Wahoo!!!!
Monday, August 04, 2008
So let me tell you how ICE BLUE got to win a RITA. I entered three books -- THE UNFORTUNATE MISS FORTUNES with Eileen Dreyer and Jennifer Crusie, ICE STORM, the book of my heart, and ICE BLUE. When it came time to send my five copies in and I could find everything but ICE BLUE. So I went on-line with my friends and said I was just going to forget about ICE BLUE and eat the entry fee, and Pam Menz Baker, fabulous human being and dear friend, said "Hell, no," tossed her grandchildren (she'd been watching them) into her car and drove around Dayton, Ohio for two hours to find the five copies needed to send to RWA.
That's the kind of friend you make in RWA and in the romance writing business. Sisters.
So here's to you, Pam!
I was dressed elegantly in a black slinky knit with faux yakuza tattoos on my arms (I went to Nora Roberts's pre-awards reception and did my best to horrify everyone with my tats. Fortunately they all knew me too well).
And now I'm back, with RITA sitting beside me, crippled from bounding up onto the stage like a very happy person (what was I supposed to do, walk in a stately manner?). Richie, the magnificent DH is waiting on me hand and foot, I'm catching up with 5oo emails, and ready to go party again.
So here's a little poll -- which book did you prefer: ICE BLUE or ICE STORM. I loved them both, but ICE STORM maybe have had an edge since everyone was in it and they all worked so well.
Which one did you think should have won?
posted by Anne Stuart at 1:29 PM
24 Comments:
They're both great books, but I'm partial to ICE STORM. It was one of those reads that was so perfect that I went through the entire story with a big grin on my face.
L ynda
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I was so thrilled to see Ice Blue (and you, obviously (g)) won a Rita. So very well deserved.
As Ice Storm is still on my TBR pile (sorry, deadlines...) I have to pick Ice Blue--I loved, loved, loved reading that book. However, I'm prepared to be swayed and am moving Ice Storm to the top of my stack. It can be my end of deadline dementia prize read.
Hugs and best wishes!
Congratulations on your big win!!!!
I loved both of those books, I even went out and bought a second copy of Ice Storm because I needed to read it again and couldn't find my copy (I recently moved).
Having said that, I have to say I've read Ice Blue 3 times since it came out. I love those two. (And have gained an unhealthy appreciation/fascination for Japanese men.)
I've read Isobel's book twice now, so I have to say "Ice Blue" is ahead by a Katana blade.
I'm very happy for you!!!
Congratulations. Ice Blue is my favorite of the two.
Ice Storm was my first book by you, which gives it an edge. Also, I passed it on to someone and then totally regretted it, which means I now have every single book of yours I've read (that wasn't from the library) on my keeper shelf, just in case that ever happens again. :-)
Yay, congrats!
I love all of your books. Ice Blue is my favorite ICE book.
I loved watching you bound to the stage when your name was announced. I was sitting in the back of the ballroom and still didn't need the big screens to see your happy grin. Congratulations!
woo hoo!!!!
Either book was worthy of a win, or is that both books are worthy...
Party with that RITA! You so deserve the recognition.
cold as ice was the best ever! but if i had to choose it would be ice storm i liked ice blue the least
I think Killian was the more difficult of the two leads to warm to...(Taka's family 'ships went a long way to melting the ice)...but that made him a deeply fascinating read...worthy of Isobel.
BLACK ICE is still my very favorite, but ICE STORM just a whisper behind it...
Kudos on the win!! (was there every any doubt??)
Congratulations! You looked wonderful! Totally loved the tatts. You deserved this award, you are fabulous. Yay!
For some reason I have not yet read Ice Storm. Loved Ice Blue and totally flipped over Fire and Ice. I'm going out tomorrow to get IS. *grin*
Spoke with your editor, Margaret Marbury, late that night. She was the first editor I ever met (at a small San Diego general fiction conference in either 2000 or 2001 right when Red Dress Ink was first getting a toehold). Anyway, she remembered me and we chatted. I'd cried in front of her in a line for the no-host bar, and tried to tell her how some author critiqued and shredded my submission and totally belittled me, all the while sobbing and swiping my eyes. She was so sweet. She said that I should consider the source and that she'd never even heard of the mean author.
I've always remembered that advice and it has served me well. And even though MM is now a big muckity-muck, she's just as approachable and genuinely sweet as she was back then.
