Tuesday, May 12, 2015

HOLT, NRCA & Golden Quill Award Finals for The Promise of Rain!

The past few days have been thrilling! I just found out that The Promise of Rain, the first book in my 'From Kenya, with Love' series, is:

2014 National Reader's Choice Award double-finalist for the Best First Book and Contemporary Series categories



A 2015 Golden Quill Award finalist in the Sweet Traditional category


and...

A 2015 HOLT Medallion finalist for Best Book by a Virginia Author!


Whew! I'm still in shock. I found out about the HOLT final on Mother's Day, the NRCA finals the next day...which happened to be my deadline day for the third book in the series (working title: Beyond the Storm)...and the Golden Quill final today. Three days in a row and four finals. I'm overwhelmed and super grateful!!


Deadlines tend to be stressful and just days prior, on the full moon of course, my dogs got into a random fight that left one with a torn ear. It was bleeding like nobody's business (pouring out of her) and when I took her into our laundry room, she did the doggy head shake. The entire room looked like a murder scene as was hell to clean up. But all that mattered was making her better, so off to the vet ER it was and after sedation, stitches, wrapped head and a cone, she's finally better.

And today, I got six, day-old Black Copper Marans chicks! Sooo cute!

So, as you can see, I have lots to celebrate! I'll probably be back in the revision cave soon, but what better way to come out of a deadline cave!

Many thanks to readers everywhere who have been enjoying the series and giving it great reviews. I truly appreciate it!

And a belated Happy Mother's Day to all you incredible moms out there!