This spring weekend was the Christopher Newport University’s annual writers’ conference. It was cold, rainy and the kind of weekend you like to bundle up and stay home. But I had planned on attending with my friends, Susan and Sally, both writers extraordinaire. I’d sent in a chapter from a paranormal romantic comedy as my contest entry, at the last minute on the last day. I had no hopes the fluffy entry would compete well against the awesome literary talent usually offered, but had nothing else prepared. Imagine my shock when they announced I’d won second place for the Maryanne Farley Award for Fiction.Truly shocked, as both Susan and Sally had entered much stronger works. I accepted the certificate and check with aplomb, hiding my sense of guilt that I’d won and they should have. I guess it all boils down to what entertains the judge. That is how I judge the Golden Heart and other contest entries. All other technical stuff aside, if I am entertained, I grade high. So, whether I truly deserved that award more than others, or did not, I can be happy in knowing something I wrote entertained a judge, who in this case was Sharon Baldacchi. I’ve posted the entry and response under “Blue Blazes” for those who are interested in reading it. And that check for fifty dollars . . . it had wings before it hit my hand. I got home that evening to discover our microwave had blown up. Sigh.