I wasn’t going to write a blog post this week.  I didn’t think I had anything terribly interesting to say.  I went to Sydney for work (my other work), where on World Environment Day, I talked about particular risks to threatened native species, then returned home to the usual weekday grind.  My son injured his thumb and required an x-ray.  I thought I’d lost my other child (many tears).  I also sent my revised manuscript to an agent (fingers crossed).  So all in all, a pretty standard week.

Until this morning when I received an email.

I do receive many emails, so I’m quite used to the experience, but this one, was different.

See if you can work out why:

I was on the phone at the time and almost lost the ability to speak.

I hung up and puffed, like I’d run ten laps of the oval.  Yikes!  I made the long list!  That’s top 12 out of 166 entries.

I’ve since been inundated with lovely message of congratulations and I’m really super chuffed.  The short list will be announced in a few weeks and if I don’t make, I’m sure I’ll be a little disappointed, but I made it this far and that is something.

After years of working on this manuscript, including a year long mentorship, and many major edits since then, this one little email means so much.  Tonight, I’m going to indulge in a glass of celebratory champagne or something similarly delicious, as a small reward to myself for not giving up when giving up seemed like the only sensible option and as a silent toast to everyone who has helped and encouraged me along the way and to all of the long listed writers.

The long list was announced on the Kill Your Darlings website today at:

https://killyourdarlings.com.au/2018/06/announcing-the-2018-kyd-unpublished-manuscript-award-longlist/

If you’re keen to see if I make the short list, sign up to my blog and I promise to keep you posted.