{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Rita Hanner‑Ward | Writer & Storyteller","home_page_url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com","description":"Rita Hanner‑Ward | Writer & Storyteller","author":{"name":"Rita Hanner‑Ward | Writer & Storyteller"},"items":[{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/a-great-summer-for-ted","html_content":"

Six Degrees of Ted has had a bit of movement lately, which has been fun to watch. The script slipped into the Quarterfinals of the Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition—a welcome boost for this oddball dark‑comedic ...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/a-great-summer-for-ted","title":"A Great Summer for Ted","summary":"Six Degrees of Ted has had a bit of movement lately, which has been fun to watch. The script slipped into the Quarterfinals of the Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition—a welcome boost for this oddball dark‑comedic ...","date_modified":"2026-08-16T22:52:51Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/love-beyond-the-flesh-my-journey-as-a-storyteller","html_content":"

I am a romantic at heart. I’ve always been drawn to the classic tales — unrequited love, love that endures, love that survives tragedy and takes its place among the most unforgettable stories ever told. Every romance aut...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/love-beyond-the-flesh-my-journey-as-a-storyteller","title":"Love Beyond the Flesh: My Journey as a Storyteller ","summary":"I am a romantic at heart. I’ve always been drawn to the classic tales — unrequited love, love that endures, love that survives tragedy and takes its place among the most unforgettable stories ever told. Every romance aut...","date_modified":"2026-07-22T10:50:19Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/celebrating-another-international-impact-book-award-win","html_content":"

I’m elated to share some exciting news — Red Flash, the first book in the Gem Provenance Legacy Series, has now joined Tears of Iemanjá as a winner of the International Impact Book Award in Crime-Fiction, Contemporary Fi...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/celebrating-another-international-impact-book-award-win","title":"Celebrating Another International Impact Book Award Win!","summary":"I’m elated to share some exciting news — Red Flash, the first book in the Gem Provenance Legacy Series, has now joined Tears of Iemanjá as a winner of the International Impact Book Award in Crime-Fiction, Contemporary Fi...","date_modified":"2026-07-18T15:02:31Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/an-alien-in-my-brain","html_content":"

I opened my brain this morning. Just a routine dusting off those old projects still occupying space in my head. Underneath a stack of notes on a back shelf — an idea for a screenplay — I had my first alien encounter of t...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/an-alien-in-my-brain","title":"An Alien in My Brain","summary":"I opened my brain this morning. Just a routine dusting off those old projects still occupying space in my head. Underneath a stack of notes on a back shelf — an idea for a screenplay — I had my first alien encounter of t...","date_modified":"2026-07-09T19:13:51Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/a-little-writing-news","html_content":"

I am honored to be included in the Wiki Screenplay Contest's Walk of Fame. I had the chance to do a short interview about the story and the journey behind my feature screenplay, What We Leave Unsaid. It’s always special ...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/a-little-writing-news","title":"A Little Writing News","summary":"I am honored to be included in the Wiki Screenplay Contest's Walk of Fame. I had the chance to do a short interview about the story and the journey behind my feature screenplay, What We Leave Unsaid. It’s always special ...","date_modified":"2026-07-08T12:34:26Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/what-we-leave-unsaid-a-finalist-recognition","html_content":"

I’m delighted to share exciting news. I was recently notified that my dramatic screenplay, What We Leave Unsaid, was named a Finalist in the May 2026 Wiki Screenplay Contest — placing among the top scripts in a highly co...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/what-we-leave-unsaid-a-finalist-recognition","title":"What We leave Unsaid: A Finalist Recognition","summary":"I’m delighted to share exciting news. I was recently notified that my dramatic screenplay, What We Leave Unsaid, was named a Finalist in the May 2026 Wiki Screenplay Contest — placing among the top scripts in a highly co...","date_modified":"2026-06-21T14:01:35Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/20th-annual-national-indie-excellence%C2%AE-awards-announcement","html_content":"

