Hooray and Hallelujah! It’s time to celebrate!
I rarely use exclamation marks, but today I believe it’s justified. The Connecticut Press Club published its list of winners in their 2021 Awards contest, and many of my friends and Rendezvous members are on it. Some won in multiple categories which tells me that it pays to submit! Between us, we garnered sixteen awards and eight honorable mentions. We are a great group of writers!
Alison McBain won three first-place awards, for a book edited by an entrant, a book designed by an entrant, and for her graphic strip Toddler Times.
Lauren Busser – was awarded first place (short story) and second place (an article in the arts and entertainment category), third place (personality profile), and an honorable mention for a personal essay.
Megan Smith-Harris won first prize for a specialty article on style, and three honorable mentions for articles on physical health, social issues, and a personality profile.
Marla Sterling won first place for an essay in a book (Chicken Soup for the Soul), and second and third places for two poems.
Aline Weiler won first place for a feature article and second place in the personal essay category.
Amy Oestreicher – first place, specialty articles art/entertainment.
Prudence Lev came first in the specialty articles about the environment category.
Libby Waterford won third place for her novel Can’t Help Falling in Love.
Marlou Newkirk came third in the personal essay category.
Sarah Galluzzo received honorable mentions for a personal essay and another on the environment.
Richard Seltzer won an honorable mention for his novel Parallel Lives.
Mitzy Sky received an honorable mention for her review of Soul to Soul.
Laurie Newkirk‘s personality profile got an honorable mention.
Oh – and I came third in the not-for-profit blog category with this blog.
It pays to submit, folks! I expect all my Connecticut readers to submit something next year. And if you live elsewhere, find your state’s equivalent. You never know…
Gerard Coulombe
March 29, 2021 - 12:48 pm ·Over the years, I have written and published education pieces as a teacher of English and a secondary school principal, Darien; op. eds. for the “Bridgeport Post,” Hearst papers, “New York Times: Ct. Section;” and for the last four years, two lead articles for every issue of the University Franco-American Society at the University of Maine, entitle, “Le Forum” for. total of thirty-two stories.
Gabi Coatsworth
March 29, 2021 - 1:04 pm ·Next year, I’ll remind you to enter something you’ve had published this year. It can be poetry, articles, etc. SO long as you’re resident in Connecticut, and it’s published this year, you’re eligible.
kate
March 29, 2021 - 2:05 pm ·congrats Gabi — and all the writing rendezvous members!
Gabi Coatsworth
March 29, 2021 - 2:07 pm ·Thanks, Kate 🙂
Jacque Masumian
March 29, 2021 - 5:11 pm ·Well done, Gabi, and congratulations to you all the WR winners.
Thanks for keeping us informed!
Gabi Coatsworth
March 29, 2021 - 5:32 pm ·You’re very welcome. I love it when people succeed. 🙂
Michael McQuillan
March 29, 2021 - 6:30 pm ·Congratulations, Gabi, for this well-deserved recognition!
Thanks for so strongly supporting us all!
Happy, too, for Richard and other group members.
Paula Cappa
March 30, 2021 - 1:03 pm ·Congrats to All. I’ve always believed the business of writer is to write. All this marketing work we have to do to get exposure and reach readers is dreary. But winning an award is one of the best ways to get your work recognized with a healthy dose of credibility! And the personal reward usually runs deep to inspire more writing. Applause to everyone.
Gabi Coatsworth
March 30, 2021 - 1:29 pm ·I agree, Paula. And you can only enter for an award if something you’ve written is published, which is an incentive to get that done too…