How many times have we heard this when watching the
Oscars or some other awards show? How many actresses said this when they
realized they were up against Meryl Streep or Cate Blanchett? How many
recording artists uttered this sentence when they learned Beyonce or Adele were
also nominated?
Well, now it’s my turn. It’s an honor to be nominated
for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Star Award. If you don’t know I was
nominated, you must have had your window closed on May 17 when I received the
phone call and screamed so loud it could be heard across the Atlantic. This
award isn’t as well known or esteemed as the American Book Award or the
Pulitzer, but it’s special to me because nominees are selected by fellow
fiction writers. Our peers. People who know how blasted hard it is to write a
novel.
The other nominees for the Star Award are the fabulous
Barbara
Claypole White, who wrote Echoes of Family (I met Barbara when we appeared together on a
panel several years ago) and. Amy Impellizzeri, author of The Secrets of Worry
Dolls. I haven’t finished reading these novels yet but I plan to. So far, I’d
say I’m in terrific company.
What I love about writers: the three of us feel less like
competitors than we do members of a tiny, special club. When I mention The
Stone Necklace as a nominee, I make sure include the other titles. We’ve all
three done this in social media posts, celebrating all of us instead of just
ourselves. My Twitter life has expanded as a result.
Of course, I can’t help but mention this nomination in every conversation
I have. “Yes, it is a pretty day. You know what else is pretty? The badge we
got for being nominated for the WFWA Star Award!” Or, “What’s that on my
forehead? Why, it’s sticker announcing my novel’s nomination for the WFWA Star
Award! There are three of us!”
No, I haven’t had a tattoo made. Yet.
Because I live in South Carolina, and apparently May 17 was a very
slow news day, I got excellent publicity in our local newspapers. My hometown
publication, The Sumter Daily Item, had me on its front page, complete with mug
shot, which made my 88-year old cantankerous mother very happy. The State
online reran its link to the video they shot last year:
Like I said, slow news day.
Will the nomination help book sales? I sure hope so. I still
haven’t captured the holy grail of “second printing.” If that ever happens, I
may need a second tattoo.
The final round of judging takes place this summer, with winner announced
in September. I don’t mind the delay. I want to savor being a nominee, so when
September comes, and Meryl Streep (Claypole) or Cate Blanchett (Impellizzeri)
wins, I can smile and clap like the most gracious Oscar non-winner. I will be
thrilled for them. And yes, if I’m honest, just a teeny-weeny bit jealous.
But if I don’t win, it’s one less tattoo I’ll need.
Have you been honored with a nomination of some kind? Did you yell
out the window? Did it help promote your writing? Did you get a tattoo?
Congratulations, Carla. The nomination lasts forever, regardless of whether one wins or not, and they can never take it away from you. (And those stickers of yours should be appearing on the front cover of your books!)
ReplyDelete~ Jim
Congratulations. As jim said, it's an accomplishment that you will always be able to point to as evidence that people like what you write.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteCarla, because I read your book, I know how much you deserved that nomination, and I hope you win the award. I haven't read the other books, but to me yours is a winner.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was teaching, I won teacher of the year for elementary teachers in Portage County. Yes, I was excited, but also embarrassed because it was a small school with only two teachers for each grade and I didn't feel like I was anymore deserving than the other teachers. I was even more embarrassed when the principal put up a big banner congratulating me. There was a banquet for all the teacher from college, high school, junior high and down to elementary level. It was the first time I ever spoke on a microphone, and found out later no one could hear me because the person who spoke before me was very much taller than I am, and I never thought to lower the microphone.
Congratulations, Carla!
ReplyDeleteThe nomination is a big step forward in and of itself.
Winning is even better, of course.
Enjoy the ride!
Thanks, y'all. Gloria, you DID deserve to win! And to be heard.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! And great coverage too!
ReplyDelete