Contest! | Cathy C. Hall Writes

One of my favorite things is to hear something from a contest that I’d entered way back when (and forgot all about!).

So, I danced a little happy dance when I opened a big envelope today and found a certificate with my name on it! I’d entered a non-fiction article about Maria Tallchief, the Native American ballerina, into the Children’s Literature category of the 2009 CNW/FFWA Florida State Writing Competition. I received the 6th Honorable Mention, and I felt pretty good about that place.

I’d have felt better about 1st Place, of course, and the money prize that goes along with it. But I did get a very nice note from the contest coordinator, saying, to wit, congratulations on a fresh, marketable article.

All in all, good enough for a happy dance. Now, I wonder what that other children’s lit find was that I had planned to share with you? It flew straight out of my mind when I opened the mail…

Oh, well. Remembering keepers (sooner or later) is my second favorite thing.

When I read Jeanne Birdsall’s wonderful books about the Penderwicks, I was quite taken with Hound. Next time I have a contest, I thought, I’ll use the old “Hound Chooses” method. I mean, if it’s good enough for an award-winning writer, it’s certainly good enough for old Cathy C. Hall. So, here is what happened when I let my hound, Sally Hall, choose the winner for Rachel Dillon’s beautiful book, Through Endangered Eyes.

dscn2331 Notice the two scraps of paper (those are just a few of the scraps of paper with names of the contestants) and Sally nonchalantly looking the other way. Oh, don’t kid yourself. Sally knew what was expected of her. But dang if that dog wasn’t ignoring me.

She eventually deigned to paw a piece of paper with the name…Maddie! So congratulations, Maddie! You are going to LOVE this book! I hope it’ll be a big help in your workshop! (Perhaps by the time Through Endangered Eyes comes in the mail, Sally will be out of the doghouse.)