This is the presenter (I'm afraid I don't know her name) who handed over the golden lady to my editor, Kimberley Young.
Kim Young (lower right, beneath the huge screen) delivering the acceptance speech on my behalf. A lot of people have asked if I wished I was there. Well, yes, but I am so, so grateful to Kim. I don't think she cried, but there's a very good chance that I would have. (grin)
Kim holding the RITA and looking very glam!
Editors raising a glass. (I'm guessing that the one on the left might be Maddie Rowe.) Centre is Meg Sleighthome, my current editor and right Kim Young, who edited Claiming His Family and who is holding her editor's RITA plaque.
Lovely Marion Lennox has RITA tightly packed in a box after the long flight back from the States and she will be taking her in situ to Sydney for the Australian conference in August. Apparently, RITA's a very difficult lady to travel with, so she'll have to go back in the box. I don't think I should indulge in the pleasure of nursing her all the way back to Townsville.
The sad thing is, this was the very last time a RITA will be given for Traditional Romance. Too many sweet romances (including many of mine) now have sex scenes and Trad was all about no sex before marriage. This area ia catered for these days in America by Inspirational Romance. Sign of the times...
