I WON!!!

A couple of you have already left a comment at my Oh My! post from 2/25. Yes, I won the "It Happened One Season" contest. Sponsored by Avon/Harper Collins, the contest allowed readers to submit plot suggestions for an anthology to be published in 2011. You can read more about it here on the official web page of the contest.

Voting ended on Saturday and it showed that I had a healthy lead. But the web page didn't formally announce me as winner until this morning. Shortly after that I got a lovely email from Mary Balogh, one of the anthology's authors, and the woman whose books got me back into reading romance again. She congratulated me on my win and told me that she was "thrilled" that my entry had won. She went on to say she looked forward to writing my story. In fact, she's already written a quarter of it.

Excuse me. Who cares about the prize money? I'm going to step aside for a few minutes and have a loud, embarrassing, squeeing fangirl moment.

......

......

OK. I'm back. I'm 52. I know how to be mature.

I think.

A huge, huge THANK YOU to all of you who voted for my entry and thought it was worth voting for on its own merits. I was flattered beyond belief that 4 well-respected authors chose my entry to be a finalist. And while I had some friends and family vote for me, it was the votes from all the readers I don't know that put me over the top. That's humbling, and I'm truly grateful.

Christine wants to know if I'll autograph her copy. Ha! Maybe I'll even give away a few. I'm not sure exactly when the book will come out. Early 2011 I believe. I'm sure I'll be letting you know.

Now I get to dream about the $1000 gift card. My kid wants us to get a flat-screen TV. Mama wants a new sewing machine.

Comments

  1. WendyMarch 18, 2010 at 11:55 AM

    Yippeee! I'm so glad you won! I honestly liked your entry the best, and I'm not just saying that either :) Not only will I buy a copy for myself when it's out, but with those authors it's a sure bet I'll be buying copies for work as well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PhylMarch 18, 2010 at 3:59 PM

    Thanks Wendy! It will be so fun to see the book in libraries, bookstores, the grocery store, and blogs, and know that I had a small hand in it. I suppose it's a miniature version of what a published author feels when their books are released.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DianaMarch 19, 2010 at 1:51 PM

    So happy for you, Phyl! Now...about the prize money...YOU did win, so I'm thinking get the sewing machine, but...a flat screen TV you could all use. Let us know what you decide. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 20, 2010 at 11:16 AM

    CONGRATS!!! I am so happy for you - and I would have had a total fangirl moment too! That is so cool.

    Li

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 20, 2010 at 10:04 PM

    Janet W here: I am so happy happy happy for you! I have to confess, I had the hardest time deciding which entry was the best but when I went back and re-read them, yours was by far the freshest AND it's a Mary Balogh style plot! As your online friend, I'm voting for a sewing machine: tell the urchin to win his own contest! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MargMarch 21, 2010 at 7:49 AM

    Wow! That is so awesome! Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMarch 21, 2010 at 3:05 PM

    so wonderful!! I can't wait to read it! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  8. PhylMarch 21, 2010 at 11:59 PM

    Thanks everyone! The whole process has been very exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ChristineMarch 26, 2010 at 11:31 AM

    You think I was kidding about having you sign my copy? I was totally serious. What a cool contest... and I agree with Janet. I thought your ideas were the freshest! I can't wait for the book!!! :)


    Congrats. Enjoy your fangirl moment!

    ReplyDelete
  10. PhylMarch 27, 2010 at 12:46 AM

    Well, at first I thought you were kidding, but now I have several friends who want autographed copies. I should figure out how to have a book signing, lol! And I'm so glad you liked my idea. I once thought of writing the book myself, but I'd rather quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  11. HilciaApril 6, 2010 at 4:05 PM

    OMG! I missed this! Congratulations Phyl! You WON! How exciting.... squeee.... and Mary Balogh emailed you? You must be so excited! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  12. PhylApril 6, 2010 at 4:51 PM

    Thanks, Hilcia! It was exciting and everyone has had such nice things to say about my entry. Then I was totally beside myself when I heard from Mary Balogh.

    I spoke with someone at HarperCollins last week and he told me the book should come out in January.

    ReplyDelete

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