I received four book award announcements in the last month for my newest book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. In the whole year of 2026, I have received six awards for this book this year, and it’s only September!
Here are the four awards I won this last month:
Bronze Award in the Readers’ Choice contest, September 2026
2nd Place Award in the Next Best Reads contest, August 2026
Gold Award in the Global Book Award, August 2026
Honorable Mention Award at BooksShelf.com, August 2026
The other two awards I’ve received this year for this book:
2nd Place Award in the AllAuthor.com nonfiction book cover
3rd Place Winner at BooksShelf.com, April 2026
Why Do I Enter Book Awards Contests?
I was told early on in my writing career—enter book award contests because they elevate your book’s exposure. So I have!
At that point my book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? had won two prestigious awards from the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards. But my most decorated book was A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir with five awards.
So, my newest book, Time Measured Out! takes the lead with six.
Finally,
The last month has been outrageous for me with all the awards. But it feels so gratifying to have this book recognized.
UPDATE ON MY BOOK I’M WORKING ON: Eyewitness to Healing is to the editor. We have extended the date of my receiving the edited manuscript to the first of October. We had an email exchange this week, and she asked, “do you want to receive it back before you go to Germany?”
I had been pondering that very idea because originally, I was to receive it tomorrow.
“No,” I responded strongly, “because I won’t be able to just let it sit on my computer. I would want to be working on it, and that could ruin my Germany trip.”
I could almost hear her laughing with my response. But the good news, it’s getting closer. Then my work begins again to look at her revisions and hope there aren’t too many of them.
You may wonder why I have a poetry chapbook, Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey, free all the time. It’s one of the promotional foundations for an author today—have something free to entice the reader to sample your writing and then buy your books.
Does it work for you?
If poetry isn’t your genre, here is a short story to sample my writing:
Here’s one last look this month at Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, my award-winning book. I wrote parts of it as blog posts right here, but I added to it. The format of the book’s chapters enriched it with key parts. I began each of the chapters with a meaningful photo or graphic and quote. Then I ended the chapter with a reflection question(s), wanting the reader to reflect and personalize what she just read. My motto for this book became: Read, reflect and respond!
Key Parts of Each Chapter
One Last Look at the Beginning of Each Chapter
Because I’m a visual learner, I love photos and graphics and used them a lot in this book. So much so, I had to compress the photos before I could publish the e-book. That was quite an experience.
I also know that a lot of readers react and respond to visual stimulus. While I was teaching, I remember watching my students. The majority of them were visual learners, and I have been out of the classroom over fifteen years, but I recall their need for visuals to understand a difficult lesson.
The recent following statistic doesn’t surprise me: “Visual learners – the remaining 65% of the population – need to see what they are learning,. . .”
Then I added a meaningful quote in this book that either summarized the theme of the chapter or reflected its message. Again, I wanted my reader to be able to connect on different levels to my writing.
What Happened in the Middle
I don’t write in one genre only; I see the place for prose. I love writing poetry, so the format of the book has a mixture of each.
Sample the format I Used in the Middle
Here’s the last chapter of the book. It only has prose, no poetry but the topic is as relevant today as it was then. You can see the format though:
Chapter Thirty-One
VACCINATED: SHORT, SWEET, & TO THE POINT
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one…”
John Lennon
May 16, 2021
Finally, I got vaccinated on Friday morning with my second COVID-19 shot. I received my first one on March 31st. Yes, that’s a long time in-between, but I had conflicts in my schedule. I had no reactions to the first one except for a sore arm.
I got the Moderna, and I’ve heard more people have reactions to it. My husband received the Pfizer vaccine and had no reaction at all. I wasn’t so lucky for the second shot. The rest of the day I felt okay, but my arm hurt where I was vaccinated. Yesterday and today have been a different story. I’ve slept the days away.
Yesterday I had a slight fever, chills, aches like the flu, but nothing too bad. I just slept! Today’s the same. The endless sleeping has been strange—lots of images, not dreams, and noise in my ears! When I wake up, I’m tired and exhausted, ready to go back to bed. My brain feels fuzzy.
For this A-type personality I am, this has been hard on me! I’m usually going ninety miles an hour! I have things to do, people to see, life to live!
My seventeen-year-old cat, Jesse, didn’t like me being inaccessible to him, so he made it upstairs twice yesterday to sleep outside our bedroom door. He doesn’t easily make it upstairs anymore because of his arthritic back legs—you can’t tell me cats don’t love!
This evening has been better—I’m not sound asleep. Today my brain is still fuzzy, and it’s hard to concentrate, but I’ve been able to do this blog, so that’s progress. Hopefully tomorrow will be better! The good news is I’m vaccinated!
What I learned these two strange days from being vaccinated is that you have to listen to your body! I went to bed and slept, and that was probably the best medicine for me.
