Thursday, March 26, 2009

Gold Rush!

I am having a very shiny, golden birthday week. The lovely Trish Milburn phoned me at work this morning with the amazing news that I'm a Golden Heart finalist for best unpublished manuscript in the YA category. (Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!)

If you followed this post on my postal debacle, you'll understand how much this means to me. Without my dad backing me up, my entry might not have made it to the RWA office in time, so to be among the finalists after all that drama is surreal.

Congratulations to my fellow finalists in the YA field: Amanda Brice, Elizabeth C. Langston, Addison Fox and Shoshana Dawn Brown. I'm told we're all in for a golden ride until the awards ceremony in July. I'll be saving all my gold coins so I can make it to Washington, DC.

I'm also soooo happy that my good friends Christine Wells (Historical) and Tina Ferraro (YA) have finalled in the RITA Award for published authors. Both of these mega talents so deserve to be recognised.

What's your good news for the week?

15 comments:

Eleni Konstantine said...

Fantastic news Vanessa. Congratulations!!! And a cheer for your dad.

Good luck!

TinaFerraro said...

I am so very excited for you, and proud, of you, too!

And I certainly hope to see you there in DC!

Amanda Ashby said...

OMG!!!! Vanessa - I only just saw Stephanie mention it on the ya loop and I screamed out so loudly that my husband came running in expecting to see a giant spider or something (though seriously, after growing up in QLD it takes more than a giant spider to make me scream!!!)

Anyway, I'm sooooo happy for you and yes, I totally remember all the stress you had to get your entry in!!!! I just wish I was going to be there this year to cheer you on!!!!!!!

Authorness said...

Thank you, Eleni! My dad's worth his weight in gold.

~ Vanessa

Authorness said...

Thanks, Tina, you fabulous RITA nominee, you!

~ Vanessa

Authorness said...

Amanda, you always know how to make me laugh! Thanks so much for your support.

~ Vanessa

TinaFerraro said...

Vanessa, I just saw your message on YA FRESH. "See you in DC." So...you've decided to go??? (YAY!)

Authorness said...

Ah! I can't believe I forgot to tell you, Tina--yes, I'm going! So looking forward to meeting you in person!

~ V

Trish Milburn said...

Hey, Vanessa, congrats again! I know this is a fantastic book. Good luck in the finals. Oh, btw, calling you was my first international call ever. :)

Authorness said...

Thanks so much, Trish! I was so happy it was you on the other end of the line. I'll see you in DC and hopefully I'll be capable of speech by then!

~ Vanessa

Keziah Hill said...

That's great news Vanessa! Congratulations!

Authorness said...

Thank you, Keziah!

~ V

Anonymous said...

Congrats, Vanessa! Glad to see you'll be coming to DC!

Authorness said...

Huge congrats to you, too, for your second GH nomination in a row, Amanda! See you in DC.

~ Vanessa

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Vanessa! Can't wait to meet you in person.