It is my pleasure to share my good news with you. My short story, published in VOICES, an Anthology of Short Stories (May 08) is nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize, the most honored literary award in America.
Well, friends, my feet are barely touching the ground! This is what it feels like to have wings. I was still celebrating for my good friend, Velda Brotherton and her Willa Finalist award, when I received my good news from VOICES editor, Delois Mcgrew. This short story means so much to me, and I am thrilled, humbled and somewhat daunted by the fact that it sits this moment before a committee of approximately two-hundred-sixty editors and Pushcart winners, including one of my favorite authors, Joyce Carol Oates.
To my fellow nominees, congratulations. I hope you find me here. We'll talk shop.
Like others who crossed those skies before us, Velda Brotherton and I are living proof that it pays to submit your work to small presses. As writers, we must aim high, but I hope you will never aim so high for achievement that you fail to grasp opportunity. Success isn't always a big brass band. Sometimes, it's a little melody that catches the wind and reaches stars.
Certainly, every writer wants to take flight on those shiny big jets of the major publishing industry, but sometimes . . . small commuter planes will get us where we want to go . Maybe, even to places we only dreamed of going.
Well, friends, my feet are barely touching the ground! This is what it feels like to have wings. I was still celebrating for my good friend, Velda Brotherton and her Willa Finalist award, when I received my good news from VOICES editor, Delois Mcgrew. This short story means so much to me, and I am thrilled, humbled and somewhat daunted by the fact that it sits this moment before a committee of approximately two-hundred-sixty editors and Pushcart winners, including one of my favorite authors, Joyce Carol Oates.
To my fellow nominees, congratulations. I hope you find me here. We'll talk shop.
Like others who crossed those skies before us, Velda Brotherton and I are living proof that it pays to submit your work to small presses. As writers, we must aim high, but I hope you will never aim so high for achievement that you fail to grasp opportunity. Success isn't always a big brass band. Sometimes, it's a little melody that catches the wind and reaches stars.
Certainly, every writer wants to take flight on those shiny big jets of the major publishing industry, but sometimes . . . small commuter planes will get us where we want to go . Maybe, even to places we only dreamed of going.
