News From Suz Brockmann, Romance Writer
www.suzannebrockmann.com
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August 3, 2000

HEADLINE NEWS!

RITA! RITA!

Okay, so there I am. Sitting among more than three thousand romance writers, readers, editors, publishers, reviewers and various guests, in the main ballroom of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. 

I’d just won a Rita for Best Long Contemporary Series Romance for my Silhouette Intimate Moments, UNDERCOVER PRINCESS, and I was well aware that I had completely blown my acceptance speech. Yes, as a finalist you’re supposed to prepare a little something, and yes, I’d done that, but my prepared speech was all about my finalist book that DIDN’T win, THE ADMIRAL’S BRIDE. (So much for second guessing anything!)

I kind of stammered something incoherent and, clutching my Rita, returned to my seat.

So, the award ceremony is continuing, and I’m completely thrilled and excited to have won the Long Contemporary Rita, and I’m sitting there looking at it and trying to recall if I’d at least remembered to thank my Silhouette editor, Gail Chasan, who was sitting right next to me. 

She seems happy, so I’m hopeful.

Finally, it’s down to the last category -- Best Contemporary Single Title Romance. I’m a finalist there, too, but frankly, the finalist list was completely intimidating. Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Jennifer Crusie. Kristin Hannah. Nora Roberts. When I’d received notification of my finalist status, I’d looked at that list and laughed. It was an honor simply to be included. But to win...? Nuh-uh. 

The presenter is blind. She’s a lovely older African American writer, and her daughter is with her. Her daughter reads the names of the finalists. I’m first.

My face, book cover and title, BODY GUARD, flash on the screen, and I’m thinking, “Here I am, in the Big League. How cool is this?” 

I’d put my red fuzzy sweater on after the shock of winning the Long Contemporary Rita had faded a bit, and I sit there, warm and happy. No point even in loosening the sweater. I’m not going to need to take it off. I’m not moving out of my seat. I’m going to clap as Susan or Jenny or Kristin or Nora or Marilyn or Curtiss Ann takes the stage. And the Rita goes to...

The envelope is handed to the presenter's daughter, who opens it, reads it, and then leans close to her mother to whisper the winning name in her ear. Right at the moment the camera zooms in for a close up, and -- being capable to some degree of reading lips, I see the younger woman say very clearly... "Suzanne Brockmann. BODYGUARD."

I sit there, stunned. What?

The presenter says the words aloud, and sure enough -- "Suzanne Brockmann. BODY GUARD."

Oh. My. God.

I still sit there, completely unable to move for about five minutes. (My friend Patricia, sitting beside me, tells me it was maybe fifteen seconds.) Everyone seated in front turns to look at me. (Smiling happy faces -- I can only stare.) I am amazed and no doubt look it. I can see my Ballantine editor, Shauna Summers, sitting several rows in front of me. She has jumped out of her seat, and is standing in the aisle.

I finally stagger to my feet. I know enough to lose the red sweater. (It’s bad enough that I’m wearing cowboy boots for warmth under my slinky black evening dress!) I meet Shauna in the aisle, and she gives me a hug and we head for the steps to the stage. 

And there I am. 

Up on this brightly lit platform, clutching a Rita for the Best Contemporary Single Title of the year. And I am speechless. 

I’d never expected to win. I hadn’t even hoped to win. Hey, I’d read Susan’s book, and this was her award. I mean, how many years in a row had she taken this one home???

Confession time: I was planning to win that award one of these days. I wanted to win that award one of these days. But I honestly didn’t ever think I would do it this year. And certainly not in the same year that I won Best Long Contemporary Series Romance! Not even in my wildest dreams. 

Really! (And believe me, I'm capable of some really wild dreams. Oh, yeah, right -- you guys have read my books. Okay, so you know! <g>)

I’m not one of those people who stand in front of the bathroom mirror practicing their Academy Award acceptance speech. (Although, I’ve got my eye on winning one of those someday, too!) And I’m also not capable of stepping in front of a microphone and being instantly witty or poignant or clever. 

What I’m really good at is being incoherent.

