It's been three weeks since I found out I'm a quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. Since then I have received so many kind emails and calls from people telling me I'm brave for entering the contest (though I don't feel brave) and that I'm very talented (though I don't feel talented). Thanks so much for your support.
I've also received thirteen amazing reviews on amazon.com! Thank you so much! I know that you had to have made a purchase in the past on amazon.com before you can leave a review. So if you weren't able to, that's ok. I understand and I appreciate the thought. As Edward says, "It's the thought that counts. I should know." Yes, I just quoted a fictional character. No, I'm not ashamed of it.
Now I have one more week before I find out if I made it to the semifinals or not. Editors from Publisher's Weekly are reading the manuscripts (the entire book, not just excerpts) for ALL the quarterfinalists. They will score the MS on a couple of different things, including the reviews (so thanks again!!) and then the top 100 scoring MS will make it to the semifinals.
After that an expert panel of 3 people will read the remaining 100 manuscripts and choose the top three. Then amazon.com members will vote on the winner based on the excerpt (which will be extended an additional 5,000 words).
Ok, so back to where I am in the contest. I will find out next Wednesday if I've made it to the semifinals. Even though my "chances" (percentage wise) are better to making it to the semifinals than they were to make it to the quarterfinals (20% as opposed to 5%), I am not very confident right now. I kind of think this is as far as I'll make it. Which is still amazing! I feel very honored to have made it this far. Even though a guy posted on a website that all the excerpts he's read (including mine) are rubbish, we don't deserve to be there and we should be ashamed of our work. Can you guess who didn't make it this far? Anyway. My work isn't rubbish. I deserve to be here. And I am not ashamed of myself. But whether or not I'll make it any further in the contest is up in the air.
So three weeks down and one to go. Hopefully this time next week I'll have good news for you. Maybe not, but that's alright.
Thanks again for your support and kindness. You guys are awesome!
If you still haven't checked the excerpt for The Gifted by Deborah Andreasen (that's me!), here it is: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3A1E
I still can't believe I've got my own Amazon page!
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I've also received thirteen amazing reviews on amazon.com! Thank you so much! I know that you had to have made a purchase in the past on amazon.com before you can leave a review. So if you weren't able to, that's ok. I understand and I appreciate the thought. As Edward says, "It's the thought that counts. I should know." Yes, I just quoted a fictional character. No, I'm not ashamed of it.
Now I have one more week before I find out if I made it to the semifinals or not. Editors from Publisher's Weekly are reading the manuscripts (the entire book, not just excerpts) for ALL the quarterfinalists. They will score the MS on a couple of different things, including the reviews (so thanks again!!) and then the top 100 scoring MS will make it to the semifinals.
After that an expert panel of 3 people will read the remaining 100 manuscripts and choose the top three. Then amazon.com members will vote on the winner based on the excerpt (which will be extended an additional 5,000 words).
Ok, so back to where I am in the contest. I will find out next Wednesday if I've made it to the semifinals. Even though my "chances" (percentage wise) are better to making it to the semifinals than they were to make it to the quarterfinals (20% as opposed to 5%), I am not very confident right now. I kind of think this is as far as I'll make it. Which is still amazing! I feel very honored to have made it this far. Even though a guy posted on a website that all the excerpts he's read (including mine) are rubbish, we don't deserve to be there and we should be ashamed of our work. Can you guess who didn't make it this far? Anyway. My work isn't rubbish. I deserve to be here. And I am not ashamed of myself. But whether or not I'll make it any further in the contest is up in the air.
So three weeks down and one to go. Hopefully this time next week I'll have good news for you. Maybe not, but that's alright.
Thanks again for your support and kindness. You guys are awesome!
If you still haven't checked the excerpt for The Gifted by Deborah Andreasen (that's me!), here it is: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3A1E
I still can't believe I've got my own Amazon page!
3 comments:
I can't believe that one guy. What a...well I can't write it but you can imagine a nasty word and insert there!
I think your book is amazing and I think you are amazing.
keep em coming. You definitely have a fan club!
If it doesnt work out here, don't stress. On American Idol the runner up get's just as many record deals as the first place winner (I don't watch the show, but that is what I have seen and read), so if it doesn't work here, don't give it up, send it into publishers, and you'll get a break. It is a HUGE plus that you got this far in the game. Like you said you had a 5% chance and you made it. It says a lot, A LOT! Yet, I personally have to say, I am a huge fan now too, so I believe you can make it! :)
-Aprill
Can I be part of this fan club?! I think your book has a better chance than most to make it. You did an exceptional job! And I agree that should you not make it, you should totally submit it to be published. I'd buy the first available copy!
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