Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Connections and WFWA Rising Star and Star Awards

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Connections with other writers is key to the wellbeing of the day-to-day writer. Sure, it can be a lonely business, but it doesn't need to be. Find your tribe, your buddies, your fellow genre writers. Next, figure out where you can hang out face-to-face. I promise you won't be disappointed. You'll return to your daily writing rejuvenated and energized.

Romance writers have the RWA conferences. Christian writers have the AFCW Conference. You name the genre and I predict there is a connection point for you.

If you write Women's Fiction like I do, it's the Women's Fiction Writers Association yearly retreat. We met last week in Albuquerque. I promise I'm raring to go back into my work now.

Add the announcement of the finalists of the 2016 Rising Star and the first ever STAR award to the excitement. I'm honored to be able to share these winners with you.

Albuquerque, New Mexico – September 23, 2016 – The Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) announced the winners of the Star Award given to authors of published women’s fiction. This is the first year Star Awards have been bestowed, and are the start of an annual tradition.
The Star Award General winner is Scott Wilbanks for The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster. Wilbanks is an American living in Auckland, New Zealand.  His book was published in August 2015.
The Star Award Outstanding Debut winner is Kelli Estes for The Girl Who Wrote in Silk. Estes lives near Seattle, Washington, and her book was published in July 2015.


Albuquerque, New Mexico – September 24, 2016 – The Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) today announced the winners of the third annual Rising Star award given to authors of unpublished women’s fiction.  This is an annual award, and agents active in acquiring women’s fiction chose the winners.
       The First Place Rising Star winner is “The Substitute Princess” by Kathleen M. Basi.  Basi lives in Columbia, Missouri.  Her book is about a woman who takes on an actress gig as the substitute princess for the Prince of Monaco’s fiancĂ©e to save her family’s deeply in debt Christmas tree farm, and learns that fairy tale love can’t replace love with family connections.
The second place Rising Star winner is “By Accident” by Laura Levin, who lives in Nyack, New Jersey.  This book reveals life’s choices that are made by a family regarding love, marriage, unintended pregnancies, guilt behind a friend’s death and the secrets that are kept as a marriage and lives are tested by a stranger’s phone call.
The third place Rising Star winner is “Shelter Me” by Gabrielle Luthy.  She lives in St. Kilda, Australia.  The character in Luthy’s book is an in-debt surrogate mother who returns to the father of her child for financial help, but entry into the financial world of investors leads to an accusation of embezzlement which forces her to make decisions regarding family, love and honor.

Here's a few pictures to give you a flavor of the conference and the connection I shared, the beauty of Albuquerque and the lovely sky of the area. Enjoy!






Next Week: the IWSG October post!


12 comments:

  1. What a wonderful way to get together with your 'tribe'. And so important to get that refreshed zest for writing!

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  2. It was great fun meeting you, Zan Marie, and I look forward to chatting with you about the writing life and your Southern-fried humor. Happy scribbling!

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    1. Rhonda, thanks! I loved talking with you about our travels, languages, and stories. Happy writing!

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  3. Zan Marie,

    It sounds like a productive enjoyable retreat. It will be interesting to see how SIWC compares to it.

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    1. Retreats and conferences are very different animals. We'll enjoy SIWC a ton. I know it!

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  4. Sounds amazing, and you're right, we need those connections, that motivation, for our mental health.

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    1. Yes! Connections--WFWA, the Forum, and my critique group--are key to sanity.

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  5. That's awesome advice. You know, one day when the kids are out of the house, I'm going to do it. I'll hang with my writing buddies regularly and visit them when I trek cross-country. For now, online associations are keeping me going.

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    1. Yes! Online groups keep me going--The WFWA, the Books and Writers Forum, and my smaller critique group. I couldn't do it without them.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your photos with us!

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    1. You're welcome! I can't wait to share SOC photos from Surrey, too.

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