Ebook vs Paper

By Eva Maria Hamilton  @HamiltonEvaM

It's that time of year again...

Judging for the Romance Writers of America’s annual RITA Awards have begun!

I’ve been judging this contest for many years now, but this year they’ve changed one very big thing…

Do you know what's different?

This year I didn’t receive my usual box in the mail. The one that feels like a late Christmas present where I excitedly unwrap it and hold all the books I hope I’ll love.

This year, all the books I have to judge are in digital format!

I see both positives and negatives. (Too many to list.)

For instance, I’m a little sad to no longer receive signed copies, but I won’t have to add anymore bookshelves to house these books, and the savings on delivery charges must be substantial! And that’s always in everyone’s best interest.

Did you know there are some contests I can’t judge, because I live in Canada. 

They’ve deemed it too expensive to deliver the books here. (Although, when they’re in a pinch they have sent me ebooks to judge, which I loved.) So, for contests like that, I’m completely biased to having them turn to ebooks and eliminate that restriction.

But I ask you:

Do you like reading ebooks? Or do you prefer paper in your hand?

About Eva Maria Hamilton

Eva Maria Hamilton is the author of Highland Hearts, a Love Inspired Historical novel published by Harlequin. Her novel, Highland Hearts, won 2nd Place in the Historical Romance, as well as the Traditional/Inspirational Romance Categories in the Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Awards, and was an Inspirational Series Finalist in the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her short story, Disinherited Love, can be read in the anthology, A Kiss is Still A Kiss. Eva Maria Hamilton is also the owner of Lilac Lane Publishing, which is currently publishing the Jane Austen Colouring & Activity Book series.


To connect with Eva Maria Hamilton, please visit her at www.EvaMariaHamilton.com

The RITA Awards

It’s that time of year again when this UPS box is delivered to my door.

Is it a late Christmas present?

It feels like that :)

Inside are the books I’ve been given by the Romance Writers of America to judge for their annual RITA Awards!

It’s always exciting to open this box and see what stories I get to dive into.

This year I received six books. One is signed by the author. I love that, although of course it doesn’t affect my view of the book. I remain impartial whether the book has a gorgeous cover or not, whether it was published by a big house or independently published, etc.

Sorry I can’t share more details, but certain things must remain confidential.

For romance writers, this contest is akin to the Academy Awards (Oscars). It is judged solely by published romance writers.

Here is the link to RWA’s website if you’d like more information on the contest: https://www.rwa.org/ritaaward

They even have a list of past winners.

Last year, one of the books I judged won. That was nice to see, since I loved the book. But there are tons, and I mean tons, of great books that didn’t win that are fabulous!

So happy reading everyone!

I have until March 7th to complete my judging. How many books will you read by then?


Eva Maria Hamilton is the author of Highland Hearts, a Love Inspired Historical novel published by Harlequin. Her novel, Highland Hearts, won 2nd Place in the Historical Romance, as well as the Traditional/Inspirational Romance Categories in the Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Awards, and was an Inspirational Series Finalist in the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her short story, Disinherited Love, can be read in the anthology, A Kiss is Still A Kiss. Eva Maria Hamilton is also the owner of Lilac Lane Publishing, which has currently published, Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice Colouring & Activity Book featuring Illustrations from 1895, and Jane Austen’s Sense And Sensibility Colouring & Activity Book featuring Illustrations from 1896.

To connect with Eva Maria Hamilton online, please visit her at www.evamariahamilton.com