Carla Capshaw's Gladiator is a RITA finalist!

[Lyn]

Have any of you heard of the RITA? It's like the Oscar for romance novels from Romance Writers of America. Anyway the finalists were posted yesterday and our own Carla is a finalist in Inspirational Romance category and for Best First Book too for Gladiator!
We are pumped for her!

[Lyn]

PS. If you go to the LIH authors home page, you'll see that Carla is listed as moderator. If you click her book cover there, you can send her a message of congratulations.
We'll try to get her to drop by soon and chat about what the RITA means to her and editors.

[Jillian]

That's fantastic news! Congratulations, Carla! A well deserved honor. : )

[Jennifer]

WOOHOO! I love that book! CAT is absolutely my fav.

[Melody]

I'll add my congrats here again. :)

[Carla]

Thanks everyone! I'm really excited. :-)

[Barbara]

Carla, congratulations! Your book is very deserving of this nomination.

[Carla]

Thank you so much, Barbara!

And to everyone who has sent such lovely messages to me privately.

Hugs!

[JanetTronstad]

Oh, Carla, again this is so wonderful!

[Love Inspired]

Congrats Carla!! So excited for you!!

[Margaret]

Congrats! That was a great book. :o)

[Ausjenny]

Im excited for her to and can say I knew her before she got famous! (online anyway) shes always been famous.
and I love the look of the new book cover.

[Carla]

You guys are wonderful. I'm so thankful for each of you in this awesome group.

[Jennifer]

We need balloons and whistles!! And the Confetti

[Carla]

Jennifer wrote: "We need balloons and whistles!! And the Confetti"

***You got it. I'll also bring cupcakes. :-)

[JanetTronstad]

Oh, Carla, cupcakes are quite the in thing to eat at parties these days. Are you doing some of the exotic flavors?

[Rebecca]

Awesome news!!! (and I just saw the cover for the next book on Amazon and I love it! can't wait to read it)

[Melody]

Yum! I love a cupcake in the middle of the night! :)

[Harlequin Books]

Congratulations!

[Carla]

Janet Tronstad wrote: "Oh, Carla, cupcakes are quite the in thing to eat at parties these days. Are you doing some of the exotic flavors?"

***Sure, I'll bring exotic flavors. How about chocoate? lol

[Carla]

Rebecca wrote: "Awesome news!!! (and I just saw the cover for the next book on Amazon and I love it! can't wait to read it)"

***YAY! Thanks, Rebecca. I'm loving that cover too. It's my new screensaver and I smile every time I turn on the computer. lol

[Carla]

Melody wrote: "Yum! I love a cupcake in the middle of the night! :)"

***A girl after my own heart. :-)

[Carla]

***Thanks Harlequin!

[Janet]

Carla, the LIH authors are all happy and proud of you and your wonderful debut!!!! I'll be cheering you on at the Awards Ceremony in Nashville!!! The Rita is awesome!

[Jennifer]

mmmm cupcakes! Red Velvet with cream cheese icing!

[Jennifer]

Carla wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Awesome news!!! (and I just saw the cover for the next book on Amazon and I love it! can't wait to read it)"

***YAY! Thanks, Rebecca. I'm loving that cover too. It's my new sc..."

I'd smile everytime I saw that cover too! LOL He is good looking! Too bad we have to wait till July to read it!

[Melody]

I have to agree that is one awesome cover. Yummy!
I think I am ready for a mid morning cupcake now too! That one was so delicious!

[Valerie]

Melody wrote: "I have to agree that is one awesome cover. Yummy!
I think I am ready for a mid morning cupcake now too! That one was so delicious!"

Being a Rita finalist calls for more than a cupcake, Carla! That's awesome! Enjoy the accolades. You deserve them.
Blessings,
Val

[Rebecca]

Yes he is quite good looking! And I think you can buy it in June instead of July if you order from eharlequin.com. They always have the books a month early and I usually buy from there.

[Victoria]

Hi Carla! You're one of the best things to happen to LIH in its two-year history! Congratulations for finaling in the Rita! I'll be cheering for you in Nashville!

[Terri]

Yes!!! Way to go Carla... Apppplausee!!

[Laurie]

CONGRATULATIONS, CARLA! It couldn't happen to a nicer person!

[Carla]

Jennifer wrote: "mmmm cupcakes! Red Velvet with cream cheese icing!"

***Delish! I'll get baking those right away. I love red velvet cake. :-)

[Carla]

I'm so glad you guys like the new cover. I'm always really nervous until the new one. So far the art department has been beyond amazing with all the LIH covers. You can tell the artists really care about getting them just right. We're so blessed to have such talented people working to make the books beautiful. :-)

[Carla]

Melody wrote: "I have to agree that is one awesome cover. Yummy!
I think I am ready for a mid morning cupcake now too! That one was so delicious!"

***Melody, the red velvet cupcakes are baking. Is there another flavor you'd like? I'll get right on it while the bowls and ingredients are still out. :-)

[Carla]

Carla wrote: "I'm so glad you guys like the new cover. I'm always really nervous until the new one comes out. I shouldn't be. So far the art department has been beyond amazing with all the LIH covers. You can tell the artists really c..."

[Carla]

Rebecca wrote: "Yes he is quite good looking! And I think you can buy it in June instead of July if you order from eharlequin.com. They always have the books a month early and I usually buy from there."

***I didn't know that Rebecca. I knew the LIH subscribers get the books a month early, but I didn't realize eHarlequin sold them before their release date. Good to know. Thanks for the info!

[Carla]

Janet, Valerie, Victoria and Laurie, Thank you! It's been such fun being a part of LIH these past two years. And even more fun getting to know each of you better.

Hugs!

[Melody]

How about a dark chocolate with some of the delicious cream cheese frosting? :)

[Terri]

Melody wrote: "How about a dark chocolate with some of the delicious cream cheese frosting? :)"
I take that!

[Carla]

Melody wrote: "How about a dark chocolate with some of the delicious cream cheese frosting? :)"

***Me too. lol Would you like a strawberry on top? :-)

[Jennifer]

Melody wrote: "How about a dark chocolate with some of the delicious cream cheese frosting? :)"

mmmm

[Melody]

Yes please! Strawberries and chocolate is like peanut butter and jelly, made for each other. lol

[Janet]

Carla wrote: "Janet, Valerie, Victoria and Laurie, Thank you! It's been such fun being a part of LIH these past two years. And even more fun getting to know each of you better.

Hugs!"

I remember the first time we met, Carla. I was impressed and still am. Thanks for the red velvet cupcake! Wonderful to celebrate with you!

[Jennifer]

We need some cheesecake too! LOL

[Terri]

Jennifer wrote: "We need some cheesecake too! LOL"

Second that!

[Carla]

Janet Dean wrote: "I rem..."

***I remember too and I feel the same way about you. Thanks for celebrating with me. :-)

[Carla]

Jennifer and Terri you are so bad. Cheesecake sounds perfect!

On a side note, do any of you like Cadbury eggs? I don't eat real eggs, but Cadbury ones are my downfall.

[Melody]

The mini eggs in the purple package? I could eat that whole bag in one sitting! YUM!!!!!

[Carla]

Melody wrote: "The mini eggs in the purple package? I could eat that whole bag in one sitting! YUM!!!!!"

**Oh, that's how I am with the milk chocolate Lindt truffles. lol