RMFW WOTY—What’s it mean?

It means Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year award, and I—along with Curtis Craddock and Mandy Mikulencak—am a finalist. Which means I’m gobsmacked.

First, a bit about Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. It’s just what it sounds like, a group devoted to fostering fiction writing in the Rocky Mountain region. You pay minimal dues and you get maximum benefits: access to classes and workshops, both in-person and online, an info-packed newsletter, all sorts of promotional opportunities, and above all, fellowship with hundreds of other people who share the special madness that is writing.

There’s an annual conference, Colorado Gold, where years ago I was invited to join a critique group whose members are simply the best—the best!—and one of whom, Kate Moretti, is a keynote speaker at this year’s conference. (Quick promo: She and I will be doing a “conversation” at Tattered Cover’s LoDo store on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., the night before the conference.)

As for the WOTY nomination, hard to say anything beyond gobsmacked. Some of the writers I most admire—I pinch myself to count them as mentors and friends—have been named WOTY.

One of the coolest things about RMFW is the iWOTY award, for Independent Writer of the Year. This year’s finalists are Sue Duff, Corinne O’Flynn (a longtime Colorado Gold organizer who’s answered way too many of my stupid questions), and Bernadette Marie.

Honored to be in this company!