Tuesday, February 14, 2012
INAUGURAL XCITE AWARDS 2012 – WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Xcite Books is delighted to announce the winners of the first Xcite Awards 2012.
They include internet retailer Lovehoney, Bonny Hall, Head Buyer at Lovehoney, commented, “At Lovehoney we love erotica and are passionate about great sex writing, so we're thrilled to be named Best Internet Retail Site in the Xcite Books Awards 2012.”
The Best Blog category was won by Cara Sutra who, on hearing the news, commented, “I am completely stunned that I won Best Sex Blog in the fabulous Xcite Books Awards, I am so pleased to hear that people enjoy reading my blog as much as I do writing it!”
The Best Publication category was won by Erotic Trade Only which pipped Cosmopolitan by just four votes. Dale Bradford, Editor of Erotic Trade Only said “Xcite Books has championed the cause of erotic literature over the last five years and introducing its own awards to highlight, support and promote the market is the latest in a long line of initiatives from the company. We are humbled, surprised but most of all delighted to be the inaugural winners of Xcite’s Best Publication award. We were up against five very well respected titles so we’d just like to say a very sincere ‘Thank You’ to everyone who voted for us and express our congratulations to all the other category winners.”
Launched in November 2011 by Xcite Books, the UK’s leading publishers of erotic fiction, the Awards set out to celebrate and recognise companies, reviewers, bloggers and sexperts who value and support the erotic fiction market.
Nominations and voting, which closed yesterday, were open to the general public and Xcite customers.
Hazel Cushion, Managing Director at Xcite Books, said “We have been delighted by the response – these are the winners from thousands of votes and it demonstrates the growth in support of the erotic fiction market.”
The winners of each category will receive a specially commissioned glass book to mark their achievement.
Winners In Full
Best Internet Retail Site:
The internet has opened up a whole new world of retail opportunities. This award celebrates those sites that offer a great service, a range of products, and an enjoyable online shopping experience.
Winner: Lovehoney.co.uk
Shortlisted:
AllRomance.com
• Amazon.co.uk
• AnnSummers.com
• LoveHoney.co.uk
• Sextoys.co.uk
• Sh-womenstore.com
Best Blog or Author Page:
This category celebrates those that are using blogs to promote erotic writing including authors who engage well with readers or bloggers who are passionate about reading erotica.
Winner: CaraSutra.co.uk
Shortlisted:
• CaraSutra.co.uk
• kdgrace.co.uk
• LucyFelthouse.co.uk
• sommermarsden.blogspot.com
• tonyakinzer.blogspot.com
• www.victoriablisse.co.uk
Best Reviewer:
Reviewers can make or break a book and they can help hidden gems to get a larger audience. Good reviewers are trusted by their readership for their honest appraisals. This category was open to both print and internet reviewers.
Winner: Sexytoytesters.co.uk
Shortlisted:
• www.coffeetimeromance.com
• www.darkhavenbookreviews.com
• eroticaforall.co.uk
• www.sextoytesters.co.uk
• www.simplyeroticreviews.com
• www.theromancereviews.com
Best Sexpert:
A good sexpert can help save a relationship, or give readers the confidence to start a whole new one. Since Xcite Books are recommended by many sex therapists Xcite wanted to acknowledge their important work.
Winner: Violet Blue
Shortlisted:
• Dr Gabrielle Morrissey
• Dr Laura Berman
• Julie Peasgood
• Pamela Stephenson Connolly
• Tracey Cox
• Violet Blue
Best Publication
This category was open to both trade and consumer magazines (either in print or online) which support and encourage erotic fiction with reviews, author interviews or industry news.
Winner: Erotic Trade Only
Shortlisted:
• Attitude (gay)
• Cosmopolitan
• Diva (lesbian)
• Erotic Trade Only
• Jade Magazine
• Skin Two Magazine