Writers in the running for RITAs

She looks a lot like Oscar, but her name is RITA.

And she enjoys a good love story.


She’s a golden statuette that symbolizes excellence in published romance fiction.

And each year, during an Academy Awards-like ceremony, she goes home with the best writers of treachery, heartache, heroes and heroines.

This summer, three Washington County authors are hoping to walk away with the coveted trophy.

Nora Roberts, Susan Donovan and Gail Barrett have been named finalists in the 2011 contest, which is presented by the Romance Writers of America.

The event is named in honor of the organization’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada.

Nora Roberts received nods in three of the 12 categories: Contemporary Single Title for “Happy Ever After”; Novel with Strong Romantic Elements for “The Search”; and Romantic Suspense as J.D. Robb with “Indulgence in Death.”

Donovan was nominated for “Not That Kind of Girl” (Contemporary Single Title), while Barrett was nominated for “Meltdown” (Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure).

“It’s amazing that there are three nominations from our little corner of the world — Washington County,” Donovan said. “I think that’s pretty extraordinary. And to be in the company of such incredible writers, I’m honored.”

Although this is Donovan’s second RITA nomination, “it’s just as thrilling as the first,” she said.

Her book “The Kept Woman” made the finals in 2007.

“I didn’t win, but it was such a head rush,” she said. “I feel the same way this time around.”

Donovan said she has been penning books for 10 years but had the writing bug even as a child.

In junior high school, she was nicknamed “Arthur” by friends who knew of her ambition.

Donovan studied journalism at Northwestern University and worked as a reporter for about 10 years with several newspapers. She also worked for a member of Congress and did part-time fundraising for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.

But she always told herself she would have her first novel written by the age of 40.

“When you’re 25, you tell yourself that because you actually never think 40 will happen,” she joked. “It sounded like some other life prior to death.”

Then, one day, she was 39 and decided “if you’re really going to do this, then you better get going.”