Monday morning I was dialling my ‘other mother’ Lynsey, who lives on Vancouver Island, to wish her a happy 80th birthday. As the phone rang, my eyes flicked to my computer screen, and I saw an email from Will Dawson, executive director of the Emerging Writers Festival, letting me know I’d been shortlisted in the 2018 Richell Prize. My heart almost stopped. I’d been stunned to get longlisted last month, let alone making it any further.
I talked to Lynsey for about an hour, then got off the phone and stared for awhile at the emails and tweets and messages coming in. My eyes filled with tears. I started replying. After awhile, I messaged my husband and my best friend. I called my dad. I called my mum.
When I collected my kids from school they were excited, but that night, my son was disgusted to discover I hadn’t posted on social media. I tried to explain that several other writers had posted on my behalf, that I’d received heaps of congratulations and I didn’t want people to feel they had to do it all over again. He was still unimpressed. “Nope. You should have posted. That’s what you do.” Then I worried that the judges or Richell prize organisers and supporters would think I wasn’t grateful for the shortlisting, which is the furthest thing from the truth. I am so thrilled, and so thankful.
So here I am today, posting about my Monday, which was the very best Monday of my life.
Fiona Robertson 
Congratulations! It’s such wonderful news.
Thank you Theresa! I had two rejections in the one day last week, so it was great to get a different sort of email!
Hope all’s going well with you – I’m really enjoying all your book reviews and author interviews. I have no idea how you read and review and interview so much – you must be superhuman!! x
I still tell myself each day I need to read more! The interviews are a real joy, I enjoy getting the responses back so much.
That was good timing then, Monday’s email, arriving to balance out the previous two!
I can’t imagine how you could possibly read more! Maybe if you gave up sleeping?! And I can tell you enjoy the interviews – that comes through in your write-ups.
And yes, always good to balance the negative with the positive!
Sleep really does cut into reading…and work! 😁
Congratulations, Fiona. Great news. Good luck for the next stage.
Thanks so much Maureen. I’m really happy just to have made it this far! x
Congratulations, Fiona. This is such awesome news, and whilst it was lovely to see it appear on other people’s social media posts, it’s even nicer to read about here – in your very own words. I’m glad you took your son’s advice. 😊
I wish you all the best, and hope you win! 😊 xx
Hi Marie, so good to hear from you, and thank you for your support! xx
I love your short stories, Fiona and I’m so glad that you’re finally getting the “Yes’s” that you deserve!
Thank you Alyssa 🙂 I get plenty of rejections so it’s lovely every time something positive happens!
Hope things are going well with you – can’t believe you’re managing to post and read blogs with a newborn – amazing! Wishing you refreshing sleep when you can get it and hope things are getting easier with time xx
It terrifies me to think that you get rejections. How can that be?
I wrote and scheduled my October and November blog posts prior to having the baby … I’m doing okay for December, but I’m not sure how I’ll go from there. Will soon see! Thanks for your well wishes xx
Just to be organised enough to pre-plan posts is amazing as far as I’m concerned!!
Great to hear you’re doing okay & I look forward to your December post 😊xx
Congratulations Fiona. This is wonderful news.
Thank you Carmel 😊