Tears of Iemanjá Named Finalist in the 20th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/20th-annual-national-indie-excellence%C2%AE-awards-announcement","title":"20th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards Announcement","summary":"Tears of Iemanjá Named Finalist in the 20th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards","date_modified":"2026-06-11T15:31:22Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/the-coming-tide-a-first-look","html_content":"

My new poetry collection, Her Proffered Epiphany - Poems from the Afterlight, is here. To mark the moment, I’m sharing “Coming Tide,” a poem that captures the heart of the book—loneliness, longing, and the slow return to...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/the-coming-tide-a-first-look","title":"The Coming Tide: A First Look","summary":"My new poetry collection, Her Proffered Epiphany - Poems from the Afterlight, is here. To mark the moment, I’m sharing “Coming Tide,” a poem that captures the heart of the book—loneliness, longing, and the slow return to...","date_modified":"2026-04-24T09:46:24Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/red-flash-in-large-print","html_content":"

I’m thrilled to share that the Large Print Edition of Red Flash is now available through IngramSpark’s global distribution network. This edition has been a long time in the making, and it carries the same heart, suspense...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/red-flash-in-large-print","title":"Red Flash in Large Print","summary":"I’m thrilled to share that the Large Print Edition of Red Flash is now available through IngramSpark’s global distribution network. This edition has been a long time in the making, and it carries the same heart, suspense...","date_modified":"2026-04-22T19:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/tears-of-iemanj%C3%A1-wins-book-award","html_content":"

Excited to share that Tears of Iemanjá, the second book of the Gem Provenance Legacy, won the International Impact Book Award for Romance – Multicultural & Interracial. This honor means a lot to me. The novel took 16 yea...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/tears-of-iemanj%C3%A1-wins-book-award","title":"Tears of Iemanjá Wins Book Award","summary":"Excited to share that Tears of Iemanjá, the second book of the Gem Provenance Legacy, won the International Impact Book Award for Romance – Multicultural & Interracial. This honor means a lot to me. The novel took 16 yea...","date_modified":"2026-04-04T01:36:21Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/red-flash-wins-the-manhattan-book-award-silver-seal","html_content":"

Today I’m celebrating a milestone: Red Flash has been awarded the Manhattan Book Award Silver Seal. This honor recognizes exceptional indie and small‑press books, and I’m deeply gratified to see my novel among them. Mome...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/red-flash-wins-the-manhattan-book-award-silver-seal","title":"Red Flash wins the Manhattan Book Award Silver Seal","summary":"Today I’m celebrating a milestone: Red Flash has been awarded the Manhattan Book Award Silver Seal. This honor recognizes exceptional indie and small‑press books, and I’m deeply gratified to see my novel among them. Mome...","date_modified":"2026-01-28T23:26:38Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/the-gem-provenance-legacy","html_content":"

I’ve been quietly working on a story that has followed me for years—one that spans continents, generations, and the dangerous shimmer of the international gem trade. Today, I finally get to share it with you.

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/the-gem-provenance-legacy","title":"The Gem Provenance Legacy","summary":"I’ve been quietly working on a story that has followed me for years—one that spans continents, generations, and the dangerous shimmer of the international gem trade. Today, I finally get to share it with you.","date_modified":"2026-01-21T16:34:28Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/the-red-flash-saga-continues","html_content":"

Love buried. Secrets unearthed. The jungle is watching.

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/the-red-flash-saga-continues","title":"The Red Flash Saga Continues!","summary":"Love buried. Secrets unearthed. The jungle is watching.","date_modified":"2025-12-24T14:24:10Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/a-note-about-my-pen-name-and-online-profiles","html_content":"

Hello friends. I wanted to share something important, especially with those of you who have followed my work for years and know how much care I put into my writing life.

