Mary Jo Putney – Nora Roberts Llfetime Achievement Award

Mary JoThe Romance Writers of America's annual conference is now over, and Mary Jo Putney will soon be winging her way home. In her luggage she carries a very special award: the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.

According to the RWA Web site, "One of the highest honors RWA bestows is the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is presented to a living author in recognition of significant contributions to the romance genre. To qualify for the award, the recipient's career in romantic fiction must span a minimum of 15 years. Recipients must in some way continue to promote the romance genre, teach romance in fiction, or publish romantic fiction."

Mary Jo more than qualifies! She is a best-selling author of more than 29 books published since 1987. Her stories are noted for their psychological depth and unusual subject matter, and Putney is a nine-time finalist for the RITA Award, has won two RITAs, and is on the RWA Honor Roll for best-selling authors. RWA presented Mary Jo with the Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, July 20, at the Awards Ceremony during the 2013 RWA Conference in Atlanta.

The Wenches are so proud of you, Mary Jo! Congratulations on such a well-deserved recognition.

ThreeWenches

Cara/Andrea (middle) and Jo (right) help Mary Jo celebrate her Lifetime Achievement Award (Photo courtesy Cara/Andrea)
MJP&John

Mary Jo and husband John. (Photo courtesy Cara/Andrea)

105 thoughts on “Mary Jo Putney – Nora Roberts Llfetime Achievement Award”

  1. Congratulations, Ms. Putney!!
    I am blessed that I first picked up your writings at such a young age, that now that I am in my thirties, I am able to not only converse with you through the Wenches blog, but I can continue to read your stories, and enjoy the breadth of which you give to your readers! I never thought that an author I discovered as a young girl I’d one day get to interact with as an adult, nor get to witness her being honoured in such a special way! May this award be a testament to everything that you give and do for the writing world. As much as the inspiration you give to your readers who have appreciated your contributions.
    I enjoyed seeing the updated photograph of the three of you, too! And, how lovely your husband was with you! I hope the evening was a delightful affair!

    Reply
  2. Congratulations, Ms. Putney!!
    I am blessed that I first picked up your writings at such a young age, that now that I am in my thirties, I am able to not only converse with you through the Wenches blog, but I can continue to read your stories, and enjoy the breadth of which you give to your readers! I never thought that an author I discovered as a young girl I’d one day get to interact with as an adult, nor get to witness her being honoured in such a special way! May this award be a testament to everything that you give and do for the writing world. As much as the inspiration you give to your readers who have appreciated your contributions.
    I enjoyed seeing the updated photograph of the three of you, too! And, how lovely your husband was with you! I hope the evening was a delightful affair!

    Reply
  3. Congratulations, Ms. Putney!!
    I am blessed that I first picked up your writings at such a young age, that now that I am in my thirties, I am able to not only converse with you through the Wenches blog, but I can continue to read your stories, and enjoy the breadth of which you give to your readers! I never thought that an author I discovered as a young girl I’d one day get to interact with as an adult, nor get to witness her being honoured in such a special way! May this award be a testament to everything that you give and do for the writing world. As much as the inspiration you give to your readers who have appreciated your contributions.
    I enjoyed seeing the updated photograph of the three of you, too! And, how lovely your husband was with you! I hope the evening was a delightful affair!

    Reply
  4. Congratulations, Ms. Putney!!
    I am blessed that I first picked up your writings at such a young age, that now that I am in my thirties, I am able to not only converse with you through the Wenches blog, but I can continue to read your stories, and enjoy the breadth of which you give to your readers! I never thought that an author I discovered as a young girl I’d one day get to interact with as an adult, nor get to witness her being honoured in such a special way! May this award be a testament to everything that you give and do for the writing world. As much as the inspiration you give to your readers who have appreciated your contributions.
    I enjoyed seeing the updated photograph of the three of you, too! And, how lovely your husband was with you! I hope the evening was a delightful affair!

    Reply
  5. Congratulations, Ms. Putney!!
    I am blessed that I first picked up your writings at such a young age, that now that I am in my thirties, I am able to not only converse with you through the Wenches blog, but I can continue to read your stories, and enjoy the breadth of which you give to your readers! I never thought that an author I discovered as a young girl I’d one day get to interact with as an adult, nor get to witness her being honoured in such a special way! May this award be a testament to everything that you give and do for the writing world. As much as the inspiration you give to your readers who have appreciated your contributions.
    I enjoyed seeing the updated photograph of the three of you, too! And, how lovely your husband was with you! I hope the evening was a delightful affair!

