Thursday, March 22, 2018

Something to Celebrate

Hello, this is Katy Lee. Yesterday I got the call every romance writer hopes to have. I was told I was a 2018 RITA® Finalist for my Amish Romance One Simple Wish.


Now I know this is a suspense day on the blog, but I hope you don't mind taking a break to hear about my blessing...and a blessing it is.

A little over a year ago my appendix went. But it didn't just happen. I actually wasn't feeling well for a year before I landed in the hospital. And during that year, I couldn't write through the pain.

Then right before Thanksgiving, I was asked if I would consider writing an Amish Romance. This would be different from my normal suspense, and I wasn't sure I could do that, especially since it had been over a year since I wrote anything. But I said yes, I'll do it. I signed the contract, and that week my appendix burst. 

Now, I'll spare you all the details on what that was like and jump to my recovery and how I now had two months to write a book through it. I was thankful I was alive and could still be used to share God's message to my readers. I could have tried to cancel my contract. I'm sure people would have understood, but something told me this book had to be written, and it had to be me.

So, for two months I didn't just twiddle my thumbs in bed, but rather put my fingers to the keyboard. I knew only a little about the Amish, but God always equips the called. And He did. It amazed me how He sent the right people my way who had the resources and knowledge I needed to make my story authentic. And when I typed THE END I had a book that celebrated life. 

Every one of my stories has a little piece of me in them. A message that comes out of something I have gone through. I can only hope my readers come away with the hope I felt while putting words down on the pages.

Thank you all for joining in with me on my celebration. And thank you to RWA® 

Now back to your regular Thursday Suspense programming.

24 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Katy! I had no idea you had been so ill. Praise God for bringing you through it with such a reward to follow.

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  2. Congratulations, Katy. I was so excited for you when I saw yesterday that you're a finalist.

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  3. I saw your name on the group of finalists yesterday and didn't a little happy dance. Will you be in Denver? Oh, you will feel like a princess. What were you doing when you got the call? Who did you call first to tell? When you fainted, who picked you up?

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    1. I'm not sure about Denver. It's not in the budget. I'm still paying for all the medical bills. UGH! :) I honestly didn't even know it was the RITA day. I was at my desk frustrated with a project that was overdue for my day job when the phone rang. I couldn't answer it, so my daughter picked it up. And being the good assistant she is, she asked the caller who they were before she interrupted me at my desk. :) She handed me the phone and said, "You're gonna want to take this." I listened to the RWA Board member introduce herself and announce my final, and all I could think was, "Is THAT TODAY?" I hooted. I cried. I jumped up and own. And then I shook for a time long before I could call my husband. <3

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  4. Congrats, Katy. I love A Simple Wish so much. What an inspiring read.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for saying so! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. Congratulations, Katy. I was thrilled to see your name on the Rita list!

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  6. What exciting news. Congrats, Katy!

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  7. Congratulations, Katy! What a thrill for you!

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  8. Katy, I'm thrilled for you...and didn't know the story behind the story. You were feeling bad for a year? Oh my goodness!!! What a time you had. My son had a ruptured appendix so I know a little of what you went through. Thanking God for doctors and antibiotics!

    How special that God blessed the story you wrote during that difficult time!

    Tell us a little about your publisher and how you connected. Lovely cover. The story sounds wonderful. Again congrats on the RITA final!

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    1. Hi Debby,
      It was between a friend of mine who is an editor at Annie's and my agent. At first they were asking for a cozy mystery, then the chief editor called me and asked if I could write an Amish romance instead.

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    2. The Amish romance was perfect!!! So glad for your RITA final!

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    3. Yes, it did work out rather nicely. :)

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  9. Katy,
    Happy Dance for you from me. I will have to look for your book to read. I love finding new Amish Fiction authors.
    Dawn C. from Ohio

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  10. Congratulations, Katy!!! Thank you for sharing your story and the words God gives you.

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