Verdict: 2010 Saturnalia Book Prize

A few weeks ago I posted about being a finalist in "two national contests." Yesterday I learned that Campbell McGrath chose my book, The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception, as the winner of the 2010 Saturnalia Book Prize.

How I found out: I received an email with the subject line "please call" from someone I'd never heard of. I almost hit "delete," but then curiosity got the best of me and I opened it. " The email read "Please call me at ___-___-___. Editor Name, Saturnalia Books."

Okay, so not exactly SPAM. I ran down to find my cell phone, peeking outside to say to my husband on the ladder (he is painting the exterior of our house) Saturnalia told me to call! Saturnalia said call me!

The editor was very friendly and almost as excited as I was, though he did not, as I did, scream, cry, laugh, jump up and down, fall to my knees, and bray like someone on Let's Make a Deal.

After I stopped screaming and was able to pick myself up off the floor, Editor asked me about my cover art. Ha! Had not given that a thought, actually, so now I am on a wild search for something colorful and with religious overtones.

Then I went out with hubby to our favorite local Vietnamese place for a big, giant bowl of hot, spicy shrimp soup with vermicelli noodles (hubby had the egg roll dry noodle vermicelli). While we slurped, a 2-year old boy entertained us with many high-fives and silly dances while his exuberant mother looked on in admiration--a most fitting way to celebrate a book I began five years ago, when my kids were wee like this little tot, drooling and spinning with glee.

The publication date is Feb 1, 2011--just in time for AWP in Washington, DC. Book your plane ticket now!