Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know that I was supposed to be in Nashville this past week, partly for pleasure (I’ve never been to Nashville and I’m a huge country music fan), but mainly to attend the Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference, where I was supposed to present two programs: Finding YOUR Path to Publication and Self-publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie. Finding YOUR Path to Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide was also nominated for Best Nonfiction in the independently judged Silver Falchion Awards.
And then life happened. In late July, my husband had a serious leg injury which required emergency surgery (meaning no driving for 6 weeks or more) and my dog, Gibbs, tore his cruciate ligament (ACL in humans) and also needed surgery with a long recovery time. I had no option but to cancel my trip (though I’m hoping to make it there in 2025).
Anyway….(talk about burying the lede), last night I watched the Live feed of the KN Awards and so I heard, in real time, Clay Stafford announcing that my book won for Best Nonfiction. I cried. Hard. Felt a bit like Ruth Gordon when she won her first Oscar in 1969 for Rosemary’s Baby. [“I was 72 years old,” Gordon said later, about winning the Oscar. Nobody gets too old to be encouraged.” And the great thing about Gordon winning the Oscar in 1969, some of her most iconic roles were yet to come, including 1971’s Harold and Maude.]
Now, I’m not quite as old as Ruth Gordon was, but I’m also not that far off. And she was right. Nobody gets too old to be encouraged. Beyond that, working on both my books on publishing literally saved my sanity in 2023 when I was faced with the very unwelcome return of my 2008 breast cancer. Surgery, recovery time, learning that one lymph node tested positive…let’s just say I didn’t have any creative fiction going on in my head. But I had years of experience as a journalist, and I’d been published traditionally (Big 5-HarperCollins/Harlequin/WWL Mystery), by two small independent presses, and self-published so…I decided that might be a project I could work on.
Emily Nakeff, an editor/librarian/writer I’d met at various library events, was my guiding angel. Every week, I’d send her what I was able to write, and she’d review and comment on what worked, what needed more clarification, and what didn’t belong. I could not have finished either book without her, and I’m equally proud of both of them. But mostly I’m grateful for what they gave me: encouragement, then, and now. #neverstopbelieving
PS You know I’m going to post pix of my award (when I receive it) so just giving you a head’s up that there’s more Shameless Self Promotion to come.
Congratulations, Judy!
Thank you Larry.
So very proud of you – you accomplished a win under very trying conditions in this last year and you deserve the kudos woman. It was a book whose time had come!
Thanks Gidget — sorry you had to post twice — until you’ve commented once and I approve, you go into a wait for approval mode. That hopefully stops the crazy ones from commenting!
You worked hard on that book through some very trying times in that point of your life and you came out a winner! Well gone woman – so very proud of you and your accomplishments.
Congratulations, Judy. I love the story of you battling adversity to get the book out before you eventually won. And I know the feeling of getting the award late in life I won my Silver Falchion when I was 70. I’m sorry you weren’t there to get it – it’s a rush to be sure. I had to miss this year as well becuase of my son’s wedding. Maybe we can meet up there next year.
HiTom, I hope to go next year. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the congrats! And for winning your own Silver Falchion!
Congratulations, Judy! I’m sorry you weren’t able to be there in person and to learn about the circumstances that led to you writing the book. But very glad you wrote both books on publishing!
Enjoy the win and post photos when you get the award!
Thanks so much Rose.
Congratulations on your Silver Falchion, Judy! The context makes your win sweeter! Well done, you!
Thank you Rhonda.
HOLY MOLY, Judy, and HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! Your story here is inspiring.
Thank you Pamela!