My Bad

Fiorella is home from Houston with a second and a third. She's elated, of course, but a little confused. Princess of Bosque Bend was ranked second and its sequel, Princess Redlander, was ranked third, but the latter was the one that received the request from an agent. She really hopes there was a mistake made, that the agent actually asked for Princess of Bosque Bend, because...uh...Princess Redlander isn't finished yet.

Houston, Here I Come!

Today's the day. Local Son is chauffeuring your Fiorella to Houston this morning for the West Houston Romance Writers of America awards luncheon. Two of her manuscripts, Princess of Bosque Bend and Princess Redlander, are in the finals of the WHRWA contest, The Emily, apparently tied with each other.

The Emily is a top contest, and Fiorella, who has entered it for three years running, is thrilled that she's at last made the cut, maybe because this year she switched categories. Up to now, Fio has always entered Single Title, a category in which she's done well in other chapter's contests, but this year she entered Mainstream with Romantic Elements, a category which she'd started suspecting is more appropriate to her rather gritty, spare-no-punches style.

Apparently she was right.

Nerves

Fiorella is anxiously gearing up for the drive to Houston in a week and a half . She double-finaled in The Emily, West Houston RWA's prestigious romance contest, and February 11 is the day she finds out where she placed. She wants to win, of course, but the odds are against it so she's practicing her serene smiley face, the one that says "I'm so happy for you trouncing me and I'm being such a good sport about it," when what she'll really want to do is scream, "Gimme that certificate, bitch!" and make a lunge for the podium.

On the other hand, maybe the winner will hail from Canada or some other strange, exotic clime and won't show.

Hey, Pat, don't you have to be present to win?

Recognition!

Fiorella has been recognized. Let the drums roll and the trumpets sound. Pat O'Dea Rosen out of Houston, with whom Fio became acquainted through The Emily, West Houston's prestigious romance writing contest, has awarded her that green stamp of approval to the right. Pat's no mean blogger herself. You can check her out at rwrambling.blogspot.com.

But before that, take a few seconds to bask in the glow of Fiorella's greatness.

Contest Diva Speaks

Today's the day Fiorella learns where she placed in Portland's Golden Rose romance writing contest. She wants to win, but, let's face it, the odds are against her. In the meantime, West Houston's Emily has popped up on her radar so if she doesn't make first in the Golden Rose, she can console herself with hopes of Emily. And keeping hope alive is the very reason Fio likes to have a couple of finals in the air at all times.

But the air will get pretty thin in the next couple of months because Golden Heart, RWA's BIG BIG BIG national contest is looming. Fio has entered it too, of course, so think kind thoughts in her direction.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

O joy, O rapture unforeseen! Fiorella got word yesterday that she finaled in The Emily, a very prestigious romance writing contest out of Houston! In fact, she DOUBLE finaled!

Good things have been happening in Fio's world lately--finaling (and winning) contests, Daughter's marriage, some financial possibilities, etcetera. It's almost scary.

But there have been horrible times too so maybe this is when the scales get balanced.