Atlantic Book Awards Week

This time last year I was getting prepared to launch my first book "The Year Mrs. Montague Cried" on May 19th. I remember very clearly the excitement and nervousness of holding it for the first time when my ten author copies arrived in the mail. I didn't know what to expect as I looked forward to the night of the launch. It had been planned to fall on the week of Atlantic Book celebrations and I was thrilled to see a line in the brochure with my name and my book and the date , time and place of the launch. On the night of the launch a huge crowd showed up to support me and I was overwhelmed by the response. For the next few months I watched the steady sales and recieved many postive reviews and comments. I made several school visits which were always very rewarding. Now here I am in May one year later and my book has been nominated for an Atlantic Book Award and I am caught up in the celebration week as a nominee, doing readings and getting ready to fly to Newfoundland next week for the festivities. I am very grateful for what the year has brought and look forward to seeing where the next year takes "The Year Mrs Montague Cried" and me. On Thursday I met Gloria Wesley the author of "Chasing Freedom" one of the other two books nominated along with mine for the Ann Connor Brimer award. I had the pleasure of spending the evening with her as we stayed at the lovely Willow House Inn in Pictou before reading together on Friday at the Pictou Public Library. We were both a bit apprehensive to meet each other but after spending time with one another felt better about the possibility of losing out to the other. Good luck to Vicki Grant and her book "Betsy Wickwire's Dirty Secret" as well.Can't wait until next Thursday night to relish every minute of the Award ceremony.