Contest, Part II

My stomach has been in knots for the last two weeks, waiting for the moment I would find out whether my novel was among the finalists in the ArcheBooks Publishing 2005 Novel Contest. I was sitting on the couch, reading A Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin) when my computer informed me, "Karen, you have new mail." Somehow I knew. It was the publisher, emailing the notice of finalists. Did I want to get up and find out? I tried to read to the end of the chapter, but my eyes kept flicking back to the computer screen. With a sigh, I thought I'd better get this over with. The time had come.

I moved the mouse to turn off the screensaver, and there in my inbox was a letter from the publisher. I took a deep breath and clicked.

Congratulations to all of our 2005 Novel Writing Contest Finalists! Your novel has been chosen as one of the best three submitted in our three competing categories this year. Over the next three weeks your novel will be read in its entirety and scored by the judging committees at My Writer Buddy online writers' group and the Editorial Staff of ArcheBooks Publishing. On the 22nd of August, the individual winners of each category will be publicly announced, along with a formal Press Release.

Good Luck to all the remaining contestants. Only three more weeks to wait!

OH. MY. GOD! I made it! I made the finals! Now, if I thought these last two weeks were hard, I can only imagine the next three. Even if I don't win (and I hope I do! I hope I hope I hope hope hope), the fact that I made the finalists is a huge boost to my confidence.

I feel very fortunate and very, very thankful!