2 minute read
Breaking news!
Today, I just learned my book Willower is a National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist (Grief category).
I have to admit, it feels good after so many years — grieving, agonizing, rewriting, quitting, starting over, giving up, starting over yet again, year after year, wondering if I’d ever be able to finish writing this book — to receive recognition for the excellence that I kept pushing myself to achieve. At times, perfectionism got in my way. But at least now I know that perfectionism (obsessing over every word) isn’t such a terrible trait after all.
I did what I set out to do: keep Sam’s memory alive. And now, this incredible news is a nice nudge reminding me of that and more.
Aside: Today, while cleaning out drawers and under-the-bed boxes, I came across a long-lost toy, our old Magic 8 Ball. Of course, I asked it a question and shook it.
“Sam, do you see this?”
“Yes,” the die floated up into the little round window, and I smiled. The answer I was hoping for, a nice nudge.
from the National Indie Excellence Awards Team:
June 13, 2024
CONGRATULATIONS!
It is our sincere pleasure to inform you that you are a Finalist in the 18th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards. Your book embodies the standards of excellence that this award was created to celebrate. We salute your talents and our jurors truly respect each of the final works that are honored this year.
Warmly,
Everyone at the National Indie Excellence Awards
Winner and Finalist awards are determined primarily by a book’s written content coupled with the various informational, functional, and designed elements that comprise a publication. NIEA Jurors analyze each title using specific standards and metrics ultimately reaching a final consensus after lengthy individual review.
— Doug Fogelson, NIEA President
View all the Awardees here: www.indieexcellence.com and Finalists here: www.indieexcellencefinalists2018.com (click ‘G’ for the grief category to find Willower: Rewriting Life After Unimaginable Loss)
Willower.org 