This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.
As many of you know, the Romance Writers of America have had a lot of issues with their awards in regards to racism. Here is a great article from NPR Books from August of 2021 updating the situation.
As you also know [and if you do not, see above], I love using awards lists as a RA Tool. However, with the RWA awards and their issues, I cannot in good faith promote them as a solid resource.
But thankfully, others have picked up the slack and today I would like to feature them. Please note, I am also including the mission of each award because understanding that is an important factor in how you use the
First, on Valentine's Day, the second annual Swoon Awards were announced in 15 categories [including audio]. From their overview page:
The Swoon Awards (or The Swoonies like some of us call it) is a reader-based and reader-hosted award celebrating the romance community’s favorite romance novels of the year.
You can also click here to access the archive to past winners they have created. Yes, there are only 2 years right now, but compound interest will build quickly. For example, we already have 15 categories with 5 titles [a winner and 4 runners up in every category. That's already 150 suggestion ready titles-- but to be fair, there is some overlap.
Second, the Emma Awards. From their announcement of the 2021 winners page:
The 2021 RSJ Virtual Romance Book Con event for diversity in literature has announced the winners of the 2021 Emma Awards. The Emma — the premier award for diversity in romantic literature — recognizes excellence in published romance novels, novellas, and women’s fiction featuring diverse and multicultural protagonists (such as black, African-American, Latino American, Hispanic Americans, biracial, etc.). Of the submissions entered into the contest, below are the winners. Congratulations to all.
You can click here for the 2021 long lists in 11 judged categories, plus best cover and best book, and then 3 readers' choice categories, plus 2 other awards. Just click through, there is a lot, and all of it good.
The Emma awards do not have a specific archive [yet], but I did create one for you by clicking on the tag for "Emma Awards." They appear to go back to 2017! You think the compound interest of resources is large for the Soownies, well the Emma's crush that and they are ALL from marginalized perspectives.
Much thanks to my presenting partner and Romance for Libraries expert, Robin Bradford, for alerting me to the Emma Awards.
Use these lists to diversify your Romance displays, add critically acclaimed and readers' choice titles to your collections, and make some Romance suggestions today.
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