Heart of Gold

Okay, so you can totally Google me and read the good news. I won the Golden Heart for Best Young Adult Romance Manuscript at the National RWA Conference in Atlanta. Here I am with Simon Pulse author Jenn Echols after the ceremony, wearing the coveted charm around my neck. (Thanks to Stephanie Hale for the photo!)

Sadly, I have yet to buy a digital camera for my new place -- so I was stuck with a disposable version and a beautiful yet snap-happy critique partner Dona Sarkar. I promise to post those pictures as soon as they uh, get developed. So uncool, right?

Dona was so awesome as a roommate. Seriously, who else reminds a GH finalist to breathe? Who else leaps to their feet shouting, "It's you! It's You!" while you sit there in utter shock and (in your head) the room goes silent.

Who else comes up with the idea to handwrite *your* acceptance speech in case you might jinx yourself. Yeah, uh, last year, when I typed out the speech, pasted it to a pretty cardstock, decorated it with stickers? May have been a little jinxy...

It was a wonderful week spent in the company of so many fabulous, talented, resilient women. I'm so proud of Diana, Simone, Marley, Barb, and all the wonderful writers I know who are launching into their publishing careers full force. Remember, I knew you back when...

Oh, and in other news I got to meet my IDOL Meg Cabot. Yeah, um, total fan girl/stalker here. Again, uncool! But sometimes you just have to gush. It's good for the soul. Alas, no pictures of me with Meg -- which is probably good in case she wishes to press charges.