Chapter 31 Continued
When my two-week waiting period was over, immediately I scheduled a haircut appointment, and Mark trimmed my hair, marveling at how much it had grown. We laughed and caught up on our lives, and he loved my new longer, curly look. It felt so good to be out and not worrying about the coronavirus. Lin and I ate out a couple times, savoring the opportunity to be with others and not fearful. Our state opened up more and provided more opportunities to get out.
Facing the future with the vaccine behind me, normalcy seems a real possibility. I’ve planned a trip to Colorado to see my brother and his children and grandchildren—I expect a bucket load of hugs. I haven’t been there since February because of my cataract surgeries and the restrictions.
The possibility of dancing looms ahead of me—I can’t describe the deep-seated feelings attached with that. Even though I anticipate a hopeful future, I plan to carry with me all that I’ve learned in this intense time apart. I will step towards an unknown future, optimistic because I know I am better, not bitter, for having survived the coronavirus pandemic.
To end each chapter, I challenged the reader to reflect on a probing question I posed. Again, my teacher side showed up. I knew that this book had the possibility of taking the reader to a deeper level if he/she took the time to respond to my question. So in this way, the book became a journal really.
Here’s the questions I used at the end of Chapter 31:
YOUR REFLECTIONS:
Did you get vaccinated? If so, did you have a reaction to the vaccine? If so, what?
Finally,
One last look this month at my book has reminded me of the power of this book. My premise of the subtitle, Bitter or Better, still stands. I had a choice during the pandemic of becoming either bitter or better. I chose better; I hope you did, too!
FREE OFFER: Download a FREE personal journalof Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, featuring the photos/graphics and the reflection questions for each chapter. Let me know what you think about it.
Award winner—I have won several awards for my ten books, but Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? won two New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards that thrilled me. For some reason, those two awards outweighed the other multiple awards.
But I wanted to share the others with you!
This Tumbleweed Landed – First Finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards
In 2016, This Tumbleweed Landed was a finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards in the Biography (Other) category.
I had submitted it the year before in the poetry category and got sage advice from someone in the know about the awards. The poetry category was highly competitive.
So, the next year (2016) I submitted it the Biography (Other) category. It didn’t win, but I felt so excited to be a finalist. Lin and I dressed up and went to the banquet with the other writers. It felt other-worldly.
When Will Papa Get Home? – Two Finalist Awards
In 2016 and 2017, When Will Papa Get Home? was a finalist in the Historical Fiction category. But once, again it didn’t win the category.
A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir – Five Book Awards
In 2017 & 2018 A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir received five book awards:
2018 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards “Finalist” in 2 categories: E-book Nonfiction and E-book Cover
2018 Book Excellence Awards “Finalist” in the Memoir category
2018 Independent Press Awards “Distinguished Favorites” in the Memoir category
2017 New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing ”Official Selection” in the Biography|Autobiography|Memoir category
2017 New Mexico-Arizona book awards “Finalist” in 2 categories: Biography (Other) and E-book Nonfiction
But once again, A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir didn’t win either category in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo – Received 3 Awards
In 2021 Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo was a Finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards in two categories: Biography and Nonfiction E-book. It did not win either category.
Also, it received the eLit Silver Award and Book Excellence Award Finalist.
Finally, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? a winner twice for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards
Finally, in 2022 & 2023 Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? won the Award for the Body, Mind & Spirit category in 2022. In 2023 it won in the Self-Help category.
Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir Wins Global Book Awards
In 2024, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir won a Silver Medallion in the Christmas Books category of the Global Book Awards.
It won 1st Place in the Nonfiction Book Cover Contest on AllAuthors.com.
In the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, it was a Finalist in two categories: Parenting & Family and Philosophy/Religion. It didn’t win either category.
Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry – Wins two Global Book Awards
In 2024, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry became a Gold Medalist for the Poetry – Verse category. It received an Honorable Mention in the Reader’s Choice Contest. Then in 2025, it received a Bronze medal in the Global Book Awards in the Poetry – Verse category.
I didn’t enter it in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.
A Banner Year for Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry
This year has been a banner year for my new poetry book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. It was Third Place Winner at BooksShelf.com. Then the cover won 2nd place in the AllAuthor.com nonfiction book cover contest. Recently, I got word this second book in my five-book poetry series won a Gold Medal in the Global Book Poetry – Verse category.
And this year isn’t over, so watch out!
In focusing this month on Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, winning the local writing contest of the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards felt so wonderful. I had submitted my books for six years. During those years, I attended each banquet, full of excitement and anticipation. I had the pleasure of being a finalist, but never the winner at a banquet.
At the banquets I went to and lost, the winner received a beautiful glass trophy and was recognized by all in attendance. Everyone received a certificate too in the mail. I won during the aftermath of the pandemic, so there was no banquet, no trophy and no certificate for each win. I felt cheated!
A Sample from Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?
Let me share another poem from Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? from Chapter 13.
The Wait for What?