    Reply
  6. Congratulations; and I truly believe that you earned this award. I’m not sure when I discovered your books, but I’m pretty much of a completest where you are concerned; if I didn’t buy it when it came out, I buy it from the back list. The article above says “more than 29 books;” my “card catalogy” says that I own 35 of them.
    I am so happy for you that you earned this award.
    Sue

    Reply
  7. Congratulations; and I truly believe that you earned this award. I’m not sure when I discovered your books, but I’m pretty much of a completest where you are concerned; if I didn’t buy it when it came out, I buy it from the back list. The article above says “more than 29 books;” my “card catalogy” says that I own 35 of them.
    I am so happy for you that you earned this award.
    Sue

    Reply
  8. Congratulations; and I truly believe that you earned this award. I’m not sure when I discovered your books, but I’m pretty much of a completest where you are concerned; if I didn’t buy it when it came out, I buy it from the back list. The article above says “more than 29 books;” my “card catalogy” says that I own 35 of them.
    I am so happy for you that you earned this award.
    Sue

    Reply
  9. Congratulations; and I truly believe that you earned this award. I’m not sure when I discovered your books, but I’m pretty much of a completest where you are concerned; if I didn’t buy it when it came out, I buy it from the back list. The article above says “more than 29 books;” my “card catalogy” says that I own 35 of them.
    I am so happy for you that you earned this award.
    Sue

    Reply
  10. Congratulations; and I truly believe that you earned this award. I’m not sure when I discovered your books, but I’m pretty much of a completest where you are concerned; if I didn’t buy it when it came out, I buy it from the back list. The article above says “more than 29 books;” my “card catalogy” says that I own 35 of them.
    I am so happy for you that you earned this award.
    Sue

    Reply
  11. Congratulations from one of your enthusiastic readers.
    The award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving author. Several of your books are on my “comfort shelf” for difficult times.

    Reply
  12. Congratulations from one of your enthusiastic readers.
    The award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving author. Several of your books are on my “comfort shelf” for difficult times.

    Reply
  13. Congratulations from one of your enthusiastic readers.
    The award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving author. Several of your books are on my “comfort shelf” for difficult times.

    Reply
  14. Congratulations from one of your enthusiastic readers.
    The award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving author. Several of your books are on my “comfort shelf” for difficult times.

    Reply
  15. Congratulations from one of your enthusiastic readers.
    The award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving author. Several of your books are on my “comfort shelf” for difficult times.

    Reply
  16. Such wonderful messages of congratulations for Mary Jo! She’s in transit right now, but when she returns home from the RWA conference, I know these messages will warm her heart.

    Reply
  17. Such wonderful messages of congratulations for Mary Jo! She’s in transit right now, but when she returns home from the RWA conference, I know these messages will warm her heart.

    Reply
  18. Such wonderful messages of congratulations for Mary Jo! She’s in transit right now, but when she returns home from the RWA conference, I know these messages will warm her heart.

    Reply
  19. Such wonderful messages of congratulations for Mary Jo! She’s in transit right now, but when she returns home from the RWA conference, I know these messages will warm her heart.

    Reply
  20. Such wonderful messages of congratulations for Mary Jo! She’s in transit right now, but when she returns home from the RWA conference, I know these messages will warm her heart.

    Reply
  21. Thanks to you all for the lovely comments! I’m still rather high from all the nice things people said. Tomorrow, the party is over and I go into crazed working mode for the book that needs to be finished by the end of August. But I now understand why Sally Field said, “You like me! You really like me:” *G*

    Reply
  22. Thanks to you all for the lovely comments! I’m still rather high from all the nice things people said. Tomorrow, the party is over and I go into crazed working mode for the book that needs to be finished by the end of August. But I now understand why Sally Field said, “You like me! You really like me:” *G*

    Reply
  23. Thanks to you all for the lovely comments! I’m still rather high from all the nice things people said. Tomorrow, the party is over and I go into crazed working mode for the book that needs to be finished by the end of August. But I now understand why Sally Field said, “You like me! You really like me:” *G*

    Reply
  24. Thanks to you all for the lovely comments! I’m still rather high from all the nice things people said. Tomorrow, the party is over and I go into crazed working mode for the book that needs to be finished by the end of August. But I now understand why Sally Field said, “You like me! You really like me:” *G*

    Reply
  25. Thanks to you all for the lovely comments! I’m still rather high from all the nice things people said. Tomorrow, the party is over and I go into crazed working mode for the book that needs to be finished by the end of August. But I now understand why Sally Field said, “You like me! You really like me:” *G*

    Reply
  26. Congratulations Mary Jo. I already have a shelf full of your books, and look forward to adding to it over the years to come.

