I’ve been waiting for pretty graphics to use before I made this announcement! A little before The Fourth Piece came out, I was shipping the ARC around for reviews. I joined a site called Where Writers Win to find lists of bloggers and magazines accepting ARCs for review and found an indie magazine called InD’tale. I didn’t think they’d pick my book up for review, but hey, couldn’t hurt to ask. I didn’t hear from them for months. In fact, it took so long, I’d forgotten I’d submitted there. Anyways, months later a glowing 5-star review appears on my Goodreads page and in their magazine. I even got two steaming kettles for certain scenes being kinda hot. I was surprised and please. Read the review here. (It’s on page 85 :D.)

Anywhoo, a few months ago, this year, I get an e-mail announcing that my baby is a 2017 RONE finalist. What is the RONE award, you ask? Well…

Each year InD’tale Magazine honors the very best books in the Indie and Small publishing industry by awarding the prestigious RONE award.  To achieve this award, a book  must go through the most comprehensive process in the industry today, with three distinct areas of focus. (http://www.indtale.com/rone-press-packet)

This process involves a public vote for books that have gotten at least four star reviews from the magazine’s professional reviewers. But… books that are rated with five stars get to skip the public voting round and go straight to the judging round. The Fourth Piece got to skip a grade! :D.

The judging round goes like this: The finalists will then be read by a group of industry professionals consisting of editors, writers, professors etc. and be judged on a one to five scale from a specific list of requirements such as characterization, overall arc, editing etc.   Those scores will then be tallied by a professional company unrelated to InD’tale or its employees to determine the winner of the coveted RONE award, along with the honorable mentions.

And this is my favorite part here: All awards are announced at the annual RONE award gala event and ceremony and given the beautiful Crystal RONE award. This is a formal but extremely fun and entertaining night for all, one that truly honors all Indie and Small published authors, readers and professionals!

So, because I live four and a half hours from where the gala will be held, guess who’s going? Oh yes! And there is a book convention going on around it where there will be cosplay day, and I will be cosplaying one of my characters. Plus, I’ll have half an author signing table and will be signing and selling books there. Also, because it’s close to Universal Studios, guess who might be popping over to Harry Potter World for a butter beer and a peppermint cupcake? You guessed it! Evening gowns, costuming, and Harry Potter? Hecka yeah!

So, here’s hoping The Fourth Piece wins it’s category (YA Paranormal) and I get one of those sweet awards 😀 😀 :D, but even if it doesn’t, I’m happy just to participate! Now, I just need to lose half a person, so I can squeeze into an evening gown. I can do it… (eyes exercise machine in front of the TV while eating half a pint of ice cream–hey it’s light ice cream!)

Well, that’s what’s going on with me! I hope everyone else is doing well. Take care!