My husband and I flew to San Antonio last month where I would attend the Women Writing the West Conference. I had been notified that I was to be given the WILLA Literary Award for the Best Young Adult Fiction of 2019. The WILLA Literary Awards are chosen by a distinguished panel of professional librarians. It was a really big event for me as it had come as a huge surprise. I hadn't expected to win but had entered my novel, The Communing Tree, in the contest just for fun. I was thrilled.
Two of our daughters came to witness the event, along with a friend for one and husband and daughter of the other. It was so wonderful to have them there. Our kids have always been my own personal cheering squad.
There were a large number of fellow writers there and they were all warm, friendly, and seemed genuinely pleased that I had won. The awards banquet was lovely and receiving the award the thrill of a lifetime. I was profoundly grateful and will always remember that moment.
Now, I have go get busy on the sequel and finish it, as well as a couple of more books I've started. Once you've started, you can't quit. So, onward and upward (I hope).
