I Placed in the Florida Writers Association 2022 Collections #14 Contest! Book Title Thrills and Chills

 What GREAT cover art! It absolutely entices lovers of  spooky stories. Won't you support writers helping writers, purchase a book, and experience the thrills and chills.

I'm honored to say my story, The Final Waltz has won a place in this book.

I'm also excited to say another member of my writers group, John Hagen, has won a spot in this book for his amazing poem. Congratulations John!

Running concurrently with the FWA Collections book #14 contest, the FWA hosts the Royal Palm Literary Association contest. I'm thrilled to say two members of our writers group have made the semi-finals! We are wishing authors Nina Ward and John Hagen the best of luck!

I'm a judge in the 2022 RPLA contest, and I've had the honor of reading many entries. (Of course not in the categories entered by Nina or John.) This is my second year judging RPLA contest entries and I enjoy the process so much! Good luck to all of the entrants. I can't wait to hear the results.

To all writers keep writing, keep submitting, and keep smiling!

Something Wonderful Will Happen!

 I am a proud member of the Florida Writers Association. FWA

Each year the organization offers two writing contests. The Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) is a prestigious writing competition for adults members and provides written assessments to all entrants. I entered the 2021 contest. The contestants won't know the results for a while yet.

The other contest is Florida Writers Association Collection. For the 2021 contest adult and youth entrants wrote to the theme Footprints. The winning submissions are published in an anthology. I entered this contest too and my entry, One legged Seagull-My Story, is a winner! My entry will appear  in the book! Here is a sneak peak at the cover. The release date is in October 2021. 

To add to that bit of wonderful news, I was then asked to be a judge for the 2021 RPLA contest. I began judging after completing the application process.

I'm enjoying the process very much. I won't be judging the category I am entered in.

So you never know what opportunities will come to you from submitting. So finish up those stories and take the leap.

Keep Writing, Keep Submitting, and Keep Smiling!

A Time of Virtual Communities

   Hello to Nancy of Cat & Mouse Press and all of the authors who participated in the Zoom chat, (image above), on May 30, 2020. If you're looking for an escape into the world of a wonderful story, pick up any of the Rehoboth Beach Reads offered through Cat & Mouse Books. These books are collections of short stories written by numerous authors. Each book has an overall theme, but vary in plot, offering all readers the variety we crave.

In these times of social distancing, I am grateful for the technology we have today. We all miss the ability to gather and socialize. Through technology we're enjoying the gifts of seeing and speaking to one another in real time. What a BIG DEAL!

This week authors, contest winners and contributors from various Cat & Mouse beach reads gathered virtually to say hello and enjoy a chat. It was a pleasure to meet everyone. I'm in the upper left corner and Nancy is in the upper right corner. Thank you to everyone for the opportunity.

Earlier in the week, I had great fun virtually attending my great nephew's first birthday, with the help of laptops. The party was in California. It was amazing to see Conor doing so well after a recent battle with the Kawasaki disease. Happy Birthday Conor!

I've also attended a virtual doctor appointment, allowing me to see my doctor, while staying safe in my home.

Yesterday, my writer's group, The Florida Gulf Coast Writers Circle met for our 5th virtual read and critique session. Meeting this way is working out fine for us.

I hope as many of you as possible are taking advantage of the opportunity to meet with others in professional and social virtual ways until we can be together in person.

                How great will that first hug be when we are safe to meet again?!

Life would be more worrisome and lonely without the gift of technology. I'd love to hear how you've been taking advantage of this gift. 
Keep Writing, Keep Submitting, and Keep Smiling! 

Congratulations! Beach Fun wins award

Congratulations to Nancy Sakaduski of Cat & Mouse Press for placing 2nd with the anthology Beach Fun, entered in the 2019 Delaware Press Association Communications Contest in the category, Collection of Short Stories Published by Entrant/Multiple Authors

I'm very proud to have my story, Where's Miss Birdie, published in this book.
   Congratulations to all of the authors published in Beach Fun