid=1825

Now tell me, What did you think of that? Do you like getting reviews about one shots? Would you like to see more? Please leave us a comment and let us know you were here. And – Thank You for taking the time to read Southern Fan Fiction Review!!

general Fiction bombshell, costco, geniuses, goofy humor, hot girlfriends, night stand

Cary Memorial Library will host its own “literary crime wave” when several members of the writing collective, Sisters in Crime, celebrate the publication of their new book, “Quarry: Crime Stories by New England Writers.”

“Mystery Night at the Library” will be held on Monday evening, April 12, at 7 p.m. The authors will begin by providing a brief reading from their works, followed by a lively panel discussion that will cover all aspects of the mystery genre. The program is free, no tickets required, and will be held in the library’s Large Meeting Room.

The author line-up will include Nancy Gardner, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Kate Flora and Mike Miecek.

Lexington resident Nancy Gardner developed a passion for writing crime fiction after retiring from a career in technology education. Her short story, “Death By Soup,” won honorable mention in the 2006 Mystery/Suspense Contest sponsored by the New England Writers’ Network. She is currently working on a novel introducing widowed witch and herbalist, Lily McLeod, who exposes a killer, stops a plot threatening homeless women, and learns to rely on others — all during the madness of Halloween season in present-day Salem.

Award winning investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan is currently on air at Boston’s NBC affiliate, where she’s broken stories for the past 22 years. Along with her 24 Emmy awards, Ryan has won dozens of other honors for her hard-hitting investigations. Her first published novel, “Prime Time,” won the Agatha Award for best new mystery of 2007. Her follow-up mystery, “Face Time,” was published in 2008. Both books feature Boston investigative reporter Charlotte “Charlie” McNally. Her third book, “Air Time,” has recently been nominated for the 2009 Agatha Award in the category of “best novel.” “Drive Time,” her fourth book, was published in February.

Maine native and “recovering attorney” Kate Flora is the author of 11 books, including seven Thea Kozak mysteries, the latest of which are “Stalking Death,” a stand-alone suspense novel, and