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/a-note-about-my-pen-name-and-online-profiles","title":"A Note About My Fiction Brand and Online Profiles","summary":"Hello friends. I wanted to share something important, especially with those of you who have followed my work for years and know how much care I put into my writing life.","date_modified":"2025-12-08T11:59:11Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/red-flash-returns%E2%80%94and-the-jungle-waits","html_content":"

In 2005, my debut novel Red Flash, written under my pseudonym Kiva Wolfe, introduced readers to Dominick Stanovic—a former triathlete thrust into a deadly gem-smuggling conspiracy that stretched from Denver’s Capitol Hil...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/red-flash-returns%E2%80%94and-the-jungle-waits","title":"Red Flash Returns—And the Jungle Waits","summary":"In 2005, my debut novel Red Flash, written under my pseudonym Kiva Wolfe, introduced readers to Dominick Stanovic—a former triathlete thrust into a deadly gem-smuggling conspiracy that stretched from Denver’s Capitol Hil...","date_modified":"2025-11-16T05:56:32Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/my-aging-epiphany","html_content":"

When I think about aging, I am reminded of the old adage: You’re only as young as you feel. I refuse to Google its source—senior pride intact—but I’m pretty sure it was Groucho Marx. Whoever coined it was undoubtedly old...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/my-aging-epiphany","title":"My Aging Epiphany","summary":"When I think about aging, I am reminded of the old adage: You’re only as young as you feel. I refuse to Google its source—senior pride intact—but I’m pretty sure it was Groucho Marx. Whoever coined it was undoubtedly old...","date_modified":"2025-11-16T05:54:02Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/dreams-a-writers-compass","html_content":"

When I was younger, I consumed classics like White Fang, The Call of the Wild, and Nancy Drew mysteries. Alfred Hitchcock’s anthologies—Monster Museum and Ghostly Gallery introduced me to emerging voices like Ray Bradbur...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/dreams-a-writers-compass","title":"Dreams: A Writer's Compass","summary":"When I was younger, I consumed classics like White Fang, The Call of the Wild, and Nancy Drew mysteries. Alfred Hitchcock’s anthologies—Monster Museum and Ghostly Gallery introduced me to emerging voices like Ray Bradbur...","date_modified":"2025-10-04T07:12:31Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/confessions-of-a-dog-devotee-who-fell-in-love-with-a-cat","html_content":"

I never thought of myself as a cat-person. I don’t watch cat videos, own cat mugs, or wear t-shirts that say “pawsitively adorable.” Which means no one—not even the Vice President himself—can call me a crazy cat lady.

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/confessions-of-a-dog-devotee-who-fell-in-love-with-a-cat","title":"Confessions of a Dog Devotee (Who Fell in Love with a Cat)","summary":"I never thought of myself as a cat-person. I don’t watch cat videos, own cat mugs, or wear t-shirts that say “pawsitively adorable.” Which means no one—not even the Vice President himself—can call me a crazy cat lady.","date_modified":"2025-10-03T09:10:33Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/on-being-a-writer","html_content":"

Years ago, a man named Liu, who owned a fantastic Chinese restaurant in downtown Erie, Colorado, asked me if I thought Stephen King was crazy. I wondered why, of all people, he posed that question to me while boxing my H...

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/on-being-a-writer","title":"On Being a Writer","summary":"Years ago, a man named Liu, who owned a fantastic Chinese restaurant in downtown Erie, Colorado, asked me if I thought Stephen King was crazy. I wondered why, of all people, he posed that question to me while boxing my H...","date_modified":"2025-10-02T19:31:44Z"},{"id":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/when-snow-falls","html_content":"

When snow falls in the forest, does anyone hear it? I do, and always my heart answers its call.

","url":"https://ritahanner-ward.com/blog-%7C-news-%26-events/f/when-snow-falls","title":"When Snow Falls","summary":"When snow falls in the forest, does anyone hear it? I do, and always my heart answers its call.","date_modified":"2025-10-01T08:16:10Z"}]}