Three Nora Roberts events scheduled for 2009 RWA conference

July 7, 10:25 AMNora Roberts ExaminerCarol Thomas

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Three activities at the 2009 Romance Writers of America (RWA) National Conference, to be held in Washington D.C. from July 15 through July 18, 2009, will involve Nora Roberts. These events include the presentation of the annual Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing and the issuance of the 2009 RITA awards.

Nora Roberts autographs book for Hank Phillipi Ryan at
2008 RWA Conference.(Creative Commons Photo)

One of the most prestigious awards offered at the RWA conference bears Roberts’ name. The Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award is made each year to an author whose work, during a publishing career of at least 15 years, has contributed significantly to the romance genre. The 2009 award will be presented to Jennifer Greene on July 18. Roberts herself received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 conference.

Roberts will be present with nearly 500 other romance writers who are autographing their books at the conference’s "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing event. The Romance Writers of America estimates that this annual conference event has raised over $600,000 for literacy charities since 1991. The 2009 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing will take place on July 15.

Roberts is also among seven finalists for one of twelve RITA awards given annually to writers of superior romance novels published in the preceding year.  Roberts’ 2008 novel, Tribute, is included among these finalists in the category “Novel With Strong Romantic Elements:"

• Last Dance at Jitterbug Lounge by Pamela Morsi
• The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
• The Paper Marriage by Susan Kay Law
• The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
• The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
• Tribute by Nora Roberts
• Where Serpents Sleep by C.S. Harris 

Winners of at least three RITA awards within a single category qualify the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. Roberts was the Hall of Fame’s first inductee.