Rita Mars Thriller Series | Twisty Crime Thrillers | Timely Stories Based on True Experiences
Valerie Webster of Boulder, Colo. draws readers into the shadowy worlds of crime and crime fighters by using her 30+ year career in cyber and real-life security.
The result is riveting fiction based on real cases and policing applications with the main character Rita Mars—an ex-investigative reporter fighting crime around Washington D.C.’s beltway and beyond.
Valerie Webster’s second book in the crime fiction series, Objects of Desire takes Rita Mars to the dark underworld of the Chesapeake Bay’s marshy swamps, with as many plot twists and turns as the wetlands weave. Objects of Desire: A Rita Mars Thriller is anticipated to publish in late 2022.
Webster is a member of Mystery Writers of America and the national and Colorado chapters of Sisters in Crime. Sign up for the blog and learn more about Valerie Webster and the Rita Mars Thriller series at www.valeriewebster.com.
On Monday, August 29, Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller, took the Silver Award in the Fiction, LGBTQ category. I want to thank all my readers who took the time to review my work, who sent messages of encouragement and who rolled up their sleeves to help get my book produced and promoted. I could not have asked for more caring support.
About the EVVY’s
The CIPA EVVYs™ is one of the longest-running book award competitions on the Indie publishing scene, running for nearly 28 years. This annual contest is sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers’ Association (CIPA).
The CIPA EVVYs™ was founded by Evelyn Kaye twenty-eight years ago. Ms. Kaye was instrumental in bringing independent aspiring authors recognition for their literary endeavors. It is open to all types of independently published books from small presses that are too often overlooked by the giant publishing houses. The contest has grown to receive entries from as far away as England, Belgium, South Africa and Dubai. This year alone, the competition drew more than 400 entrants.
There are over 50 categories eligible to compete which allows a wide range of genres. The panel of judges is comprised of teachers, business leaders, critics, editors and, of course, readers. In this competition, judges must follow strict CIPA qualification process.
Awards are given to the top three highest scorers in each category. To achieve an award is certainly an honor.
The CIPA EVVY’s continue to be a leader in providing a pathway for independent authors to gain recognition for their work.
I am thrilled to announce that Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller is a finalist in the CIPA EVVY Book Awards. I don’t know yet what award I’ve won. I’ll find out on August 29 at the awards banquet whether Driven has won a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or Merit Award.
I am honored to have been selected by this prestigious organization that has, for 30 years, dedicated its efforts to writers’ achieving success. And so importantly, I thank my readers who continue to buy my work and to compliment my efforts.
The CIPA EVVY Book Awards is connected to the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. The competition is open to any independently or self-published print or audio book.
Best Action Adventure Finalist: Murder at Buckskin Joe by JvL Bell
Best Investigator Finalist: At First Light by Barbara Nickless
Best Attendee Thriller Finalist – Fallen Star: The Divine Devils Book 2 by R Weir
Best Investigator Finalist: Striking Range: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima
I have read these authors and recommend you give them a try if you haven’t already. Well worth your reading time.
Engaging stories have three elements: mystery, thriller, and suspense. Since 2008, the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards have recognized the best stories from the previous year told through various media. Judges are professional writers, book reviewers, librarians, academics, and—in specialized cases—specific industry peers. Focus is on quality, not popularity.
Each year InD’tale Magazine honors the very best books in the Indie and Small publishing industry by awarding their RONE award. Not offered lightly, any contending book must go through one of the most rigorous processes in publishing, with the three distinct areas of focus that are required to make a book successful in the publishing world. Here are the magazine’s details about award eligibility:
The Review Round: All books in each given year (January 1st – December 31st) must have been read and reviewed by our professional staff of reviewers and be given a 4.5 – 5.0 star rating. All eligible books must be originally published and submitted within that qualifying year. Those books that meet those qualifications will become the nominees and progress to the second round of voting.
The Reader Voting Round: In the second round, all nominees must be voted on by the reading public. The books with the highest number of reader votes will progress on to become finalists. There is a one book limit in this round, however. If an author has more than one book that has received high ratings, that author will choose which book should continue. This rule gives authors the very best chance of success in this round.
The Judges Round: Each book in the finalists will then be read by a group of industry professionals consisting of editors, writers, professors etc. and be judged on a one to five scale from a specific list of requirements such as characterization, technical writing, overall arc, editing etc. Those scores will then be tallied by a professional accounting firm unrelated to InD’tale or its employees to determine the winner of the coveted RONE award, along with the honorable mentions.
Rules and genres are subject to change without notice depending on numbers in each genre.
All awards are announced at the annual RONE award gala where winners are presented with the Crystal RONE award.
Since 2008, the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards have recognized the best stories from the previous year told through various media utilizing the elements of mystery, thriller, and/or suspense. Judges are professional writers, book reviewers, librarians, academics, and—in specialized cases—specific industry peers.
Eligible works must have been first published in English between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022. They must be readily available to a North-American audience (print or digital format). Judging makes no distinction between self-published, indie-published, and traditionally published works.
2021 finalists will be announced July 30, 2021. Killer Nashville will contact all finalists using submitted information alerting them to the honor. Finalists will be honored and winners will be announced at the Killer Nashville Awards Dinner on August 20, 2022.
All entries will also be eligible for the 2022 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Readers’ Choice Award. This is a separate award that is not judged, but rather voted upon by fans of the author’s work. A sharable link to the ballot will be available after the contest closes on June 15, 2022. The results of this contest in no way affect the results of the other Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards.
All registrants for the 2022 Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference are entitled to one free Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award entry. In order to claim your free entry, you must register for the conference BEFORE submitting to the Silver Falchion Award. We cannot retroactively refund entry fees.
Authors: Deadline for entry for the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is June 1, 2022
Valerie Webster and Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller in the spotlight via Author of the Day interview.
Make your next book club event an author event with a writer who’s lived the cases, developed the crime fighting technologies. Contact Valerie Webster today.
