Jori for the WIN!

I didn't mention this on my blog last week, but Torn Canvas was an InD'Tale Magazine RONE Award finalist for best New Adult book--and the awards ceremony was Saturday night (my birthday).

What a shock it was on Saturday night when my friend Danyelle Ferguson (who accepted it for me and won in her own category for Sweet Confections) who posted this picture on Facebook! I was at a writing retreat and we all started squealing.

I have to mention how much I loved my main character in Torn Canvas, Jori Virtanen. He was sooo flawed because of something awful that happened to him as a teen. In many ways, he became like the monster who perpetrated the wrong on him.

Yet that wasn't who he was. This story is his journey out the misery that was created for him and then he unknowingly embraced. It's very much a story of redemption.

And a love story.

With pirates.

And painting.

Danyelle said I really needed to prepare an acceptance speech. I thought it was a waste of time, but I'm really grateful now that I took her advice. Here's what I had her read for me:

I cannot express how thrilled I am to have won this award—crazy considering I’m a writer, right? I’m sad I couldn’t be there in person, but I want to thank my friend Danyelle Ferguson for accepting on my behalf. 

I’d like first to honor my fellow nominees. I know what goes into the crafting of a book, and I value their hard work and dedication. Thank you!  

Others I want to thank are those involved with the RONE awards—the reviewers, the fans, the judges, and the staff at InD’Tale magazine, who make this all happen. I’d like to thank my critique group who helped me shape this story, but especially to my editor Katharina Brendel who, with her insightful questions and observations, helped me see how this story should be told.

I’d also like to thank my husband Edward for his undying support and encouragement. I couldn’t have a better fan. I couldn’t do this without him. 

This award means the world to me. We writers are readers first, and it’s our love of storytelling the fuels our tales. Thank you all!"

Um. Yeah. I had a great weekend.

How about you?