May 13, 2020
Since March 9, I self-quarantined For two weeks I stayed put!
Then it stretched To May 15!
March April Half of May.
Drastic Maybe Wise and cautious For sure.
I obey the restrictions. I wear a mask. I adhere to six feet In social distance. I apply hand sanitizer After each necessary outing.
Yet the battle rages. Some say it’s a hoax Protest Violate the restrictions.
In the name of the first amendment Free exercise of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of the Press Right to assemble peaceably The right to petition the government For the redress of grievances.
Important freedoms I love.
In the name of the second amendment A well-regulated militia, being necessary To the security of a free State, The right of the people to keep And bear arms shall not be Infringed.
The right to bear arms because of the coronavirus restrictions? Really?
Can you shoot this enemy? A minuscule virus particle Why guns? Why assault weapons? An AT4 rocket launcher?
Why Confederate flags? Swastikas? The militant attitude, Army fatigues, and camouflage gear?
As this continues, Confusion mounts. As the unrest continues, My confusion soars. Why?
A virus Killing thousands Demands naysayer’s denial and protests?
Why do you deny the serious nature of the coronavirus? Ill-advised? Ignorant? Stupidity?
Why do you clamor About socialism And your rights? Selfish Self-centered Me, me, ME!
What about compassion? Caring for others? It’s not about you, you, you!
The wait for normalcy logic and compassion to surface may be a long time in coming!
For some!
For others, it never left!
YOUR REFLECTIONS
Did you ever confront someone else for their careless behavior? If so, what happened?
Our 20th Annual Hot August Nights Square and Round Dance Festival is over. What a great event! We danced, we saw old friends, and we met new ones.
How It Started
It all started 20 years ago, three couples created this event—Ted Wright & Larada, Lin Miller & Kathi Raver, and Bill & Freddi Franks. Lin and I are the only people left from the original committee. Then we have added these following wonderful people: Mary Jo Smith, Sheri Pastian, Joan Oliver, Jim & Gabrielle Murphy, Earl Quick, Cathy McKenna, Robert & Lisa Miller, and Gloria Schwab.
Hot August Nights Committee – 20th AnniversaryHot August Nights Committee – 20th anniversary – Goofy!
It has become a smashing success in the Southwest square dance world. Our staff this year made it fantastic: Mike Seastrom, caller and his wife, Lisa, and Mitch & Chelsea Thompson, cuer.
Friday
Lin and I flew in from Panama on Thursday after a horrible travel day on Wednesday because of this festival. It started on Friday afternoon with the Welcome Dance. Mike enjoyed sharing the stage with Kris Jensen Friday afternoon.
Friday night has been traditional our “Beach Party” dance with dancers wearing fun beach ware. Beach balls floated around the hall all night. We danced from 8-10:30 and ended the night with our traditional root beer floats.
During the night Mike, Mitch and Chelsea did a Pentatonix song that was amazing.
Mike, Chelsea & Mitchell Singing a Pentatonix Song
Saturday
Saturday morning started with introduction to round dancing session with Mitchell and Chelsea and then a round dance workshop for experienced dancers.
The committee went out to lunch with Mitchell and Chelsea. We talked about square and round dancing in Colorado where they live.
Then the afternoon started with Mike warming us up with High Energy dancing. Then Mike did Singing Calls for an hour. Harue Swift from Arizona joined Mike on one of the songs.The afternoon ended with a Plus workshop.
During the afternoon, Lin and Larada donned their Guerreros shirts from the men’s basketball team in Boquete, Panama they follow. The team was playing in the Championship game Saturday night. So we asked the dancers to help create a video with the cheer, “Uno, dos, tres—Guerreros!” Here’s the video. (Sadly, they lost!)
Our dancers join in on a cheer for the Guerreros team in Panama!
Saturday night everyone wore beautiful square dance attire, if they wanted to! Here’s me doing a round dance with a friend from Colorado!
Larada round dancing with a friend from Colorado
Mitchell and Chelsea entertained us with a beautiful tango demo of round dancing!
Mitchell & Chelsea dancing a tango!
Mike, Mitchell and Chelsesa sang another song together and the harmony was amazing!
What a lovely evening we had. Again, we ended with root beer floats and visiting with friends.
Sunday
Every Sunday morning at Hot August Nights features craziness for sure. We love to do scatter promenade which mixes the squares up.
At one point, Mike sang “Wooly, Bully” and a group in the back of the hall formed a chorus line. We ended with a congo line weaving our way to the front of the hall. Some of the dancers joined us. What fun! Here’s the link to the our fun chorus line:- https://www.facebook.com/larada.horner/
Sadly, Hot August Nights is over for another year! 20 years of fun and dancing! It is the highlight of the year for me!
I have dedicated 20 years of my life to Hot August Nights and I don’t regret it at all. Also, I have dedicated decades to my writing, so I love featuring a book a month. Tell me what you think!
