SELAH Awards Road Trip!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed 

"Finding Beth" 

would win two awards within the same week! 

Unbelievable!

I shared about winning the Grace Award in my last post, 

so here's my journey to the SELAH Awards in pictures.

Heading to Ridgecrest for the SELAH Awards Banquet
Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference

Entering North Carolina! Woo-hoo!

Ridgecrest!

I hate selfies!

Selfie #2 - My & Joanie's room.

A gift Ridgecrest left on my pillow.
I LOVE this cup! Use it nearly everyday.
Thank you, Crossbooks!

Dressed with somewhere to go!

Two of my favorite ladies ~ DiAnn Mills and YVonne Lehmen
DiAnn's my first mentor and responsible for propelling me
down my writing journey! This was also the first time I met
her face to face. Her presence made the night extra special!!!
I love you, DiAnn!

Aah! The Awards!   ~   *BRMCWC Photo

Oooh! The food!  ~   *BRMCWC Photo

And dessert!!   ~   *BRMCWC Photo

My dear roomie, Joanie Kohler, on the right!
Joanie opened her room to me when she learned I
I was coming for Awards night and needed a bed.
Thank you, dear Joanie! You're such a gem!!!
*BRMCWC Photo

The distinguished Mr. And Mrs. Alton Gansky!
Another reason this award means so much to me is that Al
taught at my first writer's conference and gave me my first
critique! Thank you, Al, for the encouragement you gave
me that day! I needed it more than you'll ever know!
*BRMCWC Photo

Ben Wolfe with Splickety Magazine
and fellow Blue Monkey!
It was great to meet you, Ben!

My new friend, Heather Hook, on the left.
Welcome to PCWN, Heather! I'm so glad Edie introduced us!
*BRMCWC Photo

It's always interesting to Steven James!
*BRMCWC Photo

Al and his cohorts:
Edie Melson (middle) & Eva Marie Everson (right)!
*BRMCWC Photo

Edie, Al, and Eva!   ~   I love you guys!
*BRMCWC Photo

Alton Gansky, Linnette R Mullin, 

Jordyn Redwood, Richard Mabry, & Edie Melson

Jordyn and Richard, my fellow finalists, are both award winning 

suspense writers, making my win incredibly amazing!

*BRMCWC Photo

Receiving my BEAUTIFUL SELAH Award!!!
Thanks, Eva Marie!
*BRMCWC Photo

Shocked. Excited. Incredulous. Happy. Guilty.
(for winning over Jordyn and Richard) Overwhelmed.
How many feelings can one experience when
winning an award like this? Unbelievable!
*BRMCWC Photo with Al and Edie

My dear Ann Tatlock and I celebrating our awards together!
What a night and what a memory! I'll never forget the way
she grabbed me after we stepped outside the banquet hall,
squeezed me and squealed, as happy for me as she was
for herself, if not more so. Thank you for that, Ann!

What a wonderful surprise to find fellow
PCWN writer, Jean Wilund,
present and celebrating with me, as well!

Saying thank you & goodbye to dear Edie...

Saying thank you & good-bye to Al...

...worth a thousand words...

...and yet as I read reviews for "Finding Beth" on Amazon today, 

the tears came. I have given Beth's story to God every step of the way 

and according to the reviews He is answering my prayers!

He is using "Finding Beth" to touch hearts and 

encourage women in all the ways I hoped and prayed he would. 

Awards are oh SO wonderful, yet it doesn't get better than that...