If you don't...

I submitted First Spring to the Boston Globe's Horn Book Awards today. It cost me an arm and a leg to get the books there by overnight mail since I didn't learn about the contest until yesterday. The awards have been handed out since 1967 for excellence in children and young adult literature.


Do I have more than a snowball's chance in hell to win? Who knows, but as the old saying goes, you'll never know if you don't try.

When it comes to writing, I think that's one thing I've learned over the past 10 years. My fear of writing about things I didn't know or understand had to take a back seat when I was forced into writing magazine features. Over time, I got in my groove and really, really enjoyed it.

Time on my hands forced me to try fan fiction. The ball started rolling and turned into novels.One novel has turned into eight in three years. In many ways, I'm glad I didn't know all about the requirements for being a published author before I tried it. I'm pretty sure I'd have been so overwhelmed with the information, I'd have believed that college prof who said I was too lazy to be a good fiction writer.

To be perfectly honest, I submitted First Spring for publication because I figured I had nothing to loose. And look how it turned out? I have a great little nursery rhyme out - with Lynda and Mariana's wonderful help.

In essence, our fears hold us back. Live boldly. Failure teaches us how to succeed in the future. Will I win one of these coveted awards? Don't know. It would be darn cool. At least I tried.

What have you dared to do lately? I'd love to hear your story.

Until the next time.
Margaret Rose