Vivian Stephens Helped Turn Romance Writing Into a Billion-Dollar Industry. Then She Got Pushed Out - Texas Monthly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at the Texas Monthly site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty boy discovered one about Vivian Stephens. Panzer told you a few weeks ago about the Romance Writers of America naming a new award after her.

It's a really interesting story.

The post by Mimi Swartz reads as a history of Vivian Stephens life, both in and out of the Romance Writers of America group. In 1980 Vivian Stephens was the founder of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). It was interesting to her when in May of this year she got an email from the group asking to name an award after her. The interesting part of naming the award the 'Vivian' was that she had been largely ignored and forgotten by the group over the years. According to the Texas Monthly post, in the years since RWA was founded romance novels have gone from the 'bodice ripper' days to the 'independent, working woman' days. With that emergence romance writers have gone from the "have to have a regular, day job to support my writing" days to the romance writers ''making $100,000 (or more) per year'. Included in this post are links to information about the turmoil the RWA has been going through since last year and links to books about romance writing and its history.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... $100,000 a year?"

Note: This is a hugely humongous post. Bring a thermos of iced tea, a thermos of lemonade, a dozen muffins, your lunch and your dinner for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post, you'll need a sleeping bag for a nap in between.

To read the post tootle over to Vivian Stephens
To read Panzer's earlier post about the Vivian Award, tootle over to RWA Award

RWA Retires RITA Awards, Debutes the 'Vivian' After a Winter of Controversy - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today the Panzermobile was shaken violently by crying and clapping coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our confused kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the Romance Writers of America (RWA) that was what was causing all the noise. Panzer told you earlier this year (and last year) about all the problems the Romance Writers of America has been having with the RITA Awards, the membership and the previous Board of Directors resignations.

I really hate the water.

According to the post by John Maher, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) has done away with the RITA Awards and replaced it with the Vivian Awards. The new Vivian Award is named after Vivian Stevens. Vivian Stevens was RWA's founder. There will be new rules and new training for the judges for the awards to 'ensure the Vivian is inclusive, equitable, and accessible.' There's a link to the site where the new information will be posted after it's voted on by the Board included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Now we'll see if this new award can help calm the waters in the RWA Tsunami."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to RWA Rita Awards
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA tootle over to Romance Writers of America

Plot Twist: Romance Writers of America - Indies Unlimited

Today Panzer made a stop at the Indies Unlimited site. With no digging at all in the posts our inquisitive kitty found one about the on-going battle at the Romance Writers of America group. Panzer told you about the suspension and banning of author Courtney Milan a few weeks ago.

According to Lynn Cantwell's post, the investigation that led up to the membership suspension and ban from ever holding an office in the Romance Writers of America (RWA) by Courtney Milan is still roiling the group. Chinese-American author Courtney Milan wrote twitter posts about a book by Kathryn Lynn Davis which Ms. Milan felt was an unfair representation of Chinese women. Ms. Davis filed a complaint with the RWA against Milan. (Davis's publisher filed a second complaint.) The RWA set up a secret ethics committee, did a secret investigation of the situation and then the Board suspended and banned Milan. The post contains links to other information about the suspension and ban which will help you get a full understanding of the situation.

So ... No free speech allowed in RWA?

Panzer says, "This was the first time this little kitty read it was a secret ethics committee."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and two dozen muffins. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post (and follow his links), bring a quart of tea and six more muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Romance Writers of America
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA tootle over to leadership resigns

Romance Writers of America Leadership Resigns - The New York Times

Watch your step.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The New York Times site. There with a little digging in the posts our traveling kitty boy found one about the Romance Writers of America. A few days ago Panzer told your about the brouhaha going on with them.

As reported by Concepcion de Leon, the Romance Writers of America's (RWA) president, Damon Suede, and executive director, Carol Ritter, have resigned from their positions. Many in the RWA membership have been demanding their resignations. The problem began with the suspension and other punishments of Courtney Milan. There are links to more information about the RWA and it's current problems included in the post.

Panzer says, "Watch where you're walking because this is a big pile of poo."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you intend to follow the links in the post bring a quart of tea and six muffins. But, if you also plan to read the previous post as well, bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Romance Writers of America
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA, tootle over to Rita Awards

RWA Cancels 2020 RITA Awards - Publishers Weekly

This is a big mess.

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere the Panzermobile was sudden shaken by crying and screaming coming from outside. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all he found a post about the Romance Writers of America and the RITA Awards.

According to the post by John Maher, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) has announced the cancellation of the 2020 RITA Awards. The reason for the cancellation cited by the RWA was the ongoing turmoil surrounding the suspension of Courtney Milan's membership and other punishments against her. A recall of RWA President Damon Suede petition is being filed based on his involvement in Courtney Milan's punishments. For the prestige American romance writers want to become members of the RWA, so all the turmoil and arguing is taking a toll on the reputation of the organization. There are links included in the post to information about what has led up to the cancellation.

Panzer says, "The RITA Award in romance writing is like the Shamus Award in PI writing. It's like the top of the writing ladder."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Rita Awards

RWA Urges 'NYT' to Reconsider Bestseller List Decision - Publishers' Weekly

Today Panzer took a trip into the Catosphere to see what he could find about the New York Times cutting some of their bestseller lists. Our inquiring kitty told you about the cuts a few days ago. His information gathering trip today took him to the Publishers' Weekly site.  After a little digging he found information about publishers reactions to the cuts.

According to a post from the Romance Writers of America (RWA), the group would like the New York Times (NYT) to reconsider the cutting of the mass market and ebook bestseller lists. The RWA feels its female romance author members are being discriminated against since they dominate these bestseller lists.

According to a second post Panzer found, graphic novel and manga publishers were upset to learn that those bestseller lists are also being cut. Most of these publishers feel the loss of the graphic novel and manga bestseller lists will impact their sales.

Wake me in a week.

Panzer says, "Maybe the New York Times should have given some notice they were going to make these cuts."

Note: These posts taken as a whole are very long. Bring three thermos of tea and four dozen muffins if you plan to read all three posts in today's reading selection.

To read the post from the Romance Writers of America (RWA), tootle over to RWA

To read the post about the graphic novel and manga publishers, tootle over to bestseller lists

To read Panzer's original post about the New York Times' announcement about cutting some of their bestseller lists, tootle over to  NYT cuts bestseller lists