Skip to main content

Tootling My Own Horn

Now, when I was growing up, I was admonished by my parents, "Don't toot your own horn," "Let your work speak for itself," and so on and so forth. In this day and age, however, if you don't pick up that horn and BLOW, no one is going to have any idea that you've got something to celebrate.

Get out there and blow your horn!
(Adriaen van Ostade [CC0]. The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951)

Since Blood Red Pencil has designated January as the month to reflect on the past year, here are some 2018 writing-related triumphs I feel pretty darn good about.

A Dying Note, the sixth in my Silver Rush historical mystery series, was published by Poisoned Pen Press in April 2018. Whew! Seeing a book in print is ALWAYS something to celebrate. The fact that it garnered positive reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus just enhanced the glow.

Just about the time that the book came out in audio (which pleased me greatly), it also won two EVVY awards from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA):
  • First Place in the Mystery/Crime/Detective Fiction category
  • Second Place in the Historical Fiction category
Even MORE to celebrate!

Finally, as the end of the year rolled up, I learned that A Dying Note was also named Best Mystery in the Fiction category of True West Magazine's "Best of the West 2019" list. It was also is long-listed for the Martin Cruz Smith Award in Suspense/Mystery by the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA). I am a BIG fan of Martin Cruz Smith's work, his favorite of mine being Rose, so that's another "wow!" for me.

Of course, one can only bask in the glory for a little while, because it's always "What are you working on now?" and "When will you have it done?"

2019 has arrived, and the deadlines are looming. No rest for the wicked nor the weary.

Time to get busy!

Ann Parker authors the award-winning Silver Rush historical mystery series published by Poisoned Pen Press. During the day, she wrangles words for a living as a science editor/writer and marketing communications specialist (which is basically a fancy term for "editor/writer"). Her midnight hours are devoted to scribbling fiction. Visit AnnParker.net for more information.

Comments

  1. May 2019 be every bit as rewarding!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Liz! I'll settle for getting the next book done on time. That'll definitely make my year.

      Delete
  2. Those are truly things to toot your horn about, Ann. Congratulations to you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on your 2018 accomplishments, Ann. I hope 2019 is even more successful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pat!
      Thank you! I just keep rolling along. Some years are better than others, so I try to set the bar fairly low, which allows me to be very pleased when the unexpected good stuff happens!

      Delete
  4. Congratulations on your achievements, Ann ... and on tooting your horn a bit! I have two large obstacles to playing a little Charlie Parker myself: one is, like you, I was admonished to do so as a youngster and, two, unlike you, I'm plagued by lethargy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Christopher,
      The teachings of our elders (! don't brag !) work against us in this day and age, unfortunately. And lethargy, yeah, I know the feeling. If not for the theme this month, I wouldn't be tootling, that's for sure.

      Delete
  5. You don't toot your horn nearly loud enough, Ann! You know I think this latest novel in the series is the best. Can't wait to read the next one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Dani!
      Well, now, we'll have to see. I just never know from one book to the next. Right now, I'll settle for "get it done on time." :-}

      Delete
  6. Kudos for a great 2018, Ann! You absolutely should be tooting your horn about the recognition and awards your writing earned. Celebrate the fruits of your labor. Now you go, girl, because 2019 may be even better. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, thank you, Linda, for your kind words! Here's hoping it's a good year for us ALL!

      Delete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations on such a great year of awards and recognition, Pat. I agree that it is hard to toot our own horn. Many of us are introverts and that makes it hard to put ourselves out there. I am so much better at promoting others. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ann, this is absolutely wonderful. Definitely worthy of tooting the horn and of luxuriating in while you work on NEXT! <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Shonell! And thank you! as I said above, I hope 2019 is a good year for us ALL! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations, Ann. May 2019 be even more spectacular for you. As a new fan, I cannot wait to read all the Inez Stannert novels. She's quite an intriguing protagonist.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Pat! Thank you! I hope you find Inez as fun to read as she is to write. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. And now Lefty Coast Crime!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

The Blood-Red Pencil is a blog focusing on editing and writing advice. If a glitch is preventing you from commenting, visit our Facebook page and drop your wise words there: Blood-Red Pencil on Facebook