And incoherent is what I was on Saturday night, all right. <g>

Here’s what I remember of all I said and did: 

“Wow,” and “I’m speechless.” Very true. I remember standing there in front of all those people, with completely nothing to say. I’m stunned and amazed. 

This is a whole lot of validation for all my hard work over the past eight years, and I’m completely, totally thrilled. 

And suddenly terribly aware that I’m standing there in silence in front of a whole lot of people. 

So I laugh. It isn’t just a regular laugh. It’s this kind of demented, slightly maniacal cackle that then proceeds to echo out over the loud speakers and into the enormous room. 

Well, that’s it for me. I completely lose it. Hysterical laughter takes over. I’m gone. Doesn’t it figure? I don’t weep with emotion. I don’t cry beautifully, silent tears of joy streaming down my cheeks with dignity and grace. 

I cackle like a madwoman. <g>

So there I am, and having caught myself cackling, I try to hide behind the podium. 

I’m down there and I think, “No, this won’t work for long.” 

So I go into “what the hell” mode. I’d tried really hard to be dignified about the first Rita, but I clearly I’d used it all up. 

I step out from behind the podium and hold that Rita high above my head. The crowd roars, so I do a “Rocky” and raise my left fist above my head, too. More noise.

I jump up and down with completely unrestrained glee.

Ah, dignity. 

I remember thanking my editor, Shauna Summers. I remember
thanking my husband, Ed, and my two kids, Mel and Jason -- while nearly hyperventilating the entire time. And I made a point of speaking directly to the 150 people who’d attended my motivational workshop during the conference -- telling them that this was one of those “moments” we’d discussed. A moment to remember!

All in a voice that sounded a heck of a lot like Mary Tyler Moore’s -- you know, all wiggly and emotional -- “Mr. Grant...”

Ah, yes, dignity. <g>

The celebration afterwards was a blast. My friend and fellow author, Candace Irvin, lent me her cell phone so I could call my husband Ed. He swears that he knew as soon as he heard my voice that I'd won not one but two Ritas. He said he knew as soon as the phone rang shortly after 10 p.m. that I had won SOMEthing. And when he heard my still out of breath voice, he KNEW! 

The entire conference was wonderful -- lots of great parties and workshops and book signings! I also got a chance to visit the National Holocaust Museum with my good friend Chita from New Jersey. A visit to this extremely blood-chilling museum is something I recommend for every human inhabitant of this planet. Plan to spend a long time there -- we arrived at around 1:30 and were there until they kicked us out at 5:30. 

So okay. Whew. More News: 

I've posted the gorgeous new cover art for THE DEFIANT HERO (due out in March 2001 from Ballantine/Ivy) on my website, www.suzannebrockmann.com 

It's up right on my home page, so pop over and check it out. It's very similar in design to THE UNSUNG HERO! 

There's also info on the reissue of my very first Silhouette Intimate Moments, HERO UNDER COVER. That'll be out in January, under the Silhouette "By Request" title HER GUARDIAN. The book is a 2-in-1, so it will be released along with THE BODYGUARD & MS. JONES by Susan Mallery. 

My APPEARANCES page has information on both my upcoming on-line writing workshop on plotting and pacing (given through the RWA Kiss of Death chapter), as well as preliminary info on the "Get Caught Reading Romance" book signing tour of the Midwest that I'll be participating in from September 10 - 17th! 

Okay, now I've got to get back to work writing TAYLOR'S TEMPTATION, my next Silhouette Intimate Moments release, and book number 10 in my "Tall, Dark & Dangerous" miniseries about U.S. Navy SEALs. I'm just over 100 pages in and it's fun to write!

Although I was too busy laughing maniacally during my Rita acceptance speech to think or speak clearly, what I SHOULD have said was this: 

To each and every one of the thousands of readers, fans and friends who have bought and read my books, who have supported me, and come to my signings, and written to me, telling me in so many different ways how my books have touched their lives -- and have touched my own life so wonderfully in return -- I thank you with all my heart!

Well, kids, that's all for now! 

As usual, I'd love it if you could post this newsletter wherever romance readers gather. And let people know that all they have to do to get my newsletter sent directly to their computer is visit my website at www.suzannebrockmann.com/mailing_list.htm and sign up!

Rita, Rita! 

Love, Suz