A Time to Die – Christy Award Finalist!

Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt this weekly broadcast with a very important announcement. . .

It’s the type of announcement that makes an author’s hands shake (can’t…type…!), that demands celebration tunes blasting through the kitchen, that makes an author freak out her parents when she states, “I have something to tell you!” and they’re desperately hoping that means it’s time for grandbabies.

Nope. Alas, Mom and Dad, you’ll have to keep waiting.

But…until it’s time for mini-Brandeses, I’ll celebrate the success of my paperback-child. My debut novel, A Time to Die, is a FINALIST for a 2015 Christy Award! (Tweet this!)

I wasn’t nervous waiting for the announcement, maybe because I was quite certain I wouldn’t be a finalist. Who knows? But after I saw this announcement through the Christy Awards‘ twitter page, I was slammed with a wave of nerves, giddiness, shakes (no, not chocolate shakes, but the annoying “I-can’t-make-my-fingers-do-anything-worthwhile” type.) My husband danced around the kitchen and shouted, “WOOHOO!” so loud I’m pretty sure the neighbors went deaf.

I wasn’t planning on having an “announcement post” today, but I wanted to share the joy. The disbelief. My initial reaction went a little like this:

AH! The finalists are announced TODAY? They said April! I thought that meant the END of April. *panic and click the link 8,001 times.*

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. What was my category again? I don’t see it. There are lots of book titles with the word time in them.

Ah! Is that mine? That’s mine! “Daylen! Get over here!”

We both scream. “Do you know what this means?” I give hubby no time to answer. “No matter what, I will always be able to say I’ve been a finalist for the Christy Awards! Victory!”

I call Dad and Mom. Cry. Wait, what? Tears? That doesn’t make sense.

*Recover*

I rush to re-write today’s blog post.

So here I am to share the squeals, screams, and all-around ridiculous celebrating with you. I am content as a finalist and, currently, I’m not nervous about “winning” (I mean, have you seen who I’m up against?) My next plan of action?

Buy and read Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl and Once Beyond a Time, by Ann Tatlock. You should, too. 😀

Okay, okay, so….

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Awards are…THE BIG ONE. It is one of the highest awards given to Christian fiction — the one everyone wants. 😉 (Including me, LOL.)

You can read all about the Christy Awards on their website, but in short, their goal behind the wards is “…honoring and promoting excellence in Christian Fiction.”

I’m humbled, honored, and blown away to be included.

God is far too good to me. 😀

What is an event that surprised you, or a victory that you unexpectedly received?

Have you read any of the books nominated for the Christy Award?

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