You're a lucky duck. Thought you should know. *grin*
Hugs again on the win!
Hi - just wanted to say WOW and congratulations on the RITA. So richly deserved.
Sandra
Congratulations!!! Finally, a Rita goes to a book I've read and very much enjoyed - that isn't NR. :D
I have to say I prefer Ice Blue. It was the first book of yours that I read (after TUMF) and thus established my vision of Isobel. I enjoyed Ice Storm but I liked Isobel better when she was more mysterious.
Honestly, Ice Storm should have won. I loved both books. But the story of Killian and Isabella was so good.
I have to say... you SO desired the RITA. I couldn't be so pleased.
Now, Ice Storm is one of my all time favorites But Ice Blue can be a close second.
The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes was WONDERFUL and desired to at least make the finals.
Congrats to a deserving woman.
Congratulations!! Well deserved.
Ice Storm is without a doubt my favorite. You made me really connect with Isobel when I actually was rather indifferent to her whenever she was introduced in the previous books. I enjoyed seeing her struggle with her vulnerability, which was completely believable. I also think she's the strongest out of the Ice heroines. You have to be to emotionally survive all that she has gone through. Killian is my favorite Ice hero. I loved his darkness, wit, and cocky charm. His progression from the young ruthless man we meet to the worn down man who finally feels it's okay to care about someone else. About Isobel.
The sex scenes were all so passionate, even the rough ones. Ah, I can gush about this book all day long! I really connected to it emotionally. And I thought Mahmoud was a wonderful addition. I'm hoping he'll get his own story.
Ice Storm, hands down. I could not put that book down. I was gripped from the first page. It brought all the characters together in such an amazing way. They are both fantastic books, and congratulations on the win!!!
First of all, a big congrats on your RITA from a huge fan!!!!
Secondly, regarding your question... I have to say that because I lived in Japan for 4 years and yes, have acquired a bit of a penchant for all things Japanese *grin*, ICE BLUE holds a special place in my heart... also, because it was my first read of any of the ICE books...
In saying that, I absolutely ADORED all of the ICE books and was so sad to read that FIRE AND ICE was the 'final' book in the series!! Please consider expanding it further - you have some very avid and loyal readers out here!!!
Once again, congratulations on your win!!
Ani
PS I adored The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes - what an enjoyable, fun read!!
I love the entire ice serious! Congrats, you definitely deserve the award!!! Whether Ice Storm or Ice Blue, to me, Ice Blue is just really very special. The scenery is as fascinating as the hero. The truth is, one just does not read a lot about Asian protagonists / things with Asian heroes are not mass published or salable in a non-asian market.
My absolute favourite and lifetime book is Black Ice and Fire and Ice comes close followed by Ice Blue.
Please let us know, when the next Ice book will come out. I have to mark the date in my calendar...
Oh, I'm definitely going to write more ICE books. I decided I simply wasn't done, and I've already started Finn MacGowan's story plus I need to let Mahmoud grow up and have a happy ending.
I'm like TOTALLY behind, but I hope you see this. Black Ice and Cold as Ice are my TWO top favorites in this series. They're the ones I re-read the most. Black Ice probably more so because we didn't know who the "good" guys were--or who all the players were, if that makes sense.
And I loved Peter. Just flat out LOVED him. So good to see him finally lose his "cool" in his story.
But I also love the others.
~Geets
I love Ice Blue, and have re-read it a couple of times already. Even my husband comments "That book again?" That's pretty bad considering that I read a ton and he usually couldn't differentiate one book cover from another.
I hope you'll win one for Fire and Ice too. I liked it way more the second time I read it, and then I had to reread it again because I found it to be most entertaining with witty funny lines!!!
CONGRATULATIONS...You are the greatest author eva...I love all your books....if i had to pick... it would be ice blue....But BLACK ICE does it for me.....ive fallen in love bastien...Yummy!!
Ness
Congratulations on a well deserved honor!
I just started reading ICE STORM, so I don't have a preference between it and ICE BLUE yet. However, I've got to say that FIRE & ICE is now tied with INTO THE FIRE for my favorite all-time book by any author. Just when I thought I'd never love a hero quite as much as Dylan, along came hunky Reno. Wow! Gotta luv those bad boys!
Post a Comment