Happy Landings

There is something to that old adage of falling into the manure pile and coming out smelling like a rose.  Well that's what happened to me this weekend.  I am a new member of the Utah Romance Writers of America, just joined about three months ago.  Well I tripped on down to Bountiful to the meetings, twice and came away the new Vice President, in a board of extemely wonderful women that I truly admire.   So being the newbie that I am, I decided to enter the Heart of the West contest.  I was flabbergasted to learn that my book, The Ghost was a finalist for the Golden Pen award.  I have to admit that I'm new and had no idea what that really meant. 

I'd just came back from the League of Utah Writers conference with a horrible review for my published novel, and not much better for the two stories I'd entered in their contest, one of them being, The Ghost.  Anyway, so I went to the URWA conference expecting a fourth place.  Not bad though if I truly thought about it.  Imagine my surprise when I was flying over on my broomstick and fell into the awards ceremony and came out with the greatest Honor bestowed:  The Golden Pen Award.  I cried, hugged and cried some more.  All I can say is a big thank-you to all the judges, and my career has recieve a needed boost.  Once again my thanks goes out to all the fine writers in my critique groups and my dear friends, and of course the wonderful URWA.  Thanks.