Rooglewood Update

I want to write a story about her.  Don't you?

     We interrupt your regular programming to bring you this important announcement!  Anne Elisabeth Stengl has finished reading all the finalists and honorable mentions!  And, what's more, she has selected her Top Ten which she will now take to the Rooglewood Team.  And, even more than that, she thinks she knows which 5 will be chosen!!!

      How exciting is that?

     And, for the record, one of the 5 that she thinks will be chosen was not a finalist but an honorable mention.

     It's just barely more than 1/2 a month until the winners are announced.  So this is perfect timing for them to wrap up loose ends and get the announcements ready.  And, even though these last 3 weeks may seem like forever, it really isn't that much longer to wait.

     

     I have had times, over the past 2-3 months, when I was exhilarated over my chances of winning and times when I was quietly despairing over my chances of being relegated to a "no, thank you" pile.  I have to say that when I read Anne's post, enthusing over the stories in her selection, I was inclined to think that I was not among them.

     I still have high hopes that I may have been one of the 27 Finalists or 13 Honorable Mentions.  I worked hard on my little story and I love it, so I hope that it made some other people see its value.  But winning?  Earning a spot in the final collection?  Of that, I am not sure.

     I don't know if anyone, on reading that Anne has compiled the 5 stories that together create the most awesome collection, thinks that theirs is one of them.  I know sometimes she would give hints of successful stories earlier in the process and I would wonder "maybe that's mine!"  So maybe some people feel like that now.  Or maybe we all feel that we should start bracing ourselves to hide our stories away with grace and applaud the 5 winners wholeheartedly.

     The chance to work with an experienced publishing team is pretty exciting.  I am not afraid to tackle edits or help with marketing.  I am eager to learn.  I am willing to work.  Winning would be an exciting entry into another phase of my writing career.

     And maybe my doubts of my story's ability to win AES and the Rooglewood team's vote to make it a fixture in the next anthology is merely based on history and not premonition.  Maybe I doubt it because it has never happened before.  Maybe I shall have a very welcome surprise in April.

     But even if I don't, I have been very grateful for the experience.  I have enjoyed writing this story and will continue to write.  I have enjoyed the camaraderie with the other writers and readers.  I have enjoyed Anne Elisabeth Stengl's "useless hints" that make every month feel like Christmas.  And I have vastly appreciated all the feedback that my beta-readers have given me.  Seriously.  You guys made me feel like I could actually be good at this.  And THAT is priceless.

     So, thank you again!  I am grateful for every one of you on this blog, joining me here and making the time go faster.  Life is fun with you guys!

    And, da-da-DA, let the suspense build!  We will know of the Winners and Finalists and Honorable Mentions and Perfect-Score stories in less than 3 weeks!!!