ACFW First Impressions Contest

Posted by Lori Freeland on Jan 25, 2013 in Featured | 26 comments

I got the call this morning. The good call. The call that will keep me grinning and jumping around ridiculously for quite some time.

No, not that call. No agent. No editor. Not yet.

I won the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) First Impressions Contest in the YA/Children’s Category today.

Winning a contest may not be a contract, but it comes with a certain validation all it’s own. My book isn’t going to make adults cringe or frighten small children. My book isn’t going to end up in someone’s circular file. My book may even one day see the light of a bookstore shelf.

Who knows?

My writing road can be summed up into one word–SLOW. My critique partner, DiAne, compares me to the Tortoise and the Hare.

Guess which one I am?

Most days, I hate slow. But today, I’m glad I waited to put myself out there until my writing was ready. Today, I’m glad I took the time to learn and rewrite and polish. Today, I’m riding the happy wave of success.

So tomorrow when the rejections come, I can hang onto the way I feel in this moment, mid-happy dance.

Congrats to ALL the winners of the ACFW First Impressions Contest.

CONTEMPORARY

Andrea Nell

HISTORICAL

Jennifer Uhlarik

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

Suzanne Bratcher

CHILDRENS/YA

Lori Freeland

SPECULATIVE

Sarah Grimm

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26 comments on “ACFW First Impressions Contest”

Vonda Skelton on January 25, 2013 at 4:23 pm said:

Yay, Lori! so excited for you!! Now on to completing the journey.

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- Lori Freeland on January 25, 2013 at 7:37 pm said:
  
  Yes, it’s the finishing, right? This is very motivating
  
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Angela Ackerman on January 25, 2013 at 4:51 pm said:

I am so thrilled for you. Now that’s validation–I hope you have a great time celebrating and don’t come off cloud nine any time soon!

Angela

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- Lori Freeland on January 25, 2013 at 7:37 pm said:
  
  Going to hang onto cloud nine by my fingernails as long as I can
  
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Shelly Burke on January 25, 2013 at 4:53 pm said:

CONGRATULATIONS, Lori! That is fantastic news! Great job!

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- Lori Freeland on January 25, 2013 at 7:36 pm said:
  
  Thank you Shelly!
  
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Rachelle on January 25, 2013 at 4:59 pm said:

Congratulations!!

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- Lori Freeland on January 25, 2013 at 7:36 pm said:
  
  Now we both won something, huh? What about that blog? Lol.
  
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Nikki Loftin on January 25, 2013 at 5:14 pm said:

Lori, I am SO thrilled for you! You deserve to kick up your heels. Hooray!

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- Lori Freeland on January 25, 2013 at 7:36 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Nikki It was an awesome day!
  
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Elizabeth Bylers YountsEbyounts on January 25, 2013 at 6:44 pm said:

CONGRATS!!!!!!! So extremely happy for you!!!

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- Lori Freeland on January 25, 2013 at 7:35 pm said:
  
  Thank you!
  
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Cynthia on January 25, 2013 at 9:16 pm said:

Congratualations. God bless you, continually!

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- Lori Freeland on January 26, 2013 at 1:18 pm said:
  
  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
  
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Gloria Richard on January 26, 2013 at 6:03 am said:

WTG, Lori!

I am thrilled for you. I know how much craft you studied, how often you revised, how many nights and mornings you thought about this story. You are a ROCK of perseverance and one EXTREMELY talented writer.

Well deserved recognition. On to a Golden Heart to wear on the outside. Right? (You already have one beating inside.)

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- Lori Freeland on January 26, 2013 at 1:16 pm said:
  
  Wouldn’t that be awesome? I’d love to happy dance over finaling in the Golden Heart.
  
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Brinda on January 26, 2013 at 7:19 am said:

You should TANGO, SALSA, WALTZ, and JITTERBUG. You’ve done well, my friend!

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- Lori Freeland on January 26, 2013 at 1:16 pm said:
  
  Okay, but we need to take a dancing class Brinda
  
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Kathy Bates on January 26, 2013 at 8:58 am said:

Whoa! That’s wonderful news. Congrats! You earned it. Now, go get ‘em.
Kathy

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- Lori Freeland on January 26, 2013 at 1:15 pm said:
  
  I’m going. Hopefully Thanks Kathy!
  
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Julie Glover on January 26, 2013 at 9:15 am said:

Happy dancing for you! You deserve it. You’ve worked hard and have beautiful stories to tell.

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- Lori Freeland on January 26, 2013 at 1:15 pm said:
  
  Thank you for happy dancing with me, Julie!
  
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Lyndie Blevins on January 26, 2013 at 11:09 am said:

I’m so happy for you. Congratulations!

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- Lori Freeland on January 26, 2013 at 1:15 pm said:
  
  Thank you Lyndie!
  
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Maria Norris on January 26, 2013 at 7:32 pm said:

Oh, Lori, how wonderful. You deserve it!

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Claire L. Fishback on January 28, 2013 at 10:11 am said:

Congratulations! I’m so proud of you!

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