Behind the scenes at the 2012 RITAs with Fiona Lowe

This is such a cool story, because, well, I was there and remember the evening very clearly (I didn't win my category). But I do remember being thrilled for Fiona and her publisher, Carina Press. Fiona, whose latest release, Saved by the Bride, came out last month, shares her experience …

Fiona: The RITA Award is the most prominent award for romance fiction, and it is presented annually by the Romance Writers of America (RWA). It is named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada. It signifies excellence across 13 categories of romantic fiction.

This time last year, I was woken up at 6 a.m. by my iPad. It was going ping, ping, ping-ping-ping, ping to the point I thought it would melt. I got up, thinking there was no way I could have said something that witty on Twitter eight hours previously to get such a reaction.

I put my glasses on and stared at the screen in disbelief. People were congratulating me on being a 2012 RITA finalist with my 14th book, but my first single title novel, Boomerang Bride. Apparently, there'd been a glitch in the system, and I hadn't received a phone call from RWA. I immediately rang Carina Press Executive Editor Angela James in America and said, "I think I'm Carina Press' first RITA nominee." She laughed and said, "You are." She immediately asked me if I was going to go to Anaheim, Calif., for the conference. I couldn't even think straight, and I said, "I don't think so," because I had kids in school right over that time.

I hung up the phone and rang my husband and he said, "You have to go." Being the obliging wife that I am, I did indeed go. ;-) I had no thoughts of winning. I went for the pretty RITA ribbon on the conference name badge, the blue and gold RITA flag that RWA gives you for the book signings. I went for the party RWA throws the finalists and for the certificate they present you with. I went for the gorgeous restaurant that Carina Press took me to before the awards ceremony — Hawaiian fusion cooking, and the meal was beautiful — and I went for the awards ceremony itself.

I'm an Australian. We have a population of 21 million people. A big romance conference Down Under draws 300 delegates. The ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott had 2,000 people in it! Good grief! Lucky I thought I wouldn't win, otherwise I would have been beside myself nervous. My good writing buddy, Alison Stuart, was my "date," and she looked after Angela and I by finding Bob the Barman and getting us champagne. I settled back to enjoy the night, rationalizing that by not winning, at least I wouldn't have to dust a trophy. When Darynda Jones, who was sitting on my table, won her category, I thought, "That's table 10's allotment for the night."

I had read all the books I was up against in the single title contemporary category, and I had an idea who might win (not me), so when Linda Howard was reading out all the nominee's names, I was eagerly sitting forward waiting to hear if she read out one of the two names I had picked to win. Suddenly, I heard her say, "And the winner is Boom—"

I didn't hear another thing. The room erupted into screams and cheers — there were a lot of Australians and Carina Press authors there, bless them — Alison was hugging me and I was staring, stunned, at Angela James, who was looking equally shocked. Then the organized part of my brain kicked in and, having been to the rehearsal, I knew I had to walk up to the stage, and I grabbed Angela's hand and said, "We have to go."

I remember being stunned at how heavy the RITA statue was when Linda Howard handed it to me. Then I faced the room and did battle with my evening bag, which had a business card in it with bullet points written on the back, which my husband had insisted I write in case I had to give a speech. My hands were shaking so much I could not get that sucker out of the bag. I tried to crack a joke, which fell flat, and any dreams I had as a stand-up comedian died there and then.

I finally got the card out and started the speech. Boomerang Bride had weathered 12 print house publishing rejections before it got picked up by Carina Press and was published as a digital-first (electronic) book. By winning the RITA, it not only validated my belief in the book, it also validated digital first by saying, "E-books are books first and format second."

For Carina Press to have "won" a RITA in only its second year of business says a lot. It silences the naysayers who in the past have said that digital-first books were of an inferior quality.

For me, winning the RITA was beyond amazing, and I am thrilled to have to dust my golden lady! For me and Carina Press, it truly was a win-win.

And then there was champagne and hugs, and more champagne and I lost sight of RITA for a while. Going by the photos on Facebook and Twitter, I believe she was on the bar being photographed with many different authors.

All in all, it was a fabulous time that I will never forget.

Do you have a wonderful event in your life that you will never forget? (To comment, click on the gray comment balloon on the left side of your browser window.)

Check out the trailer for Fiona's Wedding Fever series:

You can find out more about Fiona and her books at her website, www.fionalowe.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@FionaLowe) and Goodreads.