The Rewards

It's been an exciting but long week!

I've been working a lot this summer -- not just having a great time writing Book 3 of my Quilts of Lancaster series but also teaching an online class -- and the weather has also kept me inside. I haven't gotten out for fun much. On the other hand, true Floridians tend to hide in the house in the summer. This one is no exception -- we think there may be something to global warning because it's hotter than usual.

And really, who wants to go swimming in the ocean in my area which is known as the Shark Bite Capital of the World? I just read a news article that said they caught a 400 pound shark not in the ocean but the river here today. Who wants to dabble their toes in either water source after that? Too much excitement for me to contemplate running into one of those.

And speaking of excitement: on Wednesday I found out that both of my novellas won awards! One Child (from An Amish Christmas, Thomas Nelson) and When Winter Comes (from An Amish Gathering, Thomas Nelson)won second and third place respectively in the Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope, and Love chapter's Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Doing the happy dance here! Cindy Woodsmall's The Sound of Sleigh Bells won first place. Congratulations, Cindy, it is a wonderful book!

Now I can't wait to see how the novellas do in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)Carol awards for book of the year. Recently Beth and I found out that we are finalists for the novella category (she is also a finalist for the long contemporary novel).

Awards are not why writers write. We do it because we have to, because we're driven to tell a story. We hope our readers will love the story as much as we do and so we're constantly trying to do a better job and not disappoint them. Our editors help us to refine the stories so it's a team effort. The rewards of our hard work will hopefully produce better stories.

I'll be turning back to my edits for Book 2 of the Quilts of Lancaster County now...my editor calls it "a terrific read." I think I have a terrific editor!

Blessings,

Barbara

 

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Comments

  • 7/30/2010 5:41 AM Karla Hanns wrote:
    Congratulations,Barbara!! You certainly deserve these awards. I love both of those stories am so looking forward to your new series. We readers, wait, rather impatiently for these wonderful Amish novels, sometimes forgetting how much work you authors are doing to get them ready for us to read. A sincere thank you for your dedication to your work, resulting in many happy readers. After visiting the Amish in Ohio this July, I now want to visit the community in Florida- and my husband has suggested Indiana too!! We make our annual trip to PA in Sept., so will purchase all the newly published books then, at half the price we pay in Canada.
    Bless you for using your talents to please others. Keep up the fantastic work!!
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  • 7/30/2010 7:06 AM Jan-Lynn wrote:
    Congratulations Barbara on your wins! You do that Happy Dance...maybe it will stir up a breeze to cool you off in that hot Florida weather Rootin' for your win with the ACFW Carol awards!
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  • 7/30/2010 7:36 AM Cathey Buchta wrote:
    Barbara, congratulations on these new honors! I continue to pray that the Lord inspires you, Beth, Amy, and Kathy to continue to write and share His love through your beautiful stories!
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  • 8/3/2010 10:10 PM carolyn dehaan wrote:
    I am looking for ward to reading more of youe noves, I have to catch up with them, and Beth it seems you have the ablitiy to write and turn out your most interesting storise. you can creat and wrie, faster than I can read, I`m a quick reader, but I do not miss a thing in the story. A big CONGRADULATIONS to you.
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