I finalled in the Daphne! - Jo-Ann Carson

I finalled in the Daphne!


It was Saturday morning and I was writing in a local Starbucks. My cell phone made a noise. I looked down, a message from my husband. Yippee, maybe he’ll join me for coffee. I read the words as they scroll across the top of my phone: “Hi Hon You’re a FINALIST in the Daphne contest. Love …”
WTH. It couldn’t be. It simply couldn’t be. I’m not that good. I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined finalling with my first entry. I was looking for feedback, nothing more. I take a deep breath. It would be so nice to believe this message.
My fingers dial home.  He picks up. “Are you serious?” I ask. The harshness in my voice draws looks from nearby coffee drinkers.
“Yes,” he says. He tells me about his conversation with a woman  from the Kiss of Death Chapter. Tears stream down my cheeks. I tremble with every word he says. Could this really be happening? He must have it wrong, but the thing is he doesn’t know words like Daphne and Kiss of Death. They are words that belong to me and my writing world. He tells me she plans to phone back.
I pack up, with  tears, I cannot stop, streaming down my face, and head for the door.  I cry all the way home, hug my husband, and make him repeat his story–  a hundred times. Then the phone rings. It’s the lady from Carolina. I soak in her information like a gift from the universe, thank her profusely and start to wave my arms wildly in the air, because I don’t know what else to do. It’s true — I finalled in the Daphne.
Some moments in  life hit you hard, and this was one of them, for me.
***
How about you? Do you have a special moment that hit you like a hammer in the night?
Picture:  Daphne Du Maurier (1907-1987), British author and playwright of Romantic Suspense

“Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca (which won the Best Picture Oscar in 1941) and Jamaica Inn and the short stories “The Birds” and “Don’t Look Now“. The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.” (Wikipedia)


0 Replies to “I finalled in the Daphne!”

    1. Misty
      Thank you.
      The people in Starbucks looked at me oddly, but it’s a brand new store that opened last week, so no one knew me personally. I felt sympathy for my tears, which made me want to shout out, “It’s good news. I finalled…” but I knew they wouldn’t know what the Daphne is or what it means to me , so I made a speedy exit.
      Life never fails to amaze me.
      Best Wishes
      Jo-Ann

  1. I LOVE THAT STORY! Thank you for sharing your experiences and every emotion…I just truly love it all! Gives me goosebumps as if I were there. Congratulations on this, and I wish you best, best, much, much luck. (yes, that sounds weird, but you get it) Lisa

    1. Diane
      Thanks for your kind words.
      To my mind, we’ve already won. Finalling means that much to me. And yes, I am in great company.I can’t wait to meet some of them face to face in July.
      Best Wishes
      Jo-Ann

    1. Pat
      Yes! This is the WIP you guys helped me with in the fall, and I am so thankful for that help. I can remember you encouraging me to continue. There’s nothing like friends in this writing world.
      I am going to have fun in July. Any chance you’ll join us?
      Best Wishes
      Jo-Ann

  2. No wonder you finaled! I can see the reason clearly after reading this post. I’s cause you’re a really good writer. xo Mimi

    1. Christine
      Thank you for sharing my moment with me. I’m still polishing my WIP, and it seems that with every polish I reveal more words that need polishing, so I’m not ready to launch yet.
      Best Wishes
      Jo-Ann

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