Several days ago in November at the Sisters in Crime/Mystery Writers of America annual meeting in the Boston area, I stood in front of the crowded ballroom as I – and a dozen or so other authors – were applauded. Each of us had received awards of one type or another for a mystery we published in 2018. Mine was an IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Awards) for “Demon Spirit, Devil Sea”.
I’ve received numerous awards and the like for my books and short stories, but I’d never stood before hundreds of my peers as the big room rang with applause. I think it would’ve been awkward had I been alone up there, but with such a group – many terrific authors – I have to say it felt just terrific.