Shortlist oasis

I sometimes describe my writing career (I use the term loosely here) as a desert with the occasional oasis that makes it all worthwhile. What is the desert comprised of? Years of toiling in the dark, the laborious search for agents and publishers, the chimerical nature of the publishing industry that follows neither the rules of logic nor of commerce, the clogging up of online bookstores with the slush pile (there, I've said it, and I'm by no means referring to the worthwhile, well-written and edited indie books out there)...

...The shrinkage and near-disappearance of the author advance.
...The social media time-suck requirement that does little unless the writer is already established.
...The fact that some publishers are still robbing writers blind.

Sand, sand, lots of dry sand.

But every now and then something thrilling happens that makes it all worthwhile. Signing with my agent back in 2006 was one; she was the first industry professional to validate my writing, and one of my first fans. The first sale to a publisher, the first release, the first sighting of a book with your name on it in a bookstore, the first (and every single) fan letter, the good and great reviews, the writing network built up over years, the kindness of strangers...

My latest oasis experience has been the shortlisting of one of my stories for the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. I'm not ashamed to say it made me delirious with joy, partly because I'm well aware that genre writers, especially those who dabble in romance, are not taken seriously by the literary establishment. But that aside, it just feels good to have one's work recognised in this way. For the rest of the month, drinks are on me!

...and the Versatile Blogger award goes to...

Me! The lovely K.S. Augustin who blogs at Fusion Despatches around the corner in Malaysia has given me this fetching thing:

Thank you, Kaz! I'm supposed to pass this award (I do love green!) along to fifteen deserving bloggers (eek!) and tell you seven things about myself that you never knew. I'm beginning to feel like Oprah: everything about me is out there already! I exaggerate, I exaggerate. There's a lot you don't know, such as:

1. In my youth I was often asked why I didn't model. Flattering, but the mere thought of strutting my stuff on a catwalk would turn me catatonic.

2. People who don't know me well get the impression that I'm 'quiet'. Every time my son hears this he all but rolls on the floor. I keep my wild side carefully camouflaged from all but my near and dear.

3. I'm a brand new grandma, and my grandson Ryen is gorgeous!

4. I used to play the piano, like my friend Kaz. She also played the flute, though, so she's far more versatile than I am.

5. I'm a crack shot, but not as good as the cousin (a former soldier who won the prize for best shot in his batch) who took me to the range and put a sweet little Glock in my hands. My bullets go through the bullseye 9 out of 10 times and the tenth hits really close. It runs in the family: my father won the silver spoon for best shot when he graduated from the police academy.

6. I'm that weird contradiction: a cynic about marriage and a die-hard romantic who loves it when couples, married or not, get it right.

7. I enjoy all kinds of music and my collection is fairly eclectic, but I find myself playing classic rock songs most often.

There you have it! Now to pass along this award... Fifteen? Hm, no. I'll spare everyone but Chris Stovell over at Home Thoughts Weekly whose debut novel, Turning the Tide, is a brand new release from Choc Lit. Congratulations, Chris! Wishing you and TTT an illustrious journey!

Triple delight

I've been having Internet issues (yeah, again) and haven't been getting around to my favorite places as frequently as I'd like. Hopped over to akalol's This Beach Called Life and what did I find? Not just a brilliant award (I love these!), but a review of Café Au Lait as well!

They're both going on my sidebar, right over there -> -> ->

Thank you, akalol, for my first smile of the day!

I'm passing the Brilliante Weblog award along to: Zinnia, Nyc/caribbean ragazza, Guanaguanare, Spiral Skies, 40 is the new 20, The Urban Recluse, and The Anti-Wife.

And just to round things off, South Florida Caribbean News has a feature on Café au Lait.

Thank you, JJ!

JJ, my blog buddy who's right now drinking tea in Bangkok, just did something that made my day: she gave me a brand spanking new blog award!



Thank you, JJ. And the cherry on top: I can pass on this award to no fewer than ten deserving bloggers. I nominate the following - some of my favourite people from some of my favourite places in the blogosphere: Kim, Kaz, aka_lol, Anti-wife, Chumplet, Pacha, PJ, Lane, Nyc/caribbean ragazza, Lucy Diamond... Oops! I've gotten to ten and I still have several more to add...

I had to delete some people I've passed on awards to before. Next time, guys. As for you, Liz Fenwick! After seeing those fabulous photos from your frolicking time in the Maldives I decided that if I left you out of this awards ceremony it would just about serve you right. :)

Rockin' Blogger

Lane has just presented me with an award. It's that bright pink one over there on the right -> -> ->

Heh, heh. I love these things. Thank you, Lane.

I now pass on the Rockin' Blogger award to Kevin, Kim, aka_lol, and Matt.

Thank you, Cheryl

I seem to be on a roll - two blog award nominations and now an autographed, advance copy of the Christmas anthology Christmas Gold by Cheryl St. John, Elizabeth Lane and Mary Burton. I entered my name for the draw on Cheryl's blog and forgot all about it. I just got the news that I won.

Tomorrow I'm gonna buy a coupla Lotto tickets, I swear.

For me? Awww...

PJ over at The Urban Recluse has given me an award! My first ev-ah blog award!

It's going right over there -> -> -> on the sidebar.

UPDATE:
The Creative Blogger Award is actually the second. PJ also nominated me for a Schmooze Award earlier this month and I MISSED IT. [*bows head in shame*] I don't know how that happened but here it is, my very own...

As it goes, schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.” Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

I'm still new to this blogging business, so I didn't realize I'm supposed to nominate five other bloggers for the awards. In the spirit of paying it forward, therefore, I hereby nominate the following for the Schmooze Award:

KS Augustin (how's that bomb shelter?)
Manic Mom (you crack me up)
Kim (the maraca girl)
Kevin (the random guy)
Nyc/Caribbean Ragazza (buon giorno!)

And for the Creative Blogger Award, here are my nominees:

The Anti-Wife (blogging from the heart)
The Clarity of Night (virtual campfire)
Water the Blog (Matt, master of satire)
This Beach Called Life (he shoots from the hip)
Kanani, the Easy-Writer (free irreverance)

I'd like to nominate a couple more people, but I'm obeying the rules (for a change). I'll nominate my other favourite blog-buddies next time around.