Proudly accepting my second IIBA Award for *Deadly Vows: Echoes of College Crimes*.
When I learned Deadly Vows had won, there were no words to describe how happy and emotional I was when I got that email. After years of doubt and discouragement — even from a number of my college professors who insisted I should give up on my writing — there was one voice that had never wavered: RG. I knew that I was going to go to AZ to accept my award, because the first time I had it mailed to me I had wanted the vivid, tangible feeling of holding the trophy in my hands. When I stepped up onto that stage, I felt profoundly empowered, quietly confident, and happier than I had ever been in my life. Getting ready for this, I found myself thinking about a lot of different things; I wondered, “Would I climb up on that stage and break down the way I did in February? Or would I manage to stay composed and not cry?” In the end, this time I did not cry, and the calm pride I felt lingered long after the applause died down. Working on my speech, I knew I was going to thank two very important people: Tatiana, for her relentless support and her bright, shining light, and R.G., for becoming the unexpected inspiration behind the character of Rafael. Getting to go up on stage and be surrounded by such talented people was nothing short of amazing, and I left that evening both grateful and energized — I look forward to more IIBA events and the opportunities they bring.
The event began in the morning with the conference and the opportunity to hear Nim Stant’ tell her story about coming to the United States from Thailand. She carried a dream of becoming a writer and went on to found the International Impact Book Awards. Being recognized for my writing and hard work by IIBA is nothing short of amazing and stands as the highlight of my career as a two-time award-winning author. Next stop…Hollywood.
What I said in my speech:
“Wow, my second international impact book award. First off, I want to thank Nim Stant and the entire IIBA judging panel for selecting my book as a winner. Winning this award is nothing short of amazing and stands as one of the brightest highlights of my career as an award‑winning author. When I learned I had won, I thought back to how many of my college professors tried to diminish my dreams of becoming a writer—except for one who believed in me and kept me going. Their faith, along with the support of readers, family, and colleagues, has sustained me through the long nights of revision and the inevitable doubts, making this recognition all the more meaningful.”
