Award Winning Author

For years, I entered multiple competitions with no results. Of course, I started to think my stories weren’t good enough for this market. But then readers would say how much they enjoyed the characters who stayed in their minds for weeks or months after they’d finished the book. Other authors were impressed with the story idea. Still others left glowing reviews. So, when the opportunity to submit a book to the International Impact Book Awards presented itself, I hesitated, not because I didn’t think my books were worthy, but because I didn’t want to experience yet another rejection in a very particular world. I asked my fans whether I should try. When they said, “yes,” I asked for suggestions. I submitted four books. Months went by, and I’d forgotten about it, too busy releasing two more books to focus on anything else. Then, something amazing happened. One…two…three…four books won the award across the span of four weeks. I was elated, then I doubted, then I rejoiced. So many of my friends asked how I was going to celebrate. How does one celebrate the unexpected? I danced like Snoopy. Screamed for joy in my car. Allowed friends to treat me to lunch. But the tangible way I lived out my celebratory excitement was to travel to Phoenix, Arizona, to receive the trophy in person and meet others who’d won this prestigious award. I’m glad I didn’t shrink away from submitting my books. In fact, I submitted four more books to see whether they also measured up to the rubric used by the judges. Guess what, as of February 16, 2026, two more won this prestigious award, one of which is a collection of poetry.