Great news – I was notified yesterday that Dark Country is a finalist in the 2010 Daphne du Maurier contest!
The Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in mystery/suspense is run by the Romance Writers of America Kiss of Death Chapter , and there are six categories for published books; Dark Country has finalled in the Single Title Romantic Mystery/Suspense category.
It’s a wonderful honour to be a finalist in this prestigious contest; for romantic suspense writers, it’s second only to the RWAmerica RITAs and the ITW Thriller Awards in the international contests. So, I’ve been wearing out my smile muscles (again!) since reading the email yesterday.
The winners of the Awards are announced on Thursday 29th July at the RWAmerica conference in Orlando; the Kiss of Death Chapter hosts a wonderful Death by Chocolate party that evening (and wow, is there serious chocolate!), and the Awards are announced at the party. Sadly, as I think I’ve mentioned before, I won’t be able to attend the RWAmerica conference this year, due to upcoming major surgery, but I’m sure all my fellow finalists and KOD members will have a fantastic night! Hopefully, I’ll be recovered enough to indulge in some chocolate to share the celebration, albeit from a considerable distance! (Hmmm… there’s a Max Brenner Chocolate Bar not far from the hospital – I may have to send Gordon out to bring me a little treat!)
The full list of finalists is below – my congratulations to all of them! It’s fantastic to be included in such a list of great authors, and my thanks go to the judges and contest coordinators for making the contest possible.
CATEGORY (SERIES) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Trusting a Stranger by Kerry Connor
The Christmas Stranger by Beth Cornelison
Burning Secrets by Elizabeth Sinclair
Cold Case Affair by Loreth Anne White
More than a Man by Rebecca York
HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Alaskan Renegade by Kate Bridges
The Club by Sharon Page
From Waif to Gentleman’s Wife by Janet Justiss
The Nude by Dorothy McFalls
The Rake’s Inherited Courtesan – by Ann Lethbridge
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Against All Odds by Irene Hannon
An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon
A Prisoner of Versailles by Golden Keyes Parsons
Final Exposure by Roxanne Rustand
Scent of Murder by Virginia Smith
MAINSTREAM MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Missing Mark by Julia Kramer
Urgent Care by CJ Lyons
Warning Signs CJ Lyons
Breakneck by Erica Spindler
The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White
PARANORMAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE:
Midnight’s Master Cynthia Eden
A Highlander of Her Own by Melissa Mayhue
Desire Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Heart Change by Robin D. Owens
Dragon Moon by Rebecca York
SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE (TIE)
Fatal Secrets by Allison Brennan
If Looks Could Chill by Nina Bruhns
Feel the Heat by Cindy Gerard
Untraceable by Laura Griffin
Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry
Hunt Her Down by Roxanne St. Claire
