I was just notified that my paranormal suspense novel, Proof of Identity, has been awarded an indieBRAG Medallion of Excellence. I submitted the novel at least four months ago, and promptly forgot about it. What an amazing experience to open my email yesterday and discover that notification.

From what I’ve learned, a full 50% of the novels submitted do not pass the initial screening. Of the 50% that go on to the readers, only 10% are awarded the medallion. I feel so honored to have received one. It’s hard to put this feeling into words—and I’m a writer!

It’s such a gratifying feeling to have one’s work honored in this way. Of course, I love the story and think it’s well written, but i’m not exactly unbiased here. It’s only natural that I love my own writing. But to have strangers, readers whom I have never met, who wouldn’t know me if they passed me on the street, read my novel and love it this much, just makes my heart sing. All the work, the sweat and tears, the worry about whether there’s too much backstory, not enough character development, and intriguing enough plot, the hours at the keyboard, the rewriting and rewriting and rewriting… it’s all been so worth it.

All you writers out there: Stay true to your dreams. Keep working and learning and improving. Trust the process and trust yourself. And all you readers out there: enjoy what you read, read what you enjoy, and stop every once in a while to post a review of something that really tickles you. It’s the best way ever to say “thank you” to your favorite authors.

I’ll post more on the medallion award as it comes in!

Check out my books on my Author Page at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BMESKS