It was the moment I've been waiting for.
THE CALL from author Meredith Efken, informing me that I am a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writer's Genesis contest!
This is what I FELT like doing: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! (while doing the snoopy dance across the floor)
This is what I DID: (sweetly and calmly)"That is SO cool. Thank you!"
Pretty lame, huh?
So I'm not one to wear my emotions on my sleeve. But, be assured, I was shimmying on the inside.
Today, I have been revising my entry before the deadline (midnight, tonight) to return it for final round judging. The judges in the first round who put my manuscript in the finals were published authors (WAY COOL, right?) and both final round judges are well-known literary agents. I am thrilled to get my work in front of them. Thrilled AND scared to death.
Finaling in this contest is a huge honor for me. Winners won't be announced until the annual ACFW conference in Minneapolis this September. Five months seems like an eternity to wait for the results but at least that gives me time to finish my manuscript just in case, you know, it's requested or something. :-)
Before I post the complete list of finalists, I just want to extend cyber-hugs to all of those who entered but didn't final. I know how it feels to put your pride and joy out there to be scrutinized, criticized and pulverized and then not end up getting that call. Big hugs to all of you and prayers for those non-finaling pieces to end up on bookshelves someday.
Anyway, here is the complete list of finalists. A hearty CONGRATULATIONS to every name on this list.
Chick lit/mom lit/lady lit:
Annalisa Daughety
Tiffany Kinerson
Sara Richardson
Lynda Schab
Erica Vetsch
Contemporary Fiction:
Christina Berry
Dan Case
Lynne Gentry
Jennifer L. Griffith
Jim Rubart
Contemporary Romance:
Annalisa Daughety
Kathleen Haynes
Cara Slaughter
Sandra van den Bogerd
Linda Yezak
Historical Fiction:
Yvonne Anderson
Lori Benton
Mona Hodgson
Christina Miller
Rachel Moore
Historical Romance:
Patty Smith Hall
Myra Johnson
Allison Studer
Erica Vetsch
Karen Witemeyer
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:
Ed J. Horton
Melanie L. Jones
Janice Olson
Donna Alice Patton
Jane Thornton
Romantic Suspense:
Dani Pettrey
Kelly Ann Riley
Julie Scudder
Jane Thornton
Jenness Walker
Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Allegory: (there are six finalists because there was a tie for the 5th finalist spot)
Lynda K. Arndt
Valerie Comer
John W. Otte
Jim Rubart
Chawna Schroeder
Stuart Stockton
Women’s Fiction: (there are six finalists because there was a tie for the 5th finalist spot)
Heather Goodman
D’Ann Mateer
Sara Richardson
Linda Rondeau
Cynthia Ruchti
Kristian Tolle
Young Adult:
Kasey L. Heinly
Stefanie Morris
Susan Miura
Janet Rubin
Carla Stewart
2 comments:
Congrats Lynda, that is really exciting news! I would have been the same, at my own proposal I was so calm and collected my own roommate called my parents but on the inside I was excited!
You handled yourself well.
Keep us posted on your journey!
Well, I'm a little embarassed to say that I screamed and danced when Cynthia called me, but she assures me her eardrums will recover. :-)
Congrats to you!
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