So, something that took a while to really set in for me, was receiving the Plume Award for Literacy Excellence.

When I set out to write Something Unfamiliar, it was because I had an idea for a story, but I wasn’t really sure what I would do with it when and if I finished it. When It came to my first writers block, I had those closest to me, read what I had written thus far. Their reactions were very encouraging. I had written here and there before, when I was younger, but it never received this sort of positive feedback. It got me excited about the idea of a good story, but it didn’t break the writers block 😅 Fast forward almost 4 years and I finally finish it.

So, still having this same mind set, of not expecting positive feedback, I get a call from my book publisher. We’ll, he explains to me they sent my manuscript to the U.S Review of Books as well as several other countries major book branch managers. For feedback on the book. OMH, the feedbacks that came back, were of such high regard that it made me eligible to receive the Plume Award. Phone went silent. He was waiting for a response. I was speechless. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I stood there in disbelief and then finally broke the silence.,”they… liked my book”?

Fast forward again a few high paced months go by and now, it’s available for everyone. Already, I have people asking me what that Golden seal is on the front of my book. A big smile cracks across my face and I eagerly tell them what it means