You know how sometimes you enter a competition and think to yourself:
Gee, it would be nice to win, but that won’t happen so I may as well just get on with other things
And then you don’t win, so at least you win at ‘being right’…? Well *that* but then the opposite…
Movie Night!
On Sunday night, Hubbie and I were busy pretending it was a Saturday, since it was a long weekend here in Australia, and we were curled up on the sofa munching on M&Ms while watching ‘The Railway Man’ (just when I thought I’d seen all the best war movies, another one comes along!), and I knew that over in Melbourne at Continuum 10 this year’s Ditmar Awards were about to be announced.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the Ditmar Awards celebrate achievements by Australians in speculative fiction writing and winning one is a seriously big deal.
I was particularly interested in this year’s results because, as you may know, I’d been nominated for a Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. Of course that was six weeks ago, which is more than enough time for me to convince myself that I didn’t have a hope at actually winning. Still, I was curious to find out who would win, so kept my phone in the lounge with me, intending to check the results when Hubbie went for a snack break later (I knew M&Ms alone wouldn’t sustain him!!).
Then… in the middle of the film… my phone bleeped. Then it bleeped again. And again.
Couldn’t be…
Yes – it could! There on my phone were a bundle of Twitter messages saying ‘Congratulations Zena!’ I think I swore at that point and Hubbie got all flustered, muttering ‘what does that mean, what does that mean?’.
It means I just won a Ditmar Award.
Wow!
Double-wow!
So then this happened…
And this…
And this…
Woo hoo!
I’m overjoyed. Thrilled. Happy. I won a Ditmar Award. (I still can’t believe I can say that!)
The full list of winners is over here, so do go and check them out – it’s the perfect to-read list!!
And thank you everyone who voted for me. Your support means so so so much to me and I really really appreciate it. Thank you.
Big smiles.
Awesome news Zena! Well-deserved. Cheers!
Thank you, Zoya!!
Way to go, Zena! I am so happy for you! Congratulations!
Thank you, Lillian!! 🙂
Congratulations Zena!! Was so pleased you celebrated in style. Happy dancing. Kindest Melissa-Jane 🙂
Thank you Melissa-Jane!!
well done Zena. Thoroughly deserved. I knew my vote counted for something!
Woo hoo! Thanks Phil!
Really great news – well done!
Thank you, Simon. Yippee!!
Congratulations! Awesome result 😀
Thank you, Tsana!
SO pleased for you, Zena! What a well-deserved win. x
Shucks, thanks Liz 🙂
Congratulations!!!!! 🙂
Squeeeee!
Fabulous news, congratulations Zena!
Thanks, Anne. Yes – it is absolutely fabulous! 🙂
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Congratulations Zena! I had a feeling you would win and it was an honour to be nominated with you. 🙂
Are they sending you the award in the mail or did someone bring it back for you? They were super nice this year.
Thank you, Michelle – but the honour was all mine! I still can’t believe I won!
Yes, the award is on its way in the mail. Yay! I’ve seen photos of it online and can’t wait to see it for real 🙂
Hi Zena – just catching up with the world after a typically busy week and have only just heard your great news.
Fantastic and well deserved (passing lightly over the irony of ‘Best New…’ – you’ve collected more writing prizes than I’ve had hot dinners!) And a first step on the road to “Best World-Famous Talent”!
Cheers, Rob (if there’s any champers left on the Northern Beaches!)
He he, thanks Rob! I do like my champers 🙂
And yes, Best World-Famous Talent is next on my list!!
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Wow, Zena – I am a bit late to catch up with this news, but…AWESOME!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Glad you’ve had all that champers – you deserve it!!
Thank you, Fiona! Woo hoo!