    Reply
  27. Congratulations Mary Jo. I already have a shelf full of your books, and look forward to adding to it over the years to come.

    Reply
  28. Congratulations Mary Jo. I already have a shelf full of your books, and look forward to adding to it over the years to come.

    Reply
  29. Congratulations Mary Jo. I already have a shelf full of your books, and look forward to adding to it over the years to come.

    Reply
  30. Congratulations Mary Jo. I already have a shelf full of your books, and look forward to adding to it over the years to come.

    Reply
  31. I want to add my congratulations! I love your books and enjoy rereading them almost as much as reading them the first time. And I hope all the Wenches had lots of fun at the RWA convention!

    Reply
  32. I want to add my congratulations! I love your books and enjoy rereading them almost as much as reading them the first time. And I hope all the Wenches had lots of fun at the RWA convention!

    Reply
  33. I want to add my congratulations! I love your books and enjoy rereading them almost as much as reading them the first time. And I hope all the Wenches had lots of fun at the RWA convention!

    Reply
  34. I want to add my congratulations! I love your books and enjoy rereading them almost as much as reading them the first time. And I hope all the Wenches had lots of fun at the RWA convention!

    Reply
  35. I want to add my congratulations! I love your books and enjoy rereading them almost as much as reading them the first time. And I hope all the Wenches had lots of fun at the RWA convention!

    Reply
  36. Congratulations Mary Jo. I only found your books when I found the Wenches but I am steadily working my way thru your back list and haven’t found one I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed yet .Keep up the good work and enjoy your award.

    Reply
  37. Congratulations Mary Jo. I only found your books when I found the Wenches but I am steadily working my way thru your back list and haven’t found one I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed yet .Keep up the good work and enjoy your award.

    Reply
  38. Congratulations Mary Jo. I only found your books when I found the Wenches but I am steadily working my way thru your back list and haven’t found one I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed yet .Keep up the good work and enjoy your award.

    Reply
  39. Congratulations Mary Jo. I only found your books when I found the Wenches but I am steadily working my way thru your back list and haven’t found one I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed yet .Keep up the good work and enjoy your award.

    Reply
  40. Congratulations Mary Jo. I only found your books when I found the Wenches but I am steadily working my way thru your back list and haven’t found one I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed yet .Keep up the good work and enjoy your award.

    Reply
  41. I had the joy and honor of speaking to Mary Jo a couple of times at the conference, and her speech at the Ritas brought down the house. What a wonderful evening! Can’t wait to dive into the latest book. Congratulations on much-deserved recognition!

    Reply
  42. I had the joy and honor of speaking to Mary Jo a couple of times at the conference, and her speech at the Ritas brought down the house. What a wonderful evening! Can’t wait to dive into the latest book. Congratulations on much-deserved recognition!

    Reply
  43. I had the joy and honor of speaking to Mary Jo a couple of times at the conference, and her speech at the Ritas brought down the house. What a wonderful evening! Can’t wait to dive into the latest book. Congratulations on much-deserved recognition!

    Reply
  44. I had the joy and honor of speaking to Mary Jo a couple of times at the conference, and her speech at the Ritas brought down the house. What a wonderful evening! Can’t wait to dive into the latest book. Congratulations on much-deserved recognition!

    Reply
  45. I had the joy and honor of speaking to Mary Jo a couple of times at the conference, and her speech at the Ritas brought down the house. What a wonderful evening! Can’t wait to dive into the latest book. Congratulations on much-deserved recognition!

