Writing is, for the most part, a solitary avocation. I know that when I write my books I’m confined to my guy cave for endless hours at a time each day. So on those rare occasions when writers let themselves out into the real world and fill up a room or two at some event, you can just feel the energy that flows among peers.
Such was the case at last weekend’s San Diego Book Awards ceremony. I was there because my ghost story, The Burning Ground, was nominated for one of the awards, and although I played bridesmaid for the second year in a row, I still had a blast. Talking about books and writing with peers, how could I not! What made it even more gratifying was that five of the nominees in a variety of categories were former 
students or clients of mine. One of them, Lois Joy Hofmann (pictured here with husband Gunter), won the top award in the Travel category for her book, Sailing the South Pacific.
The evening’s glorious—and sobering—moment came when author Lee Fullbright’s mystery novel, The Angry Woman Suite, won the top award not only in the category, but also the Geisel Award as Best of the Best. In her acceptance speech Lee talked about the joy of seeing her first published novel released in March of 2012. Her husband proudly set up a display for the book in their living room. By the end of that month her husband had passed away. 🙁 I heard a few tears being shed in the audience. Talk about the highs and lows of life…
INTO THE 21ST CENTURY! Yes, I now have a Facebook page, and even a Twitter account (though I have no idea yet what to do with the latter)! I went up to L.A. earlier this week and spent a few hours with my blogmeister, social media guru, and
super friend August McLaughlin, who is helping me get started in this wild and wacky world. Right now my head is still spinning from all of it, but I imagine I’ll get the hang of it before long. I don’t want to be one of those old dogs that can’t learn new tricks. Thanks a bunch, GOTB! And thanks to all the new “friends” that I already have.
GHASTLY SPIRITS AT A WRITERS’ COLONY? On Saturday and Sunday, the 29th and 30th, I am making my Native American-themed horror novel, Demon Shadows, available for free download on Kindle. Bestselling novelist Paul Fleming has a bad case of writer’s block. Where better to 
unleash the creativity than the prestigious Thorburn Artists’ and Writers’ Colony in California’s high Sierras? But Paul will soon discover a terrible secret hidden amid this idyllic setting—one that could cost him dearly. Enjoy!
You are rocking the web-o-sphere already! Thanks for the shout out, and for letting me be a part of your posse. I really dig this post. 🙂
We be part of each other’s posses, Kimo Sabe. 🙂
I know what it’s like to work very hard at something I’m proud of, wind up in the running for official recognition, and then be disappointed when someone else takes the prize. I also know the elation of being the “bride”. Of course, I would have loved for you to be the one walking down that aisle!
It isn’t personal. You’ve said that to me before, but that really isn’t true.
In baseball 🙂 the batter steps up to the plate and swings for the fences. If he connects, that ball either lands in the stands or it doesn’t. If he has the talent to hit the ball over the fence often enough in one season, he becomes the home run champion because cold, hard statistics prove him to be the best.
In the arts, however, talent is judged in the hearts and minds of the beholders. How they react, within themselves, is the truly personal aspect. And one beholder can have a drastically different reaction from another to the exact same “hit”. So the results of any artistic competition depend on the particular crowd, no matter how hard and straight you hit that ball, because there is no solid “fence”.
I have found that to be an emotionally complicated reality, either as a bridesmaid or a bride. But the fact that you were in the game was not because of statistics. You touched the hearts and minds of many other people with a creation that sprung from inside of you. For that I offer you your own advice: keep being true to yourself.
On a completely different note… Despite what I often do for a living (create software) I am pathetically ignorant when it comes to social media. You’re way ahead of me by having this blog! When you figure out the rest, maybe you would consider having pity on a poor soul and explain it me? Please.
You are right on, Kate. Sort of like one movie reviewer giving a film five stars, “Best film of the year,” and the next one giving it half a star, “Worst piece of crap I’ve seen in a while.”
Regarding social media: you mean the blind leading the blind, eh? 🙂
Hey, at least you have an attractive and experienced guide dog!
Attractive and experienced…you got that right! 🙂
Thank you for the nice mention, Mike! I’ll be posting a link shortly on my author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SailorsTales.
A well deserved mention, Lois! You did well.
This post was just sent over to me (2 months after the fact, but I absolutely loved reading it) … thanks so much for mention of my book (and I especially like the word “glorious” in the same sentence). I shared the post at my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fullbrightlee?ref=hl
Happy to do it, Lee. Your story moved me. I wish you all the best.