GERARD 'TAKES NO PRISONERS'

Local author wins prestigious award for romance novel

By NICK NARIGON

Cindy Gerard, center, pictured right after she won the RITA award July 18 in Washington D.C. Also pictured are Gerard's agent, Maria Carvainis, of Maria Carvainis Agency, Rock Center, New York City, left, and Gerard's editor, Maggie Crawford, from Pocket Books an imprint of Simon and Schuster, also New York City.

Marengo resident and best-selling author Cindy Gerard was recognized a second time for being at the top of her craft.

Gerard won the RITA award from the Romance Writers of America at its annual conference in Washington, D.C., July 18. Gerard’s novel “Take No Prisoners” won the RITA for romantic suspense.

“It is wonderful,” Gerard said. “There were some big names out there and it is fun to be recognized.”

“Take No Prisoners” is the second book in Gerard’s Black Ops Inc. series. The first three books in the series have all made the New York Bestsellers list. The fourth book, “Feel the Heat,” hits the shelves in October.

Gerard is busy writing the fifth book in the series. Her deadline is Sept. 15.

“This book has not given me fits like others have. It is coming along nicely,” she said.

Released in October 2008, “Take No Prisoners” is a suspense thriller involving a former Black Ops agent and a black jack dealer. Sam Lang leaves Black Ops after his sister is mysteriously killed. However, he learns that a gem smuggler might have some information about the killers. Lang tracks down the smuggler’s sister, Abbie Hughes, a Vegas blackjack dealer. Abbie’s brother, Cory, goes missing, and she and Lang team up to find him. Their steamy adventure takes them to Honduras and the dark corners of the criminal world.

Gerard said “Take No Prisoners” is one of her favorite books she has written. However, she said the fact that it won a RITA might be the “luck of the draw.”

She attended the annual Romance Writers of America conference in Washington, D.C., last month her 12th time attending the conference. In 2003, Gerard won a RITA for her novel, “Taming the Outlaw.”

She said the conference is a chance to meet with her editor, publisher and agent in person, as well as fellow authors.

Cindy Gerard, Marengo, won the RITA award July 18 for romantic suspense for "Take No Prisoners," the second in her Black Ops, Inc., series.

“It is a chance to see people we correspond with by phone or e-mail,” she said. “Everybody knows what we have gone through. It is a good time to commiserate.”

When Gerard first began attending the conference, she said she was star struck. Now, she will be sitting in the lounge talking with friends when people come and ask for her autograph.

Gerard does most of her writing at her rural Marengo home in her office, which she calls a “nice comfy little cave.”

She said she treats her writing like a job, and works in her office from 8 to 5, with her only visitors being her cats, and sometimes her dog.

She conducted a phone interview with NpIC Tuesday, Aug. 4.

NpIC: How does it feel to be recognized with a RITA from the Romance Writers of America?

Gerard: Anytime you are a finalist it is remarkable. I have been fortunate to be a finalist six times. It’s a thrill because it is an award from your peers. Peers are the toughest critics, as well as the most generous. This book was one that I really loved. It was my second book for Pocket Books. It makes me really happy to be able to show them success.

NpIC: What sets “Take No Prisoners” apart from the other Black Ops books?

Gerard: I really don’t know. All three books hit the New York Times bestseller list. Maybe “Show No Mercy” had a little more background to set the series up.

NpIC: Your characters travel all over the world chasing mysteries and adventure. How to you come up with your ideas while living in Marengo?

Gerard: I do a lot of reading and a lot of research online. I try to find an angle I can twist into a plot that is plausible and fun that stays close enough to the truth. Sometimes the character itself spurs on a story idea. The thing of it is, I don’t read in the genre, most of what I read is research.

NpIC: Book four of the Black Ops series, “Feel the Heat,” comes out in October. What can readers expect?

Gerard: Another action/adventure with a romantic story. It takes place in the U.S. and Columbia and there is a lot hanging on the outcome of the whether the hero and heroine can save the day, save the world.

NpIC: What are your future projects?

Gerard: The next Black Ops book goes from Georgia to El Salvador, generally known as a bad place to be. Another Black Ops agenst is paired up with woman from his past, he took Spanish classes from her. A child from the school she has established in El Salvador is kidnapped. She calls on him to help. It is a “man on fire” type of book. They have to figure out what is behind the kidnapping. I do have an ending. Often times I am flying blind, but it kind of helps to know where I am going.

This won’t be the last Black Ops book, but I may be taking a break. My publisher is thrilled with the success of the stories and Pocket Books wants to elevate my presence in the mass market. I will still write action/adventure, but the tone will be a little different. Not so much saving the world every time, but saving people. I am excited about it.

The RITA award

The purpose of the RITA® contest is to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas.

The award itself is a golden statuette named after Romance Writers of America’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada, and has become the symbol for excellence in published romance fiction.

Up to 1,200 romance novels from 12 different categories are entered in the RITA competition each year. A novel may be entered either by the author or by the book’s publisher in one of the 12 categories. After the first round of judging by published romance authors, the competition narrows to approximately 100 finalists.

Once RWA announces the RITA finalists, a final round of judges evaluates and ranks these novels to determine the 12 RITA Award winners.

UPDATED August 5, 2009 10:06 AM