    Reply
  46. You need to tweak the Sally Field quote to “We love you; we really love you!”
    Adding my heartfelt congratulations. Your award is so deserved. Thank you for untold hours of reading enjoyment.
    Donna

    Reply
  47. You need to tweak the Sally Field quote to “We love you; we really love you!”
    Adding my heartfelt congratulations. Your award is so deserved. Thank you for untold hours of reading enjoyment.
    Donna

    Reply
  48. You need to tweak the Sally Field quote to “We love you; we really love you!”
    Adding my heartfelt congratulations. Your award is so deserved. Thank you for untold hours of reading enjoyment.
    Donna

    Reply
  49. You need to tweak the Sally Field quote to “We love you; we really love you!”
    Adding my heartfelt congratulations. Your award is so deserved. Thank you for untold hours of reading enjoyment.
    Donna

    Reply
  50. You need to tweak the Sally Field quote to “We love you; we really love you!”
    Adding my heartfelt congratulations. Your award is so deserved. Thank you for untold hours of reading enjoyment.
    Donna

    Reply
  51. Congratulations Mary Jo!! Love every one of your books. You are a master storyteller and I am so happy that you received the honors that you so richly deserve. Enjoy!!

    Reply
  52. Congratulations Mary Jo!! Love every one of your books. You are a master storyteller and I am so happy that you received the honors that you so richly deserve. Enjoy!!

    Reply
  53. Congratulations Mary Jo!! Love every one of your books. You are a master storyteller and I am so happy that you received the honors that you so richly deserve. Enjoy!!

    Reply
  54. Congratulations Mary Jo!! Love every one of your books. You are a master storyteller and I am so happy that you received the honors that you so richly deserve. Enjoy!!

    Reply
  55. Congratulations Mary Jo!! Love every one of your books. You are a master storyteller and I am so happy that you received the honors that you so richly deserve. Enjoy!!

    Reply
  56. I am going to save all these wonderful comments are reread them the next time I hit a bad patch on a book! Thanks so much. I was delighted to meet several of you regular readers at RWA–not only Maggie, but Ella and Louisa Cornell and probably some others.
    Many, many thanks–
    Mary Jo

    Reply
  57. I am going to save all these wonderful comments are reread them the next time I hit a bad patch on a book! Thanks so much. I was delighted to meet several of you regular readers at RWA–not only Maggie, but Ella and Louisa Cornell and probably some others.
    Many, many thanks–
    Mary Jo

    Reply
  58. I am going to save all these wonderful comments are reread them the next time I hit a bad patch on a book! Thanks so much. I was delighted to meet several of you regular readers at RWA–not only Maggie, but Ella and Louisa Cornell and probably some others.
    Many, many thanks–
    Mary Jo

    Reply
  59. I am going to save all these wonderful comments are reread them the next time I hit a bad patch on a book! Thanks so much. I was delighted to meet several of you regular readers at RWA–not only Maggie, but Ella and Louisa Cornell and probably some others.
    Many, many thanks–
    Mary Jo

    Reply
  60. I am going to save all these wonderful comments are reread them the next time I hit a bad patch on a book! Thanks so much. I was delighted to meet several of you regular readers at RWA–not only Maggie, but Ella and Louisa Cornell and probably some others.
    Many, many thanks–
    Mary Jo

    Reply
  61. Social media is such a lovely thing–I was catching up on Word Wenches news via Facebook and was so excited to learn that my favorite writer has received such wonderful recognition! Congratulations, Mary Jo! You’ve given me years of seeing the world through your amazing characters and made me laugh, think and weep over and over again.

    Reply
  62. Social media is such a lovely thing–I was catching up on Word Wenches news via Facebook and was so excited to learn that my favorite writer has received such wonderful recognition! Congratulations, Mary Jo! You’ve given me years of seeing the world through your amazing characters and made me laugh, think and weep over and over again.

    Reply
  63. Social media is such a lovely thing–I was catching up on Word Wenches news via Facebook and was so excited to learn that my favorite writer has received such wonderful recognition! Congratulations, Mary Jo! You’ve given me years of seeing the world through your amazing characters and made me laugh, think and weep over and over again.

    Reply
  64. Social media is such a lovely thing–I was catching up on Word Wenches news via Facebook and was so excited to learn that my favorite writer has received such wonderful recognition! Congratulations, Mary Jo! You’ve given me years of seeing the world through your amazing characters and made me laugh, think and weep over and over again.

    Reply
  65. Social media is such a lovely thing–I was catching up on Word Wenches news via Facebook and was so excited to learn that my favorite writer has received such wonderful recognition! Congratulations, Mary Jo! You’ve given me years of seeing the world through your amazing characters and made me laugh, think and weep over and over again.

    Reply

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