I must write and post this blog today. Tomorrow it will be too late. The sentiment will not be the same by then. Because then I’ll know…
My husband and I are taking off in the morning, to a local casino. I told him I needed a distraction, BIG TIME. “Get me out of here,” I begged. And he happily complied, made the reservations right away for an overnight stay, without a frown or complaint. He loves casinos. But that’s another story.
So why this flight from home? Well, as I mentioned in a past blog post, I entered The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards contest and made it to the semifinals (250 out of 5,000 entries). On Tuesday (TOMORROW), they will announce the next round of winners, the semifinalists (50 out of the 250 quarter-finalists).
FIFTY! What are the chances? Can you feel the passion? Can you feel the angst? Believe me, by Wednesday it won’t be there anymore. Win or lose, my feelings will be different. I’ll be flying high (and you won’t be able to stand me) or flying low (and you won’t be able to stand me).
So it must be today!
Maybe my novel has “breakthrough” appeal. But then again…
It’ll drive me crazy if I have to hang around the house all day, waiting for the announcement. It could come early, but I doubt it. Probably won’t come until midnight. And I’d be back and forth, checking…
I even hesitate writing about it. Is it bad luck, sending all these bad vibrations into the universe? Hope is a crazy thing—hope mixed with doubt. What are the chances? 5,000 entries down to 1,000 down to 250 down to 50. Will my novel stand out internationally? Heck, I can’t even win a local contest, where the competition is maybe ten. So I wait and worry.
Unless we take off overnight to wine, dine, and gamble.
All those flickering lights in blinding, rainbow colors, and all those ear-splitting noises will surely numb my brain for a while. Of course, a jackpot would be nice. But then again, what are the chances? Winning a jackpot. Winning a contest. Both are a gamble.
Except that I really worked hard on this novel, ten years of preparation, if you count all the time I’ve spent practicing and learning and writing and revising.
Anyway, Wednesday, I’ll know, after I get home and check the computer. But no. Maybe I’ll have someone else do it for me, someone cool, calm, and impartial, like…
I can’t stand this. Thank goodness it will be over soon. In the mean time, I’m headed for the casino. Talk to you when I get back.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
